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.
ハロウィンが
harowinn ga
Halloween
盛り上がっている
moriagatteiru
(people) get really fired up over
渋谷なの?
shibuya nano
Shibuya ?
若者の街
wakamono no machi
young people for (a) town
サッカーの
sakka- no
the [Football]
ワールドカップ
wa-rudo kappu
(the) World Cup
大きなイベントが
ookina ibennto ga
(a) big event
若者が
wakamono ga
young people
騒いだりするよ。
sawaidarisuru yo.
to let their hair down
渋谷駅前の
shibuya eki mae no
in front of Shibuya Station
交差点が
kousatenn ga
(the) crossing
外国人観光客
gaikokujinn kannkoukyaku
foreign visitors
観光スポットに
kannkou supotto ni
(a) sightseeing spot
なっているのは
natteiru noha
has become
大勢の人が
oozei no hito ga
so many people
ぶつからないで
butsukaranai de
without colliding
珍しい
mezurashii
(it)’s amazing (for them)
みたいよ。
mmitai yo.
I heard (that)
交差点の
kousatenn no
(the) crossing
銅像は、
douzou
(the) statue
よね。
yone
is that correct ?
飼
kainushi ga
(its) master
主人しゅじんを
shujinn wo
him <master>
毎日まいにち
mainichi
the every day
「忠犬ちゅうけんハチ公はちこう」って
chuukenn hachikou tte
Loyal Hatchi
呼よばれてる。
yobareteru.
(he)’s called
待まちち合あわせ場所ばしょ
machiawase basho
(a) meeting spot
有名ゆうめいだね。
yuumei dane.
(it) has become famous
変かわっていく
kawatteiku
are changing
秋葉原あきはばらは
akihabara ha
Akihabara
電気でんきの街まち
dennkino machi
its electronics
知しられてる
shirareteru
is well known
サブカルさぶかるの
sabukaru no
subculture
街まちって
machi tte
(the) area with
思おもっている
omotteiru
associate
たくさんいるしね。
takusann irushi ne.
many
変かわらない街まちも
kawaranai machi mo
(which) has remained the same
あるの?
aruno
is there any district (in Tokyo)
なんかは、
nannka ha,
(well) perhaps
有名ゆうめいなお寺てらが
yuumeina otera ga
(a) famous temple
変かわらないね。
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
並ならぶ
narabu
(with its streets) lined
銀座ぎんざ
ginnza
(the word) Ginza
いろんなところに
ironnna tokoroni
all over the place
あるね。
arune.
(I)’ve seen (it)
「戸越とごし銀座ぎんざ」
togoshi ginnza
Togoshi Ginza
みたいに、
mitaini,
for instance
商店街しょうてんがいは
shoutenngai ha
shopping streets
全国ぜんこくに
zennkokuni
throughout Japan
300さんびゃく
sannbyaku
three hundred
んだって。
nndatte
I’ve heard (that)
特徴とくちょうがある街まちが
tokuchou ga aru machi ga
unique districts
よね。
yone
don’t you think so?
KAWAIIファッションかわいいふぁっしょん
kawaii fasshionn
its kawaii (cute) fashion
原宿はらじゅく、
harajyuku
Harajuku
日本一にほんいちの繁華街はんかがい、
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
道具どうぐの街まちって
dougu no machi tte
being (a) tool town
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
ユニークな街まちは
yuni-ku na machi ha
unique areas
多おおいよね。
ooi yone.
there are many