Hello, I am Yoshi from NILS Japanese language school. Today, I would like to introduce one of the class materials we use in advanced class. After completing our intensive program for 1.5 or longer years, you will reach that level and understand Japanese much better. This material is used to provide an opportunity to read and understand sample newspaper articles from various facets of modern Japan. Students in the advanced level discuss those articles with each other. If you learn Japanaese language for long, please try to read it.

スギ花粉症患者が急増
スギ花粉症の患者が急増している。スギは前年夏が空梅雨で猛暑だと花の芽がよく育ち、また前年に雨が少ないと2年分が一度に開花する。今年はこうした条件がそろっていることに加えて、開花に関係する日照時間が昨年ほぼ全国的に長かったことから、花粉の飛散量は過去最大級になる可能性が指摘されている。厚生労働省はインターネットで情報を提供するとともに、「民間療法の多くは十分な根拠がないので、注意が必要」と呼び掛けている。

(English translation)
Cedar allergy increasing
The number of people suffering from an allergy to cedar pollen is on the rise. Cedar buds grow well following a year with a relatively dry rainy season and fierce summer heat. Also, after a year in which there are few buds, the amount of blossoms increase so as to compensate for the previous year. Because these conditions have been met this year, as well as the number of hours of sunlight, which affects the amount of blossoms, was high almost everywhere in the country last year, this year’s pollen count likely to be the highest ever. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare offers pertinent information on the Internet, while warning people to be cautious against folk remedies since most of them have no basis. —from Japan Times, May 2, 2010

August 9th News, from NILS Japanese language school.