Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

In this program, we'll learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.

Our headline for today is:

Japan Bans Trade of Invasive Crayfish and Turtles.

You used to see "akamimi-game"
sold as pets under the name "midori-game."

They're known as pond slider turtles.

That's right.

I remember catching crayfish in a pond when I was a child.

They have been common creatures in Japan for many years now.

Alright, before we listen to the story in Japanese, let's go over some key terms.

"esa."

"pet food or animal feed."

"yunyuu."

"import."

"bakkin."

"fine or penalty."

OK, try to follow along.

In Japan, people have imported

red swamp crayfish and pond slider turtles
as animal food and as pets.

These two creatures
have multiplied so much

that they've left fish
and other native species

with fewer places to live.

For this reason,
the law was revised on June 1.

It is now prohibited to import, sell,
or release them into rivers.

If you violate the law,
the most severe penalty

is three years in jail
or a fine of 3 million yen.

You can continue to keep any pets
you currently own.

You are also allowed to catch them
in rivers and ponds.

According to the Environment Ministry,

there are about 1.1 million households
that keep pond sliders (as pets).

If you are finding it difficult
to keep yours,

there is a number you can call
for consultation.

Oh, I see... so these two species are really growing out of control.

In Japan,

we call creatures that damage ecosystems
and agriculture "tokutee-gairai-seebutsu."

"Tokutee" refers to something
that's been designated.

"Gairai" refers to something
of foreign origin.

"Seebutsu" means "living thing."

People are not allowed to keep "tokutei gairai seebutsu" as pets.

But authorities have designated these two creatures invasive alien species "with conditions."

They're making an exception because many people in Japan keep them as pets,

and there was a concern that owners might abandon their animals to avoid having to dispose of them.

Now, let's review the following sentence from the story.

You can continue to keep
any pets you currently own.

Now read along with me.

"Ima katte iru petto wa
sono mama kau koto ga dekimasu."

So sensee, what is the key phrase here?

The key is the "mama" in "sono mama."

We add "mama" to the end of words
to indicate an ongoing, unchanging state.

Take the sentence
"Kutsu o haita mama heya ni hairu."

The verb "haku" describes
an instantaneous action.

We use the "ta"-form, which is "haita,"
and add "mama," so it's "haita mama."

But when I started learning Japanese

I really had trouble understanding the difference between "mama" and "shinagara."

Now, what is the distinction between those two?

Good question.

Chiara, please demonstrate the difference
between "mama" and "nagara...."

using these glasses.

First, would you show us
"Megane o kaketa mama nemashita?"

OK, so "megane o kaketa mama nemashita..."

...Is that right?

I think you're right.

Now can you show us
"Megane o kake nagara nemashita?"

OK, so "megane o kake nagara nemashita..."

So, I would fall asleep in the middle of the act of putting on the glasses.

Chiara, correct on both accounts.

"Megane o kake nagara..." means

you fell asleep in the middle
of putting the glasses on.

We use "nagara" when an action
is in progress.

With "mama" the action is complete.
You've already put on the glasses.

Here "mama" indicates the continued state
of having glasses on.

Sensee, we can also use "mama" with nouns, can't we?

Yes.

Take the sentence
"Kutsu o haita mama heya ni hairu."

We can also say
"Kutsu no mama heya ni hairu."

Oh, so you can rephrase "kutsu wo haita mama" into "kutsu no mama" and it doesn't change the meaning.

Exactly.

We're attaching "mama"
to the noun "kutsu."

It's noun + "no" + "mama."
So "kutsu no mama."

OK, Tokunaga-sensee, "arigatou gozaimashita."

"Arigatou gozaimashita."

"Inside Japan."

Chiara, how familiar are you with "Amerika-zarigani" and "akamimi-game?"

I'm not very familiar with these critters at all.

But I assume that the "Amerika-zarigani" is from the U.S., from its name?

That's right.

Japan started to import "Amerika-zarigani" in 1927 to feed America bullfrogs that were being raised for food.

As for "akamimi-game," Japan started importing them from the U.S. as pets in the late 1950s.

Both animals are known for having voracious appetites.

"Amerika-zarigani" have been decimating aquatic plants and insect populations in ponds and rivers.

Meanwhile "akamimi-game" are omnivorous as well, and they've also been known to destroy crops.

Ah, so they're really wreaking havoc on local ecosystems.

Is there anything being done to solve this issue?

Good question.

Take a look at this.

At Inokashira Park in Tokyo, community volunteers and others

have been working to cull invasive fish and red swamp crayfish for the past 10 years.

One method that they've been using is the traditional practice of "kaibori."

After draining all the water from the pond,

indigenous species are preserved for reintroduction, while non-native species are culled.

They've conducted three drainings to date.

As a result, water quality has improved, and the number of native fish, insects, and even birds has increased.

However, "kaibori" has proven ineffective at addressing the red swamp crayfish problem.

Unlike fish, crayfish burrow
into the mud.

So draining the water isn't enough.
We can't capture them all.

So they've set up traps throughout the pond, and remove the captured creatures twice a week.

The number of large crayfish
has been decreasing.

We hope to increase the number
of native species

and restore Inokashira Pond.

Oh, it's great to see these local grassroots efforts to help the ecosystems recover.

But, you still see a lot of kids catching the crayfish and turtles in ponds and rivers...

So is it all right to do "catch and release?"

Yes.

But only if you immediately return them to the water at the spot where you found them.

Transporting them to a different spot, for example, downstream or upstream, is prohibited.

Now, if you have one of these creatures already as a pet,

do make sure that you care for it until the end of its natural lifespan.

Exactly.

If you become unable to keep them as pets, there's a number you can call for consultation.

Yes, caring for a pet, no matter what type of creature it is,

is a long-term commitment, and that's not to be taken lightly.

That's right.

OK, and that's all for today.

We'll see you next time.

See you soon.