(じしん)

earthquake

(ひがい)

damage; harm

(ちいさい)

small

(もくひょう)

goal / target

(きめる)

to decide

(にほん)

Japan

(せいふ)

government; administration

(とうきょう)

Tokyo

(した)

under, below

(おきる)

to happen, occur

(おおきい)

big; large

(あたらしい)

new

(しゅとちょっかじしん)

Tokyo metropolitan epicentral earthquake

(よぶ)

to call

(おおい)

many

(ひと)

person / people

(すむ)

to live; to reside

(ばしょ)

place

(しんぱい)

worry / concern

(しぬ)

to die

(かず)

number, count

(いま)

now

(すくない)

few, scarce

(いう)

to say

(たてもの)

building

(つよい)

strong

(かじ)

fire (accident)

(ふせぐ)

to prevent / to protect against

(たいせつ)

important

(けいかく)

plan

(つくる)

to make

(みんな)

Everyone; everybody

(そなえる)

to prepare; to provide against

(いえ)

house

(なか)

inside

(もの)

thing

(たおれる)

to collapse; to fall down

(みず)

water

(たべもの)

food

(ようい)

preparation; readiness

(ひつよう)

necessary / needed

about / regarding / concerning

Used to indicate the topic of discussion or consideration. Here it introduces the topic the team will think about.

is called / referred to as

Used in 南海トラフと呼ばれている to introduce and name the geological trough where the simulated earthquake occurred.

because ~ / since ~

Causal connector. Because JA is buying at higher prices, store prices will also rise.

passive / state

In 「心配されています」 the passive shows the damage is being worried about by people in general.

want to ~

Verb stem + たい to express desire.

doing things like A and B

Lists example actions.

nominalizer (the act of ~)

Turns a verb phrase into a noun. Here 話を聞くこと (the act of listening to a speech).

to make sure that, to ensure that

Expresses the goal of bringing about a certain state or preventing something. Formed with verb plain form + ようにする. Often used to describe efforts to ensure or prevent something.

～ is necessary

Indicates need.

地震の被害を小さくする目標を決める

Setting goals to reduce earthquake damage

日本の政府は、東京の下で起きる大きい地震について、新しい目標を決めました。

The Japanese government has set new goals regarding a large earthquake that would occur beneath Tokyo.

この地震は「首都直下地震」と呼ばれています。

This earthquake is called a 「首都直下地震」 (an earthquake directly beneath the capital).

多くの人が住む場所で起きるので、大きい被害が心配されています。

Because it would occur in a place where many people live, great damage is feared.

政府は、地震で死ぬ人の数を、今より少なくしたいと言っています。

The government says it wants to reduce the number of people who die in the earthquake compared to now.

建物を強くしたり、火事を防いだりすることが大切です。

It is important to strengthen buildings and to prevent fires.

そのために、新しい計画を作りました。

For that purpose, they have made a new plan.

政府は、みんなが地震に備えることも大切だと言っています。

The government says that it is also important for everyone to prepare for an earthquake.

家の中の物が倒れないようにしたり、水や食べ物を用意したりすることが必要です。

It is necessary to keep things inside the house from falling over and to prepare water and food.