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

Reproduction of old Japanese map appears in Ibusuki
An exhibition of a complete reproduction of an old Japanese map, which was created by a geographical surveyor in the Edo period (1603-1868), Ino Tadataka, "Ino-zu Floor Exhbition in Ibusuki," was held at Ibusuki Sports Complex in Ibusuki City on November 21 through 24. Also on display was a map of the Ryukyu Dynasty (now Okinawa Prefecture)-- which had been completed four years before Ino began conducting the survey of the Japanese main lands for the first time outside Okinawa Prefecture. Along with the map of the Amami Islands made by the then Satsuma Clan (now Kagoshima Prefecture), it became the first of its kind to show the whole picture of the Japanese archipelago of the Edo Period.
At the venue, visitors were able to walk on the maps, which had been specially processed for that purpose. Comparing with a contemporary map, people enjoyed an imaginary trip to the ancient Japan while feeling the passion of the great person of the past--Tadataka Ino.
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＜タイトル＞
指宿に古い日本地図の再現が登場
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ reproduction：完全に再現したもの　　　a ~ surveyor：測量家　　　was held：行われた　　　for ~ time：初めて　　　Along with...：・・・と一緒に　　　first ~ kind：その種としては初めてのもの　　　Japanese archipelago：日本列島
＜第２パラグラフ＞
venue：会場　　　(had been) specially processed：特別に加工された　　　Comparing with...：・・・と比較して　　　people ~ Japan：人々は昔の日本への想像の旅を楽しんだ

Turn ash collection into sport!
The first ash collection event, in which participants compete against each other in the amount of volcanic ash they must collect, took place near Kaigata fishing port in Tarumizu City on November 17. The event was the brainchild of the leader of the city's citizens’ group (and organizer of the event), "Kaigata Hot Spring Revitalization Committee," who came up with the idea of turning the work of ash collection into a game after hearing about the recent drop in visitors due to the increase in the fall of ash from Mt. Sakurajima. He also wanted to change the image of the cleaning operation as heavy labour.
The game was played by teams of five elementary school students and their parents, and those who collected the most ash in 50 minutes were the winner. Four teams of about 30 people from Tarumizu Elementary School and their parents competed to gather piles of volcanic dust with brooms, dustpans, and shovels in hand-- which resulted in about a hundred plastic bags.
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＜タイトル＞
灰集めをスポーツに変えよう！
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Volcanic ash：火山灰　　　took place：行われた　　　brainchild of...：・・・の思いつきである　　　came ~ idea of...：・・・のアイデアを思いついた　　　due to...：・・・が要因で
＜第２パラグラフ＞
competed：競った　　　piles of...：・・・の山　　　resulted in...：・・・という結果になった

Film featuring Amami completed
A film director, Ms. Naomi Kawase (44), visited Kagoshima Governor Ito Yuichiro at the Prefectural office on November 18 to report the completion of her new film "Futatsume no Mado (The Second Window)," which she had shot on the Amami Islands.
Kawase, whose grandmother on the maternal side is from Kasari town in the island's Amami City, stayed in Amami for two and a half years including the preparation period. Expressing her gratitude for the support from the local residents, saying, "There was no better place for shooting than this time," she seemed to be satisfied with the movie whose themes are about "life and death" and "the coexistence between civilization and nature."
After editing, the movie will hit screens nationwide in the early summer of 2014.
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＜タイトル＞
奄美を特集した映画が完成
＜第１パラグラフ＞
(had) shot：撮影した
＜第２パラグラフ＞
On ~ side：母方の　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　gratitude for...：・・・への感謝　　　be ~ with...：・・・に満足している
＜第３パラグラフ＞
The ~ screen：映画が公開される

