ALL OF MT. FUJI'S TRAILS NOW OPEN FOR CLIMBING
Hikers rejoice. All of Mount Fuji's climbing trails are now open for climbers. Three routes on the Shizuoka Prefecture sign open Thursday with some new rules.
Mount Fuji's climbing season officially began last week, when Yamanashi Prefecture opened its trail. As of this year, access is restricted in the afternoons, to prevent overnight climbing. Hikers in both prefectures will also have to pay a fee of 4,000 yen per person, or about $27.
I think it's a really good idea to collect admission fees. I hope Mount Fuji will be carefully preserved for the future.
Once they've paid, climbers get these wristbands as proof of entry. Some South Korean tourists told NHK they're all for the new rules.
I think the restrictions will help protect Mount Fuji's environment. I feel like officials are making the effort. I'm excited to get to the summit and see the scenery.
The climbing trails will be open all summer until the season ends on September 10.
JAPAN TO RESTRICT TOURISTS FROM CONVERTING DRIVER'S LICENSES
Japan's National Police Agency plans to revise the system for converting overseas driver's licenses to Japanese ones.
Under the revised system, foreign tourists and other short-stay visitors will not be allowed to convert the licenses they hold.
Discussions in parliament revealed multiple concerns about allowing non-residents, like tourists, to use hotels as addresses for driver's license conversions. This could hinder law enforcement in case of accidents.
Also, simplistic tests could fail to ensure understanding of Japanese traffic laws. The National Police Agency has since decided to verify the applicant's address in principle by having them present a copy of the residence certificate, regardless of nationality. The agency says foreign tourists who wish to drive in Japan will be required to obtain an international driver's license based on the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
The police agency will solicit public opinions from Friday. It plans to start operating the revised system on October 1. It says some 68,000 foreigners got Japanese licenses through the current system last year.
JAPAN'S EXTREME HEAT HITS HARVESTS
Summer in Japan is known to be heavily humid and threatening hot, and the situation doesn't seem to be any better this year.
Weather officials say last month, the country saw its hottest June on record.
The severe conditions are not only dangerous, they are affecting other aspects of our lives, including at the dinner table. NHK World's Takao Minori explains.
Portable fans, parasols, must-haves for a Japanese summer. And this one's a scorcher.
I feel the heat seeping through me.
Temperatures have recently climbed above 35 degrees Celsius multiple days in a row, triggering the return of the Tokyo Sidewalk Shuffle, a standard dance at intersections.But it's hard to escape the health risks. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency says last week the number of people in Japan taken to hospital due to heat stroke rose to 10,000.
The intense heat takes a significant toll on the human body, but it's also impacting what we eat.
This supermarket is popular with foreigners for its quality selection of goods. The vegetable section is lined with fresh produce from various parts of the country, but the store manager says it's been a struggle this summer to maintain their conditions.
when the products are delivered. Some of the vegetables actually come in already affected by the heat during transportation, like lettuce and spinach. They especially suffer from heat damage. We take great care to provide products of a quality that customers can eat with Peace of Mind.
What do you think of the actual taste and or the the quality?
Amazing. Best in the world. Yeah, absolutely. No doubt about it. When you look around you, all the vegetables individually packed and the farmers take so much pride in what they do.
I find the Japanese vegetables to be far superior to the United States. And a lot of the crops around our houses, they're having some heat and water issues and a lot of the crops are dying and they're not able to keep up with them. So it's very sad.
And then there's the sticker shock. The agriculture ministry says Tokyo Central wholesale market prices are surging. Cucumbers, for example, have hit 368 yen, or about 2.5 US dollars per kilogram. That's 32% above average. The ministry says the higher prices are due to unstable temperatures since the spring that are slowing down vegetable growth.
Farmer Sato Takuya is seeing this firsthand. His city is known for being one of the largest producers of cucumbers in the country. But he says his crops are suffering.
The 35 degrees Celsius heat day after day has burned the leaves, so the water inside evaporates quickly. The cucumbers dehydrate, and that causes them to curl up.
Sato says he's only been able to harvest about half the number of straight cucumbers compared to last year. And he says the curled ones are harder to pack, which then makes them harder to ship, adding to the costs.
It makes me feel sad to see the cucumbers weakening. I hope the heat eases up soon and they straighten up again.
