大人の日本語

A public restroom in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward has caused controversy online as it abolished a women-only area after the ward government rebuilt it in February despite keeping the men’s urinals. The toilet complex in the Hatagaya 3-chome district of the ward comprises two universal restroom stalls and a men’s area with urinals. The municipal Hatagaya public toilet complex stands in a corner of a residential area about 600 meters from the Keio New Line Hatagaya Station. It previously had a men’s area, a women’s restroom and a unisex, multipurpose restroom. Rebuilt, it now has two universal barrier-free restroom stalls that are equipped with a diaper-changing table and facilities for ostomates, among other features. The men’s area has remained, however. It has two urinals and lies separated from the universal toilets. The women’s area, meanwhile, is gone.

According to the Japan Weather Association, which offers weather-related information, pollen levels are predicted to be twice the amount of an average year in the greater Tokyo area. The Environment Ministry also said that cedar pollen levels this season are expected to be the highest in 10 years. The amount of pollen dispersed in the spring depends on what the weather was like the previous summer. Summers with higher temperatures, longer hours of sunlight and little rain — conditions present last year — create a conducive environment leading to more pollen in the following spring. The peak of the hay fever season depends on the area and the type of pollen — cedar or cypress.

The central government decided Friday to drastically ease COVID-19 guidelines on mask-wearing on March 13, including for public transportation and schools, as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seeks to relax public health measures for economic and social activities. Under the new guidelines, passengers will only be recommended to wear face masks on trains and buses during rush hour or other occasions when public transport is especially congested, while students will not be requested to use them during school activities.

Narita International Airport is a new international airport planned in Japan in the 1960s due to the overcrowding of Tokyo's Haneda Airport. It was built in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, and opened in 1978. However, there was opposition from local residents who protested against the use of farmland and fishing grounds. The government deployed police to suppress the protests, leading to a significant social impact known as the "Narita Airport Problem". Currently, Narita Airport serves as a gateway to the Kanto region of Japan for both domestic and international flights, and has become a hub for business and tourism with the development of international exhibition halls, event venues, and hotels in the surrounding area.

What is BMI? The Big Mac Index is the price of the burger in various countries that are converted to one currency. It all started in 1986 when The Economist magazine decided to estimate the currencies’ value by country based on the prices of Big Mac at McDonald’s fast-food restaurants. Thus, The Economist introduced a simple indicator of the fundamental value of currencies globally. Big Mac is the most well-known product in McDonald’s’ fast-food chain. Besides, the same ingredients are used for Big Mac in any country: meat, bread, cheese, lettuce, onions, etc. Therefore, The Economist experts use Big Mac alone instead of determining the cost of a consumer basket (more complex method) for each country.

Nengajo is New Year’s card in Japan. The custom of sending nengajo traces back to the Meiji period (1868-1912), when postcards were first issued in Japan. Until then, people visited their relatives and acquaintances to greet them at the New Year, but nengajo enabled people to do so by sending cards. With the popularization of personal computers, more and more people make their own nengajo. At shops you can buy ready-made nengajo with text and pictures printed on them or order original ones. Nowadays some people send e-card vie the Internet.

'War' selected as kanji of the year amid international conflicts Japan chose the kanji “sen” (戦), meaning war, battle or match, on Monday as the symbol for 2022 after a year marked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe. The public votes in the annual event for the written character they think best represents the past year. Olympic-themed choices dominated 2021. The mood was darker this year, however, according to the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, which organizes the vote. “The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe, and the rapid yen depreciation and inflation faced in daily life have caused anxiety for many people,” the group said in a news release. Japanese TV stations broadcast the announcement live, with Seihan Mori, master of the ancient Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writing the character on a large white panel with an ink-soaked calligraphy brush. “I was surprised, frustrated, angry and sad by the war in Ukraine. I am also angry at myself for not being able to do anything about it,” said one voter who picked the character. Abe was shot in July by a man who reportedly resented a religious group known as the Unification Church over massive donations his mother made to the sect. War — also picked to represent sporting battles in baseball and at the FIFA World Cup — was followed in the rankings by “an,” a character meaning both cheap and safe, with the weak yen and inflation adding to feelings of insecurity. “Raku,” the character for fun and easy, was ranked third, with one voter citing the opening of the Studio Ghibli theme park. Japan chose “kin” meaning gold as kanji of the year last year in honor of the Tokyo Olympics, which took place after a COVID-19 virus postponement. The 2020 winner was “mitsu,” meaning dense, crowded and close: three situations people in Japan were urged to avoid to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Saitama first in Japan to enforce no-walk etiquette on escalators SAITAMA--Authorities in this prefecture just north of Tokyo are moving to enforce escalator etiquette to crack down on falls and injuries, such as those caused by passengers rushing for trains. Users are required to stand still and not walk up or down.

