246,616 Climbers To Mount Fuji

(Kyodo) KOFU, Yamanashi Pref. — Fine weather helped iconic Mount Fuji attract 246,616 climbers in July and August, up about 20,000 from last year, an official from the city that hosts the main starting point in Yamanashi Prefecture said.

More Than 100 Poisonous Spiders Discovered

AMAGASAKI, Hyogo--Authorities on Thursday exterminated more than 100 poisonous redback spiders spotted near the Inagawa river the day before, police said. According to the police, a local man spotted a swarm of spiders at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture and reported it to police. Police officers rushed to the scene and found more than 100 spiders inside a drainage pipe in a river wall about five meters high located along a walkway.

74 people visit eye clinics after observing eclipse

TOKYO — MAY. 22, 2012 - 04:00PM JST  At least 74 people sought help for eye problems at eye clinics in 18 prefectures across Japan after observing the annular solar eclipse on Monday, the Japanese Ophthalmological Society reported on its website Tuesday. Doctors and education officials had warned of eye injuries from improper viewing beforehand. Education Minister Hirofumi Hirano demonstrated the use of eclipse glasses in a televised news conference on the weekend. The society said most of the complaints were solar retinopathy due to not properly using special protective glasses. Of the 74, 16 were children younger than 12.

Russia, Japan in Building Gas Pipeline Talks

Russia and Japan are in talks to build a gas pipeline from Russia to expand gas supplies to the Far Eastern country, Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Thursday. "The parties have discussed prospects of increase of natural gas supplies from Russia to Japan in terms of higher liquefied natural gas production at the Sakhalin Island and implementation of an LNG plant construction project in Vladivostok," Gazprom said following a meeting between the company's export head Alexander Medvedev and Japan's former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara. "The parties also discussed the opportunities for a gas supply project from Russia to Japan through pipeline," Gazprom said.

Strong storm wreaks chaos nationwide

At least one elderly man was killed and several other people were injured as strong winds swept across the nation Tuesday, and the Meteorological Agency called for continued vigilance in northern regions Wednesday. Although details were not immediately available, more injuries were reported mainly from western prefectures. The Meteorological Agency warned people in other regions, including commuters in Tokyo, to brace for gusts and possible disruptions of public transportation. The winds disrupted operations of airplanes and trains, including shinkansen, mainly in western Japan in the morning. The Meteorological Agency said an active low pressure system and fronts were likely to bring strong winds to northern and north-eastern Japan from later Tuesday to Wednesday.

Official cherry blossom fete nixed

The government will cancel a cherry blossom viewing party in Tokyo scheduled for April 14 following North Korea's announcement that it plans to launch a rocket, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Friday. The government of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda made the decision "to prepare for any contingencies," Fujimura said. Last week, Pyongyang announced it plans to launch a "satellite" from April 12-16 to mark the centennial of the birth of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder, on April 15. The event at Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is held annually but also was cancelled last year due to the March 2011 natural and nuclear disasters. Around 10,000 luminaries would have attended the event hosted by Noda, including members of the Imperial family, the Cabinet, diplomats and other invitees from various fields.

Anti-nuke protests erupt in Japan

Thousands of antinuclear protesters took to the streets of Tokyo and other cities Sunday, the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that triggered the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant. Near the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which runs the crippled complex, demonstrators called for the country to abandon nuclear power and restore the prefecture, where more than 100,000 residents were forced to relocate. In Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, some 16,000 people attended an antinuclear gathering in the city and called for scrapping all of Japan's 54 commercial reactors, which provided a third of its electricity before the Fukushima disaster.

Robot built to explore nuclear plant

The Yomiuri Shimbun - A Tokyo company has developed a small, highly mobile robot that will be sent into the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to take photos inside reactor buildings and measure radiation levels. Topy Industries Ltd. said the "Survey Runner" robot will be used to help with repair work at the plant after checking its performance and other details. The Survey Runner is expected to be able to maneuver around areas where other robots could not. It can even go up and down steep, wet stairs--an essential feature because coolant water has been injected into the reactors since the crisis at the plant began--and can turn around in a space just 70 centimeters square.

