あとをたたない


JAPANESE NATURALLY/ Mizue Sasaki

    後をたたない

木村:キャンバスの中に随分車がとめてありますね。
田中:駐車違反が後をたたないんですよ。何か対策はないでしょうか。

Ato wo tatanai

Kimura: Kyanpasu no naka ni zuibun kuruma ga tomete arimasu ne.
Tanaka: Ihoo-chuusha ga ato wo tatanain desu yo. Nani ka taisaku wa nai deshoo ka.

Kimura: There are so many cars parked on the campus, aren't there?
Tanaka: Yes, they just go on and on parking illegally. I wonder if there isn't something that can be done about it.

Ato wo iatanai refers to something that occurs continuously.
The first time people visit Yokohama National University, they are surprised by two things: first by the large number of trees covering the campus and then by the fact that cars are parked everywhere. If all these cars belonged to the faculty, students and staff, it would simply mean that there is not enough parking space. But I've heard that one out of 10 such cars is dumped there.
I was surprised to know that koko ni kossori kuruma wo sute ni kuru hito ga ato wo tatanai (There is an endless flow of people coining here to dump their cars). The owners presumably didn't want to pay money to have a dealer take away their old car. Although, depending on where you chose to dispose of your car, you're liable to pay a fine in some cases, you don't need to worry about that if it is on campus.
Yoru kossori kuruma wo tome ni kuru hito ga ato wo tachi masen (There is no end to the people who sneak in at night and park their cars), according to one of my colleagues. Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., you need a card to get past the gate, but in other hours, you can come and go you please to park a car.
I find it hard enough myself finding a place to park my car in the morning. Sensei-gata kara no kujoo ga ato wo tatanain desu yo (There's an endless stream of complaints from the faculty), says one of the office staff.

The writer is a professor at Yokohama National Univers ity.

April 24, 1994