Tokyo is a Museum of  “Districts”

JAPANese Q&A Casual Conversation | 東京は「街」の博物館

Tokyo is a Museum of “Districts”

Tom: Every year in Shibuya people get really fired up over Halloween. But why Shibuya? Miho: Because Shibuya is a town for young people. When there’s a big event, like the World Cup, young people gather to let their hair down. Tom: Well then, why has the crossing in front of Shibuya Station become a sightseeing spot for foreign visitors? Miho: I heard that for them, it’s amazing that so many people cross without colliding. Tom: I think that “Hachi,” the statue of a dog near the crossing, has appeared in movies, is that correct? Miho: You are right. Unaware that its master had died, the dog went to the station every day to welcome him. That’s why he’s called “Loyal Hatchi.” Now it has become famous as a meeting spot. Tom: Districts are ever changing, aren’t they? Miho: Akihabara is well-known for its electronics, but nowadays many people associate the area with anime or subculture. Tom: Is there any district in Tokyo which has remained the same? Miho: Well, perhaps, Asakusa. As it is home to a famous temple, it hasn’t changed much. And there’s also Ginza with its streets lined with posh shops. Tom: Speaking of the word Ginza, I’ve seen it all over the place. Miho: For instance, “Togoshi Ginza.” I’ve heard that there are over 300 shopping streets throughout Japan with the suffix Ginza in their names. Tom: There are many unique districts in Tokyo, don’t you think so? Miho: Harajuku for its kawaii (cute) fashion; Shinjuku, Japan’s number one entertainment town, where Kabukicho is located; Kappabashi known for being a tool town; Yanaka with its old world atmosphere; and more. There are many unique areas.

