"Broccoli to Become "Designated Vegetable" in Japan"

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Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."
　
Join us as we learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories. Today's headline is…
　
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「ブロッコリーは日本（にっぽん）の人（ひと）たちの生活（せいかつ）に大切（たいせつ）な野菜（やさい）」
　
"Broccoli to Become "Designated Vegetable" in Japan"
This news story was published on NEWS WEB EASY's website on January 24th.
　
Now let's go over some vocab words that will help us understand what's going on.
　
指定野菜（していやさい）
This term refers to the agriculture ministry's list of important "designated vegetables" that are consumed in particularly large quantities across Japan.
　
栄養（えいよう）
nutrition
　
Let's keep these words in mind as we listen.
　
「国（くに）は、日本（にっぽん）の人（ひと）たちがよく食（た）べていて、生活（せいかつ）に特（とく）に大切（たいせつ）な野菜（やさい）を「指定野菜（していやさい）」にしています。今（いま）はキャベツ、だいこん、トマト、なす、ねぎ、たまねぎなど14の野菜（やさい）があります。
2026年（ねん）からブロッコリーが新（あたら）しく指定野菜（していやさい）になります。日本（にっぽん）では人口（じんこう）が少（すく）なくなって、市場（いちば）に出（で）る野菜（やさい）の量（りょう）が少（すく）なくなっています。しかし、ブロッコリーは最近（さいきん）の10年（ねん）で30%ぐらい増（ふ）えました。栄養（えいよう）が多（おお）いことなどが、よく食（た）べるようになった理由（りゆう）です。
指定野菜（していやさい）の値段（ねだん）が下（さ）がったときは、たくさん作（つく）っている農家（のうか）が仕事（しごと）を続（つづ）けることができるように、国（くに）がお金（かね）を出（だ）します。」
　
Broccoli consumption has been increasing in Japan, and the government has decided to add it to its list of "designated vegetables" that are considered indispensable to people's lives in the country.
　
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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:
　
2026年（ねん）からブロッコリーが新（あたら）しく指定野菜（していやさい）になります。
　
"Starting in 2026, broccoli will become a new designated vegetable."
　
In the term 指定野菜（していやさい）, 指定（してい）is a noun that means "designation." In the context of our story 指定（してい）refers to a government authority issuing an ordinance and granting something a specific status.
　
So when a vegetable is given the 「指定野菜（していやさい）」status, it means the government recognizes its importance and will work to ensure a stable supply.
　
指定（してい）is also often used in everyday life to refer to choosing or setting apart a person, time, place, or thing for a specific job or purpose.
For example, 時間（じかん）を指定（してい）する means "to specify a time." If someone gives you the instructions 指定（してい）された時間（じかん）に来（き）てください, they're saying, "please come at the designated time."
　
OK, let’s move on to our next sentence which explains what happens when a vegetable gets the designation.
　
指定野菜（していやさい）の値段（ねだん）が下（さ）がったときは、たくさん作（つく）っている農家（のうか）が仕事（しごと）を続（つづ）けることができるように、国（くに）がお金（かね）を出（だ）します。
　

"When the price of a designated vegetable falls, the government provides money so that farmers who produce a large volume can continue working."
　
The word ように is used in many contexts. Here, it's used to indicate a desired situation or outcome.
　
It's saying that the government wants to ensure that farmers can continue to grow their vegetables.
What follows「ように」is the specific action that will be taken to make sure that happens. In this case, it's saying that the government will provide subsidies.
Vegetable production and prices can be greatly affected by environmental factors like weather, so being recognized as a「指定野菜（していやさい）」is good news for producers of those crops.
　

And that's all for today.
The story mentions that the amount of broccoli consumed by the Japanese public has grown 30% over the past decade!
　
Yes. It's become a staple vegetable, thanks to the fact that it's rich in vitamins and other nutrients and is great in salads and stir-fries. It also makes an easy side dish for your bento.
　
All right, be sure to tune in next time for more!
　
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