JAPAN MARKS 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF OKINAWA沖縄戦から80年「慰霊の日」

People in Japan are marking 80 years since the end of the Battle of Okinawa, a campaign of fierce ground fighting during the closing stages of World War II. Residents of the islands have been paying tribute to those who lost their lives. A ceremony was held at the Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman, the site of the final fighting. Hundreds of people observed a moment of silence. Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny spoke of the importance of passing on the lessons learned.

(Tamaki Denny / Okinawa Governor) “Here lie the roots of the people of Okinawa and our enduring desire for peace.”

The Battle of Okinawa claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people, including roughly one in four of the prefecture's residents at the time.

◆paying tribute to ～に敬意を表する、～を追悼する 

◆ observed a moment of silence 黙とうをささげる

◆ enduring いつまでも続く、永続的な  

  

JAPAN USING GENERATIVE AI LESS THAN OTHER COUNTRIES生成AIの個人利用 米中と比べ低水準

A government survey shows that Japan is lagging behind in the use of generative AI. Fewer people and businesses in the country utilize the technology compared to other major economies. The communications ministry says it found that nearly 27 percent of people in Japan said they had used generative AI. The survey covers the fiscal year that ended in March. The figure roughly tripled from the previous year. But it fell far short of China, where AI usage stood at more than 80 percent. The figure for the United States was nearly 70 percent. People in their 20s were the top users of AI in Japan, with about 45 percent utilizing the technology. This was followed by people in their 40s and 30s. The survey also shows that about 50 percent of Japanese companies were planning to use generative AI. That also paled in comparison to China and the U.S., where more than 80 percent of firms aimed to adopt the technology.

◆lag behind  ～に後れを取る 

◆ pale 見劣りがする

 

RIVER SEINE REOPENS FOR PUBLIC SWIMMING AFTER CENTURY-LONG BANパリ セーヌ川で100年ぶりに遊泳解禁

French authorities have opened the River Seine in Paris to public swimming for the first time in about 100 years. Swimming in the Seine had been banned since 1923 due to poor water quality. The reopening follows cleanup efforts tied to last year's Olympics and Paralympics so the iconic waterway could be used as a venue for the triathlon and other events. Three designated swimming areas along the river's banks were opened to the public on Saturday. At one of them, more than 100 people gathered in the morning and entered the water one after another amid scorching heat.

(Citizen) “It was a magnificent swim. As a Parisienne, I'm very moved that the Seine has once again become a place where people can swim.”

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was present at the opening. The mayor said that people can swim in the river for free and that the initiative is a way of adapting the city to global warming.

◆iconic  象徴的な、（何かを）象徴・代表するような 

◆scorching 焦がす、日光が肌などを焼く」 

◆initiative  その取り組み 

 

U.S. TO TIGHTEN SOCIAL MEDIA VETTING FOR STUDENT VISAS米 学生ビザの面接再開へ

The United States says foreign students will soon be able to apply for visas again. But the country is also stepping up scrutiny of their social media posts. The Trump administration hit pause on the student visa process last month. It put a temporary halt on interview appointments while new guidelines were sorted out. Now a senior U.S. State Department official says those interviews are back on. But under new guidance, applicants will have to set their social media profiles to public. U.S. media say the department told embassy and consular staff that every applicant must be vetted. The Trump administration has been raising the bar on foreign students at U.S. universities. It banned Harvard from enrolling students from abroad, claiming they fostered violence and antisemitism on campus.

◆sort out  整理する、分類する 

◆back on 何かが（元の状態に）戻って、それが続いている、再開されている◆vet   （入念に）審査する、点検するや（人の経歴や身元などについて）詳しく調べる 

◆antisemitism 反ユダヤ主義  

 

JAPAN MARKS 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF OKINAWA沖縄戦から80年 「慰霊の日」

People in Japan are marking 80 years since the end of the Battle of Okinawa, a campaign of fierce ground fighting during the closing stages of World War II. Residents of the islands have been paying tribute to those who lost their lives. A ceremony was held at the Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman, the site of the final fighting. Hundreds of people observed a moment of silence. Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny spoke of the importance of passing on the lessons learned.

(Tamaki Denny / Okinawa Governor) “Here lie the roots of the people of Okinawa and our enduring desire for peace.”

The Battle of Okinawa claimed the lives of more than 200,000 people, including roughly one in four of the prefecture's residents at the time.

◆pay tribute to  ～に敬意を表する、～を追悼する   

◆observea moment of silence 黙とうをささげる      

◆enduring   いつまでも続く、永続的な 

◆claime （命を）奪う 

 

TRUMP REVISES BIDEN ORDER TO BLOCK NIPPON STEEL BID FOR U.S. STEELUSスチール買収計画 “承認”

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued executive orders that revise his predecessor's order to block Japanese firm Nippon Steel's bid to purchase U.S. Steel. The executive orders say a national security risk “can be adequately mitigated” if certain conditions are met. Nippon Steel officials say they believe the company's plan to buy U.S. Steel has been approved. They say its bid to acquire 100 percent of common shares in U.S. Steel and turn it into a wholly-owned subsidiary has received the go-ahead. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel issued a joint statement saying they've entered into a National Security Agreement with the U.S. government. The statement says the NSA “provides that approximately 11 billion dollars in new investments will be made by 2028.” It also includes a so-called “golden share” to be issued to the U.S. government. The golden share allows the U.S. government to veto important decisions related to the management of U.S. Steel.

