TEACHER SHORTAGE IN JAPAN GETTING MORE SERIOUS教員の不足人数 年度途中で1.3倍に

A shortage of schoolteachers in Japan has become increasingly serious since the beginning of the school year in April. NHK surveyed education boards nationwide and received data from 43 of 68 prefectures and designated cities. They reported a total staffing shortage of about 1,800 teachers in May, which increased 30 percent to nearly 2,400 by September. That is about 600 vacant teaching positions in just four months. Local governments report that they have difficulty finding enough substitute teachers, especially at elementary and middle schools, with a shortage increase of 40 percent. Officials say an increasing number of teachers took sick leave due to illness, as well as for maternity and childcare leave. Some municipal officials noted that vice principals and other administrative staff are trying to fill the void by taking on teaching duties themselves. Others point out that fewer people want to sign up for part-time teaching jobs.

◆nationwide 全国的にhappening or existing in every part of the country 類義語 countrywide 

◆childcare leave 育休

◆municipal 　地方自治体の   relating to or belonging to the government of a town or city 

◆fill the void　穴を埋める、穴埋めする    an empty area of space where nothing exists 

JAPAN POST HIKES RATES FOR FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS郵便料金 30年ぶり値上げ

Japan Post raised postal rates starting on October 1 for the first time in 30 years. It cited a drop in postal service users as one reason behind the hikes. Another is rising logistics costs. The cost of postcards rose to 85 yen, or about 60 cents. Postage for standard-size items weighing 50 grams or less went up to 110 yen. Rates for sending documents were also hiked – Letter Pack Light envelopes went up to 430 yen, and Letter Pack Plus rose to 600 yen, or about 4 dollars. The firm expects to restore profitability in its postal business in fiscal 2025, but it foresees an operating loss again in fiscal 2026. The question now is how Japan Post can make its postal business more efficient while maintaining low rates for mail services throughout the country.

◆cite （例や理由などとして）挙げる、言及する   to mention something as an example, especially one that supports, proves, or explains an idea or situation

◆hike （料金や給料などの）引き上げ  especially American English informal a large increase in prices, wages, taxes etc 類義語 rise 

◆operating loss　営業損失   a loss relating to a company’s normal business operations, rather than to activities such as asset sales that only happen from time to time 

JAPAN'S RICE PRICES HIT RECORD HIGH FOR AUGUSTコメの取引価格 8月として過去最高

Shoppers in Japan have been facing rice shortages at retailers as the average wholesale price rose sharply in August. The agriculture ministry says industry cooperatives sold all varieties of rice produced in 2023 to wholesalers at just above 16,000 yen, or 114 dollars, per 60 kilograms on average. That's a rise of 17 percent from a year earlier. The price is the highest for August since the survey began with rice harvested in 2006. Demand from inbound tourists increased, while the supply fell due to heatwaves in the summer of last year. Many people bought rice at supermarkets to stock up for earthquakes and storms, leading to further shortages. The shortages are easing in Tokyo as newly harvested rice begins arriving in stores. But prices are 50 percent higher than last year.

◆on average 平均で       based on a calculation about how many times something usually happens, how much money someone usually gets, how often people usually do something etc 

SURVEY POINTS TO SHIFTING VIEWS ABOUT WORK AND PLAY“仕事より余暇を優先” 過去最高65%に

“All work and no play makes Japan a dull place.” Now, hang on — or so suggests a new survey. Nearly two-thirds of respondents value their free time more than their jobs. The figure is a record high. The non-profit Japan Productivity Center conducted the annual poll on about 3,300 people. More than a third say they find purpose in leisure rather than their job. And over 30 percent say they try to wrap up their work in good time to have fun elsewhere. Only about 12 percent place more value on work than leisure. Comparable data started in 2009. And the latest results point to a growing awareness about work-life balance. One official involved in the poll says the coronavirus pandemic and rise in remote working probably saw people reassess how they want to live. The survey also asked people how they spend their free time. Almost half say they travel in Japan.

◆hang on ちょっと待って    used to ask or tell someone to wait 類義語 hold on 

◆in good time　早めに、十分に余裕を持って、時間どおりに、順調に    public support for a course of action or way of doing things 

MIYAZAKI HAYAO WINS PRESTIGIOUS MAGSAYSAY AWARD宮崎駿監督にマグサイサイ賞

Japanese animation master Miyazaki Hayao has won this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award, also known as “Asia's Nobel Prize.” The Studio Ghibli co-founder is being recognized not only for his filmmaking but for what they say is his lifelong commitment to illuminating the human condition and inspiring the imagination of children. The foundation praises Miyazaki for tackling complicated topics like environmental protection, peace advocacy, and women's rights. It credits the director for using his art to make these issues comprehensible to children. Miyazaki's films often feature children and female characters who confront challenges. His works are also known for their deep respect for nature and profound warnings against human arrogance. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is given every year to individuals and groups for tackling challenges in Asia.

