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Last Week in Japanese News 12/25/2022-12/31/2022 [1]
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Date: 2022-12-31
Autumn Japanese maple leaves.
Hello, this is RWPOINTWOMAN, and this is Last Week in Japanese News. Here is where I post translations of Easy Japanese news reader app articles. I haven't mastered Japanese but that shouldn't be a problem, given that it's for Japanese language learners.
On with the show!
December 25, 2022:
There were no Easy articles about Japan on this day.
December 26, 2022:
Christmas: recycled toys to be made Christmas presents. (NHK)
A recycling center in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo Metropolitan Area gives presents to children. It gathered no longer used toys from the residents of Itabashi Ward, and prepared to give presents to 150 people. And they gave presents to childrens who came from December 23-25. Inside the bags were various toys including stuffed animals and kendama. When the toys were taken out of the bags, there were also happily playing children. A boy who received a toy said, "I really enjoyed my toy dinosaur." A person with the facility said, "We want children to be able to have a way that places a premium on things like possessions and the environment."
"We want people to cooperate to save lives": blood donations down. (NHK)
According to the Japanese Red Cross, there is a shortage of blood for those who are sick, injured, etc. In places like the Kanto Region, supply of type B was at 87% and at 94% for A and O on December 16. One cause is the decline in blood donors as the novel coronavirus continues to spread. Those who have caught it cannot donate blood until 4 after symptoms disappear. Close contacts such as family also cannot donate. With the increase in people working, attending school, etc. from home, even when the blood donation bus comes to companies, schools, it cannot collect much blood. The Japanese Red Cross is dispatching buses to places like train stations to collect blood donations. They are also contacting previous blood donors. A spokesperson for the Japanese Red Cross asked, "If you have just a little time, please work with us to save lives by donating blood."
Hokkaido: March of the Penguins at the Asahiyama Zoo. (NHK)
Every year at the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahiyama City, when the snow begins to pile up, the penguins begin their march. This gives the penguins, who will soon be moving very little, exercise. On December 22, 17 king penguins spent 30 minutes walking down a 500 m road white with snow. As it becomes easier for foreigners to come to Japan, they have gradually increased their travel to Japan. Also on December 22, many patrons gathered, shook hands with the penguins that walked like babies, and took photos. A person who came from Yamaguchi Prefecture said, "I was surprised at how large they are. The walking penguins were so cute."
"¥114 trillion" budget cabinet decision for next fiscal year, highest ever, 11th straight year of each year's budget being higher than the last. (Asahi)
On the afternoon of December 23, a cabinet decision was made on the draft for next fiscal year's budget, which has climbed to ¥114 trillion. It is expected that this will be the 11th year of the initial budget being the highest ever. The annual expenditures of the general accounting and finance for next fiscal year, which include an amount in the upper ¥36 trillion range for social security due to the aging of the population, are in the upper ¥114 trillion range, the range, the highest ever. Also, security policy has undergone a major shift, causing the defense budget to make a major jump to ¥6.8 trillion. The defense budget amounts to ¥6.4 trillion, which is to be paid for with next fiscal year's non-tax income, which in turn includes selling off national property, and includes a separate, newly-established fund for strengthening defensive capabilities. Tax revenue, which is expected to be the central pillar of annual revenue, is expected to be the highest ever, but it is believed that government bond issuance will also exceed ¥35 trillion and deficit spending will continue.
December 27, 2022:
Baby northern goshawks, owls, etc. raised at Imperial Palace. (NHK)
A group drawn from the National Science Museum and Yamashina Institute for Ornithology studied what kind of birds there were at the Imperial Palace in the heart of Tokyo and the Akasaka Imperial Residence. Sayako Kuroda, younger sister of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and ornithologist, participated in the group. The group found northern goshawk nests at both locations from May through July of this year. They also found 4 babies being reared. They also heard the cries of owlets and found 2 being reared. The group says that it is rare to find baby birds such as northern goshawks and owls being reared at the same time at both locations, which are full of trees and in the heart of the city. The group thinks this relates to few crows, which chase birds like the northern goshawk, being present.
