2025年8月11日月曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 11 /Easy Japanese /Great Buddha
Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Gene Otani in Tokyo.
KUMAMOTO NOW UNDER HEAVY RAIN WARNING OR ADVISORY
The Japan Meteorological Agency says it has downgraded the heavy rain emergency warning for seven municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture. These areas are now under a heavy rain warning or advisory, but the agency is urging people to stay on alert for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.A heavy rain emergency warning was issued for the cities of Tamana, Uki, Yatsushiro, Kamiamakusa, and Amakusa, and the towns of Nagasu and Hikawa. The Meteorological Agency says warm, moist air flowing into a rain front is bringing record precipitation to the prefecture. Bands of heavy rain clouds over Kumamoto triggered a warning of severe downpours. The agency held a press conference from 3:15 p.m. on Monday.
Even after the emergency warning has been switched to a warning or advisory, please continue to stay vigilant. And follow the evacuation information issued by local municipalities to secure your safety.
More heavy rain is expected in Kyushu, including Kumamoto Prefecture, through Tuesday morning. Heavy rain is forecast across much of the country, also through Tuesday. There are reports of missing people in Kyushu. In the town of Kosa in Kumamoto Prefecture, firefighters rescued a woman and two children from a car. After a landslide in the town, one person has been rescued, but their condition is yet to be confirmed. These images, taken at around 7 AM on Monday, show that a road has caved in and that two cars had become stuck in the earth and sand.
According to a man from the fire brigade who took the photos, all the people in the cars escaped on their own, and emergency personnel who rushed to the scene responded to the situation.
This video was taken at a shopping street in Chuo Ward in Kumamoto City at around 3:00 AM. People can be seen wading in water coming up to their knees.
Other parts of Kyushu are also being affected. The police and fire department in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, say they received a report that a man and a woman in their 60s were swept away in a river and are missing.
One expert on natural hazards points out that being outside is the most dangerous place to be.
Both people and vehicles can be easily swept away in the rain, especially if they have entered an area already flooded. This footage likely shows a car that was on the road being swept away by floodwaters and ending up near the river. You can see here that part of the road has been washed away. If you were driving, it would be very difficult to tell whether the shoulder had collapsed. On roads right next to a river, the shoulder can give way or be eroded, and in such spots people are swept away, suffer serious damage or lose their lives. These kinds of incidents happen every year.
That's why it's extremely important to stay away from rivers, especially where the water has already risen over the road.
For more on the situation, here's our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.
Hello. We continue to monitor the heavy rain that has been unfolding in Kyushu and in western Japan. For those of you who've been following us all throughout the, you know the impacts that this system has had into Kumamoto Prefecture and the surrounding areas. But the story is not isolated to just that portion of Japan. We have a few factors that are going to keep this story in place for the next few days. We have the stationary front
that has pretty much wrapped itself through Japan. We have low pressure systems that are riding along the front, but then we have that Pacific high that's really bringing in that moisture from the South and that combination is where we're seeing that rain machine really getting juiced up and dumping so much rainfall into Western Japan for now.
But the meaning of all of those points will continue to move toward the north and east as well through the week, and so this story is not isolated just Western Japan, but also into CentralJapan as we go into the next couple of days and even into the Sea of Japan side of northeastern Japan as we go later on this week. So make sure you pay attention to the weather situation where you are and we're talking about for places like Kyushu up to 250mm of additional rainfall going into Tuesday morning. So this story is far from over as we go throughout the day. Make sure that you pay attention and make sure you know what to do in terms of an evacuation should that be called for the area. Rain continues to be a part of the story, not just for Tuesday, but also the next few days. So make sure that you keep attention to the weather.
Stay safe wherever you are.
US SOURCES: TARIFF ON JAPAN AUTOS MAY BE CUT IN MID-SEPT
Sources at the US Treasury Department have told NHK that Washington may lower the additional tariff on Japanese vehicles and other products to the previously agreed-upon 15 percent by mid-September.Japan has been calling on the US to cut the tariff as soon as possible, citing the import duty's grave economic impact. The current agreement calls for lowering the additional tariff from 25 percent to 15 percent, but sets no specific date for implementation. The sources disclose that one target date for the reduction is set for 50 days after the two countries reached an agreement in late July. That's roughly the same amount of time it took for the US to reduce the tariff on British automobiles after the two sides struck a deal. The timing could change depending on the course of Japan-US negotiations.
WAR IN UKRAINE
VANCE: CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT LIKELY TO LEAVE BOTH SIDES UNHAPPY
US Vice President JD Vance says a cease-fire agreement between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to satisfy either side. His remarks came ahead of the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Vance said that the Trump administration is going to try to find some negotiated settlement that the Ukrainians and the Russians can live with, where they can live in relative peace, where the killing stops. It's not going to make anybody super happy. Both the Russians and the Ukrainians, probably at the end of the day, are going to be unhappy with it.
Asked whether he wants Putin to meet Zelenskyy before a meeting with Trump, Vance said that he did not think that would be very productive. Zelenskyy and European leaders are concerned that the US and Russian leaders may discuss territorial issues without any involvement by Ukraine.
KUMAMOTO NOW UNDER HEAVY RAIN WARNING OR ADVISORY
And once again, the Japan Meteorological Agency says it has downgraded the heavy rain emergency warning for seven municipalities in Kumamoto Prefecture.These areas are now under a heavy rain warning or advisory, but the agency is urging people to stay on alert for landslides, flooding in low lying areas and swollen rivers.
A heavy rain emergency warning was issued for the cities of Tamana, Uki, Yatsushiro, Kami-amakusa and Amakusa, and the towns of Nagasu and Hikawa. The meteorological agency says warm, moist air flowing into a rain front is bringing record precipitation to the prefecture. Bands of heavy rain clouds over Kumamoto triggered a warning of severe downpours. The agency held a press conference from 3:15 p.m. on Monday.
Even after the emergency warning has been switched to a warning or advisory, please continue to stay vigilant and follow the evacuation information issued by local municipalities to secure your safety.
More heavy rain is expected in Kyushu, including Kumamoto Prefecture, through Tuesday morning. Heavy rain is forecast across much of the country, also through Tuesday.
Those were the main stories for this hour.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's the News This hour. I'm Gene Otani from all of us here at NHK News Line to all around the world. Thanks very much for joining us.
2025年8月10日日曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 10
WAR IN UKRAINE
EUROPEAN LEADERS SAY NO TO FORCED BORDER CHANGES
European leaders have spoken out against changing international borders by force ahead of a planned US-Russia summit on Ukraine later this month. They're warning that talks on the future of Ukrainian territory should not be led by Moscow. Yes, President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet in Alaska on Friday. A senior Russian presidential office official suggested their talks will focus on options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
On Saturday, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and other European countries issued a joint statement saying they "welcome President Trump's work to stop the killing in Ukraine, end the Russian Federation's war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine".
But the statement added:"The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force."
The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that European countries conveyed to the US side a counterproposal that calls for a ceasefire to be implemented before any other steps are taken.
MASS RALLY IN TEL AVIV PROTESTS GAZA CAMPAIGN
A huge rally has been held in Tel Aviv against the Israeli government's plan to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.Families of hostages taken by Hamas were among tens of thousands at Saturday's protest, a day after the cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City.
The city is the largest urban area in the enclave with nearly 1 million people. Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled. The partner of a hostage called for the release of all captives and an end to the fighting.
More fighting will put them in even greater danger.
In Israel, more and more people are voicing opposition to escalating the Gaza campaign.
IRAN WARNS AGAINST AZERI-ARMENIAN 'TRUMP ROUTE' PLAN
Iran has warned against US President Trump's moves to create a corridor between Azerbaijan and its exclave through Armenia. It described the plan as a foreign intervention near the Iranian border.The Azeri and Armenian leaders signed a joint declaration for peace brokered by Trump on Friday. It reportedly includes an agreement to establish the Trump route. The transit corridor would connect Azerbaijan and its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave. The two countries have long been at odds over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Trump takes pride in the mediation, he said, my highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country welcomes US efforts toward peace, but it also expressed concern about the negative consequences of any foreign intervention in any form or manner, especially near the common borders. Now Iran borders both of the two former Soviet republics.
Tehran has been cautious about the plan, as the passage might cut off a logistics route between Iran and Russia that runs through Armenia in a north-south direction.
RAIN DISASTER RISK IN WEST, SOUTHWEST JAPAN
One person has been found without vital signs near a house that collapsed in a mudslide following torrential rain in Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern Japan. Record downpours were seen in the prefecture. Rescuers were searching for a woman in her 30s in a house crushed by a mudslide in the city of Aida. Police say a woman was found near the house on Sunday morning. They also say the still unidentified person is in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. The Japan Meteorological Agency says radar analysis indicates that about 110 millimeters of rain fell over just one hour in the city of Munakata in Fukuoka Prefecture on Sunday morning. Bands of heavy rain clouds may develop not only in the prefecture, but in other parts of northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan toward Monday morning. The rain front is expected to remain stationary until around Tuesday, and the amount of rain is expected to increase. Authorities are urging the public to stay alert for mudslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and swollen rivers.JAPAN PM TELLS MINISTER TO EXPLAIN US TARIFF PROGRESS
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has ordered his top trade negotiator to spell out the progress made so far in talks with Washington on US tariffs.Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei has just returned for meetings in the US capital with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Akazawa says the US has agreed to amend an executive order so it matches what the two sides actually agreed. Washington will also cut tariffs on Japanese cars and parts to 15 percent. Ishiba says public interest in the issue is high and the government must win people's understanding. Asked if he'll issue a written statement, Akazawa said.
It's best to explain in detail once Japan and the US decide how to handle major sector-by-sector tariffs.
