A new vending machine in Japan is selling bear meat. The machine is in the city of Semboku and sells different cuts of local black bear. Customers can choose from fatty or lean meat for about $17 per 250g. The machine is run by a local restaurant called Soba Goro and sells meat from bears killed in nearby mountains by local hunters. The meat is usually bought by visitors who arrive on the bullet train. The vending machine is found at the entrance to Tazawako station in northern Akita prefecture. Japan has many vending machines and they sell lots of different things. Some machines sell snails-in-a-can, whale meat or even edible insects.
Bears are sometimes hunted by licensed hunters in Japan, but the meat is not usually eaten in Tokyo. The meat from the bear is considered a delicacy but is not on the menu at most Tokyo restaurants. The operators of the vending machine say that people from around Tokyo have been inquiring about buying the meat. Experts say that bears are entering cities more often because they are running out of food.
Original news source: Bear meat vending machine is a first for Japan (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– WHAT’S IN THE VENDING MACHINE?
Instructions: Show the article to the students and ask them to name at least 3 things they think could be sold in a vending machine in their country. Then, ask them to imagine they are in Japan and they see the bear meat vending machine. Ask them to describe their reaction to it and if they would try it.
– CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Instructions: Explain to the students that in Japan, it is common to have vending machines that sell unusual things. Ask them to name something unusual they have seen for sale in their country. Then, ask them to name something they think is unusual in Japanese culture. Discuss the differences and similarities between the two cultures.
– ROLE PLAY
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student is a customer and the other is the owner of the bear meat vending machine. The customer wants to buy some bear meat but they are not sure which one to choose. The owner needs to explain the differences between the fatty and lean meat and convince the customer to buy one. Then, switch roles.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the new vending machine in Japan selling?
2. Where is the vending machine located?
3. Who runs the vending machine?
4. How much does a customer pay for 250g of bear meat?
5. Where do the bears come from that are used for the meat?
6. What other things can be bought from vending machines in Japan?
7. Is bear meat usually eaten in Tokyo?
8. Why are bears entering cities more often?
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
A new vending machine in Japan is selling (1)______ meat. The machine is in the city of Semboku and sells different cuts of local black (2)______. Customers can choose from fatty or lean meat for about $17 per 250g. The machine is run by a local restaurant called Soba Goro and sells meat from (3)________ killed in nearby mountains by local hunters. The meat is usually bought by visitors who arrive on the bullet train. The vending machine is found at the entrance to Tazawako station in northern Akita (4)_________. Japan has many vending machines and they sell lots of different things. Some machines sell snails-in-a-can, whale meat or even (5)________ insects.
Bears are sometimes hunted by licensed hunters in Japan, but the meat is not usually eaten in (6)________. The meat from the bear is considered a delicacy but is not on the menu at most Tokyo restaurants. The operators of the vending machine say that people from around Tokyo have been inquiring about buying the (7)______. Experts say that bears are entering cities more often because they are running out of (8)________.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Have you ever eaten bear meat?
2. What do you think about the idea of selling bear meat in a vending machine?
3. Do you think it’s okay to hunt bears for food?
4. Would you try bear meat if you had the chance?
5. What other unusual foods have you tried before?
6. Do you think it’s important to try different types of food from different cultures?
7. Have you ever seen a vending machine that sells something unique or unusual?
8. Do you think it’s okay for vending machines to sell food that is not commonly eaten in a certain area?
9. Do you think it’s important to know where your food comes from?
10. Would you be curious to try bear meat if you saw the vending machine?
11. Have you ever seen a wild bear before?
12. Do you think it’s important to protect wild animals like bears?
13. Have you ever gone hunting or fishing before?
14. Do you think it’s okay to eat animals that are considered to be rare or endangered?
15. What is your favorite type of meat to eat?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. vending machine
2. bear meat
3. delicacy
4. hunters
5. bullet train
6. edible insects
7. Tokyo restaurants
8. running out of food
Meanings:
A) A very fast train that travels in Japan
B) High-quality or expensive food that is considered rare or unique
C) Places where food is prepared and served to customers
D) People who hunt animals as a job or for sport
E) A machine that sells products when money is put into it
F) Small animals that can be eaten
G) When there is no more food left
H) Meat from the body of a large furry mammal that lives in the mountains
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Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the vending machine in Japan selling?