Yamamoto Katsuki faces a similar struggle in western Japan. He shared this photo of what his tomatoes look like. These days, not a pretty sight.
Yamamoto has been farming for 24 years, and this year he had plans to harvest about 600 kilograms. That number has dropped to 0.
I'm shocked because this is the first time this has ever happened. I'm trying to change my mindset and just focus on what I might be able to do next year.
Further drastic conditions are in the forecast, including torrential rains in some areas. From farm to fork, a tough season for all of us used to enjoying the quality produce this country has to offer. Takao Minori, NHK World.
business
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the business.Thank you very much indeed.
TRUMP TARIFFS
US SLAPS 50% RATE ON BRAZIL
Now, US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new batch of tariff letters to 8 more countries, and he's hit Brazil with a steep rate of 50%.
Trump claims that the largest economy in Latin America has caused unsustainable trade deficits with the US. The new figure is a big jump from the 10% imposed in April. He also lashed out at Brazil for putting former President Jail Bolsonaro on trial, calling it a witch hunt. Trump warned earlier that the US will hike tariffs on the BRICS countries.
They have to pay 10% if they're in BRICS because BRICS was set up to hurt us. BRICS was set up to degenerate our dollar and take our dollar as the standard, take it off as the standard. And that's OK if they want to play that game.
Trump has also targeted smaller economies, with levies ranging from 20 to 30%. He increased rates on the Philippines and Brunei and lowered them on Sri Lanka, Moldova, Libya and Iraq. But he kept Algeria's the same. Trump says the new tariffs will start August 1.
TRUMP TARIFFS
COPPER HIT WITH 50% IMPORT DUTY
Trump has also announced a 50% tariff on copper imports starting on August 1. He stressed that he wants to bring production of the key metal back to the United States. Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday.
The tariff is based on the results of a thorough investigation from the standpoint of national security. He said copper is essential to key sectors, including semiconductors, aircraft, ships, data centers and missile defense systems. US copper futures shot up to a record high in New York this week, as investors see domestic prices rising rapidly.
TRUMP TARIFFS
JAPAN MANUFACTURERS SAY TARIFFS WEIGHING ON OUTLOOK
And the tariffs that the Trump administration already has in place are putting pressure on some Japanese companies. Firms at a manufacturing trade show in Tokyo say the outlook for businesses has worsened.
About 1,800 companies and groups from across the globe are participating in Manufacturing World Tokyo. The annual event kicked off in Chiba Prefecture on Wednesday. This eyeglass frame maker from Fukui Prefecture in central Japan does business with a company exporting to the US. But the client told the manufacturer it would re-evaluate production plans when the Trump administration introduced a 10% universal tariff in April.
I think eventually there will be less demand. To be honest, the outlook is not good.
This parts maker, based in central Japan's Gifu Prefecture, exports screws to the US that are used in chip production. The firm's US subsidiary is shouldering a 50% levy on steel and aluminum that was implemented in June.
Half of the tariffs can be passed on to prices, but it's been difficult to do that for the rest. The tariffs will put pressure on profits.
Trump has announced that he will impose 25% tariffs on imports from Japan from August 1.
TRUMP TARIFFS
ANALYSTS: NEW TARIFFS COULD HIT JAPAN'S GDP
Should the 25% tariffs go into effect, Japanese think tanks warn that the country's economy could take a big hit. Senior economist at the Daiwa Institute of Research, Kugo Shotaro, says Trump's tariffs could dent Japan's GDP by 1.3% in real terms this year. The figure also accounts for the effects of tariffs that are already in place on Japan and China. Meanwhile, Fujimoto Kazuki, a researcher at the Japan Research Institute, says that the 25 percent levy would likely make Japanese firms less competitive. He says this could shrink Japan's exports to the US by about $30 to $45 billion annually. He estimates that this would result in zero growth for Japan's GDP in the current fiscal year ending in March. Japan's real GDP grew 0.8% in 2024.
Fujimoto adds that profits and capital investment at Japanese companies will fall if the 25% tariff is implemented. He says that the move toward higher wages will also lose momentum. He also mentioned the impact of 50% levies on copper, and potentially 200% on medicine. Fujimoto says such measures would be another blow for Japanese exporters and the country's economy.
