Reading Editorial Opinion Pieces

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read and analyze Japanese editorial opinion pieces (shasetsu / 社説). You’ll learn to identify the writer’s main argument, recognize common rhetorical structures, and understand key opinion-marking expressions used in formal Japanese journalism.社説

Editorial opinion pieces in Japanese are persuasive essays that argue a specific viewpoint on a current issue. Unlike news articles (which report facts neutrally), editorials use strong language to advocate, criticize, or propose solutions. They follow a predictable structure:

• Introduction (problem/issue)
• Background (context/facts)
• Argument (writer’s opinion)
• Conclusion (call to action or summary)

Key vocabulary includes opinion verbs (e.g., 考える kangaeru – to think), persuasive phrases (e.g., べきだ beki da – should), and hedging expressions (e.g., かもしれない kamoshirenai – might).考

Step 1: Recognize the Structure

Most editorials open with a problem statement, then provide supporting facts, then state the writer’s opinion, and end with a suggestion or warning.

Example structure:

• 冒頭 (bōtō) – Opening: “最近、…という問題が起きている。” (Recently, the problem of … has arisen.)冒頭最近問題
• 背景 (haikei) – Background: “例えば、…というデータがある。” (For example, there is data that …)背景例
• 主張 (shuchō) – Argument: “私は…と考える。” (I think that …)主張私考
• 結論 (ketsuron) – Conclusion: “したがって、…べきだ。” (Therefore, we should …)結論

Step 2: Learn Key Opinion-Marking Expressions

Editorials often use these phrases to signal the writer’s stance:

Step 3: Identify the Writer’s Main Argument

Look for sentences with 私は (watashi wa) or 筆者は (hissha wa – the writer). The main argument often appears after しかし (shikashi – however) or だが (daga – but), which signal a shift from background to opinion.私筆者

Example:

• 背景: “経済成長は続いている。” (Economic growth continues.)背景経済成長
• しかし: “しかし、格差は広がっている。” (However, inequality is widening.)格差広
• 主張: “政府は対策を強化すべきだ。” (The government should strengthen measures.)主張政府対策

Step 4: Watch for Hedging and Certainty

Editorials use hedging to soften claims or show caution:

• 可能性がある (kanōsei ga aru) – there is a possibility可能性
• 懸念される (kenen sareru) – is a concern懸念
• ～と思われる (~to omowareru) – it seems that…思

Strong certainty:

• 間違いなく (machigainaku) – without a doubt間違
• 明らかに (akiraka ni) – clearly明

Example 1 (Opening + Opinion):

最近、少子化問題が深刻化している。政府は早急に対策を考えるべきだ。
Saikin, shōshika mondai ga shinkoku-ka shite iru. Seifu wa sōkyū ni taisaku o kangaeru beki da.
Recently, the declining birthrate problem has become serious. The government should consider measures urgently.最近少子化問

Example 2 (Background + Contrast + Argument):

経済は回復傾向にある。しかし、雇用の質は改善していない。したがって、労働環境の見直しが必要だ。
Keizai wa kaifuku keikō ni aru. Shikashi, koyō no shitsu wa kaizen shite inai. Shitagatte, rōdō kankyō no minaoshi ga hitsuyō da.
The economy is on a recovery trend. However, the quality of employment has not improved. Therefore, a review of the working environment is necessary.経済回復傾向

Example 3 (Hedging):

この政策は効果があるかもしれないが、長期的な影響は懸念される。
Kono seisaku wa kōka ga aru kamoshirenai ga, chōki-teki na eikyō wa kenen sareru.
This policy might be effective, but long-term effects are a concern.政策効果長期

Mistake: Confusing the writer’s opinion with factual reporting.

• In editorials, sentences with ～べきだ or ～と考える are opinions, not facts.考
• Example: “政府は増税すべきだ” (The government should raise taxes) is an opinion, not a fact.政府増税
• Fix: Always ask: “Is this a fact (data/event) or the writer’s view (opinion verb/べき)?”

Mini Drill 1: Identify the opinion part in this sentence:

環境問題は深刻だ。しかし、個人の努力だけでは解決できない。政府と企業が協力すべきだ。
Kankyō mondai wa shinkoku da. Shikashi, kojin no doryoku dake de wa kaiketsu dekinai. Seifu to kigyō ga kyōryoku subeki da.環境問題深刻

Answer: The opinion part is “政府と企業が協力すべきだ” (The government and companies should cooperate).政府企業協力

Mini Drill 2: Fill in the blank with the correct opinion expression (べきだ / かもしれない / に違いない):違

このデータを見ると、経済は回復しつつある______。
Kono dēta o miru to, keizai wa kaifuku shitsutsu aru ______.見経済回復

Answer: に違いない (ni chigainai) – “must be recovering” (strong certainty based on data).違

You now know how to:

• Recognize the structure of an editorial (problem → background → argument → conclusion)
• Identify opinion-marking expressions (べきだ, と考える, に違いない, etc.)考違
• Distinguish facts from opinions
• Watch for hedging and certainty signals

Next Step: Practice reading a real Japanese editorial (e.g., from 朝日新聞 or 読売新聞 online). Underline all opinion expressions and summarize the writer’s main argument in one sentence. Then, try writing your own short editorial on a familiar topic (e.g., school rules or technology) using べきだ and と考える.朝日新聞読売