SEVERE TROPICAL STORM NARI APPROACHING JAPAN
Japanese weather officials are warning people of some potentially dangerous conditions set to develop in parts of the country over the coming days. That includes a severe tropical storm turning its way toward Japan's eastern and northern areas.Severe tropical storm Nari is forecast to make landfall around Tuesday. As of 4 p.m. Monday, the Japan Meteorological Agency says it's 140 kilometers off Fukushima Prefecture. It's moving north at 45 kilometers per hour.
Officials warn the storm is expected to bring strong wind gusts across wide areas and dump heavy rain in northern Japan.
PARTS OF JAPAN BRACING FOR INTENSE DOWNPOURS
Meanwhile, rain clouds are also developing over western Japan. Officials are warning of the potential for a linear rain band or intense downpour over a small area. Monday night through Tuesday morning, the risk is especially high for central Japan's Tokai region.The area is expected to see up to 250 millimeters of rain over 24 hours through noon Tuesday. The Kinki region, which includes Kyoto and Osaka, could get up to 200 millimeters.
The Shikoku and Chugoku regions are also expected to see substantial rainfall. The agency is urging people to watch for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers. It also warns there's a risk of lightning strikes, hail, intense wind gusts, as well as possible tornadoes. For more on what we can expect in Japan for Tuesday, let's go to our meteorologist Jonathan Oh for details. So Jonathan, should we be bracing for serious flooding?
Hello, we are continuing to monitor the concern for potentially heavy rainfall that could lead to even flash flooding as you go into the on Tuesday. Now we are talking about Nari that's located east of Japan that's going to be focused really impacting the northern portion of the country. But we have this other low back toward the West that's already showing some heavy rainfall potential with this already taking place. And as the low moves over the Sea of Japan, we're going to be seeing the moisture picking up from the South and really dumping a lot of it.
I mean Tokai could see up to 100, excuse me, 250 millimeters of rainfall in a 24 hour period and the Kanto Koshin region up to 120 millimeters of rainfall. So we could be looking at flooding concerns.
And for those areas where we're seeing a lot of the rainfall, also going to lead to possible landslide concerns. The rainfall is expected to be in earnest on Tuesday, but also extending into Wednesday and possibly into Thursday. And so make sure you are weather aware and download the NHK World Japan app to get the latest on what's happening. We'll have more coming up in just a few minutes.
Thanks, Jonathan.
CHILDREN DRIVEN TO SCHOOL IN WAKE OF BEAR ATTACK IN HOKKAIDO
So children were joined to school on Monday in the town in the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, where a man was killed by a bear at the weekend.Students at elementary and junior high schools in Fukushima town arrived for classes by car and bus accompanied by their parents or guardians. It's calling for children in Japan to walk to school.
A bear was reported on Sunday night near the area the attack took place.
My child is scared. I'm worried about an attack on the way to school. I have a job, so if things carry on like this, it's going to be hard to take my child to school.
A 52-year-old newspaper delivery man was found dead on Saturday with what appeared to be multiple claw marks on his body. A witness had reported to police that a man had been attacked by a bear. The incident prompted around-the-clock police patrols, but no bear has yet been found.
We need to take care of the children's mental health. We want to secure the right of children to study as much as possible, while also ensuring their safety.
Also on Monday, experts began to search the scene of the attack for fur, saliva and other traces of the bear for DNA testing.TRUMP TARIFFS
TRUMP REITERATES FRUSTRATION OVER AUTO TRADE WITH JAPAN
US President Donald Trump has repeated his claim Japan isn't doing enough to open its markets to US exports. And once again, he's singled out the auto industry. Trump said while the European Union wants to open up its markets, Japan has done so to a much lesser extent.Japan, as you know, and we're very close to Japan, but they sell us millions and millions of cars a year. We sell them no cars because they won't accept our cars and they won't accept much of our agriculture either.
He went on to say Japan and other US trading partners are all changing their ways very, very rapidly, but offered no details about what he meant by changing their ways. Trump claims no US cars are sold in Japan. But the Japan Automobile Importers Association says over 16-thousand American cars were imported and sold last year.
