ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 25/12/9(火)予習-浅草の“酉の市”にぎわう
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/special/04/4417/
Crowds flock to Asakusa as Tori-no-ichi begins
Tuesday Nov. 25, 2025
The annual Tori-no-ichi festival has opened at Asakusa’s Ootori Shrine, where crowds of people jostle to buy ornate lucky rakes. The ornaments feature charms from gold coins to Myaku-Myaku as visitors pray for good fortune despite economic worries.
Tori-no-Ichi is an annual auspicious Japanese festival that has been celebrated since the Edo era. Traditionally it is held in November on days of the Rooster, as indicated under the lunar calendar. In 2025, Tori-no-Ichi will be held on November 12 and 24.
Celebrated at the stroke of midnight on the day of the rooster, which occurs every 12 days, the fair consists of a variety of shop owners that sell rakes to bring in good fortune and business prosperity!
Naturally, many shop and business owners attend this event in droves to purchase the perfect rake for themselves or their business. Not wanting to miss out on the fun and excitement of the fair, I grabbed my camera and headed out to Asakusa.
単語・熟語 発音記号 意味
crowd /kraʊd/ 群衆
flock to /flɑːk tuː/ ～に群がる
annual /ˈænjuəl/ 毎年の
festival /ˈfɛstəvəl/ 祭り
jostle /ˈdʒɒsəl/ 押し合う、もみ合う
ornate /ɔːrˈneɪt/ 装飾された、華やかな
lucky rake — 熊手（縁起物）
ornament /ˈɔːrnəmənt/ 飾り
charm /tʃɑːrm/ お守り、縁起物
fortune /ˈfɔːrtʃən/ 幸運
auspicious /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/ 縁起の良い
lunar calendar /ˈluːnər ˈkælɪndər/ 太陰暦
stroke of midnight /stroʊk əv ˈmɪdnaɪt/ 真夜中ちょうど
fair /fɛr/ 祭り、縁日
prosperity /prɒˈspɛrəti/ 繁栄
in droves /ɪn droʊvz/ 大挙して、押し寄せて
miss out on /mɪs aʊt ɒn/ ～を逃す
excitement /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/ 興奮
head out /hɛd aʊt/ 出発する
grab /ɡræb/ つかむ、持って出る
浅草に群衆が押し寄せ、酉の市が始まる
浅草の鷲神社で毎年恒例の酉の市が始まり、人々が華やかな熊手を買おうともみ合っています。飾りには小判からミャクミャクまでの縁起物がつけられ、訪れた人々は景気への不安を抱えながらも幸運を祈っています。
酉の市は江戸時代から続く日本の縁起の良い祭りで、例年、旧暦の「酉の日」に行われます。2025年は 11 月 12 日と 24 日に開催されます。
酉の日の真夜中ちょうどに始まるこの祭りでは、商売繁盛や幸運を呼ぶ熊手を売る店が並びます。
そのため、多くの商店主や経営者が大挙して訪れ、自分の店に最適な熊手を購入します。私もこの縁日の楽しさと興奮を逃すまいと、カメラをつかんで浅草に出かけました。
語彙クイズ（Vocabulary Quiz）
Q1. “jostle” の最も近い意味は？
A. decorate
B. push and bump into
C. gather quietly
D. shine brightly
Q2. “auspicious” の意味として最も適切なのは？
A. risky
B. unlucky
C. fortunate / good omen
D. ordinary
Q3. “in droves” の意味は？
A. carefully
B. little by little
C. in large numbers
D. secretly
TOEIC Part 5（文法・語彙）
Q4. Many business owners visit the Tori-no-Ichi festival ______ buy lucky rakes for prosperity.
A. so that
B. in order to
C. as if
D. because of
Q5. The festival, which has been celebrated since the Edo era, is ______ one of Japan’s best-known annual events.
A. consider
B. considering
C. considered
D. considerate
Q6. Visitors prayed for good fortune ______ ongoing economic concerns.
A. although
B. because
C. unless
D. due
TOEIC Part 6（長文穴埋め）
The Tori-no-Ichi festival attracts thousands of visitors each year. Many people come to purchase ornate rakes decorated with charms. These rakes are believed to bring good fortune and business success.
The event starts at the stroke of midnight, ______ (7) creates an exciting atmosphere.
Shop owners from across Tokyo attend the festival in large numbers, hoping to find the perfect rake. The tradition has continued for centuries and ______ (8) to be an important cultural event today.
Many tourists also visit Asakusa during the festival, not wanting to ______ (9) on the excitement.
選択肢
7. A. that B. what C. where D. who
8. A. continues B. continued C. is continued D. continuing
9. A. give up B. miss out C. rely D. check out
TOEIC Part 7（読解問題）
Tori-no-Ichi is a traditional Japanese festival held on the Days of the Rooster in November. Visitors purchase decorated rakes to pray for good fortune and business prosperity. In Asakusa, the festival attracts large crowds every year, with many shop owners arriving early to buy the best rakes. The event is known for its energetic atmosphere and its long history dating back to the Edo era.
Q10. What is the main purpose of the festival?
A. To celebrate autumn
B. To pray for fortune and prosperity
C. To honor famous shrines
D. To promote tourism in Asakusa
Q11. Why do many shop owners visit early?
A. To avoid the crowds
B. To buy the best decorated rakes
C. To participate in parades
D. To perform rituals on stage
Q12. What does the passage imply about Tori-no-Ichi?
A. It is a newer festival created in modern times.
B. It is losing popularity each year.
C. It has a long historical tradition.
D. It is held every weekend.
–解答一覧
語彙クイズ
1-B
2-C
3-C
-Part 5
4-B
5-C
6-A
Part 6
7-A
8-A
9-B
Part 7
10-B
11-B
12-C