An increasing number of parents let their elementary school children carry cell phones for safety reasons. Ironically, this makes it more difficult for parents to monitor their children's Internet use.
死刑は犯罪を防止する役目を果たさないという考え方が一般的になってきた。
More and more people are beginning to doubt that the death penalty serves as a deterrent to crime.
石油価格が上昇すると、高速道路の利用者が急激に減った。
As the oil price went up, the number of expressway users dropped sharply.
グラフによると、1990年から2000年の間に原子力発電所の数は急激に増えている。
The graph shows a sharp increase in the number of nuclear power plants during the years 1990-2000.
この40年間で、日本の食糧自給率は49%低下した。
During the last 40 years, the food self-supporting rate of Japan dropped by 49%.
日本では、65歳を超えた人が2030年までに人口の3分の1近くを占めるだろう。
In Japan, those over 65 will account for almost one third of the population by 2030.
日本は長らく世界第2位の経済大国だったが、中国に抜かれるのは時間の問題だ。
Japan has long been the second largest economic power, but it's only a matter of time before we are overtaken by China.