Japan shuts down nuclear reactor

Japan on Monday began a process that will see another one of the country's nuclear reactors go offline, leaving just two of 54 in operation. Kansai Electric Power Co (KEPCO), the largest utility firm after Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), began lowering power generation in unit three at the Takahama nuclear plant in Fukui prefecture, a KEPCO spokeswoman said. The reactor is expected to be shut down completely by midnight, leaving all 11 reactors around the country owned by KEPCO idle, she said. The move comes on the day that Japan announced a record trade deficit in January as fuel imports soared for the resource-poor nation following the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March. Before the accident, which was caused by a deadly earthquake and tsunami, Japan had relied for one third of its power supply on nuclear energy. But power companies including KEPCO, which provides electricity to the major western cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, have not been able to resume reactors after inspection due to the safety concerns of local residents. Once the Takahama reactor goes offline it will leave one unit operational at TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in central Japan and one at the Tomari plant in northern Hokkaido. Those two units are expected to be closed down for inspection by late April. Source: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/94812.php

VOCABULARY

1.       Nuclear Reactors(n) - a large machine that produces nuclear energy, especially as a means of producing electricity

2.       Generation(v) - to produce heat, electricity, or another form of energy

3.       Deficit(n) - the difference between the amount of something that you have and the higher amount that you need

4.       Relied(v) - to depend on something in order to continue to live or exist

5.       Resume(v) - to start doing something again after stopping or being interrupted

6.       Inspection(n) - a careful examination of something to find out more about it or to check for anything wrong

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       What is nuclear energy?

2.       Discuss about the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

3.       What are the effects of radiation?

4.       What are the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power plant?

5.       After the nuclear crisis in Japan, are you in favour of nuclear energy? Explain.

Dutch prince severely injured in Austrian avalanche

(CNN) -- A member of the Dutch royal family was severely injured in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort Friday, local authorities told CNN. Prince Johan Friso, 43, a son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, was skiing outside the bounds of the ski resort with friends at the resort of Lech am Arlberg when he was hit by an avalanche, a spokesman for the surrounding county of Vorarlberg said. No one else in the group was affected, the spokesman said. The prince was under the snow for a "short period of time," the spokesman said. He was wearing an electronic beacon that helped rescuers quickly find him, he said. The prince was airlifted to a hospital in Innsbruck, where he is in intensive care, authorities said. Doctors described the prince as stable but not out of danger, according to a statement from the queen. Lech am Arlberg is in Austria's Tyrol state, a popular skiing area in western Austria. The region's avalanche agency reported there was a considerable to great chance of avalanches in Lech on Friday. It cited new snowfall on top of a packed layer of snow that could cause snow slabs to slide off. The prince gave up his right to the throne when he married in 2004 without Parliament's permission. He and his wife live in London with their two daughters. Source:  http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/17/world/europe/austria-royal-avalanche/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

VOCABULARY

1.       Dutch (n) - relating to the Netherlands, its people, or its language

2.       Avalanche (n) - a large mass of snow, ice, and rocks that falls down the side of a mountain

3.       Bounds (n) - the limits

4.       County (n) - an area of a state or country that has its own government to deal with local matters

5.       Beacon (n) - a light that is put somewhere to warn or guide people, ships, vehicles, or aircraft

6.       Stable (adj.) - steady and not likely to get worse

7.       Parliament (n) - the group of people who are elected to make a country's laws and discuss important national affairs

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       Who is Prince Johan Friso? Why did he give up his throne?

2.       Would you give up something for love/marriage? Explain.

3.       What is avalanche? Discuss avalanche accidents in your country.

4.       What do you think about Royal family?

5.       Talk about winter in your country.

Rains, aftershocks haunt southern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines—As if earthquakes were not enough, incessant bad weather has been wreaking havoc in provinces in the Visayas, Mindanao and the Bicol region the past four days, killing two, injuring six and causing the evacuation of 569 people. “Rain as well as earth tremors, whether these may be light or moderate, must be taken seriously. Rain could weaken the soil, while tremors could produce slope instability, tension cracks and fractures that could enhance the vulnerability of areas to landslides,” Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said. The warning came a week after the magnitude-6.9 quake rocked the province, killing over 70 people, and burying towns and damaging roads. Yesterday, the weather bureau warned of widespread rains in the province due to a low pressure area in Mindanao. Five barangays (villages) in Guihulngan City are highly susceptible to rain-induced landslides, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said. Much soil erosion occurred along the highway. In Davao City, six persons were injured when a wall collapsed on them after rains softened its foundation. At least five barangays have had no power for two weeks now since floods felled power lines, according the Mayor. Local disaster councils in these towns and three other cities were advised to go on high alert and to prepare residents of low-lying and landslide-prone areas for possible evacuation. Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/147049/rains-aftershocks-haunt-southern-philippines

VOCABULARY

1.       Incessant (v) - continuing without stopping [= constant]:

2.       Wrecking (v) - damaging something such as a building or vehicle so badly that it cannot be repaired:

3.       Havoc (n) - a situation in which there is a lot of damage or a lack of order, especially so that it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way

4.       Tremors (n) - a small earthquake

5.       Instability (n) - when a situation is not certain because there is the possibility of sudden change

6.       Vulnerability (adj.) -  easily harmed

7.       Widespread (adj.) - existing or happening in many places or situations, or among many people

8.       Susceptible (adj.) - likely to be affected by a particular problem

9.       Felled (v) - to cut down

10.   Prone (adj.) - likely to suffer from something, especially something bad or harmful

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.       Have you heard about the earthquake in the Southern Philippines?

