英語で棚田を紹介します。
実際の英会話例とともに、棚田に関する基本情報を解説。
棚田の話題に触れながら、実践的な英会話スキルも身につけることができます。
英語
英会話ダイアローグを読む前に知っておくと良い前提知識と情報は以下の通りです。
- 棚田とは
- 山間部や丘陵地帯などの傾斜地に階段状に作られた田んぼのこと。
- 棚田の特徴
- 効率的な水利用: 自然の傾斜を利用して水を効率的に田んぼに流します。
- 生物多様性: 多くの植物や動物が生息しており、自然の保護区のような役割を果たしています。
- 伝統的農法: 機械を使うのが難しいため、手作業による伝統的な農法が維持されています。
- 有名な棚田
- 白米千枚田（石川県）: 約1,004枚の田んぼがあり、美しい景観が広がります。
- 丸山千枚田（三重県）: 約1,340枚の田んぼが連なる、日本最大級の棚田。
- 姨捨（長野県）: 月見の名所として有名で、田んぼに映る月の景色が美しい。
- 観光のベストシーズン
- 春（4月から6月）: 田植えの時期で、水が張られた田んぼが鏡のように美しい。
- 秋（9月から10月）: 収穫の時期で、田んぼが黄金色に輝く。
- 棚田の課題
- 維持の難しさ: 手作業が多く、高齢化も進んでいるため、維持が難しい。
- 自然災害: 土砂崩れや大雨、地震などに対して脆弱です。
- 経済的課題: 維持費が高く、収入がそれに見合わないことが多い。
- 保全活動
- 地元のコミュニティやNPO、観光客やボランティアが協力して棚田を維持・保存しています。
2人が日本の棚田について話しています。
棚田の美しさ、特徴、有名な棚田、最適な訪問時期、維持の課題、保存活動、経済的な問題を話題にしています。
また、棚田の文化的価値や体験することの重要性にも触れています。
会話 / dialogue
Hi Key, have you ever seen the terraced rice fields in Japan? They’re incredibly beautiful.
Yes, I have! They are stunning. The way the fields are carved into the hillsides is amazing. Have you visited any?
Not yet, but I’m really interested. I heard they look like steps going up a slope. Can you tell me more about them?
Sure. Terraced rice fields, or 棚田 (tanada), are rice fields made on hills or mountains. They use the natural slope to move water efficiently from top to bottom.
That sounds smart. I also heard they are important for biodiversity. Is that true?
Yes, they are home to many different plants and animals. Some endangered species live in these areas. They are like natural sanctuaries.
That’s fascinating. Are there any famous terraced rice fields in Japan?
Definitely. One of the most famous is Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa. It has about 1,004 small rice paddies, and the reflections of the sky in the water are beautiful.
I’ve seen pictures of that! What about other famous ones?
Maruyama Senmaida in Mie is also well-known. It has around 1,340 rice paddies, making it one of the largest in Japan. Then there’s Obasute in Nagano, famous for moon viewing. The moon reflecting in the paddies is quite a sight.
Those sound amazing. What are the best times to visit these places?
Spring, when the fields are filled with water for planting, and autumn, during the harvest season, are the best times. The fields look like mirrors in spring and turn golden in autumn.
I see. Are there any challenges in maintaining these fields?
Yes, maintaining them is very labor-intensive. It’s hard to use machines on the slopes, so most work is done by hand. Also, many farmers are getting older, and fewer young people are interested in farming.
That sounds tough. Are there any efforts to preserve these fields?
Local communities, non-profit organizations, and even tourists and volunteers work together to maintain and preserve them. For example, people can participate in rice planting and harvesting festivals.
That’s great to hear. I’d love to participate in one of those festivals. Are there any economic challenges?
Yes, farming in terraced fields is often not very profitable. The costs of maintaining the fields can be high, and the income from selling rice may not be enough to cover these costs.
It seems like there are many challenges, but also a lot of beauty and cultural value. I really want to visit and support these fields.
You should definitely visit. Experiencing the beauty and understanding the effort behind these fields is truly rewarding.
関連情報 / related information
「棚田」について、理解を深めるための「英語での関連情報」です。
棚田
Introduction to Terraced Rice Fields
Terraced rice fields, called “tanada” in Japanese, are rice fields built on hills or mountains. They look like steps going up a slope and are mainly used for growing rice. These fields are found all over Japan and are known for their beautiful scenery.
