Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso complained he cannot find enough time to devote himself to his lifelong hobby — reading comics.
Aso, who takes comics on trips abroad, said he finished reading two weekly magazines last week but has yet to find time to read two others.
“It’s hard to read comic books as my time is now restricted,” a smiling Aso told an audience of hundreds in his first street speech since taking office on Sept. 24.
PHOTO: AP
The conservative, often gruff lawmaker has eagerly sought to soften his image in recent years by casting himself as one of Japan’s “otaku” — nerds whose hobbies border on obsession.
Aso used the speech in Tokyo’s Akihabara district to hail Japan’s subculture, notably comic books, as a key export from the country.
“Japan’s subculture of animation has been overwhelmingly accepted in the world,” Aso said.
“Japan’s culture is not only kabuki,” he said, referring to Japanese traditional drama. “Comic books, our subculture power, have been widely read in not only Asia but Europe, the United States and Latin America.”
Akihabara, long known for major electronics shops, has become the top gathering point for the otaku, with stores selling the latest comic books and animation DVDs. Waitresses dress up as characters from hit video games.
“I can cheer up when I come to Akihabara. I always feel at home here,” Aso said as supporters, mostly in their 20s and 30s, yelled in chorus: “Aso, Aso, Aso.”
(AFP)
日本首相麻生太郎抱怨自己沒有足夠的時間專心從事畢生嗜好：看漫畫。
出國旅行都會帶著漫畫的麻生說，他上週看完了兩本週刊，但湊不出時間看另外兩本。
九月二十四日執政以來，第一次在街頭發表演說的麻生笑著對數百名群眾說：「現在我時間有限，不太能看漫畫了。」
這幾年來，麻生一直積極軟化他保守、不茍言笑的律師形象，還將自己比作日本的「御宅族」──熱衷嗜好近乎癡狂的呆子。
麻生在東京秋葉原區的演說中大讚日本次文化，尤其是漫畫，是日本重要的輸出。
麻生說：「日本的動畫次文化已經席捲全球。」
他說：「日本文化不是只有歌舞伎而已。我們次文化漫畫的勢力，不只影響亞洲，在歐洲、美國和拉丁美洲也擁有廣大讀者群。」歌舞伎是日本傳統戲劇。
長久以來一直是日本電器店主要集散地的秋葉原，由於店家們販售最新出版的漫畫和動畫光碟，已成為御宅族聚集的頭號聖地。餐廳女侍也會裝扮成熱門電玩遊戲裡面的人物。
麻生說：「來到秋葉原我覺得很開心，這裡總令我感到自在。」這段話引起現場大多是二、三十歲的支持者齊聲高呼：「麻生、麻生、麻生。」（法新社�翻譯：袁星塵）
Every February, the US observes Black History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions, experiences, and achievements of African Americans. The tradition began in 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson proposed a national week to promote the teaching of Black history in schools. He deliberately chose the second week of February to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two figures held in high esteem by the Black community for their roles in ending slavery. In 1976, the initiative expanded into a month-long observance, with then US president Gerald Ford urging Americans to acknowledge the accomplishments of
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 The fog came before the knock. It covered the street and pressed against the window. Chao Gung-dao lit a small oil lamp, but his makeshift hut stayed dim. Another knock. Chao opened the door. The inspector stepped inside and removed his hat. He did not smile. “You remember me?” the inspector said. Chao resented the question. The inspector looked around the small room. His eyes stopped on a wooden box resting on a low beam above Chao’s head. “What is that?” Chao stayed silent. The inspector pulled the box down and
A: The Oscars are set to take place next weekend. It’s a pity that the Taiwanese film “Left-handed Girl” got snubbed. B: And this year, the horror film “Sinners” broke the all-time record with 16 nominations, followed by “One Battle After Another” with 13 nods. Both are nominated for Best Picture. A: What are other Best Picture contenders? B: The nominees are: “Bugonia,” “F1: The Movie,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” “Train Dreams” and Norwegian film “Sentimental Value.” A: It’s so hard to choose from. Some of them haven’t been released in Taiwan yet. I hope they’ll be released soon. A: 本屆奧斯卡獎下週即將揭曉，可惜國片《左撇子女孩》未入圍。 B: 恐怖片《罪人》共獲得16項提名，打破影史紀錄。《一戰再戰》則獲得13項提名緊追在後，都是最佳影片大熱門！ A:
對話 Dialogue 清清：今天是元宵節，你晚上有什麼節目？ Qīngqing: Jīntiān shì Yuánxiāo jié, nǐ wǎnshàng yǒu shénme jiémù? 華華：我家人要一起去參加臺北燈節，這次有兩個展區，週末我們去了西門的，今晚要去花博的。你呢？ Huáhua: Wǒ jiārén yào yìqǐ qù cānjiā Táiběi Dēngjié, zhè cì yǒu liǎng ge zhǎnqū, zhōumò wǒmen qù le Xīmén de, jīnwǎn yào qù Huābó de. Nǐ ne? 清清：我週末去看了今年在嘉義舉辦的臺灣燈會，人山人海，超級熱鬧。 Qīngqing: Wǒ zhōumò qù kànle jīnnián Jiāyì jǔbàn de Táiwān Dēnghuì, rénshān rénhǎi, chāojí rè’nào. 華華：有什麼特色？能吸引那麼多人。 Huáhua: Yǒu shénme tèsè? Néng xīyǐn nàme duō rén. 清清：除了馬年主燈外，今年還有跟任天堂合作推出的「超級馬利歐」專區，可以跟遊戲角色互動和照相。 Qīngqing: Chúle Mǎnián zhǔdēng wài, jīnnián hái yǒu gēn Rèntiāntáng hézuò tuīchū de “Chāojí Mǎlì’ōu” zhuānqū, kěyǐ gēn yóuxì jiǎosè hùdòng hé zhàoxiàng. 華華：那就難怪了，馬利歐是我爸媽跟我共同的回憶呢！ Huáhua: Nà jiù nánguài le, Mǎlì’ōu shì wǒ bàmā gēn wǒ gòngtóng de huíyì ne! 清清：去嘉義逛得很累，今晚我就在家好好吃碗熱熱的湯圓來慶祝元宵節了。 Qīngqing: Qù Jiāyì guàng de
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