at 18:30 (JST), April 20

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/20230420183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : trade deficit 161
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_13/

Japan's trade deficit widened to a record last fiscal year, driven by a weaker yen and soaring energy prices.

The Finance Ministry said Thursday the deficit for the year ended in March was about 21.7 trillion yen, or about 161 billion dollars. That is the largest annual gap between exports and imports since comparable data became available in 1979.

The value of imports rose by 32.2 percent in the period. Higher prices for crude oil, coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as a weaker yen, fueled the increase.

Exports were also up 15.5 percent. That was supported by an increase in car shipments.

The ministry also released trade figures for March. The deficit for the month was more than 750 billion yen, or about 5.6 billion dollars. Japan's trade balance has now been in the red for 20 straight months.

Key words : preparing evacuate 60
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_14/

Japanese Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu on Thursday ordered the Self-Defense Forces to deploy aircraft to Djibouti to evacuate Japanese nationals from Sudan. The Self-Defense Forces have an operations base in Djibouti.

Fierce fighting continues in Sudan between the military, which took power in a coup in 2021, and a paramilitary group.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said on Wednesday that the government has started preparing to move about 60 Japanese nationals out of Sudan.

Japanese government officials believe it would be difficult to enter Sudan immediately because of heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum, where an international airport is located.

They will therefore keep the Self-Defense Forces on standby in Djibouti, while they make decisions about the means of transportation and routes that will be used.

A Djibouti-based unit that is engaged in anti-piracy activities is preparing to take part, if necessary.

Defense Ministry officials say arrangements are being made to deploy three transport aircraft to Djibouti. It is likely that the aircraft will arrive as early as this weekend.

Key words : industry minister tax
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_04/

Japan's industry minister Nishimura Yasutoshi has called on his US counterpart to offer US consumers tax breaks for electric vehicles made by Japanese automakers.

The US government on Monday disclosed a list of EVs that qualify for "clean vehicle" tax credits under a new set of rules.

The revised measures put Japanese and many other non-US car manufacturers at a disadvantage, as models of US automakers dominate the list.

Nishimura made the request to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who is visiting Japan, late Wednesday.
Their talks lasted about 50 minutes.

The meeting comes as Nishimura and Tai reached an agreement last month to boost cooperation on critical mineral supply chains.

The two signed a memorandum stating that EVs assembled in the United States that use materials that have been processed in Japan will also be eligible for tax breaks.

Nishimura told reporters that Japan had seized every opportunity to call on the US to review its policy so it is consistent with the bilateral strategy to strengthen supply chains, and he did just that during his talks with Tai.

Key words : south tangible
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_09/

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol says he will seek tangible outcomes on dealing with North Korea in his upcoming summit with US President Joe Biden. The North has been ramping up its nuclear and missile development.

Yoon spoke in an interview with Reuters news agency ahead of his state visit to the US next week.

Yoon stressed that his government will upgrade deterrence against the North by strengthening its surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence analysis capabilities, and developing new weapons.

On the issue of Ukraine, Yoon said if there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as a large-scale attack on civilians or a massacre, it might be difficult for South Korea to insist only on humanitarian or financial support.

Yoon's remark could signal a shift in the South Korean government's refusal to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine.

But South Korea's public broadcaster KBS quoted a source at the presidential office as saying that there is a low possibility of such a shift at this point.

In Moscow, Russian presidential office spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that unfortunately, Seoul has taken quite an unfriendly position in terms of sanctions and other things, and this is a continuation.

Peskov said the start of arms deliveries to Ukraine "would imply a certain involvement in this conflict."

Key words : united nations india populous
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230420_03/

The United Nations has announced that India is on track to become the world's most populous nation, surpassing China by the middle of this year.

The UN Population Fund said in a report on Wednesday that India's population is estimated at 1.4286 billion as of the end of June. The figure is 2.9 million more than China's 1.4257 billion at that time.

The UN earlier projected that India's population will rise to 1.668 billion in 2050. Declining infant mortality rates in the country are likely to play a role.

The report also shows the population will rise rapidly in Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan and the Philippines, and they will account for half the global population's increase by 2050.

On the other hand, the report says two-thirds of people on the planet are living in regions with low fertility.

It cites extreme changes in demographics, with the population booming in some regions and declining in others.

Key words : half global growth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230419_22/

A report by the United Nations Population Fund describes extreme changes in demographics, with the population booming in some regions and declining in others.

The fund released its report on Wednesday about the United Nations' announcement in November that the global population has hit 8 billion.

The report says just eight countries, including India and Egypt, will account for half of the projected growth in the global population by 2050. On the other hand, it says two-thirds of people are living in regions with low fertility.

It notes that population anxieties are widespread and governments are increasingly adopting policies aimed at raising, lowering or maintaining fertility rates.

The report says history has shown that fertility policies designed to increase or lower birthrates are very often ineffective and can undermine women's rights.

It points out many countries have rolled out programs to encourage people to have larger families by offering financial incentives to women and their partners, yet they continue to see birthrates below two children per woman.

The report adds that women in many countries are unable to have as many children as they want for financial reasons or gender inequality at home or at the workplace.

It recommends that governments implement policies that respect personal choices, such as women's rights to choose if, when and how many children to have.

The fund's Executive Director Natalia Kanem told reporters, "The question isn't whether the human population is too large or too small. The question is, can everyone exercise their fundamental human rights to choose the number and spacing of their children."

Key words : record high
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230419_25/

A research firm in Japan says the average price of new condominium units in the Tokyo metropolitan area in March hit a record high of more than 140 million yen, or about 1 million dollars.

The Real Estate Economic Institute said on Tuesday that the average price of new apartments that went on sale in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba during the month stood at 143.6 million yen.

The average was about 2.2 times that for the same month last year. This is the first time for the monthly figure to exceed 100 million yen since record-keeping began in 1973.

The research firm says the figure was high as many expensive condos went on sale in Minato Ward, central Tokyo.

They include those in a building connected to a railway station with an average unit price over 200 million yen, and another with an average of 400 million yen.

The firm expects new condo prices to remain high due to more sales of expensive units in Tokyo and a continuing rise in construction costs.

Key words : green tea
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230418_36/

Green tea growers in western Japan have begun harvesting the season's first tea leaves, a week earlier than usual.

In Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, farmers cultivate tea plants in mountainous areas, where temperatures fluctuate throughout the day. The Uji Tea grown in southern Kyoto has centuries of history.

Farmer Yamazaki Tokukazu began picking tea leaves in his more than 50-hectare field on Tuesday.

He first removed black nets that had covered his plants to shield them from sunlight, a method that improves the flavor of his tea.

Yamazaki then used a machine to pick fresh, green tea leaves.
He said the tea will be tasty, as temperatures have risen and fallen sharply during the day, aided by plentiful rainfall since the beginning of April.

Yamazaki said it was the earliest harvest of his long career. He said he hopes many people will enjoy tea from his area.