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.

Japan is known for many great things: fresh food at convenience stores, high-tech bidet toilets, and an amazing transportation system. Cheap fruits and vegetables, however, are not among them.

While Japan takes great pride in its seasonal produce and the meticulous care that goes into growing it, many are surprised by just how expensive fruits and vegetables can be. In 2024, for example, tomatoes cost about 120 yen more than average, and cabbages sometimes sold for over 500 yen per head. Japan is even home to the most expensive fruit in the world: the Yubari King melon. In May 2023, a pair of these luxury melons sold for ¥3.5 million.

In this episode, our hosts share their love for summer vegetables and fruits such as grapes, watermelon, and mango. They also discuss the reasons behind Japan’s high produce prices: limited farmland, seasonal fluctuations in supply, unusual weather, and the impact of a weaker yen on imports.

Japanese Summer Fruits in Japan

Japan offers a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and fruits, especially in summer. Popular vegetables include tomatoes, corn, okra, and eggplant, while fruits such as grapes, watermelon, melons, and mangoes are widely enjoyed. Seasonal produce plays an important role in cooking and daily meals, with many varieties and colors available throughout the country.

Vegetables in Japan are generally harvested within a year, whereas fruits often take two or more years to grow. This difference affects cultivation, harvest timing, and availability, highlighting the importance of seasonal cycles in Japanese food culture.

Why Produce Prices Are High in Japan: Weather, Land, and Imports

Japanese vegetables and fruits are often more expensive than in other countries. Factors include limited farmland, seasonal fluctuations, unusual weather, and the cost of imports affected by currency exchange rates. Even processed foods, such as ketchup, butter, and cheese, increase in price as the cost of raw ingredients rises.

These price changes are often influenced by both natural and economic conditions. Unpredictable weather can reduce crop yields, while currency fluctuations make importing produce more expensive. Understanding these factors helps learners make sense of why Japanese produce, despite being abundant and high-quality, can sometimes be surprisingly costly.

Fruits as Special Gifts, Not Everyday Items

Another key point discussed is the cultural significance of fruits in Japan. Unlike in some countries where fruits are everyday staples, in Japan, they are often considered luxury items or gifts for celebrations, holidays, or people who are sick. This perspective adds to the perceived value and cost of fruits.

Japanese farmers, for example, take great care in growing produce with attention to freshness, health, and quality. Supermarkets and distributors ensure the fruits and vegetables reach consumers in the best condition. A notable example is the Miyazaki mango, renowned for its ruby-red color, rich flavor, and delicate texture. Nicknamed “Taiyo-no-Tamago” or “Egg of the Sun,” these mangoes are unusually large and carefully packaged in foamy netting, each in its own compartment.

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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
夏野菜	natsu yasai	summer vegetables
新じゃが	shin-jaga	new potatoes
種	tane	seed
（種を）まく	(tane o) maku	to sow (seeds)
収穫（する）	shuukaku (suru)	harvest / to harvest
つる	tsuru	vine
値上がり（する）	neagari (suru)	price increase / to rise in price
平～（平年、平日）	hei~ (heinen, heijitsu)	average year/weekday
～玉	~tama	counter for round objects (e.g., cabbage, melon)
種類	shurui	type/kind/variety
輸入／輸出	yunyuu / yushutsu	import/export
円安	enyasu	weak yen/depreciation of the yen
～に渡る	~ni wataru	to span / to extend over
加工（する）／加工品、加工業、加工貿易	kakou (suru) / kakouhin, kakougyou, kakouboueki	processing / processed product, processing industry, processing trade
産業	sangyō	industry

New Grammar From the Podcast

Along the way, the teachers introduced some new Japanese grammar. Find the full list of new grammar points 

Grammar Pattern	English Explanation
どうしても～なる／なってしまう	Indicates that no matter what you do, the result inevitably turns out a certain way; expresses inevitability or that something happens against one’s control.

Podcast Transcript

The following is a transcript from an episode of Coto Radio, a podcast produced by Coto Academy and available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For the complete experience, we recommend listening to the original audio. This transcript has been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.

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 Radio 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 supi-do de ohanashi o shite ikimasu.
On this Coto Radio for Japanese Learners, we talk about Japanese news and topics from daily life using simple Japanese as much as possible, with natural speech and pace.

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 until the very end!

Nagai-sensei:
左先生、今回も元気よく行きましょう！よろしくお願いします！
Hidari-sensei, konkai mo genki yoku ikimashou! Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Hidari-sensei, let’s have another energetic session today! Thank you!

