(どよう)

midsummer (18-day period before the start of autumn)

(うし)

ox (zodiac; here in 'Day of the Ox')

(ひ)

day

(ことし)

this year

(うなぎ)

eel

(やすい)

cheap / inexpensive

(しちがつ)

July

(にじゅうろくにち)

the 26th (of the month)

(にほん)

Japan

(たべる)

to eat

(しゅうかん)

custom / habit

(ある)

a certain (some)

(なつ)

Summer

(あつさ)

heat

(つかれる)

to be tired

(からだ)

body

(ちから)

strength; power

(つける)

to attach / put on

(いう)

to say

(きんねん)

recent years

(ねだん)

price

(たかい)

expensive; high

(なる)

to become

(しかし)

however, but

(ちぎょ)

fry; young fish

(たくさん)

a lot / many

(とれる)

to be harvested

(きょねん)

last year

(すーぱー)

supermarket

(たんとうしゃ)

person in charge

(おおく)

many, much

(おきゃくさん)

guest / spectator / customer

(かう)

to buy

(はなす)

to speak, talk

(せんもんか)

expert, specialist

(まもる)

to protect

(とる)

to take (in)

(ちゅういする)

to be careful; to pay attention

(ひつよう)

necessary / needed

(してきする)

to point out

because of ~ / for the sake of ~

ため after a noun or plain form indicates reason or purpose. Used twice: once for 'because of bear worries' and once for 'for the children's safety'.

passive form

The passive form marks the subject as receiving an action. 「海女」と呼ばれる女性 = "women who are called 'ama'".

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる. Can describe an action in progress or a state resulting from a past change.

looks like, seems (visual impression)

Describes the fans' outward appearance — they looked very sad — based on what could be seen.

than / more than

Indicates comparison. Used to say prices rose on average 2.8% compared to last year.

want (someone) to do ...

Expresses a wish for someone else to do something. Formed with て-form + ほしい. The person you want to act is marked with に.

too much / excessively ~

Indicates excess. Used to describe the government's methods being too harsh (厳しすぎる) and the military deployment being excessive (やりすぎ).

土用のうしの日　今年はうなぎが安い

Day of the Ox during doyo: eel is cheap this year

7月26日は「土用のうしの日」です。

July 26th is the "Day of the Ox during doyo."

日本には、この日にうなぎを食べる習慣があります。

In Japan, there is a custom of eating eel on this day.

夏の暑さで疲れた体に、力をつけるためだと言われています。

It is said to be a way to build up strength in a body worn out by the summer heat.

近年、うなぎのねだんは高くなっていました。

In recent years, the price of eel had been rising.

しかし今年は、稚魚がたくさんとれたため、去年より安くなりそうです。

However, this year, because a lot of young fish were caught, it looks set to be cheaper than last year.

スーパーの担当者は「多くのお客さんに買ってほしい」と話しています。

A supermarket representative said, "I want many customers to buy it."

専門家は、うなぎを守るために、とりすぎに注意する必要があると指摘しています。

Experts point out that, in order to protect eel, it is necessary to be careful not to overfish.