Tokyo encourages residents to wear turtlenecks to save energy Trying to stay warm while cutting energy bills this winter? Wear a turtleneck, says Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. The governor, wearing one herself under a jacket, encouraged residents to don turtleneck jumpers both to stay warm and as a way of reducing energy consumption.“Warming the neck has a thermal effect. I’m wearing a turtleneck myself and wearing a scarf also keeps you warm. This will save electricity,” Koike told reporters on Friday. “This is one of the tools to get through the harsh winter energy climate together,” she said, adding that French President Emmanuel Macron was “taking a lead in wearing turtlenecks.”

Have you ever been to a Japanese wedding? If not, you should listen to this episode and learn about what Goshugi is. Goshugi(ご祝儀) is a gift of money in a special envelope. The amount given in this envelope differs according to the givers' relationship to the couple, their social status and the style of venue. In the case of friends or company colleagues, the amount given is usually between ¥20,000 and ¥30,000. In the case of close friends or those in a senior position at the bride or bridegroom's company, ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 is common, and in the case of relatives, ¥50,000 to ¥100,000 is not unusual.

【Tokyo taxi fares go up due to rising costs】 Taxi fares in central Tokyo have gone up for the first time in 15 years amid rising operation costs. The initial fare rose Monday by nearly 20 percent. It went from 420 yen, or about 3 dollars, to 500 yen, or 3 dollars and 60 cents. Additional fares also rose. Taxis had charged 80 yen, or about 60 cents, per 233 meters. The fare is now 100 yen, or some 70 cents, per 255 meters.

【Trial of English speaking test for Tokyo high schools faces opposition】 A private-sector English speaking test will be introduced as part of the Tokyo metropolitan high school entrance exam for the first time in Japan this month, but the initiative aimed at nurturing speaking skills is facing stiff opposition from some parents and education experts who question its fairness. The test will be implemented for the entrance exam on Nov. 27, targeting almost 80,000 third-year middle school students in the capital who wish to attend metropolitan high schools from next April. Speaking test scores will be added to the overall scores of the entrance exams, being held next February. Some parents and experts are demanding that the test be called off due to a perceived need for more transparency on who will score it and the standard for deducting points.

【Who won Powerball jackpot?】 Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize. The winning numbers were selected Tuesday morning, nearly 10 hours after the scheduled Monday night drawing because of problems processing sales data at one of the game’s member lotteries. Lottery officials acknowledged the unprecedented delay for such a high-profile drawing but said the game’s security process took precedence. But who won the Powerball? Lottery officials confirmed to FOX 11 that as of Wednesday afternoon, they do not have a confirmed winner.

【Elon Musk bans Twitter employees from working remotely】 Elon Musk has banned Twitter employees from working remotely, saying they need to spend 40 hours a week in the office unless he gives his express permission otherwise. Bloomberg reported from the company’s first official all-hands communications from Musk since bought the platform. He said workers need to prepare for “difficult times ahead” for advertising-led business like Twitter, and that he wants to see subscription fees account for half the company’s revenue.