Kikai Island's plant community to be listed as national treasure
With regard to "Plant Community on Elevated Coral Reef of Kikaijima Island" in Kikai town, the Council for Cultural Affairs (Chairman: Ryohei Miyata) submitted an application for approval as a national natural treasure, on November 15, to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
The plant community is located along the Araki-Nakazato Seaside Walking Trail in the southwest of Kikaijima Island. The area forms a terrace from the shoreline to a plateau approximately 20 metres above sea level, which was created as a result of the elevation of coral reef—along which a sequential zonal distribution of vegetation to the coastal forest can be observed. In addition, though it's located at the northern limit for raised coral reef, it has a colony of diverse plant communities in the vast area of 18 hectares, making it a valuable place.
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＜タイトル＞
喜界島の植物群落が国宝になる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
With regard to...：・・・に関して　　　elevated coral reef：隆起サンゴ礁　　　submitted ~ treasure：天然記念物に指定するように答申した
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Is located...：・・・に位置している　　　The ~ terrace：一体は段丘を形成している　　　plateau：台地　　　approximately：約　　　above ~ level：標高　　　as ~ of...：・・・の結果として　　　along ~ observed：（段丘）に沿って沿岸地樹林までの連続した植生の退場分布が見られる　　　In addition：加えて　　　the northern limit：北限　　　a ~ communities：多様な植物群落の集まり　　　a vast area：広大な面積　　　making ~ place：（前述のことが）（動植物群落を）貴重なものとしている

Ibutama train to extend line to Makurazaki
The Ibusuki City Sightseeing Association and others are currently proceeding with a plan to extend the operation of JR Kyushu's sightseeing express train on the Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, "Ibusuki no Tamatebako (Ibutama)," to Makurazaki Station. Though the service can be provided only on limited schedules, JR is positive about the plan, and the first train service is expected to be realized as early as February next year. Ahead of the arrival of Ibutama, the local authorities will move ahead on proposing new tourist routes.
The Ibusuki-Makurazaki line is a popular route among rail fans as it has Nishioyama Station--the southernmost station on the JR line-- and Makurazaki Station, whose station building was completed this year. According to JR, they will run extra trains to Makurazaki. The fare is expected to be around 4,000 yen for a round trip, including the express fare.
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＜タイトル＞
いぶたま列車が枕崎まで路線延長する
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Are ~ plan：現在計画を進めている　　　on ~ schedules：限られたスケジュールで　　　JR ~ plan：ＪＲはその計画に前向きである　　　is ~ to...：・・・することが期待される　　　as ~ as...：速ければ・・・で　　　Ahead ~ Ibutama：いぶたまの到着を前に　　　the ~ authorities：地元当局　　　will ~ on...：・・・を推進する
＜第２パラグラフ＞
According to...：・・・によると　　　they ~ trains：（ＪＲ）は臨時列車を走らせる　　　a ~ trip：往復　　　including...：・・・を含めて

Uchinoura Space Centre offers tour inside
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s Uchinoura Space Centre in Minakata, Kimotsuki town, invited the general public to a tour inside the facility on November 10. Over a thousand people, including families and amateur astronomers, visited to have a ringside view of the facilities that are not usually disclosed-- such as the launch pad used for the launch of the new type of solid rocket Epsilon on September 14.
As the launch pad was taken out from inside the 47-metre-tall service tower, spectators let out a voice of surprise to see its body, charred from the high-temperature blast at the time of the liftoff—which demonstrated the power of a rocket.
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＜タイトル＞
内之浦宇宙観測所が内部見学を提供する
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Invited ~ facility：一般人を施設内部見学に招いた　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　amateur astronomers：アマチュア天文家　　　have ~ of...：・・・を間近で見る　　　such as...：・・・のような　　　solid rocket：固形燃料ロケット
＜第２パラグラフ＞
As ~ tower：発射台が高さ４７メートルの整備塔から運び出されると　　　spectators：見物客　　　let ~ surprise：驚きの声を上げた　　　charred ~ blast：高温の爆風で焦げた　　　which ~ rocket：（黒焦げの姿が）ロケット威力を示した

Local companies eyeing space food production
Several companies in Kagoshima Prefecture are trying on making "Japanese space food" for which the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is currently accepting applications. Expectations are high for the birth of space food produced in Kagoshima Prefecture, which has two space centres that make it "the nearest place to space."
In producing the space food, it is utmost that it doesn't give off moisture, or leave crumbs, which would affect precision instruments. It also must meet strict requirements-- it must be able to be stored for at least a year and a half at room temperature, and the amount of salt must be restricted. Moreover, the food must be prepared either by adding water or by heating, or be served as is. "Taste," of course, is also a key factor.
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＜タイトル＞
地元企業が宇宙食の生産に注目している
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Is ~ applications：現在募集中である　　　expectations ~ for...：・・・への期待が高い　　　that ~ space：（２つのロケット発射基地を持つことで）「宇宙に一番近い場所」になっている
＜第２パラグラフ＞
It ~ that...：・・・が最も重要である　　　it ~ moisture：水分を出さない　　　(it doesn't) leave crumbs：カスが出ない　　　precision instruments：精密機械　　　It ~ requirements：（宇宙食は）さらに厳しい条件を満たさなければならない　　　it ~ year：少なくとも１年半は保存できなければいけない　　　at ~ temperature：室温で　　　Moreover：さらに　　　a ~ factor：重要な要素

