Notes
zodiac 黄道帯;
cautious 用心深い，慎重な;
ox 雄牛

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According to the Chinese zodiac, there are 12 years in a cycle. Each year has an animal symbol. The symbol for this year is the rat. In most western countries, rats have a bad image, but a rat in the Chinese zodiac is good. They say that a person born in the year of the rat is smart, cautious, and cheerful. These people make good partners with people who are born in the year of the ox, the dragon, or the monkey. My daughter was born in the year of the rat, and her husband was born in the year of the ox. No wonder they make a good couple! (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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Notes
bill 紙幣
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The government says that there will be new faces on the 10,000 yen bill, the 5,000 yen bill, and the 1,000 yen bill in 2024. When I first came to Japan, I remember seeing Shotokutaishi and Ito Hirofumi. Then came Fukuzawa Yukichi, Nitobe Inazo, and Natsume Soseki. There are two more new faces now. American money is different. George Washington has been on the $1 bill since I was born. So have Lincoln ($5), Hamilton ($10), and Jackson ($20). There is one similarity between Japanese money and American money, however. Americans seldom use the $2 bill, and I hardly ever see a 2,000 yen bill. (by Porf. Douglas Jarrell)
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