JAPAN, INDIA COMMEMORATE WWII BATTLE OF IMPHAL
A memorial service has been held in northeastern India to remember victims of the Battle of Imphal, known as one of the most grueling campaigns of World War II.In 1944, the Imperial Japanese Army launched an offensive to capture the area, then under British control.
An estimated 30,000 Japanese soldiers died as they fought with limited supplies. Many also succumbed to hunger and malaria. On Saturday, Japan's ambassador to India, Ono Keichi, visited the outskirts of Imphal and laid flowers at a monument just ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. At the ceremony, Ono expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives in the fighting.
We must never forget that war takes everything and gives nothing in return.
A 95-year-old local survivor who was displaced by the conflict stressed the importance of passing on the horrors of the war.
Many soldiers fought fierce battles here and lost their lives, but today they all rest in peace, friend and foe alike.
A peace museum built with Japanese support opened in the area six years ago.
Bayonets, canteens, and other personal belongings of Japanese soldiers are on display. Visitors can also read the names of civilian victims and their ages.
JAPAN'S ONISHI BACK ON EARTH AFTER 5 MONTHS ON ISS
Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya and three crewmates have returned to Earth. They completed a roughly five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.After leaving the orbital outpost, the four re-entered Earth's atmosphere on board the Crew Dragon, a US private sector spacecraft. The craft's parachutes were opened to slow its descent. It then splashed down off the US California coast on Saturday. As the capsule's hatch opened, Onishi emerged.
He appeared healthy as he greeted the attending staff. The astronauts had been on the ISS since March. Onishi conducted various experiments as ISS commander. These included a carbon dioxide removal system that was developed with future manned space missions in mind. He handed over duties to fellow Japanese Yui Kimiya, who had arrived at the space station on August 2.
And those were the top stories for this hour.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that is a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.
2025年8月9日土曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 09
JAPAN MARKS 80 YEARS SINCE ATOMIC BOMBING OF NAGASAKI
People in Japan are commemorating 80 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The city honored the hundreds of thousands of victims in a ceremony on Saturday.People offered prayers across the city before the ceremony.
I prayed more strongly this year to abolish nuclear weapons and for World Peace. I think it is necessary to pass down the real voices of the atomic bomb survivors to the next generation.
I think that it is difficult to eliminate wars. But nuclear bombs are things that should never exist.
Nagasaki fell silent at 11:02 a.m., the same minute the bomb exploded on August 9, 1945.
It's estimated that more than 70,000 people died by the end of that year.
Many suffered injuries and are still dealing with the long-term effects of the radiation. An updated list of names was placed at the memorial site. It includes those of survivors who died in the past 12 months. The total now stands at 201,942 In his speech, Nishioka Hiroshi brought up Nihon Hidankyo's Nobel Peace Prize win last year. The group represents survivors. He is one of them, the members.
Never stop this movement that leads to peace. Let us carry it forward and find more allies. These are our goals. We must never use nuclear weapons. If we do, everything is over. Let us all protect this beautiful earth.
Mayor Suzuki Shiro delivered a declaration of peace that acknowledged the turbulent state of the world.
Immediately cease from disputes in which force is met with force, conflicts around the world are intensifying in a vicious cycle of confrontation and fragmentation.
If we continue on this trajectory,We will end up thrusting ourselves into a nuclear war. This existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth.
Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru also spoke, saying Japan will lead efforts by the international community to bring about a world without nuclear weapons.
The reality and horrors of war and the severity of the damage caused by atomic bombs should never be allowed to fade away. They must be handed down as a collective memory. True understanding of that reality, what it's like to fall victim to an atomic bomb, must be fostered across generations and nations. That is my resolve.
People in Nagasaki continue to reflect. Many want to send the message that the atomic bombing that devastated the cityshould forever be the world's last.
VIDEO TESTIMONIES OF HIBAKUSHA RELEASED
The population of atomic bomb survivors, known as Hibakusha, is aging, making it an urgent challenge to pass on their experiences. To mark the 80th year since the Nagasaki attack, a survivors group has released nearly 100 video testimonies.
(Japanese)
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council began posting the videos on social media in 2024 as part of efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. The council recorded some testimonies themselves and also used previously filmed videos. The number of videos featuring Hibakusha has reached 94, including 42 with English translation.
Although words are being waged right now, and there are threats that nuclear weapons might be used. I hope people will take from these testimonies an understanding of just how terrifying nuclear weapons truly are.
The council says some hibaksha died after recording their messages. The group plans to continue releasing video testimonies.
TRUMP, PUTIN TO HOLD SUMMIT IN ALASKA ON AUG. 15
US President Donald Trump says he'll meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, the first face-to-face US-Russia summit since the invasion of Ukraine. Trump announced the meeting on social media Friday, calling it highly anticipated.Attention is on whether the talks will pave the way for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters possible territorial consensions, Concessions were very complicated.
There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, and but we'll be talking about that either later or tomorrow or whatever.
Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is going to have to get ready to sign something, adding, I think he's working hard to get that done. He didn't say what that might be. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed the summit plan Saturday, noting the US and Russia share a border. He said it was quite logical for the Russian delegation to fly across the Bering Strait and that such an important meeting should be held there.
Ushakov said the presidents will focus on ways to achieve a long-term peaceful settlement of the war. Friday was Trump's deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire. He warned that if Moscow misses it, the US will impose sanctions, including what he called secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian crude oil and other petroleum products.
PREMIUM GRAPE SHIPMENTS FROM CENTRAL JAPAN STARTS
Farmers in central Japan have begun harvesting and shipping premium grapes known as Shine Muscat.The seedless fruit is known for its thin skin, aroma, and sweetness. Deliveries of outdoor grown Shine Muscat began on Friday in Yamanashi City. The grapes are sorted by size and shape, and boxes are stamped with a classification at an agricultural cooperative. The organization says outdoor grown Shine Muscat harvested in the area makes up about 1/4 of nationwide yields. It expects to ship about 5,100 tons this year.
I hope people will enjoy the grapes that have been made with a lot of effort.
The deliveries will continue until around late October.
And those are the stories for this hour.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.
2025年8月8日金曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 08
Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
KAGOSHIMA'S KIRISHIMA CITY UNDER HEAVY RAIN WARNING
Weather officials are urging people in a southwestern Japanese city to be on alert for landslides, flooding in low lying areas and swollen rivers. The rainfall in Kirishima Kagoshima Prefecture has been record-breaking and the region is set for more wet weather. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain emergency warning for the city early Friday, then revised it in the afternoon. Flooding and landslides have hit across the region. In Aida City, authorities say multiple houses have collapsed, injuring at least two people. One of the four residents of this house is missing.Rescue operations are underway.
This video, also from Aida, shows a car that's fallen into the river. The person who recorded it says no one seemed to be inside. Another witness said the levee there was gouged out by the water.
Residents should brace for more. Southern Kyushu is forecast to get about 180 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours leading up to noon Saturday.
And northern Kyushu is expected to get about 150 millimetres in the 24 hours leading up to noon Sunday.
The Japanese government says it's ready to respond.
ISRAELI CABINET APPROVES PLAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF GAZA CITY
Turning to the Middle East, where Israel says its forces will prepare to take full control of Gaza City.The Prime Minister's Office said on Friday that the decision was approved at a meeting of the country's security cabinet. Officials also adopted 5 principles for ending the war, including security control of the entire Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer earlier. He said his country's goal is to assure its own security and remove Hamas militants from Gaza. Israeli attacks on the enclave are continuing. Health officials in the territory said on Thursday that 100 people had died there over the past 24 hours. The number of hunger-related deaths is also climbing amid serious food shortages. Analysts say the planned expansion of military action could further deteriorate the humanitarian situation.
WAR IN UKRAINE
US DEADLINE FOR RUSSIA TO AGREE ON CEASEFIRE ARRIVES FRIDAY
The deadline that US President Donald Trump set for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine arrives on Friday.Trump says he's awaiting a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
It's going to be up to him. We're going to see what he has to say. It's going to be up to him. Trump has warned if Moscow misses the deadline, he'll slap sanctions on countries that buy crude oil or other products from Russia. The US president on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, citing its imports of Russian oil.
Trump said there's a good chance he will meet with Putin very soon. His comments followed Wednesday's meeting between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader. A senior Kremlin official also said on Thursday an agreement in principle was reached to hold a Russia-US summit meeting in the coming days. But a Russian diplomatic source said Moscow will need to see what sorts of sanctions Washington will impose.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Melegaard from the Biz Desk.Thank you very much indeed.
US TO AMEND EXECUTIVE ORDER ON JAPAN TARIFFS, ISSUE NEW ONE ON AUTOS
Japan's chief trade negotiator says the US has agreed to amend an executive order on import tariffs to correctly reflect what the two sides agreed in recent trade talks.The US tariffs came into effect just after 1:00 PM on Thursday, Japan time.
The two sides had agreed to a baseline US tariff of 15% on most Japanese goods. However, this levy is being imposed on top of existing tariffs, which is contrary to the agreement.
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryose met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant overnight. He said he says he requested urgent revisions to the tariff executive order signed by President Donald Trump on July 31st. Now, Akazawa says his US counterparts expressed regret over the handling of the issue.
The US side said they will revise the executive order in a timely manner. the US also explained that a revised executive order will allow for retroactive repayment of tariffs that have been paid above the agreed level since the day the tariffs took effect.
Akazawa says he also confirmed that the US government will issue another executive order to lower its levies on Japanese autos. To the agreed 15%.
