Tag Archive: Japan News – Intermediate

Astonishing 2D Cafe in Tokyo attracts customers

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

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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…
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Japan to use facial recognition technology for foreign visitors

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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…
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Misato Michisita to join the 2020 Paralympics

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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]…
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Fighting climate change in Japan

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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…
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Sushi restaurant in Japan to raise young fish

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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…
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Japan to charge plastic bags

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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…
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Japanese offices increase greenery to lessen stress

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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…
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Former Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara retires

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Photo by © KYODO via The Mainichi Pre-reading questions: Do you like baseball? Why or why not? What kind of sport do you like the least and why? Vocabulary: professional /pruh-FESH-uh-nl/ [adjective] used to describe someone who does a job that people usually do as a hobby Kisenosato Yutaka was a professional sumo wrestler. pitch /pich/ [verb] in baseball, to throw a ball towards the player with the bat in order for them to try to hit it Shohei Otani pitched for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for three years. outstanding /out-STAN-ding/ [adjective] clearly very much better than what is usual My best friend has always been an outstanding student since grade…
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Wasao becomes the new stationmaster

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Photo by © KYODO via The Japan Times Pre-reading questions: Do you think dogs are the best pet? Please explain your answer. Do you have any pets? Why or why not? Vocabulary: in charge /in chahrj/ [idiom] responsible for something or someone He is in charge of doing the laundry. ceremony /SER-uh-moh-nee/ [verb] a formal occasion especially to recognize an important event Their wedding ceremony will take place on March 25th this year. partner /PAHRT-ner/ [noun] the person you are married to or living with as if married to them His partner will give birth next month. representative /rep-ri-ZEN-tuh-tiv/ [noun] a person who represents another person or a group a…
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