著者

渡辺 伸一

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.1, pp.115-125, 2007-10

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Environmental cadmium pollution causes cadmium poisoning. The first cadmium-polluted area ever discovered in the world was the Jinzu River basin in Toyama Prefecture in Japan. The most severe case of cadmium poisoning is Itai-itai disease (osteomalacia), which was officially recognized as a pollution-related disease by the Japanese government in 1968, and a less severe case is tubular kidney dysfunction. In other words, the occurrence of Itai-itai disease is only the "tip of the iceberg". The tubular kidney dysfunction is the earliest and most prevalent adverse result of chronic cadmium poisoning. The Japan Public Health Association Cadmium Research Committee, supported by the Environmental Agency, carried out health surveys in cadmium-polluted areas of 8 prefectures during the period of 1976-1984 and reported that many cases of tubular kidney dysfunction were found not only in Toyama but also in Ishikawa, Hyogo and Nagasaki prefectures. However, the Environmental Agency and the research committee have never certified this kidney dysfunction as a pollution-related disease. In 1970, the Japanese government set tentative acceptable standards of 1ppm for brown rice and enacted the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Law in 1971. Based on this Law, restoration projects of polluted soils of rice paddies were started. If cadmium nephropathy was certified as a officially pollution-related disease, acceptable standards for brown rice must be more strict than 1ppm, because 1ppm is a standard to prevent habitants from suffering from Itai-itai disease. This new strict standard arrives at increases in polluted rice and soils. This means increases in the expenses to buy polluted rice and to restore polluted soils. To offer indemnity to farmers for any reduction in his rice crop is the responsibility of polluting industries and to pay expenses to restore polluted soils is the responsibility of polluting industries, the central government and local authorities. This paper concludes that the main reason why cadmium nephropathy has not been certified as an official pollution- related disease is that the decision-making of the Environmental Agency and the research committee reflects the intention of the polluting industries and the government who regard the expenses above as too heavy a burden.

著者

渡辺 伸一

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.1, pp.115-125, 2007-10-31 (Released:2017-02-27)

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Environmental cadmium pollution causes cadmium poisoning. The first cadmium-polluted area ever discovered in the world was the Jinzu River basin in Toyama Prefecture in Japan. The most severe case of cadmium poisoning is Itai-itai disease (osteomalacia), which was officially recognized as a pollution-related disease by the Japanese government in 1968, and a less severe case is tubular kidney dysfunction. In other words, the occurrence of Itai-itai disease is only the "tip of the iceberg". The tubular kidney dysfunction is the earliest and most prevalent adverse result of chronic cadmium poisoning. The Japan Public Health Association Cadmium Research Committee, supported by the Environmental Agency, carried out health surveys in cadmium-polluted areas of 8 prefectures during the period of 1976-1984 and reported that many cases of tubular kidney dysfunction were found not only in Toyama but also in Ishikawa, Hyogo and Nagasaki prefectures. However, the Environmental Agency and the research committee have never certified this kidney dysfunction as a pollution-related disease. In 1970, the Japanese government set tentative acceptable standards of 1ppm for brown rice and enacted the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Law in 1971. Based on this Law, restoration projects of polluted soils of rice paddies were started. If cadmium nephropathy was certified as a officially pollution-related disease, acceptable standards for brown rice must be more strict than 1ppm, because 1ppm is a standard to prevent habitants from suffering from Itai-itai disease. This new strict standard arrives at increases in polluted rice and soils. This means increases in the expenses to buy polluted rice and to restore polluted soils. To offer indemnity to farmers for any reduction in his rice crop is the responsibility of polluting industries and to pay expenses to restore polluted soils is the responsibility of polluting industries, the central government and local authorities. This paper concludes that the main reason why cadmium nephropathy has not been certified as an official pollution- related disease is that the decision-making of the Environmental Agency and the research committee reflects the intention of the polluting industries and the government who regard the expenses above as too heavy a burden.