TOKYO SHARES RISE ON NEWS OF US TARIFF REVISIONS
And news of those revisions triggered a surge in Japan's benchmark stock indexes on Friday. Let's have a look at the screens. Now the Nikkei 225 ended the day at 41,820, up 1.8% from Thursday's close.The broader topics also rose up 1.2%.
That was a fresh record and exceeded the 3000 mark for the first time. Investors snapped up export related shares early in the session in the belief that the planned changes will bring trade with the US in line with the expectations of Japanese officials. But prices retreated in the afternoon as traders locked in profits. Market sources say investors were relieved that future uncertainties for Japan have been dispelled. They add that US trade talks with China and other trading partners are expected to affect stock prices in Tokyo.
US TARIFFS TAKE $5 BIL. BITE OUT OF AUTOMAKERS OPERATING PROFITS
US import tariffs hammered earnings at six leading Japanese automakers in the April to June quarter. Reports by the companies show their combined operating profit fell almost 800 billion yen or $5 billion.Toyota Motor took the biggest hit with a drop of $3 billion, followed by Honda Motors $850 million and a decline of $470 million at Mazda Motor. Other Japanese automakers, Nissan Motor, Subaru and Mitsubishi Motors. Were also hurt by the increase in US levies, with all three reporting lower operating profits. The Trump administration imposed a 25% additional import tariff on all vehicle imports in April, which drove up the duty on Japanese autos to 27.5%. This tariff is expected to be revised lower to 15%. But many of Japan's car makers warn this will dent their full fiscal year operating profits through next March.
CHINA'S EXPORTS TO US FALL IN JULY ON TRUMP TARIFFS
China's exports to the United States fell sharply in July from a year earlier amid the Trump tariffs.Chinese customs authorities say the value of US bound shipments dropped over 20% in dollar terms. The value of imports from the US was also down, falling at nearly 19% year on year. The rate of decline widened for both figures. The two countries significantly slashed their additional tariffs on each other in mid-May, but remaining levies are believed to have impacted July's figures. Concerns persist that the US China trade war could be rekindled, depending on how the negotiations play out. As for China's overall exports, they increased 7.2% in July from a year earlier, led by brisk shipments to Southeast Asia and Europe. Imports rose 4.1%.
SONY GROUP POSTS RECORD NET PROFIT, SALES FOR APR.-JUN. QUARTER
Sony Group has posted record net profit in sales for the April to June quarter.That's due to brisk sales of video game titles and solid demand in the semiconductor business.
The Japanese technology and entertainment giant says net income stood at almost 260 billion yen, or nearly $1.8 billion. That's a jump of 23%. From a year earlier, sales were a little more than 2.6 trillion yen, up 2.2%. Sony has adjusted its full fiscal year figures to reflect the 15% tariff agreed between Japan and the US.
It now expects the levy will result in a cut of operating income by $475 million. The company revised upward its annual net profit forecast. to about $6.6 billion while maintaining its sales projection.
BIZ PICKS
OK, now NHK World's Yanaka Marie is here with BizPicks.JAPAN'S ECONOMY ON BRINK OF TECHNICAL RECESSION
Let's look at the upcoming business and economic stories we'll track in the week ahead. On Tuesday, the US Labor Department will release the Consumer Price Index for July.The June reading rose 2.7 percent from a year earlier. Officials said costs increased for products with the most exposure to President Donald Trump's tariff policy. And on Friday, Japan's Cabinet Office will announce GDP data for the April to June quarter.
Japan's economy shrank an annualized 0.2 percent in the January to March period from the previous three months.
The last time GDP contracted was in the first quarter of 2024.
Suiki Saori of Mizuho Research and Technologies expects it to have shrunk slightly again in the April to June period. Real GDP for the quarter is estimated to have declined slightly by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter.
Japan's economy is expected to post negative growth for two consecutive quarters, which would meet definition of so-called technical recession. However, the magnitude of decline is limited, and there's no need for excessive pessimism. We do not believe it entered full-fledged recession.
Suiki is projecting a 0.4% quarter-on-quarter decline in capital investment. She says some manufacturers appear to have adopted a more cautious stance due to growing uncertainty about the impact of US tariff policy. On the other hand, Suiki anticipates a slight increase in personal consumption. which accounts for 50 percent of Japan's GDP.
She says that would likely be thanks to demand for summer clothing and air conditioners amid abnormally hot weather. But she doesn't think the spending trend will continue.
Strong summer bonus payment likely contributed positively to consumer spending in June.
On the other hand,Bear wage remained negative year-on-year, mainly due to raising price of food products. The surging price of everyday food items, such as rice, appears to be strengthening households' tendency to cut back on spending.
Looking ahead to next year, Seiki says Japan's economy will be trimmed as a result of the latest trade deal with the US that took effect Thursday. It imposes a baseline 15 percent tariffs on Japanese products.
This represents the mitigation of around 0.2 percent points in the negative impact on real GDP.
with the broader impact including the employment income and capital investment, which is estimated at around -0.3%.
Tsuiki adds that if Trump had followed through on his threat of 25% tariffs, there would have been a real risk of Japan's economy entering a full-blown recession. I'm Nakamuri, and that wraps it up for this week's Biz Picks.
MARKETS
OK, let's get a check on the markets.♪
And that is it for Business News.
JAPAN'S YOMIURI NEWSPAPER SUES US AI STARTUP OVER COPYRIGHT
The holding company of a major Japanese daily newspaper has filed a lawsuit against a US startup that generates information using AI. It's seeking monetary damages for the unauthorized use of its articles. The Yomiuri Shimbun Holding says website operator Perplexity AI used the newspaper's articles and images to provide search results. Yomiuri claims the firm had infringed on its copyright by accessing about 120,000 of its articles from February to June this year.In a complaint filed with the Tokyo District Court, the newspaper is seeking to have Perplexity AI suspend the unauthorized use of its articles. It also seeks compensation of about $14.2 million. The Yomiuri's lawyer says the lawsuit is the first filed by a major Japanese media company over copyright infringement involving generative AI.
The newspaper said in a statement that allowing such a free ride would negatively impact accurate reporting backed by research. It also said it could possibly undermine the foundation of democracy.
Perplexity AI said in a statement to NHK, It is deeply sorry for the misunderstanding it has caused in Japan and is taking the matter very seriously.
It says it's working to understand the nature of the claims.
BROTHER OF JAPANESE ABDUCTEE TO N. KOREA APPEALS TO STUDENTS
The brother of Japanese abductee to North Korea, Yokota Megumi, has spoken to a group of junior high school students to raise awareness about the abduction issue. The Japanese government started the Junior High School Student Summit in 2023, hoping to get students to think about the abduction issue as the victims and their families grow older.North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens is an issue that all people in Japan,From the young like you to the old need to work together on Yokota Takuya addressed a gathering of about 70 students in Tokyo on Friday.
Megumi was kidnapped in her first year of junior high school. Her brother said that even though 47 years have passed, she remains a 13 year old girl in the memories of her family. He said he cannot imagine how she looks now that she is 60.
And added that he believes she's still waiting to be rescued while living in agony. I want you to listen to our stories about an unresolved, serious human rights issue that continues to this day. I want you to remember that my elder sister, Megumi, is also still waiting for our rescue amid difficult times for her. Abductee Arimoto Keiko's father, Akihiro, died at the age of 96 this past February.
That leaves Yokota Sakiye, the 89-year-old mother of Megumi, as the only surviving parent of the recognised victims. Her son emphasised that the clock is ticking for his family. He said that while his mother is in good health now, she could fall ill at any time.
The Japanese government says at least 17 citizens were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s.
Five returned home after a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are unaccounted for.
LANTERNS LIGHT UP SHRINE IN KAMAKURA
A lantern festival is illuminating the summer nights at a shrine in Kamakura city near Tokyo.The annual Bonbori Festival is underway at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. About 400 lanterns of various sizes are lit as evening sets in. The designs include images of snakes, the Chinese zodiac symbol for 2025, the Enoshima Electric Railway that runs through the city, and baseball legend Nagashima Shigeo.
The festival will run through Saturday.
♪
AUG. 8 DECLARED 'END OVERLY HOT SUMMERS DAY'
Japan is in the grip of a scorching summer, with temperatures in many parts of the country hitting record highs this week, and experts believe the historic heat is closely linked to climate change.Now a coalition of businesses in Japan is focusing attention on the issue by declaring August 8th End Overly Hot Summers Day. For more, I spoke earlier with NHK World's Miyamoto Rikuya in central Tokyo.
Rikuya, it looks like it looks like it's pretty hot out there today.
Yes, Tokyo and much of Japan have had another week of dangerous heat with temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius.
It actually is off a little today, but I still start sweating as soon as I step outside. Of course, it's much harder for people who have to spend the whole day working outdoors. That's been the forecast of a news conference held on Friday by a coalition called the Japan Climate Leaders Partnership.
It's a group of about 230 companies from a wide range of industries which launched in 2009 within the aim of achieving a carbon-free society.
The group makes environmental policy proposals to the government and showcases companies that are leading the way in decarbonization.
I think the heat is making it pretty dangerous for people to work. I hope this will be an opportunity for us to go from talking about climate change as an issue far removed from our own experience and start thinking about it as a reality that we're facing right now.
So there's no denying that summers are getting hotter, but a lot of people probably think there's nothing they can do about it. So how do you change that mindset? It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you think about climate change. The group thinks it's easier to grasp the issue by focusing on specific examples of how it is impacting people's lives.
I think everyone is becoming more aware of the issue, but that only gets us so far. We hope the system will be changed and policies put in place, and that will require the understanding and support of society as a whole.
The news conference featured a video showing the severe conditions faced by construction workers. Moving from construction sites to amusement parks, it also highlighted the pressures facing costumed performers. An organization representing these workers said they have been forced to cut their performance times by about two-thirds due to the heat.
