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英文読解★時事英会話 【中級】 2018年1～3月期 課題Topic5
News Discussion Topic5【Intermediate】 January-March, 2018

newsonjapan.com 20 February 2018

Just how successful could casinos be in Japan?

  1. It was in December 2016 / that casino gambling was first legalized throughout Japan, / finally putting an end to a 15-year hiatus/ during which politicians basically argued with each other.
  2. Back when the ban was lifted, / Fortune reported / that as few as three casinos in Japan would generate approximately $10 billion a year, / about 0.2% of the country's gross domestic product. / That said, / casinos won't be appearing in Japan until 2022 at the earliest / as legislation still needs to go through / and tax rates are yet to be set. / This means / that Japanese citizens are having to wait patiently, / but it's pretty clear / that once casinos do start popping up around the country / they're sure to visit in their masses.
  3. Just look at / how popular the game of pachinko is. / Often referred to as Japanese slots, / pachinko is actually a verticalpinball-esque game / that requires players to navigate a ball through a maze/ but we're pretty sure you know that / considering how popular this game really is / in the Japanese archipelago. / Pachinko parlors can be found in almost every city and town, / whether you're in Hokkaido, Okinawa or somewhere in between.
  4. Last year, Bloomberg reported / that 23.3 trillion yen ($203 billion) was spent in Japan on pachinko / and other slot machine games in 2015, / and that's considered a small amount in comparison to earlier years. / According to the report, / the pachinko market peaked all the way back in 2005, / and yet to this day / it continues to represent 4% of Japan's gross domestic product.
  5. Of course, pachinko isn't the only game / that the Japanese love to gamble on. / There's also the lottery, / as well as sports betting, / which can involve boats, horses, bicycles and motorbikes / amongst other things. / Clearly, there is a huge market / that just needs to be tapped into, / and surely it will be / once casinos are introduced to the islands. / This is especially true / if those casino operators take note of games / that are already played elsewhere in the world, / that would do extremely well in Japan.
  6. Take for example Keno. / This game is very popular all around the world from Australia to Canada, / where it gains so much attention / that there are even guides / on where to play keno for free available online. / Chances are / Japanese players would love it / as it is a combination of the lottery and bingo, / in that players place wagers/ by choosing numbers ranging from one to eighty. / Once every player has chosen, / twenty numbers are selected at random / and if your numbers show up you win -- / it's as easy as that.
  7. As for other games, / there are real money casinos / both around the world and online / packed full of titles and genres, / so there's almost a certainty / that a few will catch on. / You never know, / the Japanese market might start calling for more card games / such as western blackjack or poker, / as we know there's already a huge market / for number puzzles in the country.
  8. Ultimately, / we can't see casinos flopping once they arrive in Japan, / there's just too much to support the idea / that the Japanese will love them. / That said,/ what is your opinion? / Do you think casinos will be successful in Japan?

【語句】hiatus（名）休止・中断 in their masses：大量に vertical（形）垂直の pinball-esque（形）ピンボール風の maze（名）迷路 archipelago（名）列島 tap into：～に入り込む take note of：～に注目する wager（名）掛け金 catch on：流行する flop（動）大失敗する That said：とはいえ、そうは言っても

–Questions for Discussion –

  1. Would you give us a brief outline of this article?
  2. What do you think of the introduction of casinos in Japan?
  3. Why is the game of pachinko so popular in Japan?
  4. Have you ever tried any gambling in Japan or abroad?
  5. What do you most agree or disagree with in this article?
  6. Is there anything else you would like to share with us about this topic?

【参考】朝日新聞 2018年2月21日
カジノ入場料、日本人２千円 政府案、訪日客は無料

政府は２１日午前、統合型リゾート（ＩＲ）に設置するカジノの入場料について、日本人から１日あたり２千円を徴収する方針を自民党の検討プロジェクトチーム（ＰＴ）に示した。午後には公明党にも示す。

与党内で協議し、入場料を固め、今国会に提出予定のＩＲ実施法案に盛り込む。

カジノ「週３回」に規制案 自民反発「経済に悪影響」

訪日外国人については無料とする。政府は日本人からの入場料徴収を、依存症対策としても位置づけている。自民党のＰＴで岩屋毅・座長は、高額な入場料では日本人客が入りづらいことを懸念し、「入場料は事業性に影響を与える。どこにバランスをとっていくか重要な論点」と語った。

ただ、入場料２千円は、政府が参考としているシンガポールのカジノの入場料１００シンガポールドル（約８１００円）に比べて格段に安い設定。依存症対策にこだわる公明党が難色を示す可能性がある。

また、政府は、カジノ事業者には納付金の支払いを義務づける。納付金は国とＩＲを設置する都道府県で折半し、カジノ事業者は、事実上のライセンス料にあたる定額負担と、カジノのゲーム事業でもうけた収入の３割を支払う。

ゲーム事業の収入が１５００億円を超える場合、税率が上がる累進課税を導入する案も検討している。

【Review Questions from Topic4】 Tokyo school plan to adopt Armani uniform sparks criticism

  1. Would you give us a brief outline of this article?
  2. What do you think of the elementary school’s plan to adopt uniforms designed by Giorgio Armani?
  3. Do you think this school could better reflect its status as a "landmark" in Ginza by changing uniforms?
  4. Why do most students choose to wear uniforms although they are not strictly compulsory?
  5. If your child went to this school in Ginza, how would you respond to its principal?
  6. Is there anything else you would like to share with us about this topic?

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Original: （＝元の英文）

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和訳（オプション）：英文の意味を確実に伝えるため、必要なら日本語訳を付けてください。

Corrected: （＝添削後の英文）

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Q: （選んだ2つ目の設問をここにコピーペーストしてください）

Original: （＝元の英文）

（この上にスピーチ原稿を入力してください）

和訳（オプション）：英文の意味を確実に伝えるため、必要なら日本語訳を付けてください。

Corrected: （＝添削後の英文）

（受講生の方は上の英文原稿をこの上にコピーペーストしてください）

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