Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in Japan, you’ve probably noticed that point cards are everywhere. Almost every shop, big or small, has its own point card system. Yes, even JR, the railway company you rely on to get around Tokyo, lets you rack up points when shopping at its department stores. Your local supermarket probably has one too, and the list goes on.
These cards, known in Japanese as pointo kaado, are essentially a rewards system. They allow customers to earn points for every yen they spend at a specific store or a group of affiliated retailers. But Japan’s love of point cards didn’t happen overnight. To really understand why they’re such a big deal here, it helps to look back at the history of promotions and customer loyalty campaigns that set the stage for this phenomenon.
In today’s podcast episode, Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei dive into the story behind Japan’s obsession with point cards, exploring what sparked it, how it evolved, and why people still can’t get enough of collecting points today.
Ubiquity of Point Cards in Japan
Point cards are everywhere in Japan, from supermarkets to department stores, and even railway companies like JR have their own. People earn points on almost every purchase, and using or collecting them has become a normal part of daily life.
Hidari-sensei explained that people just take it for granted now: “Living in Japan, it’s normal to receive or use points every day.” Even students notice how aggressively stores push their cards: “Go get the app! Sign up for the card!” It’s a little overwhelming at first, but it’s part of the culture.
Behind Point Card Culture in Japan
It’s more than just saving a few yen. Points are considered part of economic activity: buy something, and a percentage comes back as points you can use for more shopping.
Some people take it seriously, tracking which cards give the best points and which stores to visit. There’s even a term for it: poikatsu, or “point-saving activities.” The competitive nature of point programs is compared to a battlefield with multiple strong groups vying for customers.
Commercialization of Point Culture
Point culture has expanded beyond just buying goods. For example, some donation portals for the Furusato Nozei system began offering points for contributions. People could donate to towns outside their residence and receive gifts in return — like Kyoto pickles or Gifu knives — but some started donating mainly to collect points.
Nagai noted the irony: “People started donating not to help the town, but to collect points for other purchases.”
Point Card Controversy
The point craze has even caught the attention of the government. Because people were using points in ways that undermined the original spirit of programs like Furusato Nozei, the government banned points for donations starting in October 2025. The decision caused immediate pushback from portal sites and companies involved. As Nagai remarked, “The points ban is a perfect example of how our love for points can sometimes cause unexpected problems.” It’s a reminder that what starts as a fun reward system can have real consequences when it becomes too popular.
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New Vocabulary from The Podcast
What new Japanese words might you hear while listening to the podcast? Check out the vocabulary you might encounter along the way.
| Japanese | Romaji | English Translation |
| 切り離す | kirihanasu | to separate; to detach |
| 飽きる | akiru | to get tired of; to lose interest |
| しつこい | shitsukoi | persistent; nagging; stubborn |
| ポイントカード | pointo kaado | point card; loyalty card |
| 経済活動 | keizai katsudou | economic activity |
| ポイント還元 | pointo kangen | point cashback; point reward system |
| ポイント生活 | pointo seikatsu | “point life”; living with points |
| 群雄割拠 | gunyuu kakyo | many powerful groups competing; warring states |
| 象徴（する） | shouchou (suru) | symbol (to symbolize) |
| 住民税 | juuminzei | residential tax |
| 所得税 | shotokuzei | income tax |
| 漬物 | tsukemono | pickled vegetables |
| カブ | kabu | turnip |
| 寄付（する） | kifu (suru) | donation (to donate) |
| 仲介する／仲介業者／仲介手数料 | chuukai suru / chuukai gyousha / chuukai tesuuryou | to mediate / intermediary company / brokerage fee |
| 小分け | kowake | dividing into small portions; individually packaged |
| まさにそれ！ | masani sore! | Exactly that!; That’s exactly it! |
New Grammar From the Podcast
Along the way, the teachers introduced some new Japanese grammar. Find the full list of new grammar points
| Grammar | English Explanation |
| （いくら）～ても～ない… | “No matter how much…, it doesn’t…” Used to show something is inseparable or can’t be detached. |
| AことはA… | Used to compare or qualify a statement. |
Podcast Transcript
Below is a transcript of an episode of Coto Radio, a podcast presented by Coto Academy available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. We recommend listening to it in its original form for the full effect. The transcript has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Nagai-sensei:
どうもこんにちは！Cotoラジオをお聞きいただきましてありがとうございます。
Doumo konnichiwa! Coto Rajio o okiki itadakimashite arigatou gozaimasu.
Hello everyone! Thank you for listening to Coto Radio.
