at 18:30 (JST), February 07

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/20230207183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kishida living next door fired
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230206_26/

Japan's prime minister is apologizing for offensive comments made by a top aide about same-sex couples.

The aide, Arai Masayoshi, said on Friday he would not want a same-sex couple living next door to him. He also said all of Kishida Fumio's secretaries are against same-sex marriage. Arai retracted the comment and apologized later in the day. The prime minister fired him on Saturday.

Kishida spoke at a meeting of government and ruling party members Monday. He said the remarks were contrary to the government's policy of respecting diversity and creating an inclusive society.

Kishida said, "The remarks are totally inconsistent with government policy. And it is regrettable that they caused misunderstanding among the public. I also apologize to those who felt uncomfortable because of the remarks."

Kishida's political opposition is criticizing the administration over the comments.

Constitutional Democratic Party member Azumi Jun said, "It is very embarrassing that the Japanese government, as the G7 chair, has such an outdated stance to issues related to LGBT and same-sex marriage."

A group supporting sexual minorities in Japan is also criticizing the secretary's controversial comments. The advocacy group says the secretary's comments do not reflect what most of Japanese society thinks. Japan remains the only G7 country that does not allow same-sex marriage.

Key words : thailand tourism industry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230206_39/

China has resumed outbound group tours to selected countries for the first time since the pandemic began. The move is raising hopes in Thailand, which is one of the 20 designated destinations, that the country's tourism industry will be revitalized.

In 2019, Thailand had about 11 million Chinese travelers -- over a quarter of all foreign visitors.

On Monday, while no large group tours were noticeable, Chinese travelers on private trips were sightseeing at Bangkok's famous Wat Pho temple.

One tourist from Shanghai said she was traveling abroad for the first time since the pandemic began and found staying in Bangkok "comfortable."

Meanwhile, bus companies in the capital are busy preparing for an expected spike in Chinese group tours.

An official of a bus company, Saowaros Thanyakhunakorn, said 40 percent of the firm's customers came from China before the pandemic, but the number subsequently tumbled. She said the company expects the figure to recover to the previous level in about six months.

"The buses are ready. The only thing we can do is wait for tourists to return," she said.

Key words : space agency interview
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230206_30/

The head of the US space agency NASA has expressed concern about China's space development, saying that Chinese officials are very secretive and lack transparency.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson made the remarks in an interview with NHK in Tokyo on Monday.

On the state of China's space development, Nelson said, "They have accomplished many things within the last 10 years, and they seem to be very good."

But he expressed concern about China's desire to lay claim to the South Pole of the moon. He said knowing the history of China's moves, "They would go to the South Pole, where we think the resources are, and say this is our territory." Nelson stressed that dialogue with China is essential.

He referred to China's space station project, in which the debris of a booster rocket threatened to fall to Earth two years ago. He called the Chinese officials "very secretive," because they refused to tell where the booster was going to come down.

He added that China is going to need to establish some cooperation with the United States, but to this point, it has been unwilling to do so.

The NASA chief also spoke about the Artemis program, which is aimed at sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo project from 1969 to 1972.

Nelson described space as "our future" and "an area of great exploration." He said the Artemis mission is to go back to the moon to stay. He added, "We are going to learn to live, to work, to invent, to create, to prepare to go to Mars with humans.

Nelson also stressed the importance of collaboration with Japan in space exploration and research. He called Japan a major friend and strategic partner for the United States.

He specifically mentioned a lunar rover that Japan will build. He said it will be an enclosed, inhabitable rover that will allow the astronauts to take off their spacesuits and move around the moon in a breathable atmosphere.

Nelson assumed his post at NASA in May 2021 after representing Florida for many years as both a Senator and Representative in the US Congress. He was involved in space experiments on board the Space Shuttle in 1986.

Key words : kenya nec nagasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230207_05/

Kenya plans to put in place by year-end a biometric medical record system developed by Japanese engineers in a bid to improve the survival of newborns in the African country.

UNICEF says an estimated 2.4 million infants died in their first 28 days of life in 2020. Experts say those deaths -- many of which took place in developing countries -- could be mostly prevented through typical medical interventions such as vaccinations.

The new system was developed by Japanese electronics maker NEC and Nagasaki University, in cooperation with Kenyan researchers.

The system keeps the medical records of children and links them to their fingerprints, which are taken when they are born. Since newborns' fingerprints are not yet fully developed, it is supplemented by voice authentication by their mothers.

The planned full-fledged introduction of the system by Kenya follows a trial that the country launched in the autumn of 2022.

If successful, it will be the first time in the world that the technically difficult authentication of newborns' fingerprints has been put to practical use for a medical system.

Experts say the system will make it easier for medical professionals to keep track of children's vaccination histories, and that it is useful when planning vaccination campaigns.

NEC and Nagasaki University officials say they will consider introducing the system in other countries as well.

Key words : knife attack 16-year-old victim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230207_01/

An acquaintance of a high school boy who was injured in Monday's knife attack in the city of Kawasaki, near Tokyo, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to kill the student.

The 16-year-old acquaintance, who is also a high school student, is suspected of stabbing the boy in the back of the head while the victim was on his way to school.

The injury is not life-threatening.

Police say the accounts of eyewitnesses, as well as footage from surveillance cameras in the neighborhood, led to his arrest.

Key words : board game nakamura win
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230206_28/

A 13-year-old Japanese girl has become the youngest-ever professional title holder in the strategic board game "Go."

Nakamura Sumire won the female Kisei title on Monday at 13 years and 11 months. The former record of 15 years and nine months was set by double-title holder Fujisawa Rina in 2014.

The third-dan-ranked Nakamura faced double-title holder Ueno Asami, aged 21, in their third match of the best-of-three Kisei title series at the Nihon Ki-in in Tokyo.

Nakamura played calmly and took a commanding lead from the middle stages.

After the match, Nakamura told reporters that although there were some areas where she could have done better, it was good for her to be able to win with a fighting mindset. She said she realized hard work can produce a good result.

Ueno said Nakamura showed strength at critical moments.

Nakamura started playing Go when she was 3 years old under the tutelage of her father Shinya, a ninth-dan-ranked professional Go player.

At age 7, she started visiting South Korea, a powerhouse of the game, for training from time to time. She became the youngest professional Go player at the age of 10.