Arrival of cranes herald winter in Kagoshima
The first batch of cranes from Siberia were confirned as flying into the Izumi Plain in the east section of Izumi’s reclaimed land in the Shimozuru district of Takaono town, Izumi City on October 16. Their appearance was seven days earlier than last year. The inbound of the migrating birds will peak at the end of October.
According to the prefecture's protection society of cranes, local farmer Matsushima Kazuyuki (54) spotted five hooded cranes in the east reclaimed land, the wintering spot for the migrators; and the sighting was later confirmed by the society. The pilgrims circled around the sky before landing on the ground near the water.
Last year, though the arrival of the first unit was the second latest since 1962 when records were first kept, the total number of heads reached 13,138-- the second largest number, and one that exceeded 10,000 for the 16th straight year. The cranes will be on their homeward journey as early as the beginning of February.
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＜タイトル＞
鶴の飛来が鹿児島に冬の到来を告げる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
The ~ Siberia：シベリアからの鶴の第１陣　　　were ~ Plain：出水平野に飛来するのが確認された　　　reclaimed land：埋立地　　　inbound：到着　　　the ~ birds：渡り鳥（鶴のこと）　　　(will) peak：ピークを迎える
＜第２パラグラフ＞
According to...：・・・によると　　　spotted...：・・・に気づいた　　　hooded cranes：ナベヅル　　　the ~ spot：越冬地　　　the migrators：渡り鳥（鶴のこと）　　　the ~ society：その目撃は後に保護会によって確認された　　　The pilgrims：その巡礼者たち（鶴のこと）
＜第３パラグラフ＞
When ~ kept：最初に記録がとられた　　　the ~ 13,138：合計は１万３１３８羽に達した　　　the ~ number：２番目に多い数字　　　exceeded...：・・・を超えた　　　for ~ year：１６年連続で　　　The ~ journey：鶴たちは帰路の旅に向かう

Seven Star Train makes debut
A luxury sleeper train "Nanatsuboshi in Kyushu," or "Seven Stars in Kyushu," started operation on October 15. Painted in deep vermilion, dubbed "antique lacquer colour," the massively built train's interior is furnished with items that are each crafted by traditional techniques from all parts of the Kyushu region. It left JR Hakata Station for a journey around Kyushu.
On its maiden voyage, the train will make a four-day three-night trip around Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Kumamoto prefectures. It will stop overnight at Hayato Station for a stay at Kirishima spa resort on the second day, and it will visit Senganen Japanese garden in Kagoshima City on the third day. It will return to Hakata Station on the evening of the 18th.
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＜タイトル＞
ななつ星がデビューを飾る
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ train：豪華寝台列車　　　started operation：運行を開始した　　　deep vermilion：深い朱色　　　dubbed...：・・・と呼ばれる（called）　　　massively built：重厚な；筋骨隆々の　　　furnished with...：・・・で装飾された
＜第２パラグラフ＞
On ~ voyage：その処女航海（ななつ星の初運行のこと）の中で　　　will ~ trip：３泊４日の旅をする　　　It ~ Station：隼人駅に一晩停車する　　　Kirishima spa resort：霧島温泉郷

Asian youths unite in Kagoshima
The 8th Kagoshima Asian Youth Arts Festival, "Asian Kagoshima," took place at Hozan Hall and Chuo Park in Kagoshima City on October 12 and 13. In the music festival held on the first day, around 260 people from eight countries, including Korea and Tawian, and Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) performed dances or choruses in colourful costumes. Some 2,000 people turned up for the show to share the sense of unity through music.
On the second day, there were food stalls selling a variety of Asian dishes, and booths were set up for visitors to try on the ethnic costumes of each region.
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＜タイトル＞
アジアの若者が鹿児島に集う
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Took place：行われた（was held）　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　Special ~ China：中国の特別行政区　　　turned ~ show：そのショーに登場した　　　to ~ music：音楽を通して一体感を共有した
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Food stalls：食べ物の屋台　　　a ~ of...：多様な・・・　　　booths ~ up：ブースが設けられた　　　try on...：・・・を試着する