著者

富井 奈菜実 大西 貴子 中西 陽 小松 愛 根來 秀樹

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 = Bulletin of Nara University of Education. Cultural and Social Science (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.69, no.1, pp.1-14, 2020-12-25

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In this paper, in order to clarify importance of activities based on the interests of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, we examine the program and activity of “The Train GEEK Club at Nara University of Education”, which is composed of ASD children. The train GEEK Club program includes many different activities which are very unique. In the main program organized in accordance with their interests, the participants plan their activities, prepare and make their own presentations, by talking and sharing the knowledge related to trains and railways which are positioned as their “excessive interest”. It is found that the program has some significances, such as to pursue to their hobbies taking their advantage of knowledge of train, to get a sense of accomplishment through this activity, and to make close friends are able to talk and share their common hobbies. It is suggested that the activity is working for support of interpersonal relations and their leisure from the point of developmental perspective.

著者

渡辺 伸一

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.1, pp.115-125, 2007-10-31

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Environmental cadmium pollution causes cadmium poisoning. The first cadmium-polluted area ever discovered in the world was the Jinzu River basin in Toyama Prefecture in Japan. The most severe case of cadmium poisoning is Itai-itai disease (osteomalacia), which was officially recognized as a pollution-related disease by the Japanese government in 1968, and a less severe case is tubular kidney dysfunction. In other words, the occurrence of Itai-itai disease is only the "tip of the iceberg". The tubular kidney dysfunction is the earliest and most prevalent adverse result of chronic cadmium poisoning. The Japan Public Health Association Cadmium Research Committee, supported by the Environmental Agency, carried out health surveys in cadmium-polluted areas of 8 prefectures during the period of 1976-1984 and reported that many cases of tubular kidney dysfunction were found not only in Toyama but also in Ishikawa, Hyogo and Nagasaki prefectures. However, the Environmental Agency and the research committee have never certified this kidney dysfunction as a pollution-related disease. In 1970, the Japanese government set tentative acceptable standards of 1ppm for brown rice and enacted the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Law in 1971. Based on this Law, restoration projects of polluted soils of rice paddies were started. If cadmium nephropathy was certified as a officially pollution-related disease, acceptable standards for brown rice must be more strict than 1ppm, because 1ppm is a standard to prevent habitants from suffering from Itai-itai disease. This new strict standard arrives at increases in polluted rice and soils. This means increases in the expenses to buy polluted rice and to restore polluted soils. To offer indemnity to farmers for any reduction in his rice crop is the responsibility of polluting industries and to pay expenses to restore polluted soils is the responsibility of polluting industries, the central government and local authorities. This paper concludes that the main reason why cadmium nephropathy has not been certified as an official pollution- related disease is that the decision-making of the Environmental Agency and the research committee reflects the intention of the polluting industries and the government who regard the expenses above as too heavy a burden.

著者

高橋 豪仁

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

基盤研究(C)

巻号頁・発行日

2002

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日本のプロ野球には、私設応援団や後援会が存在する。それは、近代社会におけるスポーツイベントが創出したスポーツファンによって形成された、応援のための自発的集団である。本研究の目的は、私設応援団「神戸中央会」の参与観察を通して、「全国広島東洋カープ私設応援団連盟」と「近畿カープ後援会」の設立経緯と活動状況を明らかにすることである。1.下位文化研究の視点から私設応援団の参与観察を実施した結果、球場における示威的コミットメントや選手との距離の近さが彼ら独自の勢力資源となり、スタジアムでの典型的な応援行動である旗振りやリードは応援団の社会的勢力を儀礼的に象徴化する機能を有することが推察された。そして、官僚制やヤクザ的な擬似的家制度が、これらの彼ら独自の行動様式や価値基準に取り込まれており、官僚制は近代社会の主流から取り込んだものであり、擬似的家制度は社会の周辺部分に位置づけられた親文化である。ここに、応援団の下位文化の多層性を見ることができ、私設応援団の下位文化は、応援に関する彼ら独自の価値基準や行動様式に官僚制や擬似家制度をドメスティケイト(domesticate)することによって創られているのである。2.近畿カープ後援会の設立母体であった近畿広島県人会は、戦後の復興期において広島と大阪の間の物流のパイプ役として機能しており、広島県から近畿圏への労働力のスムーズな移動に貢献していた。目に見える形で広島との繋がりを意識することのできるスポーツ観戦は、広島県人会のメンバーにとって、大阪の広島県人としてのアイデンティティを確認する場であった。カープ後援会設立のための共感の共同性を作り出したものは、単なる故郷に関する共通の記憶ではなかった。それはカープによって上演されたV1の物語であり、広島から大阪に出て来て働くという共通の体験を再帰的に映し出す社会的ドラマとなっていた。

