有言実行
有言実行 (Yūgen Jikkō): turning words into action by faithfully carrying out what one has promised.
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Blog
All entries
Every entry, newest first. Short write-ups on what I studied, what worked, and what didn't.
温故知新
温故知新 (Onko Chishin): learning from the past to gain new insights and wisdom for the future.
Read entry →先見の明
先見の明 (Senken no Mei) — Forecast and Vision: the ability to foresee future trends and make wise decisions today.
Read entry →試行錯誤
試行錯誤 (Shikō Sakugo): trying different approaches, learning from mistakes, and finding a solution through repeated effort.
Read entry →日進月歩
日進月歩 (Nisshin Geppo): making steady progress day by day, continuously growing and improving.
Read entry →Small wins
Some days the win is small — one new word that finally sticks, one page that makes sense on the first read. Those days count too.
Read entry →Finding a rhythm
A week in, and I'm starting to notice what actually works — shorter sessions, done consistently, beat long ones done rarely.
Read entry →Starting the log
Why I'm building DailyBenkyo, what I hope to get out of writing this down, and the (very modest) plan for week one.
Read entry →伝家の宝刀
伝家の宝刀 (Denka no Houtou): to play one's trump card, one's last resort — from a newspaper article on currency intervention.
Read entry →猛威
猛威 (Mōi): fierce power, menace — from a newspaper article on COVID-19's sixth wave.
Read entry →速攻
速攻 (Sokkou): right away, immediately — from an advertisement.
Read entry →炊き出し
炊き出し (Takidashi): food distribution — from a news article on COVID-19's impact.
Read entry →民間人・誤爆・謝罪
民間人 (civilians), 誤爆 (bombing the wrong target), 謝罪 (apology) — from a news report on a drone strike.
Read entry →臨む・諦める
臨む (looking forward) and 諦める (give up) — from a Paralympic athlete's comments on competing while pregnant.
Read entry →総裁選・出馬
総裁選 (presidential election) and 出馬 (running for an election) — political news.
Read entry →義足
義足 (Gisoku): artificial leg — from a Paralympic athlete's comments after a record-breaking jump.
Read entry →置き換わる
置き換わる (Okikawaru): to be rearranged or transposed — on the Delta variant and caution for reopening schools.
Read entry →戦没者・追悼・祈念
戦没者 (the fallen), 追悼 (mourning), 祈念 (prayer) — from a newspaper advertisement for August 15th.
Read entry →ずくめ
ずくめ (Zukume): entirely, completely — on the Tokyo Olympics held during the pandemic.
Read entry →拍車
拍車 (Hakusha): a spur — on variant viruses accelerating the spread of infections.
Read entry →療養
療養 (Ryouyou): medical treatment — on at-home COVID-19 treatment numbers in Tokyo.
Read entry →歓声・祭典
歓声 (cheer) and 祭典 (festival) — from a news headline on the Tokyo Olympics held without crowds.
Read entry →町並み・濁る
町並み (townscape) and 濁る (to become muddy) — from an article on the 2021 floods in Germany.
Read entry →酷暑
酷暑 (Kokusho): intense heat — on the extreme heat forecast during the Tokyo Olympics.
Read entry →鮮明
鮮明 (Senmei): vivid, clear, distinct — from a newspaper headline on the 5th wave of COVID-19 in Tokyo.
Read entry →黄金・世界の果て
黄金 (gold, wealth) and 世界の果て (the end of the world) — from an Italian saying.
Read entry →合宿
合宿 (Gasshuku): lodging together — on host towns withdrawing from pre-Olympic training camps.
Read entry →デルタ株・猛威
猛威 (Moui): fury, power — an earlier use of this word, from a news article on the Delta variant.
Read entry →心理的
心理的 (Shinriteki): psychological, mental — from a news article on consumers' "psychological wallets."
Read entry →安物買いの銭失い
A proverb meaning to waste money by buying something cheap — penny wise, pound foolish.
