Bye， “Chibi Maruko-chan”

西安外國語大學 孟 潔

給我們帶來溫暖，并在不經意間教會我們為人處世道理的小丸子，大家一定難以忘記。然而，小丸子的原型，同時也是小丸子的創作者——日本著名的漫畫家櫻桃子，卻永遠地離開了我們。日本集英社官方于2018年8月27日發布訃告稱《櫻桃小丸子》的原作者櫻桃子（本名三浦美紀）于2018年8月15日因乳腺癌逝世，享年53歲。隨后，櫻桃子個人官方網站正式公布了她去世的消息。

Miki Miura，also known more by her pen name Momoko Sakura，one of Japan's most famous manga （漫畫）artists，died of breast cancer at the age of 53 on August 15，her firm announced on August 27,2018.

In an obituary（訃告）statement posted on her official website Monday，her staff said a funeral ceremony had been held with only family members and close friends in attendance.The obituary also expressed Sakura's gratitude to her fans.

As a manga artist in 1984，Sakura faced challenges in the beginning.She could not find a magazine to publish her manga series.Things began to change in 1986 when the monthly manga magazine Ribon started publishing Sakura's Chibi Maruko-chan（《櫻桃小丸子》） series.

In Chibi Maruko-chan，Sakura created a nine-year-old girl called Maruko and depicted（描繪）the daily life of Maruko and her family in suburban Japan.This manga series is semiautobiographical（半自傳體的）as Sakura illustrated（說明）her childhood story in the manga and shaped the main character based on her own personalities.

The series soon becamea huge hitin Japan.In 1989，it was awarded the Kodansha Manga Award，one of Japan's most famous awards for manga.And at the same year，the total sales of the manga had reached over 30 million copies in Japan.

In 1990，the manga was made into an anime series（動畫系列）and aired on Japan's Fuji Television.Nearly 30 years on，the program is stillon the airand becomes one of the most popular anima series in Japan.The anime series is also aired in many other countries，gaining tens of millions of fans worldwide.

When hearing about Sakura's death，fans employed social media to share their thoughts and mourning（哀悼）for the lovely manga artist.Many thanked Sakura for creating such a heartwarming series and a lovely character，which fulfilled their childhood life andaccompanied them to grow up.

According to local media reports，the production team of Chibi Maruko-chan hasstated their intention to continuethe series.

Reading Check

Complete the following summary according to the text with only one word for each blank.

Miki Miura is one of Japan's most famous 1._____________and died of breast cancer on 2.____________15.Chibi Maruko-chan series created by Miki Miura have been 3._________in many countries fornearly 4.__________years， which affected a lot of people.Today，many fans employed social media to share their thoughts and 5.__________for Miki Miura.

Language Study

Difficult sentences

1....her staff said a funeral ceremony had been held with only family members and close friends in attendance.

翻譯：_______________________________

【點石成金】句中，with only family members是with復合結構作a funeral ceremony的后置定語;in attendance意為“出席；到場”。

2.This manga series is semi-autobiographical as Sakura illustrated her childhood story in the manga and shaped the main character based on her own personalities.

翻譯：________________________________

【點石成金】本句是一個復合句，句中as引導的是原因狀語從句，表示“因為……”；based on意為“以……為基礎”，在句中為過去分詞短語作狀語。

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important phrases in the text

1.in attendance出席；在場

2.a huge hit大獲成功

3.on the air播出（中）

4.accompany sb to do陪伴某人做某事

5.state one's intention to do陳述某人的意圖

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.Her best friend ________run a thousand metres yesterday，or she was not able to finish the task.

2.Although people strongly asked to get the film off the shelves ahead of schedule，it was still________.

3.The song which called for peace was________during the American civil war.

4.Itwassurprising thathe wasnotwilling to ________sell this guitar.

5.Wherever the boss appears，there are always two assistants________.