Trump announced last week he will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Japan starting on August 1. Attention is now focused on whether the two countries can overcome their differences in trade negotiations.
TRUMP TO MAKE 2ND STATE VISIT TO UK IN SEPTEMBER
Buckingham Palace says Trump is set for a state visit to the United Kingdom in September.It's rare for Britain to host a foreign leader twice as a state guest. The palace announced Monday that Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania, has accepted the invitation. The three-day visit is scheduled for September 17 to 19. The plan is for King Charles to host the couple at Windsor Castle. Trump went to the country in 2019 during his first term at the invitation of the late Queen Elizabeth.
Earlier this year, British Prime Minister Kir Starmer hand-delivered the king's invitation at the White House. Trump accepted it on the spot. Last month, the leaders formally signed a trade agreement over the Trump administration's tariffs.
WAR IN UKRAINE
TRUMP: US TO SEND UKRAINE MORE PATRIOT MISSILES
President Trump has announced that the US will send more patriot air defense systems to Ukraine amid continued Russian attacks on the country. We will send them patriots, which they desperately need, Because Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening. There's a little bit of a problem there. I don't like it.
Trump told reporters. He has yet to agree on the number of defense systems, but that the European Union is paying all the costs. The US media ally Bloomberg says, the move signaled a change of heart for Trump as he had held off approving any new weapons shipments to Ukraine since starting his second term. Russia has refused to agree on a ceasefire with Ukraine and instead continues attacking the country with drones and other weapons.
UKRAINE SAYS IT KILLED RUSSIAN AGENTS LINKED TO KYIV MURDER
The Security Service of Ukraine says it has killed the Russian agents who murdered a senior intelligence officer in Kiev last week. Ukrainian authorities has been investigating the killing that took place in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. Media reports say the officer targeted, played a role in the incursion by Ukrainian forces into Russia's Kursk region last summer.The head of the security service, Vasil Maliukh, said in a statement the organization had eliminated agents of Russia's federal security service, who it believes carried out the murder. The statement said investigators suspect two agents, a man and a woman, killed the Ukrainian officer. The Security Service said the agents were traced to their hideout and killed in a shootout when they resisted during the operation to detain them. The statement did not say how many agents were killed.
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business
And now to Gene Otani for the latest in business.Yuko, thanks.
DOWNTREND IN CHINA'S EXPORT VALUE TO US SLOWS IN JUNE
In our top business story this hour, China's export value to the United States continued to fall in June from a year earlier. But it recovered ground from the previous month. Exporters apparently rushed to ship out goods before the mid-August deadline for the two countries to work out their tariff deal. Chinese customs authorities say US-bound shipments dropped 16 percent in dollar terms. That compares to a decline of more than 34 percent in May. The value of imports from the US fell 15.5 percent in June. That was also a smaller drop than the previous month. Washington and Beijing slashed their steep additional tariffs in mid-May. They agreed to halt some of them for 90 days and continue negotiations. China's overall exports grew 5.8% last month due to increased shipments to Southeast Asia and Europe. Imports rose 1.1 percent. Many Chinese firms send components to Southeast Asia for assembly and ship the finished products to the US from those countries. The practice could be affected by additional US tariffs on major economies in the region that are due to take effect on August 1.RETAIL RICE PRICES IN JAPAN DROP FOR 7TH STRAIGHT WEEK
Retail rice prices in Japan have fallen for the seventh week in a row, on the back of wider availability of cheaper supplies of the staple grain from government stockpiles.The agriculture ministry says the average price of rice sold in the week through July 6 was just over 3,500 yen, or $24 per 5 kilograms. That's a drop of more than 4 percent from the previous week. The Ministry has been publishing private sector data of rice prices at roughly 6,000 supermarkets, drugstores, home improvement centers and other retailers nationwide. The price difference between the most expensive region and the cheapest area narrowed from the previous week. All nine regions had an average price below the 4,000 yen mark.