Read entry →逼迫・予兆・探知
逼迫 (shortage/strain), 予兆 (omen), 探知 (detection) — on Olympic experts' recommendation for spectator limits.
Read entry →牛歩
牛歩 (Gyuuho): slow progress, snail's pace — from a newspaper article on India's bullet train.
Read entry →余暇
余暇 (Youka): spare time — from an advertisement.
Read entry →素早い
素早い (Subayai): quick, swift — from an illustrated newspaper explainer on how QR codes work.
Read entry →接客・非接触
接客 (serving customers) and 非接触 (contactless) — on a Tokyo restaurant's trial of serving robots.
Read entry →まばら・大歓声
まばら (sparse, scattered) and 大歓声 (loud cheering) — a newspaper headline on a crowded election rally during the pandemic.
Read entry →油断
油断 (Yudan): negligence, carelessness — a newspaper headline warning that carelessness leads to rising infections.
Read entry →余波
余波 (Yoha): the after-effect, aftermath — two photos of New Delhi's India Gate, before and after lockdown.
Read entry →芽吹く
芽吹く (Mebuku): to bud — a reflection on crisis and opportunity.
Read entry →自粛・ひっそり
自粛 (self-restraint) and ひっそり (quiet, deserted) — a newspaper photo of a near-empty Tokyo street during the first self-restraint period.
Read entry →伝家の宝刀（2020）
伝家の宝刀 (Denka no Houtou): one's last resort, trump card — an earlier use of this phrase, asking when Japan would play its last card against COVID-19.
Read entry →疾走・目撃
疾走 (sprint, dash) and 目撃 (witnessing) — a news photo of a wild boar dashing across a street in suburban Saitama.
Read entry →流し込む・加減
流し込む (to pour into) and 加減 (degree, extent) — on Octochef, a robot arm that can make 96 takoyaki in 20 minutes.
Read entry →移動通信・代替わり
移動通信 (mobile communication) and 代替わり (taking over) — a newspaper chart on mobile tech's generational leaps from 1980 to 5G.
Read entry →苦肉
苦肉 (Kuniku): a desperate measure — on two major banks agreeing to share their ATM networks.
Read entry →宿命・盟友
宿命 (fate, destiny) and 盟友 (sworn friend) — from a newspaper advertisement illustrating a dog and monkey as rivals turned allies.
Read entry →後を絶たない
後を絶たない (Ato wo tatanai): never ceasing, endless — on a new campaign to stop accidents from walking on escalators.
Read entry →炭火
炭火 (Sumibi): charcoal fire — from an exhibition of household tools used during the Meiji period.
Read entry →日照
日照 (Nisshou): sunlight — on Tokyo's lowest average daily sunlight in 31 years.
Read entry →二言三言・聞き役
二言三言 (a few words) and 聞き役 (a listener's role) — from a story article.
Read entry →待ち遠しい・開幕
待ち遠しい (looking forward to) and 開幕 (opening of an event) — on laser mapping at Tokyo Skytree counting down to the 2020 Olympics.
Read entry →占める・補う
占める (to occupy, make up) and 補う (to supplement) — on the foreign population in Japan exceeding 2% for the first time.
Read entry →響く
響く (Hibiku): to reverberate, to make an impression — the title of a music album.
Read entry →手がかり
手がかり (Tegakari): a clue, lead, key — the title of a television drama about using voice as a clue for rescue.
Read entry →本格化
本格化 (Honkakuka): getting up to speed, proceeding at full tilt — on VISA rolling out contactless touch payment in Japan ahead of the Olympics.
Read entry →潮干狩り
潮干狩り (Shiohigari): gathering shellfish at low tide — on a crowded Children's Day at Umi no Koen in Yokohama.
Read entry →減少
減少 (Genshou): decline, decrease — a TV news report on Japan's child population falling for the 38th year in a row.
Read entry →剣・滅びる
剣 (sword) and 滅びる (to perish) — a Biblical phrase quoted in a newspaper article.
