'Shinkin' Credit Union Banks in Tokyo to Offer Shelter in the Event of Earthquakes and Other Disasters

'Shinkin' Credit Union Banks in Tokyo to Offer Shelter in the Event of Earthquakes and Other Disasters"

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Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."
 
Join us as we learn Japanese and about the country from Japanese news stories. Today's headline is　・・
 
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東京都（とうきょうと）　地震（じしん）などのとき信用金庫（しんようきんこ）の店（みせ）に避難（ひなん）できる
 
 "'Shinkin' Credit Union Banks in Tokyo to Offer Shelter in the Event of Earthquakes and Other Disasters"
 
This news story was published on NEWS WEB EASY's website on December 8th.
Now, let’s go over some vocab words that will help us understand the story.
 
首都直下地震（しゅとちょっかじしん）
This term refers to a destructive magnitude 7-class earthquake with an epicenter in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
 
信用金庫（しんようきんこ）
credit union, also known as a Shinkin bank
 
Let's keep these words in mind as we listen.
 
「東京都（とうきょうと）は「首都直下地震（しゅとちょっかじしん）」という大（おお）きな地震（じしん）が起（お）こった場合（ばあい）、450万人（まんにん）が家（いえ）に帰（かえ）ることができない可能性（かのうせい）があると考（かんが）えています。このため、たくさんの人（ひと）が避難（ひなん）できる場所（ばしょ）が必要（ひつよう）です。
警視庁（けいしちょう）と東京都（とうきょうと）にある信用金庫（しんようきんこ）の団体（だんたい）は12月（がつ）2日（ふつか）、地震（じしん）などの災害（さいがい）のときに協力（きょうりょく）することを約束（やくそく）しました。都（と）にある信用金庫（しんようきんこ）の全部（ぜんぶ）の店（みせ）を、家（いえ）に帰（かえ）ることができなくなった人（ひと）が避難（ひなん）する場所（ばしょ）に使（つか）います。店（みせ）は750あって、学校（がっこう）などの避難所（ひなんじょ）の準備（じゅんび）ができるまでの間（あいだ）、避難（ひなん）できるようにします。避難所（ひなんじょ）に行（い）く手伝（てつだ）いもします。
信用金庫（しんようきんこ）は、まちの小（ちい）さな会社（かいしゃ）などがお金（かね）を借（か）りたり預（あず）けたりする所（ところ）です。」
 
It's estimated that up to 4.5 million people will be unable to return home if a major earthquake hits Tokyo directly. The Metropolitan Police Department and an association of credit unions have reached an agreement to offer member banks as temporary shelters in the event of a major disaster.
 
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Now we'll break down a few sentences from the story that contain helpful expressions and keywords.
Let's start with the following sentence.
 
東京都（とうきょうと）は「首都直下地震（しゅとちょっかじしん）」という大（おお）きな地震（じしん）が起（お）こった場合（ばあい）、450万人（まんにん）が家（いえ）に帰（かえ）ることができない可能性（かのうせい）があると考（かんが）えています。
 
"The Tokyo Metropolitan Government estimates that 4.5 million people may be unable to return home in the event of a major earthquake striking the capital."
 
Following a big earthquake, public transport disruptions can leave many people stranded at work, school, or other facilities. In Japanese we call these stranded commuters 帰宅困難者（きたくこんなんしゃ）.
 
If those people all try to go home at the same time, they can potentially cause chaos, clogging roads and hindering rescue and lifesaving efforts. And they're also making themselves vulnerable to aftershocks and secondary hazards.
 
So the Tokyo Metropolitan Government urges people to take shelter in a safe place and sit tight for about 72 hours.  
 
Our story today is about how Shinkin banks have pledged to offer their locations as temporary shelters until evacuation centers can be set up.
 
The word 可能性（かのうせい）means "likelihood" or "possibility." 可能性（かのうせい）がある means that there is a good chance that something will happen. 可能性（かのうせい）がない means there is zero chance of a certain outcome.
 
OK, let's move on to our next sentence.
 
信用金庫（しんようきんこ）は、まちの小（ちい）さな会社（かいしゃ）などがお金（かね）を借（か）りたり預（あず）けたりする所（ところ）です。
 
"Shinkin banks are places where small local businesses and others can borrow and deposit money."
 
信用金庫（しんようきんこ）are cooperative financial institutions established by local residents and businesses. They operate similarly to a commercial bank, or more specifically, a credit union, which is more community oriented.
 
There are many Shinkin banks across the Greater Tokyo Area, so authorities hope they can serve as temporary shelters in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake.
 
OK, that's all for today.
 
It's reassuring to hear that preparations are ongoing to make sure Tokyo is ready for any potential disasters.
You never know when a major earthquake will strike.
 
Tune in next time for more!
 
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