JAPAN'S DAIRY FARMERS SLUMP BELOW 10,000全国の酪農家数 1万下回る

The number of dairy farmers in Japan has fallen to below 10,000 as higher feed costs erode income. The Japan Dairy Council says that as of October this year, the ranks of dairy farmers have fallen almost 6 percent year-on-year. The 9,960 total of such workers is the lowest since 2005, when the data started to be collected. A council survey found almost 60 percent of these farmers were losing money on their operations. The organization queried more than 230 operators in September about their business performance. The agriculture ministry has cited shrinking incomes as the reason for the decline. A survey conducted by the ministry shows production costs that dairy farmers paid in 2022 rose about 18 percent from the average for the preceding 10 years. Dairy farmer income shrank 60 percent compared with the 10-year average, even though revenue has remained flat. The ministry is considering ways to pass on higher farming costs into the prices of dairy products.

 ◆erode むしばむ、侵食する   to gradually reduce something such as someone’s power or confidence 

 ◆year-on-year 前年（同期）比で 

 ◆lose money on    赤字を出す  

 ◆query  質問する、尋ねる  

◆preceding  先行する、その前の 

 ◆remain flat     横ばいの状態のままである 

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/22）

32546.working knowledge (実務知識、実際上の知識）enough knowledge of a system, subject, language etc to be able to use it or to do a particular job 
In this case, having a working knowledge of the types of microcomputer available will be important. 
32547.take the trouble to do (わざわざ ）slow and unwilling OPP willing 

He took the trouble to give me a ride home. 

32548.go out of one’s way to do (わざわざ） 

You didn’t have to go out of your way to say such a mean thing. 

32549.all the way  (わざわざ)
We went all the way to Osaka to eat takoyaki. 
32550.have something(nothing) in common (共通点がある（ない））

I think you guys will get a long. You guys have a lot of hobbies in common. 

和泉の国へ 3

【原文】　

三十日。雨風吹かず。海賊は、夜歩きせざなりと聞きて、夜中ばかりに船を出だして、阿波の水門をわたる。夜中なれば、西東も見えず。男、女、からく神仏を祈りてこの水門をわたりぬ。

寅卯の時ばかりに、沼島といふところを過ぎて、たな川といふところをわたる。からく急ぎて、和泉の灘といふところに到りぬ。今日、海に波に似たるものなし。神仏の恵みかうぶれるに似たり。

今日、船に乗りし日よりかぞふれば、三十日あまり九日になりにけり。

今は和泉の国に来ぬれば、海賊ものならず。

【現代語訳】

三十日。雨も降らず風も吹かない。海賊は夜は行動しないと聞いて、夜中から船を出して、阿波の海峡を渡った。夜中なので、西も東もわからない。男も女も一心に神仏に祈って、この海峡を渡った。 朝の五時ごろに、沼島という所を通り過ぎて、たな川と言う所を渡る。懸命に急いで、和泉の灘という所に到着した。今日は、海に波らしいものはない。神仏の恵みを蒙ったというところか。 今日、船に乗った日から数えると、三十九日になってしまっていた。 今はもう、和泉の国に来てしまったので海賊も問題にならない。

◆『土佐日記』（とさにっき）は、平安時代に成立した日本最古の日記文学のひとつ。紀貫之が土佐国から京に帰る最中に起きた出来事を諧謔を交えて綴った内容を持つ。成立時期は未詳だが、承平5年（934年）後半といわれる。古くは『土左日記』と表記され、「とさの日記」と読んだ。 

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/21）

32541.things like that (そのようなこと ）
I usually go jogging, do yoga, and things like that. 
32542.cue (ヒント、合図 ）an action or event that is a signal for something else to happen /a word, phrase, or action in a play that is a signal for the next person to speak or act 

He missed his cue to join the conversation. 

32543.totally (完全に、もちろん ） completely

Tokyo is totally different from LA. 

32544.a bit (ちょっと ) slightly or to a small degree 類義語 a little
I’m feeling a bit tired today. 
32545.all the way 完全に、遠くまで  ）

No matter what, I’ll support you all the way. 

Paul Mayriat パリのめぐり逢い

Paul Mayriat　パリのめぐり逢い

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/20）

32536.strike up a conversation(会話を始める）to start to become friendly with someone, to start talking to them, etc
I have a hard time striking up a conversation with someone I don’t know. 
32537.noticeable(目立つ  ）easy to notice 

Is this stain on my shirt pretty noticeable? 

32538.would rather not (～したくない ） 
I’ll go with you if you really want me to but I’d rather not.

32539.confrontation (対立)a situation in which there is a lot of angry disagreement between two people or groups
I try to avoid confrontation as much as possible 
32540.Thanks to(せいで）

Thanks to him we are locked out. He left the keys in the car. 

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/19）

32531.willing(～することを厭わない）
Are you willing to work on weekends?
32532.reluctant(気が進まない、気乗りしない）slow and unwilling OPP willing 

My grandpa always seems reluctant to make about his past.