Read entry →樹齢・幻想的
樹齢 (age of a tree) and 幻想的 (fantastic, magical) — on the 150-year-old wisteria tree lit up at Ashikaga Park.
Read entry →空き巣・慎重
空き巣 (an empty house, a burglar) and 慎重 (careful, prudent) — a TV news warning against oversharing holiday plans on social media.
Read entry →仮眠
仮眠 (Kamin): a nap — on Nestle Japan's new 'Sleep Cafe' business for short naps during the day.
Read entry →紙幣・刷新
紙幣 (currency, banknotes) and 刷新 (reform, renovation) — on Japan's announcement of redesigned 10,000, 5,000, and 1,000 yen bills for 2024.
Read entry →産休・賛成多数・可決
産休 (maternity/paternity leave), 賛成多数 (majority vote), and 可決 (passage of a bill) — on the EU parliament passing paternity leave for fathers.
Read entry →揶揄
揶揄 (Yayu): tease, ridicule — a joke reinterpreting the PDCA business cycle as Plan, Delay, Cancel, Apology.
Read entry →遠隔医療・披露
遠隔医療 (remote medicine) and 披露 (display, presentation) — on Japan showcasing 5G remote treatment at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Read entry →連勝・浮上
連勝 (consecutive victories) and 浮上 (surfacing, emerging) — on Naomi Osaka becoming the first Asian player to reach World No. 1.
Read entry →童謡
童謡 (Douyou): a children's song, nursery rhyme — on Sony's AIBO robot dogs taking on a family policeman role.
Read entry →カサカサ・例年
カサカサ (dry and rough) and 例年 (an average or ordinary year) — on an unusually dry winter.
Read entry →控除・所得税
控除 (deduction) and 所得税 (income tax) — on extending Japan's housing loan tax exemption to soften a coming consumption tax hike.
Read entry →途切れる
途切れる (Togireru): to break off, to be interrupted — on avoiding blue light before bed for better sleep.
Read entry →つかさどる
つかさどる (Tsukasadoru): to govern, to administer — on how good sleep sharpens memory and physical performance.
Read entry →鮮明・臨場感
鮮明 (vivid, clear) and 臨場感 (a sense of realism) — on NHK launching permanent 4K/8K broadcasting.
Read entry →体質
体質 (Taishitsu): constitution, genetic predisposition — on a mouse study into preventing infant allergies via vaccination during pregnancy.
Read entry →迷い込む
迷い込む (Mayoikomu): to go astray, to lose one's way — on a cat that wandered onto the runway of a Turkish fashion show.
Read entry →誘致・抑制
誘致 (attraction, invitation) and 抑制 (control, restraint) — on Amsterdam trying to restrain overtourism rather than attract more visitors.
Read entry →タッグを組む
タッグを組む (Tagguwokumu): to team up, to work together — on three taxi companies and JTB launching a senior-citizen taxi pass in Nagano.
Read entry →特許
特許 (Tokkyo): patent, license — on a sake maker patenting a zero-sugar variety with no lingering smell.
Read entry →統計
統計 (Toukei): statistics — on registered-foreigner data showing 1 in 50 residents of Japan is a foreigner.
Read entry →由来
由来 (Yurai): origin, source, history — on the story behind Japan's Female Driver's Day.
Read entry →炊飯器
炊飯器 (Suihanki): rice cooker — on Panasonic bringing its popular Indian-market rice cooker back to Japan.
Read entry →不法滞在・収容
不法滞在 (illegal overstaying) and 収容 (custody) — on growing numbers of foreigners detained for overstaying visas.
Read entry →肥満・睡眠障害
肥満 (obesity) and 睡眠障害 (sleep disorders) — on the UK considering a ban on energy drink sales to minors.
Read entry →理容師・待遇
理容師 (barber, hairdresser) and 待遇 (pay, working conditions) — on a budget haircut chain raising prices to improve staff conditions.
Read entry →課税所得・跳ね上がる
課税所得 (taxable income) and 跳ね上がる (to jump sharply) — on Japan's income tax rate jumping from 23% to 33% past the 9-million-yen threshold.