Features of Terraced Rice Fields
Terraced rice fields have several important features. First, they use the natural slope to move water efficiently from the top to the bottom. This makes irrigation easier. Second, they support biodiversity, providing homes for many different plants and animals. Finally, because it is hard to use machines on the slopes, farmers use traditional methods and do most of the work by hand.
Famous Terraced Rice Fields
Some of the most famous terraced rice fields in Japan include Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa, Maruyama Senmaida in Mie, and Obasute in Nagano. Shiroyone Senmaida has about 1,004 small rice paddies and is known for its beautiful reflections of the sky. Maruyama Senmaida has around 1,340 rice paddies, making it one of the largest in Japan. Obasute is famous for moon viewing, with the moon reflecting in the paddies.
Visiting Seasons
The best times to visit terraced rice fields are in the spring and autumn. In spring (April to June), the fields are filled with water for planting and look like mirrors. In autumn (September to October), the fields turn golden during the harvest season and are very beautiful.
Challenges and Preservation
Maintaining terraced rice fields is challenging. It requires a lot of manual labor, and many farmers are getting older. These fields are also vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides and heavy rains. Despite these challenges, local communities, non-profit organizations, tourists, and volunteers work together to preserve these beautiful and culturally important landscapes.
10の質問 / 10 questions
「棚田」について、理解を深めるための「英語での10の質問」です。
1: What are terraced rice fields (tanada)?
Terraced rice fields, called tanada in Japanese, are rice fields built on hills or mountains. They look like steps and are used for growing rice.
2: Why are terraced rice fields important?
Terraced rice fields are important because they help preserve traditional farming methods and support biodiversity by providing habitats for many species.
3: Where can you find terraced rice fields in Japan?
Terraced rice fields can be found in many places in Japan, such as Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa, Maruyama Senmaida in Mie, and Obasute in Nagano.
4: What is special about Shiroyone Senmaida?
Shiroyone Senmaida is famous for its 1,004 small rice paddies and its beautiful reflections of the sky during planting season.
5: When is the best time to visit terraced rice fields?
The best times to visit terraced rice fields are in spring, when they are filled with water, and in autumn, during the golden harvest season.
6: How do terraced rice fields support biodiversity?
Terraced rice fields support biodiversity by providing habitats for various plants and animals, including some endangered species.
7: What are the challenges of maintaining terraced rice fields?
Maintaining terraced rice fields is challenging because it requires a lot of manual labor, and many farmers are aging with fewer young people interested in farming.
8: What role do local communities play in preserving terraced rice fields?
Local communities, non-profit organizations, and volunteers work together to maintain and preserve terraced rice fields through events like planting and harvesting festivals.
9: Why is terraced rice farming labor-intensive?
Terraced rice farming is labor-intensive because the fields are on slopes, making it difficult to use machines. Most of the work has to be done by hand.
10: How are terraced rice fields vulnerable to natural disasters?
Terraced rice fields are vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides, heavy rains, and earthquakes, which can cause significant damage to the fields.
和訳付
会話 / dialogue
Hi Key, have you ever seen the terraced rice fields in Japan? They’re incredibly beautiful.
キー、君は日本の棚田を見たことある？すごく美しいんだよ。
Yes, I have! They are stunning. The way the fields are carved into the hillsides is amazing. Have you visited any?
はい、見たことがあります！本当に素晴らしいです。田んぼが丘の斜面に彫り込まれている様子は驚きです。マックは行ったことある？
Not yet, but I’m really interested. I heard they look like steps going up a slope. Can you tell me more about them?
まだ行ったことはないけど、すごく興味があるんだ。斜面にステップのように見えるって聞いたよ。もっと教えてくれる？
Sure. Terraced rice fields, or 棚田 (tanada), are rice fields made on hills or mountains. They use the natural slope to move water efficiently from top to bottom.
もちろん。棚田は、丘や山に作られた田んぼのことです。自然の傾斜を利用して、水を上から下へ効率的に流しています。
That sounds smart. I also heard they are important for biodiversity. Is that true?
それは賢い方法だね。棚田が生物多様性にとって重要だとも聞いたけど、それは本当？
Yes, they are home to many different plants and animals. Some endangered species live in these areas. They are like natural sanctuaries.
