Learn Japanese from the News - Season 3 / Year 2024

This time we feature a news story about the climate conference COP28 in Dubai, where countries showcased their decarbonization efforts. 14 Japanese firms participated and exhibited their latest tech. Later on, we spotlight one of those technologies: a next-generation solar cell based on a class of materials called perovskites, which can convert sunlight into electricity. We also learn about the Japanese word "kaihatsu" (development).

On December 2, an event was held to celebrate 100 years since the birth of the ever-faithful Hachiko. About 40 Akitas and their owners gathered from around the country and set out for a commemorative walk around Shibuya. Join us as we listen to the story in Japanese, review key expressions including "nakunaru" (to pass away), and spotlight the Akita dog, which in recent years has become popular overseas.

Following the recent Noto Peninsula earthquake, researchers conducted a survey of the peninsula's coastline. In hard-hit Wajima City, they found that a breakwater had been pushed up by about 4 meters. The Noto Peninsula is believed to have been formed by ground upheavals caused by earthquakes. But an expert points out that upheavals on the scale of 4 meters only occur once every several thousand years.

Japan plans to widen access to day cares to all children, regardless of whether their parents or guardians work or not. Starting FY 2024, the government will conduct a trial in around 150 municipalities across the country. The new system will allow children from 6 months of age up through 2 years old to be placed in day care for up to 10 hours a month. Later on in the program, we talk about applying to day care and introduce some unfamiliar terms you may come across in a child care context.

On March 16, the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line will start operating between Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture and Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture. A public preview event was held in early February ahead of the official opening, and 2,000 participants were selected randomly from about 150,000 applicants to take a test ride. We listen to the news story, spotlight visitor attractions in Fukui Prefecture, and study expressions related to riding the Shinkansen and other trains.

In January, Japan successfully landed an unmanned space probe on the moon. Japan's space agency JAXA said that SLIM touched down 55 meters east of the target site, achieving the world's first high-precision landing with a margin of error of less than 100 meters. We listen to the story in Japanese, learn about words such as "inai" (within) that describe a range of values, and spotlight a small robot co-developed with industry and academia that succeeded in photographing the lander on the moon.

Local fire corps played an active role in rescues and evacuations during the Noto Peninsula earthquake this past January, and their efforts were a reminder of the important role they play in Japanese society. But there is currently a shortage of members nationwide. Follow along as we listen to the story, spotlight the city of Yokohama's efforts to welcome international residents into their fire corps, and learn the difference between "tetsudau" (to help out) and "tasukeru" (to rescue).

More and more Japanese railway companies are introducing an AI-powered search system that makes it easier for customers to recover items that they lost or left behind on trains or at stations. Users enter details into a messaging app, which the system cross-checks with information in a lost-and-found database. Follow along as we review the story, learn helpful phrases, and go through practice scenarios for inquiring about lost items.

After a major earthquake struck Taiwan in early April, there were calls in Japan for donations to help Taiwanese people. The keyword on social media was "ongaeshi," the idea of repaying someone's kindness. Municipalities with ties to Taiwan set up donation boxes to help support those affected by the disaster. Tune in to learn about words such as "kondo," which means "this time" or "next time," and "on," which refers to the feeling of gratitude you feel for a favor someone has done for you.

Starting July, all climbers who ascend Mt. Fuji from the Yamanashi Prefecture side will be charged a 2,000-yen toll. It is part of a new set of measures aimed at encouraging proper climbing etiquette and preventing accidents. We review the story and learn about the suffix "-kata" in "noborikata" (the way to climb), as well as mountaineering terms like "goome" (roughly one-tenth of the way from the base to the summit) and "raku" (falling rocks).

The city of Gifu in central Japan has brought iconic Gifu Castle to the metaverse, recreating it as it was during the time of warlord Oda Nobunaga. Follow along as we listen to the news story in Japanese, review key terms like "mite-mawaru" (look around) and learn the construction "verb + mawaru," and highlight common expressions that originated back in the days of the samurai.

With dengue fever spreading in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, two Japanese manufacturers of household goods have jointly developed a new mosquito spray. It's designed to saturate their wings and bodies with water, rendering them unable to fly. Join us as we review the story in Japanese, study the keyword "utsuru" (to catch or contract an illness or disease), and learn expressions related to mosquitoes and insects in general.

Amid the rise in remote working, Saku City in Nagano Prefecture is aiming to attract new residents. They've started a system to subsidize transportation costs for those living and working remotely in the area while making work trips out to urban hubs. Officials hope to curb the effects of population decline. We listen to the news story in Japanese, review the construction "A to B no aida" (between A and B), and learn expressions related to "hikkoshi" (changing residence) and "ijuu" (relocation).

Charles Oppenheimer, the grandson of the creator of the atomic bomb, spoke at a news conference in Japan, stressing that we should never use the bombs again. We listen to the news story and review the expression "ikenai" in "genbaku ya bakudan o tsukatte wa ikenai" (atomic bombs and bombs in general should not be used). We also learn about the story behind "senbazuru" (1,000 folded paper cranes).

In late August, torrential rainfall in central Tokyo caused rainwater to gush down entrances at Ichigaya subway station and flood the interior. Near Shinjuku Station, water erupted from a manhole and reached higher than human height. We review the news story in Japanese and learn expressions related to the verb "tamaru" (to accumulate) as well as terms you want to know to be prepared for inclement weather and natural disasters.

An abacus and mental arithmetic competition was held in Okayama Prefecture in late August. In the "Flash Anzan" event, 15 sets of three-digit numbers were flashed consecutively on a screen, and competitors added the numbers in their head. The numbers were gradually sped up, and in the end 15 numbers were displayed in 2.2 seconds. We review the news story in Japanese and learn expressions related to math such as "tasu" (to add) as well as other useful vocab words for everyday life.

To discourage rowdy Halloween gatherings, Shinjuku Ward has banned street drinking in and around the Kabukicho district from the evening of Oct. 31 until the following morning. Last year, nearby Shibuya Ward asked people not to come to the area, which led many revelers to flock to Shinjuku instead. Shinjuku officials will ask convenience stores and other retailers to refrain from selling alcohol. We review the story and learn Japanese expressions used in the context of going out for a drink.

The Ig Nobel Prize is awarded to unique research that inspires laughter as well as reflection. This year, a research team led by Japanese professor Takebe Takanori received the physiology prize for discovering that pigs and other animals have the ability to absorb oxygen through the rectum. This is the 18th year in a row that a Japanese national has won an award. We review the story and learn expressions related to "iki" (breath), such as "iki ga au" (be on the same wavelength).

This year's Nobel Peace Prize is being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors that has been campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Tanaka Terumi, a representative of the group, gave a talk at a high school in Saitama City and urged students to think about how they can make a better future. Join us as we review the story and learn expressions like "tsutae tsuzukeru" (to continue to convey) and "doo shitara" (how can one do something).

Japanese department stores have unveiled their lineups of "fukubukuro" lucky bags that they will offer for the New Year's holiday season. Amid rising prices, many will feature daily food staples to cater to cost-conscious consumers. We learn about the latest fukubukuro trends and review words like "hairu" (to be inside), "ireru" (to put in) and "iroiro" (a variety of).