Key words : pacific islands discuss 10th
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240716_24/
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting opens in Japan
The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting has kicked off a three-day summit in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan hosts the summit of leaders from South Pacific island nations and other countries once every three years. The 10th gathering this year brings together Japan and 18 countries and territories from the region.
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held meetings with the leaders from Tuvalu and Vanuatu on the first day.
Kishida told Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo that he wants to take this opportunity to show the world that Japan will strengthen ties and work together with the Pacific island nations.
In the meetings, Kishida is likely to have confirmed cooperation over various issues including climate change and maritime security. He is also believed to have called for understanding of Japan's discharge of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Before releasing the treated water into the ocean, the plant's operator dilutes it to reduce the tritium levels to about one-seventh of the World Health Organization's guidance level for drinking water.
All the representatives will join a meeting for final discussions on Thursday. They plan to issue a joint statement detailing the outcome of the meetings.
Japan hopes to use the summit to strengthen ties with the South Pacific island countries, amid China's efforts to increase its presence in the region through infrastructure projects.
Key words : nhk John LaDue
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20240717164341093/
Japan makes its pitch at 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting
Representatives of 18 countries and territories across the Pacific have gathered in Tokyo. NHK World's John LaDue has more on how Japan is hoping to pitch itself to them as partner - and potential alternative to China.
Key words : un report north human rights
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240717_11/
UN report condemns forced labor in North Korea
A UN report says widespread use of forced labor by North Korea of its citizens has become deeply institutionalized and raises a broad range of serious human rights concerns.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released the report on Tuesday.
The report was based on various sources of information, including interviews with 183 North Korean defectors to South Korea from 2015 through 2023.
It says every citizen of North Korea is assigned to a workplace by the state after completing school or military service and that the country also dictates where people must live.
The report also says the widespread extraction of forced labor in prisons may in some instances reach degrees of effective "ownership" over individuals which are characteristic of enslavement, a crime against humanity.
One victim's account in the report said factory workers who did not meet the daily quota were beaten and had their food cut. The report also says interviews with women who tried to defect and were repatriated showed they were sexually abused in detention.
The report found that schoolchildren are often forced to do tasks such as cleaning riversides or planting trees.
It calls on the North Korean government to abolish the use of forced labor and end any forms of slavery.
The report says the international community can help North Korea end forced labor by tightly monitoring the country's supply chains.
It also calls on the UN Security Council refer the situation to the International Criminal Court.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said he believes the report is in line with the international community's concern over human rights in North Korea.
He said the Japanese government will continue closely coordinating with the international community including the UN human rights office to improve the situation.
Key words : mobile surveillance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240717_12/
Remote Japanese island to accept mobile surveillance radar system
The Japanese government met with residents of a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture on Tuesday to discuss its plan to deploy an Air Self-Defense Force mobile surveillance radar system.
The Defense Ministry held a meeting for residents of Kita-Daitojima Island. Ministry officials revealed that construction work is scheduled to begin in fiscal 2025, which starts in April next year.
Kita-Daitojima Village Mayor Onizuka Mitsunori indicated that the village will continue discussions with the government with a view to accepting the deployment.
The project is part of Japan's plan to strengthen surveillance against potential incursions by foreign aircraft into its airspace over remote islands on the country's Pacific side.
The government has been conducting environment surveys and measurements on Kita-Daitojima Island for the deployment.
Defense Ministry officials explained that the government will acquire about 11 hectares of village-owned land on the north and south sides of the island.
They said facilities including a government building, a gymnasium and an ammunition depot will be constructed, and about 30 SDF personnel will be stationed on the island.
The officials added that drilling surveys and other preparations will be carried out.
About 80 local residents took part in Tuesday's meeting. It was the government's second briefing for residents on the plan. The first one was held in July 2023.
Several residents asked about auxiliary projects related to the deployment of the radar system. Defense Ministry officials said they hope to discuss the matter with the village.
One resident expressed concern about the island becoming a target in the event of a contingency.
The resident also asked whether there would be a continuous deployment of missile units and personnel like on Yonaguni Island, also in Okinawa Prefecture.
The officials responded that enhancing visible defense postures would increase deterrence. They said there are currently no plans to station additional units on Kita-Daitojima Island.
A 76-year-old participant said he accepts the deployment of a radar unit, but is worried that more units might arrive depending on the situation.
Village chief Onizuka said he believes they have gained a certain level of understanding from the residents, and that he intends to generally approve the deployment.
Key words : ohtani red carpet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240717_06/
Ohtani wears suit with pictures of his dog at MLB All-Star red carpet event
Japanese Major League Baseball star Ohtani Shohei participated in the Red Carpet Show ahead of the All-Star Game, and he brought his pet dog to the spectacle...in style.
This year's MLB All-Star Game is taking place on Tuesday at Globe Life Field, the home stadium of the Texas Rangers. The red carpet was rolled out for the players. The athletes and their family members dressed up for the pre-game show.
Ohtani, who announced earlier this year that he had gotten married, walked along the red carpet with his wife Mamiko.
Their pet dog Dekopin, or Decoy in English, was not there. But during a photo shoot, Ohtani flipped open his jacket to display the lining, which was decorated with many images of Dekopin.
Ohtani said he is grateful that he was chosen to play in the All-Star Game. He said that he is amazed every time he is called up for the event. The superstar added that he is truly honored to be a part of the competition.
Ohtani said that he will concentrate each time he is at bat and will be fully prepared to show his stuff.
Asked about walking the red carpet with his wife, he said that she had certainly looked forward to dressing up and participating in the event.
Ohtani will start second in the lineup as the designated batter for the National League. The Chicago Cubs' Japanese pitcher Imanaga Shota is also on the National League's roster.
Key words : gion festival 23
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240717_15/
Decorated floats parade at Kyoto's Gion Festival
Gorgeously decorated floats have paraded through Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto as part of its annual Gion Festival.
The summer festival reportedly started more than 1,000 years ago to pray for the end of a plague.
The parade of 23 floats -- a festival highlight -- kicked off at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday. A child dressed in a traditional costume on the lead float used a sword to cut a sacred straw rope stretched across a main street in central Kyoto.
Spectators lining the streets applauded when the floats, aided by wet bamboo sticks laid below their wheels, negotiated right-angle turns at intersections.
Wheel damage forced one of the floats to drop out halfway through.
Police say around 38,000 people had gathered to watch the procession as of 9:30 a.m.
A visitor from Hyogo Prefecture says getting a glimpse of the parade was not easy due to the huge crowd, but noted that the solemn atmosphere was quite impressive.
Key words : world weather Jonathan Oh
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