Japan has posted its biggest annual trade deficit on record.
日本は計上しました、最大の年間の貿易赤字を、記録があるうちで。
The weaker yen and soaring energy prices were mostly to blame.
円安、そして急騰するエネルギー価格が、主な原因でした。
Preliminary data released by the Finance Ministry shows a trade deficit of almost 20 trillion yen for 2022. That's the equivalent of about 155 billion dollars.
The deficit is the largest since comparable data became available in 1979.
その赤字は最大です、比較できる数値が入手できるようになって以来、1979年に。
Imports surged nearly 40 percent in yen terms. Costs for crude oil, coal, and liquefied natural gas were up significantly. The weaker yen also contributed to the increase.