So now that they've declared August 8th end Overly Hot Summer's Day, what comes next? Well, the group is still working on that part. It wants the government to be more ambitious in its environmental policy.
But by making the issue feel more personal and human-scale, it also hopes to create public support for change. The Japan Meteorological Agency forecaststhat average temperatures will remain higher than usual through fall. And it expects the summer heat to ringer for a long time. So unfortunately, we won't be getting much relief anytime soon. And we need to keep taking measures to protect against heat shock, like staying hydrated and using air conditioners as required.
WEATHER
While people in Kyushu have been dealing with record rain, those in Tokyo were hit by a short burst of heavy rain on Friday.Our meteorologist Sayaka Mori joins us now with the details. Sayaka?
Hello there. Tokyo started off with sunny weather, but a sudden downpour has hit the city, surprising many people. And we have video coming out of Shibuya outside the studios. Heavy downpours battered central Tokyo on Friday afternoon. A tornado advisory was also in place.
Over 40 millimeters of rain was reported in one hour, accompanied by lightning and hail. The heavy rain also caused the temperatures to drop by about 10 degrees in just one hour. And we could also see pop-up thunderstorms into Saturday.
Life-threatening heavy rain has been pounding Kyushu. The reason for this is two different airflows. We've got about 500 millimeters of rain in just 12 hours in parts of Kagoshima prefectures.
We have two flows, one is along the rim of the high pressure system, the other one is from the South China Sea, and this tropical depression fedmoisture to these flows. So we are seeing a lot of heavy rain. It's not heavy at this moment, but it'll likely intensify once again from Friday night into Saturday morning in southern Kyushu. And then as we go into Saturday, the front will shift to the north, affecting Nagasaki Prefecture, where the memorial ceremony will be taking place on your Saturday. So rain could be heavy at times, heavy rain is expected around the noon hours.
Meanwhile, we have a newly formed tropical storm to the south of Japan. The name is Poduo, meaning willow in Korean.
The system is expected to head towards the west. It could get very close to the southwestern islands of Japan as we go into Tuesday before affecting Taiwan on Wednesday. The frontal system is also impacting eastern China. Cloudy or rainy weather is the forecast in northern China, including Beijing. 32 is expected high, it's cooler in Seoul with high 29, and it's scorching hot making hot in the south, Shanghai at 36 degrees and 37 in Chongqing on your Saturday.
That's it for me. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
Before we go, here's our top story again.
KAGOSHIMA'S KIRISHIMA CITY UNDER HEAVY RAIN WARNING
Weather officials are urging people in a southwestern Japanese city to be on alert for landslides, flooding in low lying areas and swollen rivers. The rainfall in Kirishima Kagoshima Prefecture has been record-breaking and the region is set for more wet weather. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a heavy rain emergency warning for the city early Friday, then revised it in the afternoon. Flooding and landslides have hit across the region. In Aida city, authorities say multiple houses have collapsed, injuring at least two people. One of the four residents of this house is missing.Rescue operations are underway.
This video, also from Aida, shows a car that's fallen into the river. The person who recorded it says no one seemed to be inside. Another witness said the levee there was gouged out by the river, by the water, rather. Residents should brace for more. Southern Kyushu is forecast to get about 180 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours leading up to noon Saturday.
And northern Kyushu is expected to get about 150 millimetres in the 24 hours leading up to noon Sunday.
The Japanese government says it's ready to respond.
Thanks very much for joining us.
2025年8月7日木曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 07
Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Morissa Daarika in Tokyo.
TOKYO POLICE HEAD APOLOGIZES AFTER CHARGES DISMISSED
The head of Tokyo's Metropolitan Police has apologized after three men were wrongfully charged. They were later declared innocent after it came to light proper procedures were not followed.We deeply apologize to the three people who were arrested, as well as those involved in the spray dryer company that was subject to this investigation. We greatly inconvenienced and burdened you.
The three men were all in high positions at the chemical machinery manufacturer Okawara Kakoki. They were arrested in 2020 for allegedly illegally exporting machinery that could be converted for military use.
Although they were indicted in a rare move, prosecutors later dropped the charges. All three were declared innocent. They then sued the central and Tokyo metropolitan governments. In May, the Tokyo High Court ordered the governments to pay about $1.1 million in damages.
The Metropolitan Police also set up a team to examine what went wrong.
The group looked back over the case and published a report on its findings.
It found the investigation was reportedly led by two officials from the Public Security Bureau. The report says they didn't listen to their colleagues' concerns... and failed to reconsider their approach. It also found their updates to senior officials were a mere formality and there was no substantive oversight on the operation. In response, the department announced disciplinary measures for 19 current and former officials.
A NECKLACE AND 'A NOBODY': THE GROWING S.KOREAN SCANDAL
Now to Korea. A special counsel investigating the white hope ousted South Korean President Yoon Song-il has requested an arrest warrant. Kim Gon-hee faces multiple charges, including bribery and a violation of the Political Funds Act. Kim appeared for questioning at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul on Wednesday. She's embroiled in several corruption scandals that undermined her husband before he was removed from office earlier this year.I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people.
I will fully cooperate with the investigation.
MORE ON THE SCANDAL OBSESSING SOUTH KOREA
Earlier, I spoke with NHK Ward Kim Chan-joo, who was in front of the Seoul building housing the Special Counsel Office, for more.Chan-joo, this issue has definitely captured the national interest. Tell us more. The special counsel summons of former First Lady Kim has set off an intense response.
Her photo is featured in most major newspapers and her remark to reporters I'm a nobody was played up. Public reaction was divided. Many citizens strongly believed Kim should definitely be investigated and supported her public summons. Some were frustrated by protests against the investigation, asking why people are defending somebody who has so obviously done wrong.
But a group of supporters held rallies with signs such as Protect First Lady Kim Kun-hee's rights as a woman. The scene turned chaotic at times.
Chan-joo, what did prosecutors question Kim about? Kim faces about 16 allegations total, but on Wednesday, the special prosecutors looked into five, according to the summons. It was reported prosecutors had 100 pages of questions.
First is alleged stock manipulation involving a car importer. Kim is suspected of having played the role of a funding source for officials there who allegedly manipulated stock prices between 2009 and 2012.
Kim is also accused of meddling in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections and the 2024 general elections. as well as receiving luxury handbags and jewelry from a former unification church executive.
Prosecutors are also investigating suspicions that Kim failed to report a necklace she wore when she visited Spain in 2022. This would be a potential violation asset disclosure rules, which require South Korean politicians and public servants to declare assets exceeding 5 million wonor approximately $6,000. Kim is said to have consistently denied the allegations.
She reportedly insisted that she was unaware of any stock manipulation. Kim also said the necklace was not an authentic piece, but a replica gifted by her mother around 15 years ago. She borrowed it for the overseas trip. Chan-joo, this special counsel has a legally limited amount of time for the investigation, correct? Time is the greatest enemy. The special counsel has a total of 110 days, including a 20-day preparation period. They may request two 30-day extensions.
Since investigations were officially launched on July 2, everything must wrap up by December at the latest.
This isn't a lot of time given the number of allegations. Now the investigation team has requested an arrest warrant. Analysts suggest the team may be worried about potential destruction of evidence.
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'S 15% TARIFF ON JAPANESE IMPORTS TAKES EFFECT
Now the US, the new US tariff rate on imports came into effect just after 1:00 PM on Thursday in Japan. That means imports from Japan face a 15% baseline tariff, but some issues in the agreement require further clarification.Japan's government says items that had a lower tariff will now face the higher rate, while items with tariffs of 15% or more would remain the same. However, there's no mention of this detail in the executive order President Donald Trump signed on July 31st or in related documents released by the White House. In the case of the agreement with the European Union, the 15% rule is spelled out. Trump's order also didn't include a separate 15 percent import levy agreed by Tokyo and Washington on Japanese automobiles, so it remains unclear when the auto tariff will be lowered from the current 26.5 percent. Japan's trade negotiator Akazawa Ryose met US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Wednesday in Washington to see clarity on these issues.
And Trump also announced that semiconductors imported into the United States will face tariffs of about 100%.
We'll be putting a tariff on of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors.
But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge, even though you're building. and you're not producing yet in terms of the big numbers of jobs and all of the things that you're building, if you're building, there will be no charge. The president also indicated that chip makers who do not follow through with plans to manufacture in the US would face retroactive levies. In April this year, the Trump administration said it is investigating whether a reliance on imported chips is a threat to national security.
TRUMP TARIFFS
TOYOTA CUTS FORECAST FOR FULL-YEAR PROFIT
Toyota Motor said US tariff increases would shave almost $10 billion off operating profit for the current fiscal year.Japan's biggest automaker also said operating profit will probably be 3.2 trillion yen, or about $22 billion, in the year ending March, compared with the previous projection for 3.8 trillion yen, or $26 billion.
Toyota announced the worsening outlook after reporting profit fell in the April to June quarter. Operating profit dropped nearly 11% in the period from a year earlier. Sales jumped a record of more than 12 trillion yen, or $83 billion for the quarter.
HONDA'S NET PROFIT TUMBLES 50% AS TRUMP TARIFFS BITE
And Japan's second largest automaker, Honda Motor, says its first quarter net profit tumbled 50 percent as a result of the levies. Honda on Wednesday reported April to June net profit halved to about 196 billion yen, or $1.3 billion from a year earlier. Sales slipped 1.2 percent in yen terms to around $36 billion. The company says operating income fell by about $840 million due to the Trump tariffs. However, Honda raised its full-year profit forecast based on expectations a lower US tariff on Japanese auto imports will kick in from September.For our company, a lowered tariff rate would obviously have a positive effect, and we welcome the clarification it brings.
