Hello, this is RWPOINTWOMAN, and this is Last Week in Japanese News. Here is where I post translations of Easy-level Easy Japanese news reader app articles.
My understanding of grammar tops off at mid-N3 level, so the middle of JLPT N3, or intermediate. My vocabulary is all over the map and should be about 2,000 words. My reading comprehension is my strong suit and I get very little speaking practice, writing practice, or listening practice.
On with the show!
November 20, 2022:
Beaujolais nouveau ban lifted and the cheap yen has made it twice as expensive as before the ban. (Asahi)
The ban on sales of Beaujolais nouveau, a French wine made from recently harvested grapes, was lifted this year at 12:00 AM November 17.
An event was held when the ban was lifted for the first time in 3 years and it was overflowing with a festive mood.
Restaurants in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area held Beaujolais nouveau tasting events.
This year, the sugar content was higher due to global warming and the wine reportedly had a sweet and sour flavor thought to have such flavors as berry and strawberry.
However, because of things like the steep rise in shipping costs and the record cheapness of the yen, it is about 2.2 times as expensive as it was last year.
Additionally, the import volume is expected to be down 50% compared with last year's.
Newsflash: Tooru Kubota detained in, released from, Myanmar, gives interview. (Asahi)
On the morning of November 18, Tooru Kubota, a Japanese journalist released from Myanmarese prison, arrived in Japan and expressed words of gratitude.
Kubota: "First off, I want to offer my utmost gratitude." "I think that what made it possible for me to be released from prison was the support of the people of Japan."
Kubota was arrested at a protest in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, while filming it, tried, and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On November 17, the Myanmarese military released Kubota about he served about 3 and a half months and he returned to Japan on November 18.
Kubota reminisced "I was not treated unfairly in prison," and added, "The length of 10 years weighed heavily on me."
1 out of 5 married couples meet on "matching apps", edging out work and school for the first time. (Asahi)
1 out of 5 people married this year met by chance on "matching apps."
With a matching app, it is possible for those who wish to have one-night stands, get married, etc. to search for someone suitable with a smartphone.
According to Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance's survey done before Good Couple Day, which is November 22, 22.6% of all couples married this met by chance through a matching app, edging out work and school for the first time.
Matching apps have been in use since before 2009 and they have been used more and more since then, with their use rapidly proliferating since 2020's 18.8%
November 21, 2022:
Trade deficit highest ever at ¥2 trillion due to cheap yen and rising resources costs. (Asahi)
Due to the cheap yen and rising cost of resources, the Japanese trade deficit last month was ¥2.1623 trillion for the previous 10 months, the highest.
According to trade statistics for the previous 10 months announced by the Ministry of Finance, the trade balance left over after subtracting imports from exports is a deficit of ¥2.1623.
Out of the trade deficit running for the past 15 months, that of the past 10 is the worst since 1979.
At the moment, the yen exchange rate depreciated to $1=¥150 and the effects were that while the export value of things like automobiles was over ¥9 trillion, due to the increase in the prices of oil, coal, and natural gas, the value of imports was ¥11.1638, the highest ever.
Toyota Prius gets 1st update in 7 years, maximum output now 1.6 times greater. (Asahi)
What the development team is aiming for is a "love at 1st sight design" and a "captivating driving experience".
It has a personalized front bumper and a low height, sporty silhouette. The maximum output is 1.6 times greater.
The Prius' catchphrase is "a car for the 21st century" and it was the world's first hybrid when it was released in 1997. It has wonderful gas mileage and has become the face of all eco-friendly cars.
The new model is a hybrid car to be sold starting this winter. The plan is to sell a plugin hybrid starting next spring.
Experts: "There is a possibility that COVID-19 infections will rise again." (NHK)
COVID-19 experts held a conference at the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. The experts said that this year had had yet had a surge in infections, but it was possible that there could be an increase like in summer of 2022.
In particular, Hokkaido was experiencing its greatest amount ever. They said that it is also increasing in places like Tohoku Prefecture and the region west of Tokyo on the Japan side of the Sea of Japan, Yamanashi Prefecture, Nagano Prefecture, Niigata Prefecture, and the Chuugoku region of western Honshu.
Outside of Japan, strains like omicron BA.5 and the newer BQ.1 and XBB are also increasing.
The experts said that they wanted people to get the omicron-specific vaccine to try to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. They said it is vital to avoid going to gatherings like New Year's parties while symptomatic.
Nitori opens largest-in-downtown flagship store in Ikebukuro. (Asahi)
Furniture and interior major Nitori has announced that it has opened its flagship store in downtown Ikebukuro, Tokyo and it is the largest one in downtown.