こちらのCoto Radio for Japanese Learnersでは、日本のニュースや生活の中の話題について、できるだけ簡単な日本語を使って、できるだけナチュラルな話し方とスピードでお話をしていきます。
Kochira no Coto Rajio for Japanese Learners de wa, Nihon no nyuusu ya seikatsu no naka no wadai ni tsuite, dekirudake kantan na Nihongo o tsukatte, dekirudake nachuraru na hanashikata to supiido de ohanashi o shite ikimasu.
On this Coto Radio for Japanese Learners, we talk about Japanese news and everyday life using as simple Japanese as possible, and in as natural a speaking style and speed as we can.
語彙や文法については、先生の説明もあるので、ぜひ今回も最後までお聞きください！
Goi ya bunpou ni tsuite wa, sensei no setsumei mo aru node, zehi konkai mo saigo made okiki kudasai!
There will also be explanations of vocabulary and grammar, so please listen all the way to the end!
はい。さてさて、今回は、我々、現代の日本人にとっては切っても切っても切り離せない文化のお話をしたいと思うんですがよろしいでしょうか。
Hai. Sasete, konkai wa, wareware, gendai no Nihonjin ni totte wa kitte mo kitte mo kirihanasenai bunka no ohanashi o shitai to omou ndesu ga yoroshii deshou ka.
Yes. So, today we want to talk about a part of modern Japanese culture that is absolutely inseparable from daily life.
Does that sound okay?
Hidari-sensei:
いいですね！早速！
Ii desu ne! Sassoku!
Sounds good! Let’s get started!
「いくら～しても～ない」…私たちの気持ちを上手に表してくれる日本語表現ですね。
“Ikura ~ shitemo ~ nai”… Watashitachi no kimochi o jouzu ni arawashite kureru Nihongo hyougen desu ne.
“No matter how much you ~, it doesn’t ~”… It is a Japanese expression that really captures how we feel.
がんばって、それをしようと思って、何回もそれをするんだけど…なかなかそれができないこと。
Ganbatte, sore o shiyou to omotte, nankai mo sore o suru n da kedo… nakanaka sore ga dekinai koto.
We try hard and attempt something over and over.
But sometimes we just cannot do it.
思った通りにいかない時に使う表現ですね。
Omotta toori ni ikanai toki ni tsukau hyougen desu ne.
It is used when things don’t go as we thought.
切っても切れない、切っても切り離せない…はもうそれだけしっかりつながっている、関係が深い！
Kitte mo kirenai, kitte mo kirihanasenai… wa mou sore dake shikkari tsunagatte iru, kankei ga fukai!
“Unbreakable” or “inseparable”… It expresses that the connection is already very strong and deep!
関係が硬い！強い！…ということを表現しています。
Kankei ga katai! Tsuyoi! … To iu koto o hyougen shiteimasu.
It also expresses that the relationship is solid and strong!
Nagai-sensei:
ありがとうございます。
Arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
ね、ビールはいくら飲んでもあきないし、サッカーは…？
Ne, biiru wa ikura nondemo akinai shi, sakkaa wa…?
You know, no matter how much you drink beer, it never gets boring.
And soccer…?
Hidari-sensei:
はい、いくら見てもあきません！
Hai, ikura mite mo akimasen!
I never get bored!
Nagai-sensei:
はい、そんな日本人とほんっと～に関係の深い文化！
Hai, sonna Nihonjin to honto~ ni kankei no fukai bunka!
Yes, this is a culture that is really deeply connected to Japanese people!
Hidari-sensei:
ほう、それはなんでしょう！？
Hou, sore wa nan deshou!?
Oh? What is that?
Nagai-sensei:
「ポイント文化」です。
“Pointo bunka” desu.
It is the “point card culture.”
今日はポイントが大好きな日本だから起きた、ポイントのニュースについて話しませんか！？
Kyou wa pointo ga daisuki na Nihon dakara okita, pointo no nyuusu ni tsuite hanashimasen ka!?
Today, let’s talk about a news story that happened because Japan loves points so much!
Hidari-sensei:
ああ～ポイント！なるほど。確かに文化かもしれません！
Aa~ pointo! Naruhodo. Tashika ni bunka kamo shiremasen!
Ah, points! I see. That really could be considered a part of culture!
Nagai-sensei:
はい。ポイントです。
Hai. Pointo desu.
Yes. Points.
