at 18:30 (JST), July 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/20230720183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : automobile export ban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230720_03/

The Japanese government plans to expand its ban on automobile exports to Russia to include used domestic cars, which are popular in that country.

The government will likely approve the move at a Cabinet meeting next week, as part of tightened sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sources say an export ban will also be placed on diesel cars with an engine displacement of over 1,900 cc as well as hybrid and electric vehicles.

In April last year, the government prohibited exports to Russia of luxury vehicles worth more than 6 million yen, or about 43,000 dollars.

With the broadened embargo, Japan will only be able to export some compact cars to Russia.

The move comes after leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed to strengthen sanctions against Russia at their summit in Hiroshima in May.

The United States and the European Union have already widened their restrictions on vehicle exports to Russia.

Figures released by Japan's Finance Ministry have found that the country's exports to Russia in 2022 totaled 603.9 billion yen, or 4.3 billion dollars, with passenger cars accounting for about half that figure.

Key words : trade deficit narrowed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230720_16/

Japan's trade deficit narrowed in the first-half of 2023. That was after it ballooned to a record last year.

Surging auto exports and the falling cost of imported crude oil helped close the gap.

The Finance Ministry says imports surpassed exports by nearly 7 trillion yen, or about 50 billion dollars. The deficit was down 12.9 percent from the same period last year, when it was the largest ever for the period.

The value of exports was up 3.1 percent in yen terms from a year ago.

Auto exports jumped as a shortage of semiconductors eased.

Overall imports were also up, but by 0.7 percent.The costs for crude oil dropped nearly 9 percent.

The Finance Ministry also released the preliminary data for June.

It shows that exports rose 1.5 percent from a year earlier, while imports fell significantly.

As a result, the trade balance was in the black for the first time in nearly 2 years.

But the surplus was small as exports to Japan's largest trading partner, China, fell 11 percent.

Key words : yoon inspected submarine
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230719_32/

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has inspected a US nuclear-capable submarine in the southeastern port city of Busan to underscore the two countries' deterrence against North Korea.

The USS Kentucky, a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads, arrived in Busan on Tuesday.

Yoon visited the naval base in Busan on Wednesday. He told US and South Korean military personnel that with the deployment of US strategic assets, "We will make North Korea not even dream of carrying out a nuclear provocation."

He added, "We warned that should North Korea carry out a provocation, it will lead to the end of its regime."

Yoon later boarded the submarine with his wife, Kim Keon-hee, and received a briefing from the US side.

The USS Kentucky's visit is based on an agreement at the US-South Korea summit in April.

It is the first call at a South Korean port since 1981 by a US nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads.

It is unusual for the activities of such submarines to be disclosed, as they are considered one of the three pillars of US nuclear deterrence, along with intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

In Seoul on Tuesday, the US and South Korea held the first meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, which aims to strengthen Washington's "extended deterrence." The term refers to its commitment to defend its allies with nuclear weapons and other capabilities.

Key words : jica met ukrainian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230719_18/

The head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday in Kyiv to discuss Japanese reconstruction assistance.

JICA President Tanaka Akihiko quotes Zelenskyy as saying, "It's important for us to continue dialogues with Japan."

He says Zelenskyy requested further support from JICA to remove landmines and provide counseling for soldiers.

Tanaka also paid courtesy calls on Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and other senior government officials.

They reportedly discussed ways for Japanese companies to take part in Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Tanaka says many people he met expressed hope that Japan would provide assistance given the resilience it displayed in the wake of World War Two and the Great East Japan Earthquake.

He says Japan's experience in reconstruction would be helpful and JICA would work with other countries to assist Ukraine.

Key words : haneda reopen terminal 2
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230719_17/

Tokyo's Haneda Airport reopened the International Flight Area in Terminal 2 on Wednesday. That section of the terminal was shut down, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Terminal 2 is one of Haneda Airport's domestic terminals. The International Flight Area was opened in March of 2020 to increase the number of international flights at the airport.

But the pandemic forced airport authorities to close the area just two weeks after it started operating.

After that, only Terminal 3 was used for international flights. The airport's operator decided to reopen the International Flight Area because demand for international flights has been increasing.

At around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, travelers visited check-in counters one after another. Automated check-in is available at two-thirds of the area's 38 counters. Luggage can be automatically checked in as well.

A 34-year-old man bound for Hong Kong said he has a feeling that more overseas tourists are coming to visit Japan.

He welcomed the reopening of the International Flight Area. He said it makes it easier to transit between the international and domestic flight sections.

According to All Nippon Airways, which uses the terminal, the number of international flights at Haneda Airport has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

But for the time being, the International Flight Area is only open 8.5 hours a day. It closes at 1:30 p.m. A shortage of airport staff members, who can carry out baggage inspections, is among the reasons cited.

ANA President Inoue Shinichi said demand for international flights has finally gone up.

He added that the number of international flights at Haneda Airport can be increased, now that the International Flight Area has been reopened.

Key words : foreign visitors 10 million
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230719_35/

The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 10 million in the first half of this year according to a government estimate.

It is the first time arrivals have reached that level since before the coronavirus pandemic.

The Japan National Tourism Organization estimates about 10.7 million travelers arrived in the six months through June. The government relaxed entry restrictions last autumn.

Visitors from South Korea made up the largest proportion at just over 3.1 million. There were more than 1.7 million arrivals from Taiwan and roughly 970,000 from the United States.

There was also an increase in travelers from China on private trips although Beijing still does not allow group tours to Japan.

Key words : kung fu legend 50 years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230720_02/

Thursday marks 50 years since kung fu legend Bruce Lee died suddenly aged 32. A museum in Hong Kong, where he grew up, has opened a special exhibition to commemorate the internationally renowned martial artist.

Hong Kong Heritage Museum already had on display some 400 items related to Lee, including film posters and his movie costumes.

From this month through January 1, 2024, it is augmenting that exhibition with memorabilia lent by family members and fans, including a life-size bust of Lee holding nunchucks. Magazine covers from the 1970s featuring photos of Lee are also showcased, and the gallery walls are adorned with his famous sayings, including "Be water, my friend."

One visitor to the museum told NHK that he often watched Bruce Lee films as a child and admired him. He said it is not easy for anyone to master one thing, like Lee did.