VOA慢速英语2017-- 'Trump' Hamburger Popular in Tokyo

 

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The line of people stretches out the door at Munch’s Burger Shack¹ in Tokyo. The tiny eatery serves American-style hamburgers, among other things.

Many of the people who line up have come from far away to try the food. Haruyuki Sano traveled 1.5 hours for a hamburger.

Not just any hamburger.

Sano and others are eager to try the same hamburger that United States President Donald Trump² ate here last week: the 100 percent U.S. Angus beef Colby Jack³ Cheeseburger. Trump ate a Munch’s burger with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Japan.

“It tasted great, like steak,” Sano said after tasting the burger.

Trump’s tough talk on trade and security does not always get positive responses in Japan, which sees the U.S. as its most important partner. But his love for the Japanese version of the American hamburger is popular with many here.

“I like Trump,” said Sano. He adds that putting one’s country first makes sense. He thinks Japan should do that, too.

While better known for foods like sushi and ramen, Japan has long enjoyed American food. So-called “premium burgers” are growing especially popular.

Munch’s Burger Shack now offers the “President Trump Set” on its menu. It includes the burger along with coleslaw and french fries. It sells for 1,400 Japanese yen⁴, or $12.

Munch’s co-owner, Yutaka Yanagisawa, shook Trump’s hand last week after the president finished eating his burger. The president said the food was “very good.”

“I felt so honored,” Yanagisawa said, adding that all he could say in reply was “thank you.”

He says the “President Trump Set” is now one of the most popular options on the menu.

The experience of eating at restaurants in Tokyo is increasingly about fun storytelling, says Jotaro Fujii. He is a Tokyo-based food expert. This storytelling usually includes sharing photos of meals on Instagram.

He expects the “Trump effect” for Munch’s Burger Shack to be huge.

“Talk of lines brings more lines,” said Fujii. “Rather than mere⁵ taste, the value and joy come from being able to say: I had the same burger as Trump.”

I'm Pete Musto.

Words in This Story

hamburger - n. a flat, usually round cake of finely chopped beef that is cooked and served usually in a roll or bun

steak - n. a thick, flat piece of meat and especially beef

premium- adj . of high or higher than normal quality

mere - adj. used to say that something or someone is small, unimportant⁶, etc.

joy - n. a feeling of great happiness

sushi - n. a Japanese dish of cold cooked rice shaped in small cakes and topped or wrapped with other ingredients (such as pieces of raw fish)

ramen - n. very thin, long noodles used in Asian cooking

1 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

5 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

6 unimportant   

adj.不重要的，无意义的

参考例句：

• Let's not quarrel about such unimportant matters.我们不要为这些小事争吵了。
• Money seems unimportant when sets beside the joys of family life.与天伦之乐相比，金钱显得微不足道。