[New Tsunami Blocking System in Northeastern Japan]
-Lesson 35 / English in Today's World-
Floodgates that shut automatically in the event of a disaster have become operational in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Iwate's coastline was hit by a massive tsunami in the 2011 earthquake.
During the disaster, 48 volunteer fire brigade personnel died while attempting to close floodgates in the prefecture. To prevent a similar loss of life, authorities have been building floodgates that automatically shut when a tsunami warning is issued.
The new gates began functioning on Monday at eight locations in Iwate. When activated, they shut completely in just a few minutes. They can also be closed remotely by officials at prefectural offices, should the automatic system fail.
"I'm overcome with emotion," a local fire brigade official said. "We now have a new safety system in place that will protect lives."
Automatic floodgate systems are being set up at 220 locations along the coast of the prefecture. (2017/7/31, NHK World)
[Discussion]
Sam: It's wonderful news to hear that these new automatic floodgates are being built in the event of a tsunami.
Hannah: Yes, in a way, it honors those brave fire brigade members who lost their lives. I think they would be happy to know that these measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence of that kind of loss.
Sam: It is a way to become stronger when hit with adversity. We can attempt to build on the lesson of the past to support a better future.
Hannah: We can do the same thing in our own lives too, by finding ways to learn from hard times and grow through adversity.
◆見出し
[New Tsunami Blocking System in Northeastern Japan]
=[A new tsunami blocking system is in place in northeastern Japan.]
◆[the Tohoku region] 東北地方、⇒[northeastern Japan] 日本の北東部(北海道・東北地方など)
◆[volunteer fire brigade personnel] 自発的に志願した消防隊の職員/ボランティアの消防団員、(日本の「消防団員」は、災害時には駆けつけて対応に当たる非常勤の公務員)
-[brigade](軍隊式編成の)団体/旅団/隊/組/旅団を編成する、⇒[fire brigade] 消防隊
◆[To prevent a similar loss of life,]⇒[prevent a recurrence] 再発を防止する
◆[official] 職務権限を持つ人(公務員/役職者・担当者)
-[senior official] 高位役職者/幹部/高官
-[Japanese (government) officials] 日本政府(日本政府の役職者たち)
◆[tsunami] 津波、
⇒[tidal wave]-[tide]潮の干潮によって生じる波
⇒[alert] 注意報、[warning] 警報、[advisory] 情報・注意報
⇒[Evacuate to higher ground.] 高台へ避難しなさい。
■[in the event of] (万が一)…の場合には
Floodgates that shut automatically in the event of a disaster have become operational in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.
⇒In the event of my passing the entrance exam, I'll go traveling to celebrate.
■[hit] ～を襲う
Iwate's coastline was hit by a massive tsunami in the 2011 earthquake.
⇒What should we do if an earthquake hits?
■[attempt]～を試みる
During the disaster, 48 volunteer fire brigade personnel died while attempting to close floodgates in the prefecture.
⇒He attempted to explain, but she wouldn't listen.
【words and phrases】
-[flood] 洪水、⇒[floodgate] 洪水を防ぐ門、水門
-[in the event of-] (万が一)の場合には、
-[should] 万が一…ならば、(仮に)…の場合は、
⇒[They can also be closed remotely by officials at prefectural office, should the automatic system fail.]
また、自動システムが故障した場合でも、県庁などにいる職員が遠隔操作で閉めることが出来ます。
-[be overcome with emotion] 感情に圧倒されている、感極まる、感無量である
⇒["I'm overcome with emotion,"] 「感無量です。」
⇒[to be overwhelmed with shame] 深く恥じる
⇒[to be overwhelmed by numbers] (戦場などで)多数に圧倒される
⇒[to be overruled by the majority] (議場などで)多数に圧倒される
-[adversity] 逆境・不運・不幸な出来事・災難
-[hard times] 困難・厳しい時代・不景気(な時)
⇒[learn from hard times] 困難な経験から学ぶ