"We want them to drink a lot of it": oversupply of cow's milk at school winter break. (NHK)
During winter break, there is an oversupply of milk at the end and the beginning of the year due to school lunch not being provided. Milk companies distributed 15,000 bottles of low fat cow's milk at sports gyms in places like Tokyo. They wanted health conscious people to drink a lot of milk. A man given the milk said, "This was a day when I always come to the gym and I drink protein-rich low fat cow's milk. I think it is good and healthy, so I think I drank some more." This year, Russia attacked Ukraine and the price of cattle feed rose. The price of cow's milk rose because of this. According to an organization comprised of cow's milk companies, it appears that cow's milk consumption rate will be 4% lower than last year's. These companies, among others, say they want more milk than usual drunk at the end of this year and the beginning of the next.
26% of female medical intern trainees told, "If you get pregnant, quit working." (NHK)
It has become increasingly common for foreign medical intern trainees to run into trouble with, for instance, companies in situations like pregnancy and childbirth. Japan has done research on this topic for the first time. Answers were received from 650 female medical intern trainees from 7 countries. 26% of them had heard, "Please quit if you get pregnant," and the like from companies, etc. Out of those, 73% had heard this before arriving in Japan. 11% had heard it from companies in Japan. Under Japanese law, it is forbidden to fire someone over something like pregnancy or childbirth. 59% had heard this and were aware of it. The Japanese government is advising corporations, etc. that it is explaining the system that exists for things like pregnancy and childbirth. And to alert them when problems are found.
December 28, 2022:
South American sea lions practice first calligraphy of the year at aquarium. (NHK)
Every year, a group of South American sea lions at the Yokohama Hakkejima Sea Paradise aquarium do the first calligraphy of the year for shougatsu. On December 26, a 2 m long male named Leo practiced his first calligraphy of the year. Leo has been doing this for 15 years. Leo holds the writing brush in his mouth and uses it skillfully. And he wrote the kanji for "Rabbit," next year's Chinese zodiac sign, beautifully. A person with the aquarium said, "Please enjoy the South American sea lions' strong first calligraphy of the year." The first calligraphy of the year can be seen twice every year from January 1 to one month out.
Novel coronavirus testing protocol to get stricter for travelers coming China to Japan on December 30.(NHK)
The novel coronavirus is spreading in China. Because of this, the Japanese government has made the novel coronavirus testing protocol for travelers to Japan who have just arrived from China stricter. Travelers coming from China to Japan will be tested for the novel coronavirus at the airport if they had been there within 7 days earlier. In the event of a positive test, those with symptoms like fever are to isolate for 7 days while those without them are to do so for 5. Because of this strict testing, travelers coming from China will only be using 4 airports: Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, and Chubu Airport. The Japanese government has thought about how the novel coronavirus is spreading in China and will decide how long to continue measures like testing.
Japanese government releases video of woman who died at Immigration Bureau facility. (NHK)
A Sri Lankan woman named Wishma Sandamari died at an Immigration Bureau facility in Nagoya City in March of last year. Wishma's family says, "She was not given necessary medical treatment even though she felt ill," and is suing the Japanese government for damages. The attorney retained by the family said that the state had sent a 5-hour video of Wishma shot at the facility to the court. This was to comply with a court order. The state said in court, "We ran test and got her a doctor, but we did not find the cause of her illness. We did not violate the law." However, in the video, Wishma begged to be given medical treatment. Wishma's little sister said, "I want everyone to see the video in court."
Christmas sales war peaks as large sums spent on things like presents, cake, eating out. (Asahi)
Peak Christmas sales war has arrived. Sales of big-ticket items are climbing at department stores and demand is also strong for restaurant reservations. At the flagship store of Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, December sales of wrist watches were 1.7 times higher than the same time last year and jewellery sales are 1.1 times higher. It is said that many of these are high quality and meant to last. Also, cake orders were 1.5 times higher at Ginza Mitsukoshi on December 24 compared with this time last year. Large gatherings are said to be more common and whole cakes are selling well. Restaurant reservations are up 10% compared with this time last year and up to 90% of demand from the same time 3 years ago.