この前、左先生もスタジオの前でやってて笑ってしまいましたが、僕もよくやるんですよ、あの・・・レジの前で、「この店のポイントカード、確かここに入れたよな」事件。
Kono mae, Hidari-sensei mo sutajio no mae de yatte te waratte shimaimashita ga, boku mo yoku yaru n desu yo, ano… reji no mae de, “kono mise no pointo kaado, tashika koko ni ireta yo na” jiken.
The other day, Hidari-sensei did the same thing in front of the studio and it made me laugh.
I do this all the time too—the classic “I am sure I put this store’s point card here somewhere” incident at the register.
Hidari-sensei:
えー、記憶にございま・せ・ん。
Ee, kioku ni gozaimasen.
Uh—I do not remember.
Nagai-sensei:
あ！嫌な質問された時の政治家の答えじゃないですか（笑）
Ah! I guess that is like a politician’s answer when they get asked a tricky question (laughs).
Hidari-sensei:
よくわかりま・・せん。
Yoku wakarima… sen.
I really do not understand…
Nagai-sensei:
え～と、じゃ進めますよ。
E~to, ja susumemasu yo.
Okay, let’s move on.
Hidari-sensei:
はい。
Hai.
Yes.
先生はポイントってどうですか？買い物の時、毎回ためてますか？
Sensei wa pointo tte dou desu ka? Kaimono no toki, maikai tametemasu ka?
How about you, sensei? Do you collect points every time you shop?
はい、ドラッグストア、スーパー、コンビニ、日常的によく行くお店ではしっかり貯めてます。
Hai, doraggu sutoa, suupaa, konbini, nichijou-teki ni yoku iku omise de wa shikkari tametemasu.
Yes, I collect points diligently at drugstores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and other places I visit regularly.
Nagai-sensei:
学生からも、日本で買い物とかご飯食べたりすると、どのお店に行ってもポイントポイントって言われるって。
Gakusei kara mo, Nihon de kaimono toka gohan tabetari suru to, do no omise ni itte mo pointo pointo tte iwareru tte.
Students also say that when they shop or eat in Japan, every store asks them about points.
先生あれは何なんだ！？なんでお店の人はあんなに私にポイントをあげたがるんだい！？
Sensei, are wa nan nan da!? Nande omise no hito wa anna ni watashi ni pointo o agetagarun dai!?
What’s up with that!? Why do store staff want to give me points so much!?
カード作って！アプリ入れて！って先生もありません？
Kaado tsukutte! Apuri irete! tte sensei mo arimasen?
“Make a card! Install the app!” Have you experienced that too?
Hidari-sensei:
はい、よくあります。
Hai, yoku arimasu.
Yes, that happens a lot.
以前はよく学生に「ふくろは？」「けっこうです」というやりとりを教えていたものです。
Izen wa yoku gakusei ni “fukuro wa?” “kekkou desu” to iu yaritori o oshiete ita mono desu.
Before, I often taught students how to say, “Do you need a bag?” “No, thank you.”
最近では「ポイントカードは？」「ありません」「持っていません」というフレーズを教えることも多くなりました。
Saikin de wa “pointo kaado wa?” “Arimasen” “Motteimasen” to iu fureezu o oshieru koto mo ooku narimashita.
Recently, I often teach phrases like, “Do you have a point card?” “No, I don’t.”
日本に住んでいると、もう当たり前のように、毎日何かのポイントをもらったり使ったりしていますよね～。
Nihon ni sunde iru to, mou atarimae no you ni, mainichi nanika no pointo o morattari tsukattari shiteimasu yo ne~.
When you live in Japan, it becomes normal to receive and use points every day.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、そうなんですよ。ポイントカードのインバイトも激しいですよね。
Hai, sou nan desu yo. Pointo kaado no inbaito mo hageshii desu yo ne.
Yes, that’s right. The point card invites are pretty intense too.
僕も学習者の皆さんから、そういうの、自分の国にもあることはあるけど、日本のようにしつこいお店はないって話は聞いたことがあります。
Boku mo gakushuusha no minasan kara, sou iu no, jibun no kuni ni mo aru koto wa aru kedo, Nihon no you ni shitsukoi omise wa nai tte hanashi wa kiita koto ga arimasu.
I’ve also heard from learners that other countries have points too, but no store is as persistent as in Japan.
Hidari-sensei:
あ、じゃあ言葉の説明しておきますね！
A, jaa kotoba no setsumei shite okimasu ne!
Ah, let me explain a word then!
「しつこい」…英語にするとpersistentでしょうかね。
“Shitsukoi”… Eigo ni suru to persistent deshou ka ne.
“Shitsukoi” in English might be “persistent.”
