Notes
Self-defense Forces 自衛隊;

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“Time” magazine is one of the best-known news magazines in the world. It has four different editions, one for the U.S., one for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, one for Asia, and one for the South Pacific. The latest edition is interesting because King Charles III is on the front cover of three editions, but Prime Minister Kishida in on the cover of the Asian edition. “Time” chose him because he is the chair of this year’s G7 Summit. It will be held in his hometown of Hiroshima City. The article says that Kishida has been a successful prime minister because he is quiet and hardworking. However, not everyone in Japan is happy with his idea of making the country’s Self-defense Forces (“jieitai”) stronger. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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Image from Time magazine’s website.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida appears on the cover of Time magazine’s (online edition).

Notes
nyctinasty /ˈnɪktɪˌnæstɪ/: 夜間反応現象
clover: クローバー;
droop うなだれる;
dandelions /ˈdændɪlaɪənz/: タンポポ;
red clover: 赤色のクローバー;
water lily: スイレン；
petals: 花びら;
feather duster; 羽毛のほうき;
resemble (…に)似ている;

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Some plants sleep at night. During the day, their leaves stand up straight, but at night they droop down as if they are sleeping. This is called nyctinasty, and it happens because of changes in light and temperature. Clover and dandelions are some plants that sleep. Scientists don’t know why plants sleep, but they think it helps them save energy and protect themselves from bad weather.

Now, let’s take a look at some plants that sleep. Red clover’s three small leaves close at night to indicate it’s “sleeping”. Water lilies open up when the sun comes out but close their petals when the sun sets, signaling that they’re going to “sleep”. When dandelions sleep, their petals stand upright, resembling a yellow feather duster from far away.
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