Japanese Politician Izumi Leaves Party, Considers New Group
Listen to the story
Kenta Izumi is a Japanese politician. He left a party called Chudo. A party is a group of politicians with the same ideas.
A new party has started. It is called Minshu Kaikaku no Kai. This means "Association for Democratic Reform" in English. The new party told the government about its start.
People asked Izumi if he will join the new party. He said he does not have enough information yet. He needs more information to decide.
A TV person named Toru Tamagawa talked about Chudo. He said the opposition party is "too soft." Opposition parties are parties that are not in government.
Tamagawa also talked about money. Parties in Japan can get money from the government. This money is called a subsidy. Tamagawa criticized Chudo for taking this money. He asked why people do not understand this.
Vocabulary15 words
- politician
- a person who works in government
- party
- a group of people with the same political ideas
- leave
- to stop being part of a group
- join
- to become part of a group
- information
- facts about something
- decide
- to choose what to do
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- opposition
- parties that are not in power
- criticize
- to say something is wrong
- subsidy
- money given by the government to help
- soft
- not strong or strict
- understand
- to know the meaning of something
- start
- to begin
- reform
- a change to make something better
- association
- a group of people who work together
Quiz
Answer key
1. Chudo 2. He does not have enough information 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Kenta Izumi is a Japanese _____. He left a party called Chudo.
A new party has _____. It is called Minshu Kaikaku no Kai.
The new party told the _____ about its start.
People asked Izumi if he will _____ the new party.
He said he does not have enough _____ yet.
A TV person named Toru Tamagawa said the _____ party is too soft.
Parties in Japan can get money from the government. This money is called a _____.
Tamagawa _____ Chudo for taking this money.
He asked why people do not _____ this.