はい、多くの植物や動物が生息しています。絶滅危惧種もこの地域に住んでいます。棚田は自然の保護区のようなものです。
That’s fascinating. Are there any famous terraced rice fields in Japan?
それは興味深いね。日本には有名な棚田があるの？
Definitely. One of the most famous is Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa. It has about 1,004 small rice paddies, and the reflections of the sky in the water are beautiful.
もちろんです。最も有名なのは石川県の白米千枚田です。約1,004枚の小さな田んぼがあり、水に映る空がとても美しいです。
I’ve seen pictures of that! What about other famous ones?
それの写真を見たことあるよ！他にも有名な棚田はある？
Maruyama Senmaida in Mie is also well-known. It has around 1,340 rice paddies, making it one of the largest in Japan. Then there’s Obasute in Nagano, famous for moon viewing. The moon reflecting in the paddies is quite a sight.
三重県の丸山千枚田も有名です。約1,340枚の田んぼがあり、日本で最大級です。そして、長野県の姨捨は月見で有名です。田んぼに映る月の景色は素晴らしいです。
Those sound amazing. What are the best times to visit these places?
それらは素晴らしいね。これらの場所を訪れるのに最適な時期はいつですか？
Spring, when the fields are filled with water for planting, and autumn, during the harvest season, are the best times. The fields look like mirrors in spring and turn golden in autumn.
春、田んぼに水が張られる田植えの時期と、秋、収穫の時期が最適です。春は田んぼが鏡のように見え、秋は黄金色に変わります。
I see. Are there any challenges in maintaining these fields?
なるほど。これらの田んぼを維持するのにはどんな課題がありますか？
Yes, maintaining them is very labor-intensive. It’s hard to use machines on the slopes, so most work is done by hand. Also, many farmers are getting older, and fewer young people are interested in farming.
はい、維持するのには多くの労力が必要です。斜面では機械を使うのが難しいので、ほとんどの作業は手作業です。また、多くの農家が高齢化していて、農業に興味を持つ若者が少なくなっています。
That sounds tough. Are there any efforts to preserve these fields?
それは大変だね。これらの田んぼを保存するための努力はありますか？
Local communities, non-profit organizations, and even tourists and volunteers work together to maintain and preserve them. For example, people can participate in rice planting and harvesting festivals.
地元のコミュニティ、非営利団体、そして観光客やボランティアが協力してこれらの田んぼを維持・保存しています。例えば、人々は田植えや収穫祭に参加することができます。
That’s great to hear. I’d love to participate in one of those festivals. Are there any economic challenges?
それは素晴らしいですね。僕もそのような祭りに参加してみたいです。経済的な課題はありますか？
Yes, farming in terraced fields is often not very profitable. The costs of maintaining the fields can be high, and the income from selling rice may not be enough to cover these costs.
はい、棚田での農業は利益が少ないことが多いです。棚田の維持費用が高く、米の販売収入ではこれらの費用を賄えないことがあります。
It seems like there are many challenges, but also a lot of beauty and cultural value. I really want to visit and support these fields.
課題は多いようですが、美しさと文化的価値もたくさんありますね。本当に訪れて、これらの田んぼを支援したいです。
You should definitely visit. Experiencing the beauty and understanding the effort behind these fields is truly rewarding.
ぜひ訪れてください。美しさを体験し、これらの田んぼの背後にある努力を理解することは本当に価値がありますよ。
関連情報 / related information
棚田
Introduction to Terraced Rice Fields
Terraced rice fields, called “tanada” in Japanese, are rice fields built on hills or mountains. They look like steps going up a slope and are mainly used for growing rice. These fields are found all over Japan and are known for their beautiful scenery.
棚田（たなだ）と呼ばれる段々畑は、丘や山に作られた田んぼです。斜面に沿って階段のように見え、主に稲作に使われます。これらの田んぼは日本全国に広がっており、美しい景観で知られています。
Features of Terraced Rice Fields
Terraced rice fields have several important features. First, they use the natural slope to move water efficiently from the top to the bottom. This makes irrigation easier. Second, they support biodiversity, providing homes for many different plants and animals. Finally, because it is hard to use machines on the slopes, farmers use traditional methods and do most of the work by hand.
