原田英語の時事英語ジュニア|英語ニュース ワークシート(高校生レベル)
Class ____ No. ____ Name ____________________
「伯方の塩」がカラオケ1位 約3秒のサウンドロゴがJOYSOUNDで初の首位
Three-Second Salt Jingle Becomes Japan's Top Karaoke Song
1A TV jingle that lasts about three seconds topped the weekly chart of JOYSOUND, one of Japan's major karaoke services, in July. Exing, the company that runs JOYSOUND, announced on July 7 that the jingle had been number one in the first week of July 2026. The company said it was the first time a sound logo had reached the top of its weekly chart.
2A sound logo is a short piece of music that helps people remember a company or a product. This one is simply the name of a salt brand, Hakata no Shio, sung in a few notes. The jingle was first used in TV commercials in 1987. It became available for karaoke across Japan in December 2025, after the salt maker entered it in a JOYSOUND contest for sound logos.
3On June 7, it ranked fourth on JOYSOUND's daily chart, ahead of songs by Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Kenshi Yonezu. It was 12th on the weekly chart that week. About a month later, it reached number one.
4Part of the appeal is the scoring game built into the karaoke machines. Because the track is so short, the score depends on hitting the right pitch instantly and holding it steady. The average score in June was 61.360 points, which Exing described as extremely low compared with ordinary songs. Singers try again and again and post their scores on social media. Exing said 58 percent of the singers were male and that their ages ranged from their teens to their 60s.
5The boom also matches taipa, a Japanese word short for time performance, or getting the most out of limited time. Exing has said this way of thinking has made it popular to sing only the chorus of a song at karaoke. A sound logo offers a complete song in just a few seconds. JOYSOUND's daily chart for October 12 still showed the jingle at number one, with MILK's "Suki Sugite Metsu" second.
Words 単語
| lastsA2 | 動 | (時間が)続くgoes on for a certain amount of time |
| majorA2 | 形 | 大手の、主要なvery big or important |
| commercialsB1 | 名 | (テレビの)CMshort ads on TV or radio |
| availableB1 | 形 | 利用できる、手に入るready for people to use or get |
| appealB1 | 名 | 魅力the quality that makes people like something |
| pitchB2 | 名 | 音の高さ、音程how high or low a sound is |
| instantlyB2 | 副 | すぐに、一瞬でat once, with no waiting |
| extremelyA2 | 副 | 非常にvery, very much |
| rangedA2 | 動 | (~から~まで)広がっていたwent from one number or level to another |
| chorus外 | 名 | サビthe main part of a song that repeats |
単語のレベル:CEFR-J(『CEFR-J Wordlist Version 1.6』 東京外国語大学投野由紀夫研究室. (URL: https://www.cefr-j.org/download.html より 2026年8月ダウンロード))
1. Reading Quiz 本文の内容に合うものを選ぼう
What did Exing announce on July 7?
A. A new karaoke machineB. That the jingle had been number one for a weekC. A new song by MILKD. That JOYSOUND would close
When was the jingle first used in TV commercials?
A. In 1987B. In 2025C. In 2026D. In 1997
Where was the jingle on JOYSOUND's daily chart on June 7?
A. FirstB. 12thC. SecondD. Fourth
Why is it hard to get a high score with the jingle?
A. The words are in English.B. It is too long to sing.C. You must hit the right pitch instantly and hold it.D. Only men can sing it.
According to Exing, what has taipa made popular at karaoke?
A. Singing only the chorus of a songB. Singing in groups of tenC. Singing only old songsD. Singing without a microphone
2. True or False 正しければ T、違っていれば F
( ) The jingle is the first sound logo to top JOYSOUND's weekly chart.
( ) The jingle could be sung at karaoke before December 2025.
( ) Most of the people who sang the jingle were female.
( ) On October 12, "Suki Sugite Metsu" was second on the daily chart.
3. Fill in the Blanks 下の語から選んで空らんをうめよう(形を変えずに)
appealextremelycommercialsavailablelastspitch
The jingle was first used in TV _____ in 1987.
