News Discussion

Strange Guardrails in Tokyo's Nerima Ward

I came across some peculiar guardrails in a residential area of Nerima Ward, Tokyo, not far from Ekoda Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. There were eight of them, arranged inexplicably in what appeared to be a small triangular maze.

Adjacent to these guardrails were vending machines, suggesting it might be a convenient spot to take a break and grab a drink. However, I couldn't help but wonder why benches weren't provided instead of guardrails, which would surely offer more comfort.

To unravel this mystery, I reached out to Nerima Ward's road and park division. According to them, these guardrails were actually installed around 2012 to address issues such as abandoned bicycles and illegal parking. It turns out that this space was not intended as a resting area after all.

1. 1. come across ～に出くわす・遭遇する、～を偶然見つける、～を横切る、（感情などが）思い浮かぶ、心をよぎる
   I came across an interesting article while reading the newspaper.
2. 2. inexplicably 不可解にも、不思議なことに、どういうわけか、どうしたことか、説明できないほどに
   The train inexplicably changed direction without any announcement.
3. 3. adjacent 隣接した、隣り合った
   Why don't we meet up for a quick chat at a coffee shop adjacent to the public library?
4. 4. can’t help but ～せずにはいられない、つい～してしまう、～せざるを得ない
   She can't help but feel nervous before a big test, even though she studied hard.
5. 5. turn out 結局～であることが判明する、結果～になる、～に進展する
   The interview with my boss turned out better than I expected, and I got promoted.

1. 1. What unusual thing did the photojournalist come across, and why did he think benches would be more useful than the guardrails?
2. 2. What was the actual reason for installing the guardrails, according to Nerima Ward's road and park division?
3. 3. Have you ever seen any unusual objects or installations in your neighborhood?
4. 4. How do you feel about the ethical issues related to the misuse of public spaces, such as abandoned bicycles and illegal parking?
5. 5. Do you think there should be stricter regulations for the use of public spaces?

西武池袋線の江古田駅（東京都練馬区）からほど近い住宅街の一角に、三角に並べられたガードレールを見つけた。数えてみるとガードレールは８つ。ちょっとした迷路のようだ。

すぐそばには自動販売機が並び、飲み物を購入して一休みするにはちょうどいいスペースにも見える。しかし休憩スペースならベンチではなくなぜガードレール？

区道路公園課によると、物が勝手に置かれたり、放置自転車や車の駐車などが問題になっていたため、平成２４年度に設置したとのこと。休憩場所ではなかったようだ。