簡単に1回や2回でそれをやめない。あきらめない。
Kantan ni ikkai ya nikai de sore o yamenai. Akiramenai.
It means not giving up after one or two tries.
never give upのようにポジティブな意味では使いませんので、気を付けてください。
Never give up no you ni pojitibu na imi de wa tsukaimasen node, ki o tsukete kudasai.
But unlike “never give up,” it isn’t used positively, so be careful.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます。
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu.
Thank you.
ね、「彼は本当にしつこい努力をします！」…みたいな文には
Ne, “kare wa hontou ni shitsukoi doryoku o shimasu!” … Mitaina bun ni wa
So, in a sentence like “He makes really persistent efforts!”…
Hidari-sensei:
なりません。はい。
Narimasen. Hai.
That would not work. Yes.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、で、アメリカの学生は、もう「ポイント」と言えば飛行機のマイル、あとは～ホテルに泊まったときにもらうくらいが一般的なポイントですって言ってましたが、日本人は、みんな好きなんですよね？ポイントが。
Hai, de, Amerika no gakusei wa, mou “pointo” to ieba hikouki no mairu, ato wa~ hoteru ni tomatta toki ni morau kurai ga ippanteki na pointo desu tte itte mashita ga, Nihonjin wa, minna suki nan desu yo ne? Pointo ga.
American students said that “points” usually means airline miles or points for staying at hotels. But Japanese people love points, right?
Hidari-sensei:
はい。確実に物を売ったり買ったりする動き、「経済活動」の一部として理解していますよね。
Hai. Kakujitsu ni mono o uttari kaitari suru ugoki, “keizai katsudou” no ichibu to shite rikai shiteimasu yo ne.
Yes. Japanese people understand it as part of economic activity—when you buy or sell something.
何か買ったらその中の何パーセントが、ポイントとして戻ってくる。つまり「ポイント還元」ですね。
Nanika kattara sono naka no nan paasento ga, pointo toshite modotte kuru. Tsumari “pointo kangen” desu ne.
When you buy something, a percentage comes back as points. That’s “point cashback.”
Nagai-sensei:
はい。で、そのポイントを使ってまた買い物をする…と。
Hai. De, sono pointo o tsukatte mata kaimono o suru… to.
Yes. Then you use those points to shop again…
Hidari-sensei:
「ポイント生活」「ポイ活」なんて言葉もありますからね～。
“Pointo seikatsu” “poikatsu” nante kotoba mo arimasu kara ne~.
There are even words like “point life” or “poikatsu” (point activities).
Nagai-sensei:
そうですよ本も出てるし。専門家もいますから。ポイント専門家。
Sou desu yo hon mo deteru shi. Senmonka mo imasu kara. Pointo senmonka.
Yes, there are books about it, and even experts—point experts.
Hidari-sensei:
どのカードで買い物をすればポイントが上手にたまるか？という方法がたくさん読まれていますね。
Dono kaado de kaimono o sureba pointo ga jouzu ni tamaru ka? To iu houhou ga takusan yomareteimasu ne.
There are many guides on how to collect points most efficiently, depending on which card you use.
Nagai-sensei:
いや～すごい時代です。ポイント戦国時代！ポイント群雄割拠！
Iya~ sugoi jidai desu. Pointo sengoku jidai! Pointo gunyuu kakyo!
Wow, what an era. The point card warring states era! Points everywhere are competing!
Hidari-sensei:
「群雄割拠」…すごく力の強いグループが1つだけ王様みたいにいるんじゃなくて、同じくらいの強さのグループがいくつもあって、さらに、みんなが敵、ライバルとして戦っている状態を「群雄割拠」と言いますね。
“Gunyuu kakyo”… Sugoku chikara no tsuyoi guruupu ga hitotsu dake ousama mitai ni iru n ja nakute, onaji kurai no tsuyosa no guruupu ga ikutsu mo atte, sara ni, minna ga teki, raibaru to shite tatakatte iru joutai o “gunyuu kakyo” to iimasu ne.
“Gunyuu kakyo” means a situation where many equally strong groups exist, all competing as rivals, instead of having one dominant king group.
Want to study Japanese with us?
Nagai-sensei:
すみません、なんか、日本の歴史で使うような言葉の説明まで…。
Sumimasen, nanka, Nihon no rekishi de tsukau you na kotoba no setsumei made…
Sorry, now I even explained a word from Japanese history…
Hidari-sensei:
いえ、日本の歴史が好きな学習者って結構いるので、もしかしたら聞いている学習者の中にも喜んでいる方がいるかもしれませんよ！
Ie, Nihon no rekishi ga suki na gakushuusha tte kekkou iru node, moshikashitara kiite iru gakushuusha no naka ni mo yorokonde iru kata ga iru kamoshiremasen yo!
