Over 200 people gathered recently on a hot day at a shrine in downtown Tokyo. Many in the crowd were older adults. Some chewed gum and lifted dumbbells. The weight lifting was meant to increase their strength and balance. The elderly Japanese had gathered for an event to mark Respect for the Aged Day. The observance comes at a time when Japan’s population is aging. The number of people aged 65 and over has grown to 27.7 percent of the population. That information comes from government reports. The number of elderly Japanese who still work has also hit a new high. These numbers are evidence of efforts by the government and private businesses to keep the elderly at work. The government estimates, released on Monday, are a sign of the problems resulting from a declining birthrate.
Title: Japan Marks Respect for the Aged Day
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/japan_aged.m4a' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Japan Marks Respect for the Aged Day' data-article-id='2643'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='8292'>Over 200 people gathered recently on a hot day at a shrine in downtown Tokyo.</span> <span data-start-time='8292' data-end-time='12271'>Many in the crowd were older adults.</span> <span data-start-time='12271' data-end-time='16250'>Some chewed gum and lifted dumbbells.</span> <span data-start-time='16250' data-end-time='22167'>The weight lifting was meant to increase their strength and balance.</span> <span data-start-time='22167' data-end-time='29583'>The elderly Japanese had gathered for an event to mark Respect for the Aged Day.</span> <span data-start-time='29583' data-end-time='35938'>The observance comes at a time when Japan’s population is aging.</span> <span data-start-time='35938' data-end-time='46167'>The number of people aged 65 and over has grown to 27.7 percent of the population.</span> <span data-start-time='46167' data-end-time='50396'>That information comes from government reports.</span> <span data-start-time='50396' data-end-time='57521'>The number of elderly Japanese who still work has also hit a new high.</span> <span data-start-time='57521' data-end-time='67167'>These numbers are evidence of efforts by the government and private businesses to keep the elderly at work.</span> <span data-start-time='67167' data-end-time='76917'>The government estimates, released on Monday, are a sign of the problems resulting from a declining birthrate.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/japan_aged.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=9433 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/what_does_shrine_mean.m4a'>What does shrine mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='holy place'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/holy_place.m4a'><span>holy place</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/grow_old.m4a'><span>grow old</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/chew_gum.m4a'><span>chew gum</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/lift_weights.m4a'><span>lift weights</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=9434 data-hint-location='16250' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/what_does_weight_lifting_increase.m4a'>What does weight lifting increase?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='strength and balance'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/strength_and_balance.m4a'><span>strength and balance</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/arms_and_legs.m4a'><span>arms and legs</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/money_and_power.m4a'><span>money and power</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/love_and_prosperity.m4a'><span>love and prosperity</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=9435 data-hint-location='8292' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/many_in_the_crowd_were__blank_.m4a'>Many in the crowd were <span class='blank'>older adults</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='older adults'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/chewing_gum.m4a'><span>chewing gum</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/still_working.m4a'><span>still working</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/older_adults.m4a'><span>older adults</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/young_people.m4a'><span>young people</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
Sound Name: https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/2125/japan_aged.m4a
Preview
