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Last week in Japanese news 7/24/2022-7/30/2022 [1]

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Date: 2022-08-02

Hello, this is RWPOINTWOMAN and I am slowly learning Japanese. My grasp of grammar is within the JLPT N5-N4 range with some acquaintance with N3 and less with N2-N1. The JLPT is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, and there are 5 levels with N5 being the most basic and N1 being the most advanced. My vocabulary may run the gamut from N5-1, but it's small. Much of my Anki deck was filled by reading a single, 4-volume manga series aimed at adults, watching anime that wasn't aimed at beginners, reading the Easy Japanese news reader app, and watching subtitled YouTube videos.

My main method of instruction is watching Nihongoal for grammar and, to a much lesser extent, vocabulary, and doing Easy Japanese news reader app translations for immersion.

My reading comprehension is my strong suit, but it's not enough to get me through an article hosted at a site that isn't meant for language learners. My speaking practice is on hold and so is my listening practice. And my writing practice.

Maybe just…

そんな風

に、その書類が

作り出す

ことができるが、

法律に

禁じられるかも。

不思議だよねえ。

On with the show!

There was nothing in the Easy section section of the Easy Japanese news reader app for July 24, so I will go straight to July 25.

July 25, 2022:

Vaccination administration to continue until September 30 at large JSDF assembly halls. (NHK)

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) are giving 3rd and 4th rounds of vaccines against the novel coronavirus at assembly halls in Tokyo and Osaka. The plan was to continue until July 31, but the Ministry of Defense has decided to continue administering vaccines at these facilities until September 30. The reason is that this might increase the number of people aged 60 and over getting their 4th shot. The assembly hall in Tokyo will vaccinate up to 1000 people a day starting August 1. In Osaka, where vaccines were given at 2 different assembly halls, they will now be given at 1, and up to 500 people a day will be dosed. The opening hours have been cut by 2 hours and are now 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Ministry of Defense plans to post announcements regarding things like appointments on its website once it has made its decision. It said, "The virus is spreading, so we want to make it possible to vaccinate people who want it ASAP."

Baby Japanese eels found in river in Hokkaido. (NHK)

There is concern that the Japanese eel, the population of which is declining, could go extinct. A research group from Tokyo University and Hokkaido University says that it has found baby Japanese eels in a river in Hokkaido. Until now, their known range was no farther north than Aomori Prefecture. When this group of researchers studied a river in southwestern Hokkaido in May of 2020, they found 16 eels that had emerged from their shells a short while earlier. They were 6 cm long. When they studied the same river last year, they found 9 eels that had recently emerged from their shells and they were 20 cm long. The group of researchers said, "Because of global warming, the eels could have extended their range as far north as Hokkaido. We will investigate how they are doing and growing."

Big volcanic eruption at Sakurajima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Nearby inhabitants evacuated. (NHK)

According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA), on July 24 at about 8:00 PM, Sakurajima, a stratovolcano in Kagoshima Prefecture, erupted. Large stones went flying up to 2.5 km away from it. The JMA said that there is a possibility of large stones flying out of the crater within a 3 km radius. They said watch out for pyroclastic flows bringing things like rapidly moving hot ash. The alert level of the Sakurajima eruption has been raised to level 5, the highest. Kagoshima City said that 51 people living within a 3 km of the crater were forced to evacuate. One man who evacuated said, "I wish to return home one day soon." Sakurajima is still erupting. By about 6:30 AM July 25, the eruption had brought forth a 2200 m tall plume of smoke into the clouds.

Quarantine period for close contacts of COVID patients now 5 days. (NHK)

The Japanese government changed the rules regarding close contacts of COVID-19 patients who have been around for an extended period. This is to minimize the number of workers isolating at home. The time close contacts were to spend isolating at home was 7 days, but was shortened to 5 days. They can leave on the 3rd day if they have negative antigen on the 2nd and 3rd days. There has been an increase in the number of people developing fevers and going to the doctor, making seeing one harder. Due to this, the Japanese government is preparing to make it so those going to the doctor can do their own testing by giving them the tools. Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Goto said, "We want to have as few workers as possible staying home while keeping infections under control."

July 26, 2022:

Japan finds first its first case of monkeypox. (NHK)

On the night of July 25, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare said that a man of about 30 living in Greater Tokyo came down with monkeypox. The man developed symptoms including rash, fever, and headache on July 15 and went to the hospital on the July 25. He was tested and found to be infected with the monkeypox virus. This is the first case of monkeypox identified in Japan. The had been away in Europe from June 21 to July 15. The man said that he encountered someone in Europe who was infected with monkeypox. The incubation period is about 7 to 14 days. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare said, "We think this man caught it in Europe. If you get something like a rash or fever after going a to places like Europe and America, please see a doctor."

July 27, 2022:

Megmilk Snow Brand to raise prices of things like cheese and powdered milk. (Asahi)

Megmilk Snow Brand has announced that it will raise the prices of 25 items including Neo Soft margarine intended for household consumption and Megmilk Snow Brand Pure powdered milk from September onward in sequential order. Additionally, the prices of 25 cheese products intended for household consumption including 6P Cheese and Slice Cheese are going to be left alone while the contents of the package have been reduced causing the price to effectively increase. BEAN STALK SNOW is raising the price of a total of 7 items of the powdered milk type including BEAN STALK Sukoyaka M1 by 7%, the highest, starting in October. The main causes are things like a steep price increase in soy, oils, and other raw ingredients, energy costs due to the rising cost of crude oil, and increased logistics costs.

July 28, 2022:

Tokyo Gas to increase the maximum gas charge in October. (Asahi)

Municipal gas prices can reflect fluctuations in the cost of fuel, but in order to ease the burden on end-users, all companies created a maximum limit. Tokyo Gas announced an increase in its maximum starting in October due to having reached it. Presently, a household using the average amount of gas pays ¥5,886 and will pay ¥6,175 in October and ¥7,613 in March. Because of this, the burden on households could increase.

Subaru to recall 270,000 automobiles due to faulty parking brakes. (Asahi)

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism that Subaru is recalling about 270,000 Revogues, Imprezas, XVs, WRXs, and Legacys out of fear of things like parking brake failure. About 250,000 vehicles manufactured between May 2014 and August 2018 have defective parking brakes. Because of defective tail lights, about 20,000 WRXs manufactured between June 2014 and March 2020 will be targeted. It is possible that vehicles sold overseas that were manufactured the same way could also be recalled, bringing the worldwide total to 600,000.

That's all for now.

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