32533.inspire(奮い立たせる、動機づける） to encourage someone by making them feel confident and eager to do something/to make someone have a particular feeling or react in a particular way 

My teacher inspired me to go into education

32534.fire escape (火災避難装置)
The apartment building has to have a fire escape 
32535.flotation device (浮揚装置 ）

Your seat cushion will act as a flotation device in the case of a water landing 

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/18）

32526.mug(マグカップ ）a tall cup used for drinking tea, coffee etc
I made myself a mug of cocoa and watched movie..
32527.complaint(クレーム、苦情） a statement in which someone complains about something 

You should make a complaint about waiter . He was so rude.

32528.mass media(マスコミ）all the people and organizations that provide information and news for the public, including television, radio, and newspapers

The mass media can make someone a star in almost no time.

32529.french fries(フライドポテト）a long thin piece of potato that has been cooked in hot oil 類義語 chip British English 
Do all the kid’s meals come with french fries?
32530.drive(意欲、やる気）a strong natural need or desire 

Tom's drive kept the project going..

民謡 おしまこ踊り

民謡　おしまこ踊り

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/17）

32521.chirping(鳴いている）
The insects chirping outside are called suzumushi.I think the sound relaxing.
32522.welcome(歓迎する）

I welcomed the news that you’re joining our department.

32523.game console(ゲーム機）

This is the game console I've been dreaming of!

32524.set(決める、定める）
Have you set a date for your wedding？
32525.mark(示す、記念する）a group of small islands 

I would like to say a few words to mark the opening of Vcab Academy..

ペチカ（冬の童謡）

ペチカ（冬の童謡）

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/16）

32516.I can’t drink much (お酒が弱い/苦手です ）
 I can’t drink much. I get drunk easily. 
32517.I’m a lightweight (お酒に弱いです ）

I’m a lightweight. I can’t drink much. 

32518.popular (一軍）

She’s cheer captain and the most popular girl in school. 

32519.Prom queen / Prom king （一軍）
Students who were Prom queen and Prom king at school usually do very well later in life. 
32520.Queen bee / Golden boy (一軍）a group of small islands 

In American movies about high school, the queen bee is usually pretty but mean.

'SOLAR MAXIMUM' THREATENS COMMUNICATIONS, NAVIGATION太陽の活動は“極大期”

U.S. authorities monitoring atmospheric conditions say solar activity is now at a maximum and could impact communication and navigation systems. Solar activity increases and decreases in a cycle that lasts about 11 years. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have announced the sun has reached its “solar maximum period,” which could continue for the next year. During such periods, electromagnetic eruptions called solar flares occur on the surface of the sun. These phenomena could affect satellite-based navigation systems, radio communication, and power grids. They could also produce auroras at lower latitudes. In May, auroras triggered by solar flares were observed around the world. In the United States, GPS services were disrupted. The sun may already have been in a maximum period at the time.

 ◆electromagnetic  電磁気的な 

 ◆eruption 噴出 

 ◆power grid   電力網 

 ◆disrupt 乱す、混乱させる、中断させる、障害を及ぼす 

Daily Vocabulary(2025/01/15）

32511.shed light on (～を明確にする ）
This book sheds light on the importance of mental health. 
32512.stuck (動けない）

We got stuck at the airport for a couple of hours. 

32513.no joke (冗談抜きで）used to emphasize that a situation is serious or that someone really means what they say

Drinking and driving is no joke. You have to stop that. 

32514.flaky(信用できない人、ドタキャンする人、いい加減な人 ）
He didn't show up again? He's so flaky. 
32515.literally (マジで・本当に ）

 I was literally freaking out when the cockroach started flying. 

和泉の国へ 2

【原文】　

おもしろきところに船を寄せて、「ここやいどこ」と、問ひければ、「土佐(とさ）の泊（とまり）」といひけり。昔、土佐といひけるところに住みける女、この船にまじれりけり。そがいひけらく、「昔、しばしありしところのなくひにぞあなる。あはれ」といひて、詠める歌、

年ごろを住しところの名にし負へば来寄（きよ）る波をもあはれとぞ見る

とぞいへる。

【現代語訳】

景色のいいところに船を寄せて、「ここはどこ」と聞くと、土佐の港ですと言う。 昔、土佐という所に住んでいた女が、同船していた。その人が言うには、「昔、私がしばらく住んでいた所と名の通う所です。懐かしいこと。」と言って、よんだ歌は、 年ごろを住し… （ここは以前何年も住んだ所と同じ名を持っているから（懐かしくて）寄せてくる波さえもしみじみとした思いでみることだ） と言ったのである。

◆『土佐日記』（とさにっき）は、平安時代に成立した日本最古の日記文学のひとつ。紀貫之が土佐国から京に帰る最中に起きた出来事を諧謔を交えて綴った内容を持つ。成立時期は未詳だが、承平5年（934年）後半といわれる。古くは『土左日記』と表記され、「とさの日記」と読んだ。