at 18:30 (JST), April 29

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20220429183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : tour boat self-defense seabed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220429_16/

The Japan Coast Guard has confirmed that the object found on the seabed off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan is the tour boat that went missing on April 23.

The 19-ton "KAZU I" was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. Fourteen people were confirmed dead as of Thursday. The others remain unaccounted for, and search operations are continuing.

The Japan Coast Guard said images of what appeared to be the boat were captured by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel on Friday morning. It was found at a depth of about 100 meters in waters near a scenic waterfall. The tour boat captain reported that his boat had passed the area of the waterfall before it went missing.

The Coast Guard said the object was identified by the MSDF vessel's undersea camera on the second attempt to do so.

It said images showed all the letters of the boat's name on its exterior. It added that the object was confirmed to have a coating of blue paint, the same color of the missing boat.

Coast guard officials plan to investigate the boat's condition in further detail.

Key words : high wave advisories
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220427_40/

Search and rescue operations continue in northern Japan after a tour boat disappeared on Saturday. But rough seas made it difficult on Wednesday.

The 19-ton "KAZU I" went missing off the coast of Hokkaido. It was carrying 24 passengers and two crew members. 11 are dead, and 15 are still missing. The ship set sail despite gale and high wave advisories.

Coast Guard officials have yet to find the ship or more of the missing people.

They received a report from a fishing boat on Tuesday saying its fish-finding equipment had detected a large object at a depth of 30 meters. But divers only found rocks on the seabed.

Strong winds and rough seas are pummeling the coast. Small-sized vessels, including local fishing boats, were unable to join Wednesday's rescue operation.

The cruise ship operator's president apologized for the accident at a news conference.

President Katsurada Seiichi of Shiretoko Pleasure Cruiser said, "I am truly sorry for the victims and for the people who are still missing."

Katsurada said the captain of the ship told him on Saturday morning it was possible to operate the 10 a.m. cruise although the weather could turn harsh in the afternoon. He said he decided to allow the captain to sail, on the condition he would return if the sea became rough.

The president also said he learned shortly after the conversation that a radio communication antenna at his company was broken.

But he decided not to cancel the cruise because his staff were able to use cell phones.

He also said the ship could contact other cruise companies, who could relay messages.

Coast Guard officials are looking into whether the boat operator had proper safety measures in place.

Key words : Kishida support understanding
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220429_06/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will arrive in Indonesia on Friday for a meeting with President Joko Widodo. The leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine and other issues.

Indonesia chairs the Group of 20 this year. But the country is facing difficulty handling different opinions on whether Russia should be allowed to attend G20 gatherings following its invasion of Ukraine. It is expected to seek Japan's understanding on its position regarding Russia's participation in G20 meetings.

Indonesia, which has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, hopes to quickly resume economic activities with Japan as part of its effort to recover from the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo says Japan's investment in Indonesia last year almost halved from the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.

The Indonesian government is asking for assistance to upgrade primarily ports, railways and other infrastructure. It is also trying to lure back tourists to its resorts, including the island of Bali.

Indonesia is heavily reliant on coal-fired power generation. The country is appealing for financial and technical support from Japan and other nations to help it boost its use of other energy sources.

Key words : north sent one million
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_26/

A North Korean defectors' group in South Korea says it flew one million anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border to the North earlier this week.

The group said on Thursday it carried out the leaflet campaign on Monday and Tuesday from near Gimpo in the northwest of South Korea.

The group said the leaflets criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were carried by 20 large balloons.

Footage released by the group shows bags of leaflets and balloons rising up in the night sky.

A photo of incoming president Yoon Suk-yeol is attached to one balloon with the caption, "South Korea, a great nation where a prosecutor has become leader."
The defectors' group criticized Kim, saying he is threatening South Korea and humanity with nuclear weapons and missiles.

The group also said the outgoing administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has not been able to utter a word of criticism against the North.

The same group sent similar leaflets across the border in 2020. North Korea later blew up an inter-Korean liaison office that was seen as a symbol of reconciliation.

The latest leaflet campaign could trigger an angry response from North Korea ahead of the launch on May 10 of South Korea's first conservative administration in five years.

Key words : philippines
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220428_42/

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared August 30th as National Press Freedom Day. His administration has long been criticized for its crackdowns on the media.

The date is the birthday of writer Marcelo del Pilar, known as the father of journalism in the Philippines. Duterte says government agencies will hold programs on the day educating the public on the importance of a free media and the need to eliminate "all forms of violence against the press."

Duterte has repeatedly restricted journalistic freedoms during his time in office. He shut down one of the largest commercial broadcasters for airing news critical of his government.
He has also attacked Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa for her coverage of his administration's aggressive war on drugs.

The Philippines ranks 138th out of 180 countries and regions in the World Press Freedom Index, published by the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Key words : shanghai a month fujita
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