🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Japan is currently facing a challenging situation with the value of its currency, the yen. Over the past few months, the yen has been losing value against other major currencies like the US dollar. This situation is reminiscent of the 1985 Plaza Accord, where several countries, including Japan, agreed to intervene in currency markets to correct trade imbalances. Today, Japan is considering new strategies to address the weakening yen, as it could impact the country’s economy in various ways.
The weakening yen can make Japanese products cheaper and more competitive abroad, which is good for exporters. However, it also makes imports more expensive, leading to higher costs for consumers and businesses that rely on foreign goods. This can contribute to inflation, which is when prices rise, making it harder for people to afford everyday items. To tackle this, Japan’s central bank and government officials are exploring different measures to stabilize the currency.
One option being discussed is direct intervention in the currency markets. This means the government could buy yen to increase its value. However, such actions can be risky and are not guaranteed to work. Another approach is to adjust interest rates, which can influence currency value but also affect the broader economy. Japan’s central bank is being cautious as changing interest rates could have wide-ranging effects on economic growth and employment.
The situation is complex and has implications not only for Japan but also for the global economy. A strongly fluctuating yen can impact trade relations and financial markets worldwide. As Japan navigates these challenges, other countries and investors are closely watching the developments for any signs of a new “Plaza Accord” or similar international agreement.
📝 Vocabulary
- currency: the system of money in general use in a particular country（通貨）
例文: “The yen is the currency of Japan.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- foreign currency
- currency exchange
- currency value
- intervene: to become involved in a situation to change or influence it（介入する）
例文: “The government may intervene in the currency market.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- intervene directly
- intervene in
- government intervention
- inflation: a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money（インフレーション）
例文: “Inflation can make everyday items more expensive.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- high inflation
- inflation rate
- control inflation
- stabilize: to make something more steady or firm（安定させる）
例文: “Efforts are being made to stabilize the currency.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- stabilize the economy
- stabilize prices
- stabilize currency
- export: to send goods to another country for sale（輸出する）
例文: “Japan exports cars to many countries.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- export goods
- export market
- increase exports
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditional Sentences – “If the yen weakens, it could make imports more expensive.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
（ビジネス会議で、将来のシナリオを検討する際に使用されます。）
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Japan is considering a new international agreement similar to the 1985 Plaza Accord.
- MCQ: What happens when the yen weakens?
a) Japanese products become more expensive abroad.
b) Japanese products become cheaper abroad.
c) Imports become cheaper for Japanese consumers.
d) Inflation decreases in Japan. - MCQ: What is one method mentioned that Japan might use to stabilize the yen?
a) Increase exports
b) Direct intervention in the market
c) Reduce government spending
d) Increase taxes
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- b) Japanese products become cheaper abroad.
- b) Direct intervention in the market
📚 Reading Questions
- What are some potential effects of a weakening yen on Japan’s economy?
- Why might Japan be cautious about changing interest rates?
- What does the word “intervene” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- It can make exports cheaper but imports more expensive, leading to inflation.
- Because it can have wide-ranging effects on economic growth and employment.
- To become involved in a situation to change or influence it.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
日本は現在、円安の課題に直面しています。円安は輸出を促進する一方で、輸入品のコストを増加させ、インフレーションを引き起こす可能性があります。中央銀行と政府は、通貨安定化に向けた介入や金利調整の可能性を慎重に検討しています。これらの動きは国内経済に影響を与えるだけでなく、国際貿易や金融市場にも影響を及ぼす可能性があります。今後、日本がどのような政策を採用するかに注目が集まっています。
