Hot Topics - WJ Compass

Hot Topics Japan is a two-book series specifically developed for the intermediate to advanced English language

learner. The series is intended to support a discussion-style classroom and contains some of the most current issues

of interest to young Japanese people. Within each unit, students will be exposed to a variety of ideas and offered

multiple opportunities for discussion. Reading and listening passages have been designed to both engage and inform

the learner. The graded passages allow students to comfortably progress to more challenging ones as they move from

book one to book two. Exercises in the Hot Topics Japan series provide the opportunity to further develop students’

reading, listening, writing, and discussion skills. Hot Topics Japan is a two-book series specifically developed for the

intermediate to advanced English language learner. The series is intended to support a discussion-style classroom

and contains some of the most current issues of interest to young Japanese people. Within each unit, students will

be exposed to a variety of ideas and offered multiple opportunities for discussion. Reading and listening passages

have been designed to both engage and inform the learner. The graded passages allow students to comfortably

progress to more challenging ones as they move from book one to book two. Exercises in the Hot Topics Japan series

provide the opportunity to further develop students’ reading, listening, writing, and discussion skills. Hot Topics Japan

is a two-book series specifically developed for the intermediate to advanced English language learner. The series is

intended to support a discussion-style classroom and contains some of the most current issues of interest to young

Japanese people. Within each unit, students will be exposed to a variety of ideas and offered multiple opportunities

2

Hot TopicsJapan A Culturally Specific

Discussion Book

Answer Key

2 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 01 Holidays in Japan

Vocabulary Preview

1. e 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. d

Vocabulary Practice

1. b 2. c 3. d 4. d 5. b

Listening

Comprehension

•Monday

•Tuesday

•Wednesday

•Thursday

•ConstitutionDay

•GreeneryDay

•Children’sDay

•None

•Gotoamuseum

•Visitapark

•Takepictures

•Buyricecakes

•Work

Day of the Week Holiday Suggested Activity

Golden Week

Season Holiday Day of the Holiday Do people take time off from school or work?

Spring-Hanami -MarchtoMay -No

-Children’sDay -May5 -Yes

Summer

-MarineDay -3MondayofJuly -Yes

-Obon -August13-15 -Yes(butnotanationalholiday)

Fall

-VernalEquinox -InlateSeptember -Yes

-HealthandSportsDay

-2MondayinOctober

-Yes

-CultureDay -November3 -Yes

-LaborThanksgivingDay

-November23 -Yes

Winter-Emperor’sBirthday -December23 -Yes

-NewYear’sDay -January1 -Yes

rd

nd

3

Unit 02 The Low Crime Rate of Japan

Vocabulary Preview

1. g 2. a 3. e 4. f 5. b

Vocabulary Practice

1. convicted 2. intellectual 3. sword 4. rifle 5. register

Listening

Comprehension

SheisreadingaboutcrimeratesinJapan.

Bicycletheftisthebiggest.

Stealingwalletsfrompocketsorpursesisthesecondmostcommoncrime.

Peopleareincreasingthesecurityintheirhomes.

Theyareinstallingstrongerlocksondoorsandwindows.Theyarealsoinstallingmoresecuritycameras,windowalarms,andcaralarmsthanbefore.

No.Therearemorepeoplebeingstabbed.

Whatisthewomanreading?

Whatisthebiggestcategoryofcrime?

Whatisanothercommoncrime?

Whatarepeopledoingdifferentlyintheirhomes?

Howaretheyaccomplishingthis?

Aretheremanyshootings?

•Nocourtsystem;policeandlawyersdetermineifapersonisguiltyornot

•Verystrict;99%ofthosearrestedareconvictedPolice

•Sawthemselvesasthesecondpolice;madeittheirjobto“keepthestreetsclean”

•Nowtheycommitmorewhite-collarcrimesthanviolentcrimes

Yakuza

•Collectivesociety;respectforauthorityandelders•Shameworksasatooltokeeppeoplefrombreakingrulesorlaws

Social Factors

•Owninggunsisillegal•Riflesandceremonialswordsmustberegistered

Control of Weapons

•Notallvictimsofcrimeswillreportthem,especiallywomen•Peopleareincreasingpersonalsecurity;installingstrongerlocks,alarms,andcameras

Other Factors

Factors Affecting Japan’s Crime Rate

4 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 03 Divorce in Japan

Vocabulary Preview

1. d 2. f 3. a 4. b 5. e

Vocabulary Practice

1. a 2. c 3. a 4. b 5. a

Listening

Comprehension Timeline of Divorce in Japan

•Undertheiesystem,aman'sfamilycouldsimplyexpelhiswife.Edo period

•Thiswasaperiodofindustrializationandurbanization.

