at 18:30 (JST), May 04

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/20230504183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : japanese nationals
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_07/

Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have arrived in the United States to seek support from US officials for the return of their loved ones.

The family members arrived at an airport outside Washington on Tuesday. They are Yokota Takuya, the younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi, and Iizuka Koichiro, the son of abductee Taguchi Yaeko.

During their stay in the US capital through Saturday, Yokota and Iizuka will meet with senior US government officials and members of the Congress.

It's the first such visit to the US in four years. The trips had been put on hold since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yokota Megumi's father, Shigeru, and the long-time leader of the families' group, Iizuka Shigeo, died during that period.

At the airport, Yokota said he will make impassioned pleas in his meetings so that the parents of abductees will be reunited with their loved ones while they are alive.

Iizuka said there is not much time left for the families. He said he wants to make people understand the abduction issue should be addressed before the issue of North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

Key words : myanmar 2,000 political
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230504_01/

Myanmar's military has pardoned more than 2,000 political prisoners, but ousted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears not to be among them.

Myanmar's junta announced through state-run media that it planned to grant pardons to 2,153 political prisoners on Wednesday, an important Buddhist holiday.

These are reportedly people who have been found guilty of spreading false information and endangering the military since the 2021 coup.

NHK confirmed that of those who were granted amnesty, at least five are journalists.

A pro-democracy activist who was released from a jail in Myanmar's largest city of Yangon told NHK that he was to be released on Thursday after serving a full term.

He called the pardons a farce.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a combined 33 years in prison. She was likely not pardoned as she has not been convicted of the same charges as those who have been released.

The military appears to have taken the gesture of clemency toward political prisoners to ward off international criticism of air raids it conducted against civilians and other measures.

Key words : philippine reveal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_14/

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has revealed a plan to conduct a site survey with the aim of building the first nuclear energy facility in Southeast Asia.

The presidential office said Marcos had met with officials of nuclear technology firms developing small reactors in Washington by Tuesday. He is in the United States for an official visit from Sunday.

US-based NuScale Power Corporation is developing small module reactors, which are said to generate relatively small amounts of electricity per unit and save costs. Company officials reportedly presented a plan for a site survey.

Marcos and US President Joe Biden agreed in Monday's summit meeting that the Philippines will receive US support in human resources development for nuclear technologies.

The Philippines is struggling with chronic power shortages as its population continues to grow. The country relies on coal-fired power plants, which account for about 60 percent of its power supply.

The Southeast Asian nation is aiming to introduce nuclear power to resolve its energy crisis and reduce the burden on the environment.

Key words : and kenya
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_15/

The leaders of Japan and Kenya have agreed to work together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, and to closely coordinate on the situation in Sudan, where military clashes continue.

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with Kenya's President William Ruto in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Wednesday.

Kishida explained Japan's plan to invest over 75 billion dollars in the Indo-Pacific region by 2030 from both the public and private sectors to boost growth in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The leaders confirmed the importance of maintaining international order based on the rule of law and agreed to work together on promoting the initiative.

Kishida stressed Japan's commitment to cooperate as "a partner growing together with Africa." The leaders agreed to start dialogue to accelerate business cooperation, including through startups and investment in green energy.

Kishida also praised Kenya's active involvement in helping to promote peace and stability in the region, including urging a truce in war-torn Sudan.

In a joint news conference, Kishida said Japan and Kenya will strengthen their multilayered relations including in business. He also said that as the host country of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima later this month he wants to reflect the voices of African nations in discussions.

Key words : asian development asakawa yoon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_11/

The president of the Asian Development Bank has called for a new climate change financing framework to achieve the sustainable development of the Asian economy.

Asakawa Masatsugu addressed the opening ceremony of the bank's annual conference in Incheon, South Korea, on Wednesday.

Asakawa said, "We need to recognize that development is no longer possible without effective climate action."

He added, "The traditional models of lending and grant-making will not be enough," and stressed that the ADB and other global development banks need to answer the call to do more.

Prior to Asakawa, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a speech. He said climate change and the digital divide are new issues that must be addressed at a time when the global economy faces great difficulties after the pandemic.

He said the South Korean government "plans to actively contribute to the Indo-Pacific region's economic and development cooperation."

In the conference, the ADB has unveiled a new program that will provide up to 15 billion dollars in loans to emerging and developing nations for measures against climate change.

The four-day meeting began on Tuesday. Japan is represented by Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi and Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo.

Suzuki is scheduled to give a speech on Thursday to explain the country's support for the ADB's new climate action.

Key words : nhk poll same-sex
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_06/

An NHK poll shows that less than 10 percent of Japanese people believe the human rights of sexual minorities are protected in Japan.

NHK conducted a random phone survey in early April ahead of the 76th anniversary of Japan's post-war Constitution on May 3. Among the 3,275 people contacted, 1,544, or about 47 percent, responded.

The results show that nine percent of respondents think the human rights of LGBTQ people are protected, while 42 percent do not think they are. Forty-one percent said they could not say either way.

Asked whether same-sex marriage should be legally recognized in Japan, 44 percent said it should be legalized, 15 percent said it should not, and 37 percent said they could not decide.

As for their reasons, 33 percent of those who think it should be legalized cited disadvantages, such as the unavailability of some administrative services for unmarried couples.

Twenty-six percent said same-sex marriage is legal in other countries, and 25 percent said they think not legalizing same-sex marriage violates the Constitution, which guarantees equality under the law. Ten percent said they do not think same-sex marriage is denied under the Constitution.

Among those who oppose legalizing same-sex marriage, 53 percent said marriage is between man and woman. Twenty-three percent cited Japan's traditional values, eight percent said they think same-sex marriage is denied under the Constitution, and six percent said some local governments have prepared adequate administrative services for LGBTQ couples.

Key words : kumano
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230430_02/

Residents of Kumano City in central Japan have hoisted hundreds of colorful carp-shaped streamers ahead of Children's Day on May 5.

About 100 people, including local high school students, gathered at a beach in the city on Saturday.

They tied about 250 streamers to a rope and raised it into the sky.

The fish is considered a symbol of healthy growth and great success. Legend has it that a carp once swam upstream into a waterfall and became a dragon.

The annual event started about 40 years ago, but was cancelled over the past three years during the coronavirus pandemic.

Morioka Tadao, a representative of the organizers, says he wants many people to visit the beach to see the magnificent view.

The streamers will be on display until May 5.