Weekly Topics/Archive
February 2014
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It's quite unusual that winter storm watchs have been issued in many parts of the Japanese
archipelago.
According to the forecast, it's because low pressure system will pass the
southern sea of
the archipelago and at the same time cold air will flow into the upper
atomosphere.
And so winter storm watch has been issued even for wide areas of the Pacific
side of the
archipelago.
Here in Kusatsu on the night before, I didn't have any sign of snowing.
I sometimes looked out the window to see whether it's snowing, but the
snowfall could be
seen yet.
This very day, the 2014 Winter Olympics have started in Sochi, Russia.
The opening ceremony began at 20:14 MSK on Feburary 7 ( at 01:14 a.m. on Feburary 8,
Japan time) in association with this year 2014.
I went to bed after watching a live telecast of the entrance procession of Japanese
Olympic delegation.
When I looked out the window, I saw a snowstorm as had been forecast.
Thanks to live Olympic coverage in predawn hours, I waked up before noon.
What a surprise ! There is a snowy world outside.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version
It's still snowing lightly.
There was about 5 centimeters of snow in my front yard.
It was this season's third accumulation of snow.
According to a TV news report, winter storm warning even in central Tokyo was issued for
the first time in 13 years and the snow accumulation of 26 centimeters
was recorded.
I'm surprised that snow accumulation is more in the Tokyo metropolitan
area than in
Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture.
Now, how was it in your area ?
[Note] Japanese archipelago ; 日本列島，get covered with snow ; 雪で覆われる
winter storm watch ; 大雪注意報，issue ; (警報など)を発令する
low pressure system ; 低気圧，MSK ; Moscow Time，モスクワ時間
in association with 〜; 〜と関連して，watch a live telecast of 〜; 〜をTV中継で見る
entrance procession ; 入場行進, Japanese Olympic delegation ; 五輪日本選手団
snowstorm; 吹雪，thanks to 〜; 〜のおかげで， live coverage ; 実況中継，生中継
in predawn hours; 未明の（に）<predawn ; 夜明け前の>，snow lightly; 雪がちらつく
have _ centimeters of snow in〜 ; 〜で _ cmの積雪だ，accumulation of snow; 積雪
winter storm warning ; 大雪警報，snow accumulation ; 積雪量
Japanese Diary / No.590−2014.02.08 / 「日本列島雪景色」
Last week (on January 3rd), I attended at the New Year's party of class reunion in
Kanto area held at S company's guest house Akasaka-ryo in Akasaka-mituke,Tokyo.
Thanks to the cooperation of the classmate who was retired from S company,
it takes advantage of this facility every year.
12 people including me were at the party.
They are almost regular attenders.
Even though they are over 70 years old already, it seems like they are
still in high spirits.
We drank much and had a chat about various topics.
We really enjoyed the party cheerfully and convivially.
This year, the party organizer planed a game as an entertainment at the
party.
It's to predict the news that will most likely come in 2014.
The news items are listed in the table below.
Everyone who attended the party submits thier own written prediction result
to the organizer.
We will judge our results at the next New Year's party.
Someone with a highest prediction hit rate will get a good bonus as a reward.
My prediction is as shown below.
Acceptance criteria for some news items are not necessarily clear.
We will have a disccusion about them at the next year's party.
Since these news items include many fluid political and economical issues,
it's quite difficult
to predict accurately which news is going to come.
I predicted them on the basis of my poor informations which has been stored
in my brain.
Some of them include my wishful thinking.
Nobody can predict what's going to happen in the world.
This is only a game. This is like a bet on a horse.
So, how will it end up ?
How do you predict them ?
|
The news which will most likely come in 2014 |
My prediction |
| 1 |
The Nikkei stock average rises above 20,000 yen.
(including instantaneous case) |
× |
| 2 |
The strong yen comes back and a dollar dips below the 90 yen level.
(including instantaneous case) |
○ |
| 3 |
The Japanese government freezes plans to raise consumption tax rate to
10 percent. |
× |
| 4 |
The Japanese Government announced that the economy has got out of deflation. |
○ |
| 5 |
The U.S. government bonds are finally trapped in default. |
× |
| 6 |
Japan-China summit is held. |
× |
| 7 |
The Syrian Civil War ends. |
× |
| 8 |
The US establishes diplomatic relations with Iran. |
× |
| 9 |
Apple,Inc. releases smartwatch iWatch. |
○ |
| 10 |
Mr.Haruki Murakami wins the Nobel Prize in Literature. |
× |
| 11 |
Japan places in the top 8 in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. |
× |
| 12 |
Japan wins a gold medal in both the men's and women's singles of the figure
skating in the 2014 Winter Olympics. |
× |
| 13 |
A pitcher Masahiro Tanaka gets 20th wins of the season in MLB. |
× |
| 14 |
Domestic political forces is realignd with nuclear issue. |
○ |
| 15 |
Japan is struck by a huge earthquake whose magnitude is more than
8 or seismic intensity is stronger than 6. |
× |
| 16 |
A super typhoon hits Japan. |
× |
| 17 |
Japan-South Korea summit is held. |
× |
[Note] predict ; 予測する，most likely ; 十中八九，たいがい
guest house ; 迎賓館，thanks to the cooperation of 〜；〜のおかげで
take advantage of 〜；〜を活用（利用）する
be in high spirits ; 意気軒高である，元気いっぱいである，convivially ; 愉快に
entertainment at the party ;パ−ティ−の余興，news items ; ニュ−スの項目
submit ; 提出する，prediction result ; 予測結果，get a bonus ; ボ−ナスが支給される
reward ; ご褒美，acceptance criteria ; 合否判定基準，fluid ; (状況が)流動的な
issue ; (世間の)関心事，注目を集める事柄，on the basis of 〜; 〜に基づき，〜を根拠に
wishful thinking ; 希望的観測，bet on a horse ; 競馬の賭け
end up ; で終る，最後は〜に落ち着く，Nikkei stock average ; 日経平均株価
dip below the _ yen level ; _円を割る
freeze plans to 〜; 〜する計画を凍結する，consumption tax rate ; 消費税率
get out of deflation ; デフレ−ションから脱却する
the U.S. government bonds ; 米国債，be trapped in 〜; 〜に陥る，の状態になる
default ; 債務不履行，Syrian Civil War ; シリア内戦
establish diplomatic relations with 〜; 〜と国交を樹立する
smartwatch iWatch ; 腕時計型端末 iWatch
the Nobel Prize in Literature ; ノ−ベル文学賞
places in the top 8 ; (競技で)ベスト8に入る，men's singles ; 男子シングル
figure skating ; フィギュアスケ−ト，get 20th wins ; 20勝達成する
MLB ; =Major League Basebal / メジャ−リ−グ，political forces ; 政治勢力，政界
realign ; 再編成する，nuclear issue ; 原発問題，seismic intensity ; 震度
summit; =summit meeting / 首脳会談
Japanese Diary / No.587−2014.01.26 / 「 2014年に起りそうなNews ? 」
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