at 18:30 (JST), October 03

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/20231003183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : scandal 478 people higashiyama
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231002_35/

Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates says it's dissolving to focus on compensating the victims of its late founder.

The agency has been at the center of a scandal over sex abuse of young male entertainers involving Johnny Kitagawa.

It also says it will establish a new, separate company to manage its roster of talent.

Higashiyama Noriyuki, new president of the company, said, "We will change from the current name of "Johnny and Associates." We will withdraw from talent management and fostering talents. We will take care of the compensation, the relief and the mental health care of victims who are still suffering. No matter how much time it takes, we will see this through until the very end."

The company says 478 people have come forward as of the end of last month with allegations of abuse involving Kitagawa. Of those, 325 are seeking compensation, which the company will begin distributing from November under a new name: "Smile-Up."

Last month, the agency admitted Kitagawa's abuse for the first time, which took place over a span of decades before his death in 2019.

The representative director and former head of Johnny's, Fujishima Julie, spoke at a previous conference, but was absent on Monday, citing health reasons.

A statement from her was read by the president of one of Johnny's subsidiaries.

It said, "Johnny and Associates will not only change the company name but we have decided to dissolve the company that was created by my uncle Johnny and my mother, Mary. As their relative, this is the only way I can make amends."

Ishimaru Shimon, the deputy head of an alleged victims' group watched the conference at home. He said he wants the company to provide more information on its relief plans beyond just financial compensation.

Ishimaru said, "This won't end for us until we feel the relief we've been seeking has been granted to us."

On Monday, details were provided about a new company being formed to manage the agency's stars with no financial involvement from its former president, Julie.

The new president says they will allow talent to sign individual contracts and have more say over their career paths.

They have not decided on a name, and are appealing to fans to help come up with one.

Key words : taiwan submarine classified
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231003_01/

Taiwan says it is opening an investigation into allegations that details of its first domestically developed submarine were leaked to China.

Taiwan unveiled the submarine last Thursday, with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in attendance. Construction of the vessel began in the southern city of Kaohsiung in 2020.

Local media reported that the former chief of the general staff who led the program said certain lawmakers had hindered the program's progress. He also reportedly said a contractor who had made a failed bid for the project provided classified information to China.

Taiwan's Supreme Prosecutors Office said on Monday that the accusations had attracted great attention due to their potential impact on security and defense.

It said it had instructed the High Prosecutors Office and the Taipei District Prosecutors Office to conduct a swift investigation into the matter.

The Supreme Prosecutors Office did not reveal details or names.

Taiwan hopes building a submarine domestically and deploying it for combat will help enhance deterrence against the Chinese military, which is stepping up activities, including aircraft carrier drills, in the waters around Taiwan.

Key words : muneo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231003_09/

Japanese opposition lawmaker Suzuki Muneo has defied a government advisory against travel to Russia and has held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

Russia's Foreign Ministry says Suzuki, an Upper House lawmaker with Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party, met Rudenko on Monday.

It says Rudenko expressed regret over Japan's sanctions on Moscow, which he said were "just to please the US and the anti-Russian course of the collective West," which has been imposed by the US.

Rudenko reportedly told Suzuki that the sanctions are not in Japan's interests.

This is the first known visit by a Japanese Diet member to Russia since it launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu told reporters on Tuesday that the government did not receive prior notice from Suzuki about his travel plans.

Suzuki's office claims it sent a note to the Upper House about the visit. However, Japan Innovation Party says it was not consulted, and will grill Suzuki on his return. The party said it would also consider penalties.

Matsuno said the government urges all Japanese citizens to avoid travel to Russia, a remark suggesting the advisory applies equally to Diet members.

Suzuki is known for having a close interest in Japan-Russia ties. He has suggested that Ukraine is partly responsible for inviting the Russian invasion, a stance strongly refuted by the Japanese government.

