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ALC Newsletter No. 069 10/03/07
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By the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
http://www.alc.co.jp/international
Contents:
1) The "Dear Readers" Column: Messages from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
2) Topics in Japan #25: Scandals around sumo: "Traditions" being questioned
3) Quiz on Japan #8: "Who is not recommended to eat autumn eggplants?"
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Dear Readers,
Greetings from Tokyo!
It was very hot last Friday, but it suddenly cooled down on Saturday
and since then it has been quite cool, but it is expected to get hot
again this weekend. Well, we won't be surprised even if we have
both summer and winter days in a week! In October, various study
abroad fairs and events are scheduled to take place in Japan and
some of you may plan to come here to participate in them. We would
like to advise those visitors to bring both summer and winter outfits
to be prepared for the changeable weather here!
Best wishes from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press.
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Topics in Japan #25: Scandals around sumo: "Traditions" being
questioned
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A wave of scandals is now shaking the world of sumo wrestling, the
national sport of Japan. In June, it was reported that a 17-year-old
wrestler died of heart failure. But it turned out last month that
senior wrestlers had repeatedly abused him, sometimes using metal
baseball bats. What was worse, the stablemaster not only neglected
such assaults, but also beat the wrestler himself.
The case is still under investigation, but there is a high possibility
that their assaults lead to the wrestler's death. The media has
been covering the case almost every day, filling the public with rage.
In the sumo world, it is common that sumo wrestlers have to train
themselves very hard in order to be stronger, both physically and
mentally. However, if "hard training" means "abusing someone until
death," the foundations of sumo will be severely questioned.
Meanwhile, there had already been a series sumo-related headlines
earlier this year. Yokozuna (the highest rank of sumo) wrestler
Asashoryu had been criticized for cheating, suspicion of bout-fixing,
and also some violent acts outside the ring. Furthermore, in August,
Asashoryu cancelled an official sumo tour, because of injury, but
secretly went back to his home country, Mongolia, during the tour
and was filmed playing soccer. After this series of scandals,
Asashoryu began to show symptoms of depression. Now he is back
in Mongolia for treatment.
Of course, the death of a wrestler and Asashoryu's unfavorable
behavior are totally different matters. However, they might be both
showing that there are some strains beginning to appear in the sumo
world, which has always honored its traditions and tried to preserve
them. The irony is that sumo, which had been losing its popularity,
is now getting more attention than ever before.
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Quiz on Japan #8: "Who is not recommended to eat autumn
eggplants?"
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How much do you know about Japan? We'll give you a quiz in each
issue, so try to find the right answer!
［Answer to last week's quiz］
Last week's quiz question was "Why was October 10 previously set
as "National Sports Day"? The answer is: (b) Because the Tokyo
Olympics of 1964 was held from this date. The reason for holding the
Olympic Games in October, which is a little late for "summer," was
that October was known for good weather. The Tokyo Olympics was
quite significant in that it was the first Olympic games held in Asia.
［Quiz for this week］
Quiz #8: In Japan, there is a saying that your appetite increases in
autumn, because a variety of seasonal foods come out in this season.
One of them is eggplants ─ they taste very good in autumn! By the
way, there is a saying "Don't let a ( ) eat autumn eggplants." Who
goes into the blank, and why?
(a) Singer ─ because it is not good for your throat.
(b) Daughter-in-law ─ because it cools your body.
(c) Husband ─ because it disrupts your reproductive functions.
(d) Wife ─ because it absorbs a lot of oil and makes you put on
weight.
Check out the correct answer in the next issue!
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Thank you for reading!
*Back issues of the ALC Newsletter are available at:
http://www.alc.co.jp/international/Newsletter.html
*If you wish to be removed from this newsletter or change the e-mail
address to which it is sent, please let us know by e-mailing us at:
intl-mag@alc.co.jp
Publisher: ALC Press, Inc.
2-54-12 Eifuku, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168-8611 Japan
Writers: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press / Ayako Ishimoto
Editor: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press
Copyright (c) 2007 ALC Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
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