Celebrity File Japan by Lint


		重要語句
■ All of Japan was taken by a 16-year-old girl at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. She began the Olympics virtually unknown but when it was over, she had won a silver medal and the hearts of Japan's sports fans. Following the Olympics, Tamura did not lose a single bout for four years. All of Japan was expecting her to win the gold medal in Atlanta; she was even selected to carry the Japanese flag in the opening ceremonies. In the final competition, she lost and again had to settle for the silver. But she never quit and put together another four-year winning streak.		bout　試合 settle for ...　…を不満足ながら受け入れる put together ...　…をうまくやり遂げる winning streak　連勝
■■ When people saw the petite Tamura throwing taller opponents to the mat, they were reminded of the popular judo cartoon character Yawara-chan and soon that became Tamura's nickname. Tamura started judo at the age of eight. She became interested in it because her older brother practiced judo. Her parents did not think judo was a good sport for a little girl and told her she couldn't. But the always diligent Tamura kept asking them until they finally agreed to let her practice judo. Of course, her parents now support her and her mother is with her whenever she goes to competitions.		petite　小柄な cartoon　続き漫画 diligent　絶えず努力する
■■■ In December 1999, she won the Fukuoka International Women's Judo Championships for the tenth consecutive time! But it was frustrating for her and her fans that even though this young woman was clearly the world's best, she still had not won the elusive gold medal she so strongly deserved.		consecutive　連続した frustrating　失望させるような elusive　手に入りにくい
■■■■ All of Japan was rooting for her as she fought her way through the rounds in Sydney and finally won the gold medal she had worked so hard to win. Tamura was so determined to win that she won her final match in only 30 seconds. All of Japan celebrated. She was much admired for her perseverance and dedication. She is today one of the most popular athletes in Japan.		root for ...　…を応援する fight one's way　戦って道を切り開く perseverance　忍耐力
■■■■■ Some newspapers named Ryoko Tamura Japan's sports personality of 2001. She received these honors because she won her 5th consecutive World Judo Championship in Munich that year even though she had injuries in her right knee. It was the second time she won the honor.		honor　勲章；名誉の印 Munich　ミュンヘン（ドイツの都市）
■■■■■■ On April 14, 2002, Yawara-chan finally lost a bout to high school student Tomoko Fukumi. It was Tamura's first bout after a nine-month absence due to her injuries. In December of the same year, "sources close to" Tamura said she was set to announce her engagement to baseball player Yoshitomo Tani of the Orix BlueWave.		absence　不参加 sources close to ...　…に近い情報筋 engagement to ...　…との婚約
■■■■■■ In her free time, Yawara-chan likes driving, shopping and of course, traditional Japanese hot baths.

－written by Brock Spore

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