Notes
torrential rains 豪雨;
mudslide 地滑り;

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I was happy that we had rain in June because rainy seasons recently have been very dry. Without the rain, dams don’t fill up and farmers don’t have enough water to grow crops. There isn’t enough water for people in the cities, either. Since the beginning of July, however, there has been too much rain, especially in Kyushu. Rivers have risen, and towns and villages have been flooded. The hills are so wet that mudslides destroy houses. Almost 60 people have been killed. From typhoons, earthquakes and torrential rains to COVID-19, Japan has too many natural disasters! (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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Notes
eaves [名]〔複数扱い〕（家の）軒;
reproduce 繁殖；

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I saw my first swallow of the year last Friday. These birds spend the winter in warm southern countries and come to Japan in the spring to build nests and reproduce . You can see their nests on walls under the eaves of houses. They are small birds with blueish-black backs, reddish-brown throats , and white breasts. They are about 17 cm long, and they have rather long tails. They fly around most of the day catching and eating insects in the air. When they aren’t flying, you can see them resting on power lines along the streets. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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