This week's podcast
Overview
A quick study guide for the episode: what you will hear, what you can review, and what to revisit after listening.
Learn Japanese with real stories from Japan. This episode walks through three current news stories — a norovirus outbreak that shut down a traditional restaurant in Gifu, Docomo launching satellite-direct phone service with Starlink, and over 2,500 products getting more expensive in April — then highlights useful vocabulary and a practical grammar pattern, and ends with short listening passages you can review while you study.
Three real Japanese news stories with language-learning context
A vocabulary deep dive focused on prices, inflation, and economic news
A practical grammar note on に加えて used to add information
Listening practice passages in simple Japanese for review
Show notes
News Stories
These are the three stories covered in the episode, with direct links to our full article breakdowns and the original sources.
Norovirus Restaurant Closure
A norovirus outbreak at a 割烹料理店 (traditional Japanese restaurant) in Gifu Prefecture left 16 customers sick. The local 保健所 (public health center) confirmed norovirus in 12 customers and 2 staff members, and determined the cause as 食中毒 (food poisoning). The restaurant received an 営業禁止処分 (business suspension order) until proper hygiene measures are taken.
Starlink Direct with Docomo
NTT Docomo announced that starting April 27, smartphones can connect directly to Starlink satellites through docomo Starlink Direct — free for all plans including ahamo with no application required. The service supports text messaging, location sharing, and エリアメール (emergency alerts). It's designed as a backup for mountains, remote islands, and areas at sea — especially relevant for Japan's disaster preparedness needs.
April Price Hikes in Japan
More than 2,500 products are getting more expensive in April in what's described as an 一斉値上げ (simultaneous wave of price increases). Affected items include cooking oil, tissues, and toilet paper. The article connects the hikes to 物価高 (rising prices broadly) and fears of a 石油危機 (oil crisis). Consumers are reacting with 悲鳴 (cries of distress).
Language focus
Deep Dive: Price Hike Vocabulary
Review the core vocabulary from this episode, then study the grammar pattern used in formal notices and campaigns.
物価高
ぶっかだか • bukka-daka
日本では物価高が続いています。
Nihon de wa bukka-daka ga tsuzuite imasu.
“In Japan, rising prices are continuing.”
悲鳴
ひめい • himei
消費者は悲鳴を上げています。
Shouhisha wa himei o agete imasu.
“Consumers are crying out in distress.”
原材料
げんざいりょう • genzairyou
原材料の値段が上がりました。
Genzairyou no nedan ga agarimashita.
“The price of raw materials went up.”
引き上げる
ひきあげる • hikiageru
会社は商品の値段を引き上げます。
Kaisha wa shouhin no nedan o hikiagemasu.
“The company will raise the price of its products.”
一斉値上げ
いっせいねあげ • issei neage
4月から一斉値上げが始まります。
Shigatsu kara issei neage ga hajimarimasu.
“Starting in April, a simultaneous round of price hikes will begin.”
に加えてni kuwaete
A pattern used to add extra information on top of something already mentioned. Very common in news articles and formal speech when layering facts or concerns.
Structure: noun + に加えて
物価高に加えて食品も高くなりました。
Bukka-daka ni kuwaete shokuhin mo takaku narimashita.
“In addition to inflation, food also became expensive.”
雨に加えて風も強いです。
Ame ni kuwaete kaze mo tsuyoi desu.
“In addition to rain, the wind is strong.”
仕事に加えて日本語も勉強しています。
Shigoto ni kuwaete Nihongo mo benkyou shite imasu.
“In addition to work, I'm also studying Japanese.”
Listen again
Listening Practice
The episode ends with short recaps in simple Japanese. Try listening first, then use the passages below to check what you caught.
Passage 1
一つ目のニュースです。岐阜県の料理店でノロウイルスの食中毒がありました。16人が下痢や嘔吐や発熱の症状を出しました。店は今営業できません。
Passage 2
二つ目のニュースです。ドコモはスタアリンクダイレクトのサービスを始めます。山や島などの圏外でも空が見えるところならメッセージを送ることができます。災害の時にも役に立ちます。
Passage 3
三つ目のニュースです。4月から日本で2500以上の商品が値上がりします。油やティッシュやトイレットペーパーなどが高くなります。生活がもっと大変になると感じる人もいます。
Keep studying
Links & Next Steps
Continue with the resources mentioned in the show notes or jump back to the podcast hub for future episodes.