2.       Talk about natural calamities/disasters.

3.       How should we prepare and handle situations like this?

4.       Share your experience/s about earthquake or typhoons.

Tokyo’s chances of powerful earthquake within four years is 70%

Experts in Japan have warned that the chances of a powerful earthquake striking Tokyo in the next four years could be as high as 70%. The earthquake research institute at Tokyo University said that in the worst case, a quake of magnitude 7 would hit the southern part of metropolitan Tokyo by 2016, while the chances of a similar disaster occurring within 30 years are as high as 98%. Using data from Japan's meteorological agency, the institute said earthquakes of up to magnitude 6 had occurred five times more frequently than in normal years since the March disaster. The increased frequency has made it more likely that "the big one" could strike far sooner. The government said the researchers had reached their more worrying conclusion because they had used a different computer model to calculate the risks. Shinichi Sakai, an associate professor at the earthquake research institute, said that chances of a magnitude-7 earthquake striking Tokyo had increased since 11 March. "The government, individuals and corporations should make preparations for that now," he said. Although newer buildings in Tokyo are built to withstand powerful earthquakes, a large quake in the city has the potential to cause widespread damage. According to the government, a magnitude-7.3 earthquake would kill about 5,600 people, injure 159,000 and destroy 850,000 buildings. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/tokyo-powerful-earthquake-four-years

VOCABULARY

1.      Experts (n) - someone who has a special skill or special knowledge of a subject, gained as a result of training or experience. EXAMPLE: an expert at planning dinner parties.

2.      Magnitude (n) - the force or intensity of an earthquake

3.      Agency (n) - an organization or department, especially within a government, that does a specific job.

4.      Strike (v) - to arrive with detrimental effect 

5.      Associate (adj.) - having a rank or position that is below the highest level in a group, organization, etc. EXAMPLE:  He's an associate member of the club but he hopes to become a full member soon

6.      Withstand (v) - to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as great heat, cold, pressure. EXAMPLE: This fabric can withstand steam and high temperatures.

7.      Potential (n) - the possibility that something will develop in a particular way, or have a particular effect

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      Do you think this research is true? How reliable?

2.      Would you consider leaving Tokyo?

3.      Discuss about preparations for calamities like earthquake.

4.      How strong are buildings in your country?

5.      Share any experience you had on natural calamities.

Return of Chinese Tourists to Japan in Big Numbers

TOKYO—After being scared off by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, Chinese tourists are visiting Japan in record numbers again, generating much-needed business and optimism for the nation's struggling retail and tourism sectors. During the Lunar New Year holiday that sent millions of people travelling across Asia and beyond, tourists from mainland China thronged popular destinations in Japan, from ski slopes on the northern island of Hokkaido, to electronics stores in Tokyo, to ancient temples in Kyoto. That is quite a change from last spring, when tourism in Japan ground to a virtual halt amid radiation fears following the March 11 nuclear accident. In December, the number of Chinese visitors rose 32% from a year earlier to a record 80,000, following a similar increase in November. Anecdotal evidence suggests another surge in January. The recovery in Chinese tourism, which started around September, serves as a reminder of how Japan relies on China's powerful economic growth to prop up its own economy ailing from a long malaise and a shrinking and aging population. China is now by far Japan's largest trading partner, and its direct investments in Japan have grown sharply in recent years, albeit from low levels The Japanese government has actively sought Chinese tourists in recent years, easing visa requirements in order to expand such travel. Expectations for growth are huge. As part of Tokyo's long-term economic growth strategy, Japan hopes to increase the number of foreign visitors to the nation to 20 million by 2020 and counts on Chinese visitors to make up six million of the total.  Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577190352257661174.html

VOCABULARY

1.      Optimism (noun) -  a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future 

Example: The Mayor expressed optimism about the future of the town.

2.      Thronged (verb) – people go there in large numbers

Example: Tourists thronged the bars and restaurants.

3.      Halt (verb) - to stop (something or someone) from moving or continuing 

Example: The strike halted subways and buses.

4.      Anecdotal (adj.) - consisting of short stories based on someone's personal experience

Example: His findings are based on anecdotal evidence rather than serious research.

5.      Surge (verb) - to suddenly increase [= shoot up]

Example: Oil prices surged.

6.      Malaise (noun) - a problem or condition that harms or weakens a group, society, etc.

Example:  The country's current economic problems are symptoms of a deeper malaise.