Hidari-sensei:
はい、よろしくお願いします！
Hai, yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
Yes, thank you!

Nagai-sensei:
前回、ね、我々、夏が好き！というプライベートな情報を、全世界に発信してしまいましたが…
Zenkai, ne, wareware, natsu ga suki! To iu puraibe-to na jouhou o, zensekai ni hasshin shite shimaimashita ga…
Last time, we accidentally shared a private piece of information with the whole world… that we love summer!

Hidari-sensei:
そうですね、お互い。
Sou desu ne, otagai.
Yes, that’s right, both of us.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、で、私が好きな理由は、いろいろあるんですが、その中の一つが、「夏野菜」が大好きだということです。
Hai, de, watashi ga suki na riyuu wa, iroiro aru n desu ga, sono naka no hitotsu ga, “natsu yasai” ga daisuki da to iu koto desu.
Well, there are many reasons why I like it, but one is that I really love summer vegetables.

Hidari-sensei:
いいですね！　５月６月の新じゃがから始まり～、かぼちゃ、にんじん、オクラ、あとスイカ、トウモロコシ！
Ii desu ne! Go-gatsu, roku-gatsu no shin-jaga kara hajimari~, kabocha, ninjin, okura, ato suika, toumorokoshi!
That’s great! Starting with new potatoes in May and June—then pumpkin, carrots, okra, watermelon, and corn!

Nagai-sensei:
いいですね～どんどん出てきますね！あとは、きゅうり、トマト、枝豆！で、最後なす！９月になす！
Ii desu ne~ dondon dete kimasu ne! Ato wa, kyuri, tomato, edamame! De, saigo nasu! Ku-gatsu ni nasu!
Yes, more and more come out! Also cucumber, tomato, edamame! And finally, eggplant! Eggplants arrive in September!

Hidari-sensei:
ビールのおとも、おつまみ系ですね（笑）
Bi-ru no otomo, otsumami kei desu ne (warai)
Perfect as beer snacks, right? (laugh)

Nagai-sensei:
はい。トマト大好き！あ、ただ・・・これは日本語教師あるあるですが、「日本は、野菜と果物が高い！」って学習者の皆さん、みんな言いませんか？
Hai. Tomato daisuki! A, tada… kore wa Nihongo kyoushi aru aru desu ga, “Nihon wa, yasai to kudamono ga takai!” tte gakushuusha no minasan, minna iimasen ka?
Yes. I love tomatoes! But… this is a common thing among Japanese teachers: learners often say, “Vegetables and fruits are expensive in Japan!”

Hidari-sensei:
すごくよく聞きます。とくに果物ですね！
Sugoku yoku kikimasu. Toku ni kudamono desu ne!
I hear that a lot, especially about fruits!

Nagai-sensei:
ですよね。ということで、今回は学習者のみなさん、特に料理上手の主婦の方々が、口をそろえて高いと話す野菜と果物、今日のトピックは「日本の野菜と果物」について…です！高い！日本の野菜高っ！というお話をしましょう。
Desu yo ne. To iu koto de, konkai wa gakushuusha no minasan, toku ni ryouri jouzu no shufu no katagata ga, kuchi o soroete takai to hanasu yasai to kudamono, kyou no topikku wa “Nihon no yasai to kudamono” ni tsuite… desu! Takai! Nihon no yasai tak~! To iu ohanashi o shimashou.
Exactly. So today, we’ll talk about vegetables and fruits that learners, especially skilled home cooks, all say are expensive. Today’s topic: “Vegetables and Fruits in Japan”… Expensive! Japanese vegetables are expensive!

Hidari-sensei:
いいですね！これは外国人に限らず日本人も感じていることです。からね！
Ii desu ne! Kore wa gaikokujin ni kagirazu Nihonjin mo kanjite iru koto desu. Kara ne!
Great! This isn’t just something foreigners notice; Japanese people feel it too.

・・・と、その前に、言葉の説明です！「口をそろえて〇〇と言う／と話す」…英語だとまあeveryone is saying the same thingでしょうか。
…To, sono mae ni, kotoba no setsumei desu! “Kuchi o soroete 〇〇 to iu / to hanasu”… eigo dato maa everyone is saying the same thing deshou ka.
But first, let me explain a phrase: “kuchi o soroete… to iu / to hanasu”—in English, it’s like “everyone says the same thing.”