But Fujimura noted that questions remain on when the lower order tariff will come into effect. He called on Japan's government to confirm those details with Washington as soon as possible.
TRUMP TARIFFS
APPLE TO INVEST MORE IN US OUTPUT
Apple has said it plans to spend $100 billion more in the US to boost production, as tariffs have raised costs for importing products and components made offshore. US President Donald Trump has sought to pressure companies, including Apple, to move factories to the US The iPhone maker's CEO, Tim Cook, unveiled the increase at a news conference on Wednesday with Trump.It will spur even more production right here in America for critical components used in Apple products all around the world. We're going to keep working with our suppliers to move even more of this incredibly advanced work to America. Apple's investment plan includes bringing glass production for iPhones to an existing supplier in Kentucky. Production of chips for Apple at Taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company's US plants would grow under the plan. The plan brings Apple's investment in the US to 600 billion dollars over the next four years, including that announced in February this year.
TSMC SCANDAL ACCUSED USED TO WORK FOR JAPAN FIRM SUBSIDIARY
A Japanese company says one of the people accused of stealing trade secrets from a Taiwanese chip maker is a former employee. Three have been detained for allegedly stealing information from the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC.It's the world's largest contract chip maker. Taiwanese media say they are suspected of leaking information about TSMC's advanced 2 nanometer chip technology. Mass production is not yet underway.
Tokyo Electron, a machinery company that makes equipment for producing the chips, says one of them used to work for his Taiwan. subsidiary. The firm said the person had been dismissed for breaching the company's legal compliance and ethical conduct. Tokyo Electron says there was an internal investigation.
It didn't find anything to suggest confidential information had been leaked.
The company says it is fully cooperating with the Taiwanese investigation.
PARTS OF ANNUAL US-S.KOREAN MILITARY DRILL PUSHED BACK
The South Korean and US militaries are shelving parts of a large-scale annual drill until next month. Officials cite extreme temperatures. But local reports say the move may really be in light of Seoul's attempts to ease tensions with Pyongyang.The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise will run from August 18 to 28. South Korean military officials said on Thursday about half of the field training exercises will be moved to September after a comprehensive assessment, including the weather and defense environment.
High-ranking North Korean official Kim Yo-jong, who is also leader Kim Jong-un's sister, denounced the joint duels last month. South Korean President Lee Jae-yong wants to resume dialogue with Pyongyang. He suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts over the border shortly after taking office in June.
NOH PLAY OF 'OPPENHEIMER' MARKS 80TH YEAR OF HIROSHIMA BOMBING
In Tokyo, an English-language 'No Play' has had its Japanese debut to mark the 80th year of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It is based on J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who directed the development of the US atomic bomb.Theater no Gaku, a group of Noh artists from around the world, performed a play at Kita-no Theater on Wednesday. It depicts Oppenheimer's regret and anguish over the bomb's development during World War II. In an instant, destroy the city of Hiroshima.
incinerating its people and unleashing centuries of grave.
On stage, Oppenheimer's ghost conveys his agony as he talks about the tragedy caused by the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
The ghost then pledges to take responsibility for the pain inflicted on humankind and to saving sufferers by performing a dance with a sword and a rope.
The play touched my heart so deeply.
I'm grateful that they've created a no piece in English that addresses a theme that not only we, but everyone around the world, needs to think about again.
The actor who portrays Oppenheimer, John Ogilvy, spoke about the play's importance. History doesn't repeat, it echoes.
And so we are just seeing more echoes of people forgetting what horrible things happened in the past.
Creating this piece or sharing this piece is painful for everyone. but we have to have the pain to remember.
The Noh Play will be performed again on Saturday, on the 18th year of the August 9th atomic bombing in Nagasaki.
NAGASAKI SURVIVOR RECALLS LOVE CUT SHORT
One survivor is sharing her experience of pain, heartbreak, and trying to conceal the past. She has written a memoir that recounts a romance torn apart years after the bombing.During my university days, I began dating a man. As talk of marriage became more concrete, I began to feel uncertain. I am an atomic bomb survivor. Can I marry and have children? Mori Kimiko, who is 85, has submitted her memoir to the Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims in Nagasaki, where it can be viewed by members of the public. Mori had kept her experience as secret for 80 years, until now.
When the bomb fell, Mori was at home, about four and a half kilometers away from the hypocenter. She was unharmed, but she lost her younger sister.
After the war, Mori became involved in a romantic relationship, but when the couple's talk turned to marriage, she began to hesitate.
(Japanese)
Mori never intended to share her personal experiences with anyone, but about 60 years after the couple's breakup, her attitude changed, prompted by a vascular disease that put her life in danger.
I realized that I didn't know how much time I had left.
There was a huge lump in my heart, and I didn't want to die with it inside of me.
It was now or never. If I was going to write, if I didn't start writing now, after seeing this, I'd never do it.
(Japanese)
Mori hopes for a world where a person's past experiences need not deprive them of choices in life.
(Japanese)
♪
WEATHER
Now to world weather. Record-breaking heavy rains have been battering parts of Japan, bringing flooding. Our meteorologist Sayaka Mori joins us now for the latest. Sayaka♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
TANABATA LANTERNS LIGHT UP AKITA'S STREETS
We have one more story to go. Residents of Akita Prefecture in northern Japan were treated to the sight of beautiful paper lanterns for the Tanabata Edoro Summer Festival.About 170 lanterns were illuminated for the start of the three-day festival in Yuzawa City on Tuesday. They feature stylized drawings of women and other designs, and were displayed along the city's shopping streets. The street lights were turned off for maximum effect.
I like that there are different sized lanterns, and they all have different designs.
The festival is set to date back around 300 years to the Edo period.
2025年8月6日水曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 06
HIROSHIMA VICTIMS REMEMBERED 80 YEARS ON
Wednesday marks 80 years since an atomic bomb devastated Hiroshima. People across Japan are pausing to remember the victims. People came to the Peace Memorial Park hours before the official ceremony began.That was an unspeakable scene. I will never forget what I saw, no matter how much time passes. Wars still happen today, not just one. There are wars everywhere. I just wonder if anything can be done.
I have never skipped the August 6th memorial. I always come every year. There's been suffering these past 80 years.
I don't know how much longer we can come together. It's harder for her to talk, so I need to listen more to keep her memory alive.
Hiroshima fell silent at 8:15 AM, the same moment the bomb was dropped in 1945. The heat and radiation from the blast destroyed the city, killing an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the year. Many who survived suffer from cancer and other diseases related to radiation exposure. About 55,000 people attended this year's ceremony. Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi placed an updated list of the dead in the park's cenotaph.
There are now 349246 names. In his peace declaration, Matsui spoke about Tsuboisenau,An atomic bomb survivor, he led a campaign calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons until his death four years ago.
One hibaksha leader frequently reminded younger audiences building a peaceful world without nuclear weapons will demand our never give up spirit. We have to talk and keep talking to people who hold opposing views.
Today, conveying the ardent pleas for peace, derived from Hibakusha experiences, is more crucial than ever.
Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru also spoke at the ceremony. He said Japan is committed to a world without nuclear weapons.
When I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum,I renewed my resolve that these unbearable ordeals and memories should not be allowed to fade away and must be handed down through future generations. Here in Hiroshima, to realize a world without nuclear war and a world free of nuclear weapons and bring about everlasting peace, I pledge once again that Japan will do its utmost.
There are now less than 100,000 atomic bomb survivors left alive. Their average age is over 86 years old. As time goes on, it will become increasingly difficult to hear their stories directly.
NHK World's Yoshikawa Yuichi was at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park on Wednesday. Here's some of that report.
Many people remain here in this park hours after the ceremony ended.
When I came here early this morning, I saw a few people praying, and some of them almost sounded like they were trying to have conversations with their lost loved ones. And it just reminded me that, for them, the atomic bombing is not a thing of the past.
And with me now is Morota Ayaka from our Hiroshima bureau. She covers stories about atomic bomb survivors, also known as Hibakusha in Japanese.
So, Ayaka, what does this day mean to the people of Hiroshima and Hibakusha?And is there anything that adds to it now that this is the 80-year anniversary? Yuichi, August 6th has always been an important occasion for the city.
I've been covering this day for six years now, and every year, people start coming to near the hype center early in the morning. It was the same today.
And you can still see a long line of visitors in front of the cenotaph now.
Many students have even come back from their summer breaks to pay tribute to the victims. As for the hibaksha, they have been fighting for the abolition of nuclear weapons for 80 years. One 94-year-old hibaksha told us, Nothing has changed. The situation is actually getting worse. The world is still doing stupid things, and I don't know what to do. So there's a feeling of this frustration.
You know, has last year's Nobel Peace Prize--did that change that at all?It was awarded to the group of survivors, called Nihong Shidankyo, in recognition of its efforts for abolishing nuclear weapons. Yes.
Hibakusha welcomed that as a rare bit of good news. The award helped draw attention to their work.
Fourteen visitors have been coming to the the Peace Memorial Museum every day, and the hibakusha are traveling the world to deliver their testimonies. They say it's important to work harder than ever now that they have the world's attention.
At the same time, it seems that nuclear weapon states are becoming increasingly dependent on deterrence. Some have openly threatened to use their weapons.
These developments don't have the Hypakshia feeling optimistic.
Well, thank you very much, Jako, for explaining all that. We will be hearing from you a little later.
FOREIGN STUDENT VICTIMS OF A-BOMB STILL INSPIRE HOPE
Well, now, as mentioned earlier, the number of victims who have died has grown to 349,246 and they include people who are foreign students. Their history isn't as well known, but I looked into it and found that their actions in the bombing's aftermath left a lasting impact. I also met one man spreading their stories and showing why it still matters all these decades later.The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has been welcoming a growing number of visitors, a record more than two million last fiscal year. A third come from overseas, and many of them are being drawn to this exhibit.
