日本人の人口、42年ぶりに1億2000万人を下回る

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is July thirty-first. Tonight's story is about a historic milestone for Japan: the country's population has fallen below one hundred twenty million for the first time in forty-two years. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

According to the report, Japan's Japanese population was one hundred nineteen million, seven hundred thirty-six thousand, four hundred eighty-three. It fell below one hundred twenty million for the first time in forty-two years, since nineteen eighty-four.

It means to fall below a certain level or number.

The population fell by about nine hundred seventeen thousand from last year. It has declined for seventeen years in a row, and both the number and the rate of decline are the largest since the survey began in nineteen sixty-eight.

It means a ratio or rate — a share of the whole.

About six hundred seventy thousand babies were born this past year, a record low. Meanwhile, about one point five nine million people passed away.

It means the lowest number on record.

By prefecture, Tokyo was the only one where the Japanese population grew. It fell in all of the other forty-six prefectures.

It refers to Japan's forty-seven prefectures.

Meanwhile, foreign residents reached a record four million, thirty-one thousand — topping four million for the first time.

It means to exceed or go over a number.

Many foreign residents are young working-age people, and they support all kinds of jobs — in factories, shops, and elder care.

It means to support or sustain something.

With fewer children being born and more elderly people, the shortage of workers is becoming a bigger and bigger challenge.

It means a shortage — not having enough of something.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Forty-two years — it is the first time since nineteen eighty-four.

About four million, thirty-one thousand — a record high, and the first time above four million.

That's all for today. As of January first this year, Japan's Japanese population fell below one hundred twenty million for the first time in forty-two years, after a record drop of about nine hundred seventeen thousand people. Tokyo was the only prefecture that grew, while foreign residents topped four million for the first time. Thanks for listening, and see you tomorrow.