Asian View
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20210312183000_english_1.mp3
Key words : people in Japan observed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210311_30/
People in Japan are remembering those who were killed 10 years ago, when a massive earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan and triggered a nuclear catastrophe. A national memorial ceremony has been held in Tokyo.
People observed a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m., the exact moment the magnitude-9 quake struck.
The quake generated tsunami over 10 meters high, killing 15,900 people. 2,525 others remain unaccounted for, and 3,775 have since died of related causes.
The government has held a memorial ceremony annually on March 11 starting in 2012. But the event was canceled last year and the number of attendees has been limited this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the ceremony, family members of victims spoke about their loss and how they are trying to move on. Saito Makoto is from Fukushima prefecture, one of the areas most devastated by the disaster.
"I lost my second son Shota, who was 5 years old at the time, in the tsunami. If he were alive, he would be in his third year of junior high school. I deeply regret that I can't give him any advice on his future. I don't want his death to be a waste. I work at an elementary school. So, I want to share with children what I experienced and teach them how precious life is. I am determined to keep the disaster from fading away in people's memories and pass on the lessons we learned to future generations," Saito said.
Omi Chiharu, who lives in Iwate Prefecture, survived, but the inn she worked at was completely destroyed by the tsunami.
"Thanks to a lot of support and warm words from people not only across Japan but around the world, I was able to get back to normal, little by little. I look forward with hope, even in a difficult situation where everything changed... It's been 10 years since the disaster, yet the sadness we felt will never fade away. But we will protect the town we love with our hands, and move toward the future," Omi said.
This is the first time Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the annual ceremony. The couple has visited the affected areas since the disaster and offered words of encouragement to survivors before Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in 2019.
At the ceremony, the Emperor said that while he feels reconstruction has been progressing, various problems still remain. He said his heart aches when he turns his thoughts to those who have struggled.
Emperor Naruhito said, "It is a matter of great importance, I believe, that we all keep ourselves united, and everlastingly maintain the will to stand by the afflicted people so that the progress of the reconstruction will steadily bear fruit from now onwards in order to help all of them regain their peaceful daily lives in less than no time without leaving even a single soul behind in this difficult situation. I, together with the Empress, would like to continue to listen to the voices of those in the afflicted regions and stay close to them."
Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said that 2,000 people still reside in temporary housing even though reconstruction is entering its final phases. He stressed the government's commitment to leading reconstruction efforts.
Suga said, "The government will continue to provide seamless support to affected citizens. In areas affected by the nuclear disaster that need mid- to long-term help, the government will advance measures to improve living conditions for people to return home, and bolster the revitalization of industries. We will do our utmost to fully reconstruct and revive Fukushima and complete the reconstruction of the Tohoku region."
He added that Japan's history of natural disasters has created resiliency in its people, and vowed that the country would follow past examples of "courage and hope."
Key words : china pro-democracy electoral system
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210311_28/
China's National People's Congress has decided to reform Hong Kong's electoral system. It's seen as an attempt to eliminate pro-democracy politicians from the process.
The congress voted in favor of implementing reforms on Thursday, the final day of a week-long session in Beijing. President Xi Jinping was among those present.
All 2,895 votes cast were in favor, with one abstention.
Beijing has been saying the territory should be governed by "patriots," and that "clear loopholes and deficiencies"
in its electoral system have to be closed.
The proposed reform mainly covers elections of Hong Kong's chief executive and Legislative Council.
The chief executive is elected by a committee of representatives from different fields, not directly by citizens.
The proposed changes would increase the number of election committee members from 1,200 to 1,500. The committee would be given greater power, and allowed to elect a number of the Legislative Council members as well.
The council seats would be increased from the current 70 to 90.
A new panel would be set up to screen the qualifications of candidates for election committee members, the chief executive and Legislative Council lawmakers.
These changes are expected to bar pro-democracy politicians who are critical of Beijing from running for office.
The standing committee of the National People's Congress is to decide on the details of the reform later.
Hong Kong's pro-democracy forces are protesting the move, and the US and European countries have voiced concern and criticism.
The congress also approved a target of 6 percent or higher for this year's economic growth.
It endorsed a budget that includes an increase of 6.8 percent in defense spending to total around 1.35 trillion yuan, or nearly 210 billion dollars.
The congress also adopted a five-year plan that serves as the basis for the government's economic policy.
Key words : myanmar suu
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210312_01/
A spokesperson for Myanmar's governing body set up by the military says Aung San Suu Kyi is under investigation for suspected corruption.
Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun made the comment at a news conference in the capital Naypyitaw on Thursday.
He said a former Yangon Division chief minister had admitted to giving Aung San Suu Kyi 600,000 dollars and gold weighing around 11 kilograms from 2017 to 2018.
That comes after Aung San Suu Kyi was detained by the military on February 1 and charged with illegally importing handheld radios and using them without permission.
Analysts say the latest allegation against her is an apparent attempt to block her from returning to politics.
Meanwhile, security forces opened fire at anti-coup protesters again on Thursday.
Local media say at least 10 people were killed across the country, including seven in the central town of Myaing and at least one each in the largest city of Yangon and the second largest city of Mandalay.
The total number of fatalities caused by security forces has now exceeded 60.
Key words : river india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210312_04/
Crowds of people in India have been taking a ritual dip in the Ganges River as part of a huge Hindu festival dubbed the world's largest gathering of pilgrims.
Local authorities are calling on participants in the Kumbh Mela to present negative coronavirus test results and take thorough anti-infection measures. They also say they will be cutting short this year's event.
The festival is held at one of four sacred sites by rotation. Usually, more than 100 million people enter river waters during the event, believing the action frees them from their sins.
Pilgrims and devotees, including holy people called sadhus, began to swarm along the Ganges in the northern town of Haridwar early on Thursday morning, a holy date for Hindus.
A bather said he prayed for the victims of a huge earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan 10 years ago.
India has confirmed more than 11 million cases of coronavirus infection. Its daily tally has passed 20,000 this month.
Key words : fukushima fault rumer and misunderstanding canadian
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