(きょねん)

last year

(うまれる)

to be born

(こども)

child

(まん)

ten thousand

(にん)

counter for people

(かこ)

the past

(さいしょう)

fewest, minimum

(にほん)

Japan

(せいふ)

government; administration

(かず)

number, count

(はっぴょう)

announcement

(やく)

approximately, about

(いままで)

until now / so far

(すくない)

few, scarce

(なる)

to become

(ここ)

here; this place

(すうねん)

several years

(ずっと)

continuously; all along

(へる)

to decrease / to diminish

(せんもんか)

expert, specialist

(けっこん)

marriage

(ひと)

person / people

(こそだて)

child-rearing, parenting

(おかね)

money

(かかる)

to take (time/money), cost

(げんいん)

cause / reason

(はなす)

to speak, talk

(わかい)

young

(せだい)

generation

(あんしん)

relief / peace of mind

(そだてる)

to raise, to bring up, to grow

(いろいろ)

various

(しえん)

support; aid; assistance

(すすめる)

to advance; to move forward

(いう)

to say

(しかし)

however, but

(じょうきょう)

situation, circumstances

(まだ)

still; yet

(きびしい)

strict, severe

past tense (plain/polite past)

Used throughout this news report to describe past events: the typhoon moved east, rain fell, warnings were issued.

the most ~ (superlative)

States it is the smallest number ever, using 最も to mark the superlative.

to continue doing ...

Verb stem + 続ける expresses continuing an action. The て-form あげ続ける means 'continue giving'. A common compound verb pattern.

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる. Can describe an action in progress or a state resulting from a past change.

nominalizer (the fact of ~)

Turns a verb phrase into a noun. Used here to refer to 'the fact of becoming yokozuna' which is being celebrated.

so that ~

Indicates a goal or desired outcome. Here: so that trainees reach the Specified Skilled Worker level.

can do, be able to (potential form)

Expresses being able to raise children with peace of mind.

as is, remain in state

Indicates a state that remains unchanged.

去年生まれた子どもは67万人　過去最少

670,000 Children Were Born Last Year — the Fewest Ever

日本の政府は、去年生まれた子どもの数を発表しました。

The Japanese government announced the number of children born last year.

その数は約67万人で、今までで最も少ない数になりました。

That number was about 670,000, the lowest figure ever recorded.

子どもの数は、ここ数年ずっと減り続けています。

The number of children has kept decreasing for the past several years.

専門家は、結婚する人が減っていることや、子育てにお金がかかることが原因だと話しています。

Experts say the causes are the decline in the number of people getting married and the high cost of raising children.

政府は、若い世代が安心して子どもを育てられるように、いろいろな支援を進めると言っています。

The government says it will move forward with various forms of support so that the younger generation can raise children with peace of mind.

しかし、状況はまだ厳しいままです。

However, the situation still remains difficult.