•Socialchangecausedaspikeinthedivorcerate.Meiji period

•Theiesystemwasabolished.

•Childcustodylawsbegantofavorwomen.1940s

•Womencouldclaimhalfoftheirhusband's(retirement)pension.

•Thepublicexpectedthedivorceratetospike.

2007

Sign

•Wifedoesn'twanttospendtimewithherhusbandatall

Not signs

•Wifegetsherhairdone

•Wifehasquietconversationswiththechildren

Good ideas

•Buyflowersforwife

•Takewifeontrips

Bad idea

•TakewifeoutsideofJapan

Problem : Wife wants divorce

Solution : Fix the relationship

5

Unit 04 The Size of Japanese Women

Vocabulary Preview

1. e 2. c 3. d 4. b 5. g

Vocabulary Practice

1. intake 2. calories 3. app 4. require 5. elegantly

Listening

•1cupofrice

•1friedegg

•1cupofmilk

•1hotdogwithabun

•1bananaHis Lunch

•800caloriesforlunchCalcule-Eater Results

•walkforonehour

•studyingalldayHis Exercise

•500caloriesburned+300caloriesburned=800caloriesburned

Calories Burned

Comprehension

Consumemorerice,vegetables,fish,andfruit→Intakelessthan2,000caloriesperday

Consumemoremeat,sweets,andproductswithfat→Intakeabout2,100caloriesperday

Consumesmall(er)portions→Controldailycaloricintake

Consumelarge(r)portions→Boostdailycaloricintakeevenmore

Walk2,000morestepseachday→Burn100morecalorieseachday

Usepersonalcars→Walklessandburnfewercalories

Causes and Effects of Consumption Patterns

Fewer than one out of twenty-five Japanese women are obese.

More than one out of four Western women are obese.

6 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 05 Otsukare

Vocabulary Preview

1. c 2. b 3. d 4. a 5. f

Vocabulary Practice

1. d 2. a 3. b 4. b 5. d

Listening

Comprehension

•means“deathcausedbyoverworkorjob-relatedexhaustion”

•wasfirstreportedinthemediain1969butdidnotgetmuchnoticeuntilthe1980s

•ledtobadpressforthegovernment,soactionwastakentofighttheamountofovertimeputinbyemployees

•leavesfamilieswithoutfinancialsupport

•hasresultedinsomefamiliesfilinglawsuitsagainstcompanies

•means“sleepingwhilepresent”

•isnotlookeddownonbyemployers

•followscertainrules:

-Thebossandlowest-levelemployeesmayengageinit.

-Onemustsitupwhilenapping.

-Itmustlookspontaneous.

-Workersshouldseemeasytowakeinordertocontributeagain.

KaroshiInemuri

Sheisexhaustedbecausesheworkedalotofovertimethismonth.

Sheisexpectedtoworkalot.

Hewenttothehospitalbecauseheworked114hoursofovertime.

Theyhaveahardtimesettinglimit.

Theyhavenolegallimitsonworkingtoomuch.

Whatiswrongwiththewoman?

Whydoessheworkovertimeifshedoesnotgetpaid?

Whathappenedtoonepersonathercompany?

Whydoesn’tthegovernmentdosomethingaboutit?

Whatistheproblemwithtemporaryemployees?

7

Unit 06 Traditional Japanese Foods

Vocabulary Preview

1. b 2. d 3. c 4. e 5. a

Vocabulary Practice

1. simmer 2. noodles 3. broth 4. ingredients 5. patron

Listening

•whiterice

•blacksesameseeds

•yelloweggs

•redmeat

•greenvegetables

•taste

•smell

•sight

•touch

•sound

•raw

•steamed

•simmered

•fried

•grilled

Five Colors Five Senses Five Ways

The Power of Five in Japanese Cuisine

What number is important in Japanese culture?

What are three things that are important in traditional Japanese cuisine?

What religion most influenced Japanese cuisine?

What is the most important staple in Japanese food?

Who brought foreign food into Japan?