◆praise  称賛する   to say that you admire and approve of someone or something, especially publicly OPP criticize 

◆advocacy　推進、擁護、主張   public support for a course of action or way of doing things 

◆arrogance 傲慢な、横柄な、思い上がった     when someone behaves in a rude way because they think they are very important

MORE JAPANESE USE DATING APPS TO FIND MARRIAGE PARTNER結婚のきっかけ マッチングアプリが最多

A government survey shows that dating apps are now the most common way for young people in Japan to find a spouse. This has officials considering how to tap social networks as a way to encourage more people to get married. The Children and Families Agency last month polled 20,000 people aged from 15 to 39 about marriage. It was the first such survey by the agency. One of the questions for married people was how they met their spouse. Roughly a quarter said they found their partner through dating apps, which are known as matching apps in Japan. Just over 20 percent said they met their spouse through work and almost 10 percent at school. The government sees the survey results as a sign that social media is playing a bigger role in bringing young couples together. Promoting safe matchmaking through social media is just one of the measures officials plan to discuss. They also aim to expand support for marriage counseling conducted by the private sector and local governments.

◆spouse 配偶者、結婚相手   a husband or wife 

◆tap　利用する、活用する     

◆poll 聞き取り調査をする、世論調査をする    the process of finding out what people think about something by asking many people the same question, or the record of the result 

MOUNTAINS OF KYOTO SET ABLAZE FOR SPECTACULAR FESTIVAL京都 伝統の五山送り火

Now for a spectacular, spiritual, and crowd-pleasing festival right in the heart of Japan's ancient capital. Gozan Okuribi is said to date back more than 300 years. Five mountains surrounding Kyoto serve as a grand stage. The bonfires form shapes such as kanji characters and a boat. People in Japan believe deceased relatives come home during the annual Bon holidays. And this festival is like a farewell before they head back to the spirit world.

(Festivalgoer) “My father will have returned for the first time since he died. I'm glad my family and I could give him a send-off together.”

Police say Friday's festival attracted a crowd of about 47,000. That's up more than 20,000 from last year.

◆spectacular 壮観な、華々しい、壮大な   very impressive 

◆deceased　死んだ、亡くなった    the deceased formal the person who has died or the people who have died 

JAPAN HEATWAVE FORCES RETHINK OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL RULES高校野球 7イニング制を検討

An intense heatwave in Japan is forcing the country's high school baseball federation to rethink the rules of the game to protect the players. On Friday, the group decided to start discussions on changing the length of games from nine innings to seven. An annual high school baseball tournament is set to begin Wednesday at Koshien Stadium in western Japan's Hyogo Prefecture. Temperatures in the region rose to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, and weather officials warn it's likely to last at least another month. The federation has also decided that on some days the games will only be played in the mornings and evenings to counter peak temperatures.

◆heatwave　猛暑、熱波   a period of unusually hot weather, especially one that continues for a long time OPP cold spell 

SAPPORO BREWERIES STARTS BREWING AGAIN IN EBISU東京・恵比寿で36年ぶりビール醸造

One of Japan's biggest beer makers has opened a new brewery in central Tokyo. The launch marks the first time in about 36 years for Sapporo Breweries to make beer in Ebisu.

Officials held a ceremony for the facility's grand opening. It's located not far from the popular Shibuya shopping and entertainment district.

Sapporo invested over 11 million dollars in the site. The new brewery can produce 130 kiloliters of beer annually. Visitors can get a firsthand look at how it's made. There's also a bar where people can taste just-brewed beer and limited-edition varieties only available on-site.

Sapporo's predecessor company started brewing beer in Ebisu in 1890. The nearby train station and areas were named after the Yebisu brand. The company closed the brewery in 1988 due to difficulties expanding the facility.

◆brewery　（ビールなどの）醸造所   a place where beer is made, or a company that makes beer 

◆the first time in about 36 years　36年ぶり

◆predecessor　前身、前任者、先人  someone who had your job before you started doing it OPP successor / a machine, system etc that existed before another one in a process of development OPP successor 

SURVEY POINTS TO SHIFTING VIEWS ABOUT WORK AND PLAY“仕事より余暇を優先” 過去最高65%に

“All work and no play makes Japan a dull place.” Now, hang on — or so suggests a new survey. Nearly two-thirds of respondents value their free time more than their jobs. The figure is a record high. The non-profit Japan Productivity Center conducted the annual poll on about 3,300 people. More than a third say they find purpose in leisure rather than their job. And over 30 percent say they try to wrap up their work in good time to have fun elsewhere. Only about 12 percent place more value on work than leisure. Comparable data started in 2009. And the latest results point to a growing awareness about work-life balance. One official involved in the poll says the coronavirus pandemic and rise in remote working probably saw people reassess how they want to live. The survey also asked people how they spend their free time. Almost half say they travel in Japan.

