Tag Archive: japan news – intermediate

Kanazawa as the ice cream capital

ice-2367072_960_720

Pre-Reading Questions: What is your comfort food? What local dessert is popular in your city? What is it made of? Vocabulary: peak /peek/ [noun] the highest, strongest, or best point, value, or level of skill Rates are different after the peak of the summer season. feature /FEE-cher/ [verb] to include someone or something as an important part The new iPhone 11 features mobile tech development. luxury /LUHK-shuh-ree/ [noun] the pleasure and comfort you get from expensive and beautiful things Towers and temples are the luxuries of a princess. convenient /kuhn-VEEN-yuhnt/ [adjective] suitable for your purposes and needs and causing the least difficulty Which is more convenient, to go by bus…
Read more

Seeking modernization enhances life at work, according to a Japanese company president

Pre-reading questions: In your opinion, what is the important quality that a company should possess? How do you keep yourself motivated at work? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: promote /pruh-MOHT/ [verb] to encourage or support something The new campaign launched last week promotes safe driving. mention /MEN-shuhn/ [verb] to speak about someone or something You always mention your boss whenever we converse. willingness /WIL-ing-ness/ [noun] the quality of being happy to do something She shows willingness to learn in everything she does. impede /im-PEED/ [verb] to make it more difficult for something to happen Struggles are impeding her to achieve her dreams. administer /ad-MIN-uh-ster/ [verb] to manage or control the…
Read more

Astonishing 2D Cafe in Tokyo attracts customers

bar-984527_960_720

Pre-Reading Questions: Do you like visiting cafes and restaurants? Why or why not? Do you think anime themed cafes and restaurants are famous in Japan? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: transport /trans-PAWRT/ [verb] the act of taking you to a different time or place, making you feel as if you were in it The film transports you back to how New York City was back in the 1950s. reality /ree-AL-i-tee/ [noun] the state of things as they are, rather than as they are imagined to be He could not believe it when his dream became a reality. vast /vahst/ [adjective] extremely large A vast majority of musicians played together for…
Read more

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

tokyo

Pre-reading questions: What city would you like to visit and why? What do you like about Tokyo City? Explain your answer. Vocabulary: top /top/ [verb] to be in the highest position in a list or rank Ariana Grande tops as the most followed celebrity on Instagram. infrastructure /IN-fruh-struhk-cher/ [noun] the basic systems and services, such as transport and power supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively Some of the infrastructures in rural areas are improving. rebound /ri-BOUND/ [verb] to return to an earlier and better condition Let’s save more money to rebound from our loss last month. anticipate /an-TIS-uh-peyt/ [verb] to imagine or expect that…
Read more

Japan to use facial recognition technology for foreign visitors

face

Photo by © ANN via The Star Pre-reading questions: In your own opinion, what is the most useful technology? Have you ever tried face scanning device before? How was the experience? Vocabulary: fiscal /FIS-kuhl/ [adjective] the financial year 2010, etc The government employees will have a meeting on July 18th about the fiscal year. microchip /MAHY-kroh-chip/ [noun] a chip There are built-in microchips inserted to some animals for study purposes. departure /dih-PAHR-cher/ [noun] the act of leaving a place, or a flight, train, etc. He had to wait for few hours before his departure for Japan. guarantee /gar-uhn-TEE/ [verb] to promise that something will happen or exist She guaranteed her…
Read more

Misato Michisita to join the 2020 Paralympics

misato

Photo by © REUTERS via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you like watching Paralympics? Why or why not? What is your favorite sport? Why? Vocabulary: victory /VIK-tuh-ree/ [noun] the act or an example of winning a competition The victory in Gettysburg proved to be the turning point of the civil war. achieve /uh-CHEEV/ [verb] to succeed in finishing something or reaching an aim He is always making sure to achieve his goals in the future. league /leeg/ [noun] a group of teams or players in a sport who take part in competitions against each other He is one of the top players in the baseball league. athletic /ath-LET-ik/ [adjective]…
Read more

Fighting climate change in Japan

climate

Photo by © CHIARA TERZUOLO via Savvy Tokyo Pre-Reading Questions: Are you experiencing climate change in your country now? Please explain your answer. What do you do to help fight climate change in your country? Please explain your answer. Vocabulary: greenhouse gas /GREEN-hous gas/ [noun] a gas that causes the greenhouse effect, especially carbon dioxide Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause climate change. eco-friendly /EK-oh-FREND-lee/ [adjective] designed to have little or no damaging effect on the environment We should use eco-friendly products to help our world fight global warming. atmosphere /AT-muhs-feer/ [noun] the mixture of gases around the earth Hot temperature causes the atmosphere to get thinner. carbon dioxide /KAHR-buh n…
Read more

Sushi restaurant in Japan to raise young fish

salmon

Pre-reading questions: Do you agree that sushi is the most famous food in Japan? Explain your answer. Do you like eating raw fish? Why or why not? Vocabulary: famed /feymd/ [adjective] famous or known to many people There are many famed restaurants around the city. decreasing /dih-KREE-sing/ [adjective] becoming less The decreasing number of employment in the country is alarming. develop /dih-VEL-uhp/ [verb] to grow A newly opened restaurant needs to develop new ways to gain customers. half-grown /haf-grohn/ [adjective] not yet fully grown The half-grown crops can be harvested after a month. expand /ik-SPAND/ [verb] to increase something in size, number, or importance The company’s goal is to expand…
Read more

Japan to charge plastic bags

ban plastics

Pre-reading questions: What do you usually bring when you go shopping and why? What are the common single-use plastics in Japan? Vocabulary: implement /im-pluh-muhnt/ [verb] to put a plan into action The company has implemented a new policy that would contribute to its employees’ benefits. ban /ban/ [verb] to forbid someone to do something or forbid an action The new law bans foreign fishermen to enter another country’s territory. afforestation /uh-FAWR-ist-tey-shuhn/ [noun] the action of planting trees on an area of land in order to make a forest The students join the afforestation held by their school admin. awareness /uh-WAIR-nis/ [noun] knowledge that something exists, or understanding of a situation…
Read more

Japanese offices increase greenery to lessen stress

green

Photo by © Koji Fujii / Nacasa and Partners Inc. via Spoon & Tamago Pre-reading questions: What usually stresses you out? Explain your answer. How do you relieve stress? Vocabulary: promote /pruh-MOHT/ [verb] to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something A good way to promote our business is through social media. potential /puh-TEN-shuhl/ [adjective] possible when the necessary conditions exist I met another potential buyer for our old house. fatigue /fuh-TEEG/ [noun] the condition of being extremely tired Playing video games is James’ way to relieve fatigue. requirement /ri-KWAHYUHR-muhnt/ [noun] something that you must do, or something you need Could you tell me the actual requirements…
Read more