No, there are many learners who like Japanese history, so some listeners might actually enjoy it!
Nagai-sensei:
ああ、ぜひいてほしい！
Aa, zehi ite hoshii!
Ah, I hope so!
Nagai-sensei:
で、えっと…このポイント群雄割拠の日本を象徴したニュースが先日のニュースです。
De, e~to… Kono pointo gunyuu kakyo no Nihon o shouchou shita nyuusu ga senjitsu no nyuusu desu.
So, the news story that symbolizes Japan’s “point card warring states” is a recent news item.
Hidari-sensei:
「ふるさと納税ポイント禁止！」のニュースでしょうか？
“Furusato nozei pointo kinshi!” no nyuusu deshou ka?
Is it the news about “Furusato tax donation points being banned”?
Nagai-sensei:
はいそれですー！
Hai, sore desu~!
Yes, that’s the one!
Hidari-sensei:
先に「Aを象徴するB」…を説明しましょう。
Saki ni “A o shouchou suru B”… o setsumei shimashou.
First, let me explain “B that symbolizes A”…
象徴するは、直訳するとSymbolizeですが、文の中での意味としては、「Bが起きた理由は、Aを知ってるとすごくよくわかる」という気持ちで使っています。
Shouchou suru wa, chokuyaku suru to symbolize desu ga, bun no naka de no imi to shite wa, “B ga okita riyuu wa, A o shitteru to sugoku yoku wakaru” to iu kimochi de tsukatteimasu.
“Shouchou suru” literally means “to symbolize,” but in context it expresses “if you know A, you can understand perfectly why B happened.”
この文も、「日本にはポイント文化というのがあるんだよ。それを知っているとこのニュースはすごくよくわかりますよ！一番いい例のようなニュースです。」という意味になります。
Kono bun mo, “Nihon ni wa pointo bunka to iu no ga aru n da yo. Sore o shitte iru to kono nyuusu wa sugoku yoku wakarimasu yo! Ichiban ii rei no you na nyuusu desu.” To iu imi ni narimasu.
This sentence also means: “Japan has a point card culture. If you know that, you understand this news perfectly! It’s the best example of it.”
Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます！
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu!
Yes, thank you!
ふるさと納税、聞いたことがある人もいるかもしれませんが、日本に住んで、日本で働いて、会社から給料をもらっている人。
Furusato nozei, kiita koto ga aru hito mo iru kamoshiremasen ga, Nihon ni sunde, Nihon de hataraite, kaisha kara kyuuryou o moratte iru hito.
Some of you may have heard of furusato tax donations. It’s for people living and working in Japan who get paid by a company.
毎月住民税と所得税というTaxを払ってくれています。
Maitsuki juuminzei to shotokuzei to iu tax o haratte kureteimasu.
They pay residential tax and income tax every month.
Hidari-sensei:
はい、residential tax（住民税）とincome tax（所得税）ですね。
Hai, residential tax (juuminzei) to income tax (shotokuzei) desu ne.
Yes, residential tax and income tax.
Nagai-sensei:
そう、その税金を払っている人は、自分が住んでいる場所じゃないところにも自分のお金を送ることができます！
Sou, sono zeikin o haratte iru hito wa, jibun ga sunde iru basho ja nai tokoro ni mo jibun no okane o okuru koto ga dekimasu!
Those who pay these taxes can also send money to places they don’t live in!
例えば、自分は横浜に住んでいるけど、京都が好きだから、私のお金を京都の観光のために使ってください！って10,000円送ります。
Tatoeba, jibun wa Yokohama ni sunde iru kedo, Kyoto ga suki dakara, watashi no okane o Kyoto no kankou no tame ni tsukatte kudasai! tte 10,000 en okurimasu.
For example, you live in Yokohama but like Kyoto, so you send 10,000 yen saying, “Use this for tourism in Kyoto!”
Hidari-sensei:
寄付、donationですね。
Kifu, donation desu ne.
That’s a donation.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、で、寄付したら、そのお礼で京都から、京都で作った有名な漬物が送られてくる！
Hai, de, kifu shitara, sono orei de Kyoto kara, Kyoto de tsukutta yuumei na tsukemono ga okurarete kuru!
Then, as a thank-you, Kyoto sends you famous pickles made there!