It's titled away From Home.
It shows non-Japanese victims of the atomic bombing, including Malaysian Abdul Razak, who was enrolled at a local university. I didn't know that there was foreign students in the Hiroshima at the time.
Yeah He must be devastated to be far away from his home and far away from his family too. Razak and seven other foreign students were exposed to the blast and radiation. Razak survived, but two died before they could return home to Southeast Asia.
Japan's now defunct imperial military occupied multiple countries in the region during World War II.
Tokyo selected bright minds from there as part of a program to nurture future leaders. Razak was among the more than 200 brought to Japan to study.
Kurihara Miko was 19 years old at the time of the bombing. She spent a week sleeping outside, along with Razak and other students, in his university's schoolyard in the aftermath.
She was searching for her missing father when she first came across Razak and the other students.
This video depicts Kurihara's experience.
including one night when one of the students played a violin that somehow survived the bombing. .
One person sharing stories about that time, Nuruhaizal Azam Arif. He teaches at a local university and was an overseas student himself from Malaysia. He says he was surprised to learn that there were foreign student victims. I couldn't imagine how they, you know, endure. the hardship that they encountered during the atomic bomb. You know They don't know where to go. They don't have their family here.
Azam is holding a seminar for Malaysians in Hiroshima to learn about what the students went through. He wants the participants to know that they were foreign victims and to pass that knowledge on to future generations.
We do not only remember the tragedy of war,We celebrate the miracles of human connections. In a world still wounded by conflicts, this friendship born from calamity are not just memories.
They are message that even in our darkest hour, humanity can choose lights. Peace have no boundaries, even though we are different in terms of meaning, our faith, our religion.
Regardless of where they came from, everyone suffered under the mushroom cloud. The indiscriminate nature of nuclear weapons, a threat still with us today.
HIROSHIMA VICTIMS REMEMBERED 80 YEARS ON
Associate Professor Azam that we just saw in the video joins me now to discuss the foreign student victims. So, Dr. Azam, what motivated you to research the students, even though it is not your main field of expertise?Ohh Yes, my main role as a lecturer is in international business, actually. But in 2020, first time joined the memorial service for Dick Yusof.He was one of the Malaysian students who died during the bombing. That moment was a turning point for me.
I was deeply removed to see how people in Hiroshima continue to honor him, his memory every year, quietly and sincerely.
It made me realize that while the story is remembered here, very few Malaysians knows that some students from their own country were here in Hiroshima and became the victims of the bombing. Uh Since then, I've been actively involved in uncovering and sharing the the stories, not just a war victim, but as a part of forgotten history ohh that that should be known by many.
This has become more than a side project for me. It's a personal mission to bridge the memory between Malaysia and Japan and to contribute to the peace education, I think, from a different perspective. Especially as we commemorate 80 years since the bombing, I believe this story deserves to be heard not only in Japan, but across Southeast Asia. Umm Well, you sort of touched on this in the video that we saw, but tell us once again, why do we or should we learn about those students after all these decades later?Yeah, this is because it still speaks to the world now. Even now, you can see wars still continue in Gaza, in Ukraine and in many places around the world. The threat of nuclear weapons being used is perhaps greater than ever since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I think. That's why remembering what happened here and not just about the past but I think it's about preventing another tragedy to be occurred. Through the lives of these students and through the words of survivors like Kurihara Meko, we know how one atomic bomb destroyed the lives of peoples indiscriminately. Young and old, local and foreigners, students and also soldiers.
These students came to Japan to study and to build bridges, but war turned their dreams into ashes.
We must not let this happen again.
Learning the history will remind us that peace is really fragile. And what we must protect is with knowledge, empathy and courage. Well, thank you very much for all of your insight, Dr. Azam.
Well, the fact that the bombing had foreign victims speaks to the bigger issue here. Nuclear weapons are a threat to the entire world, and that's why Hibakusha want them gone for good anywhere and everywhere. So Ayaka is here again. So Ayaka, some of the rhetoric on the world stage does seem to suggest the threat of nuclear weapons. is still there, and then what do you think needs to be done for people to truly comprehend that it it is totally wrong to use them?I think more people need to hear the experiences of the hibaksha. Once you understand what they went through, you'll realize just how horrifying these weapons are.
Many people think this is a problem of the past. They think there's no way we would ever use thisnuclear weapons again. Another issue that needs to be considered is the value of nuclear deterrence in the nuclear umbrella. Some experts question whether such a defense strategy is actually protecting the world at all.
They say nuclear weapons only saw distrust and deepened division between countries. I think it's important to remind people that as long as nuclear weapons exist,there will always be the possibility of a treasury.
Thank you, Ayaka, for sharing all of your insight. Thanks so much.
Now, despite the challenge of getting people across the world to care about this issue, it's worth pointing out here a change that I have noticed. I myself lived and reported here in the city, Hiroshima, for four years earlier in my career, and similar to what the museum is recording,I see a lot of foreign visitors here these days and even today. New faces mean new opportunities to share an important message.
CEREMONY HELD AT AIRFIELD USED BY PLANES THAT DROPPED A-BOMBS
A commemorative ceremony has also been held on the Pacific island from which the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs took off.About 100 people took part in Wednesday's event at Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. It was held at a military airfield used during the war.
USB 29 bombers flew out from there to attack Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Participants prayed for peace as the flags of Japan and the United States were raised. They then laid flowers at the atomic bomb loading pits and remembered the victims of the war. Consul Tejima Akiko from the Consulate Office of Japan in Saipan was among the guests.
Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan told NHK prior to the ceremony that such a tragedy must never happen again.
The plane took off from here, from that, on Northfield. Drop and lives were changed.
I want to, I want to, I want to make sure that we never forget about that.
EXTREME HEAT WAVE CONTINUES ACROSS JAPAN
Severe heat continues to bake Japan on Wednesday, the day after the country recorded a new all-time high. Weather officials are urging the public to take measures against heat stroke.The Japan Meteorological Agency says it was 41.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday in Isisaki City, north of Tokyo, a record high. It was also 40 degrees or higher at 14 observation points in the Kanto region, including Tokyo.
The heat continued into Wednesday.
Officials say temperatures reached 41 degrees in Shizuoka City and 38 degrees in other parts of the country, including Tokyo and Kyoto.
Officials are advising people to keep cool by using air conditioners, consuming adequate fluids and salt, and taking frequent breaks during outdoor activities.
S. KOREA'S FORMER FIRST LADY QUESTIONED OVER CORRUPTION CHARGES
The wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has appeared for questioning by a special prosecutor. She faces charges that include bribery and influence peddling.Kim Gunnee arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul on Wednesday morning. She's embroiled in several corruption scandals that undermined her husband before he was removed from office earlier this year.
I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people.
I will fully cooperate with the investigation.
The allegations include a claim she received a luxury handbag and necklace from a high-ranking official of the religious group widely known as the Unification Church. South Korean media outlets report that Kim may face additional rounds of questioning.
PROBE BEGINS INTO FIRE ON BARGES AT YOKOHAMA FIREWORKS SHOW
Authorities have begun investigating a fire that broke out at a fireworks festival. The blaze took place on 2 launch barges in the sea of the city of Yokohama. The barges were among eight used for the display on Monday. The flames caused fireworks on the two boats to explode one after another. The blaze was extinguished about 15 hours later.Firefighters, police and Coast Guard officials started their probe on Wednesday. They examined the barges at a pier where they'd been brought from the accident site. Officials of the company in charge of the display were also present. Yokohama city officials said staff tried to stop the launch system right after the fire started, but the display continued, causing the fire to spread.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the biz desk.Thank you very much indeed.
SEVEN & I SHIFTS STRATEGY TO ADD 1,000 JAPAN CONVENIENCE STORES.
Japanese retail giant Seven and I Holdings says it will refocus strategy on its mainstay convenience store business to boost earnings. Now, the move comes after Canadian rival Alimentation Couche Dart withdrew a $47 billion takeover offer last month.We are at a turning point in our company's history, so this transformation is extremely important for us now.
The parent of the 711 operator says it will open 1000 outlets in Japan by fiscal 2030, adding to the more than 21,000 current stores. It will also upgrade outlets to offer onsite baked foods such as bread. As part of the strategy, Seven and I plans to unload other businesses, including restaurants and supermarkets. It will invest 3.2 trillion yen, or about $22 billion. by fiscal 2030, aiming to increase annual revenue to 11.3 trillion yen from the current 10 trillion.
JAPAN'S REAL WAGES DROPPED FOR 6TH MONTH IN JUNE
Japan's inflation adjusted wages fell for a sixth straight month in June as surging prices continued to outpace salary increases. Preliminary data from the Labour Ministry showed that real pay fell 1.3% compared with the same month last year. The ministry surveyed about 30,000 businesses nationwide, with at least five employees.Workers took home a little over 510,000 yen, or about $3,500 on average in June.
That includes base pay, overtime and bonus payments. That amount is up 2.5% year on year and has risen for 42 consecutive months. Base wages increased 2.1%, while other pay, including bonuses, rose 3%. Ministry officials.
Say base pay is steadily increasing, but real wages continue to slide.
TRUMP COMPARES JAPAN'S US INVESTMENT DEAL TO 'SIGNING BONUS'
President Donald Trump says Japan's $550 billion investment in the US that was agreed in tariff talks is like a signing bonus that a baseball player would get. Trump made the comments in a phone interview with CNBC on Tuesday. He said that's our money.It's our money to invest. Trump signed an executive order last week to implement a 15% baseline import tariff on Japanese goods from Thursday.