JAPAN EYES EASING RULES FOR PACIFIC SAURY FISHING BOATS
Japan's fisheries agency is considering raising limits on the size and capacity of Pacific saury fishing boats to enable bigger catches on the high seas.
The country set ceilings for the gross tonnage of fishing boats to prevent over-exploitation of resources.
Vessels intended to catch Pacific saury must be under 200 tons at present.
Japan's catches of Pacific saury have been poor in recent years as rising sea temperatures have caused numbers to decline. That's prompted the major fishing area to shift from waters near Japan to the North Pacific Ocean. But it's hard to make catching Pacific saury so far from Japan commercially viable using boats of less than 200 tons. There's not enough space for the refrigeration equipment necessary and to store sufficient fuel for the voyage. China and Taiwan have raised their Pacific saury catches in the high seas by operating boats of more than 1,000 tons. Japan hopes that by easing the regulations on fishing boats, it can maintain its competitiveness.
KEEPING HIROSHIMA'S OKONOMIYAKI TRADITION ALIVE
Now Hiroshima okonomiyaki, a kind of savory pancake made of vegetables, seafood and other ingredients heaped on a layer of dough, is a dish beloved by locals, but the number of okonomiyaki restaurants is dwindling as the aging owners retire. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining in efforts to preserve this food culture.
A group of volunteers held a meeting in May to find ways to revive the flagging okonomiyaki business. Fifteen people, including okonomiyaki restaurant owners, took part. The theme of the meeting was the succession of okonomiyaki, the succession of people, and the succession of taste.
One participant, Kajiyama Toshiko, recently closed her restaurant. She served up okonomiyaki for nearly six decades. For her, it was a labor of love to show appreciation to the community that supported her after she was orphaned at the age of four by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. But poor health frustrated her efforts to keep the customers happy.
Toshiko's okonomiyaki was renowned for its low price and good taste. Many of her loyal customers were saddened by the closing.
It was difficult to offer low prices at the end because of the rising prices of vegetables and other items. I think I was able to stop at the right time.
This way of grilling is really delicious, but very difficult. Even if we tried to imitate it, it wouldn't work.
Amid the loss of more and more restaurants, the meeting also highlighted successful cases of old establishments coming under new management.
Ochi Toshiki, a conference participant, has dedicated himself to okonomiyaki.
The old owner decided to close the restaurant that had been in business for about thirty-five years. I was a regular customer, but I wanted to keep alive the taste of this restaurant. So I asked her if I could quit the restaurant I was running and take over the okonomiyaki business.
Kato Midori, the former owner, closed the restaurant because of COVID.
Midori trained Toshiki for a month on how to prepare okonomiyaki before she shut her restaurant.
He also took possession of the prized iron plate, the lifeblood of any okonomiyaki restaurant. He then converted his eatery near Hiroshima Station into an okonomiyaki restaurant. And for the past four years, he has continued the celebrated flavor perfected by Midori.
There are a few cases where an okonomiyaki restaurant is inherited by someone other than a family member. As long as Midori is alive, no matter what happens, I intend to keep going. I intend to continue.
The new generation of restaurant managers sees the light of hope for Hiroshima's okonomiyaki as they move confidently forward to keep the tasty tradition alive.
And that is it for business news. Can I hand it back to you?
Thank you, Ramin.
BRIDGE COLLAPSE IN WESTERN INDIA KILLS AT LEAST 11
Now we turn to western India.
Media there say at least 11 people were killed when a bridge collapsed into a river. It happened Wednesday in the state of Gujarat. Trucks and other vehicles fell into the river. Emergency crews are trying to rescue survivors. One survivor was the only person saved from a vehicle in which she'd been traveling with her family. She told local media the vehicle had been pulled into the river in an instant. The bridge was built over 40 years ago.
Concernshad been raised that it was deteriorating. Authorities are investigating what caused it to collapse.
OSAKA EXPO PREVIEWS HEALTHY, DATA-DRIVEN FUTURE JAPAN
Many people use smart devices to track their well-being. Here in Japan, a government initiative wants to focus that data into a personal health record, or PHR, to better inform people and their health care providers. As NHK World's Yoshikawa Ryuichi tells us,It could lead to a fitter future, but it's also raising privacy concerns.
Over 10 million people have now visited the Osaka Expo to see cutting edge technology from around the world, including an exhibit all about making Japan healthier.
