ニュースで学ぶ現代英語 26/5/11(月)予習-西武デパート渋谷店 閉店へ
Seibu department store in Tokyo’s Shibuya to close in September
Thursday, March 26, 13:51
Japanese department store operator Sogo & Seibu will close its Seibu outlet in Tokyo’s Shibuya district at the end of September. The company says it failed to extend contracts with the rights holder for the land and buildings over redevelopment projects in the area.
The Shibuya store opened in 1968. It is located near the train station and the famous scramble crossing.
It has been a landmark in the district but has suffered sluggish sales due to intensifying competition and stagnant customer traffic.
Sogo & Seibu is under a US investment fund. It is renovating the flagship outlet in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district and streamlining its operations.
Seibu is the only remaining department store in Shibuya after Tokyu Department Store shut its doors three years ago.
-単語 発音記号 意味
department store /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt stɔːr/ 百貨店
operator /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/ 運営会社、運営者
outlet /ˈaʊtlet/ 店舗
district /ˈdɪstrɪkt/ 地区
contract /ˈkɑːntrækt/ 契約
rights holder /raɪts ˈhoʊldər/ 権利保有者
redevelopment /ˌriːdɪˈveləpmənt/ 再開発
landmark /ˈlændmɑːrk/ 名所、象徴的建物
suffer /ˈsʌfər/ 苦しむ、被る
sluggish /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/ 低迷した、活気のない
intensifying /ɪnˈtensɪfaɪɪŋ/ 激化する
competition /ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃən/ 競争
stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ 停滞した
customer traffic /ˈkʌstəmər ˈtræfɪk/ 来客数、人通り
investment fund /ɪnˈvestmənt fʌnd/ 投資ファンド
renovate /ˈrenəveɪt/ 改装する
flagship /ˈflæɡʃɪp/ 旗艦店
streamline /ˈstriːmlaɪn/ 合理化する
operation /ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən/ 運営、事業
remaining /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/ 残っている
shut its doors /ʃʌt ɪts dɔːrz/ 閉店する
-熟語・表現一覧.熟語・表現 意味
close at the end of 〜の終わりに閉店する
fail to do 〜できない
extend contracts 契約を延長する
due to 〜が原因で
suffer sluggish sales 売上低迷に苦しむ
intensifying competition 激化する競争
customer traffic 来客数、人通り
be under 〜の傘下にある
investment fund 投資ファンド
streamline operations 業務を合理化する
shut its doors 閉店する
scramble crossing スクランブル交差点
near the station 駅の近くに
redevelopment projects 再開発事業
東京・渋谷の西武百貨店、9月に閉店へ
3月26日 木曜日 13:51
日本の百貨店運営会社「そごう・西武」は、東京・渋谷地区にある西武百貨店渋谷店を9月末に閉店すると発表しました。
同社によりますと、地域の再開発計画をめぐり、土地と建物の権利保有者との契約延長ができなかったということです。
渋谷店は1968年に開業しました。駅や有名なスクランブル交差点の近くに位置しています。
この店舗は渋谷地区のランドマークでしたが、競争の激化や来客数の停滞により、売上低迷に苦しんでいました。
そごう・西武は、アメリカの投資ファンドの傘下にあります。現在、東京・池袋地区の旗艦店を改装し、事業の合理化を進めています。
西武は、東急百貨店が3年前に閉店して以降、渋谷に残る唯一の百貨店となっています。
語彙クイズ（10問）
What does “redevelopment” mean?
a) closing a station
b) rebuilding and improving an area
c) increasing prices
d) opening a new company
What is a “landmark”?
a) a famous or important place
b) a train station
c) a shopping bag
d) a parking lot
What does “sluggish” mean?
a) active
b) slow and weak
c) expensive
d) crowded
What does “competition” mean?
a) cooperation between companies
b) rivalry between businesses
c) customer service
d) transportation
What is a “flagship outlet”?
a) a temporary store
b) the main or most important store
c) a closed store
d) a small shop
What does “streamline operations” mean?
a) make business operations more efficient
b) stop all business activities
c) hire more workers
d) build a new station
What does “customer traffic” refer to?
a) road construction
b) customer complaints
c) the number of customers visiting
d) train schedules
What does “shut its doors” mean?
a) renovate a store
b) close permanently
c) change locations
d) reduce prices
Which word means “ownership rights”?
a) contract
b) landmark
c) rights holder
d) district
What does “extend contracts” mean?
a) cancel agreements
b) shorten agreements
c) continue agreements for a longer period
d) ignore agreements
TOEIC形式問題（5問）
Why will the Seibu department store in Shibuya close?
a) Because of a fire
b) Because contracts could not be extended
c) Because of a train accident
d) Because the station moved
When did the Shibuya store open?
a) 1958
b) 1968
c) 1978
d) 1988
What problems did the store face?
a) Strong sales and too many customers
b) Lack of products
c) Sluggish sales and intense competition
d) Expensive train tickets
What is Sogo & Seibu currently doing in Ikebukuro?
a) Closing all stores
b) Building a train station
c) Renovating its flagship outlet
d) Opening a hotel
What does the passage mainly discuss?
a) Tourism in Shibuya
b) The history of Tokyo stations
c) The closure of a famous department store
d) Japanese food culture
読解問題（英語）
Why was the Seibu Shibuya store considered a landmark?
What factors caused sluggish sales at the store?
What changes is Sogo & Seibu making to its business operations?
解答
語彙クイズ
b
a
b
b
b
a
c
b
c
c
TOEIC形式問題
b
b
c
c
c
読解問題
Because it was a famous department store located near Shibuya Station and the scramble crossing.
Intensifying competition and stagnant customer traffic caused sluggish sales.
The company is renovating its flagship store in Ikebukuro and streamlining operations.
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