Key words : naval exercise
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231002_31/

The Philippines and the United States have kicked off their annual joint naval exercise, with a wide range of partner countries this time. It comes as tensions rise between Manila and Beijing over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The two navies invited seven nations to this year's "Samasama" drills. They include Japan, Canada, Britain France.

The 12-day exercise will be held in waters south of Luzon. It will be the largest ever, with some 2,000 personnel taking part.

Combat drills between the Philippine and the US navies are aimed at improving their ability to work closely together.

Officers from the nine countries gathered on Monday at the opening ceremony in Manila.

The Philippine Navy's Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci said in a speech that the exercise is a symbol of their enduring partnerships and shared commitment to security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has sent the destroyer Akebono, crewed by around 170 personnel.
They'll practice responding to disasters and delivering humanitarian aid.

The JMSDF's Vice Admiral Fukuda Tatsuya said the drills will enhance the JMSDF's interoperability and existing strong relationship with not only the Philippines and the US, but also with other partner navies.

Philippine Navy officials say the aim of the expanded exercise is to shore up a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, apparently with China in mind.

Territorial disputes over the South China Sea have been heating up as Beijing flexes its muscles in the waters.

Last Monday, the Philippines said it conducted a "special operation" to remove a barrier China installed days earlier near Scarborough Shoal. The shoal is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. But it has been effectively controlled by China since 2012.

Key words : indonesia launched high-speed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231002_32/

Indonesia has launched its first high-speed railway, four years behind schedule. The China-backed project is part of the country's Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at forming a massive economic zone.

The 140-kilometer railway connects the capital, Jakarta, and Bandung. The trip takes at least two-and-a-half hours on regular trains, but only 45 minutes on the new line, called Whoosh. President Joko Widodo declared it open at the starting station. Pointing out that "everything is new" with the line's technology, speed, construction and financing system, he said, "We shouldn't be afraid to learn and try new things."

The railway was meant to start operating in 2019, but construction problems and the pandemic led to delays. China won the project bid after a fierce competition with Japan. Initially, no financial burden was placed on Indonesia. But as costs ballooned to 7.3 billion dollars, Jakarta ended up covering some of the expenses.

President Joko says the experience will spur the country's development. He is expected to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this month and talk up the benefits of the initiative.

Indonesia's Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi earlier told NHK that his country wants to work with foreign partners to build infrastructure. He said Indonesia should work not only with China, but with countries such as the United States, European nations, Australia and Japan.

Key words : weather officials highest
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231002_34/

Weather officials in Japan say average temperatures in September were the highest since recordkeeping began 125 years ago.

Average temperatures this summer, from June to August, were the highest since recordkeeping began 125 years ago, and the trend continued throughout September.

Meteorological Agency officials announced on Monday the country's average temperature during the month was 2.66 degrees higher than average.

By region, the temperatures were higher than average by 3.1 degrees in northern and eastern Japan, and by 2.3 degrees in western Japan.

The cities of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture, and Matsumoto in Nagano prefecture, were an average high of 3.9 degrees higher, followed by central Tokyo, with 3.4 degrees higher than average.

A total of 111 locations, out of 153, observed record high temperatures for September.

Scorching heat prevailed even in late September, with the mercury topping 35 degrees in the cities of Shizuoka and Kofu on September 28, to mark record highs.

Agency officials attribute the unusual weather to meandering westerlies which deviated more northward than normal, while a Pacific high pressure systems gained strength in eastern Japan.

They say these conditions made the archipelago more prone to warm air.

High sea surface temperatures, which also prevailed throughout the summer, are also to blame for the heat.

Officials say temperatures of waters surrounding Japan were 1.6 degrees higher than the norm last month, and the hottest on record since record keeping began in 1982. The sea surface heat heated the atmosphere, and contributed to hot weather across the archipelago.

The sea surface temperatures are expected to remain significantly higher than norm for the time being.

Officials say the phenomenon is "unbelievable", and add they brace for the possibility that as global warming gains further momentum, last month's scorching weather conditions may become the norm.