Kanoya rose garden to be stage of romance
The Naoki Prize-winning author Mitsuyo Kakuta (46) made a research visit to the Kanoya Rose Garden in Hamada town in Kanoya City on October 2. She will write one of seven stories for the "Lovers' Sanctuaries" series in a novel magazine to be published on November 22. She said, "It will be challenging as I've never written a novel featuring flowers. I'd like to get good inspiration (from the rose garden)."
The novel series has been planned for a special Christmas issue of the "Shosetsu Shincho" magazine. In the project, each of the seven female novelists will write a romance based on a place they selected from "Lovers' Sanctuaries" across the country. The places for selection have been designated by a Shizuoka Prefecture-based NPO.
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＜タイトル＞
鹿屋バラ園が恋愛小説の舞台に
＜第１パラグラフ＞
The ~ author：直木賞受賞作家　　　made ~ to...：・・・を取材旅行で訪れた　　　It ~ challenging：（困難だが）やりがいがある　　　featuring...：・・・を前面に押し出した　　　I'd ~ garden：（バラ園から）よい着想を得たい
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Based on...：・・・を舞台にした　　across ~ country：国中の　　　have ~ designated：認定された

For the Colorful: CG artist gives fresh look to Oshima pongee
Kagoshima Prefecture Specialty Products Association will feature two pieces of Oshima Pongee, designed by internationally-acclaimed computer graphics artist Mr. Kawaguchi Yoichiro (61), at the prefectural government's building on October 10.
Featuring fresh designs, the new tsumugi—each being one of a kind—give a completely different image in contrast to the cloth of origin—the conventional indigo blue of the Oshima Islands. The association envisions that the twin kimono will be on exhibition at museums at home and abroad, and thereby the tradition and history of Oshima tsumugi will become known to people around the world and will be handed down to future generations.
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＜タイトル＞
この色は、あなたです：ＣＧアーティストが大島紬に斬新な表情を与える
＊For the ColorfulはApple社の新型iPhone 5Cの宣伝文句
＜第１パラグラフ＞
(will) feature...：・・・を呼び物にする　　　internationally-acclaimed：世界的に高い評価を受けている
＜第２パラグラフ＞
One ~ kind：１点もの　　　in contrast to...：・・・とは対照的に　　　the ~ Island：奄美大島の従来の紺色　　　envisions：・・・を思い描いている　　　at ~ abroad：国内外で　　　will ~ people：人々に知られる　　　will ~ generations：次世代に受け継がれる

Citizen group forwards a motion to recall Kagoshima Governor
A citizen group, “Ken-chiji Recall Gumi Never Give Up,” that seeks the displacement of Kagoshima Governor Ito Yuichiro, in a protest against some of his measures such as sending its staff members to Shanghai, China, applied for certificate of representation from the prefectural election board on September 30. The group is expected to start gathering signatures as early as mid-October. According to the local voting officials, it is the first time that they received a request for the recall of the governor.
On the same day, seven members of the citizen group, led by the secretary-general Kenzo Nose (63), visited the voting committee's office and handed the application of 78 people including their representative Haruhiko Dozono to the committee's general secretary Koichi Terachi.
According to the election board, the legal number required for the formal recall is 273,279 as of September 13.
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＜タイトル＞
市民団体が鹿児島県知事リコールに向けて動議を提出する
＜第１パラグラフ＞
displacement：解職　　　in ~ against...：・・・への抗議として　　　such as...：・・・のような　　　applied for...：・・・を申請した　　　certificate ~ representation：代表者証明書　　　is expected to...：・・・する予定である　　　start ~ signatures：署名活動を始める　　　According to...：・・・によると　　　it ~ that...：（that以下）は初めてである
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Led by...：・・・が率いる　　　handed...：・・・を手渡した
＜第３パラグラフ＞
The ~ number：法定数　　　required for...：・・・に求められる　　　as of...：・・・時点で