棚田にはいくつかの重要な特徴があります。まず、自然の傾斜を利用して、水を上から下へ効率的に流します。これにより、灌漑が容易になります。次に、多くの植物や動物の生息地となり、生物多様性を支えています。最後に、斜面で機械を使うのが難しいため、農民は伝統的な方法を使い、大部分を手作業で行っています。
Famous Terraced Rice Fields
Some of the most famous terraced rice fields in Japan include Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa, Maruyama Senmaida in Mie, and Obasute in Nagano. Shiroyone Senmaida has about 1,004 small rice paddies and is known for its beautiful reflections of the sky. Maruyama Senmaida has around 1,340 rice paddies, making it one of the largest in Japan. Obasute is famous for moon viewing, with the moon reflecting in the paddies.
日本で最も有名な棚田には、石川県の白米千枚田、三重県の丸山千枚田、そして長野県の姨捨があります。白米千枚田には約1,004枚の小さな田んぼがあり、空を美しく映し出すことで知られています。丸山千枚田には約1,340枚の田んぼがあり、日本最大級です。姨捨は月見で有名で、田んぼに映る月の景色が素晴らしいです。
Visiting Seasons
The best times to visit terraced rice fields are in the spring and autumn. In spring (April to June), the fields are filled with water for planting and look like mirrors. In autumn (September to October), the fields turn golden during the harvest season and are very beautiful.
棚田を訪れるのに最適な時期は春と秋です。春（4月から6月）は田植えのために水が張られ、鏡のように見えます。秋（9月から10月）は収穫の季節で、田んぼが黄金色に輝き、とても美しいです。
Challenges and Preservation
Maintaining terraced rice fields is challenging. It requires a lot of manual labor, and many farmers are getting older. These fields are also vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides and heavy rains. Despite these challenges, local communities, non-profit organizations, tourists, and volunteers work together to preserve these beautiful and culturally important landscapes.
棚田の維持には多くの課題があります。手作業が多く必要で、多くの農民が高齢化しています。これらの田んぼは、土砂崩れや大雨などの自然災害にも脆弱です。これらの課題にもかかわらず、地元のコミュニティ、非営利団体、観光客やボランティアが協力して、これらの美しく文化的に重要な風景を保護しています。
10の質問 / 10 questions
1: What are terraced rice fields (tanada)?
棚田とは何ですか？
Terraced rice fields, called tanada in Japanese, are rice fields built on hills or mountains. They look like steps and are used for growing rice.
棚田とは、丘や山に作られた田んぼのことで、日本語では「たなだ」と呼ばれます。階段状に見え、主に稲作に使われます。
2: Why are terraced rice fields important?
棚田はなぜ重要なのですか？
Terraced rice fields are important because they help preserve traditional farming methods and support biodiversity by providing habitats for many species.
棚田は、伝統的な農法を保存し、多くの種の生息地を提供することで生物多様性を支えているため、重要です。
3: Where can you find terraced rice fields in Japan?
日本で棚田はどこにありますか？
Terraced rice fields can be found in many places in Japan, such as Shiroyone Senmaida in Ishikawa, Maruyama Senmaida in Mie, and Obasute in Nagano.
棚田は日本各地にあり、石川県の白米千枚田、三重県の丸山千枚田、長野県の姨捨などが有名です。
4: What is special about Shiroyone Senmaida?
白米千枚田の特別な点は何ですか？
Shiroyone Senmaida is famous for its 1,004 small rice paddies and its beautiful reflections of the sky during planting season.
白米千枚田は、1,004枚の小さな田んぼと、田植えの季節に水に映る美しい空の反射で有名です。
5: When is the best time to visit terraced rice fields?
棚田を訪れるのに最適な時期はいつですか？
The best times to visit terraced rice fields are in spring, when they are filled with water, and in autumn, during the golden harvest season.
棚田を訪れるのに最適な時期は、春の水が張られた時期と、秋の黄金色に輝く収穫期です。
6: How do terraced rice fields support biodiversity?
棚田はどのようにして生物多様性を支えているのですか？
Terraced rice fields support biodiversity by providing habitats for various plants and animals, including some endangered species.
棚田は、多くの植物や動物、特に絶滅危惧種の生息地を提供することで、生物多様性を支えています。
7: What are the challenges of maintaining terraced rice fields?
