Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

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

Today's headline is:

Cooking Site Compiles Recipes for Disaster Preparedness.

If power and gas were cut off for days,
you'd be unable to cook.

People would be very anxious.

So the idea of trying to cook without gas or water or both... that sounds very hard.

The only thing that comes to mind is... cereal?

Well, as we will see in today's story, it's possible to make home-cooked dishes with limited resources.

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

"Kantoo dai-shinsai"

the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

"saigai"

disaster or calamity.

"kanzume"

canned food.

So I know that the Kanto Daishinsai earthquake struck the Kanto region,

which includes the Greater Tokyo Area and some other prefectures around it,

but how severe was the damage?

Well, it caused complete devastation.

Houses collapsed and fires broke out across the region, killing over 100,000 people.

OK, now let's listen to the story.

This year marks 100 years
since the Great Kanto Earthquake.

It is said that a major earthquake, such as
a Tokyo inland earthquake, will occur in the future.

A company called Cookpad is sharing recipes
on its website that can be made

even in the event that utilities such as water,
electricity, and gas are shut off due to a disaster.

They have over 250 recipes.

They include a method for cooking rice
using stored water, a portable gas stove,

and a heat-resistant plastic bag,

as well as pasta dishes
made using canned food.

The company says,
"Food is a very important part of our lives.

In the event of a disaster,

we want people to cook good food
so they can feel at least a little sense of relief."

"Shuto Chokka Jishin" is a term that's popping up a lot these days.

- In English, it's usually translated as "Tokyo inland earthquake."
- Exactly.

The term describes a quake with
an epicenter "directly beneath the capital."

Right. I at home have a supply of emergency food along with grab-and-go bags

for both myself and my pets just in case.

It's a common thing in Japan.

OK, now let's review the following sentence from the story.

We want people to cook good food so they can feel
at least a little sense of relief.

Now read along with me.

"sukoshi demo anshin dekiru yoo ni"

"oishii shokuji o tsukutte hoshi desu."

Today we'll focus on "demo"
in "sukoshi demo."

"Sukoshi" means "a little"
or "a small amount."

Here I have a grab-and-go bag
that contains emergency supplies.

Chiara, it's a little heavy...

Nimotsu o sukoshi herashite kudasai.
(Please reduce the contents a little.)

So... let's see... "sukoshi," so that's a little bit, so...

Is that right?

Now what if I add "demo"?

Nimotsu o sukoshi "demo" herashite kudasai.
(Please reduce the contents as much as possible.)

How about now?

So now, it's "sukoshi demo."

OK, so... as much as... possible...

...All right, I think I've pared this down to the essentials now.

Did you feel a difference between

"sukoshi herashite kudasai" and
"sukoshi demo herashite kudasai"?

Although the "demo" may make it sound like you need to make a little less effort, actually it's the reverse.

You should do your best to, in this case, get it down to the essentials.

That's right.

When we add "demo" to "sukoshi,"
we're saying, "please try your best,

because even a small amount
would make a difference to me."

Now, we use "demo" in a variety of contexts.

How about this: Chiara,

Koohii "demo" nomanai?
(Would you like to get coffee or something?)

- Yes! Yes! I would love some coffee right now!
- You would love to.

"Koohii o nomimasen ka?" is inviting
someone out for a cup of coffee.

But "Koohii demo nomimasen ka?"
is suggesting coffee as an example.

Ah right, so something like saying, "Do you wanna get coffee or something?"

So you could have coffee or tea or juice or wine or whatever.

Exactly.

Now what about this:

Kono hon wa kantan de, "kodomo demo" yomeru.
(This book is so easy that even a child could read it.)

What does the phrase "kodomo demo"
mean in this example?

Ah, so you're using it for emphasis.

You're saying it's so easy to read that even a child can read it.

Correct.

You're saying "kodomo demo" as
an extreme example

in order to emphasize that
something is easy.

Well, Tokunaga-sensee, thanks for the tips.

- Thank you very much.
- Thank you very much.

"Inside Japan."

Due to factors like geography and climate, Japan is prone to natural disasters.

And so it's common to see people sharing recipes for emergencies on social media.

Yes. I think it's a great idea to familiarize yourself with these techniques just in case.

Right. We asked disaster prevention and emergency food expert Imaizumi Mayuko

about preparing meals without electricity, water, and gas.

Imaizumi will show us a no-cook technique that takes just minutes,

as well as method for making three dishes at once using a portable gas stove.

This first technique is an easy way to get essential nutrients even during an emergency.

Just add the ingredients to a plastic bag and give it a good mix.

You can use a plastic bag
to prepare the dish,

and then spread it open over a bowl
so there are no dirty dishes.

Next is a method for preparing three dishes at once.

With a portable gas stove and canister,
you can cook, you can boil stored water.

So you can prepare a hot meal.

Place a plate into a saucepan, fill it halfway with water, and bring it to a boil.

Take a heat-resistant plastic bag and add sliced sweet potato, prunes, and apple juice.

Squeeze out excess air, tie it up, and put it into boiling water.

For the omelet, crack two eggs, add salt, and massage the bag to combine.

Add the bag to the boiling water.

Finally, break the pasta in half and add it to another bag along with water and soup stock powder.

Place it inside the boiling water and put on the lid.

Here's a rough guide to the cooking times.

When the pasta is done, toss it with canned tuna and corn.

Plate the dishes, season to taste, and you're ready to eat .

Eating a hot meal is comforting.
It brings a smile to your face.

The hot water can be reused, which is
very useful when water has been shut off.

"Satsumaimo to puruun no ringo jyuusu ni"
(Sweet potato and prunes simmered in apple juice) "Itadakimasu."

The "satsumaimo" (sweet potato) is soft and sweet.

I like that the flavors blend well.

Yeah. I think this would be very comforting if people are having a hard time.

It's nice and sweet and simple and healthy.

So it is totally possible to make a warm meal during an emergency. Wow.

Just make sure you have a supply of food and water at home.

The next time you're deciding what to make for dinner,

consider trying out some of these techniques and recipes.

OK. And that's all for today.

- We'll see you next time.
- See you soon.