Japan imports rice from South Korea and the US
Listen to the story (South African accent)
Japan bought rice from South Korea. This is the first time since 1999.
Japanese rice is very expensive now. People in Japan are not happy because food costs more money.
People now want cheaper rice from other countries.
Some rice from South Korea came to Japan last month. People bought it online and in shops. More rice from South Korea will come soon.
Before, many people in Japan did not like rice from other countries. In 1993, Japan got rice from Thailand, but Japanese people did not buy it.
Some people are trying foreign rice now because Japanese rice is expensive.
A restaurant in Tokyo started to use rice from the US last year. It was cheaper than rice from Japan. Customers did not complain. They did not know the rice was from the US.
The government in Japan is trying to help with the high prices. It started selling rice that was in storage for emergencies.
Rice in Japan did not grow well in 2023 because it was very hot. And last year, more people ate rice than in other years.
Vocabulary12 words
- Rice
- a small food that people cook and eat. It’s usually white, brown or yellow. It grows in fields.; ???
- Expensive
- costs a lot of money to buy; opposite of “cheap”
- Cheap
- it doesn’t cost a lot of money; the opposite of “expensive”
- Foreign
- from another country; something from outside of your country; belonging or connected to a country that is not your own
- the US
- USA; The United States of America
- Customer
- A person who buys things from a store or business; client
- Complain
- to say you’re not happy or you don’t like something-
- Government
- the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
- Price
- How much money something costs
- Storage
- space available for keeping or storing something
- Emergency
- a dangerous/serious and sudden/unexpected situation
- Grow
- To become bigger or increase in size; become; to get larger;
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japan _____ rice from South Korea. This is the first time since _____ .
Japanese rice is very expensive _____ . People in Japan are not happy because _____ costs more money.
People now want cheaper _____ from other countries.
Some rice from South Korea _____ to Japan last month. People bought it online and in _____ . More rice from South Korea will come _____ .
Before, many people in Japan _____ not like rice from other countries. In 1993, Japan got _____ from Thailand, but Japanese people did not buy _____ .
Some people are trying foreign rice now _____ Japanese rice is expensive.
A restaurant in Tokyo _____ to use rice from the US last year. It was cheaper than rice from _____ . Customers did not complain. They did _____ know the rice was from the US.
The government in Japan is _____ to help with the high prices. It started selling rice that was _____ storage for emergencies.
Rice in Japan did _____ grow well in 2023 because it was very hot. And last _____ , more people ate rice than in other _____ .
Discussion questions
- Japanese rice costs a lot now. How do you feel when food prices go up?
- Japan bought rice from South Korea. Is it good to buy food from other countries? Why or why not?
- Before, people did not like rice from other countries. Why do you think some people try foreign rice now?
- A restaurant used US rice, and customers did not complain. If you eat at a restaurant, do you care where the rice or food is from?
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