著者

板橋 孝幸 岩本 廣美 河本 大地

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 = Bulletin of Nara University of Education. Cultural and Social Science (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.68, no.1, pp.1-19, 2019-11-29

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This paper shows the significance and problems of small schools laying both elementary and junior high schools in remote rural areas by arranging the cases of Ishigaki City and Taketomi Town in Okinawa Prefecture. In these schools, efforts have been made in school management and local area learning so that children can recognize their growth while considering the connection between elementary and junior high schools, by looking at the entire nine years of learning.

著者

岡本 大典

出版者

奈良教育大学

巻号頁・発行日

2009-03-25

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奈良教育大学修士学位論文, 学位の種類: 修士(教育学), 学位授与年月日: 平成21年3月25日

著者

牧野 英三

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.29, no.1, pp.115-136, 1980-11-25

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At the Shunie performed at the Nigatsudo Hall of the Todaiji Temple, the Jimmyocho, which is supposed to have originated with the Engishiki, is recited immediately after the Shoya period every day during the fortnight's ritual, following the Jobun of the Kanjoku recited by the officiating priest, Daidoshi. The chanting of the Jimmyocho, of which seven common priests (Hirashu) take charge as chanters (Yomiyaku) by turns, takes place for the purpose of inviting the gods omnipresent throughout Japan, amounting to over 13,700, to the ceremonial hall of the Shunie, and calling on them to help carry out the religious cerermony, Gyobo, uneventfully. It is not, however, until he is confined in the Nigatsudo Hall for the religious devotion for the third year that the Hirashu is qualified for the Yomiyaku. There are two ways of chanting-Hombushi, orthodox recital, and Hikiage, informal recital. The Hombushi is recited for the first seven days, Johichinichi, and the Hikiage for the latter seven days, Gehichinichi. However, on the days with rather lots of rituals, such as the fifth and seventh days during the Johichinichi, the Hikiage is recited. The Jimmyocho is divided into nine sections. The first section is recited rather slowly to anicety. The tempo of the recitation is accelerated gradually from the second section on, until it comes to its audible limit, especially in the fifth to the seventh section. In the eighth section the tempo is decelerated to that of the first part. In the recitation of the Goryo in the ninth section the scale is toned down, and the whole recitation comes to the finish in stillness. The time required for chanting varies from twenty to twenty-eight minutes according to the Hombushi or the Hikiage, and the Yomiyaku, etc. The note of the melody of the Jimmyocho and the pattern of each section are shown on the following pages. (The music is based on what was taped by the late Daisojo Kokai Kitagawara, former Betto of the Todaiji Temple, in 1958.)

著者

牧野 英三

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.32, no.1, pp.107-127, 1983-11-25

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During the term of the Shunie of the Todaiji Temple, from the first to the fifteenth of March, the Kakocho, list of the departed remarkable for meritorious services to the temple, is read in a chanting tone after the Karichozu, which means a brief recess for urination, on two days of the term, the fifth and the twelfth. The priest in charge of chanting the Kakocho is the Kitashu-no ichi, chief of the four common priests sitting in the north seat in the hall together with two superiors, for the twelfth, and one of the three common priests also seated with another two superiors in the south seat, or a common priest who has taken part in his fifth year's cult, for the fifth. The original of the Kakocho in existence, put in good repair in the eighth year of Kambun (1668 A.D.), is a scroll about thirty meters in lenght with eighty sheets of paper pasted together. After that time on the names of the departed have been written down in a separate scroll, and those put on record so far in the two scrolls exceed 3700 in the aggregate. The first part of the Kakocho is read off rather in a slow repressed tone, the second being chanted in a higher tone and pitch. The third part is read almost straight on, and the chanting of the last is finished off in a slow stream. The time required for this is about forty minutes.

