Bye， “Chibi Maruko-chan”

西安外国语大学 孟 洁

给我们带来温暖，并在不经意间教会我们为人处世道理的小丸子，大家一定难以忘记。然而，小丸子的原型，同时也是小丸子的创作者——日本著名的漫画家樱桃子，却永远地离开了我们。日本集英社官方于2018年8月27日发布讣告称《樱桃小丸子》的原作者樱桃子（本名三浦美纪）于2018年8月15日因乳腺癌逝世，享年53岁。随后，樱桃子个人官方网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 （漫画）artists，died of breast cancer at the age of 53 on August 15，her firm announced on August 27,2018.

In an obituary（讣告）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（《樱桃小丸子》） series.

In Chibi Maruko-chan，Sakura created a nine-year-old girl called Maruko and depicted（描绘）the daily life of Maruko and her family in suburban Japan.This manga series is semiautobiographical（半自传体的）as Sakura illustrated（说明）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（动画系列）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.

翻译：_______________________________

【点石成金】句中，with only family members是with复合结构作a funeral ceremony的后置定语;in attendance意为“出席；到场”。

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.

翻译：________________________________

【点石成金】本句是一个复合句，句中as引导的是原因状语从句，表示“因为……”；based on意为“以……为基础”，在句中为过去分词短语作状语。

Using Language

Ⅰ.Important phrases in the text

1.in attendance出席；在场

2.a huge hit大获成功

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陈述某人的意图

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________.