JAPAN SUMMER BUDGETS GROW, BUT SO DOES SPENDING GAP
A new survey shows that people in Japan are gearing up for big spending this summer. They have set aside a record amount for the holidays, but there's also a growing gap between those splashing out and those cutting back.Major life insurer Meiji Yasuda held the survey in early June. Over 1,000 people from their 20s to their 50s responded. It shows that the average household budget for a summer vacation grew more than 26% from last year. The figure reached nearly 105,000 yen, or over $710. That's the fourth increase in a row, and the first time the sum has surpassed 100,000 yen since 2006. Over 18% of respondents said they plan to boost summer holiday spending. Nearly three quarters said they wanted to travel, and over a quarter cited higher pay. But not everyone is increasing their budgets.
Roughly 18 percent said they are cutting back. More than 60 percent said soaring prices are squeezing finances.
Almost a quarter said they are saving cash amid an uncertain outlook.
JAPAN USING GENERATIVE AI LESS THAN OTHER COUNTRIES
A government survey shows that Japan is lagging behind in the use of generative AI. Fewer people and businesses in the country utilize the technology compared to other major economies. The communications ministry says it found that nearly 27% of people in Japan said they had used generative AI. The survey covers the fiscal year that ended in March. The figure roughly tripled from the previous year, but it fell far short of China, where AI usage stood at more than 80%. The figure for the United States was nearly 70%.People in their 20s were the top users of AI in Japan, with about 45% utilizing the technology. This was followed by people in their 40s, then by those in their 30s. The survey also shows that about 50% of Japanese companies were planning to use generative AI. That also paled in comparison to China and the US, where more than 80% of firms aim to adopt the technology.
SPACES FOR PEOPLE SEEKING A SENSORY DIAL DOWN
Bright lights, noise and strong smells.These can be overwhelming for people with sensory sensitivity, making it hard for them to go outside or join fun activities. Some businesses and entertainment venues in Japan are toning things down to help them enjoy a day out.
Kato Jiei founded a company that supports people with sensory sensitivity.
Since childhood, he's felt discomfort from wearing clothes. Hearing the voices of others caused headaches.
To help others like him, he's created a sensory map.
Information gathered from people experiencing similar reactions is published on the map. It includes the level of noise and light at locations and whether there are places to escape the commotion.
People with sensory sensitivity stopped going out because they felt overwhelmed.
Now they might think, I can go, and if something does happen, it will be okay.
This amusement park in central Japan started an initiative aimed at people with higher sensitivity levels.
A guide indicates the sensory intensity of each attraction. The five senses are rated on a scale of 0 to 10. The higher the number, the higher the sensory level. This lets visitors know what to expect.
If my child sees this,They won't panic after entering.
Staff also receive training on how to understand diverse characteristics and respond appropriately.
A manager says the aim is inclusivity.
It's important that the park be welcoming to everyone. It should be enjoyed by all.
We would like to explore ways of interacting with guests that are tailored to each individual and their situation.
This is one of the venues for next year's 20th Asian Games and the 5th Asian Para Games.
This is a special area set up near the audience seats, a calming space.
The walls there are covered with sound absorbing materials and the lighting is low. It's designed to be a refuge for people who are prone to panic in unfamiliar environments.
The Osaka Kansai Expo venue also has such spaces, eight in total.
We hope the calming space helps ease the anxiety some people experience when going out, thereby lowering the barrier that they feel.
The noise and bright lights of entertainment venues are attractions for many, but more are recognizing there are also visitors looking for a less stimulating experience.
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
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And that's it for Business News.
IN FOCUS
And next to Shibuya Aki for Newsline in Focus. She has a story about the impact of climate change that is taking root in the world of wine.INTERPLAY BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND WINE
Sweden is a place far up north that used to know rather cool summers. But with climate change, the season is now considerably warmer, in fact ideal for growing certain grape varietals. Today we cover the challenges of the country's rising wine production and the greater implications.This winery, one of Sweden's largest, lies in the southern Skone region.
It's busy with tourists eager to taste its lineup of wines.
I was pleasantly surprised. I think it was very aromatic and a lot of tastes.
When I was a kid, I lived in the northernmost part of Sweden, in Lulio. In the winters, 35 degrees below centigrade. Lots of snow. At that time, no one thought about having wines. from Sweden.