著者

上村 盛人

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.26, no.1, pp.69-80, 1977-11-15 (Released:2017-02-24)

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In Swinburne's poetry we find many remarkable femme fatale characters : Dolores, Faustine, Venus, Mary Stuart, and Atalanta are all typical femmes fatales, to give a few examples. He was almost possessed with the femme fatale image, and in fact, he became the first to introduce to the Victorian England the "fatal woman" imagery, which was indeed the representative iconography in the fin de siecle European art. Mary Gordon was Swinburne's closely related cousin and was also his bosom friend who had shared the romantic make-believe world of their own since their childhood. Mary's sudden announcement to marry a soldier was a shock to the poet, to whom perhaps it meant destruction of their cherished private world. Swinburne had been interested in the femme fatale theme since his boyhood, and in his imagination the "fatal woman" image had already taken shape, waiting only for a chance to be actually written down as a poem. Mary's engagement announcement gave him such a chance, and now he could set out to become a chief actor in his‘monodrama', in which he was to be tormented by cruel femmes fatales. Swinburne was a poet who was extremely conscious of his poetic art as a‘maker' of poetry. Almost all his poetry can possibly be said‘meta-poetry', that is, poetry about poetry. To achieve his aim to embody‘l'art pour l'art' in his poems, he made use of surprisingly many poetic forms and themes. And his femme fatale myth was one of such themes and his‘lost love' to Mary Gordon gave a good chance to start him writing femme fatale poems.

著者

豊田 弘司 照田 恵理

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.62, no.1, pp.41-48, 2013-11-30

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The present study examined the relationship among stress, stress response and emotional intelligence (EI) in undergraduates. Undergraduates were asked to rate the items from scales corresponding to EI (J-WLEIS; Toyota & Yamamoto, 2011), Stressor (STR; Shima, 1999) and Stess response (SRS-18; Suzuki et al., 1997). J-WLEIS consisited of four subscales: Regulating emotion, Self emotion appraisal, Others-emotions appraisal and Use of emotion. STR was composed of four subscales, existential, interpersonal, academic and physical stressors. SRS-18 consisted of three subscales: deppression, aggression and hopeless. The result indicated that EI scores were negatively correlated with both stressor and stress scores, and showing that participants with high EI had less stressor and less stress response than those with low EI. Stressor was correlated with stress response higher in participants with low EI compared to those with high EI. This result was interpreted as showing the possibility that EI moderated the relatonship between stressor and stress response.

著者

中谷 昭 岡崎 政博 坂田 進

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 自然科学 (ISSN:05472407)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.50, no.2, pp.39-43, 2001-10-15

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of high fat diet with different percent calories as fat on serum leptin level in rats. Male Wistar rats, 4 weeks old, were assigned to regular chow (12% calories as fat), a 40% high fat diet or a 60% high fat diet group. They ate each diet ad libitum for 5 weeks. Food intake per day was the highest in chow fed group and the lowest in 60% high fat fed group. Although epididymal fat pad weight, plasma triglycende, free fatty acid and total cholesterol in both high fat diet groups were significantly higher than in the chow fed group, there was no difference in body weight among the three diet groups. Serum leptin in the 40% fat and the 60% fat diet were higher than in the chow fed group ( ~136% and ~140%, respectively). Serum leptin was strongly correlated with epididymal adipose tissue weight (r=0.83, P<0.001). These results suggest that a high fat diet increases serum leptin level, and that increased leptin level might inhibit food intake and control body weight.

