Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan will target a 46% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2013 levels at a 2-day virtual climate summit hosted on 22nd and 23rd April 2021. 

Our resident news anchor discusses Japan’s, as well as the U.S. and China’s response to climate change as expressed by country leaders during the virtual climate summit.

- Summary 温室効果ガス削減へＯＰ

- Japan’s response to climate change 日本の対策

- The U.S. and China’s response to climate changeアメリカと中国の対策

- What is the Paris Agreement? パリ協定

Watch the news video with Japanese transcript here!

http://perapera.ai/watch/youtube-YiOhydU2648

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

菅首相 温室効果ガス46%削減を表明　気候変動サミット

https://youtu.be/YiOhydU2648

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

The planned marriage between Princess Mako, the niece of Emperor Naruhito, and Kei Komuro has been postponed for over three years since they became informally engaged in September 2017. In February 2018, allegations surfaced that a ¥4 million loan to Komuro’s mother from her former fiancé had not been paid back. In April 2021, Komuro expressed his family’s intent to offer a settlement payment, despite releasing a 24-page document a few days before detailing that the money in question, including his educational expenses, was provided by the former fiancé as “a gift.”

Our resident news anchor discusses what the Komuro family money dispute is about and why it has attracted heated speculation in the Japanese media.

- Summary 小室圭さん金銭トラブルＯＰ

- What is the background of the money dispute between Kei Komuro’s mother and her former fiancé? 金銭トラブルの経緯

- What is the Japanese koushitsu (Imperial Household)? 皇室とは

- The Japanese public’s response to the issue国民も関心をよせている

Watch the news video with Japanese transcript here!

http://perapera.ai/watch/youtube-nzFuj3_FGuI

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

元婚約者「突然の提案に戸惑い」　小室圭さん 解決金渡す意向

https://youtu.be/nzFuj3_FGuI

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

Did you know that Japanese schools have strange rules such as only having one keychain on your school bag, or not being able to wear a scarf without your coat?

Our resident news anchor discusses what are “black school rules” in Japan and how they are changing following a review by 

- Summary ＯＰ

- What kind of “black school rules” are there in Japan? どんなブラック校則がある？

- The rationale for these school rules  なぜブラック校則がある？

- How these school rules are changing ブラック校則の変化

Watch the news video with Japanese transcript here!

http://perapera.ai/watch/youtube-OLilOpAahQw

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

ブラック校則 見直しの動き

https://youtu.be/OLilOpAahQw

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

On 27 March 2021, former Japan prime minister Abe gave a speech in Niigata where he stressed once again the need to add a reference to Japan’s Self-Defence Forces in the Japanese Constitution. 

Our resident news anchor discusses the significance of this news:

- Summary 憲法に自衛隊をＯＰ

- Background of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (jieitai) 自衛隊とは

- Article 9 of the Japan Constitution (kenpou kyuujou) 憲法9条と自衛隊の存在

- What is the “right to collective defense”? 集団的自衛権

- History of Japan Constitution 憲法改正の背景

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

憲法に自衛隊明記を訴え　安倍前首相が新潟で講演

https://youtu.be/ZXBXpQLg0zg

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

Today, our resident news anchor discusses the Sapporo's District Court ruling on 21 March 2021 that the current law, which does not recognize same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of equality. We will cover the following topics:

- Why we picked this news topic ニュースを選んだ理由

- Details of the Sapporo ruling on same-sex marriages and similar developments in other prefectures in Japan 同性婚をめぐる裁判

- What are "partnership certificates" and what rights do same-sex couples in Japan have with it  パートナーシップ制度

- What can we expect the situation for same-sex marriages to look like in the near future  これからの裁判に注目

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

「同性婚」認めないのは違憲　札幌地裁 全国初の判断

https://youtu.be/uFVDl55E9-w

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

On February 3rd 2021, then president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee, Yoshiro Mori, made disparaging remarks toward women, saying that meetings would never end because "women talk too much". His sexist remarks caused a furore among the Japanese public and Mori has since stepped down from the organizing committee.

Today, our Japanese news anchor explains the reality of Japan's persistent gender gap, and offers an insight into the reasons for women under-representation in the workplace.

- Summary of the news

- What Japan's current gender disparity is like 男女格差の現状

- Reasons for gender disparity in the workplace in Japan 男女格差の原因

- How to bridge the gender gap in Japan 男女格差の解決

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

菅首相「偏見あれば改善を」　男女共同参画に向け

https://youtu.be/Sb2s8OdRthY

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

On the third of March every year, Japan celebrates hina-matsuri, also known as Doll's Day or Girls' Day. Our resident news anchor discusses the origins and 

- Introduction to Hina-matsuri ひな祭り概要

- What are the hina-ningyou, the ornamental dolls associated with the festival and what purpose do they serve? ひな人形

- What do the Japanese eat during Hina-matsuri? ひな祭りの食べ物

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

あちこちにひな人形 町おこしへ　職人技“世界に一つ”に再生

https://youtu.be/B-TJu_jri6M

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

Today, our resident news anchor discusses the latest earthquake to hit Fukushima on 13 February 2021:

- Why we picked this news topic ニュースを選んだ理由

- About the recent earthquake in Fukushima 今回の地震について

- The largest earthquakes in Japanese history これまでに起こった日本の地震

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

各地の地震発生時、発生直後の映像まとめ【福島・宮城南部で震度６強】

https://youtu.be/H-83NBkQCwM

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

Today, our resident news anchor discusses the latest changes to Japanese university entrance examinations in 4 parts:

- Why we picked this news topic 大学入試のニュースを選んだ理由

- What are most Japanese university entrance examinations like? 日本の大学入試

- What is the difference between university entrance examinations ("daigaku nyuushi") and centre examinations ("senta shiken")? センター試験とのちがい

- How do national examinations take place amid the coronavirus pandemic? コロナの中での入試

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online. 

“緊急事態”下で初の大学入学共通テスト　大雪で一部会場中止に

https://youtu.be/Zu_zjDBKR6g

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/

Today, our resident news anchor discusses the trend of working remotely in Japan, and its impact on eyesight.

- Why we picked this news topic リモートワークのニュースを選んだ理由

- What is remote work? リモートワークとは

- The pros and cons of working remotely リモートワークのメリットデメリット

---

This podcast episode is best listened to in conjunction with the following news video from FNN Prime Online.

スマホ・PCで「リモート老眼」　20代・30代の発症が増加

https://youtu.be/_gq4yBsAOkg

FNN Prime Online YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/FNNnewsCH

Disclaimer: News Anchor Japanese is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Fuji News Network, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The official FNN Prime Online website can be found at https://www.fnn.jp/