Nitori's new store is 8 storeys, has a sales area on each floor and its area of 5,991.1 m2 is the largest in downtown.
Besides a wide assortment, it also reportedly increased its options to include coordinates suitable for downtown living circumstances such as 6- and 12-tatami apartments.
They have installed a display that will allow customers to determine what the best colors, pattern, etc. are for things like curtains and sofas.
Nitori says that it wants to capture the youth market for furniture, interior design, etc. with its flagship store.
October's commodities prices up 3.6%, which was last seen about 40 years. (NHK)
Every month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications investigates things like the prices of goods and services purchased by households and announces whether they have changed. October's commodities prices are 3.6% higher than the same time last year's. The last time it was 3.6% was 40 years and 8 months earlier in February 1982.
The biggest cause of this increase in commodities prices is the rising cost of foodstuffs. The price of foodstuffs is 5.9% greater than this time last year as the cost of raw ingredients has risen and the yen has cheapened. Additionally, electricity costs are up 20.9%, natural gas is up 20%, cell phone rates are 16.5%, and air conditioning is up 13.3%.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said, "Because the price of many foodstuffs increased in October, the commodities price is 0.6 points higher than in September. We also think that from hereon out, the price of foodstuffs will continue rising."
Danger of flipping over, tumbling from, bicycle while holding a child high, 32 cases over past 6 years.(Asahi)
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan has called out the danger of riding a bicycle while holding a child and associated complications like overturning one's bicycle, falling, and death.
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, 32 cases of bicyclists who had been holding children while riding their bicycles falling and dropping their children have occurred since fiscal year 2017, about 6 years.
They said that in February 2022, a 7-month-old fell as the bicycle flapped in the breeze and sustained a skull fracture and that there were 2 previous lethal cases.
Also, there is a fear of being unable to see what is at foot level, interference with the use of the handlebars, etc.
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan issued the warning against not only illegally riding while holding a child but giving them piggyback rides.
November 22, 2022:
Cosplay event held in Shizuoka City where guests enjoyed going as anime, etc. characters. (NHK)
A cosplay event was held on November 19 in Shizuoka City where guests had dressing as, and wearing their hair like, characters from anime, movies. It was prohibited last year and the year before last due to COVID-19.
Cosplayers from various parts of Japan gathered and walked near JR Shimizu Station. Lots of people lined to have their photographs taken 1 at a time with a popular cosplayer from Shizuoka Prefecture.
A female cosplayer from Kanagawa Prefecture said, "This was forbidden due to COVID-19, so I came here to the first 1 held this year. I had a lot of fun, so I am very happy."
Use of American black flies as fish food researched. (NHK)
In aquaculture, fish raised by people are fed fishmeal made from other fish. As the number of countries practicing aquaculture increases, so does the price of fishmeal.
Because of this, a group drawing its members from Ochanomizu University, etc. researched using American black flies as fish food. This insect grows rapidly and can be used as fish food about 3 weeks after hatching.
An announcement was made regarding the research on November 19. The group said that fish grew just as large on a 50/50 mixture of American black flies and standard fishmeal as on just standard fishmeal.
Attendees tried sashimi made from both fish fed the new 50/50 blend and standard fish food. A person who tried it said, "I think it tastes the same. It was delicious."
The group said, "Using a variety of insects should ease fears about food shortages."
Novel coronavirus-infected bus driver allowed to drive in violation of law. (NHK)
A bus company in Tanba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture forced a bus driver known to be infected with the novel coronavirus to drive a bus in August. The driver drove a night bus going from Tokyo to Osaka.
The Kinki District Transport Bureau said that because the company broke the law, 3 of its buses must remain idle for 30 days starting November 28.
According to the Kinki District Transport Bureau, it is unknown which, if any, riders may have caught the novel coronavirus in that time.
The company said, "It was hectic, so it was difficult to ask someone else. We thought it was perfectly all right if there is a curtain between the driver and the passengers. Our humblest apologies."
November 24, 2022:
Foreigners to be informed about ingredients with pictures. (NHK)
Osaka is to hold the Osaka-Kansai Expo to introduce people from around the world to the culture, techniques, etc. in 2025.
Entities such as Kansai economic organizations are testing out "pictograms", which are easily understood images, of ingredients used in food at hotels on November 22. This is foreigners can enjoy their food knowing that they would know if allergens or foods against their religion.
19 exchange students from places like Indonesia and Vietnam gathered to eat breakfast prepared by hotel staff. Next to the dishes were easily understood pictograms of ingredients used like eggs, beef, and pork.
A Muslim exchange student from Indonesia said, "I cannot have pork, but these pictures are easy to understand. This would also help foreign tourists."
