「千鳥饅頭」の千鳥屋本家、破産へ

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is October thirtieth. A famous sweet maker in Fukuoka, about four hundred years old, is heading for bankruptcy. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down.

A company that makes a famous Fukuoka sweet, a kind of bun filled with bean paste, looks set to go bankrupt.

It means bankruptcy.

Chidoriya has a very long history. It began in sixteen thirty.

It means history.

It is a long-established sweet shop that has continued for about four hundred years.

It means a long-established shop.

The bun is known to many people as a souvenir from Fukuoka.

It means a souvenir or gift from a trip.

But money borrowed during the pandemic made the business difficult.

It means running a business.

Rising prices and fewer shoppers are also said to be causes.

It means cause.

At its peak there were sixty-five shops, but that fell to forty-four.

It means to decrease.

In February, the company asked a court for a procedure to rebuild itself.

It means to rebuild or restore.

It means a court.

But on October thirteenth, the court in Fukuoka decided to stop that procedure.

It means a procedure or formal process.

The debt of the four group companies adds up to about two point two seven billion yen.

It means debt.

Now another company run by relatives has taken over the shops and the factory, and keeps them open.

It means to take over.

Now listen to the full story again.

Quiz time. Listen and answer.

Sixteen thirty, about four hundred years ago.

October thirteenth.

Yes. A relative's company keeps the shops open.

That's all for this evening. Thanks for listening. See you next time.