１人や２人だけじゃなくて、ほとんどの人がそれに対して同じ感想を持っている、そして何よりも先にそれを言う…という場面で使ってみましょう。
Hitori ya futari dake ja nakute, hotondo no hito ga sore ni taishite onaji kansou o motte iru, soshite nani yori mo saki ni sore o iu… to iu bamen de tsukatte mimashou.
It’s used when not just one or two people, but most people have the same opinion and say it first.

とくに、同じ時間に、という意味はありません。ひとりずつ違うところで言っていても同じことを言っていたら「口をそろえて」と言ってOKです！
Toku ni, onaji jikan ni, to iu imi wa arimasen. Hitori zutsu chigau tokoro de itte ite mo onaji koto o itte itara “kuchi o soroete” to itte OK desu!
It doesn’t mean everyone says it at the exact same time. Even if they say it in different places, if they say the same thing, you can use “kuchi o soroete.”

Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます！先生はどうですか？ぜひ、一番好きな野菜と果物をひとつずつ教えてください！あ、もちろん、夏野菜だけじゃなくていいです。
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu! Sensei wa dou desu ka? Zehi, ichiban sukina yasai to kudamono o hitotsu zutsu oshiete kudasai! A, mochiron, natsu yasai dake ja nakute ii desu.
Thank you! How about you, Sensei? Please tell us your favorite vegetable and fruit, one each! And of course, they don’t have to be summer vegetables.

Hidari-sensei:
野菜は「なす」、果物は「ぶどう」です。どちらも紫、purpleですね。
Yasai wa “nasu”, kudamono wa “budou” desu. Dochira mo murasaki, purple desu ne.
For vegetables, eggplant. For fruit, grapes. Both are purple!

Nagai-sensei:
いいじゃないですか！ぶどうは日本にもいろんな種類がありますしね。ちなみに…ちょっと調べたのですが、種をまいて、収穫するという作業を毎年する食べ物を「野菜」、収穫できるまで２年以上かかるものを「果物」…と言うそうです。
Ii ja nai desu ka! Budou wa Nihon ni mo ironna shurui ga arimasu shi ne. Chinami ni… chotto shirabeta no desu ga, tane o maite, shuukaku suru to iu sagyou o maitoshi suru tabemono o “yasai”, shuukaku dekiru made 2 nen ijou kakaru mono o “kudamono”… to iu sou desu.
Nice! Grapes have many varieties in Japan. By the way, I looked it up—foods where you plant seeds and harvest each year are “vegetables,” and things that take more than two years to harvest are called “fruits.”

なんかずっと勘違いしてましたが、木で育つのか、つるで育つのかという違いじゃなかったんですね。
Nanka zutto kanchigai shitemashita ga, ki de sodatsu no ka, tsuru de sodatsu no ka to iu chigai ja nakatta n desu ne.
I had always misunderstood—it’s not about whether they grow on trees or vines.

Hidari-sensei:
「アボカド」が果物だというのは、そういう理由だからですね。
“Abokado” ga kudamono da to iu no wa, sou iu riyuu da kara desu ne.
The reason avocado is considered a fruit is exactly that.

Nagai-sensei:
そうなんですよね。アボカドは果物です。
Sou nan desu yo ne. Abokado wa kudamono desu.
Exactly. Avocado is a fruit.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、さて、大事な言葉の確認です。２つ、説明します。
Hai, sate, daiji na kotoba no kakunin desu. Futatsu, setsumei shimasu.
Alright, let’s check two important words. I’ll explain both.

まずは「まく」という動詞です。
Mazu wa “maku” to iu doushi desu.
First is the verb “maku.”

…「まく」はアクションとしては上から下にものを落としていくことです。
…“Maku” wa akushon to shite wa ue kara shita ni mono o otoshite iku koto desu.
“Maku” is an action of dropping something from top to bottom.

１つの場所にまとめたり、きれいに並べたりしないで、１つ１つあいだを空けてランダムに落としていくことがポイントです。
Hitotsu no basho ni matometari, kirei ni narabetari shinai de, hitotsu hitotsu aida o akete randamu ni otoshite iku koto ga pointo desu.
The key is not to gather them in one place or line them neatly, but to drop them one by one with space, randomly.

畑に「種」をまきます。そのあと、その畑に「水」をまきます。
Hatake ni “tane” o makimasu. Sono ato, sono hatake ni “mizu” o makimasu.
You plant seeds in a field. Then you water that field.

また、日本では、２月３日節分の日には「豆」をまきます！
Mata, Nihon de wa, 2 gatsu 3 nichi Setsubun no hi ni wa “mame” o makimasu!
Also, in Japan on Setsubun (February 3rd), people scatter beans!