JAL aviation fuel, in-flight meals environmentally conscious. (Asahi)
Japan Air Lines (JAL) has established environmentally conscious flights that are low emissions.
JAL operates a charter flight that runs from Haneda to Naha and uses 90% lower emission sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
The transport vehicle is electric and the in-flight meal takes health and food loss into account by consisting of things like soup made with nonstandard vegetables and soy hamburger.
JAL is wants to expands its sustainable flights to decarbonize, etc.
The original Japanese name for these flights was サステナブルフライト (sasutenaburu furaito)
Test run to determine whether ATMs, etc. can correctly read new banknotes. (NHK)
The Japanese government plans to update the designs of the ¥10,000, ¥5,000, and ¥1,000 notes and make them available in fiscal year 2024.
On November 21, the National Printing Bureau tested whether things like ATMs and vending machines can correctly read these new notes. 29 companies, etc. that make machines participated.
The new notes are made using a technology never before used anywhere in the world to be impossible to counterfeit. When the notes are tilted, the faces on the designs move. The paper gets progressively thicker, and an extremely fine pattern can be seen when it is near a light source and viewed from below.
A person who performed the test said, "We want the public to joyfully await the day these can be used.
Mizuho FG to abolish seniority system and replace it with one based on merit. (Asahi)
Mizuho Financial Group, which consists of 5 major companies involved in banking and investment, has announced that it is abolishing its senority-based wage scale.
It is switching to one that reflects individual talent, not the year the worker was hired.
Also, they have eliminated the practice of lowering everyone's pay to the same level when they turn 55.
The targeted group of workers consists of about 48,000 people and the plan is to implement the new system next April.
How will workers react to the end of the traditional senority-based system?
November 25, 2022:
COVID-19 drugs made in Japan to be used in hospitals starting November 28. (NHK)
Shionogi and Co. Ltd.'s Xocova is a COVID-19 drug. It is the first Japanese oral drug for this.
Japan approved it on November 22. It can be used by anyone 12 and over instead of just the elderly and those at risk of severe illness.
Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Katou said, "We have prepared ourselves to give medicine to 1 million people, so we made this available from the 28th of this onward," on November 25. The plan is to put a news item on a website for the administrative districts of Japan, etc. to let the 2,900 hospitals that will use this drug.
Shionogi also makes a COVID-19 vaccine. It applied for approval on November 24.
Interest in "reskilling", learning new skills, grows. (NHK)
Learning new techniques, etc. when moving to a new company requires new skills is called "reskilling".
The Japanese government believes that reskilling increases corporate profits and workers' salaries and wages. It is thinking of funding these corporations and interest is growing.
The Institute of Industrial Technology, which is in the Tokyo workers frequently commute to, began offering new reskilling classes this month. A nursing school teacher taking one of them said, "It is also necessary to use digital technology in nursing, but I am behind. I am studying in order to make robots."
An expert said, "Ir is important to quickly roll this out because small-to-medium-sized firms employ many people. The Japanese government, prefectures, economic organizations, etc. are cooperating, and it is necessary to teach how to advance this."
"It might be because bees are diurnal": reason found for nocturnal habits of rhinoceros beetle. (NHK)
Dr. Wataru Kojima of Yamaguchi University investigated rhinoceros beetles this August. Rhinoceros beetles are active from night until morning.
At around 5:00 AM, rhinoceros beetles gather on trees and drink the sap. However, Asian giant hornets come afterward and bite their legs. The giant Asian hornets drink the sap after the rhinoceros beetles have fallen off.
Dr. Kojima tried spraying bee repellent. When the Asian giant hornets did not appear, the rhinoceros beetles drank sap until noon over half the time.
Dr. Kojima said, "We thought rhinoceros beetles were naturally nocturnal. However, this might be because the Asian giant hornet is active during the day. We could have found a new way of thinking about this."
November 26, 2022:
Twitter's Musk to "make Japan the center" due to high usage rates there. (Asahi)
Elon Musk acquired Twitter, and is putting it through large-scale restructuring with an eye towards the Japanese market.
According to American online media, Elon Musk announced that, "Our company might try to appear centered in America, but it really is Japan," on November 21 at a corporate meeting.
He reportedly explained, "Japan's population is 1/3 that of the United States, but the number of users per day is the same."
Moreover, he emphasized that Japan's Twitter usage rate was ideal, saying, "We should aim for other countries with Japan's usage rate," revealing that he was thinking of plunging resources into developing non-English-speaking service.
Reportedly, costs are being contained with restructuring and new hires are increasing for the places where things like necessary software will be developed.
That's all for now.