Lint Newswrap －Weekly News on Japan

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TRANSCRIPT		重要語句
This is the Lint Newswrap for the week of January 16, 2006. Record snowfall wreaks havoc, kidnapped newborn returned unharmed, two women attacked in Osaka, and Matsushita persistent in heater recall.		wreak havoc　大惨事をもたらす newborn　新生児 persistent　粘り強い
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■ The heaviest snowfall in over 30 years hit the country, especially in Tsunan-cho, Niigata Prefecture and Sakae-mura, Nagano Prefecture, causing road closures, avalanches and fatalities as residents try to dig their way out. Ten villages were isolated as roads became impassable due to the 3-meter deep blanket of snow. Ground Self-Defense Force and local government personnel were sent to the affected areas to help remove snow and check locals' health. Sudden spring-like temperatures triggered avalanches, which closed roads and a ski area in Shimane Prefecture. Ninety-five deaths have been attributed to the weather, many of which occurred while clearing snow.		closure　閉鎖 avalanche　なだれ fatality　不慮の死 dig one's way out　雪に閉ざされた状態から逃げ出す isolate　…を孤立させる impassable　通行できない blanket of ...　一面の… locals　地元住民 trigger　…を引き起こす
■ A newborn in a Sendai hospital was returned safely to its parents on January 8th, after being kidnapped two days earlier. Shu Yamada, the son of Yumi and Hitoshi Yamada, was not injured and went home with his parents on January 11th. The kidnappers, Nobuyasu Nemoto, his wife and former son-in-law, had demanded 61.5 million yen from the hospital director but lost their nerve and never picked up the money. Nemoto was reported to be in heavy debt, but gave up on the crime after noticing many police officers following him.		kidnapper　誘拐犯 son-in-law　義理の息子 hospital director　（病院の）院長 lose one's nerve　怖気づく debt　負債 give up on ...　…に見切りをつける
■ A woman and her daughter were stabbed in their home in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture on Tuesday, January 10th. The mother, 51-year-old Makiko Sawa, died after being taken to the hospital and her daughter, 21-year-old Yasuko, sustained facial injuries. According to Yasuko, the doorbell rang and her mother answered it. The assailant attacked Mrs. Sawa first, then wounded Yasuko who came running when she heard her mother's screams. Police have not apprehended the man, whom Yasuko described as in his mid-20s, wearing a beige jacket and white pants.		stab　…を突き刺す assailant　襲撃者 wound　…を傷つける come running　飛んでくる scream　悲鳴 apprehend　…を逮捕する
■ Matsushita Electric will send notices next month to the nation's entire population, approximately 60 million households, warning of its faulty kerosene fan heaters. The heaters were found to give out carbon monoxide gas, resulting in two deaths last year. Because fewer than half of the total units recalled by the company have been returned, Matsushita decided to contact consumers through the mail, though it may cost up to three billion yen in postage. Twenty-five models manufactured between 1985 and 1992 are identified in the recall.		population　全住民 faulty　欠陥のある kerosene　灯油 give out ...　…を発する carbon monoxide　一酸化炭素 up to ...　…まで postage　送料 manufacture　…を製造する
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That's it for this week's Lint Newswrap. I'm Ruth Nakamura for Lint. Have a great week.
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