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Last Week in Japanese News 10/09/2022-10/15/2022 [1]

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Date: 2022-10-16

Hello, this is RWPOINTWOMAN, and this is Last Week in Japanese News. Here, I translate articles from the Easy Japanese news reader app from Japanese to English.

My vocabulary ranges from JLPT N5 (absolute beginner) to N1 (advanced) but it does not encompass everything in each level. I'm mostly working on N3-N1 these days. I just enter the vocabulary I pick up through immersion before I forget it.

My grasp of grammar tops off at mid-N3. I am using Nihongoal videos, which are based on the Minna no Nhinogo textbook, for grammar study; the creator hasn't released any videos past that level.

My speaking practice is on hold while I wait for a friend to unbusy herself, my writing practice is mostly just tweeting in Japanese, my listening practice is intermittently listening to Asahi News Network, and my reading practice is mostly reading raw manga and Easy Japanese articles, which is also my main method of immersion.

The way Easy Japanese is configured, I can still understand it well enough to do this.

On with the show!

October 9, 2022:

Japanese government plans to adjust electricity savings point system, add ¥1,000 to households that save 3%. (Asahi)

The Japanese government plans to add points equal to ¥1,000 per month to its system for rewarding households for conserving at least 3% of their electricity. In order to prepare for an electricity, the Japanese government has decided to implement a service called "setsuden pointo" in response to brownouts by electric companies, etc., this winter and it will award participating households ¥2,000 for electricity conservation. According to a person connected with this, participating households that use at least 3% electricity compared with the same month last year will get an additional ¥1,000 worth of points. Also, the Japanese government is also considering a plan to award a maximum of ¥40 points/kilowatt-hour when the margin between electricity supply and demand is tight. The plan is to do this between this December and next March.

October 12, 2022:

Japanese man suspected of espionage in China released after 6 year prison sentence, returns to Japan. (Asahi)

A Japanese man who was the Chairman of the Japan-China Youth Exchange Group was released from prison on October 11 after finishing his 6 year and returned to Japan. In July of 2016, Eiji Suzuki, Chairman of the Japan-China Youth Exchange Group, was detained for "suspicion of jeopardizing the safety of the nation" when he visited Beijing and was sentenced to 6 years in prison afterwards. According to entities like Japan-China Relations, Suzuki finished his sentence, was released on the afternoon of October 11, and returned to Japan. Since 2015, 16 Japanese nationals have been imprisoned for suspected espionage, but 9 of them have been released and returned to Japan.

Variety of research on ways to cut salt without cutting flavor continues. (NHK)

Beer company Kirin Holdings has created a bowl and a spoon that make low-sodium foods taste saltier. They studied this together with a university. The bottom of the bowl and the spoon produce a very weak electrical current that flows into the food, making it taste very salty. The company is thinking of selling it next year. Ajinomoto has developed a flavoring with lower sodium than before. It has 60% less. The flavor of sodium is made stronger with this special ingredient. The average sodium intake of the Japanese is higher than the target set by the government. It worries that too much sodium will cause illness. Research into palatable low-sodium foods will continue.

October 13, 2022:

Ukrainian-language book made for children to study in Japan. (NHK)

Because of Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine, there are Ukrainian child refugees in Japan. A Japanese company called Gakkuen has prepared books in Ukrainian so that they can continue their studies. On October 9, children gathered in Yotsuya, Tokyo and enjoyed studying them. These books were made so that preschool-aged can study letters and numbers and look at pictures. A 5-year-old girl's mother said, "There are English-language books at the library, but there are none in Ukrainian for them to study with. I'm so happy." The company has prepared 10 copies in the event that it is necessary for them to attend kindergarten in Japan and they are free. The plan is for them to be delivered to evacuation centers in places like Ukraine and surrounding countries.

Tokyo Metropolitan Area to raise taxi fees in 23 wards, etc. in November. (NHK)

The Tokyo Metropolitan Area is going to raise taxi fees in all 23 wards and in Musashino City and Mitaka City on November 14. Up to a distance of about a km, the charge will be ¥500. It is currently ¥80. It will cost ¥255 for every subsequent 255 m. Taxis have fewer riders than they used to due to COVID-19. Additionally, gasoline has become more expensive, putting companies in a bind. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism says it is raising the taxi rate in order to increase wages. The taxi rate hasn't been raised since 2007.

October 14, 2022:

Kenkou hokenshou to be replaced with my number card in autumn of 2024. (NHK)

A my number card is a card with information such as name, address, and a government-issued number on it. When logged online, it replaces a kenkou hokenshou. Data such as physical exams and medicines used can be seen online. The government has decided to replace kenkou hokenshou with my number cards in autumn of 2024. However, 56% of people have applied for a my number card from this month as of October 11. The number of people using one instead of a kenkou hokenshou is much smaller at about 20%. The Japanese government wants to make a my number card for everyone living in Japan and for them to log their kenkou hokenshou.

Kenkou hokenshou are Japanese health insurance cards.

​October 15, 2022:

Conversion from rice to crops like wheat and soybeans continues. Demand for domestically-produced versions increased due to attack on Ukraine. (Asahi)

While Ukraine is in crisis and demand for domestically-produced grain is rising, the expected yield of rice intended for human consumption has been announced and a greater than expected continued switchover to crops like wheat and soybeans has been found. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has announced that this year's expected yield of rice intended for human consumption is 6,703,000 t, which is about 300,000 t lower than last year's. Reportedly, this result is even lower than what was anticipated for July, which was 6,750,000 t. In addition, it was initially forecast that 43,000 ha initially meant for rice intended for human consumption as well as feed for animals like cattle, pigs, and chickens would be converted to grains like wheat and soybeans, but in reality it was 52,000 ha. MAFF sees this as a result of farmers starting to respond to the increase in demand for domestically-produced grain because of the crisis in Ukraine by converting land from rice to grains like wheat and soybeans.

That's all for now.

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