CEO Victor Dahl is one of the country's vintners putting Swedish wines on the map.
He grows about 30 grape varieties, mainly for whites.
This is a plant, Solaris. Solaris is our main grape, and it fits really good up in the cold climate.
Ten years ago, his vineyard covered only one hectare. Now it's 22 times larger and it produces some 30,000 bottles annually.
It's a very nice, nice, nice nose that comes up. I mean, it's full body white wine, nice character, broad, playful, a lot of different nuances that gets a big character.
Many of his labels are getting noticed. Some have even received awards at top international wine competitions.
Can you please tell me a little bit about--
The winery has been exporting wines around Europe and to Asia.
Yeah. Sparkling.
Yes.
We're doing a Rossier sparkling. We're also going to label some more red wine.
Lots of people say they've never heard of it, but many say it's excellent and fruity when they actually try it.
Our goal is to come up to around a production of 100,000 bottles. We're making people happy with these wines, that there is a taste that that talks to people and gives taste impressions.
And that's really nice, actually.
Sweden's vineyards have expanded to 200 hectares. That's 20 times larger than 15 years ago. A major factor behind this boom is global warming. In Sweden, the annual average temperature has risen by 1.9 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
And this has led to climate conditions suitable for grape cultivation.
On the other hand, rising temperatures are negatively impacting established wine producing regions in France and Spain.
In fact, some suggest that wine production could dry up in France in the future due to changing climate patterns, and this has been attracting its winemakers to Sweden.
Romain Chichiri from France studied viticulture in Montpellier.
He has been growing traditional grape varieties in Burgundy and other regions.
This is Pinot Meunier, with its pretty white leaves, from which it gets its name. And to my right is Pinot Noir, with its beautiful, distinctive green leaves.
In Sweden, his focus is on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, which do well in mild climates. This is to safeguard the future.
Realistically, we won't be able to grow Pinot Noir and Burgundy in the future, but if we start working on it now in Sweden, in 10 to 15 years, we'll have amazing vineyards.
But there's a dilemma and an irony. Crops in Sweden, including grapes, are being harmed by factors attributed to climate change. These grapes are discolored and damaged.
What you see here is Drosophila Suzuki.
They've been invaded by a type of fly that hadn't dwelled in Sweden before. But with temperature rises, it moved in, laying eggs on fruit and posing a threat to the wine industry.
Paul Bescher, a professor who specializes in ecosystems, points out that wine production in Sweden will not be immediately threatened. But he says ultimately, measures to slow down or halt climate change cannot wait.
We see a lot of flies in in the vineyards that we didn't see a few years ago. These insects are arriving without their natural enemy, so they're free to, yeah, to disperse and to reproduce. So that's that's a threat. We should do everything we can to not.
trigger more of this climate change, and we we should reduce the emissions.
Despite the challenges, winemakers are passionate about pursuing ways to ensure the character of their beautiful drinks aren't lost.
Here in Japan, up north in Hokkaido, there's also a buzzy viticulture scene that's evolving, like Sweden's. It's even attracted a veteran winemaker from Burgundy.
But the industry's migration is only a temporary fix. Where will producers go next as the planet keeps heating up?The question is a potent metaphor for the broader consequences of climate change. And that's all for me.
world weather
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh is back with a look at world weather. Jonathan.Meanwhile, up toward Beijing, we're talking about some wet weather here. So from Beijing into this whole into Tokyo, all looking at rain for Tuesday, Chongqing at 40, Shanghai 36. So it's going to be on the hot side for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, down toward Texas, we monitor more rain into the central portions of the state. We have a stationary front that's in the area, so areas already hit by that tragic flooding just a couple of weeks ago. Seeing more rain in place that's going to complicate the situation down on the ground there back toward the West. High pressure is keeping things on the hotter side, maybe a few scattered showers in the place like Denver temperature topping off at 36 on Monday.
Eastern seaboard thunderstorms from New York into Washington, D.C. Atlanta seeing thunderstorms as well. Highs topping off at around 36 degrees and the instability kind of story will continue though as we go forward into the next few days with this summertime pattern.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's it for this hour on AHG News Line. I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.
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