はい、それから、「収穫」ですね。英語ではharvest、野菜の収穫、お米の収穫、動詞にすると「収穫する」です。
Hai, sorekara, “shuukaku” desu ne. Eigo de wa harvest, yasai no shuukaku, okome no shuukaku, doushi ni suru to “shuukaku suru” desu.
Next is “shuukaku” (harvest). In English, it’s harvest. You can say “harvest vegetables” or “harvest rice.” As a verb, it’s “to harvest.”

ぶどうを収穫した。
Budou o shuukaku shita.
I harvested grapes.

あとは、仕事や勉強、スポーツをするときにも使うことがあります。
Ato wa, shigoto ya benkyou, supootsu o suru toki ni mo tsukau koto ga arimasu.
It’s also used when talking about work, study, or sports.

何か自分の中にプラスになる情報や知識、気づいたことがあったときにも「今日はいい収穫があったな！」なんて言えると素敵ですね。
Nanika jibun no naka ni purasu ni naru jouhou ya chishiki, kizuita koto ga atta toki ni mo “Kyou wa ii shuukaku ga atta na!” nante ieru to suteki desu ne.
It’s wonderful if you can say something like, “Today was a good harvest!” when you’ve learned or noticed something valuable for yourself.

むむ、この人、日本語になれているな～って思われるかもしれません！
Mumu, kono hito, Nihongo ni narete iru na~ tte omowareru kamo shiremasen!
Hmm, people might think, “This person is really good at Japanese!”

Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます！今日のこのRadioを聞いているみなさんにも、何か収穫があったら嬉しいです。
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu! Kyou no kono Radio o kiite iru minasan ni mo, nanika shuukaku ga attara ureshii desu.
Thank you! I’d be happy if everyone listening to today’s radio also gained something useful.

Hidari-sensei:
そうですね～。
Sou desu ne~.
Yes, exactly.

Nagai-sensei:
あ、先生、あの～、学習者のみなさんは、具体的に何が高い！ってびっくりしてましたか？
A, sensei, ano~, gakushuusha no minasan wa, gutai-teki ni nani ga takai! tte bikkuri shite mashita ka?
By the way, Sensei, were learners surprised about what exactly is expensive?

僕は、ちなみに、もうアジアの学生がみんなメロンとマンゴーが高すぎるって言ってるのが印象的ですが。
Boku wa, chinami ni, mou Ajia no gakusei ga minna meron to mango ga takasugiru tte itteru no ga inshouteki desu ga.
For me, it was impressive that all the Asian students said melons and mangoes are way too expensive.

マンゴーはベトナムだと３個で250円くらいですよ！って。
Mango wa Betonamu dato 3-ko de 250 en kurai desu yo! tte.
They said that in Vietnam, three mangoes cost about 250 yen!

先生はどうですか？　どんなものを聞いたことがありますか？
Sensei wa dou desu ka? Donna mono o kiita koto ga arimasu ka?
How about you, Sensei? What have you heard from students?

Hidari-sensei:
欧米系の学生さんのリアクションとしてよくあるのが、「たかが果物, it’s just fruit」、自分の国で果物は、毎日食べたり飲んだりする日常的なもの、たとえば卵とか牛乳みたいな普通のもの。
Oubei-kei no gakusei-san no riakushon to shite yoku aru no ga, “Takaga kudamono, it’s just fruit”, jibun no kuni de kudamono wa, mainichi tabetari nomitari suru nichijou-teki na mono, tatoeba tamago toka gyuunyuu mitai na futsuu no mono.
A common reaction from Western students is, “It’s just fruit.” In their countries, fruits are everyday items, like eggs or milk, eaten or drunk daily.

日本みたいにありがたがって食べるような特別なものじゃないということはよく言われます。
Nihon mitai ni arigataga tte taberu you na tokubetsu na mono ja nai to iu koto wa yoku iwaremasu.
They often say that fruits are not special items to be eaten with gratitude like in Japan.

プレゼント用の、あの高そうなフルーツバスケットとか、おもしろいらしいです。
Purezento-you no, ano takasou na furu-tsu basuketto toka, omoshiroi rashii desu.
They also find fruit baskets for gifts, which look expensive, quite interesting.

Nagai-sensei:
そうですか。いいですね～。こーゆーinformation Gapってやっぱり会話のネタになりますよね～。
Sou desu ka. Ii desu ne~. Kouyuu information Gap tte yappari kaiwa no neta ni narimasu yo ne~.
I see. That’s nice. These kinds of information gaps definitely make good conversation topics.

