【轻松英文阅读】外国人比赛演唱日本歌曲

 On December 24, ‘Nodo Jiman the World!’ was broadcast on Japanese television. In this Japanese TV program foreigners compete with each other singing Japanese pop songs in Japanese. This year, 15 people representing 11 countries took part in the competition.

 

The program has been very popular since it began on NTV back in 2011. It even launched¹ the singing career of Chris Hart from America after he won the championship in the spring round of 2012. Since then he has released² an album and will be appearing in this year’s Kohaku— an annual music program shown on New Year’s Eve with the most popular music artists of the year. It is considered a great honor³.

 

Chris Hart was in the final round this time too. He earned an impressive⁴ 399 points out of 400 for his signing of the song ‘Ai’ by Motohiro Hata. However, it was Todd Spitz, also from America, who won the championship this time. He scored a perfect 400 points with his singing of “Fuyu ga hajimaruyo” by Noriyuki Makihara.

 

Is this the birth of a new star? It will be interesting to see what will happen next for Todd.

1 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

2 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

3 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

4 impressive   

adj.给人深刻印象的，感人的

参考例句：

• This cinema is so impressive that we can't help crying.这影片如此感人以至我们禁不住流下泪来。
• The suit made him look especially impressive.他穿上这套衣服真精神。