7.      Easing (verb) - to make a process, happen more easily[= smooth]

Example:  The agreement will ease the way for other countries to join the meeting.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      How did the big earthquake in Japan affect tourism?

2.      Discuss about tourism in your country.

3.      What are the benefits of tourism?

4.      What countries would you like to visit? Why?

5.      Tell something about the beautiful places you visited.

Number of Flu Cases Tops Million Mark

The number of flu-stricken patients reached about 1.11 million in the week ending last Friday, an increase of about 400,000 from the previous week, according to figures compiled by the health ministry. In the week starting Jan. 16, the number of patients suffering from influenza reported to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry from about 5,000 medical institutions was about triple that of a week earlier. The number of patients per medical institution during that period was 22.73 persons, up from 7.33 persons the week before, according to the ministry. An official at the ministry has called for people to maintain good health and wash their hands thoroughly after being outside, saying, "People in the Kanto region especially need to be careful, as the number of patients there is expected to increase from now on." By age group, it is estimated the largest number of flu patients, about 310,000, are aged from 5 to 9. About 200,000 patients are aged from 10 to 14, while about 170,000 are aged up to 4 years. More than 60 percent of patients are aged 14 or younger. Eleven prefectures are on alert for a flu epidemic as the number of patients per medical institution has exceeded 30, including 59.88 in Fukui Prefecture, 59.31 in Kochi Prefecture and 52.17 in Mie Prefecture. The ministry is anticipating the epidemic will peak in early February. The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 29, 2012) Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120128003328.htm

VOCABULARY

1.      Stricken (adj.) - very badly affected by trouble, illness, unhappiness etc

Example: Fire broke out on the stricken ship.

2.      Compiled (verb) - to make a book, list, record etc, using different pieces of information, music etc [↪ compilation]

Example: The document was compiled by the Department of Health

3.      Influenza (noun) - a common illness that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, severe aches and pains, and breathing problems 

Example: patients suffering from influenza [=the flu]

4.      Institution (noun) - a place where an organization takes care of people for a usually long period of time.

Example: She committed herself to a mental institution.

5.      Epidemic( noun) - an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people 

Example: Over 500 people died during last year's flu epidemic.

6.      Peak (verb) - to reach the highest point or level

Example: Sales peaked in August, and then fell sharply.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      When is the peak of flu in your country?

2.      Tell us about your flu experience.

3.      Discuss common diseases in your country.

4.      How do you treat common illnesses like influenza?

5.      How do we avoid influenza?

New Quake System Created

A University of Tokyo research team has developed a system that will use a next-generation supercomputer to simultaneously predict tremors, tsunami and movements in the Earth's crust after a massive earthquake occurs. The team, led by Takuto Maeda, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo's Center of Integrated Disaster Information Research (CIDIR), has used the new system on a current-generation supercomputer, which almost succeeded in reconstructing the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11. The system's usability was confirmed by its ability to make predictions that were very close to what occurred in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. But the system was restricted by the processing power of the current-generation supercomputer. A large amount of data must be processed to simultaneously calculate crustal movements and tsunami. Current-generation supercomputers lack sufficient storage capacity to process these calculations, and therefore some data was skipped. Despite this, the team has further developed the system to predict more accurate damage in anticipation for its use on the nation's next-generation supercomputer, known as K, which has a data storage capacity 100 times greater than the current generation, and will be available in autumn. As the system can be used to predict detailed damage caused by multiple disasters, the team is planning to analyze the effect of the simultaneous occurrence of three big earthquakes known as the Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. Meanwhile, the University of Tokyo's Earthquake Research Institute is planning to develop another system for the K supercomputer from April that will analyze urban damage caused by earthquakes and tsunami, such as the collapse of buildings, and predict how certain regions should be evacuated. The research team also plans to collaborate with the institute. Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120130004007.htm

VOCABULARY

1.      Simultaneously (adverb) - things that happen at exactly the same time

Example: The opera will be broadcast simultaneously on television and radio.

2.      Massive (adj.) - unusually large, powerful, or damaging

Example: massive increases in the number of homeless

3.      Aftermath (noun) - the period of time after something such as a war, storm, or accident when people are still dealing with the results

Example: In the aftermath of the fire, many people were in need of shelter.

4.      Sufficient (adj.) - having or providing as much as is needed; enough 

Example: There must be sufficient funds in your bank account to cover the check.

5.      Anticipation (noun) -  the act of preparing for something 

Example:  They hired extra police officers in anticipation of a big crowd.

6.      Collaborate (verb) -  to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something 

Example: They collaborated on a book about dogs.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.      What do you think about the new system created?

2.      Discuss about the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake.

3.      How can you prepare for a possible earthquake?

4.      Is your home built to withstand earthquakes?

5.      Where in your house would you hide if there were an earthquake?