ThenumberfiveisimportantinJapaneseculture.

ThreethingsthatcanbefoundintraditionalJapanesecuisinearecolor,sense,andwaysofcooking.

BuddhismmostinfluencedhowJapanesefoodisprepared.

RiceisthemostimportantstapleinJapanesefood.

ThewealthymerchantclassbroughtforeignfoodfromEurope.

Comprehension

8 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 07 Martial Arts in Schools

Vocabulary Preview

1. c 2. b 3. a 4. g 5. f

Vocabulary Practice

1. d 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. b

Listening

The Law

AllpublicschoolkidsinJapanneedtolearnmartialarts

•Introducekidstosomemartialarts

•Teachkidsbasicmoves

What these classes can do:

•TeachkidsmuchaboutJapaneseculture

•Turneverykidintoablackbelt

What these classes can’t do:

Comprehension

Who Problem Solution

Schools/Teachers

Schoolsdon’thavefacilities.Theschoolscanchoosejudobecauseitdoesn’tneedspecialequipment.

Teachersdon’thavethetraining.

Thegovernmentprovidestrainingbooks,DVDs,andtrainingclasses.

Parents Kidsmightgethurt.Haveclassesfocusonbasicskills,sportsmanners,andrespectforothers.

9

Unit 08 Whole Person Education

Vocabulary Preview

1. d 2. a 3. g 4. f 5. e

Vocabulary Practice

1. emotions 2. tenet 3. classmates 4. lecture 5. absorb

Listening

Comprehension

•Methodsfocusonmemorizingfactsandskillslikereading,writing,andmath.

•Teachersprovideinformationthroughlectures.

•Studentssitandlisten.

•Themethodhelpsthechildthinkcreativelyanddevelopproblem-solvingskills.

•Itteachesstudentshowtothinkandtoexploretheirbeliefs.

•Itpreparesstudentsforfiguringoutanswerstoreal-worldquestionsintheirfuturelives.

•Teachersaremorelikefriendswhohelpbutdon’tgiveanswers.

•Studentsworktogether.

Schooling in the Past

Whole Person Education

The Four Basic Tenets of Whole Person Education

1 243Teachersaimtohelpstudents

understandthemselvesbetter.Studentshavetotrytounderstandtheirownideasandemotions.

Thebestwaytolearnisbydoing.Teacherswillhelpguidestudentstowardapossiblesolution,buttheyshouldnevergivethemtheanswer.

Itisimportantforclassmatestoworktogether.Studentsputtheirheadstogetherandworkwiththeirteacherstoanswerquestions.

Studentsshouldunderstandhowtheyinteractwiththerestoftheworldandhowtheworldinteractswithitself.Insteadoflearningaboutfacts,studentsmustthinkaboutthe“bigpicture.”

10 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 09 The Suzuki Method

Vocabulary Preview

1. b 2. f 3. e 4. c 5. d

Vocabulary Practice

1. d 2. a 3. d 4. b 5. c

Listening

Comprehension

•Themanisgoingtoapianolesson.•Hehasbeenplayingsincehewasfouryearsold.•Theman’sparentsthoughtitwasimportanttobeginearly.•TheytookhimtoaSuzukimusicschool,andhehasbeenplayingeversince.•ThewomanwantstoknowthesecretoftheSuzukiMethod.•It’seasierforchildrentolearnmusicthanadults.•Language(s)andmusicarelearnedthesameway.

•Musicshouldbemoreaboutsoundandemotion.

Learningmusicbyearismuchbetterthanreadingnotesonapieceofpaper.

Studentsmustpracticeingroups.

Studentsmustalwaysreviewthesongstheyhavealreadylearned.

•Whenplayinganinstrument,musiciansrarelyplayalone.

•Studentscanlearnfromeachother.

•Collaborationismoreimportantthancompetition.

•Sincetheydonotlearnhowtoreadmusic,thechildrenmustkeepallofthesongsintheirheads.

•Reviewingsimplesongsalsomakesstudentsrealizehowmuchtheyhaveimproved.

•Newwaystoplaypreviouslylearnedsongscanbediscovered,whichdevelopsmusicalskill.

•Bylisteningtogoodmusic,theynaturallystarttopickitup.

Childrenneedtolistentogoodmusic.

Themethodmustbenaturallyatayoungage.

•Youngpeopleabsorbinformationmucheasierthanolderpeople.