(a) fish
(b) bear meat
(c) vegetables
(d) candy
2. Where is the vending machine located?
(a) Tokyo
(b) Osaka
(c) Semboku
(d) Kobe
3. How much does 250g of bear meat from the vending machine cost?
(a) $5
(b) $10
(c) $17
(d) $25
4. Who runs the vending machine?
(a) a local restaurant
(b) the government
(c) a big company
(d) a school
5. How do customers choose the type of bear meat they want?
(a) they write a letter
(b) they choose from a menu
(c) they talk to a person
(d) they play a game
6. What are some other things that Japanese vending machines sell?
(a) clothes
(b) books
(c) food
(d) cars
7. Is bear meat usually eaten in Tokyo?
(a) yes
(b) no
(c) sometimes
(d) only on Sundays
8. Why are bears entering cities in Japan more often?
(a) they want to make friends
(b) the cities have better weather
(c) they are running out of food
(d) they like the city lights
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True or False Questions:
1. A vending machine in Japan sells bear meat.
2. Customers can choose between fatty or lean bear meat.
3. The meat sold in the vending machine is brought in from far away.
4. The vending machine is run by a restaurant called Soba Goro.
5. The vending machine can be found in Tokyo.
6. Some vending machines in Japan sell edible insects.
7. The meat from bears is a common dish served in Tokyo restaurants.
8. Bears are entering cities more often because they are running out of food.
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Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is being sold in the new vending machine in Japan?
2. How much does it cost to buy bear meat from the vending machine?
3. Where do the bears come from that the meat is sold from?
4. What other things can be bought from vending machines in Japan?
5. Why are bears sometimes coming into cities more often?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is the new vending machine in Japan selling?
Answer: The new vending machine in Japan is selling bear meat.
2. Where is the vending machine located?
Answer: The vending machine is located in the city of Semboku at the entrance to Tazawako station in northern Akita prefecture.
3. Who runs the vending machine?
Answer: The vending machine is run by a local restaurant called Soba Goro.
4. How much does a customer pay for 250g of bear meat?
Answer: A customer pays about $17 for 250g of bear meat.
5. Where do the bears come from that are used for the meat?
Answer: The bears used for the meat are killed in nearby mountains by local hunters.
6. What other things can be bought from vending machines in Japan?
Answer: Other things that can be bought from vending machines in Japan include snails-in-a-can, whale meat, and edible insects.
7. Is bear meat usually eaten in Tokyo?
Answer: No, bear meat is not usually eaten in Tokyo.
8. Why are bears entering cities more often?
Answer: Bears are entering cities more often because they are running out of food.
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Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. bear
2. bear
3. bears
4. prefecture
5. edible
6. Tokyo
7. meat
8. food
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Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. vending machine
Answer: E) A machine that sells products when money is put into it
2. bear meat
Answer: H) Meat from the body of a large furry mammal that lives in the mountains
3. delicacy
Answer: B) High-quality or expensive food that is considered rare or unique
4. hunters
Answer: D) People who hunt animals as a job or for sport
5. bullet train
Answer: A) A very fast train that travels in Japan
6. edible insects
Answer: F) Small animals that can be eaten
7. Tokyo restaurants
Answer: C) Places where food is prepared and served to customers
8. running out of food
Answer: G) When there is no more food left
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the vending machine in Japan selling?
Answer: (b) bear meat
2. Where is the vending machine located?
Answer: (c) Semboku
3. How much does 250g of bear meat from the vending machine cost?
Answer: (c) $17
4. Who runs the vending machine?
Answer: (a) a local restaurant
5. How do customers choose the type of bear meat they want?
Answer: (b) they choose from a menu
6. What are some other things that Japanese vending machines sell?
Answer: (c) food
7. Is bear meat usually eaten in Tokyo?
Answer: (b) no
8. Why are bears entering cities in Japan more often?
Answer: (c) they are running out of food
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True or False Answers:
1. A vending machine in Japan sells bear meat.
Answer: True
2. Customers can choose between fatty or lean bear meat.
Answer: True
3. The meat sold in the vending machine is brought in from far away.
Answer: False
4. The vending machine is run by a restaurant called Soba Goro.
Answer: True
5. The vending machine can be found in Tokyo.
Answer: False
6. Some vending machines in Japan sell edible insects.
Answer: True
7. The meat from bears is a common dish served in Tokyo restaurants.
Answer: False
8. Bears are entering cities more often because they are running out of food.
Answer: True
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