Opening Asahi’s web page today, I find this intriguing article in the top news.
An 110-year-old carousel pig presents itself, speaking in the first person. Thanks to this article, I learnt that merry-go-round is said 回転木馬・かいてんもくば in Japanese.
Our carousel pig is turning 110-year-old this year and is still amusing children in the park Toshimaen, along with the horses ウマくんと一緒に without having failed a single time 負けたことはない.
The pig and its equid friends have an interesting story. Born in Germany (ドイツで生まれたぼくたちは), they crossed the Atlantic to the U.S (アメリカに渡り) and stayed there for about a half century 半世紀・はんせいき before going to Japan.
7 years ago, the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 日本機械学会・にほんきかいがっかい certified 認定する・にんていする the carousel as Mechanical Engineering Heritage 機械遺産・きかいいさん.
The carousel was carved 彫られた・ほられた by hand 手で彫られた in style Art Nouveau アールヌーボー様式・ようしき. The creaking sound ギシギシ that can be heard when the carousel is set into motion is part of its charm.
Our pig wishes we could see the 1200 light bulbs 電球・でんきゅう that accompany them when they go round on summer nights. If you want to pay him a visit, the carousel is called “carousel El Dorado” and is situated in the park Toshimaen としまえん in Nerima 練馬区・ねりまく, Tokyo.
About
I’m learning Japanese, Korean and Chinese to read mystery novels and play video games in these languages.
Learning languages has always been one of my favourite hobbies, but I’m not a social person, I don’t like to meet new people and make friends, this is just not me. I keep hearing that languages are meant for communication, that we have to actively use them, talk with natives, etc. and for a long time, I thought it was weird to learn languages just to read books, with zero interest in communication.
Now I don’t really care what people think, and this blog helped me a lot to stop doubting myself and just do what I enjoy doing.
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