•Theyoungerapersonbegins,theeasiertheprocessisbecausethemindsofchildrenarelikesponges.

The Suzuki Method

11

Unit 10 Internet Café Kids

Vocabulary Preview

1. d 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. g

Vocabulary Practice

1. counsel 2. tons of 3. exceptional 4. casual 5. gadget

Listening

Comprehension

Theyoffercomfortablechairsthatcanlayflat,food,showers,drinks,books,movies,microwaves,lockers,andofcourse,theInternet.

Kidsrebelwhentheirparentstriedtoenrollthemin“Internetfastingcamps.”

Duetoeconomicdecline,somejobseekersfindthemselvesunemployedandwithoutaplacetolive.

Collegegraduatesmaysleepinsuchcafésbecauseitissocheap,andtheymovefromcafétocaféeachnightafterworkingsomesortofcasualjob.

WhatservicesdoInternetcafés

offer?

Whydosomeyoungpeople

become"Freeters?"

Living in an Internet

café

TheytoldhimhewasaddictedtotheInternet.

Hejustgraduatedfromcollege.

Heworksataconveniencestoreparttime.

Hedoesnothaveafull-timejob.

HewantstoliveinTokyo.

Hewantstolookforajobandhavefreedomtodowhathewants.

Whydidthemanmoveoutofhisparents’house?

Whyisithardforhimtofindajob?

Wheredoeshework?

Whycan’thefindanapartment?

Wheredoesthemanwanttolive?

Whatelsedoeshewant?

12 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 11 E-wallets

Vocabulary Preview

1. e 2. g 3. f 4. a 5. b

Vocabulary Practice

1. b 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. d

Listening

Comprehension

Theserver-side,whichstoresinformationonthecompany’ssecurecomputersysteminanencryptedformat

Theclient-side,whichishandledbytheuser

Categories

Increaseduseofsmartphonesandtechnologicaladvances=easierpurchases

NCF(NearFieldCommunication)makesthesystempossible

On Smartphones

Replacesidentitycards,driver’slicenses,healthcards,andloyaltycards

Cancompletelyreplacephysicalwallets

Benefits

Digital Wallets

Hepaidwithhise-wallet.

Hecanmakeanonlinepurchaseorbuysomethingatastore.

Yes.Thereistechnologytoencrypttheinformation.

Heneedstohaveasmartphone.Thenhecandownloadthesoftware.Next,hemustenterhisinformation.

Howdidthemanpayforhismeal?

Whydoeshelikeit?

Isitsafetouse?Why?

Whatdoeshisfriendneedtodotouseane-wallet?

13

Unit 12 The Space Program

Vocabulary Preview

1. d 2. b 3. f 4. a 5. c

Vocabulary Practice

1. device 2. establish 3. mission 4. aboard 5. coordinate

Listening

Comprehension

•Name:NaokoYamazaki

•Job:afemaleastronautinJapan’sspaceprogramWho?

•VisitedtheInternationalSpaceStation

•Hasretiredinordertocontinueherstudies(inengineering)What?

•1996:beganworkingfortheNationalSpaceDevelopmentAgency

•1999:wasselectedasacandidatetovisittheISSWhen?

•1964:TheISASisfoundedintheUniversityofTokyo.

•1969:NASDAisestablishedwithcentersinTanegashima,Kodaira,Mitaka;asatellitetrackingstationisbuiltinOkinawa.

1960s

•1985:NASDAbeginstheprocessforselectingJapaneseastronauts.

•1988:JapansignsaninternationalagreementwithfourothercountriestomakeandoperatetheInternationnalSpaceStation.

1980s

•1997:ThefirstJapaneseastronautwalksinspace.

•1999:Threeastronauts,includingonefemaleastronaut,areselectedbyNASDAascandidatestovisittheISS.

1990s

•2003:TheISAS,NAL,andNASDAmergetoformJAXA(JapaneseAerospaceExplorationAgency.)

•2009:Japansendsitsfirstastronautonalong-staymissionontheISS.2000s

•2012:ThefourthJapaneseastronauttocompletealong-staymissionaboardtheISSreturnstoEarth.

2010s

•1955:TheNALisestablishedalongwiththeAkitaRocketTestingCenter.

1950s

14 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 13 Idol Groups

Vocabulary Preview

1. a 2. c 3. f 4. e 5. d

Vocabulary Practice

1. b 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. a

Listening

SheislisteningtoanewsinglefromtheJ-popphenomenonAKB48.