お金ありがとう！お礼にこの漬物食べてください！美味しいよこのカブ！すごく上手に時間をかけて漬けたんですよこのカブ！本当は京都でしか食べられないけどお礼に送ったから！このカブの・・・
Okane arigatou! Orei ni kono tsukemono tabete kudasai! Oishii yo kono kabu! Sugoku jouzu ni jikan o kakete tsuketa n desu yo kono kabu! Hontou wa Kyoto de shika taberarenai kedo orei ni okutta kara! Kono kabu no…
“Thank you for the money! Here’s a pickle as a gift! It’s delicious! This turnip was carefully pickled. You can normally only eat it in Kyoto, but we sent it to thank you!”
Hidari-sensei:
あ、「しつこい」ですね。もう漬物はわかりました。
A, “shitsukoi” desu ne. Mou tsukemono wa wakarimashita.
Ah, persistent, right? Okay, we get it about the pickles.
Nagai-sensei:
あ、すみません、はい、そう、で、寄付をすると、その分、自分のincome taxとか自分が払っているresidential taxが安くなるんです。
A, sumimasen, hai, sou, de, kifu o suru to, sono bun, jibun no income tax toka jibun ga haratte iru residential tax ga yasuku narun desu.
Ah, sorry. Yes, so if you make a donation, your income tax and residential tax are reduced accordingly.
それが「ふるさと納税」というシステムなんです。
Sore ga “furusato nozei” to iu system nan desu.
That is the “furusato nozei” system.
先生、どこかに寄付したことありますか？
Sensei, doko ka ni kifu shita koto arimasu ka?
Have you ever made a donation anywhere?
Hidari-sensei:
それが、一度もないんです。長井先生はどうですか。どこかおススメありますか。
Sore ga, ichido mo nai n desu. Nagai sensei wa dou desu ka. Doko ka osusume arimasu ka.
I’ve never done it. Nagai-sensei, how about you? Any recommendations?
Nagai-sensei:
そうですか。僕は、もう本当のふるさと新潟とか妻のふるさと高知とか、あと、おすすめは、一点ものをくれるところですかね！
Sou desu ka. Boku wa, mou hontou no furusato Niigata toka tsuma no furusato Kochi toka, ato, osusume wa, itten mono o kureru tokoro desu ka ne!
I see. I donate to my real hometown Niigata, my wife’s hometown Kochi, and places that give a unique gift in return!
知り合いの出身地の岐阜県、関市とか。
Shiriai no shusshin-chi no Gifu-ken, Seki-shi toka.
For example, Gifu Prefecture, Seki City, where friends are from.
関市はね包丁作りで有名ですから、お礼に本当に包丁をくれました！
Seki-shi wa ne houchou zukuri de yuumei desu kara, orei ni hontou ni houchou o kuremashita!
Seki City is famous for making knives, and they actually sent me a knife as a thank-you!
すっごい切れるやつ！！料理の回数増えましたよ！
Sugoi kireru yatsu!! Ryouri no kaisuu fuemashita yo!
It’s really sharp!! I started cooking more often!
Nagai-sensei:
はい、それで、あれの、寄付をするポータルサイト！仲介業者！
Hai, sore de, are no, kifu o suru po-taru saito! Chuukai gyousha!
Yes, and then there’s the donation portal site! The intermediary company!
その寄付をした町、つまり大好きな京都ではなくて、その寄付をするウェブサイトをadminしている会社が、その寄付した人に、ポイントを付けたんです！
Sono kifu o shita machi, tsumari daisuki na Kyoto de wa nakute, sono kifu o suru webusaito o admin shite iru kaisha ga, sono kifu shita hito ni, pointo o tsuketa n desu!
The company managing the website, not the town you donated to—like Kyoto—gave points to people who made donations!
Hidari-sensei:
なんか、そうなると、寄付した人は、ポイントがほしいのか、京都が好きなのか…もうわからなくなりますね…。
Nanka, sou naru to, kifu shita hito wa, pointo ga hoshii no ka, Kyoto ga suki nano ka… mou wakaranaku narimasu ne…
At that point, it’s hard to tell if donors care about points or if they love Kyoto…
Nagai-sensei:
はい。まさにそれが、今回のニュースの理由でして。
Hai. Masani sore ga, konkai no nyuusu no riyuu deshite.
Yes. That’s exactly the reason behind this news.
Want to study Japanese with us?
Hidari-sensei:
「まさに」…長井先生よく使うので説明しておきましょう！
“Masani”… Nagai sensei yoku tsukau node setsumei shite okimashou!
