Japan announces 10% of its people are 80 or older on Respect for the Elderly Day

admin 2024年2月16日

Beginner

Japan News, japan news - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Does Japan have a reputation for having a long life expectancy compared to many other countries?
Is it a common concern in Japan that there are more elderly people than younger ones in the population?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

government /GUHV-ern-muhnt/

[noun] – the group of people who officially control a country
The government is responsible for making and enforcing laws that ensure the well-being of its citizens.

population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn/

[noun] – all the people living in a particular country, area, or place
The population of the city has been steadily increasing due to urbanization and job opportunities.

retire /ri-TAHYUHR/

[verb] – to leave your job or stop working because of old age or ill health
After decades of hard work, she decided to retire and enjoy her well-deserved rest.

elderly /EL-der-lee/

[adjective] – old
The elderly couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by family and friends.

challenge /CHAL-inj /

[noun] – (the situation of being faced with) something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests a person’s ability
Overcoming this challenge will require teamwork, dedication, and innovative solutions.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

Japan is facing a big problem right now. More than 10% of its people are 80 years old or older. This is because not many babies are being born, and people are living longer. This is a big issue for Japan. The government has shared data that shows 29.1% of the population is 65 years old or older. This is a very high number compared to other countries. The government needs to take care of older people by giving them money for when they retire and by providing healthcare. But because more people are dying than being born, it’s hard to do this. People in Japan live a long time, which makes this problem even bigger.

Japan is urging older citizens and stay-at-home moms to work, with 9.12 million elderly employees, or over 13% of workers. Prime Minister Kishida emphasizes helping families with children, as Japan faces similar challenges as neighboring countries like China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan in balancing care for the elderly and encouraging more births.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

More than 10% of Japan’s population is currently 80 years old or older.
The Japanese government has shared data indicating that 29.1% of the population is 65 years old or older.
Japan’s challenge with its aging population is compounded by the fact that more people are being born than dying.
Japan has a high life expectancy compared to many other countries.
Prime Minister Kishida’s emphasis on helping families with children is unique to Japan and is not a concern in neighboring countries like China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

government

population

retire

elderly

challenge

The country faces the __________ of balancing economic growth with the needs of an aging population.
In many countries, the aging __________ is growing, leading to concerns about healthcare and pensions for the elderly.
After working for decades, many people look forward to the day they can finally __________ and enjoy their retirement.
The role of the __________ is to enact and enforce laws that benefit the entire nation.
Taking care of the __________ is a societal responsibility that requires attention and support.