関西圏の消防本部で救助隊員として勤務する「えるいー@LE装備」さん（@erui_LE）が自身のツイッターアカウントで投稿した内容が注目を集めています。 「救急車に乗ることもある消防隊員です　一般のお宅に救急出動した際、玄関で救急隊員が脱いだ靴を家族の方が綺麗に並べ直してくれる事があるのですが、そのままにしておいて下さい　ターポリン担架で運び出しやすい向きで置いていますし、サイズの違う靴の履き間違えも起きる可能性があります」（ツイッター投稿より引用） 投稿を読んだツイッターユーザーからは「知らなかった」「覚えておきます」「靴の脱ぎ方までコツがあるとは！」「出るときのことを考えて脱いでいるんですね」「向きに意味があったんですね」「靴には触らないでおきます」「小さな善意や気配りがかえって迷惑になることもあるんですね」など驚きの声が寄せられています。

【Tokyo police to issue ‘red tickets’ to cyclists violating traffic laws】 The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has started cracking down on cyclists violating traffic laws due to a series of fatal accidents from reckless bicycling. The tighter regulations, which include issuing a “red ticket,” came into effect on Monday, Kyodo News reported. A police officer near Ikebukuro Station distributed leaflets detailing the offenses subject to tighter regulations to people commuting to work by bicycle. Until now, police have so far issued warnings without penalties to reckless cyclists, with the exception of malicious behavior. From now on, bicycle riders will be given “red tickets” for the following four offenses: ignoring traffic signals, failing to stop temporarily, riding on the wrong side of the road, and riding on sidewalks without slowing down. Offenders can be subject to criminal charges in cases where injury or death are the result of cyclists hitting pedestrians.

Latte triggers a series of events that results in attempted murder. A 60-year-old man from Ota City in Gunma Prefecture was arrested by police for trying to kill a convenience store owner on the morning of 25 October. According to the police report, the man paid for a black coffee at the store in Ota City, but when he went over to the coffee machine to pour the coffee for himself, as is the way when making this type of purchase at a convenience store, the owner found that the customer had pushed the “latte” button instead of the “black coffee” button, effectively pouring himself a more expensive cup of coffee than what he’d paid for. When confronted by the owner, the customer said he needed to use the restroom, but instead tried to escape in his car, which was parked in the parking lot outside the store. The owner followed the man into the parking lot, where he clung onto the windscreen wipers of the vehicle in an attempt to stop the man from leaving. The man, however, drove off with the owner still clinging to the windscreen wipers, dragging him down a road for several hundred meters until the owner fell away from the car. The owner hit his head hard during the fall and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.While the customer fled the scene in his vehicle, he was later arrested based on security camera footage. The suspect has been arrested on suspicion of theft and attempted murder, however, he denies the charges.

オンラインでのみ展開している話題のファッションブランドSHEINが１０月２２日から大阪・心斎橋で限定のポップアップストアをオープンさせました。大阪・心斎橋のユニクロ跡地に１０月２２日にオープンしたSHEINのポップアップストア。 SHEINは１５０以上の国と地域でサービスを提供するグローバルファッションブランドで、店舗を構えずウェブサイトとアプリでのみ展開しています。

【Sauna temperature at public bath in west Japan changed to 140 C without permission】 The temperature setting of a sauna at a public bathhouse here was raised to 140 degrees Celsius by someone on Oct. 14, and the facility has reported the incident to the local police. Although no customers complained of feeling ill, the temperature was 30 to 40 C higher than the normal setting at the public bath Miyakoyu in the Shiga Prefecture capital city of Otsu. The 38-year-old manager, Toshiki Hara, said, "This goes beyond a mere prank, as the temperature can be life-threatening." Around midnight on Oct. 14, his wife, who was tending the facility, called him to say that customers were complaining that the sauna was too hot. When he checked the control panel near the ceiling of the men's changing room, he found that the temperature, normally set at 110 C for the men's sauna room and 100 C for the women's, were both set at 140 C.

【Criticism Floods Japanese Social Media Over Risqué Halloween Costumes at Universal Studios Japan】 News outlets across Japan are reporting on a swirl of controversy across Instagram and Twitter today regarding one group’s risqué cosplay during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan. The since-deleted post which sparked this debate was originally posted by Instagram user @yuika.nyan, and archived by Twitter user @ninnin_gen. Yahoo! News reports many on social criticized the subjects of the photo, who claim outside of this brief shoot they were wearing hoodies and cardigans to cover up. The complaints were largely centered around the two women at the front of the photo.