“Masani”… Nagai-sensei uses this a lot, so let me explain!
「まさに」・・・は「それにピッタリなんだよ！そのままなんだよ！」という意味で、「まさにその通り！」みたいな形でよく使われます。
“Masani”… wa “sore ni pittari n da yo! Sono mama n da yo!” to iu imi de, “masani sono toori!” mitaina katachi de yoku tsukawaremasu.
“Masani” means “that’s exactly it! That’s just how it is!” It’s often used like, “Exactly right!”
例えば「先生はまさにプロフェッショナルだった。」
Tatoeba “Sensei wa masani purofesshonaru datta.”
For example: “The teacher was exactly a professional.”
あとは、「その時ちょうど」という時間を表す時にも使いますね。
Ato wa, “sono toki choudo” to iu jikan o arawasu toki ni mo tsukaimasu ne.
It’s also used to indicate an exact moment in time.
「外に出た、まさにその時！大地震が！」みたいな。
“Soto ni deta, masani sono toki! Daijishin ga!” mitaina.
For example: “I stepped outside, and exactly at that moment—a huge earthquake!”
「ちょうど」とか「とたん」よりもインパクトが強いものに使ってみましょう～！
“Choudo” toka “totan” yori mo inpaku ga tsuyoi mono ni tsukatte mimashou~!
Use it for something more impactful than just “just then” or “the moment.”
Nagai-sensei:
「外に出たまさにその時！田中さんにあいさつをした…。」みたいな文は作りません。
“Soto ni deta masani sono toki! Tanaka-san ni aisatsu o shita…” mitaina bun wa tsukurimasen.
I wouldn’t make a sentence like, “I stepped outside, and exactly then I greeted Tanaka…”
そんなインパクトのあるできごとじゃないので…昨日も見たし田中さん。
Sonna inpaku no aru dekigoto ja nai node… kinou mo mita shi Tanaka-san.
It’s not that dramatic of an event… I saw Tanaka yesterday anyway.
Hidari-sensei:
はい、そうです。毎日あいさつしてますから！
Hai, sou desu. Mainichi aisatsu shite masu kara!
Yes, that’s right. We greet each other every day!
Nagai-sensei:
で、えっと、そう、政府が、最初に考えていたのは、「あの町のために寄付したい！そのお金できれいな道路作って！英語話せるボランティアの人をたくさん増やして！」という気持ちで寄付してくれた気持ちが、今は、「ポイントをたくさん貯めて他の買い物したいから！」という気持ちに変わってしまった！
De, e~to, sou, seifu ga, saisho ni kangaete ita no wa, “ano machi no tame ni kifu shitai! Sono okane de kirei na douro tsukutte! Eigo hanaseru borantia no hito o takusan fuyashite!” to iu kimochi de kifu shite kureta kimochi ga, ima wa, “pointo o takusan tamete hoka no kaimono shitai kara!” to iu kimochi ni kawatte shimatta!
Originally, the government thought people donated to towns to make clean roads or increase English-speaking volunteers.
Now, it has turned into people donating just to earn points for other shopping!
Hidari-sensei:
あとは、もちろんポータルサイトには「仲介手数料」というインセンティブを結構払わなければいけませんしね。
Ato wa, mochiron po-taru saito ni wa “chuukai tesuuryou” to iu insentibu o kekkou harawanakereba ikemasen shi ne.
Also, the portal sites need to pay considerable “intermediary fees.”
それも京都…はまあ例えですけど、町や市にとっては高くなり始めたということでしょうか。
Sore mo Kyoto… wa maa tatoe desu kedo, machi ya shi ni totte wa takaku nari hajimeta to iu koto deshou ka.
Even for towns like Kyoto—it’s just an example—the costs started to rise for municipalities.
それで、「ポイント禁止」という国の発表になったんですね～。
Sore de, “pointo kinshi” to iu kuni no happyou ni natta n desu ne~.
That’s why the government announced a “point ban.”
Nagai-sensei:
はい。そうなのです。2025年の10月から来年から、寄付をしても、その分のポイントは入らないですよ～。
Hai. Sou nano desu. 2025 nen no 10 gatsu kara rainen kara, kifu o shite mo, sono bun no pointo wa hairanai desu yo~.
Yes. Starting October 2025, even if you donate, you won’t earn points for it.
というか、ポイント付けるポータルサイトはcloseしますからね～というルールを国が発表していました。
To iu ka, pointo tsukeru po-taru saito wa close shimasu kara ne~ to iu ruuru o kuni ga happyou shite imashita.
