日本老龄化问题凸显

Over 200 people gathered recently on a hot day at a shrine in downtown Tokyo. 

近日，200多人在大热天儿里聚集在东京市中心的一个神龛。

Many in the crowd were older adults. Some chewed gum and lifted dumbbells.  

这些人中很多都是年长者。他们中的一些人嚼着口香糖，举着哑铃。

The weight lifting was meant to increase their strength and balance. 

举重是为了让增强体力和平衡感。

The elderly Japanese had gathered for an event to mark Respect for the Aged Day. 

这些日本老人聚集在一起是为了庆祝日本敬老日。

The observance comes at a time when Japan's population is aging.  

这个活动正逢日本老龄化问题凸显之际。

The number of people aged 65 and over has grown to 27.7 percent of the population.  

日本65岁以上的人口占总人口的27.7%。

That information comes from government reports. 

这一信息来源于政府发布的报告。

The number of elderly Japanese who still work has also hit a new high.  

日本在职老龄人口的数量也达到了新高。

These numbers are evidence of efforts by the government and private businesses to keep the elderly at work. 

这些数字也表明，日本政府和私营企业也在努力将老龄人口留在工作岗位上。

The government estimates, released on Monday, are a sign of the problems resulting from a declining birthrate.  

据日本政府周一发布的估测数据，表明出生率下滑造成的一些问题。

Now, there are around 1.45 births for every woman in Japan.  

现在日本平均每名女性的婴儿出生量为1.45。

Many economists say a developed country needs a birthrate above 2 births per woman to prevent its population from shrinking. 

而许多经济学家表示，发达国家需要2以上的出生率才能阻止人口缩减。

Japan has struggled with a declining workforce for many years.  

多年来，日本一直在生产力下滑的困境中挣扎。

The percentage of elderly people is among the highest in the Group of Seven Nations.  

日本的老龄人口占比是七国集团中最高的。

Italy, for example, has an elderly population of around 23 percent. Germany has around 21.5 percent, while France has 19.7 percent. 

比如，意大利的老龄人口占比是23%左右，德国近21.5%，法国19.7%。

In Japan, the government estimates that 35.14 million Japanese people are age 65 or older.  

日本政府估测，日本65岁以上的人口已达3514万。

7.7 million of those men and women are still working. 

而其中有770万人还没有退休。

For the first time, the number of Japanese aged 90 or older rose above two million. 

日本90岁以上人口的数量首次越200万大关。

Natsu Naruse joined the group exercise in Tokyo last week.  

奈津上周加入了东京的这种团体锻炼之中。

She recently turned 100 years old. 

她最近就要100岁高寿了。

"I think my children would have trouble," if I lived longer, she said. 

她表示，我觉得，我活的越久，我的孩子们就有越大的麻烦。

I'm John Russell. 

John Russell为您播报。

【词汇解析】

1.shrine n.神殿，神坛

The infidels defiled the holy shrine.
异教徒亵渎神圣的神殿。

2.gum n.口香糖

Afterwards, one of the monks gave us some gum.
后来，其中一个僧人给了我们一些口香糖。

3.chew vt.咀嚼

Most of the time people chew their food slowly, as my mother taught me to do so many yearsago.
大多数时候人们慢慢地咀嚼食物，就像许多年前我妈妈教我的那样。

4.dumbbell n.哑铃

If you have one in your area, it's worth checking out, especially for their dumbbell selection, which is usually pretty good.
如果在当地有这么一家商店，你值得一逛，尤其是可以挑选下他们的哑铃，相当的不错。