Pre-reading questions:
- Do you like Onigiri?
- What is your favorite festival in your region/country?
- Have you ever attended a festival?
A 28-year old man fainted in an onigiri speed-eating contest in Shiga Prefecture last November. The man was assisted immediately by medical professionals, but he passed away 3 days after. The onigiri speed-eating contest was done to celebrate the “Friendship Festival” in the said prefecture. Higashibiwako Japan Agricultural Co-operative organized the event to boost Shiga’s agricultural products.
The organizers put a notice on their website giving thanks to the medical team who responded right away during the incident. Authorities found out that they are prepared for emergencies and unusual incidents that may happen. The organizers are emotional and showed their anguish over the tragedy. Moreover, they guarantee that they will continue to put the safety of the participants and attendees in future festivals.
Vocabulary:
fainted – [verb] lose unconsciousness; grow weak
assist – [verb] to support
boost – [verb] increase
respond – [verb] to return something or an answer
apologize – [verb] to offer an excuse or sorry
Comprehension Questions:
- What happened to the man who participated in an onigiri speed-eating contest?
- Who assisted the man during the incident?
- Why do they conduct an onigiri speed-eating contest?
- What did the organizers do after the incident?
- What did the organizers promise in future events?
Express Your Opinion:
- My prefecture is famous for festivals.
- It is right to apologize after you did something bad.
- I like participating in festivals.