Read entry →食欲・くらむ
食欲 (appetite) and くらむ (to be dazzled) — from an advertisement for a two-week food fair.
Read entry →遠方・山間部・解禁
遠方 (distant place), 山間部 (mountainous region), and 解禁 (lifting a ban) — on Japan moving to permit drone deliveries to remote areas.
Read entry →子守り
子守り (Komori): babysitting, childcare — on experts warning parents not to use smartphones as babysitters for children.
Read entry →義務付ける
義務付ける (Gimudzukeru): to obligate, to require — on Japan requiring airlines to support wheelchair users boarding flights.
Read entry →酷暑
酷暑 (Kokusho): intense heat, severe heat — on temperatures above 35°C across Japan and warnings against heatstroke.
Read entry →生きがい
生きがい (Ikigai): purpose in life, reason for living — on what a newspaper article says is needed for a long, healthy life.
Read entry →カイくん
A note on Kai-kun, the famous white dog of SoftBank's long-running television commercials, who passed away at age 16.
Read entry →支障・依存症・疾患
支障 (hindrance), 依存症 (dependence), and 疾患 (disease) — on 'gaming disorder' being officially recognized as a disease by the WHO.
Read entry →共催
共催 (Kyousai): joint sponsorship, co-hosting — on the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Read entry →歯切れが悪い
歯切れが悪い (Hagiregawarui): to be evasive, not to make oneself clear — on Osaka Metro hedging over a deadline for platform doors, unlike Tokyo Metro.
Read entry →噴射
噴射 (Funsha): jet, spray, injection — on a Tohoku University firefighting robot that sprays high-pressure water jets near the source of a fire.
Read entry →情勢
情勢 (Jousei): state of affairs, conditions — on petrol prices passing 150 yen per liter amid US-Iran tensions.
Read entry →拝観・錆・潮風
拝観 (viewing, visiting), 錆 (rust), and 潮風 (salty sea breeze) — on experts tracing the cause of grime on the Great Buddha of Kamakura.
Read entry →乗務・睡眠
乗務 (doing transport-related work) and 睡眠 (sleep) — on new sleep checks required for truck and bus drivers before driving in Japan.
Read entry →先進国・財政
先進国 (advanced country) and 財政 (public finance) — on Japan's national debt reaching a record 1,087 trillion yen.
Read entry →行政・元号
行政 (administration) and 元号 (era name) — on Japan weighing whether to keep using the old era name in tax and insurance systems after the name changes.
Read entry →移動通信
移動通信 (Idoutsuushin): mobile communications — on Japan expecting to introduce 5G by 2020.
Read entry →活性化
活性化 (Kasseika): activation, stimulation, revitalization — on a Nara beauty salon opening with English, Urdu, and Chinese-speaking staff for tourists.
Read entry →史上最高
史上最高 (Shijousaikou): record high, all-time high — on the number of centenarians worldwide reaching a new record.
Read entry →シカ・焦らす
シカ (deer) and 焦らす (to tease) — on Nara Park's warning signs asking tourists not to tease the deer while feeding them crackers.
Read entry →意欲・そがれる
意欲 (will, motivation) and そがれる (to be discouraged) — on how treating every mistake as 'bad' dampens the urge to try new things.
Read entry →退学
退学 (Taigaku): dropping out of school — on a report finding 32 Japanese high schoolers were encouraged to leave school due to pregnancy.
Read entry →養殖・乱獲
養殖 (aquaculture) and 乱獲 (overfishing) — on a research report warning that fish may disappear from Asia-Pacific waters by 2048.
Read entry →太陽光発電
太陽光発電 (Taiyoukouhatsuden): solar power generation — on SoftBank's plan to build the world's biggest solar farm in Saudi Arabia.
Read entry →超す・最多
超す (to exceed) and 最多 (the most) — on the number of foreign residents in Japan reaching a record 2.56 million.