はい、このように、国によって価値が違うものもありますが、日本の中でも、もともとたくさんとれて安かったのに、今どんどん高くなっている、つまり「値上がりしている」ものがたくさんありますねー！
Hai, kono you ni, kuni ni yotte kachi ga chigau mono mo arimasu ga, Nihon no naka demo, motomoto takusan torete yasukatta no ni, ima dondon takaku natte iru, tsumari “neagari shite iru” mono ga takusan arimasu ne~!
Yes, there are things whose value differs by country, but even in Japan, many items that were once abundant and cheap are now steadily becoming more expensive—basically, they are “rising in price.”

Hidari-sensei:
そうですね。先生の好きな夏野菜もかなり高くなってませんか？
Sou desu ne. Sensei no sukina natsu yasai mo kanari takaku natte masen ka?
Yes, right? Even the summer vegetables you like have become quite expensive, haven’t they?

Nagai-sensei:
はい、これはもうこわいですよ。大好きなトマト！
Hai, kore wa mou kowai desu yo. Daisuki na tomato!
Yes, this is scary. My beloved tomatoes!

トマトは、今年の3月とか6月は、平年より120円くらい高くなってましたね。
Tomato wa, kotoshi no 3-gatsu toka 6-gatsu wa, heinen yori 120 en kurai takaku natte mashita ne.
This year, in March and June, tomatoes were about 120 yen more expensive than the average year.

やっと7月になって、スーパーに出てくる量が増えるので、少しは安くなってきましたけど…。
Yatto 7-gatsu ni natte, suupaa ni dete kuru ryou ga fueru node, sukoshi wa yasuku natte kimashita kedo…
Finally, in July, the amount in supermarkets increased, so prices became a bit lower.

Hidari-sensei:
GoldenWeekの時は、大きいニュースになってましたからね～！
Golden Week no toki wa, ookii nyu-su ni natte mashita kara ne~!
During Golden Week, it even became big news!

はい、では、「トマトは平年より120円高い。」
Hai, dewa, “Tomato wa heinen yori 120 en takai.”
Now, “Tomatoes are 120 yen higher than average.”

この「へい」という言葉がつくと、「最初でも最後でもない」「下の方でも上の方でもない真ん中」という意味になります。
Kono “hei” to iu kotoba ga tsuku to, “saisho demo saigo demo nai” “shita no hou demo ue no hou demo nai mannaka” to iu imi ni narimasu.
The word “hei” here means “not first, not last; not low, not high, but the middle.”

週の最後、週末じゃない月曜～金曜は「平日」ですね。
Shuu no saigo, shuumatsu ja nai getsuyou~kinyou wa “heijitsu” desu ne.
The weekdays, Monday to Friday, are called “heijitsu,” not the weekend.

トマトが「少ない年じゃないし、多い年でもない」、つまり「平年」と比べると今年のトマトは120円高い…ということです。
Tomato ga “sukunai toshi ja nai shi, ooi toshi demo nai”, tsumari “heinen” to kuraberu to kotoshi no tomato wa 120 en takai… to iu koto desu.
This means that tomatoes are not in a low or high yield year; compared to an average year, they are 120 yen more expensive.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、あとは…今年、特に春からニュースになっていたのが・・・
Hai, ato wa… kotoshi, toku ni haru kara nyu-su ni natte ita no ga…
Next… what has been in the news since spring this year is…

Hidari-sensei:
キャベツですね！！
Kyabetsu desu ne!!
Cabbage!!

Nagai-sensei:
はい、キャベツです！！
Hai, kyabetsu desu!!
Yes, cabbage!!

Hidari-sensei:
1月2月の気温が上がってしまったことと、その後今年は、逆に3月の気温が低かったことで、収穫する量がすごく減ってしまったんでしたねー。
1-gatsu 2-gatsu no kion ga agatte shimatta koto to, sono ato kotoshi wa, gyaku ni 3-gatsu no kion ga hikukatta koto de, shuukaku suru ryou ga sugoku hette shimatta n deshita ne~.
The temperatures rose in January and February, and then, conversely, March was unusually cold this year, which greatly reduced the harvest.

…美味しいし、いろんな料理に使えるのに。
…Oishii shi, ironna ryouri ni tsukaeru noni.
They’re delicious and can be used in many dishes, too.

