Damage to Himeji Castle After Severe Storm
強風暴擊後姬路城受損
Introduction
A regular inspection of Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture has found exterior damage caused by Typhoon Jangmi.
兵庫縣姬路城的例行檢查發現，由於颱風「尚美」影響，城堡外牆出現損壞。
Main Body
The damage is located on the northern turret of the main keep, where about four square meters of white plaster fell off the outer wall. This turret is considered an important cultural property within the UNESCO World Heritage site. The damage happened while Typhoon Jangmi moved across Japan, with the Japan Meteorological Agency reporting wind speeds of over 90kmph in the Himeji area. Although the storm caused flooding, landslides, and transport problems in the region, the inside of the castle was not damaged and no one was injured at the site.
損壞位於主 keep 北側的櫓，外牆約有四平方公尺的白色抹灰脫落。該櫓被視為聯合國教育、科學及文化組織（UNESCO）世界遺產內的重要文化財產。損壞發生在颱風「尚美」橫掃日本期間，日本氣象廳報告姬路地區的風速超過每小時 90 公里。雖然風暴導致該地區發生淹水、土石流及交通問題，但城堡內部並未受損，現場也無人受傷。
Historically, the site consists of 83 buildings with defensive features from the early Shogunate period. This current issue follows a major restoration project that took place between 2009 and 2015. This project cost approximately 2.4 billion yen and included the replacement of 16,000 roof tiles and the application of new exterior plaster. Consequently, city officials are now checking if the recent storm requires further repairs to keep the site well-preserved.
從歷史來看，該遺址由 83 座建築組成，具有幕府時代初期的防禦特色。此次問題發生在 2009 年至 2015 年間進行的大型修復工程之後。該工程耗資約 24 億日圓，包括更換 16,000 塊屋頂瓦片以及塗抹新的外牆抹灰。因此，市政府官員目前正在檢查，以確定近期的風暴是否需要進一步維修，以確保該遺址得到良好保存。
Conclusion
Authorities are now assessing the loss of plaster to decide if more repair work is necessary.
當局目前正在評估抹灰脫落的情況，以決定是否需要更多的維修工作。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'B2 Upgrade': From Simple Lists to Logical Flow
At the A2 level, you likely describe events as a list: The storm came. It rained. The wall broke. To reach B2, you must connect these ideas using Logical Transition Words.
Look at this sentence from the text:
"Although the storm caused flooding... the inside of the castle was not damaged."
Why this is a 'B2 move': Instead of using two separate sentences, the writer uses "Although" to create a contrast. This tells the reader: "I am giving you a bad fact, but here is the surprising good news."
🛠️ Expanding your Toolkit
To move away from basic English, replace simple connectors with these higher-level alternatives found in or inspired by the article:
| A2 (Basic) | B2 (Fluid) | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| So | Consequently | The storm was strong; consequently, officials are checking for damage. |
| But | Although | Although it is old, the castle is well-preserved. |
| And | Furthermore | The storm caused floods; furthermore, it caused landslides. |
Pro Tip: Notice how "Consequently" appears at the start of the sentence in the text. This is a sophisticated way to show a result (Cause Effect) without sounding like a child.
🔍 Vocabulary Shift: Precision
Stop using the word "thing" or "part." B2 speakers use Precise Nouns.
- Instead of "the part of the building," the text uses "turret" and "main keep."
- Instead of "fixing," the text uses "restoration project."
By switching one generic word for one specific word, you instantly sound more professional and fluent.