In other words, the government announced that websites giving points will be shut down.
本当に最近。
Hontou ni saikin.
This was very recent news.
Hidari-sensei:
ポータルサイトの管理会社は”大反対”するんじゃないでしょうか？
Po-taru saito no kanri kaisha wa “dai hantai” surun janai deshou ka?
I bet the companies managing these portals strongly oppose it.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、もうこれはもう政府が発表したまさにその直後に「そのルール反対！」という意見が出されていましたね。
Hai, mou kore wa mou seifu ga happyou shita masani sono chokugo ni “sono ru-ru hantai!” to iu iken ga dasarete imashita ne.
Yes, immediately after the government announced it, opinions saying “We oppose this rule!” came out.
世界的にも有名な会社から。
Sekaiteki ni mo yuumei na kaisha kara.
Even from globally famous companies.
Hidari-sensei:
インパクト強いですね！
Inpaku tsuyoi desu ne!
That’s a strong impact!
Nagai-sensei:
はい、トップニュースですから。
Hai, toppu nyuusu desu kara.
Yes, it’s top news.
どうなんでしょう？ ポイント文化が生んだポイント禁止事件！
Dou nan deshou? Pointo bunka ga unda pointo kinshi jiken!
What will happen next? The point ban incident born from point culture!
Hidari-sensei:
もらうと嬉しいポイントも、もらいすぎると問題になるんですね。
Morau to ureshii pointo mo, morai sugiru to mondai ni narun desu ne.
Even points that are fun to receive can become a problem if there are too many.
Nagai-sensei:
あ！そうだ、みなさん、もし日本に来たら、いろんなところでポイントカードを作って、
A! Sou da, minasan, moshi Nihon ni kitara, ironna tokoro de pointo kaado o tsukutte,
Ah! By the way, everyone, if you come to Japan, make point cards at various places,
それを国に帰ってから友達や家族にお土産として渡してみたらどうでしょうかね～！？
Sore o kuni ni kaette kara tomodachi ya kazoku ni omiyage toshite watashite mitara dou deshou ka ne~!?
and then take them home and give them as souvenirs to friends or family!
今の日本の文化を象徴するお土産！どうですか？
Ima no Nihon no bunka o shouchou suru omiyage! Dou desu ka?
A souvenir that symbolizes current Japanese culture! How about that?
Hidari-sensei:
ん～日本文化を…感じるかなあ。
N~ Nihon bunka o… kanjiru kanaa.
Hmm… I wonder if they would really feel Japanese culture.
Nagai-sensei:
ちょっと難しいですかね。あ、じゃあハンコとか押してあったらさらに文化レベル上がりませんかね！
Chotto muzukashii desu ka ne. A, jaa hanko toka oshite attara sara ni bunka reberu agarimasen ka ne!
That might be tricky. Ah, if you stamped them with a hanko (seal), wouldn’t it feel even more cultural?
Hidari-sensei:
ん～そうですね～…。
N~ sou desu ne~…
Hmm… yes, maybe…
Nagai-sensei:
あ、じゃあさらにそのカードを一枚一枚パッキングして小分けの袋に入れたポイントカード・・・！
A, jaa sara ni sono kaado o ichimai ichimai pakkingu shite kowake no fukuro ni iret…ta pointo kaado…!
Ah, and then pack each card individually in small bags… point cards…!
Hidari-sensei:
はい、もうしつこいので、今日はこの辺で私が終わりにしまーす！
Hai, mou shitsukoi node, kyou wa kono hen de watashi ga owari ni shima~su!
Yes, that’s persistent enough, so I’ll stop here for today!
最後までお聞きいただきましてありがとうございました！
Saigo made okiki itadakimashite arigatou gozaimashita!
Thank you for listening until the end!
長井先生、ありがとうございました！
Nagai sensei, arigatou gozaimashita!
Thank you, Nagai-sensei!
Nagai-sensei:
あー、ありがとうございました。
A~, arigatou gozaimashita.
Ah, thank you very much.
Hidari-sensei:
CotoRadio For Japanese Learnersお相手は わたくし、左と
Coto Radio For Japanese Learners o aite wa watakushi, Hidari to
You’ve been listening to Coto Radio For Japanese Learners, with me, Hidari,
Nagai-sensei:
Mr. Nagaiでした…！
Mr. Nagai deshita…!
and Mr. Nagai…!
Nagai-sensei / Hidari-sensei:
それでは、じゃあ、また、次回～！
Soredewa, jaa, mata, jikai~!
Well then, see you next time!
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