Latest news with #BusinessNewsDepartment
The Mainichi
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: JR East to start new night train between Tokyo and Tohoku in 2027
TOKYO -- East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) has announced a new night train that will run between Tokyo and the Tohoku area (northeast Japan). Services will start in spring 2027. JR East will use one of its older limited express trains and make it into a new night train. Inside, all the seats will be special private rooms. There will be rooms for one, two, or four passengers. Around 120 people will be able to use the train at once. The train will also have two rooms for wheelchairs and a place where people can sit together and relax. The new night train will use blue colors. These colors were also used by famous night trains called "Blue Trains," which traveled many years ago. But the new train will not have beds. Passengers will sleep by reclining (making flat) their seats. The company plans the train to leave Tokyo at night and arrive in Tohoku the next morning. During busy times, it may also travel during the daytime. JR East will give more information, such as ticket prices and train timetables, later. At a press conference on June 10, JR East President Yoichi Kise said, "We hope this will be a new type of fun night trip, not just a long-distance ride." JR East now uses another night train called "Cassiopeia," but this train will stop running in June because it is getting too old. (Japanese original by Yuhi Sugiyama, Business News Department) Vocabulary limited express: a faster train that stops at fewer stations passenger: a person who travels on a train, bus, airplane, or other vehicles private room: a room used by only one person or one group at a time wheelchair: a chair with wheels used by people who can't walk reclining: moving a seat so you can lie back comfortably long-distance: traveling a long way
The Mainichi
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Japan gives more free rice to children's meal groups and food banks
TOKYO -- Japan's government will give more free rice to groups such as food banks and "children's cafeterias." These give free or low-cost meals to children who need them. The announcement was made on June 24 by Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. This is because rice prices became high, and fewer people have been able to give rice to these groups. Usually, groups can ask for free rice only in February and August. But this year, food banks can also ask from July 14 to Aug. 1. Children's cafeterias and groups that bring meals to kids can also ask for rice two extra times. Normally they can only ask five times each year. Koizumi said, "Groups already have rice for this summer. But with more free rice from the government, they can feel safer about having enough rice even after summer." (Japanese original by Hajime Nakatsugawa and Toru Watanabe, Business News Department) Vocabulary government: the group of people who lead a country food bank: a group that gives food to people who don't have enough children's cafeteria: a place where children can eat meals for free or cheaply announcement: something important that is told to everyone price: the amount of money needed to buy something extra: more than usual
The Mainichi
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Many new workers in Japan want to stay in one company until retirement
TOKYO -- A new survey says many young people who started new jobs this spring in Japan want to stay working in the same company until retirement. The company NCB Research & Consulting Co. asked 878 new workers in the Kyushu and Chugoku regions about jobs from March to April. About 62% of young people said they got the job they wanted most. Around 35% more said they are mostly happy with the jobs they got. Together, this means almost 97% are happy about their new jobs. Today in Japan it is easier to find a job, so many workers can choose a company they like. The survey asked new workers to say why they chose their jobs. Many workers chose their jobs because they liked the "atmosphere" or "image" of the company. About 37% of young workers said they want to stay in their company until retirement. This number is 8.6 percentage points higher than last year. But some said they might change jobs later. Around 23% answered they might leave if the company was not right for them. 11.6% said they plan to change jobs someday anyway. A smaller number (7.6%) answered they want to start their own business someday. Together, these answers show about 42% think about changing jobs, but this is 11.5 points lower than last year. The survey company said, "This shows young people today in Japan feel happy with their jobs and want stable lives." (Japanese original by Yuko Shimada, Business News Department) Vocabulary - survey: questions asked to many people to learn their ideas or feelings. - company: a business where people work. - retirement: the time when a person stops working, usually around age 60 or 65. - satisfied: happy or feeling good about something. - atmosphere: the general feeling or mood of a place or group. - stable: not changing much, being safe and staying the same for a long time. - job market: situation that shows how easy or hard it is for people to find jobs.
The Mainichi
26-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: More young people in Japan think about end-of-life plans and funerals
TOKYO -- In Japan, many people now plan early for the end of their lives. This includes things like funerals. Even young people in their 20s are choosing to think about this early. A funeral company called Tear Co. asked 1,500 people between the ages of 20 and 70 questions about funerals and end-of-life plans. They asked 250 people in each age group. About 37% of people said they want to have a funeral when they die. Around 63% said they do not want one. Among people in their 70s, almost 57% said yes to having a funeral -- the highest number. People in their 60s were next, at about 41%. Then came people in their 20s, with around 40% saying they wanted a funeral. People in their 40s were the least interested. Around 75% of people in their 40s said they do not want a funeral. The company also asked people about end-of-life planning. This means doing things like writing messages for loved ones or deciding how and where they want to be buried. About 25% of people said they were already making these plans. Almost half (48%) of people in their 70s have started planning. But the second highest group was in their 20s, at almost 27%. These younger people sometimes wrote "a will" (a letter that says clearly what someone wants after they die), "letters or messages to family and friends," and even "taking special photos for their funerals." Why are young people interested in these things? The funeral company said, "Young people today often attend funerals of their family members. This may make them think earlier about their own funerals and planning for the end of life." (Japanese original by Yuko Shimada, Business News Department) Vocabulary - funeral: an event to remember someone after they die. - end-of-life plan: choosing things to do before you die, like writing letters or deciding about a funeral and grave. - survey: asking many people questions to find out their opinions. - age group: people put into groups by their age. - will: a letter or paper written by someone, saying clearly what should happen with their things when they die. - funeral portrait: a nice photo taken to remember someone at their funeral.
The Mainichi
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan farm minister aims to make rice available in 2,000-yen range per 5 kg by early June
TOKYO -- Japan's newly appointed agriculture minister is aiming to make rice available in the "2,000-yen range" (around $14 to $21) per 5 kilograms at retail outlets like supermarkets by early June by having the government set prices for stockpiled rice and selling it to a wide range of businesses. At a press conference after a May 23 Cabinet meeting, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to change the sale of government reserve rice from public auctions to negotiated contracts and start the process as early as the beginning of next week. Additionally, Koizumi revealed a projection that production of the staple food rice crop in 2025 will reach 7.19 million metric tons, 400,000 tons more than the 2024 harvest. This is expected to be the largest production volume in the past five years and the largest increase since surveys began in 2004. The minister expressed expectations that the perceived rice shortage will ease, stating, "Please understand that a lot of rice will also be available from the fall onward." (Japanese original by Hajime Nakatsugawa, Business News Department)
