at 18:30 (JST), February 13

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/20230213183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : japanese medical team crush syndrome
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230213_09/

A Japanese medical team has left for Turkey to provide emergency aid in the wake of last week's massive earthquake.

More than 80,000 people have been injured in the quake that hit southern Turkey on February 6. Many hospitals and medical institutions have reportedly been damaged.

The Japanese team of 36 doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other personnel departed from Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Sunday.

They are the only rescue team bringing in artificial dialysis equipment, which will be used to treat people suffering from a condition called crush syndrome.

People buried under debris for long periods of time can accumulate toxic substances that spread throughout the body. The condition can be fatal.

Some members of the relief team will draw on their experience gained in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Fujiwara Hiroyuki of Iwate Medical University notes that some of the damage being reported is similar to that after the disaster 12 years ago. He says he wants to stand by those affected by the disaster in Turkey.

Inoue Junichi of Nippon Medical School Musashikosugi Hospital is the team's deputy leader. He says many people are probably waiting for support under harsh conditions in subzero temperatures. He said he wants to do all he can to help people in Turkey.

The team members will travel through Istanbul to medical facilities in the disaster-hit areas. They will continue their mission until February 24.

Key words : japanese court video
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230212_01/

A Japanese court has released a video showing the final days of a Sri Lankan woman who died in detention.

Wishma Sandamali passed away at a detention center in Nagoya City in March 2021, after she complained that she felt ill.

The five-hour clip that is available for viewing is part of a 295-hour video. The footage was captured by a security camera mounted on the ceiling of the solitary cell in which she was detained. It was taken between February 22 and March 6, when she died.

The video shows Wishma lying on a bed, and she can be heard moaning. Conversations that she had with immigration guards and nurses can also be heard.

Last December, in response to the court's request, the Japanese government submitted as evidence five hours of video footage showing Wishma at the center.

The video can be watched at the court by anyone who completes the steps required to view official records from civil court cases.

The 33-year-old was being held for overstaying her visa.
Her family members filed a damages suit at the Nagoya district court. They are seeking compensation from the Japanese government. The bereaved family members say that the immigration authorities illegally held Wishma at the detention center and failed to provide her with adequate medical care, even though her condition became worse.

The government has argued that the actions taken by the authorities were not illegal.

Key words : labor ministry foreign record high
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230212_11/

The number of foreign workers in Japan hit a record high of more than 1.82 million last year.

The labor ministry says there were 1,822,725 foreign workers as of the end of last October. That's an increase of about 95,504, or 5.5 percent, from a year earlier.

The figure has been on the rise since record-keeping began in 2007. The annual rate of increase fell to 0.2 percent in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it expanded again in the latest data.

By nationality, Vietnamese workers top the list at 462,384, or about a quarter of the total. Chinese nationals account for 385,848, followed by 206,050 people from the Philippines.

The number of technical trainees was 343,254, down 2.4 percent from a year earlier. The figure declined for the second year in a row, possibly due to anti-coronavirus border controls.

Labor ministry officials say that although the number of technical trainees has fallen, the overall rate of increase is recovering to pre-pandemic levels.

The officials say they will consult with companies to ensure that foreign nationals can work comfortably in Japan regardless of language or customs.

Key words : ukraine broadcasting equipment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230210_20/

Japan has provided Ukraine with portable broadcasting equipment. Ukraine's main television tower in Kyiv was destroyed in a Russian attack last March.

The Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori presented the devices to representatives of Ukraine's public broadcaster in Kyiv on Thursday. The devices were donated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Japanese foreign ministry says Ukraine's public broadcaster has been airing programs using portable devices, since the tower was destroyed. But it says the broadcaster needs more equipment.

Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said on Friday that the devices will contribute to fair and accurate reporting in Ukraine and strengthen the country's democracy.

He stressed that Japan will participate in reconstruction efforts in Ukraine by supporting the country's people, who are dealing with a national crisis.

Key words : hundreds sumo tournament
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230213_02/

Hundreds of children, including Ukrainians, have wrestled in a sumo tournament launched in Japan by former Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho.

He declared the opening of the 13th Hakuho Cup at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo on Sunday.

About 900 children engaged in bouts. Contestants from overseas took part for the first time after being absent for the past two rounds of competition due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Five Ukrainian wrestlers arrived in Japan on Friday. They showcased powerful moves although they had not been able to do group training in their country due to Russia's invasion.

One of the Ukrainian participants said he had not believed he would be able to come to Japan. Another said he liked the beautiful ring.

The former yokozuna, who is now Stablemaster Miyagino, says he hopes the Ukrainian children are happy to play their favorite sport of sumo in Japan during the war in their country.

Key words : promote anime united states
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230211_04/

People have gathered in Los Angeles for an event promoting the Japanese anime and music industries.

The inaugural meeting was held on Thursday at the Grammy Museum.

It was put together by Japanese-Americans from the entertainment industry, the Japanese Consulate General in LA and other entities.

The event gave people from the Japanese anime and music businesses a chance to exchange views with Japanese-American creators.

One participant said films should take up universal topics such as family matters and people's identities. Another said streaming services have helped to promote Japanese music.

Guitarist Miyavi performed at the event. He said he believes music can connect Japan with the United States and the rest of the world. He also encouraged the participants to work together.

Key words : animated film basketball south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230211_09/

A Japanese animated film based on a popular basketball comic series has become a hit in South Korea. "The First Slam Dunk" has attracted audiences of more than 2.5 million people since its release on January 4.

The film was written and directed by Inoue Takehiko, the author of the "Slam Dunk" comic books.

As of Thursday, the movie was at the top of South Korea's box-office rankings for two weeks in a row. It has become the third most-watched Japanese animated film in the country.

The manga series enjoyed popularity among schoolchildren of all ages after it was first published in South Korea in the 1990s.

An estimated nearly 70 percent of those seeing the movie are people in their 30s and 40s who read the original. But the number of viewers in their 20s and younger is also said to be increasing.

A woman in her 20s said she saw the film three times. She said it helped her to relate to people from older generations with whom she usually does not talk much.

The popularity of the movie has helped boost the sales of the original comic series and other related products. About 600,000 copies of the repackaged version of the comics have been sold since the release of the film.

Some culture critics in the country say the film is winning the hearts of younger generations at a time of uncertainty. They say they sympathize with the characters of the movie who never give up.

Key words : figure skating miura
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230212_13/

Japan's Miura Kao has become the youngest skater to win the men's singles title at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.

Miura was leading the pack after the short program of the competition, held in the US state of Colorado.

In free skating on Saturday, he performed without any major mistakes and won the title with his personal best of 281.53 points.

Miura is 17 years and 8 months old. He broke the previous record held by Beijing Olympics gold medalist Nathan Chen by about one month.

Japanese skater Sato Shun finished third.

In pair skating, Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi became the first Japanese performers to win in this category of the competition.

The pair impressed the audience and judges in their free skating with their skillful lifts and spins, although some of the jumps were judged as under-rotated.

Miura and Kihara won the title with 208.24 points.