Nagai-sensei:
そうですよ。キャベツ…僕パスタ作る時よく入れるんですけど、あと、大好きなとんかつ屋さん！
Sou desu yo. Kyabetsu… Boku pasuta tsukuru toki yoku ireru n desu kedo, ato, daisuki na tonkatsu-ya san!
Exactly. Cabbage… I often add it when I make pasta, and also at my favorite tonkatsu restaurant!

そこは、キャベツが「お代わり無料」だったのに！！
Soko wa, kyabetsu ga “okaori muryou” datta no ni!!
There, cabbage used to be “free refills”!!

それが、「お代わり禁止」になって、さらに最初からもう量が半分になってました…。
Sore ga, “okaori kinshi” ni natte, sara ni saisho kara mou ryou ga hanbun ni natte mashita…
Now, it’s “no refills,” and the initial portion is already cut in half…

Hidari-sensei:
平年だと、1玉150円、やすいと99円とかありましたけど、今年は500円以上で売っているスーパーもありましたからね。
Heinen da to, ichi-dama 150 en, yasui to 99 en toka arimashita kedo, kotoshi wa 500 en ijou de utte iru suupaa mo arimashita kara ne.
Normally, one cabbage costs around 150 yen, and sometimes as cheap as 99 yen, but this year some supermarkets were selling them for over 500 yen.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、びっくりしました！ニュースで見たのは1玉780円っていう所がありましたねー。
Hai, bikkuri shimashita! Nyu-su de mita no wa ichi-dama 780 en tte iu tokoro ga arimashita ne~.
Yes, I was shocked! I saw in the news that one cabbage sold for 780 yen in some places.

Hidari-sensei:
あ、ちなみに、キャベツは１個2個ではなく、１玉2玉と数えます。白菜、レタスも同じ数え方です。
A, chinami ni, kyabetsu wa ikko niko de wa naku, ichi-dama ni-dama to kazoemasu. Hakusai, retasu mo onaji kazoekata desu.
By the way, we count cabbage as “one ball, two balls,” not “one piece, two pieces.” The same goes for napa cabbage and lettuce.

Nagai-sensei:
もうスイカです！日本だとかなり高い果物、スイカの値段ですよねそれは！
Mou suika desu! Nihon dato kanari takai kudamono, suika no nedan desu yo sore wa!
It’s like watermelon! In Japan, watermelon is a very expensive fruit!

とにかく「異常気象」、今まで経験したこともない「天候」が続くと　すぐに値段が変わってしまいますねー。
Tonikaku “ijou kishou,” ima made keiken shita koto mo nai “tenkou” ga tsuzuku to sugu ni nedan ga kawatte shimaimasu ne~.
Anyway, with abnormal weather and unprecedented conditions, prices change immediately.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、四季がはっきり分かれていることで、野菜の種類はvarietyはたくさんありますが、日本は畑を作るための広い土地がなかなか無いので、ちょっと天候がおかしくなると、すぐ野菜や果物に影響が出ますよね。
Hai, shiki ga hakkiri wakarete iru koto de, yasai no shurui wa variety wa takusan arimasu ga, Nihon wa hatake o tsukuru tame no hiroi tochi ga nakanaka nai node, chotto tenkou ga okashiku naru to, sugu yasai ya kudamono ni eikyou ga demasu yo ne.
Yes, Japan has clear seasons and many varieties of vegetables, but since there is not much land for farming, even a small weather change affects vegetables and fruits immediately.

Nagai-sensei:
いやー本当に、それが海外との違いなんだと思います。
Iyaa, hontou ni, sore ga kaigai to no chigai nanda to omoimasu.
Yes, really, I think that’s the difference from overseas.

はい、あと値段が上がる理由としては、輸入する量の影響もあります。
Hai, ato nedan ga agaru riyuu to shite wa, yunyu suru ryou no eikyou mo arimasu.
Also, another reason prices rise is the amount imported.

Hidari-sensei:
「輸入」あと「輸出」はimportとexportですね。
“Yunyu” ato “yushutsu” wa import to export desu ne.
“Import” and “export” in English.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、そこにはやっぱりやりとりするためのお金、つまり日本の円が安くなる「円安」という状態が続いていますから、どうしても今までより高い値段で輸入することになります。
Hai, soko ni wa yappari yaritori suru tame no okane, tsumari Nihon no en ga yasuku naru “en-yasu” to iu joutai ga tsuzuite imasu kara, doushite mo ima made yori takai nedan de yunyu suru koto ni narimasu.
Yes, because of the money involved in trade, and the weak yen, imports inevitably cost more than before.