Read entry →構想
構想 (Kousou): plan, concept, idea — on Japan considering 'hotel ships' to ease a room shortage during the 2020 Olympics.
Read entry →盗難・損害保険
盗難 (theft) and 損害保険 (damage insurance) — on one in five stolen cars in Japan being a Toyota Prius.
Read entry →貯水量
貯水量 (Chosuiryou): volume of water kept in reserve — on Cape Town's severe water shortage and 50-liter-per-day usage restriction.
Read entry →引き離す
引き離す (Hikihanasu): to separate, to pull apart — on research into the best age to separate puppies from their mothers.
Read entry →意識調査
意識調査 (Ishikichousa): opinion poll, awareness survey — one year on, checking whether Japan's 'Premium Friday' early-leaving scheme actually worked.
Read entry →在住
在住 (Zaijuu): residing, living, dwelling — on the foreign population of Tokyo's Edogawa ward passing 33,000.
Read entry →避暑地・標高
避暑地 (summer resort) and 標高 (elevation) — on the Toda community living near Ooty, a hill-station summer retreat in Tamil Nadu, India.
Read entry →接点
接点 (Setten): point of contact, interaction — on Starbucks Japan's plan to lease office coffee machines amid heavy convenience-store competition.
Read entry →歩行者用信号
歩行者用信号 (Hokoushayoushingou): pedestrian crosswalk signal — on Tokyo's rollout of new touch-switch signals to replace push-button boxes.
Read entry →乳業・油脂
乳業 (dairy industry) and 油脂 (fats and oils) — on major dairy makers reformulating margarine to cut trans fats.
Read entry →犯罪
犯罪 (Hanzai): crime, offence — on Japanese police developing an AI system to predict when and where crimes are likely to recur.
Read entry →自然史博物館・浅黒い
自然史博物館 (natural history museum) and 浅黒い (darkish) — on DNA analysis of a 10,000-year-old skeleton in England revealing dark skin.
Read entry →天候不順
天候不順 (Tenkoufujun): unseasonable or bad weather — on vegetable prices in Tokyo staying high due to continued poor weather.
Read entry →彩る・迫力
彩る (to color) and 迫力 (impressiveness) — on the Sapporo Snow Festival's striking ice and snow sculptures drawing crowds.
Read entry →途絶える
途絶える (Todaeru): to stop, to cease — on Fukushima's green laver (nori) shipments resuming after 7 years, following the 2011 disaster.
Read entry →裸眼視力
裸眼視力 (Raganshiryoku): unaided or uncorrected visual acuity — on rising rates of poor eyesight among Japanese schoolchildren, linked to screen time.
Read entry →担う
担う (Ninau): to bear, to be responsible for — on 'Hen na Cafe,' HIS Tours' unmanned robot-run coffee shop in Shibuya.
Read entry →商工
商工 (Shoukou): commerce and industry — on the rising number of women company presidents in Tokyo, per Tokyo Shoko Research.
Read entry →傘下
傘下 (Sanka): affiliated with, under the umbrella of — on Volkswagen and the Nissan-Renault alliance topping global car sales, ahead of Toyota.
Read entry →朝刊・上回る
朝刊 (morning newspaper) and 上回る (to surpass) — on internet news readership overtaking morning newspaper readership in Japan.
Read entry →晩婚
晩婚 (Bankon): late marriage — on a forecast that nearly 1 in 4 people aged 65+ will live alone in Japan by 2040.
Read entry →孤独・任命
孤独 (loneliness) and 任命 (appointment) — on the UK appointing a Minister for Loneliness under Theresa May.
Read entry →業績不振・後継
業績不振 (economic slump) and 後継 (successor) — on Sony relaunching its Aibo robot dog 12 years after production stopped.
Read entry →観賞
観賞 (Kanshou): admiration, enjoyment (of scenery, art) — on a JETRO survey of what Chinese tourists most want to do in Japan.
Read entry →溝
溝 (Dobu): ditch, gutter, tunnel — on two companies growing vegetables inside a disused 3km underground utility tunnel in Chiba.
