English Essay by Brian Southwick, Niigata City ALT

58 A Trip to Sado Island: Part 1 READING (slow) (fast)

More than ten years ago I visited Sado Island for the first time. I went there with a friend, and for two days we rode our bicycles around the northern part of the island. I was impressed by the beauty of Sado, the mountains that rose straight up from the sea, and the clear water of the island’s rocky beaches. At night I stayed at traditional Japanese inns and enjoyed Sado’s delicious seafood. I was sorry to leave the island at the end of the trip, but I promised myself to return someday to see the southern part of Sado.

Last week I was finally able to go back. I got up early in the morning on Thursday, September 29, and met the same cycling friend near Toki Messe to take the first car ferry to Sado. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed sitting outside and watching as the island got closer and closer. Two-and-a-half hours after starting, we arrived in Ryotsu. Soon afterwards we got on our bicycles and started on our way.
                   READING (slow) (fast)

Our first stop was Himezaki, a village by the sea about 15 km from Ryotsu. Himezaki is famous for its lighthouse, which was built in 1895 and is the oldest iron lighthouse in Japan. Himezaki lighthouse is important not only in this country but also in the world. A few years ago it was chosen as one of the world’s 100 best lighthouses. My friend and I took some photos and had something to eat and drink at a camping spot nearby. It was very peaceful there, the only sounds coming from the birds and the wind in the trees.

Next the two of us I rode toward Matsugazaki, a fishing village about 30 km from Himezaki. From time to time we stopped to enjoy the view of the rocky coast and to take pictures. Along the way we passed one or two old elementary schools, closed long ago. The playgrounds were covered with grass and the jungle gyms and see-saws with rust. I thought I could hear the voices of the children who used to go to school there. “Where are the children now?” I wondered.

<注>
More than(〜以上),for the first time(初めて)
around the northern part of the island(島の北側の周囲を),was impressed(感動した)
rose straight up from(〜からまっすぐ切り立った),rocky beaches(岩の海岸)
traditional Japanese inns(伝統的な日本旅館),was finally able to(ついに〜できた)
as(〜の時),got closer and closer(段々近づいた),Soon afterwards(その後すぐに)
is famous for(〜で有名だ),iron lighthouse(鉄製の灯台)
not only 〜 but also‥(〜だけでなく‥も),A few years ago(数年前)
was chosen as one of〜(〜の一つとして選ばれた),nearby(近くの),peaceful(穏やかな)
toward(〜の方へ),From time to time(時々),Along(〜に沿って)
were covered with(〜で覆われた),with rust(錆びて),used to(以前は〜であった)





Questions and Answers: Answer the questions in a complete sentence in English.


Q1. What impressed Brian on his first visit to Sado Island?
A1.

Q2. How many years passed before Brian could go back to Sado?
A2.

Q3. Why is Himezaki an important lighthouse?
A3.

Q4. How far is Matsugazaki from Ryotsu?
A4.

Q5. Have you ever been to Sado? If “yes”, where did you go?
A5.




<解答例>

A1. The beauty of Sado did.

A2. More than ten years did.

A3. Because a few years ago it was chosen as one of the world’s 100 best lighthouses.

A4. It is about 45km.

A5. Yes, I have. I went to Aikawa.
   or No, I haven’t.