People in Japan Donate 4 Billion Yen to Ukraine through Embassy

Hello everyone.

Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

Thanks for joining us.

In this program, we'll learn Japanese and more about the country from news stories presented in simple Japanese.

So, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been one of the top stories everyday here in Japan.

So, our headline for today is: People in Japan donate 4 billion yen to Ukraine through embassy

So, more and more Japanese people are trying to find their ways to support Ukrainians.

So, Chiara, what do you think about this headline?

Well there's definitely been a lot of local support from Japan being sent to Ukraine.

But this is very much on par for the course.

Japan already is a big donor to the U.N. Refugee Agency.

So it definitely shows that people really care about helping others in tough situations.

Before we go to the news clip, let's check in with our Japanese teacher.

I'm Tokunaga Akane,
and I teach Japanese at a university.

In today's news story you'll hear
the word "kifu" several times.

"Kifu" means donation: offering money or possessions
to those in need.

In addition to the word "kifu,"
you will also hear some large numbers.

Listen closely and see if you can catch
how many people donated.

OK, now, let's watch the news clip.

Russian troops continue
to attack Ukraine.

At the Ukrainian Embassy in
Tokyo's Minato Ward, an area has been set up for flowers
and praying for those who have died.

Some people bring money to donate.

A woman who has a one-year-old said, "I saw on the news a woman gave birth
at an evacuation site,

and also that children died.

My heart aches.

I hope my donation will be helpful."

According to the Ukrainian Embassy,
its bank account for donations had collected approx. 4 billion yen
from about 150,000 people by March 7.

Regarding donations, there's been a rise
in emails attempting to collect donations by lying and saying that
it's the embassy.

Companies knowledgeable about
the dangers of the internet are telling people to be careful.

It is really amazing that 150,000 Japanese citizens have donated 4 billion yen to support Ukrainians.

The amount was collected in less than two weeks after the invasion began.

Chiara, what are your thoughts on this news?

I think it's very interesting that people are donating directly to the Ukrainian Embassy.

Because obviously they care very much about making sure that that money got to where people can really use it to help their own citizens.

But you know, again, there is a culture of donation and giving and helping others in Japan.

But you see that people often don't talk about it.

I didn't realize that.

So, I think this is actually very Japanese, in a way.

Keeping this quiet.

Doing something good, and not boasting about it.

Now let's take a closer look at some sentences from this news story.

According to the Ukrainian Embassy, its bank account for donations

by March 7 from about 150,000 people

approx. 4 billion yen collected Moving on, in the second half of the story, there was some very important information for the viewer.

Regarding donations, by lying and saying it's the embassy

emails attempting to collect donations there's been a rise in

There's been many reports of fraud emails sent by scammers posing as the Ukrainian Embassy.

They ask for donations in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

And the embassy is urging caution, saying it's not currently taking cryptocurrency donations.

Today we'll be looking at terms related to large numbers.

"Man" and "oku" are unit names used in the
Japanese numeric system.

From one to 10,000, the unit name
changes with each additional digit.

Above "man," the unit name
changes every four digits.

Four zeros gives us "man."

Eight zeros gives us "oku."

Twelve zeros gives us "choo."

Now, here's the total population of Japan.

How do you say this in Japanese?

There are four zeros,
which gives us "man."

Four more digits and the unit name
changes to "oku" for the "1."

So Japan's population is...
"ichioku-nisen-gohyaku-nijuu-roku-man."

Now, back to how Japan is showing its support for Ukraine.

The Japanese government has announced it will provide about "Nioku-doru" or 200 million dollars in emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries.

And it's not just the government - Japanese companies are coming forward to offer assistance as well.

Definitely, there are private companies and also universities offering to sponsor people who are trying to leave this conflict area.

Yes, what each of us can do is limited, but people are striving to find their own way to support Ukraine.

At this sake factory in Tochigi Prefecture...

bottles bearing a blue and yellow label and a message of peace.

At this traditional crafts studio in Kagawa...

uchiwa fans featuring a Ukrainian flag design.

Many Japanese companies are showing their support for Ukraine, donating a portion of their sales from items such as these.

And that's not all.

Kumamoto Castle has been lit up in the colors of Ukraine in protest of the conflict and to mourn for the victims of the invasion.

And at this junior high school in Saitama Prefecture...

the young students are also thinking of Ukraine.

They're folding "orizuru" - origami cranes.

These paper cranes symbolize peace.

In a gesture of hope and healing, they've folded about 4,800 cranes.

I folded cranes in the hopes that
the war ends as soon as possible and everyone is reminded
of the sanctity of peace.

The cranes have been put on display at the local city hall and library to spread their message of peace.

So there are various ways to show your support, but making thousands of "Orizuru," paper cranes, is a traditional Japanese way to show the wishes of your heart.

Yeah, definitely, you see them all over the place, at temples and shrines, places where there have been natural disasters.

And I think, especially because children often make them, it's a way for small kids who really can't do much, but still show that they are thinking of the people involved.

And I think that that's very very sweet.

And you know, every single crane is made thinking and praying for those people.

So it's a beautiful gesture.

And I think, you know, Japan has a lot of natural disasters.

We have earthquakes and typhoons and tsunami.

And so people are used to coming together and helping each other in these situations.

And there's this feeling of "Tasukeai," of helping each other, and I think that that's a really lovely gesture.

And we're seeing it right now with all the donations going to Ukraine.

That's all for today, but check out NHK's "NEWS WEB EASY" for more daily news stories presented in simple Japanese.

We'll see you next time.

Thanks for joining us and see you soon.