著者

小笠原 真 小笠原 真 OGASAWARA Shin

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.41, no.1, pp.p39-60, 1992-11

著者

渡辺 伸一 藤川 賢

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

基盤研究(C)

巻号頁・発行日

2003

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カドミウムによる環境汚染がもたらす健康被害、すなわち慢性カドミウム中毒は、その重篤例が、イタイイタイ病であり、非重篤例がカドミウム腎症(近位尿細管障害)という腎障害である。しかるに、環境省と環境省が組織化した医学研究班は、この腎障害を公害病とは認めていない。カドミウム中毒問題は水俣病問題と並ぶわが国を代表する公害問題であるが、両公害問題がたどった歴史的過程には、(1)複数の汚染地域のうち一部の地域しか公害病指定されず、しかも、(2)非重篤例など多くの被害者が被害者と認められてこなかった、という共通点を見て取ることができる。このカドミウム中毒問題において、われわれは、既に、富山県神通川流域、長崎県対馬、群馬県安中の事例と、それにかかわる全国的状況について、報告書としてまとめている。本報告書は、そこで得られた知見を踏まえ、兵庫県生野(市川流域)と石川県梯川流域の事例、そして、カドミウム腎症の公害病未指定問題の探求をとおして、上記の研究課題に迫ろうという意図のもとに執筆されている。第1章では、わが国のカドミウム問題の全体像を紹介し、生野、梯川の事例の位置づけを提示した。公害問題における被害・加害構造を解明しようとするとき、国や加害企業の対応とともに重要なのが、被害者に最も身近に接する地元行政の対策に関する考察である。それについて、第2章では、生野について、第3章では、梯川について考察した。その結果、(1)「被害者の発見」「補償の獲得」「健康管理」のあり方は、国の姿勢や判断等によって、全て規定されるわけではなく、各県レベルにおける、行政、地元大学研究者、住民運動の三者、特には県行政の対応の積極度によって、大きな違いが存在したこと、そして、(2)この違いは、各地の被害者が置かれた状況(派生的被害のレベル、健康管理の有無等)を大きく左右したこと、等を明らかにした。梯川の場合、さらに注目されるのは、世界をリードするほどの医学研究の成果である。この地での、腎障害に関する研究成果は、WHOのCriteriaにも、コーデックスの初期の米中カドミウム濃度基準0.2ppm以下という提案にも反映されている。つまり、世界の人々の健康管理に生かされているのである。しかし、わが国政府は、梯川をはじめ各地のカドミウム腎症の多発をカドミウムによるものと認めていない。世界で評価されているわが国の研究を、なぜわが国政府は評価しないのか。第4章では、この問いを、環境省とその医学研究班に対する社会学的検討を通して探求した。

著者

劉 麟玉

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.60, no.1, pp.95-105, 2011-11-30

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GAO Yi-Sheng, who was an aborigine of Tsuou tribe in Taiwan, was born in 1908. His native name was Uyongu Yatauyungana, and he also had a Japanese name, Issei Yada, because Taiwan was ruled by Japan around the time. When Taiwan became a territory of Republic of China in 1945, he again changed his name to a Chinese name, GAO Yi-Sheng. Although he was arrested on a false charge as a revolter against the government in 1952 and executed in 1954, Taiwanese and Japanese scholars have considered him as one of the elite in Tsuou tribe, not only because he attempted to build an autonomous society for Taiwanese aborigines, but also because he had considerable talents for literature and music. Even when he was in prison, GAO Yi-Sheng composed many songs, as thinking of his own children and people of Tsuou tribe. It is undoubted that he was a tragic figure in the history of politics, but I would like to shed more light on his music talent. We all know that music composition needs knowledge of organizing the notes and writing them on the staves. So where and why did GAO learn the knowledge about music composition? What is characteristic of his music? In order to answer the questions, in this paper, I will examine GAO's progress in music education during his school years and analyze his compositions as well.

著者

大辻 彩音 河本 大地

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 = Bulletin of Nara University of Education. Cultural and Social Science (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.70, no.1, pp.49-64, 2021-11-30

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How can we conduct local learning (or community learning) in an expanded school district under the circumstances of school consolidation? In order to obtain clues to answer this question, we examine whether the consolidation of schools in the elementary schools of mountainous Totsukawa Village, Nara Prefecture has led to any changes in local studies, and whether local studies lead to pupils becoming more interested in the local areas. First, we interviewed teachers about the content of local learning before and after the consolidation of schools and the impact of the consolidation. In addition, a questionnaire survey was conducted on the children in order to clarify whether or not the local studies led to the children becoming interested in and proud of the community in which they live. As a result, it was found that although the consolidation of schools will make it difficult to implement activities closely related to local people, it is important to create a system for local learning that includes local people and parents. Moreover, although interest in the local area increases in the lower and middle grades, in order to sustain this interest in the upper grades and to increase the students' attachment to the local area, it is considered effective to conduct local studies in a way that matches the interests of each child.