キャベツを例にすると、ヨーロッパ・オランダから日本に入ってきた野菜ですけど、その前にシルクロードで中国に渡っていて、今はもう中国が世界一キャベツを作っている「生産国」です。
Kyabetsu o rei ni suru to, Yooroppa Oranda kara Nihon ni haitte kita yasai desu kedo, sono mae ni Shirukuroodo de Chuugoku ni watatte ite, ima wa mou Chuugoku ga sekai ichi kyabetsu o tsukutte iru “seisankoku” desu.
For example, cabbage imported from the Netherlands to Japan first passed through China, which is now the world’s largest cabbage producer.

その中国から買うキャベツも高くなります。
Sono Chuugoku kara kau kyabetsu mo takaku narimasu.
Cabbage bought directly from China is also more expensive.

Hidari-sensei:
そうですね。でも、まあポジティブな理由としては、日本の野菜は、やはりどの国よりも、人の健康に注意して作ってますよね。
Sou desu ne. Demo, maa pojitibu na riyuu to shite wa, Nihon no yasai wa, yahari dono kuni yori mo, hito no kenkou ni chuui shite tsukutte masu yo ne.
Yes. On a positive note, Japanese vegetables are grown with more attention to health than in any other country.

そしてそれをスーパーに届けるまで、新鮮なfreshなまま運ぶことで、いろいろなCostがかかるんですよね…。
Soshite sore o suupaa ni todokeru made, shinsen na fresh na mama hakobu koto de, iroiro na cost ga kakaru n desu yo ne…
And transporting them fresh to supermarkets involves various costs.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、まさに「Made in Japan」にプライドを持っているからこそ、値段が上がるということも、日本の野菜や果物の値段が高くなるポイントの一つですね。
Hai, masani “Made in Japan” ni puraido o motte iru kara koso, nedan ga agaru to iu koto mo, Nihon no yasai ya kudamono no nedan ga takaku naru pointo no hitotsu desu ne.
Yes, precisely. Because there is pride in “Made in Japan,” prices rise, and that is one key reason why Japanese vegetables and fruits are expensive.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、あと、値上がりしてるもの…と言えば、「加工品」。英語で言うとProcessed food, Processed itemですね。
Hai, ato, neagari shiteru mono… to ieba, “kakouhin.” Eigo de iu to Processed food, Processed item desu ne.
Also, when talking about items that have gone up in price… It’s processed goods, or processed items in English.

Nagai-sensei:
そうですね～。日本の産業Industryの中で最も得意な「加工業」。材料をそのまま売るのではなくて、何かアクションを加えて他のものを作りだす産業です。
Sou desu ne~. Nihon no sangyou Industry no naka de mottomo tokui na “kakougyou.” Zairyou o sono mama uru no de wa nakute, nanika akushon o kuwaete hoka no mono o tsukuridasu sangyou desu.
Exactly. One of Japan’s strongest industries is processing. Instead of selling raw materials as they are, this industry adds some action to create something new.

Hidari-sensei:
ワインが一番わかりやすい例ですかね。ワインはぶどうの加工品ですね。
Wain ga ichiban wakariyasui rei desu ka ne. Wain wa budou no kakouhin desu ne.
Wine might be the easiest example. Wine is a processed product of grapes.

Nagai-sensei:
はい。あとは、トマトケチャップ！とか、あとは牛乳から作るバターやチーズもめちゃくちゃ高くなりましたね…。
Hai. Ato wa, tomato kechappu! Toka, ato wa gyuunyuu kara tsukuru bataa ya chiizu mo mechakucha takaku narimashita ne…
Yes. Also, tomato ketchup! Butter and cheese made from milk have also become extremely expensive.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、材料が高くなれば、もちろんそれを使って作る加工品も値上がりしますよね。
Hai, zairyou ga takaku nareba, mochiron sore o tsukatte tsukuru kakouhin mo neagari shimasu yo ne.
Right. If the raw materials rise in price, of course, the processed goods made from them also become more expensive.

Nagai-sensei:
そうなんですよね。基本的に輸入品は一度に大量に日本に入ってくるので、加工品を作る時はやっぱり、天候によって量が減る国産のものではなく、この輸入品のほうが計画的に使うことができます。
Sou nan desu yo ne. Kihonteki ni yunyu-hin wa ichido ni tairyou ni Nihon ni haitte kuru node, kakouhin o tsukuru toki wa yappari, tenkou ni yotte ryou ga heru kokusan no mono de wa naku, kono yunyu-hin no hou ga keikakuteki ni tsukau koto ga dekimasu.
Exactly. Basically, imported goods come to Japan in large quantities at once, so when making processed products, it’s more practical to use these imports rather than domestic items whose quantity can drop due to the weather.