トムとむ
tomu
Tom
渋谷しぶや
shibuya
Shibuya
no
in
ハロウィンはろうぃん
harowinn ga
Halloween
毎年まいとし
maitoshi
every year
がっている
moriagatteiru
(people) get really fired up over
けど、
kedo,
but
どうして
doushite
why
渋谷しぶやなの?
shibuya nano
Shibuya ?
美穂みほ
mioho
Miho
渋谷しぶや
shibuya
Shibuya
若者わかものまち
wakamono no machi
young people for (a) town
だから。
dakara.
is because
サッカーさっかー
sakka- no
the [Football]
ワールドカップわーるどかっぷ
wa-rudo kappu
(the) World Cup
みたいな
miataina
like
おおきなイベントいべんと
ookina ibennto ga
(a) big event
ある
aru
there’s
と、
to,
when
若者わかもの
wakamono ga
young people
あつまって
atsumatte
gather
さわいだりするよ。
sawaidarisuru yo.
to let their hair down
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
じゃあ、
jyaa,
well then
渋谷しぶやえきまえ
shibuya eki mae no
in front of Shibuya Station
交差点こうさてん
kousatenn ga
(the) crossing
外国人がいこくじん観光客かんこうきゃく
gaikokujinn kannkoukyaku
foreign visitors
no
for
観光かんこうスポットすぽっと
kannkou supotto ni
(a) sightseeing spot
なっているのは
natteiru noha
has become
どうして?
doushite
why
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
あれだけ
aredake
[such]
大勢おおぜいひと
oozei no hito ga
so many people
ぶつからないで
butsukaranai de
without colliding
わた
wataru
cross
のが
noga
that
めずらしい
mezurashii
(it)’s amazing (for them)
みたいよ。
mmitai yo.
I heard (that)
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
交差点こうさてん
kousatenn no
(the) crossing
ちかくにある
tikaku ni aru
near
いぬ
inu
(a) dog
no
of
銅像どうぞうは、
douzou
(the) statue
映画えいが
eiga
movies
ni
in
なった
nattta
has appeared
ハチはち
hachi
(that) Hachi
da
(I) think
よね。
yone
is that correct ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
そう。
sou.
you are right
か]いぬし
kainushi ga
(its) master
くなった
nakunatta
had died
ことを
kotowo
that
らないで
shiranai de
unaware
主人しゅじん
shujinn wo
him <master>
毎日まいにち
mainichi
the every day
えき
eki
the station
ni
to
むかえに
mukaeni
to welcome
った
itta
went
いぬ
inu.
(the) dog
だから、
dakara,
that’s why
忠犬ちゅうけんハチ公はちこう」って
chuukenn hachikou tte
Loyal Hatchi
ばれてる。
yobareteru.
(he)’s called
いまじゃ
imajya
now
まちあわ場所ばしょ
machiawase basho
(a) meeting spot
として
toshite
as
有名ゆうめいだね。
yuumei dane.
(it) has become famous
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
まち
machiha
districts
どんどん
donndonn
ever
わっていく
kawatteiku
are changing
よね。
yone.
aren’t they?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
秋葉原あきはばら
akihabara ha
Akihabara
電気でんきまち
dennkino machi
its electronics
de
for
られてる
shirareteru
is well known
けど、
kedo,
but
いま
imaha
nowadays
アニメあにめ
anime
anime
ya
or
サブカルさぶかる
sabukaru no
subculture
まちって
machi tte
(the) area with
おもっている
omotteiru
associate
ひと
hitomo
people
たくさんいるしね。
takusann irushi ne.
many
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
わらないまち
kawaranai machi mo
(which) has remained the same
あるの?
aruno
is there any district (in Tokyo)
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
浅草あさくさ
asakusa
Asakusa
なんかは、
nannka ha,
(well) perhaps
有名ゆうめいなおてら
yuumeina otera ga
(a) famous temple
ある
aru
(it) is home to
から
kara
as
そんなに
sonnnani
much
わらないね。
kawaranai ne.
(it) hasn’t changed
それから
sorekara
(and) there’s
高級店こうきゅうてん
koukyuutenn
posh shops
ga
with
なら
narabu
(with its streets) lined
銀座ぎんざ
ginnza
Ginza
も。
mo.
also
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
銀座ぎんざ
ginnza
(the word) Ginza
といえば、
toieba
speaking of
いろんなところに
ironnna tokoroni
all over the place
あるね。
arune.
(I)’ve seen (it)
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
戸越とごし銀座ぎんざ
togoshi ginnza
Togoshi Ginza
みたいに、
mitaini,
for instance
名前なまえ
namae
(their) names
ni
in
銀座ぎんざって
ginnza tte
Ginza
tsuku
with the suffix
商店街しょうてんがい
shoutenngai ha
shopping streets
全国ぜんこく
zennkokuni
throughout Japan
300さんびゃく
sannbyaku
three hundred
以上いじょう
ijou
over
ある
aru
there are
んだって。
nndatte
I’ve heard (that)
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
東京とうきょう
toukyou
Tokyo
には
niha
in
特徴とくちょうがあるまち
tokuchou ga aru machi ga
unique districts
いっぱい
ippai
many
ある
aru
there are
よね。
yone
don’t you think so?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
KAWAIIファッションかわいいふぁっしょん
kawaii fasshionn
its kawaii (cute) fashion
no
for
原宿はらじゅく
harajyuku
Harajuku
日本一にほんいち繁華街はんかがい
nihonnichi no hannkagai,
Japan’s number one entertainment town
歌舞伎町かぶきちょうがある
kabukichou ga aru
(where) Kabukicho is located
新宿しんじゅく
shinnjyuku
Shinjuku
道具どうぐまちって
dougu no machi tte
being (a) tool town
いわれる
iwareru
known for
合羽橋かっぱばし
kappabashi,
Kappabashi
下町したまち情緒じょうちょ
shitamachi jyoucho
(its) old world atmosphere
あふれる
afureru
with
谷中やなか
yanaka
Yanaka
とか、
toka,
and more
ユニークなまち
yuni-ku na machi ha
unique areas
おおいよね。
ooi yone.
there are many

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