著者

阿部 孝哉 河本 大地 森口 洋一

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 = Bulletin of Nara University of Education. Cultural and social science (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.69, no.1, pp.73-85, 2020-12

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The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of game materials on the alleviation of disgust tendency toward geography learning in junior high school social studies. First, we analyze the effects and challenges of games "Momotaro Dentetsu" as a tool for geographic learning. Next, game teaching materials "Kyushu Quiz Tour" created based on the analysis results are put into practice for junior high school students. Then, based on the image of students practicing the game materials and the results of the subsequent questionnaire, we examine what kind of game materials are effective in mitigating the detestation tendency of geographic learning. As a result, by developing the class using the game teaching material, it was possible to give stimulation to the class which tends to advance in the same form every time. And it was proven that the detestation tendency was eased by attracting the interest of the students and repeating the experience which made the geography learning to be fun. In addition, playing games with other students has the potential to lead to the formation of human relationships.

著者

丹 敦 渡辺 伸一

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.53, no.1, pp.165-180, 2004-10

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Deer in Nara - "Nara-no-Shika"- inhabit the area in and around Nara Park in Nara City, the capital of Nara prefecture. In Nara, they have been protected as sacred animals of the Kasuga shrine for a long time. On the other hand, damage to crops caused by them was so serious that the villages in Nara built "Shikagaki" (Shishigaki) during the Edo period. "Shikagaki" is a piece of equipment which is made of wood, stones and mud to prevent damage to crops caused by wild animals, especially deer in the case of Nara. According to our fieldwork, ruins of "Shikagaki" still exist around Nara Park. However, there has been no study to prove where they are located. We would like to propose that the rums of "Shikagaki" are very precious reminders of Nara's heritage in the sense that they are the products of local villagers' hard work. The purpose of this study is to clarify the distribution of the "Shikagaki" and their present situation.

著者

八尾坂 修

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.48, no.1, pp.127-142, 1999-11-10

著者

今井 靖親 高本 和昌

出版者

奈良教育大学

雑誌

奈良教育大学紀要. 人文・社会科学 (ISSN:05472393)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.40, no.1, pp.245-262, 1991-11-25

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The purpose of this study was to examine the readability of Japanese sentences. Experiment I was conducted in order to test the effect of the percentage of Chinese charcters and the presentation of the theme in the sentences on the subjects' reading time. The subjects were 60 college students. On the basis of the percentage of Chinese characters in the sentences and the presentation of the theme of the sentences, they were randomly assigned to one of the following six groups : High-theme, High-no theme, Middle-no theme, Non-theme, Non-no theme. They were asked to read the sentences shown by a slide projector on a paper and the time to read the sentences was recorded. For the subjects of the 'theme' groups the theme was told before they started reading the sentences. The reading time in the High groups was significantly shorter than that in the 'Non'groups. This suggests that the words written in Chinese characters in the sentences have facilitating effect on the readability of the Japanese sentences. No significant difference was observed between the 'theme' groups and the 'no theme' groups. The result made it clear that there were very similar words like the theme in the sentences shown for the 'no theme' groups. Experiment 2 was designed in order to test again the effect of the presentation of the theme on the subjects' reading time. The subjects were 20 college students. They were asked to read the sentences written only in hiragana (not containing Chinese charcters) on a paper. The 'theme' group took more reading time that in the 'no theme' group, but in reading the sentences the subjects of the 'theme' group made fewer mistakes than the subjects of the 'no theme' group. The findings suggest that the theme presented for the subjects facilitated to recognize the words in the sentences. but it took more time for them to correspond the contents or the words of the sentences with the theme.