3 non-life insurance majors suspend policies for ships in Russian waters starting January 1 2023. (Asahi)
3 Japanese non-life insurance majors suspended coverage of war damage to boats operating in Russian waters and it will go into effect January 1 2023. 3 companies—Tokio Marine Nichido, Sompo Japan, and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance—have given the refusal of the overseas reinsurance company that underwrites part of the insurance payments to take on any risk associated with Russia as the reason. They had already raised premiums for policies for ships in Russian water in April of this year due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine raising the odds of ship damage. This may also affect liquified natural gas through Sakhalin2, an oil and natural gas development in the Russian Far East.
Japanese heavy snow damage: 17 dead, 90 injured. (CNN)
The heavy snowfall that visited Japan starting with the northern portion and lasted until Christmas weekend left 17 dead and over 90 injured according to authorities. According to an authority with the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, a woman in her 70s living in Yamagata Prefecture was crushed to death by snow falling from her roof. Over 80 cm of snow fellow in that area through December 24. The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) revealed that heavy snow damage is spreading from a center that is mostly on the side facing the Sea of Japan. Main thoroughfares have lines of vehicles brought to a standstill and the result is a delay in deliveries starting in mid-December.
Warning issued regarding accidental ingestion of tobacco vape oil by babies. (Asahi)
The National Consumer Affairs Center warned that care must be taken to prevent babies and very young children from accidentally ingesting tobacco vape oil. Tobacco vape oil is a tobacco product meant to be heated in order to produce steam to be inhaled instead of tobacco leaves to be burned. According to the National Center for Consumer Affairs, their data indicate that there have been 112 cases of children under 6 accidentally swallowing, etc. sticks containing tobacco leaves since 2017. Within these sticks lie small pieces of metal that exist to heat it up and there is a fear of great injury ensuing if these are swallowed. The National Center for Consumer Affairs addressed the public, saying, "We think that with things like the New Year's holiday, people will take their children into unfamiliar environments more often. Try to pay attention to them in unfamiliar environments."
December 29, 2022:
There were no Easy level articles about Japan this day.
December 30, 2022:
Canon to raise base pay by ¥7,000/m for all employees, a special raise in response to rising prices. (Asahi)
Precision equipment major Canon has announced that it is raising base pay by ¥7,000/m/employee for all employees in response to rising prices. Canon has announced that it is giving all 25,000 employees below the level of executive a special raise, adding ¥7,000/m per person to their base pay next January. It would be 20 years since the last increase in base pay in 2003 and it is said that this increase for union members excluding management amounts to 3.8% per person. Reportedly, Canon is raising base pay instead of giving one-off raises in order to allow employees to maintain their standard of living in the face of continuous increases in the cost of things like food, energy, and livingware.
Price increases to continue into 2023, affect things like ice cream, chocolate, and gummi candy. (Asahi)
Ohayo Milk is raising the price of 18 varieties of ice cream and this will go into effect with the March 2023 shipment. The price increases range from ¥10 to ¥40 and Jersey Dairy Soft* will go from ¥200 to ¥220. Kabaya Foods Corporation is raising the prices of 16 items including chocolate and gummi candy and this will go into effect with next February's shipment. The price increases range from 5% to 25%. Also, 7 items in particular are to have their contents per package reduced, effectively increasing their price. The cause is the increased cost of things like raw ingredients and packaging materials.
