Japanese Snacks Change Colors

May 12, 2026, 18:50
AsiaInternational

Introduction

Calbee is a big snack company in Japan. They will change the colors of their bags because they do not have enough materials.

Main Body

Calbee will use black and white bags for 14 products. They will start this on May 25, 2026. They need a special oil for ink. There is a war in the Middle East, so this oil is hard to find. Other companies have problems too. Some food companies use fewer colors. Some companies stopped making food because they have no plastic. Car and plane companies are also losing money. The Japanese government wants to help. They bought more oil from other countries in May. They are now buying more oil from the United States. The government says people do not need to save energy yet.

Conclusion

Companies in Japan are saving money and materials. The government is finding new places to buy oil.

Learning

πŸ’‘ The "Will" Pattern

When we talk about things that are going to happen in the future, we use will. It is a very simple tool for A2 learners.

How it works: Person/Company β†’\rightarrow will β†’\rightarrow action

Examples from the text:

  • Calbee β†’\rightarrow will β†’\rightarrow change colors
  • They β†’\rightarrow will β†’\rightarrow start this on May 25

πŸ› οΈ Vocabulary: Money & Business

Here are a few useful words from the story for your daily life:

  1. Company: A business that makes or sells things (Example: Calbee is a big company).
  2. Materials: The things you need to make a product, like plastic or oil.
  3. Losing money: When a business spends more than it earns.

🌍 Simple Logic: Cause β†’\rightarrow Effect

Notice how the story connects ideas:

  • Cause: War in the Middle East β†’\rightarrow Effect: Oil is hard to find.
  • Cause: No oil for ink β†’\rightarrow Effect: Black and white bags.

Vocabulary Learning

company (n.)
an organization that makes or sells goods or services
Example:Calbee is a big snack company.
snacks (n.)
small portions of food that people eat between meals
Example:They sell many different kinds of snacks.
colors (n.)
different shades of hue used to describe the appearance of objects
Example:The company will use black and white colors for its bags.
bags (n.)
large containers made of cloth or plastic used to carry items
Example:The bags are made of paper and plastic.
materials (n.)
things that are used to make or build something
Example:They do not have enough materials for the bags.
oil (n.)
a liquid used for cooking or as fuel
Example:They need a special oil for the ink.
ink (n.)
a liquid used for writing or printing
Example:The ink on the bags is printed with a special color.
war (n.)
a conflict between countries or groups
Example:There is a war in the Middle East.
food (n.)
things that people eat
Example:Food companies use fewer colors in their products.
plastic (n.)
a synthetic material that is flexible and can be molded
Example:Some companies stopped making food because they have no plastic.
government (n.)
the group of people who run a country
Example:The Japanese government wants to help.
save (v.)
to keep something for later use
Example:The government says people do not need to save energy yet.
energy (n.)
the power or strength to do something
Example:Energy can be saved by turning off lights.
buy (v.)
to purchase something
Example:They bought more oil from other countries.
new (adj.)
not existing before; recently made
Example:They found new places to buy oil.