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Today is the beginning of June. This month is known for weddings, and many women want to be June brides. Perhaps June is popular because of the beautiful flowers and the warm weather. Some say that it is because farmers were too busy in the spring to get married. In any case, it is the most popular month for weddings in the U.S. In Japan, June is not that popular. Actually, the most popular month for weddings in Japan is November. The 22nd day of the 11th month sounds good because 11 can be read as “ii” (“good” in English) and 22 can be read as “fufu” (“man and wife” in English). (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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Notes:
in a row 連続で;
traffic jam 交通渋滞;
back up 《主に米国で用いられる》〈交通などを〉渋滞させる;

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Golden Week started on April 29, and some people had as many as 10 days off in a row this year. The weather was perfect for travelling. Unfortunately, the road traffic can be terrible because everyone was travelling. In fact, the worst traffic jam I’ve ever been in was at Golden Week. The longest traffic jam in Japanese history, however, was on December 27, 1995. The Meishin Expressway was backed up for 154 kilometers from the eastern side of Lake Biwa to Toyokawa in Aichi Prefecture. It took 23 hours to clear! I hope that didn’t happen this year.（by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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