◆wrap up　終わらせる、締める  informal to finish a job, meeting etc 

◆in good time　早めに、十分に余裕を持って、時間どおりに、順調に 

◆point to　～を示す、指摘する、提示する、挙げる   to mention something because you think it is important

JAPAN'S DEFENSE MINISTRY PUNISHES OVER 200 PERSONNEL防衛省 200人以上を処分

Japan's Defense Ministry has reprimanded 218 civilian and uniformed staff of the ministry and the Self-Defense Forces for misconduct. The punishment on Friday of so many people at once is very unusual. The ministry identified four inappropriate actions. One concerns national security and the handling of specially designated secrets. The others involve fraud with allowances for diving training and duty, free meals for unqualified personnel, and power harassment. The ministry identified 58 cases related to the handling of confidential information. These include unqualified personnel having access to the information on 38 Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels. Defense Minister Kihara Minoru said the Defense Ministry and the SDF will work together to take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence and regain the people's trust.

◆reprimand　叱責する、懲戒処分する、戒告する to tell someone officially that something they have done is very wrong → scold, tell off 

◆misconduct　不正行為formal bad or dishonest behaviour by someone in a position of authority or trust 

◆fraud　詐欺（行為）、不正行為   the crime of deceiving people in order to gain something such as money or goods 

◆vessel　大型船、船舶  formal a ship or large boat 

◆recurrence　再び起こること、再発 an occasion when something that has happened before happens again 

◆regain再び手にする、取り戻す to get something back, especially an ability or quality, that you have lost 類義語 recover 

JAPAN FIRMS AIM TO MOTIVATE STAFF, REDUCE TURNOVER離職減へ スキル評価で働く意欲を向上

Retailers and restaurants in Japan are adopting new methods to motivate their workers and reduce turnover amid a severe labor shortage. Major convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan started an in-house contest on customer service skills in 2023. This year, selected workers from outlets across the country competed to show how well they can improvise to serve customers using appropriate language. The company evaluated their performance and gave awards. The aim is to make employees key to running the stores feel more motivated. It's also to train young staff better so they don't leave to go and work elsewhere. Meanwhile, noodle chain Marugame Udon is offering workers a chance to gain certification. Applicants take a written exam on what they know about noodle-making. They're also tested on a hundred practical skills. Company officials say the job turnover among certified staff is only about one-tenth the rate for those without certification.

◆turnover　離職率、離職者数 

◆in-house　社内の

◆improvise　即興でやる、アドリブで行う 

ANA, JAL SET POLICIES TO COMBAT PASSENGER HARASSMENT全日空と日本航空 “カスハラ”対策

All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines have jointly released new guidelines to combat harassment and abuse by passengers. They've categorized nine types of unacceptable behavior in order to protect employees.

(Miyashita Yoshiko / All Nippon Airways) “In some cases, employees face extreme stress and then take long medical leave or even quit.”

(Kamitsuji Rika / Japan Airlines) “Some customers have demanded employees kneel down and apologize. In other cases, these passengers occupy staff for long periods.”

Japan's two biggest airlines released the guidelines on Friday. The nine categories of customer harassment include physical assault, verbal abuse, and unreasonable demands. The carriers say such behavior violates the human rights of staff members and prevents them from doing their job. ANA and JAL officials said they will strictly respond to reports of harassment, including informing the police. The companies together received around 600 reports of harassment by customers last fiscal year.

◆combat　戦う、（問題などに）立ち向かう、対抗する   

◆assault　暴力、攻撃    

JAPANESE CITRUS REGION HOSTS MARMALADE CONTEST愛媛 八幡浜でマーマレードの大会

And finally, when life gives you lemons or other citrus fruit, have a marmalade competition. One of Japan's leading citrus production areas, Ehime Prefecture in the west of the country, is doing just that.

This is the sixth annual competition held in Yawatahama City to determine the best marmalades. A record 2,110 submissions were received from Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the United States.

Thirteen judges, including chefs and patissiers from Japan and abroad — though not Paddington Bear — are tasting the entries. They'll be rated on their appearance, texture, aroma, and flavor.

There are two categories in the contest: professional and amateur. The winners of the professional division will be entitled to market their products with the contest logo. The winner of the amateur grand prize will have their marmalade sold in a top store in London.

Competitors have to wait until May 14 to find out if they won or are toast.

◆record　記録的な、過去最多（過去最高）の    

◆be toast　負ける、駄目になる   

YELLOW SHINKANSEN RAILWAY ICON NEARS END OF THE LINE“ドクターイエロー”運行終了へ

Fans of Japan's shinkansen bullet trains are getting ready to bid farewell to a colorful icon of the tracks. Railway operators say they will phase out the so-called “Doctor Yellow” inspection cars. The eye-catching seven-car vehicle was created based on the shinkansen. It's off-limits to ordinary passengers and operates only once about every 10 days. Seeing it is said to bring happiness, and it has become popular among railway fans. The cars are used on tracks between Tokyo Station and Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture. Central Japan Railway plans to retire theirs in January. West Japan Railway will do the same in 2027 or later. Going forward, inspections will be carried out with devices installed on regularly operating shinkansen trains.

◆going forward　将来的には、今後は