Prices of Fujicco's Omamesan, Tohato's All Raisin, etc. rise 36%, the highest ever. (Asahi)
The prices of things like Tohato's All Raisin, Fujicco's Omamesan, and Yamasa soy sauce are to be raised next year. Tohato is raising the price of 15 cookie and biscuit products including All Raisin in sequential order next February. Out of these, 9 items including Harvest are to have their package size reduced, effectively increasing the price. The average price increase is 8.1%. Fujicco is raising the price of 49 items including side dishes and bean products intended for household consumption effective next March. They will go up 36%. Omamesan Cha Fukumame's retail price will go from ¥175 to ¥200. Yamasa Shoyu is going to raise the price of 101 products like soy sauce and tare effective next April. The price increases range from about 5% to 12%. Each of these corporations has deemed this principally due to the rising costs of raw ingredients, packaging, and energy.
Overnight Internet famous popular Shiba Inu Kabosu in critical condition due to serious illness. (CNN)
Kabosu, a 17-year-old Shiba Inu that became a famous Internet meme practically overnight and lent its image to dogecoin, a cryptocurrency (virtual currency), has been revealed to be in critical condition due to serious illness. The owner, a kindergarten teacher named Atsuko Satou who lives in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, posted the news on Instagram. According to the post, Kabosu has stopped eating and drinking independently and has received diagnoses of acute hepatic cholangitis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In 2010, Kabosu enjoyed great popularity through an image of her with her forelegs crossed and a quizzical expression that was widely circulated on platforms such as Reddit and Tumblr and the circulation of a meme made by captioning that image. The image was used promotionally by entities ranging from Oreo for its cookies to a Stockholm, Sweden subway.
Mystery bags slated to be sold at Hatsuuri now to be sold at the end of the year. (Asahi)
At supermarket major Aeon, sales have begun of its mystery bags, which were going to sold as part of next year's hatsuuri, are now going to be sold at the end of the year. Aeon will have more stores than usual participating in its New Year's Day all-you-can-fill towel sale next year and stores began selling mystery bags on December 26. Besides the replenishment of goods meant for travel such as trolley cases and bags due to the revival of demand for travel, the sale is a reflection of bipolarization of consumption and contains a mixture of expensive and inexpensive items such as red king crab and wagyu from the Japanese Black breed of cattle, which are luxury goods used at New Year's.
Toyota sees November's car manufacturing rate climb to highest ever level, easing of difficulty in procuring parts. (Asahi)
Toyota Motors has announced that its global production volume for November was 1.5% greater than that of this time last year and the highest ever for a November. The production volume that Toyota Motors announced for last month was 833,000, marking the 4th consecutive month of higher production than the same time last year and a record for a November. However, it appears that due to a semiconductor shortage, production will be limited and there will continue to be a shortage of new cars. Toyota has announced that in addition to an adjustment of domestic production this month and next month, it is decreasing its planned global production volume for this fiscal year from 9.7 million to 9.2 million.
December 31, 2022:
Tokio Marine & Nichido to set up shop in Metaverse, sell insurance. (Asahi)
Tokio Marine & Nichido will sell and discuss individual insurance individual insurance policies over the Metaverse starting next month. They will set up the insurance consultation office in Metaverse Station, a replica of features like JR East Akibahara Station and the surrounding cityscape set up in March. One is able to do things like discuss insurance and even make agreements with insurance agents using an avatar. The insurance that they handle is only things like automobile and overseas travel insurance and provision of information about life insurance and available plans. Tokio Marine & Nichido has decided that it wants to ease the mental burden by completing trying to complete the process virtually and make a space where even the young can easily buy insurance.
Muji to raise prices of food, everyday goods and delivery charge next year. (Asahi)
Muji is going to raise prices twice next year, once on January 13 and once February 3. The targeted items are about 20% of next year's spring and fall stock and the price increases will average 25%. For instance, a retort of butter chicken curry will go from ¥350 to ¥390 and a storage box for things like paper will go from ¥390 to ¥590. Also, the delivery charge will go from ¥500 to ¥1,000 on February 3. The feel that they have reached the limits of their ability to absorb the costs that come with accelerating raw ingredient price hikes and the depreciation of the yen and therefore must start passing it on to the consumer.
That's all for now.
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