英語学習

【Asia Business English】Japan’s multinationals take the win from weak yen（B1–B2）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

Japan’s multinational companies are experiencing a positive impact from the current weak yen. A weaker yen makes Japanese products cheaper overseas, boosting sales and profits for companies that export goods. This situation is particularly beneficial for industries such as automotive, electronics, and machinery, which are significant players in the global market.

The yen has fallen against major currencies, making it more expensive for Japanese companies to import raw materials. However, the benefits for exporters outweigh these increased costs. Companies like Toyota and Sony are seeing significant growth in their overseas sales. These firms benefit from the exchange rate when converting foreign profits back to yen, leading to higher revenue.

However, there are challenges as well. Companies that rely heavily on imported goods face higher costs. To manage these, some companies are increasing their prices domestically. This strategy helps offset the costs but may affect local demand. Additionally, the weak yen can lead to increased inflation, affecting consumer purchasing power in Japan.

The Japanese government is closely monitoring this situation. They are considering various measures to stabilize the yen if it continues to weaken. This balance is crucial for maintaining economic stability while supporting the competitiveness of Japanese companies globally.

Overall, the weak yen presents both opportunities and challenges for Japan’s economy. Exporters benefit significantly, but import-dependent sectors must adapt to rising costs. The situation highlights the complex dynamics of currency fluctuations and their impact on international business.

📝 Vocabulary

  • multinational: a company operating in multiple countries
    例文: “Toyota is a well-known multinational company.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • multinational corporation
    • multinational company
    • multinational operations
    多国籍企業
  • export: to send goods to another country for sale
    例文: “Japan exports many cars to the United States.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • export goods
    • export market
    • export industry
    輸出
  • revenue: income generated from normal business operations
    例文: “The company’s revenue increased by 10% last year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • annual revenue
    • revenue growth
    • generate revenue
    収益
  • inflation: a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money
    例文: “Inflation can erode the purchasing power of savings.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • rising inflation
    • inflation rate
    • control inflation
    インフレーション
  • stability: the state of being steady and not changing
    例文: “Economic stability is crucial for long-term growth.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • political stability
    • economic stability
    • financial stability
    安定

✏️ Grammar Point

Present Continuous Tense – “The Japanese government is closely monitoring this situation.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
進行中の行動や状態を示す

💡 使用場面

進行中の状況を述べる際に使用します。状況説明や事象の進行状況を強調したいときに便利です。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘We are currently reviewing the new policy to ensure compliance.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Japan’s multinational companies are negatively affected by the weak yen.
  2. MCQ: Which industries benefit the most from the weak yen?
    a) Food and Beverage
    b) Automotive and Electronics
    c) Clothing and Fashion
    d) Pharmaceuticals
  3. MCQ: What is one challenge for companies due to the weak yen?
    a) Increased local demand
    b) Lower export sales
    c) Higher import costs
    d) Decreased foreign profits
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Automotive and Electronics
  3. c) Higher import costs

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What are the effects of a weak yen on Japanese export companies?
  2. Why might some companies increase their prices domestically?
  3. What does the word “monitoring” in the context mean?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. Export companies see increased sales and profits due to cheaper products abroad.
  2. To manage higher import costs, companies may increase prices to maintain profits.
  3. Observing or keeping track of the situation closely.

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

日本の多国籍企業は、現在の円安から恩恵を受けています。円安は日本製品を海外で安くし、輸出企業の売上と利益を増加させます。特に、車、電子機器、機械などの業界は恩恵を受けています。しかし、輸入品に依存する企業はコストが上昇し、価格を引き上げることで対応しています。政府は円安の影響を注視し、経済の安定を図る方策を検討しています。円安は輸出を促進しますが、インフレを引き起こす可能性があり、消費者の購買力に影響を与える可能性があります。将来的には、円の安定が重要な課題となるでしょう。

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/business/business-trends/japan-s-multinationals-take-the-win-from-weak-yen

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