President Obama's Speech in Japan

The US president Obama had a short visit in Japan last week. I read that Japanese publishers and English schools consider Obama's speeches as great material for English studies. I thought you might be able to learn something from Japanese translations of his speeches. Here is the beginning of the speech he made in Tokyo:

"It is wonderful to be back in Japan. Some of you may be aware that when I was a young boy, my mother brought me to Kamakura, where I looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility -- the great bronze Amida Buddha.

And as a child, I was more focused on the matcha ice cream. And I want to thank Prime Minister Hatoyama for sharing some of those memories with more ice cream last night at dinner. Thank you very much. But I have never forgotten the warmth and the hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home."

By the way, I love matcha (green tea) ice cream, too! "Obama's matcha ice cream" might be selling soon in Kamakura.

Japanese Translation

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Romaji Translation

Senshuu, amerika no obama daitouryou ga mijikai aida desu ga, nihon ni taizai shimashita.

Nihon no shuppansha ya eigo gakkou wa, obama daitouryou no enzetsu o eigo o manabu tame no totemo yoi kyouzai da to kangaeteiru sou desu. Sokode, kare no enzetsu o nihongo ni yaku suru koto ni yotte, nihongo no benkyou nimo naru no dewa to omoimashita. Kore wa, toukyou de okonawareta enzetsu no boutou bubun desu.

"Nihon ni modotte korareta koto wa totemo sutekina koto desu. Gozonji no kata mo iru koto ka to omoimasu ga, watashi wa chiisai koro haha ni tsurerarete kamakura o otozuremashita. Sokode watashi wa, nanseiki mo no aida, heiwa to seijaku no shouchou de aritsuzuketa daibutsu o miagemashita. Kodomo datta watashi wa, maccha aisu kuriimu no hou ga kyoumi ga atta no desu ga. Sakuya no bansan demo, aisukuriimu ga dasarete, sou itta omoide no hitotsu o wakachiaeru koto ga dekimashita koto ni, hatoyama shushou ni mo orei o nobetai to omoimasu. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. Tooku kokyou kara hanareta amerika no shounen ni, nihonjin ga muketekureta atatakai motenashi no kimochi wa kesshite wasuretewa imasen.

Tokorede, watashi mo maccha aisu kuriimu wa daisuki desu. Sonouchi, "Obama daitouryou no maccha aisu" ga kamakura de uridasareru kamo shiremasen ne.

Note: The translation is not always literal.

Beginner's Phrases

It is wonderful to be back in Japan.

• Nihon ni modotte korareta koto wa totemo sutekina koto desu.
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