"Galaxy Union" makes it into space
Kimotsuki town has announced that an asteroid between mars and Jupiter in the solar system had been named "Kimotsuki." It was the second time that a minor planet was named after the town, following "Uchinoura."
Marking the 25th anniversary of The Republic of "Galaxy Union," which consists of cities and towns nationwide that have space-related facilities, the union applied for the registration of the names of their member cities and towns-- except for Sagamihara City in Kanagawa Prefecture, which already has the star of its namesake--at The Minor Planet Centre in the U.S. The space authorities recognized all five names on September 19, making all the Galaxy Union members the names of stars.
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＜タイトル＞
「銀河連邦」が宇宙へ進出
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Has announced (that)：（that以下のこと）を発表した　　　an asteroid：小惑星　　　a ~ planet：小惑星　　　was ~ town：その町（肝属町のこと）の名をとって命名された　　　following...：・・に続いて
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Marking ~ anniversary：２５周年を記念して　　　consists of...：・・・で構成される　　　applied for...：・・・を申請した　　　except for...：・・・は除いて　　　the star ~ namesake：（相模原市と）同じ名前の星を持っている

New Takeoka Tunnel opens amid confusion
"New Takeoka Tunnel," which joins Take and Tagami districts in Kagoshima city, opened on September 29. The 1.5-kilometre-long tunnel was crowded from the first day with some drivers turning up only to witness the new landmark structure. Traffic was also disrupted by a road structure where the right lane connects to the prefectural road, which is rare in the prefecture, and some drivers were seen making sudden lane changes. Many users complained that traffic signs were unclear, while some were concerned that cars might stray into the wrong lane to cause accidents.
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＜タイトル＞
新武岡トンネルが混乱の中開通
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Joins A and B：ＡとＢを結ぶ　　　was crowded with...：・・・で混雑した　　　witness：目撃する　　　the ~ structure：新たな象徴的建造物（新武岡トンネル）　　　Traffic ~ structure：道路構造にも混乱させられた　　　complained：不満を言った　　　cars ~ accidents：車が反対車線に入り込んで事故を起こす

Iōjima island becomes candidate for future energy plant
Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Obayashi Corporation are planning to build a geothermal plant for the production of liquified hydrogen (LH) at Mt. Iōdake on Iōjima island in Mishima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture. If realised, it is expected to become the world's first commercial production of the liquid. The companies are aiming to start the operation as early as 2019 saying, "We hope to see fuel-cell cars using liquified hydrogen made in Mishima village running at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics."
LH is expected to have an increasing demand in the future as an alternative energy with the popularisation of fuel-cell vehicles. Currently, it is mostly produced from fossil fuels such as natural gas.
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＜タイトル＞
硫黄島が未来エネルギー工場の候補地になる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ plant：地熱発電所　　　liquified hydrogen：液体水素　　　If realised：もし実現したら　　　it ~ to...：・・・することが期待される　　　the ~ liquid：その液体（液体水素のこと）の世界最初の商業生産　　　are aiming to...：・・・することを目指している　　　fuel-cell cars：燃料電池自動車
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An ~ demand：需要の増加　　　as ~ energy：代替エネルギーとして　　　with ~ vehicles：燃料電池者の普及によって　　　fossil fuels：化石燃料

Sakurajima-Kinko Bay listed as National Geopark
Japan Geopark Committee (Chairman: Oike Kazuo, the former chancellor of Kyoto University) designated seven regions, including "Sakurajima-Kinko Bay," as the National Geopark at a meeting held at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's annex in Tokyo on September 24.
With the active volcano Sakurajima at the centre, "Sakurajima-Kinko Bay," approximately 320-square-kilometres in area, consists of the surrounding Kinko Bay and the central to the northern part of Kagoshima City's urban area. Its unique features—which reflect the culture, history, and lifestyle that have been cultivated through co-existence with the volcano—won approval from the committee. Oike said, "I hope (the local authorities) will work closely with other regions in the Kyushu area in order to introduce the characteristics of Kyushu's volcanoes to the rest of the world."
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桜島・錦江湾が国のジオパークに認定される
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Designated~ as...：～を・・・に指定した　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　held：開かれた
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With ~ centre：活火山の桜島を中心にして　　　approximately：約　　　consists of...：・・・で構成される　　　the surrounding Kinko Bay：周囲の錦江湾　　　reflect...：・・・を反映した　　　co-existence ~ volcano：火山との共生　　　won ~ committee：委員から評価された　　　work (closely) with...：・・・と（密接に）連携する　　　in order to...：・・・するために　　　rest ~ world：席のその他の地域