2024年3月10日「モバイル英語学習」第822号 (英語のエッセイ): Gaius Julius Caesar

Notes
Gaius Julius Caesar ガイウス・ユリウス・カエサル(ラテン語: Gaius Iulius Caesar、紀元前130年頃 – 紀元前85年)は、共和政ローマの政務官;
alliance 同盟;
assassinate 暗殺する;
heir 相続人;

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Gaius Julius Caesar, born on July 12, 100 BC, was a key figure in Roman history. He was a famous general, leader, and writer. Caesar became well-known because of his military skills, especially during the Gallic Wars where he expanded Rome’s territory.

In politics, Caesar, along with Pompey and Crassus, formed the First Triumvirate in 60 BC. This alliance allowed them to control Roman politics. However, conflicts between Caesar and Pompey led to a civil war. Caesar won and became the ruler of Rome.

As a leader, Caesar made many changes. He created the Julian calendar and gave Roman citizenship to many people. His growing power made him many enemies, and on March 15, 44 BC, he was assassinated. This event led to more civil wars and eventually to the Roman Empire under his adopted heir, Octavian (later known as Augustus).

Caesar’s influence is still felt today in many areas like military, politics, and culture. You can read more about his life and legacy on his Wikipedia page.
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2023年9月16日「モバイル英語学習」第796号: Convenience Stores in Japan

Notes
trillion 一兆;
retail industry 小売業;

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Japan’s first convenience store opened in 1969 in Toyonaka, Osaka. Today, the market is dominated by Seven-Eleven Japan Co., FamilyMart Co., and Lawson, Inc., which together control about 90% of the sector. Convenience stores in Japan are self-service and range in size from 30 to 250 square meters. As of 2022, there were 56,232 convenience stores in Japan, generating sales of nearly ¥12.2 trillion. The shift from traditional department stores to convenience stores and shopping malls began after the early 1990s economic downturn. Recently, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce has become increasingly prominent in Japan’s retail industry.
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