Therearefourteams,andtheyeachhavetheirowntheme.

Shewantedtoauditionforthegroup.

Theirmusiciscatchyandfun.Theyareentertainingtowatch.Theyreallyconnectwiththeirfans.

Shewillgonextweek.

Theyareapproachable.

Fanscanlearnabouttheirmeasurements,bloodtypes,favoritefoods,andhobbies.

Whatisthewomanlisteningto?

Howmanyteamsarethere?

Whatdidthewomanwishshecoulddo?

Whydoesshelikethem?

Whenwillsheseetheminconcert?

Whyaretheysopopular?

Whatcanfanslearnaboutthem?

Comprehension

AKB48

haveastrongconnectionwiththeirfans

madeoffourteamssomemberscanperformindifferentplacesandcanrestbetweenperformances

wonLargestPopGroup

performsintheirowntheateronadailybasis

havehandshakeeventswherefanscantalktogroupmembers

wasnamedaftertheareaofTokyowherethetheaterislocated

15

Unit 14 Taboo Tattoos

Vocabulary Preview

1. e 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. b

Vocabulary Practice

1. resort 2. tattoo 3. elaborate 4. insert 5. gang

Listening

Heislookingattattoosonline.

Hewillnotbeallowedtogotohotsprings,resorts,orfitnessgyms.

Theyareassociatedwiththeyakuza,orJapanesegangs.

ShebelievesthatanMRImakestattoosexplode.

Hewantsatattoosothathecanexpresshimself.

Hewantsatattoowithcherryblossoms.

No.

Whatisthemandoing?

Wherewillhenotbeallowedtogoifhegetsatattoo?

Whoaretattoosassociatedwith?

Whatmythabouttattoosdoesthewomanbelieve?

Whydoesthemanwantatattoo?

Whatkindoftattoodoeshewant?

Willthemangetatattoothisweek?

Comprehension

The history of tattoos

•PeopleinJapanmayhavebeguntattooing12,000yearsagoduringtheJomonperiod.

•Theytattooedtheirbodiesforspiritualreasonsortoshowsocialstatus.

•Around1,500yearsago,tattooswereusedtomarkcriminals.•DuringtheEdoperiod,criminalstriedcoveringtheirtattooswithelaboratedesigns,sothegovernmentoutlawedtattooscompletely.

•Inthe1940s,thebanagainsttattooswaslifted,buttheystillweren’tpopular.

•Tattoosareassociatedwithmembersoftheyakuzaormafia.•Peoplewithvisibletattoosarenotallowedinsomeplaceslikepublicbaths,gyms,restaurants,orresorts.

•Businessmayrefusetohirepeoplewithtattoosorterminateemployeeswhogettattoos.

Tattoos today

•ThewordinJapaneseis“irezumi”•Thewordmeansto“insertink.”

The word

“tattoo”

16 Hot Topics Japan 2

Unit 15 The Business of Cosplay

Vocabulary Preview

1. a 2. c 3. e 4. g 5. f

Vocabulary Practice

1. a 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. b

Listening

•When:anytime(regularprice)•Howmuch:¥3,000for100cards•What: -uptofivedifferentdesigns -advicefromstafftodesigncardsBusiness Card Printing

•When:everyWednesdayinthemonthofJuly•Howmuch:25%offtheregularprice•What: -onehouruseofthestudio -useoffantasybackgrounds -useofpropsaswell

Special Studio Rental

Comprehension

The Cosplay Industry

Events:•CosplayersbuyticketstoeventsacrossJapanandinothercountries.

•FanscanbuyticketstoshowswithsingingCosplayidolsinthem.

Cosplay photos:•Cosplayersmaketheirownvideosandphotobookstosell.

•StudioshavespecialbackgroundssothatCosplayerscansetupphotosofthemselves.

•Photoscanbeusedonbusinesscards,andstudiosofferspecialdealsforCosplayerswhowanttomakecardsforallofthecharactersthat

theyplay.

Cosplay costumes: •mass-producedoutfitsandaccessories=¥5,000foranaveragecostume.

•custom-madeoutfit=over¥20,000foracostume•Cosplaycostumesforcharacterslikeschoolgirls,maids,nurses,police,andfiremenaremorepopularthansuperherocostumes.