That's the rate Tokyo and Washington agreed to in the talks last month.
TOKYO SEEKS TARIFF CLARITY ON AUTO IMPORTS
However, the executive order didn't mention a separate 15% import levy on Japanese automobiles. Japan's trade negotiator is visiting Washington to get this clarified.We are simply asking for a presidential order to confirm the tariff rate on Japanese automobiles at 15%. This is not a complicated negotiation or a tactic. We just wish to make sure that both sides are implementing an agreement that is beneficial to both Japan and the United States. Now, in July, US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said the agreement with Japan will be reviewed every quarter. He added that if the president is not satisfied with the progress of the deal, he may reinstate a tariff of 25% on cars and other goods.
OK, let's get a check on the markets.
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And that's it for business news.
WEATHER
It's time now for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Sayaka Mori.Hello there, the unprecedented heat will continue to grip Japan. In fact, on Tuesday, the high rose to 41.8 degrees, that was the national record. And today, on Wednesday, the high was 41.4 degrees in Shizuoka, that's the second highest national record. The heat will be continuing across central Japan, including Tokyo, 35 is the expected high on Thursday, but other areas will see cooler temperatures. Osaka have been seeing highs above 35 degrees for 16 days in a row, still cooling down a little bit, but it's going to be 33 degrees on Thursday and then 32 in Fukuoka and Niigata at 32 degrees.
Now the heat stress index still at danger levels, so be careful of heat stroke.
Rain is falling heavily across the Sea of Japan side. We've got about 180 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours.
That's the August record in Niigata in this spot. We have some video coming out of the area to show how heavy the rain was. People in Hokuriku have been contending with drenching downpours.
Evacuation orders have been issued. Ferry and train services have been halted. The risks for landslides and flooding are very high out there. Rain is expected to expand across many places, including Kyushu. Let's be going through Thursday, and the heaviest rain will likely fall in the mid part of Japan, including Hokuriku and Tohoku. Nearly 200 millimeters of rain is likely, but that will cool temperatures a bit. Across North America, heavy rain is pounding the southeastern portions of the United States, and then across the opposite side of the United States, it's dry and we could be seeingSome dry thunderstorms that could ignite more wildfires in the Four Corners region. And temperatures are going to be 47 in Phoenix on Wednesday. And it's going to be hot in Houston, muggy out there.
That's it for me. Have a nice day.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
Thanks for watching.
2025年8月5日火曜日
at 18:00 (JST), August 05
Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.
JAPAN SEES HOTTEST TEMPERATURE ON RECORD
Japan has recorded its highest ever temperature as the country swelters through an especially hot summer. Bone-dry conditions are also prompting concerns about water charges and crop damage.The Japan Meteorological Agency says as of midday, a community in Guma Prefecture recorded a temperature of 41.8 degrees Celsius, topping previous records. The heat has been especially intense in Guma, with intense heat also felt in neighboring Saitama Prefecture, just north of Tokyo. Locals are struggling to get through the day. It's hotter than usual, and it's making it hard to breathe. Japanese weather officials warned Tuesday could be one of the hottest days on record. Heat stroke warnings have been issued for 44 prefectures, the most so far this summer.
The heat and lack of rain is especially concerning for rice farmers who say they're worried about heat damage to their crops. Early harvest rice is already being collected, and farmers say what they're finding is white and muddy.
Not a good sign.
The quality of the rice is bad this year, worse than I've seen in a while.
There's nothing we can do. It's because of the weather. Concerns about this year's rice yields come as Japan has been contending with high grain prices, partially aggravated by poor harvests in recent years. Well, for more on this record-breaking day, we bring in our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So, Jonathan, what's causing the temperatures to spike again?
Hello, we are definitely talking about some really hot weather with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees and some locations.
In fact a national record 41.8 degrees in Izazaki in Guma Prefecture and Hachioji seeing an all time record for that location at 40.3 degrees on Tuesday. Two main reasons why we're seeing this really hot phenomenon. First is the Pacific high that I just sit in top of this area and bringing the southerly flow. But we also have the mountains that are also enhancing this.
When the air goes up and then back down over the mountains, it's the fan effect that really just bursts out and we really see the heat that. Is really in effect for the area. And guess what?It's not going to be over anytime soon. We're talking about temperatures in the upper 30s in places like Tokyo, a high of 37 on Wednesday, 36 on Thursday and Friday. We may be seeing a little bit of reprieve for western areas of Japan as we go later on this week. But in general, make sure you take the proper precautions, staying hydrated, staying cool as much as possible as this heat wave continues.
AUSTRALIA PICKS JAPAN TO PARTNER ON NAVY SHIP PROJECT
The Australian government has chosen Japan to partner on the development of a new ship for the country's navy. The several billion dollar frigate contract is seen as one of Japan's biggest defense equipment export deals ever. Defense Minister Richard Morals said that the Mogami-class vessel has been selected as the preferred choice for Australia's future needs. This is a decision that is made about how we can get the best platform, the best capability for the Royal Australian Navy.That said, having made the decision, this does represent a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan.
Australia plans to introduce up to 11 new frigates to replace its aging fleet.
Investment is expected to total 10 billion Australian dollars, or about six and a half billion US dollars. The Mogami-quest frigate is used by Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and is seen as a state-of-the-art vessel. Germany had also been shortlisted for the Australian project. Marles touted the Japanese frigate's stealth and missile capabilities, as well as its high-performance radar and sonar. He noted the ship can be operated by a smaller crew. Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen. welcomed the decision. He called it is a big step that will elevate Japan's security cooperation with a key strategic partner.
The selection is proof of the high level of trust in our country's technological capabilities and the importance of mutual cooperation between Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru also welcomed the decision, saying government and industry will work together to ensure the contract is concluded.
ICAN: JAPAN SHOULD JOIN NUCLEAR WEAPON TREATY MEETINGS
Well, this week marks 80 years since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A major anti-nuclear advocate is in Japan for the ceremony, and she's urging the government to take part in UN meetings on the treaty banning the weapons. It's time for us allto listen to the Hibakusha and eliminate these weapons of total destruction. Japan has the opportunity to provide unique moral leadership as the only country attacked with nuclear weapons in wartime.Melissa Park is the executive director of ICANN, or International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. She spoke to reporters in Hiroshima on Monday. She said the risk of nuclear weapons being used has never been higher. While it's been 80 years since the atomic bombings, she said no one can guarantee that the next 80 will be safe so long as the weapons exist. Park also urged the Japanese government to listen to the survivors. She highlighted how the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons provides for victim assistance.
ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 for its work leading to the adoption of that treaty.
RUSSIA TO STOP ABIDING BY DEFUNCT MISSILE TREATY
Russia says it will no longer abide by a now-defunct treaty with the United States prohibiting the deployment of intermediate- and short-range missiles.The Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles was a key nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia. Known as the INF Treaty, it was signed in 1987. The treaty expired in 2019 due to heightened tensions between the two nations. Nevertheless, Russia had maintained it would refrain from producing or deploying INF systems as long as the US did not deploy similar missiles. But in a statement released Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry claims the situation is developing for US-made ground-based intermediate-range missiles to be deployed in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. It noted that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral moratorium on the deployment of similar weapons have disappeared. The ministry added that Russia no longer considers itself bound by the relevant self-imposed restrictions. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted a need to resume the production and deployment of intermediate and short-range missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. He disclosed last week that mass production of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik had begun. And that it is slated for deployment. US President Donald Trump is urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire and its conflict with Ukraine by Friday.
He has warned that Moscow will face steep tariffs if it fails to meet the deadline.
OFFICIALS: COMPUTER FAILED TO STOP YOKOHAMA FIREWORKS LAUNCH
A fireworks festival in the city of Yokohama on Monday was thrown into chaos after barges used for the display went up in flames. City officials said that they tried to halt the fireworks from launching, but a computer controlling them did not respond. Footage taken by NHK on Tuesday morning shows tubes believed to have been used to launch fireworks scattered on barges.Coast Guard officials said they confirmed the fire was extinguished 15 hours after it started.
Two of the barges used for the event caught fire. Five workers on on one of them jumped into the water to escape the flames. Fire department officials said one was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The city officials say the fireworks were to be launched in in time with music by computer control.
They say they tried to stop the display about one minute after the fire broke out, but the launches from the bar just did not stop. Police and Coast Guard investigators are continuing to look into what went wrong.
BRAZIL'S TOP COURT ORDERS BOLSONARO UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Authorities in Brazil have put embattled former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest. He's accused of failing to comply with a series of restraining orders imposed last month. The Supreme Court took the new measure on Monday. The measure also bans Bolsonaro from using cell phones. The former leader is standing trial for allegedly plotting A coup after Brazil's presidential election in 2022. The top court said last month that Bolsonaro had attempted to intervene by asking the US government to sanction officials involved in the trial. The judge then imposed a series of restraining orders, including social media. But Bolsonaro continued to use accounts of his political supporters and children.US President Donald Trump has called Bolsonaro's trial a witch hunt and justification for recently raising tariffs on Brazil to 50%.
The US State Department criticized the Supreme Court's latest orders, saying on social media, quote, Let Bolsonaro speak.
BUSINESS
Now to the latest in business with Ramin Mellegard. Ramin.Thank you very much indeed.