Hidari-sensei:
はい。確かにそうですね。
Hai. Tashika ni sou desu ne.
Yes, that’s true.

Nagai-sensei:
・・・はい、先生、ということでねー、「日本の野菜、果物…高っ！高いなー！」という理由は、まず「土地がせまい」こと、そして「季節が変わるので１つの作物を大量にずーっと作ることができない。」こと。
…Hai, sensei, to iu koto de nee, “Nihon no yasai, kudamono… takku! Takai na~!” to iu riyuu wa, mazu “tochi ga semai” koto, soshite “kisetsu ga kawaru node hitotsu no sakumotsu o tairyou ni zuutto tsukuru koto ga dekinai.” Koto.
…So, sensei, the reason why “Japanese vegetables and fruits… are expensive!” is first that land is limited, and second that because seasons change, you can’t grow large quantities of the same crop continuously.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、そのため「天候の変化に影響を受けやすい」ということ。
Hai, sono tame “tenkou no henka ni eikyou o uke yasui” to iu koto.
Yes. For that reason, crops are very susceptible to changes in the weather.

Nagai-sensei:
そして、「円安が続くことで、輸入品も値上げしてしまう」こと。ですかね～。
Soshite, “en’yasu ga tsuzuku koto de, yunyu-hin mo neage shite shimau” koto. Desu ka ne~.
And also, the continued weak yen causes imported goods to rise in price.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、あと、特に、果物というのは、さっきの学生の話にもありましたけど海外と違って、日本では結構特別なイメージがあるので、お土産や贈り物、あとは病気になった人へのお見舞いのプレゼントなどにも使われています。
Hai, ato, toku ni, kudamono to iu no wa, sakki no gakusei no hanashi ni mo arimashita kedo kaigai to chigatte, Nihon de wa kekkou tokubetsu na imeeji ga aru node, omiyage ya okurimono, ato wa byouki ni natta hito e no omimai no purezento nado ni mo tsukawareteimasu.
Yes, and especially fruit. As we mentioned with the students’ reactions, unlike overseas, in Japan, fruit has a special image and is used for souvenirs, gifts, and presents for someone who is sick.

Nagai-sensei:
ああ～そうですね。そうですね。いいこと言いましたね！あと、夏女、夏男を喜ばせるためのプレゼントとしても使えます！
Aa~ sou desu ne. Sou desu ne. Ii koto iimashita ne! Ato, natsu onna, natsu otoko o yorokobaseru tame no purezento toshite mo tsukaemasu!
Ah, yes, that’s right. Very true! Also, they can be used as gifts to delight summer girls and summer boys!

Hidari-sensei:
はい、我々のお腹には、まだまだ果物が入る余裕がございます。
Hai, wareware no onaka ni wa, mada mada kudamono ga hairu yoyuu ga gozaimasu.
Yes, our stomachs still have plenty of room for fruit.

Nagai-sensei:
はい、みなさん、我々いつでも受け付けておりますので、「はーい先生、これ、よかったらお１つどうぞ！」って気軽に話しかけてください！
Hai, minasan, wareware itsudemo uketsukete orimasu node, “Haai sensei, kore, yokattara o-hitotsu douzo!” tte kigaru ni hanashikakete kudasai!
Yes, everyone, we are always ready to receive fruit, so feel free to say, “Here, sensei, if you like, please take one!”

Hidari-sensei:
お待ちしておりまーす！
Omachi shite orima~su!
We’ll be waiting!

Nagai-sensei:
はい、ということで、今回もお時間となりました。
Hai, to iu koto de, konkai mo ojikan to narimashita.
And with that, it’s time to wrap up today’s session.

Hidari-sensei:
はい、最後までお聞きいただき、ありがとうございました。
Hai, saigo made okiki itadaki, arigatou gozaimashita.
Thank you for listening until the end.

Nagai-sensei:
Coto Radio For Japanese Learnersお相手はわたくし夏男Mr.Nagaiと
Coto Radio For Japanese Learners o aite wa watakushi Natsuo Mr. Nagai to
This is Coto Radio for Japanese Learners, with me, Summer Man, Mr. Nagai,

Hidari-sensei:
夏女、OA左でした…！
Natsu Onna, OA Hidari deshita…!
And Summer Woman, OA Hidari!

Nagai & Hidari:
それでは、じゃあ、また、次回～！
Sore de wa, jaa, mata, jikai~!
Well then, see you next time!

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