A short English comprehension lesson on Japan’s first female prime minister, with audio, questions, and an interactive exercise, ahead of your live, online 1-to-1 session.
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| Japan’s First Female Prime Minister |
Japan has chosen its first female prime minister. Her name is Sanae Takaichi. She became Japan’s 104th prime minister on Tuesday. She won 237 votes in the lower house of Japan’s parliament, called the Diet. Her opponent, Yoshihiko Noda, got 149 votes. Ms. Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, who was prime minister for only one year.
Takaichi is the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). To win enough votes, she made an agreement with the Japan Innovation Party, which is a right-wing party. She now faces many challenges. People in Japan are worried about rising prices, job insecurity, a declining birth rate, and how to care for the growing number of elderly people.
Listen to the Reading
Note: You can write down your ideas or just think about your answers before your live online 1-to-1 session. You can also make notes about new vocabulary, grammar points, or questions you want to discuss.
- What position did Sanae Takaichi recently become the first woman to hold in Japan?
- How many votes did Takaichi receive in Japan’s lower house of parliament?
- Who was her opponent in the election, and how many votes did he get?
- Which political party is Takaichi the leader of?
- What are some of the main problems people in Japan are worried about
Expanded discussion and conversation-based questions will be provided during your 1-to-1 speaking session.