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Satsuma spirits to be model for students
The embankment work on three Kiso rivers by Satsuma loyalists during the Edo period (1600-1867) will appear in a Japanese textbook for second year junior high school students published by Sanseido.
The textbook depicts the progress toward the completion of the river improvement project in faraway Mino (currently Gifu Prefecture) by the Satsuma Clan, who achieved the deadly mission enduring diseases and obstructions by the feudal government. It also introduces some remarks including the one by Satsuma chief attendant Hirata Yukie: “It is a duty as a human being to help our fellows who are in trouble”.
The publisher said: “the spirit of doing a favour for someone by eliminating egotism is well-timed for Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake”.
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＜タイトル＞
薩摩精神が学生の模範になる
＜第１パラグラフ＞
embankment work：治水工事（flood control project, riparian work）　　　Satsuma loyalists：薩摩義士　　　appear：登場する　　　published by…：・・・が発行する
＜第２パラグラフ＞
Depict：描く（describe, illustrate）　　　progress：進展（procedure, development）　　　completion：完成　　　river ~ project：治水工事　　　faraway：遠方の（distant, remote, far）　　　achieve：達成する（accomplish, fulfil; carry through）　　　the deadly mission：その難事業（治水工事のこと）　　　enduring...：・・・に耐えて　　　obstruction：妨害（interference, interruption, disturbance, hindrance）　　　the ~ government：幕府　　　remark：所見、見解（comment, saying）　　　fellow：仲間（friend, company, companion, colleague, mate, etc.）
＜第３パラグラフ＞
Do a favour for…：・・・のために尽くす　　　eliminate：・・・を除去する（exclude）　　　egotism：利己主義　　　well-timed：に時宜を得ている（timely, opportune, seasonable）