This place is called the Future Life Village. There is a lot to explore, including exhibits that use PHR. Let's check it out.
Gadgets and gizmos galore, all geared toward prolonging your life.
Go back in time to find samurai in a VR game that uses health data to adjust the pace and style of gameplay to get you optimally burning calories.
I was scared, and now I'm exhausted. I hope I lost as much weight as possible.
It was fun and felt real.
After all that activity, you might need a rest. No worries.
First, wear a ring that monitors your heart rate, stress level, and the restfulness of your sleep. Then, test out a wearable apparatus designed to help you sleep pretty much anywhere by adjusting factors like temperature.
I look a little odd in this, but it is pretty comfortable in here. I feel like I actually fall asleep.
The aim is to make it possible for people to take a nap at any time, including during the day, so that they can improve their performance, so that they can take a nap at any time.
All these tools are designed to work with our PHR. You can even get advice from an AI avatar that you create at one of the expo's most popular exhibits.
What should I do to be healthier?
I think it's important to excel, cheesy regularly, and eat a pada, ched diet, for example. You could try walking for 30 minutes. You need three times a week or a tingle top of vegetables to eat or dinner.
The feedback we got was a little general, but with more prep time and at least two weeks of health data, the app can give more personalized guidance delivered in the user's own voice.
In the past, even when people knew they were sick, they had to rely on advice given by other people. I think we're providing them with a new experience to hear from an AI that knows you best and gives you advice in your own unique way.
This is the first big showcase for PHR put forward by Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry. It's being done in partnership with an association of businesses established in 2023. Here's how it works. Users allow health records and data collected by devices like fitness trackers to be linked to the information delivery platform called the PHR cycle. After the user consents, information is fed to various health-related services. None of the data is hosted on the platform.
The ministry says they are trying to tackle a crucial problem facing Japan's future.
With the declining birth rate and aging population, the number of productive people in our country is decreasing, and we're facing the question of how long we can keep people healthy and in the workforce. Our ministry is developing health care industry-focused policy to extend that healthy expectancy.
She says the ministry is aware people might be worried about the privacy of their health data, but stresses the government is taking security seriously.
Still, a data protection expert says the PHR needs to be handled carefully.
I feel that Japan still does not have a legal framework that deals with how businesses handle health data. It's impossible for us to foresee how this information will be used. It could be treated in unexpected ways. This could lead to individuals facing certain disadvantages, discrimination and prejudice. Companies which use this data will need to build a sense of trust that it's being used beneficially. I believe this will become very important if our society makes use of the PHR system.
Right now, the PHR and its peripheral devices are still undergoing a trial run at the expo. A nationwide rollout is expected sometime in the future. Yoshikawa Ryurichi, NHK World.
♪
weather
Now it's time to check out the weather. Torrential rain is affecting northern and eastern Japan. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.Analysis shows about 110 millimeters of rainfall in just one hour in Fukushima Prefecture. And the rain is also affecting the Kanto region, including Tokyo, on Thursday night. Up to 200 millimeters is likely over the next few hours, possibly affecting the evening commute and leading to flash flooding. The wet weather will also affect the temperature in Tokyo on Friday. The high will drop down to only 25, but the heat will continue in Osaka and Fukuoka, with highs in the mid 30s.
In the bigger picture across Asia, heavy rain is also an issue in southern China, who though received over double its normal monthly rainfall in just a day. The heavy downpours caused widespread disruptions.
Storm Dana slashed the coastal cities of China with heavy rain and stronger winds on Wednesday. Many schools and railway services along the storm's path were partially closed or suspended.
Although Danas has weakened, authorities still urge people to stay alert for mud slides and flooding. Other parts of the country have also seen intense downpours due to monsoonal rains. The system is moving slowly from Fujian to Guandong Province on Friday. Up to 300 millimeters of rain is possible by Friday afternoon. Showers are also likely in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei. But the heat is the biggest concern in Seoul, with a high of 36.
Speaking of high temperatures, the southwestern United States is experiencing intense heat. Palm Springs saw over 48 on Wednesday. The conditions are not expected to ease on Thursday. The highs will be 39 in Sacramento and 45 in Phoenix.
That's all for now. Take care.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
That's all for this edition of NHK Your Sight. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.
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