◆mitigate  和らげる、軽減する  

◆ NSA 国家安全保障協定     

◆veto   ～に拒否権を行使する、～を拒否する   

 

JAPAN 2024 BIRTHS AT RECORD LOW, FIRST TIME UNDER 700,0002024年の新生児 初の70万人割れ

The Japanese government says the number of babies born last year dipped below 700,000 for the first time since record-keeping began in 1899, 15 years earlier than predicted. The health ministry said there were 686,061 births to Japanese nationals in 2024. That's down 41,227 from the previous year. The number has fallen for nine years in a row. The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had projected the figure would drop to the 680,000 level in 2039. The ministry also says the fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.15 last year, down 0.05 points from 2023. The ministry attributed the decline in births to a smaller population of child-bearing age and a tendency to marry and have children later in life. It expressed a sense of crisis about the situation and said it would continue with measures to stem the decline.

◆dip  （数値などが）減少する、低下する、沈む      

◆fertility rate　出生率 the ability of a person, animal, or plant to produce babies, young animals, or seed 

◆stem 食い止める、歯止めをかける    to stop something from happening, spreading, or developing 

 

BASEBALL LEGEND NAGASHIMA SHIGEO DIES AT 89長嶋茂雄さん 死去

Japanese pro baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo has died. He was 89. His former team, the Yomiuri Giants, confirmed the news Tuesday morning. They said Nagashima died from pneumonia. Hailing from Chiba Prefecture, he first rose to stardom as a member of Rikkyo University's team. He joined Japanese professional baseball with the Giants in 1958. Being a clutch hitter and brilliant fielder, he won the hearts of many fans. He also won multiple batting awards, including two homerun titles, and was nicknamed “Mr. Pro Baseball.” Nagashima stopped playing in 1974, but twice assumed the post of the Giants' team manager. He was also the first baseball player in history to be awarded Japan's Order of Culture.

◆pneumonia  肺炎     a serious illness that affects your lungs and makes it difficult for you to breathe 

◆hail from～出身であるto have been born in a particular place 

◆clutch hitter 勝負強い打者、チャンスに強い打者（バッター）   

◆assumed（役目・任務などを）引き受ける、就任する    

◆Order of Culture 文化勲章  

 

'WORLD'S POOREST PRESIDENT' JOSE MUJICA DIES“世界で一番貧しい大統領”死去

Uruguay's former president Jose Mujica has died at the age of 89. He was known as “the world's poorest president” for his frugal lifestyle. Mujica was born into a poor family in 1935. He became an anti-government guerilla fighter in his 20s and was jailed for more than 10 years under the military government. After Uruguay became democratic, he served as a leftist lawmaker from the 1990s. He became the country's president in 2010 and served for five years. While president, Mujica continued to live on a farm. His modest way of life made him popular in the country. He was also known for his critiques of global mass consumption.

(Jose Mujica / Former Uruguayan President) “A poor person is not someone who doesn't have very much. The person who is really poor is the person who continues to need more and more and desires more and more and more.”

Mujica had been battling cancer in recent years.

 

◆frugal  （暮らしなどが）質素な、つましい、倹約的な    careful to buy only what is necessary OPP extravagant 

◆leftist 左派の supporting left-wing ideas or groups OPP rightist 

◆critique 批評、評論    a detailed explanation of the problems of something such as a set of political ideas → evaluation 

 

 

JAPAN TEAM: iPS CELL TREATMENT HELPED SPINAL CORD INJURIES脊髄損傷 iPS細胞で運動機能改善

A team of Japanese researchers says two of four patients who received transplants of special stem cells showed recovered motor function in a clinical study to repair spinal cord injuries. The researchers from Keio University and other institutions said on Friday it was a world-first that treatment using cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, helped to improve the condition of these patients. The team transplanted two million iPS-derived cells into the four patients, who were unable to move. The degree of motor function recovery was examined one year later.

(Nakamura Masaya / Professor, Keio University) “We could verify the treatment's safety. That's very important. We'd like to press ahead with preparations to put the system into practical use.”

There are about 5,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries every year in Japan. The researchers say they plan to conduct a clinical trial to obtain government approval for the iPS treatment.