BOJ MINUTES REFLECT GROWING WARINESS OVER RISING BOND YIELDS
Now, minutes of the Bank of Japan's June board meeting show policymakers were increasingly wary of a sharp rise in Japanese government bond yields. The BOJ decided at the meeting to slow the pace of planned reductions in purchases of long-term JGBs from next April to avoid market instability. The decision came after JGB sell-offs in April and May drove up yields.Many policymakers shared the view that if the pace of reduction in BOJ bond purchases is too fast, it might have an unforeseen impact on market stability. Now, one board member pointed out that if the central bank proceeds too hastily, the adjustments might end up taking more time. The BOJ still is still holding almost half of the outstanding JGB's and value terms. It faces a challenge of normalizing monetary policy while avoiding destabilizing financial markets.
TRUMP SAYS US TO 'SUBSTANTIALLY' RAISE TRADE TARIFFS ON INDIA
And President Donald Trump says the US will substantially raise trade tariffs on India. Which he claims is buying Russian oil that helps finance Moscow's war in Ukraine.Now Trump has set a Friday deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said in a social media post on Monday that India is buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling much of it on the open market for big profits, he wrote. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. India rejected the charges, calling them unjustified and unreasonable. Now, a statement by India's External Affairs Ministry said India's imports are a necessity to ensure predictable and affordable energy to the Indian consumer. It said India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. Indian government figures show imports of Russian oil have significantly increased. They made-up about 2% of the country's supply before the invasion of Ukraine, but now account for more than 30%.
RICE CRISIS PROBE: AGRICULTURE MINISTRY DIDN'T FORESEE OUTPUT SHORTAGE
A Japanese government investigation into the recent price surge for the staple grain points the finger at the agriculture ministry for misjudging demand from inbound visitors. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru set up a task force in June to examine the cause of shortages and skyrocketing prices. The investigation found that the ministry assumed demand for rice would continue to fall as Japan's population dwindles. Officials failed to take account of the possibility that booming inbound tourism or an increase in individual consumption could cause demand to rise. The probe also found that higher temperatures caused the milled rice yield to fall, leading to a shortage in actual output. It goes on to say that the ministry was reluctant to look into the distribution mechanism because it believed there was enough rice on the market. This resulted in a delay in releasing stockpiled rice, which aggravated the crisis. Now the investigation concludes that the government should change policy and take measures to increase rice production.Including using abandoned farmland.
It also calls for making rice cultivation more efficient by consolidating small paddies into larger ones and using smart technology.
APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN FOR 10% OF STOCKPILED RICE UP FOR SALE
Now, Japan's agriculture minister says businesses have withdrawn applications to buy nearly 10% of the rice they had sought from government stockpiles in no-bid contracts. They're unsure whether they can meet a government requirement to sell everything they purchase by the end of this month.Applications for about 29,000 tons of government reserves have been withdrawn as of now. That's nearly one-tenth of the roughly 300,000 tons that businesses were seeking to buy.
Koizumi Shinjiro said a delay in rice shipments and distribution in some regions may have been behind the cancellations, but the minister mentioned concerns that prices for newly harvested rice could be affected if the deadline is extended. Koizumi said he will consult businesses this week to grasp the current situation and assess what steps to take.
RICE PRICES RISE FOR FIRST TIME IN 10 WEEKS IN JAPAN SUPERMARKETS
Now, the sale of rice from government stockpiles had pushed prices down in recent months, but they're edging up again amid uncertainty over the release of reserves. A nationwide survey shows the average cost of rice in supermarkets increased for the first time in 10 weeks.The agriculture ministry released a survey on Monday which covered 1,000 supermarkets in the week through July 27th. The average price of a 5 kilogram bag cost over 3,600 yen or $24. That's up around 1% from the previous week and 50% higher than a year ago. The ministry says the price bump comes as sales of government reserves dipped slightly. It started tapping stockpiles to boost supply after retail prices doubled.
in the space of a year.
♪
And that is it for Business News.
IN FOCUS
Next for you, go over to my colleague Shibuya Aki for Newsline in Focus and a story about one way the memories of war are being preserved. The Burma Campaign is known as one of Japan's fiercest battles in World War II.
STUDENTS STEP UP TO PRESERVE MEMORIES OF WAR
A Buddhist service for those who died is held every July on Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture. The event is now in its 60th year. It was started by the late head priest, Ueda Tenzi, who took part in the Burma Campaign. He built the pagoda in a bid to seek redemption.
He made a vow to promote peace with war veterans. Today we focus on two younger people, one Japanese university student with roots in Myanmar, and a historian from Singapore.
Mo Chon is a 20-year-old university student born and raised in Japan.
His parents are from Myanmar, and from them, he learned the history of both Myanmar and Japan. Thanks to him,The service was delivered via live streaming this year for the first time.
Others in the association have worked very hard to connect Japan and Myanmar, so I wanted to take over this event and stream it to reach more people.
Mo Chan began taking part in the service three years ago. He was invited by this man, 81 year old Shirai Minoru. Whose father perished in the war. Shirai was born after his father was sent to Burma to serve as a military civilian interpreter of Japanese and English. During a visit to Myanmar, he learned that there was a school in an area near where his father died. Since then, he has been working hard to support education through fundraising and grants for more than 30 years.
I thought the service could stand for an international exchange to pray for peace, and so I asked him to join it.
Last year, Shirai asked him to take part in reading the wills of fallen soldiers.
I think there are many people who died at about the same age as I am, so I feel we should not forget them.
Historian Li Shi Ming has come to the event from Singapore. The PhD student says he's researching how Japanese veterans influenced their society after they fought in Southeast Asian countries.
His late grandmother was forced to flee from the Malay Peninsula to Singapore due to the invasion by the now defunct Imperial Japanese Army. Yet, she never discouraged him from pursuing his studies.
Through his research, he learned that many Japanese veterans engaged in a variety of civil society activities throughout their remaining years, including international exchange and charity. I think, you know, one thing that just really surprised me again was this, was the insight thatJapanese soldiers were actually much more active in reaching out to, you know, societies abroad, that is, to the places that they had been to before.
Ling witnessed how, even at the temple service, bereaved family members are determined to preserve the memories of the war.
Fujiwara Yoshiko has been deeply involved in the event. carrying on her father's activities.
My father is one of only two miraculous survivors out of 400 members of a unit. So I used to travel to Myanmar with him to hold a memorial service there.
Imasato Shukuro ran a medical equipment company after the war. On top of that, he often took part in memorial services in both Japan and Myanmar,to dedicate the rest of his life to victims of the war. At age 84, he became a monk in Myanmar, practicing Buddhism for the rest of his life. The war was really a sort of transformative experience for them, that their whole worldview changed, and this also kind of is reflected in what they then tell to their children. So they are, you know, I guess, moral values or their attitudes towards life. You know This is part of the message that you know they are trying to tell to their to their children.
Ling heard about the memorial service online from a group that was set up by a veteran of the Burma campaign.
His grandchild, Nakao Yoshinobu, is continuing his activities.
Nakao Sakuzo was a member of a logistics unit.
After returning to Japan, he ran a dairy company and put that experience into providing agricultural and educational support in Myanmar until he died at the age of ninety-one.
ohh I remember my grandfather told me that war should never be repeated. I've taken over his activities to try to fulfill his wish in some way through my action. A lot of soldiers actually felt strongly about anti-war sentiments. A lot of soldiers, you know, in their own ways, wanted to make amends, perhaps, for what they had done or for what the the country's military machine had done. And in their own ways, they wanted to make sure that this did not happen again through their own forms of grassroots diplomacy.
After the memorial service, the head priest thanked them.
Umm I hope we can reach out to more people around the world to promote peace and empathy, not just those in Japan and Myanmar, and spread the significance of the event to understand how war memory is made, how war memory is maintained and how it changes over time as well. So I think those are. processes.
Those are phenomena that are worth reflecting one.
It was interesting to see that younger people like Mo Chan and Ling are getting involved using powerful tools particular to their generation.
While Mo Chan's live-streamed video has been drawing more and more attention on YouTube, Ling plans to hold a seminar in Singapore about the memorial service.
This momentum is something that can definitely help pass on the memories of war. And that's all from me.
WEATHER
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh is back with a look at world weather. Jonathan.Hello, while we're talking about the heat across Japan, we're talking about some serious rainfall down toward Hong Kong.
Let's take a look at some video that's coming out from the city. They're getting hit with some of the worst rainfall that they've seen in quite some time, prompting the highest level rainstorm warning on Tuesday. Hong Kong recorded 355 millimeters of daily rainfall on Tuesday, setting a new record for the month of August. Local TV stations showing vehicles trapped in flooded car parks, using people wading through knee deep water. AP reporting that classes were canceled and that government services were suspended. We have this low pressure system that's in the area and that's helping to bring some of that enhancement to the monsoonal pattern in place. And it's not just there, I mean all across southern areas of China, back toward portions of Southeast Asia, all seeing the wet weather. We are also seeing some wet weather up toward the Korean Peninsula and a cold front swinging through the northern portion of Japan, but. We're still talking about heat in terms of temperatures moving to the upper 30s in place like Tokyo as we go into today on Wednesday. So make sure you take precautions if you're going to have to spend some time outdoors. 28 in Seoul with some rain and again some rain down toward Hong Kong once again with a high of 30 as we go through today on Wednesday. Meanwhile across North America, western areas, especially the desert southwest in the United States, seeing temperatures are really pushing up due to high pressure in place. Now we have another system located toward the northeastern portion of the US that's really ushering in what call wedge formation. There's this cooler pocket of air that's bringing some persistent. It almost feels like kind of like a. A spring kind of constant rain because it's cooler and it's wet and that's going to be the case as you go into the on Tuesday. Atlanta, you're cooler than New York City coming up on Tuesday with a high of 22 with some thunderstorms with Denver moving up to 36 degrees for the highs to go through today on Tuesday. So again, the heat will be a part of the story as you go throughout the next few days. That's the future forecast.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
And that's it for this hour. I'm Yuka Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.