Read entry →常温
常温 (Jouon): room temperature, normal temperature — on a new self-healing glass developed by a University of Tokyo team.
Read entry →基地局・参入
基地局 (base station) and 参入 (market entry) — on Rakuten's plan to enter the mobile phone business with its own network by 2019.
Read entry →弾道ミサイル・豪雨
弾道ミサイル (ballistic missile) and 豪雨 (torrential rain) — on 北 (Kita) being chosen as Japan's Kanji of the Year for 2017.
Read entry →恐竜・化石
恐竜 (dinosaur) and 化石 (fossil) — on a newly discovered dinosaur fossil in Mongolia believed to have been able to swim as well as walk.
Read entry →最高裁・義務
最高裁 (Supreme Court) and 義務 (obligation) — on Japan's Supreme Court ruling that all TV owners must pay NHK subscription fees.
Read entry →通学路・規制
通学路 (school route) and 規制 (regulation) — on 'Zone 30' speed restrictions near schools cutting accidents by 20%.
Read entry →観覧者
観覧者 (Kanransha): spectators, viewers — on Ueno Zoo announcing public viewing for its baby giant panda Shan Shan, selected by lottery.
Read entry →冷え込み・水平線
冷え込み (sharp drop in temperature) and 水平線 (horizon) — on the rare 'Daruma sun' phenomenon photographed on a cold morning in Nagasaki.
Read entry →初任給
初任給 (Shoninkyuu): starting salary — on fresh graduates' average initial salary hitting a record 206,100 yen.
Read entry →刈取る・窃盗
刈取る (to reap) and 窃盗 (theft) — on about 1,500 lettuces stolen from a farm in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Read entry →深刻化
深刻化 (Shinkokuka): becoming more serious or severe — on a cashless Tokyo restaurant chain opening to address worsening labor shortages.
Read entry →態勢
態勢 (Taisei): preparedness, readiness — on a new app helping foreign visitors find nearby hospitals equipped to treat them.
Read entry →透明・板
透明 (transparent) and 板 (board, plank) — on a study showing two chimpanzees cooperating through a glass divider to select numbers in order.
Read entry →男女格差
男女格差 (Danjokakusa): gender inequality, the male-female gap — on Japan ranking 114th out of 144 countries in the World Economic Forum's Gender Equality Report.
Read entry →資金運用
資金運用 (Shikinunyou): fund operations, asset management — on Japanese banks considering branch and staff cuts under negative interest rate policy.
Read entry →協賛
協賛 (Kyousan): support, cooperation, sponsorship — on 'Table for Two,' a scheme where posting onigiri photos online funds school meals for children in need.
Read entry →訪日
訪日 (Hounichi): visiting Japan — on foreign tourist spending rising 6.6% to an average of 165,000 yen per visitor.
Read entry →大気汚染・爆竹
大気汚染 (air pollution) and 爆竹 (firecracker) — on India's Supreme Court banning firecracker sales during Diwali to curb worsening air pollution.
Read entry →改ざん・妨害行為
改ざん (falsification) and 妨害行為 (obstruction) — on a Japanese steel maker's data-falsification scandal, and employees who covered it up.
Read entry →乱立・追い風
乱立 (a flood of candidates) and 追い風 (favorable conditions) — the headline of a newspaper article on a crowded opposition field favoring Japan's ruling party.
Read entry →羽目になる
羽目になる (Hameninaru): to end up stuck with something unpleasant — on Indonesia's president having to walk after getting stuck in traffic.
Read entry →汗ばむ
汗ばむ (Asebamu): to become sweaty — on this autumn's unpredictable swings between cool and sweaty-hot weather in Japan.
Read entry →音声認識
音声認識 (Onseininshiki): voice recognition, speech recognition — on why it's less popular in Japan than in Western countries.
Read entry →嵐
嵐 (Arashi): storm — from the expression 'calm before the storm.'