 ◆motor function 運動機能  

 ◆verify （真実であることを証拠によって）検証する、立証するto discover whether something is correct or true 

 ◆press ahead with ～を（力強く）進める    to continue doing something difficult in a determined way 

 ◆spinal cord  脊髄 the thick string of nerves enclosed in your spine, by which messages are sent to and from your brain 

 ◆clinical trial   臨床試験relating to treating or testing people who are sick 

  

 

 

SHIZUOKA PREF. ENACTS NEW RULES FOR MT. FUJI CLIMBERS富士登山 静岡県が規制条例を施行

The central Japanese prefecture of Shizuoka has enacted a new ordinance to discourage risky behavior by hikers heading to Mount Fuji. Trekkers will now have to pay a fee of 4,000 yen, or about 28 dollars, to climb from the Shizuoka side. Yamanashi Prefecture has initiated the same fee. The ordinance also limits the hours that hikers can pass through the gates at the 5th station on Shizuoka's three trails. The measures are designed to discourage overnight climbs and prevent accidents.

(Visitor) “I believe the new regulations are necessary, as trekking can be dangerous.”

Some hikers were seen climbing over a fence to head up the trail, even though it was closed. The prefecture has started a registration system via a dedicated app that allows people to pay the entrance fee in advance. The official climbing season on the Shizuoka side starts on July 10.

 ◆ordinance 条例  a law, usually of a city or town, that forbids or restricts an activity 

 ◆discourage（計画や行為などを）思いとどまらせる、妨げる、止めさせる to persuade someone not to do something, especially by making it seem difficult or bad OPP encourage  

 ◆measure 措置   to judge the importance, value, or true nature of something 類義語 assess 

 ◆dedicated 特定の目的のための、専用の made for or used for only one particular purpose 

 

 

 

 

SURVEY: CHILDREN'S INTERNET USE INCREASING IN JAPANネット利用 低年齢化と長時間利用進む

A survey in Japan shows that an increasing number of young children are using the internet and spending more time doing so. The survey is conducted by the Children and Families Agency. Nearly 2,000 parents of children up to the age of nine responded in fiscal 2024. Among their children, nearly 80 percent use the internet, including to watch videos and play games. The figure is up more than 20 percentage points from 2018. The time spent on the internet is also on the rise. About half of the children spend more than two hours per weekday. Professor Takeuchi Kazuo analyzed the survey results.

(Takeuchi Kazuo / Professor, University of Hyogo) “Using smartphones can be helpful for parents in raising children. But if there are no rules or limits, it can lead to disorderly lifestyles or addiction.”

 ◆conduct  行う、実施する 

 ◆on the rise  上昇中で  

 

 

 

HARVARD SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE米ハーバード大 トランプ政権を提訴

Harvard University has filed a lawsuit to block the U.S. government from freezing billions of dollars in federal funding. It comes as the White House has demanded the school reform its student discipline policies and end all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Students and faculty have staged rallies in support of Harvard's resistance to the Trump administration after it announced the partial freeze last week. Harvard had rejected the new conditions imposed to continue receiving federal funding. The White House claims the university's lack of action against alleged antisemitism on campus as justification for its demands. Harvard filed suit with a federal court in Massachusetts on Monday. It accuses the administration of using the funding to try to gain control of academic decision-making at the university. It called the freeze “unlawful and beyond the government's authority.” Harvard President Alan Garber said in a statement that the government's actions have what he called “stark real-life consequences” for students and researchers.

 ◆discipline  規律、しつけ、懲戒 

 ◆antisemitism  反ユダヤ主義 

 ◆gain control of  ～の支配権を得る、～の主導権を握る 

 ◆stark  荒涼とした、容赦のない、厳しい」  

 

 

FEWER PEOPLE IN JAPAN PLANNING SPRING HOLIDAY TRIPS大型連休中の旅行者 減少の見通し

Major Japanese travel agency JTB says that fewer people in the country are likely to take trips over the upcoming spring holiday period. The downbeat prediction comes as soaring prices prompt many households to tighten their purse strings. JTB based its forecast on a survey, hotel reservations, and other data. It says about 23.5 million people will be traveling domestically or abroad on a trip involving at least one overnight stay between April 25 and May 7. That's down almost 7 percent from the same period last year. Close to 23 million people are planning domestic trips, more than 7 percent fewer year-on-year. Meanwhile, the number of tourists opting for overseas destinations is up 10 percent to more than half a million. But the number of travelers is still only about half that in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

 ◆year-on-year   対前年比 

 

 

TRUMP TO IMPOSE SWEEPING NEW TARIFFS“トランプ相互関税” 日本は24%

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again shaken up the world of trade with a new round of sweeping tariffs. He says he's imposing a minimum baseline levy of 10 percent on all countries from Saturday. And so-called “reciprocal” tariffs will be even higher. A White House official says those will go into effect on April 9. Trump made the remarks at an event at the White House called “Make America Wealthy Again.”

(Donald Trump / U.S. President) “I will sign a historic executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world. Reciprocal, that means they do it to us, and we do it to them. Very simple.”

The levies on China are set at 34 percent, and those for India at 26. Japan faces a 24 percent tariff. And the rate on goods from the European Union will be 20 percent. Trump held up a list showing the tariffs that each country imposes on the U.S. alongside the new levies the U.S. will charge them. But it's unclear how the administration calculated the figures for America's trading partners.

 ◆sweeping 広範囲の、全面的な   

 ◆sweeping 課税、徴税 

 ◆alongside 横に、並んで