WEEKLY KAGOSHIMA on the Web

More local businesses offer raise in winter bonuses
On November 29, Kagoshima Bank released the result of a questionnaire it conducted on major companies in the prefecture regarding the payment of winter bonuses. According to the survey, among those that were planning to offer the special allowance, 24 percent answered the amount will increase from the previous year, which was an improvement of 8 points compared to the last winter. Meanwhile, 67 percent of them-- same level as last year-- said the amount will remain the same as a year earlier, and 9 percent said they will pay the less amount, which was down 8 points from last year.
There have been an increase in public works and the last-minute housing demand before the consumption tax hike in April next year, among other factors, leading to the improvement in such businesses as construction and retailing industries. As for the rate of increase in the seasonal cash benefit, 34 percent of the surveyed answered "1 to 3 percent," which was followed by "10 percent or more" (32 percent) and "3 to less than 5 percent" (15 percent).
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＜タイトル＞
冬のボーナスを増やす地元企業が増加
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Released ~ questionnaire：アンケート結果を公表した　　　regarding...：・・・に関して　　　According to...：・・・によると　　　the special allowance：特別手当（冬のボーナスのこと）　　　the ~ year：前年　　　compared to...：・・・と比較して　　　Meanwhile：一方で　　　(will) remain ~ same：同じままである　　　a ~ earlier：前年
＜第２パラグラフ＞
The ~ demand：駆け込みの住宅需要　　　among ~ factors：いくつかの要因の中で　　　leading to...：（前述の結果として）・・・をもたらした　　　As for...：・・・に関しては　　　the ~ benefit：季節現金給付（冬のボーナスのこと）　　　(was) followed by...：・・・が続いた

Kagoshima Prefecture sets up website to promote local food
Kagoshima Prefecture has set up a comprehensive wesite regarding the prefecture's agricultural and livestock products, "Kagoshima no Shoku Website (Website of Kagoshima Food)." It features various information about the Kagoshima Brand products-- such as the growth situation and the timing of the shipments, as well as the announcement of promotional events and recipes for the local dishes. The prefecture will expand the website in phases to provide information of stores or restaurants that offer Kagoshima's food, or create the contents for children, among other services.
Mr. Akira Nagata, chairman of the committee tasked with the promotion of Kagoshima Brand, said, "I hope to build the website into a place where the production areas and the market can exchange information." The website is http://kagoshima-shoku.com.
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＜タイトル＞
鹿児島県が地元の食のＰＲのためにウェブサイトを設立する
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ website：総合ウェブサイト　　　regarding...：・・・に関して　　　features...：・・・を特集している　　　such as...：・・・のような　　　A as well as B：Ａに加えてＢも　　　in phases：段階的に　　　among ~ services：いくつかのサービスの中で
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Tasked with...：・・・の任務を負う　　　build ~ into...：～を・・・に育てる

Orange Train to offer ticket to romance
A departing ceremony for "Love Train," which is operated by the Hisatsu Orange Railway using wrapped passenger cars depicting Kagoshima Prefecture's mascots-- Guriboo and Sakura, was held at Kagoshima Chuo Station in Kagoshima City on November 23. The train will run mainly between Yatsushiro and Satsumasendai stations until November next year.
Satsumasendai City in Kagoshima Prefecture and Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture, which are connected by the new train, have Nitta Shrine and Yatsushiro Shrine that enshrine the god of romance. The operating company promoted the train saying, "(Love Train) may help (passengers) find love if they take the train with someone they like."
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＜タイトル＞
おれんじ鉄道が恋のチケットを発売
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ ceremony：出発式　　　(is) operated by...：・・・が運行する　　　wrapped ~ cars：ラッピング車両　　　depicting ~ mascots：鹿児島のＰＲキャラクターを描いた　　　was held：行われた
＜第２パラグラフ＞
enshrine...：・・・を祀（まつ）る　　　help ~ love：恋人探しを手伝う