棚田を維持する上での課題は何ですか？
Maintaining terraced rice fields is challenging because it requires a lot of manual labor, and many farmers are aging with fewer young people interested in farming.
棚田の維持には多くの手作業が必要で、多くの農家が高齢化している一方、若者が農業に興味を持つことが少なく、これが大きな課題です。
8: What role do local communities play in preserving terraced rice fields?
地元のコミュニティは棚田の保護にどのように関わっていますか？
Local communities, non-profit organizations, and volunteers work together to maintain and preserve terraced rice fields through events like planting and harvesting festivals.
地元のコミュニティや非営利団体、ボランティアは、田植えや収穫祭のイベントを通じて協力し、棚田の維持と保護を行っています。
9: Why is terraced rice farming labor-intensive?
棚田での農業が労働集約的である理由は何ですか？
Terraced rice farming is labor-intensive because the fields are on slopes, making it difficult to use machines. Most of the work has to be done by hand.
棚田での農業が労働集約的であるのは、田んぼが斜面にあるため機械を使うことが難しく、ほとんどの作業が手作業で行われるからです。
10: How are terraced rice fields vulnerable to natural disasters?
棚田はどのようにして自然災害に弱いのですか？
Terraced rice fields are vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides, heavy rains, and earthquakes, which can cause significant damage to the fields.
棚田は、土砂崩れ、大雨、地震などの自然災害に弱く、これらが大きな損害を与える可能性があります。
words & phrases
英会話ダイアローグと関連情報に出てきた単語・フレーズです（例文は各３つ）。
biodiversity: 名詞
意味: 生物多様性。The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.
(棚田が多くの植物や動物の生息地となり、生物多様性を支えていることを指す)
例文:
The biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest is incredibly rich.
「アマゾン熱帯雨林の生物多様性は非常に豊かです。」
Efforts to protect biodiversity are essential for the health of our planet.
「生物多様性を保護する努力は地球の健康に不可欠です。」
Terraced rice fields support biodiversity by providing habitats for various species.
「棚田は多様な種の生息地を提供することで生物多様性を支えています。」
endanger: 動詞
意味: 危険にさらす。To put someone or something at risk or in danger.
(棚田に住む絶滅危惧種が危険にさらされていることを指す)
例文:
Pollution can endanger marine life.
「汚染は海洋生物を危険にさらす可能性があります。」
Deforestation endangers many species of plants and animals.
「森林伐採は多くの植物や動物の種を危険にさらします。」
Overfishing has endangered several fish species in the ocean.
「過剰漁業により、いくつかの魚種が危険にさらされています。」
sanctuaries: 名詞（複数形）
意味: 保護区。Places of refuge or safety where wildlife is protected.
(棚田が自然の保護区のような役割を果たしていることを指す)
例文:
Many national parks serve as sanctuaries for endangered species.
「多くの国立公園は絶滅危惧種の保護区として機能しています。」
The bird sanctuary is home to numerous migratory birds.
「その鳥の保護区は多くの渡り鳥の住処です。」
Sanctuaries provide a safe environment for wildlife to thrive.
「保護区は野生生物が繁栄するための安全な環境を提供します。」
labor-intensive: 形容詞
意味: 労働集約的な。Requiring a large amount of labor to produce goods or services.
(棚田の維持が多くの手作業を必要とすることを指す)
例文:
Farming in terraced rice fields is very labor-intensive.
「棚田での農業は非常に労働集約的です。」
Manufacturing electronics can be labor-intensive due to the detailed assembly required.
「電子機器の製造は、詳細な組み立てが必要なため労働集約的です。」
The construction industry is known for its labor-intensive nature.
「建設業界は労働集約的で知られています。」
rewarding: 形容詞
意味: やりがいのある。Providing satisfaction or benefit, especially from work or effort.
(棚田の美しさとその維持の努力が報われることを指す)
例文:
Teaching is a highly rewarding profession.
「教職は非常にやりがいのある職業です。」
Volunteering at the animal shelter was a rewarding experience.
「動物シェルターでのボランティア活動はやりがいのある経験でした。」
Maintaining the beauty of terraced rice fields is challenging but rewarding.
「棚田の美しさを維持することは難しいですが、やりがいがあります。」