© Natsuki Nishi via The Mainichi
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Do you own any wooden furniture?
- Do you live in an area with many trees?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- exist /ig-ZIST/
- furniture /FUR-ni-cher/
- wardrobe /WAWR-drohb/
- last /last/
- appearance /uh-PEER-uhns/
[verb] – to be, or to be real
I believe ghosts exist.
[noun] – things such as chairs, tables, beds, cupboards, etc. that are put into a house or other building
The new furniture will be delivered here by next week.
[noun] – a tall cupboard in which you hang your clothes
Please hang these in the wardrobe.
[verb] – to continue to exist
The machines can last up to 10 years.
[noun] – the way a person or thing looks to other people
The house has a beautiful appearance.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
Japan’s woodworking culture has existed since ancient times, so much so that it is believed its people lived with trees. Wood created many of the country’s structures, including furniture, tableware, and other products.
Sashimono, a traditional Japanese craft, represents the country’s wood culture. Cabinets and other large pieces of furniture are among the items on the list. But the Edo sashimono is known for its collection of small indoor items, from oblong coal burners to writing desks, wardrobes, and sewing boxes. “Though they appear to have a delicate structure at first glance, they are surprisingly firm and last for around 100 years,” 68-year-old Yutaka Mogami, the third-generation head of an Edo sashimono workshop in Tokyo’s Kuramae area, said. Sashimono is a method of joining wooden parts without using iron nails. Instead, ledges and recesses are cut into the wood and interlocked to connect the pieces.
The appeal of the Edo sashimono is its amazing durability despite its fragile appearance, with hidden joints holding the minimalist and polished appearance together.
Sashimono, a traditional Japanese craft, represents the country’s wood culture. Cabinets and other large pieces of furniture are among the items on the list. But the Edo sashimono is known for its collection of small indoor items, from oblong coal burners to writing desks, wardrobes, and sewing boxes. “Though they appear to have a delicate structure at first glance, they are surprisingly firm and last for around 100 years,” 68-year-old Yutaka Mogami, the third-generation head of an Edo sashimono workshop in Tokyo’s Kuramae area, said. Sashimono is a method of joining wooden parts without using iron nails. Instead, ledges and recesses are cut into the wood and interlocked to connect the pieces.
The appeal of the Edo sashimono is its amazing durability despite its fragile appearance, with hidden joints holding the minimalist and polished appearance together.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- Sashimono is a traditional Japanese craft that represents the country’s wood culture.
- The Edo sashimono is known for its huge outdoor items.
- The items made from Edo sashimono can last up to 100 years.
- Yutaka Mogami is the third-generation head of an Edo sashimono workshop in Tokyo’s Kuramae area.
- Sashimono is a method of joining wooden parts using iron nails.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
| exist | furniture | wardrobe | last | appearance |
- His room is full of wooden _______.
- My mom still has her old clothes in the _______.
- You can change the _______ of your room if you change the wallpapers.
- Do you think dinosaurs really _______?
- The meeting will _______ for two hours.