Tag Archive: japan news – beginner

Tokyo tops the world’s safest cities for the third time

tokyo

Pre-reading questions: Do you want to live in Tokyo? What is your favorite city? Vocabulary: list /list/ [verb] to make a list, or to include something in a list The doctor listed the medicine he needs to buy. recover /ri-KUHV-er/ [verb] to get better after an illness or a period of difficulty or trouble The basketball team is doing their best to recover from their loss last season. base on /beys-on/ [phrasal verb] to use particular ideas or facts to make a decision or develop a theory Based on a report, Selena Gomez will have a concert tour in Asia next year. see /see/ [verb] to know about something before…
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Japan to use facial recognition technology for foreign visitors

face

Photo by © ANN via The Star Pre-reading questions: Do you like going to other countries? What kind of technology do you use the most? Vocabulary: transfer /trans-FUR/ [verb] to move someone or something from one place, vehicle, person, or group to another Let me transfer the files to your phone. scanner /SKAN-er/ [noun] a device for making images of the inside of the body or for reading information into a computer system I use photo scanner for my project. attach /uh-TACH/ [verb] to fasten or join one thing to something else She attached a new external camera to her laptop. immigration /im-i-GREY-shuhn/ [noun] the process of examining your passport…
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Misato Michishita to join the 2020 Paralympics

misato

Photo by © REUTERS via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you want to be an athlete? What sports do you play? Vocabulary: win /win/ [verb] to achieve first position and/or get a prize in a competition, election, fight, etc. He is planning to win the chess championship. silver /SIL-ver/ [noun] a small disc of silver, or a metal that looks like silver, that is given to the person who comes second in a competition, especially in a sport It’s difficult to come up with a design for the silver medal. ago /uh-GOH/ [adverb] back in time from the present They met in Paris ten years ago. race /reys/ [noun]…
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Fighting climate change in Japan

climate

Photo by © CHIARA TERZUOLO via Savvy Tokyo Pre-Reading Questions: Do you use plastics when shopping? Do you eat meat everyday? Vocabulary: pollution /puh-LOO-shuhn/ [noun] the harmful substances that cause damage to water, the air, etc. Everyone in the community can help in preventing pollution. reusable /ree-YOO-zuh-buhl/ [adjective] able to be used more than once One of the keys to a greener planet is using reusable materials. livestock /LAHYV-stok/ [noun] animals and birds that are kept on a farm, such as cows, sheep, or chickens Livestock is one of the principal imports in their country. fossil /FOS-uhl/ [noun] part of a plant or animal, or its shape, that has been…
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Sushi restaurant in Japan to raise young fish

salmon

Pre-reading questions: Do you like sushi? Can you make sushi? Vocabulary: famous /FEY-muhs/ [adjective] known and recognized by many people The famous brand of clothes is on sale. small /smawl/ [adjective] not big; less in size or amount than is average The man is looking for a small house to live in. lesser /LES-er/ [adjective] not as great in size, amount The seafood restaurant receives lesser orders after the calamity. grow /groh/ [verb] to increase in size or amount She likes to grow different kinds of plants. keep /keep/ [verb] to continue to have She is trying her best to keep the plants healthy. Japan’s famous sushi restaurant, Kuri Sushi…
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Japan to charge plastic bags

ban plastics

Pre-reading questions: Do you use plastic bags every day? Have you seen a dirty sea? Vocabulary: charge /chahrj/ [verb] to ask an amount of money for something The cashier charged $10 on my card. intend /in-TEND/ [verb] to have as a plan or purpose She intends to stay longer in Korea. seller /SEL-er/ [noun] a person who sells something The flower seller lives in another country. environmental /en-VAHY-ruhn-muhnt-uhl/ [adjective] relating to the environment He is one of the environmental campaigners. waste /weyst/ [noun] unwanted matter or material of any type The nuclear waste is increasing. Japan plans to charge plastic shopping bags at supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores, and department stores….
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Japanese offices increase greenery to lessen stress

green

Photo by © Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc. via Spoon & Tamago Pre-reading questions: Do you like the color green? Are there many plants and trees from where you live? Vocabulary: company /KUHM-puh-nee/ [noun] an organization that sells goods or services in order to make money My father owns a company in Shinjuku. reduce /ri-DOOS/ [verb] to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, etc. What’s a good way to reduce weight? applicant /AP-li-kuhnt/ [noun] someone who has applied for a job Only two out of twenty applicants passed the interview. area /AIR-ee-uh/ [noun] a particular part of a place or piece of land My…
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Former Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara retires

euh

Photo by © KYODO via The Mainichi Pre-reading questions: Do you play sports? What is your favorite sport? Vocabulary: player /PLEY-er/ [noun] someone who takes part in a game or sport My brother’s dream is to become a basketball player. right-handed /right-handed/ [adjective] using your right hand to write with and do most things I’d rather be right-handed than left-handed. season /SEE-zuhn/ [noun] the period of the year during which a particular sport is played The baseball season starts in March and ends in September this year. career /kuh-REER/ [noun] a job for which you are trained so that you get greater responsibility and earn more money She wants to…
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Wasao becomes the new stationmaster

wasao

Photo by © KYODO via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you like dogs? Can dogs make people happy? Vocabulary: choose /chohz/ [verb] to decide what you want from two or more things or possibilities The company will choose a new board member. take place /teyk-pleys/ [verb] to happen The meeting will take place on March 25, 2020. wife /wahyf/ [noun] the woman to whom a man is married His wife is very thoughtful. officer /AW-fuh-ser/ [noun] a person who has a position of authority in an organization One of the Navy’s officers is looking for a new office building. improve /im-PROOV/ [verb] to get better, or to make something…
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Tokyo’s Bunkitsu: A gallery-like bookstore

bunkitsu

Photo by © LIBRO PLUS via The Japan Times Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like reading books? Do you like going to bookstores? Vocabulary: clearly /KLEER-lee/ [adverb] certainly; obviously; without a doubt As you can see, that restaurant is clearly famous. magazine /mag-uh-ZEEN/ [noun] a type of thin book with a paper cover that is published regularly and usually contains articles and photographs My sister bought a fashion magazine yesterday. customer /KUHS-tuh-mer/ [noun] a person who buys goods or a service Mr. Sato is a regular customer at our restaurant. miss /mis/ [verb] to fail to do, see, or experience something You will miss your chance if you just sit here…
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