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Last week in Japanese news 7/10/2022-7/16/2022 [1]
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Date: 2022-07-19
Hello, this is RWPOINTWOMAN, and I'm learning Japanese. I have never taken a brick-and-mortar Japanese course in my life. I used to be enrolled in JapanesePod101.com, but when I realized the official level 3 curated path was a rehash of level 2 material with different lessons, I dropped them like a hot potato in the midst of level 2. I had had copious amounts of exposure to grammar from JLPT N5-N1 just bouncing around their grammar pages, so I didn't see the point of continuing with them. By that time I had discovered IMABI.net, TODAI's Easy Japanese news reader app, the Japanese subtitles of the Cult Cinema Classics YouTube channel, Anki, Mazii, and that Netflix has anime with Japanese subtitles.
The closest I come to even my old level of formal instruction these days is to go to Nihongoal on YouTube, which is based on the Minna no Nihongo textbook and contains details I had never seen before. I mostly do immersion with the Easy Japanese news reader app, which is where all the links go.
My current level of understanding of grammar is pretty heavily concentrated at the JLPT N5-4 range with the next largest cluster at JLPT N3; the lower the number, the higher the level. My vocabulary is probably less than 2,000 words, but I'm not sure. My old JPod101 flashcard deck probably can't be imported to my Anki deck. It had about 1,300 words. My Anki deck has at least 500 and there is some overlap between the two. It runs the gamut from JLPT N5-1.
Pretty much everything I get from the news reader app is from the Easy section, which has more textbook grammar, shorter articles, and a greater percentage of N5 vocabulary.
July 10, 2022:
Former Prime Minister Abe's Death: "His tragic death brings me great sorrow. He was a great friend and companion." (Asahi)
Australian Prime Minister Albanese tweeted, "I am shocked and saddened by Shinzo Abe's tragic death. He was a great to Australia and a great colleague. My heart goes out to his family and the Japanese people. I will be mourning along with you," from his personal account. In addition, former Australian Prime Minister Morrison posted things like, "Shinzo Abe's death is certainly a terrible tragedy," "He visited Darwin to lay wreaths of flowers at a memorial and when he met a WWII veteran, he didn't forget his manners. He had the power to bring the past and future." "It will be lonely without him," Morrison posted.
July 11, 2022:
Popular wine experiences largest price increase of ¥2,000. Ham and sausage, too. (Asahi)
This year's Beaujolais Nouveau's price has gotten about ¥2,000 more expensive, the largest price increase. Suntory announced that it is increasing the price of 3 lines of new Beaujolais Nouveau, a French wine the ban on which has been lifted for this autumn, by between about ¥1,000 and ¥2,000, which is by between about a factor of 1.4 and 2.2. The main cause is things like a great jump in the cost of air transportation. Additionally, Ito Ham has increased the prices of 221 items including ham and sausage intended for household and commercial use by between 3% and 30% starting October 1. This is the second time since March that this has happened. Ito Ham has decreased the size of flagship product The GRAND Altbayern and substantially increased its price.
President Biden offers encouragement, says of shooting that, "Japan's solidarity will be unaffected." (Asahi)
After former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's death, American President Joe Biden gave a speech and revealed that he believed that, "This will have no impact on America's guarantee of security or solidarity with Japan." President Biden: "Nothing like this has happened in Japan in decades. Moreover, a handmade gun was used." After getting word of Abe's death, President Biden sometimes was at a loss for words and was open-mouthed with shock at first while standing in front of the camera. Additionally, he said as if to offer encouragement to a Japan experiencing increasingly widespread unrest, "I don't want to believe that this will impact our guarantee of security to Japan, our solidarity with it, or anything like that." After giving his speech, President Biden visited the Japanese embassy and signed the mourning book. Furthermore, a directive went out to fly the flag at half-mast at government buildings, etc., until sunset on July 10 and the White House followed suit.
Rakuten Mobile to increase iPhone price by over ¥50,000, the largest. (Asahi)
Rakuten Mobile, Japan's first mobile phone company, has announced a price increase for its iPhones. In response to Apple raising the Japanese sales price of its iPhones, Rakuten Mobile implemented a price increase for its iPhones on its official website on July 8 8:00 AM. At the Rakuten marketplace, the price was increased at 10:00 AM on July 6. The latest model, the iPhone 13, costs over ¥27,000 more than its previous price of ¥123,000 and there are also luxury models costing over ¥50,000 more. There is a possibility of 3 more mobile phone companies increasing their prices in response to the first one in Japan's decision to do so in response to Apple's price increase.
July 12, 2022:
All Nippon Airways and Japan Air Lines to raise airplane fuel surcharge. (NHK)
As a result of rising crude oil prices and the persistence of the cheap yen, airplane fuel has become more expensive. Because of this, ANA and JAL are raising the fuel surcharge of international flight tickets sold in August and September. The fuel surcharge is part of airfare. ANA has raised the price of a one-way trip from Japan to places like Europe and America by ¥11,600 to ¥49,000. JAL has raised its own by ¥10,200 to ¥47,000. For both, it is the highest ever. All around the world, more and more countries are allowing passage across their borders from other countries little by little, and Japanese are increasingly visiting other countries. Travel agencies are worried that rising fuel surcharges will decrease travel.
Experts: "Novel coronavirus infections are increasing during this new wave." (NHK)
On July 11, a conference of experts led by Chairperson Omi spoke to Prime Minister Kishida regarding the increase in COVID-19 infections. The experts said one reason is the more contagious omicron BA.5 variant. Another is waning immunity from being vaccinated too long ago. They told Japan that because this was a time when infections had increased sharply, things like hospitals, clinics, tests, and vaccines had better be prepared. Chairperson Omi said, "A new wave of infections has come. Even if BA.5 spreads, we take the same precautions as before. It is important to both avoid crowds and allow air to circulate." Chairperson Omi thinks it is unnecessary to close stores early.
July 14, 2022:
"Next year, over 300 million people will go hungry." (NHK)
UN WFP head of the secretariat David Beasley was interviewed by NHK on July 12. Beasley said, "We now have a food shortage due to war and climate change. There is also the issue of the inability of Ukraine to export things like wheat. We think that due to decreased availability of rain and fertilizer, it will more difficult to grow crops. It seems that because of this, over 300 million people in places like Africa and Asia will be food insecure." Beasley said, "In my own country, we are now worried about food insecurity and 26 countries have stopped exporting food. To prevent worldwide famine, please export food." He then added, "Japan, please use technology to allow adequate irrigation and collaborate on donating money."
That's all for now.
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