It became _____ for karaoke across Japan in December 2025, after the salt maker entered it in a JOYSOUND contest for sound logos.
A TV jingle that _____ about three seconds topped the weekly chart of JOYSOUND, one of Japan's major karaoke services, in July.
The average score in June was 61.360 points, which Exing described as _____ low compared with ordinary songs.
Part of the _____ is the scoring game built into the karaoke machines.
Because the track is so short, the score depends on hitting the right _____ instantly and holding it steady.
4. Word Order 語を並べかえて正しい文にしよう
( in / used / commercials / jingle / TV / 1987 / was / in / The / first ) .
( on / that / chart / week / was / weekly / It / 12th / the ) .
( few / in / sound / offers / a / a / seconds / A / logo / song / just / complete ) .
5. Think and Write 英語で答えてみよう
Why do you think a three-second jingle became more popular at karaoke than full songs? Give your reasons.(3秒のサウンドロゴが、ふつうの曲よりカラオケで人気になったのはなぜだと思いますか。理由も答えましょう。)
Do you think saving time, or taipa, makes music and movies more fun or less fun? Explain your opinion.(時間を節約すること(タイパ)は、音楽や映画を楽しくすると思いますか、つまらなくすると思いますか。あなたの意見を説明しましょう。)

Answers 解答
1. (1) B (2) A (3) D (4) C (5) A
2. (1) T (2) F (3) F (4) T
3. (1) commercials (2) available (3) lasts (4) extremely (5) appeal (6) pitch
4.
- The jingle was first used in TV commercials in 1987.
- It was 12th on the weekly chart that week.
- A sound logo offers a complete song in just a few seconds.
全文訳
13秒ほどのテレビCMの歌が7月、日本の大手カラオケ「JOYSOUND」の週間ランキングで1位になりました。JOYSOUNDを運営するエクシングは7月7日、この歌が2026年7月第1週のランキングで1位だったと発表しました。サウンドロゴが週間ランキングの1位になったのは初めてだと、同社は説明しています。
2サウンドロゴとは、会社や商品を覚えてもらうための短い音楽のことです。この歌は、塩の商品名「伯方の塩」を、いくつかの音にのせて歌うだけのものです。このサウンドロゴは、1987年にテレビCMで初めて使われました。塩の会社がJOYSOUNDのサウンドロゴのコンテストに参加したことで、2025年12月に全国のカラオケで歌えるようになりました。
36月7日の日別ランキングでは4位になり、Mrs. GREEN APPLEや米津玄師さんの曲よりも上でした。その週の週間ランキングでは12位でした。それから約1か月後、1位に上りつめました。
4人気の理由の1つは、カラオケの機械についている採点のゲームです。曲がとても短いので、点数は一瞬で正しい音程を出し、それを安定させられるかで決まります。6月の平均点は61.360点で、エクシングは一般的な曲とくらべて非常に低いと説明しています。歌う人たちは何度も挑戦し、点数をSNSに投稿しています。エクシングによると、歌った人の58%が男性で、年代は10代から60代まで広がっていました。
5このブームは「タイパ」とも重なります。タイムパフォーマンスを縮めた日本語で、限られた時間を最大限に生かすことです。エクシングは、この考え方のために、カラオケで曲のサビだけを歌うことが広まったと述べています。サウンドロゴなら、わずか数秒で1曲を歌いきれます。10月12日のJOYSOUNDの日別ランキングでも、この歌は1位のままで、2位はM!LKの「好きすぎて滅!」でした。
文法ポイント:過去完了(had + 過去分詞)
過去のある時点よりさらに前に起きたことを表す。本文の announced on July 7 that the jingle had been number one は「発表した(7月7日)」よりも前に「1位だった」こと、the first time a sound logo had reached the top は「(そう言った時点までに)初めて1位に届いた」ことを表す。
出典:株式会社エクシング(PR TIMES)、AdverTimes(宣伝会議)、電ファミニコゲーマー、JOYSOUND ほか(記事は原田英語の時事英語ジュニアのオリジナル)|https://www.haradaeigo.com/jijieigo-junior/news/2026-10-13-karaoke-sound-logo-number-one/