2025年7月5日「モバイル英語学習」第886号(英語のエッセイ): The July 5th Disaster Rumor: What Happened and Why It Matters

Notes:
rumor: うわさ
disaster: 災害
explode: 爆発する
Japan’s weather agency: 日本の気象庁
fool: だます(うそを信じさせる)

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A popular manga called “Watashi ga Mita Mirai: Kanzenban” led to a big rumor that a huge disaster would happen in Japan on July 5, 2025. The manga talks about a dream where an underwater volcano explodes and causes a giant tsunami, much bigger than the Nankai Trough earthquake that experts have warned about.

Even though Japan’s weather agency said this is not true and there is no scientific proof, many people in other countries, like Hong Kong and Taiwan, became scared. Some people canceled their trips to Japan, and airlines cut back on flights.

Experts say this kind of rumor can cause real problems, like people rushing to buy things or feeling panicked. Sometimes, people want a big change in society, and that can make them believe scary stories more easily.

The real danger might not be the disaster itself, but how people react to rumors. We need to think carefully and not be fooled by things that sound scary but have no proof.
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2025年6月28日「モバイル英語学習」第885号(英語のエッセイ): A 5,000-Year-Old Wine Jar Discovered in Egypt

Notes
pharaoh ファラオ;
jar 瓶,つぼ;
seal 密封する;
BCE before the Common Era 紀元前;
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A team of researchers found a very old wine jar in the tomb of Queen Merneith, who is thought to be the first female pharaoh of Egypt. The jar is about 5,000 years old. It was discovered in Abydos, Egypt, by a group led by Dr. Christina Köhler. They found hundreds of jars, many of them still sealed and in good shape.

Even though the wine inside was no longer liquid, scientists found grape seeds and other small remains. These are now being studied. This jar might be the second oldest wine ever found in human history.

Queen Merneith’s tomb was built around 3000 BCE. It is surrounded by more than 40 other small tombs, likely for her helpers. This shows that she was a very important person in ancient Egypt. Dr. Köhler said that this discovery helps us learn more about Queen Merneith and life during her time.
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