每日英語跟讀 Ep.833: A Japanese Politician Is Taking Paternity Leave. It’s a Big Deal. 一名日本政治人物請育嬰假與東京奧運

In a move heavy with symbolism for Japan’s workaholic fathers, Shinjiro Koizumi, a politician seen as a possible future prime minister, said on Wednesday that he would step back from his duties to care for his newborn child after the birth later this month.

透過對日本的工作狂父親深具象徵意義的一項舉動，被視為可能是未來日本首相的政治人物小泉進次郎週三表示，他將在本月稍後孩子出生後暫離工作崗位，以便照顧小孩。

By the standards of other wealthy countries, Mr. Koizumi, Japan’s environment minister, will not be away from work for long.

以其他富裕國家的標準來看，日本環境大臣小泉暫別工作的時間並不長。

But in Japan, where fathers who take time off after a birth are rare, word of Mr. Koizumi’s intentions swept social media and drew praise from supporters as setting a powerful example.

但在為人父者鮮少請育嬰假的日本，小泉打算請育嬰假的發言席捲社群媒體，並被支持者讚揚為樹立強而有力的示範。

In Japan, men are generally expected to demonstrate total loyalty to their employers, often at their families’ expense. The announcement from Mr. Koizumi, whose father, Junichiro Koizumi, was one of Japan’s most popular modern prime ministers, raised hopes that those expectations could begin to change.

在日本，男性通常被期待要對雇主展現十足忠誠，此等忠誠通常得犧牲家人。身為日本近代最受歡迎首相之一小泉純一郎之子，小泉（進次郎）的這番（請育嬰假的）宣言，為此等（為公司犧牲奉獻的）期許可望有所改變帶來希望。

Cancel them! For Olympic opponents in Japan, a delay isn’t enough 全部取消！對反奧運日本人來說，延期還不夠

For many in Japan, the postponement of the Olympics is a heartbreaking necessity. But for a small and motley crew opposed to the Games altogether, it doesn’t go far enough.

對許多日本人而言，奧運延期雖令人心碎，卻有其必要。但對一小群來自各行各業、全然反對奧運的人來說，延期遠遠不夠。

"Damn it! We absolutely reject postponement. The Olympics should be abolished," anti-Games activists tweeted after the 2020 Olympics was delayed.

反奧運倡議人士在2020東京奧運宣布延期後推文說：「X的！我們堅絕反對延期，應該廢止奧運。」

"One of the things that most annoys me is the commercialism of the event," said 59-year-old Toshio Miyazaki. Miyazaki works for the Tokyo city government, but he is vocal about his opposition to the event.

59歲的宮崎俊夫（譯音）說：「最惹惱我的其中一件事，是奧運的商業化。」宮崎為東京都廳工作，但他直言不諱地反對這項盛事。

Kumiko Sudo said she was uncomfortable with the nationalist undertones she feels are associated with the Games. She was also angered by moves Tokyo made in the run-up to the Games, including clearing out makeshift camps occupied by homeless people.

須藤久美子（譯音）說，她覺得奧運隱含的國家主義讓她不舒服，而且她對東京當局在比賽籌備期間的舉動很氣憤，包括清除街友居住的臨時帳篷。

Even so, in domestic surveys, only around 10 percent of respondents think the Games should be cancelled.

Source article: https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1346506; https://features.ltn.com.tw/english/article/paper/1364706