Read entry →発見
発見 (Hakken): discovery, detection — on Tokyo Skytree lighting up pink for October's breast cancer awareness campaign.
Read entry →軌道
軌道 (Kidou): orbit, trajectory — on NASA partnering with Russia to build a new space station near the moon.
Read entry →実写映画
実写映画 (Jisshaeiga): live-action film — on a Hollywood studio acquiring rights to remake the hit anime 'Your Name' (Kimi no Na wa).
Read entry →慢性・試験飛行
慢性 (chronic) and 試験飛行 (test flight) — on Dubai trialing propeller-drone 'flying taxis' to relieve its chronic traffic jams.
Read entry →改正案
改正案 (Kaiseian): reform bill, amendment proposal — on Japan considering making July 24, 2020 (the planned Olympics opening day) a holiday.
Read entry →超音波
超音波 (Chouonpa): ultrasonic waves, ultrasound — on a new Japanese service that 3D-prints ornaments from babies' ultrasound scan images.
Read entry →人工心臓・小型化
人工心臓 (artificial heart) and 小型化 (miniaturization) — on advances making artificial heart-assist devices smaller and more widely usable.
Read entry →よちよち・習わし
よちよち (tottering steps) and 習わし (custom) — on Ueno Zoo's baby panda taking her first tottering steps at 100 days old, just before being named Shan Shan.
Read entry →腹八分目
腹八分目 (Harahachibunme): eating until 80% full, being moderate in eating — one of several tips for avoiding diabetes.
Read entry →物損
物損 (Busson): property damage — on rising accidents involving foreign tourists driving rental cars in Okinawa.
Read entry →跳ねる・悲願
跳ねる (to leap) and 悲願 (one's dearest wish) — on Yoshihide Kiryu becoming the first Japanese sprinter to break 10 seconds in the 100 meters.
Read entry →助手席
助手席 (Joshuseki): passenger seat — on police urging backseat passengers to wear seatbelts after a report found 57% of backseat fatalities weren't buckled up.
Read entry →火災警報
火災警報 (Kasaikeihou): fire alert — on authorities urging households to regularly test their legally mandated fire alarms.
Read entry →契機
契機 (Keiki): opportunity, chance, motive — on Tokyo's flexible-working initiative launched ahead of the 2020 Olympics gaining popularity.
Read entry →縮図
縮図 (Shukuzu): miniature copy, reduced drawing — on the idea that the sole of the human foot is a miniature map of the whole body.
Read entry →姿勢・かかと
姿勢 (posture) and かかと (heel) — tips for correct walking posture, from faster pace to heel-first landing.
Read entry →需要・喚起
需要 (demand) and 喚起 (arousal, stimulation) — on Japan considering a fixed-fare taxi pass to revive flagging taxi demand.
Read entry →緩やか・基調
緩やか (gentle, gradual) and 基調 (underlying trend) — on a government survey finding 79.3% of Japanese people satisfied with their current lifestyle.
Read entry →打開
打開 (Dakai): breaking a deadlock — on Japan's lottery operators turning to social media to win back disinterested younger buyers.
Read entry →啓発
啓発 (Keihatsu): enlightenment, raising awareness — on banks using ATM stickers to warn against over-borrowing with card loans.
Read entry →上陸許可・証印
上陸許可 (landing permission) and 証印 (an affixed seal) — on Japan redesigning its passport landing-permission stamp to feature Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms.
Read entry →愛好家
愛好家 (Aikouka): enthusiast, amateur fan — on a 76kg watermelon grown by an amateur farmer winning a Saitama contest.
Read entry →短気
短気 (Tanki): quick temper, short temper — on the Japanese proverb 短気は損気, warning that a hot temper only brings loss.
Read entry →日照
日照 (Nisshou): sunlight, hours of sunshine — on eastern and northern Japan seeing 30-50% less sunshine than average in early August 2017.
Read entry →膨大
膨大 (Boudai): huge, extensive — on 'Charpy,' an AI-powered English-conversation robot that draws on vast cloud data to adapt to each user.
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