WEEKLY KAGOSHIMA on the Web

Correction&reading by Patrick / Jingle by Shu&Naoya
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Akune citizens facing decision over “recall” or “reform”
A recall referendum for Akune City Mayor Takehara Shinichi (51) was announced on November 15. The election will be conducted on December 5, and the votes will be counted on the same day. If a majority of valid votes are in favour of the move, the controversial mayor will lose his job and the next mayoral election will be held within 50 days.
Takehara won his first city mayoral election race in August 2008. He lost his post after the council passed a no-confidence motion, but made a comeback in the next election in May 2009. Since then he has pushed through official decisions frequently without convening the assembly; and, thus, has prompted Kagoshima Prefectural Governor Ito Yuichiro to make the recommendation that Takehara take corrective actions.
Attention is now focused on the residents’ judgement. While many residents are critical of Takehara, who had not abided by laws and court decisions, there are some advocating his “reform.”
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＜タイトル＞
阿久根市民が「解職」か「改革」の決断を迫られる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
A ~ referendum：リコールに関する住民投票　　　(was) announced：・・・が告示された　　　election：選挙　　　(will be) conducted：実施される（held）　　　on ~ day：同日に　　　a majority of…：・・・の過半数　　　(are) in favour of…：・・・に賛成である　　　the move：竹原市長のリコールのこと　　　the ~ mayor：その論争を呼んでいる市長（竹原市長のこと）　　　mayoral election：市長選
＜第２パラグラフ＞
City ~ race：市長選　　　post：地位、職（position）　　　a ~ motion：不信任決議　　　made a comeback：復帰を果たした　　　Since then：それ以来　　　he ~ frequently：彼（竹原市長）は頻繁に公式決定を押し通してきた　　　without ~ assembly：議会を召集せずに　　　thus：それゆえに　　　has ~ recommendation that…：（竹原市長が専決処分を繰り返したことで）鹿児島県知事伊藤祐一郎が＜that以下＞の勧告をした　　　take ~ actions：是正処置をとること
＜第３パラグラフ＞
(are) critical of…：・・・に批判的である　　　had ~ by…：・・・に従ってこなかった　　　court decisions：裁判所の判決　　　advocating…：・・・を擁護している

担当：Mitch（鹿児島外語学院講師）
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