キャッシュレス化
Some people say that Japan should move toward a completely cashless society. Do you agree with this opinion?
こう聞かれることもある
- Do you think more stores should stop accepting cash?
- Some people say cashless payment is more convenient than cash. Do you agree or disagree?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cashless society?
- TOPIC: Cash will disappear completely within the next twenty years.
賛成で使える論点
決済の速さと手間の削減時間
Cashless payments are faster than counting and handing over cash, saving time for both customers and staff.
使える表現
- speed up the checkout process
- save time for customers and staff
- reduce waiting in line
レジで小銭を数える時間がなくなり、会計がスムーズになるという具体例
A customer paying with a smartphone app can complete a purchase in seconds, without fumbling for exact change.
現金管理コストの削減お金
Businesses save money and time by not having to count, transport, and secure large amounts of cash.
使える表現
- reduce cash-handling costs
- avoid the risk of theft
- save time on daily accounting
現金を数えて銀行に運ぶ作業や、盗難のリスクがなくなり、店舗の負担が減るという具体例
A small shop no longer needs to spend time each night counting cash and taking it to the bank, reducing both labor and the risk of theft.
支出の記録・管理のしやすさ効率
Cashless payments automatically record every transaction, making it easier for people to track their spending.
使える表現
- automatically record transactions
- track spending more easily
- manage a household budget more accurately
アプリの履歴を見るだけで、何にいくら使ったか一目でわかるという具体例
By simply checking a payment app, a person can immediately see exactly how much they spent on food or transportation that month.
衛生面の向上健康
Cashless payments reduce the need to physically handle coins and bills, which can carry germs.
使える表現
- reduce contact with germs
- improve hygiene at checkout
- avoid handling dirty banknotes
不特定多数の手を渡る硬貨や紙幣に触れずに済み、衛生面で安心という具体例
During a period of concern about infectious disease, many customers preferred tapping a card over handling coins that had passed through many hands.
反対で使える論点
高齢者や機器を持たない人の排除公平さ
A fully cashless society could exclude elderly people or others who do not use smartphones or credit cards.
使える表現
- exclude people without a smartphone
- create difficulties for elderly customers
- leave some people unable to pay
スマホの操作に不慣れな高齢者が、日常の買い物すら困難になってしまうという具体例
An elderly customer who has never used a smartphone may find it impossible to buy groceries if a store no longer accepts cash.
災害・停電時のリスク安全
Cashless payment systems depend on electricity and network connections, which may fail during a natural disaster.
使える表現
- depend on electricity and networks
- stop working during a power outage
- leave people unable to pay in an emergency
地震などで停電・通信障害が起きると、キャッシュレス決済が一切使えなくなるという具体例
After a major earthquake caused widespread power outages, many stores that relied entirely on digital payment were unable to process any sales.
個人情報・プライバシーの懸念安全
Every cashless transaction is recorded, raising concerns about how companies and governments might use that personal data.
使える表現
- record every transaction
- raise privacy concerns
- risk personal data being misused
いつ・どこで・何を買ったかがすべて記録され、個人の行動が把握されてしまうという具体例
A company that processes payments can build a detailed record of exactly where and when a person shops, raising questions about how that data is used.
手数料の負担お金
Small businesses often have to pay transaction fees for cashless payments, which cash does not require.
使える表現
- pay transaction fees
- reduce profit margins for small shops
- add a hidden cost to every sale
小さな個人商店ほど、キャッシュレス決済の手数料が利益を圧迫してしまうという具体例
A small family-owned shop with thin profit margins may lose a meaningful portion of each sale to card processing fees.
どの2つを選ぶか
賛成なら「決済の速さと手間の削減」と「現金管理コストの削減」——顧客側・店舗側の両方から利便性を語れるので説得力が出る。反対なら「高齢者や機器を持たない人の排除」と「災害・停電時のリスク」——どちらもキャッシュレスが機能しなくなる場面という共通の切り口で書ける。
やりがちな失敗
- 自分がキャッシュレスを便利だと感じているという個人の好みだけで一般論を語る
- 海外（中国・スウェーデン等）の事例だけを根拠にし、日本の事情に触れない
- 賛成なのに「でも高齢者は困る」と反対側の懸念を本論に書いてしまい一貫性を失う
- cashless／cash-free／card-onlyなど表現がぶれる（本文中の用語は統一する）
モデル解答
英検2級版を見る（84 words）
I agree that Japan should move toward a cashless society. First, cashless payments are faster and more convenient than counting cash. For example, a customer can pay with a smartphone in a few seconds without looking for exact change. Second, businesses save both time and money because they do not need to count and transport cash. A small shop can save time every night by not counting coins and bills before closing. For these reasons, I believe Japan should continue moving toward cashless payments.
なぜこの構成になるか
- 第1文で立場を明言する
- 理由1「決済の速さ」→ For exampleで具体的な支払い場面を描写
- 理由2「現金管理コストの削減」→ 店舗側の視点に切り替えて理由を補強する
- 最終文は主張を繰り返さず、continue moving towardで前向きな言い換えをする
英検準1級版を見る（131 words）
I disagree that Japan should move toward a completely cashless society, even though I recognize the convenience it offers. To begin with, a fully cashless system could exclude people, particularly the elderly, who are not comfortable using smartphones or credit cards; such customers might struggle to buy even basic necessities. In addition, cashless systems depend entirely on electricity and network connections, which cannot be guaranteed during a natural disaster. When a major earthquake caused widespread power outages in the past, stores relying solely on digital payment were unable to process any sales at all. Admittedly, cashless payment is faster and more convenient in everyday situations. However, keeping cash as an option would protect vulnerable groups and provide a reliable backup in emergencies. For these reasons, cash should not be eliminated entirely.
なぜこの構成になるか
- 「even though ～」で利便性は認めつつ反対の立場を明確にする
- 理由1「高齢者の排除」→ particularly the elderlyで対象を具体化する
- 理由2「災害時のリスク」→ 過去の実例（大地震での停電）を使って抽象論にしない
- "Admittedly, ～. However, ～"の譲歩構文で利便性そのものは否定しない姿勢を示す
- 最終文はshould not be eliminated entirelyと全否定ではないニュアンスで締め、論理のバランスを見せる
次の一手
ここで作った論点は、まだ「材料」です。実際にこの言葉を使って80〜100語の英文を書いたら、 AI添削ツールや先生に見せて、文法・語彙・語数を仕上げてください。理由が思いつかずに手が止まっていた人ほど、材料さえあれば添削は驚くほどスムーズに進みます。
