Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
US-BACKED PEACE PLAN 'REFINED' IN GENEVA TALKS
The United States and Ukraine say they have drafted what they call an updated and refined framework to end the war with Russia during high-level talks in Switzerland.
The US delegation at the meeting in Geneva on Sunday was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Ukraine's top negotiator was the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak.
A joint statement released after the talks gave no details, but it said both sides reaffirmed that any ceasefire agreement must fully uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and deliver what it called a sustainable and just peace.
Western media outlets have reported that Washington's initial peace plan had demanded that Ukraine make major territorial and other concessions to Russia to end the fighting.
Rubio said the talks had made good progress.
00:01:08 話者 2
It is probably the most productive day we have had on this issue, maybe in the entirety of our engagement.
00:01:16 話者 1
Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian officials reportedly discussed a modified version of the plan with Britain, France, and Germany.
Reuters news agency reported that it includes a proposal to cap the size of Ukraine's military at 800,000 personnel in peacetime instead of 600,000 in the US version.
It also reportedly states that negotiations on territory should start from the line of contact, the current front line.
ISRAEL: HEZBOLLAH MILITARY LEADER KILLED IN BEIRUT AIRSTRIKE
Israel says it has killed the top military commander of the Shia Muslim group Hezbollah in an airstrike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
The Israeli military carried out Sunday's attack on a suburb of the capital despite a truce.
Lebanon's state-run news agency reported that five people were killed and 28 others wounded in the strike.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah took effect in November last year.
The agreement required both sides to withdraw from border areas, but Israel has accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and kept its troops in place in some areas after the deadline for withdrawal. It has conducted repeated airstrikes targeting the group.
Lebanon's president, Joseph Ain, said in a statement, Sunday's airstrike showed that Israel refuses to abide by the ceasefire agreement.
He accused Israel of rejecting all efforts aimed at restoring stability in the region.
G20 SUMMIT IN SOUTH AFRICA ENDS WITH LEADERS' DECLARATION
The Group of 20 summit in South Africa ended on Sunday after a leader's declaration was adopted. The White House has reacted sharply to the group's decision to adopt A statement despite US President Donald Trump's absence from the meeting.
The G20 Leader's Declaration mentions debt sustainability for low-income nations.
It also touches on issues such as support for further development of critical minerals in emerging countries. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the talks.
It was the G20's first conference in Africa.
Ramaphosa said he was aware of its significance.
He noted he sought to place Africa's growth and development interests at the center of the summit's agenda. Trump skipped the event.
He claimed the South African government persecutes the country's white minority.
The United States will assume the rotating G20 presidency next.
Now, the White House told Reuters news agency South Africa rushed to issue the G20 leader's declaration despite consistent US objections.
It also accused the country of weaponizing its G20 presidency.
TAKAICHI HEADS HOME FROM G20 SUMMIT
Staying with the summit, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is now heading home from the event.
The Prime Minister exchanged views with world leaders during the conference.
The global economy was one topic.
Kakaichi said Japan is committed to engaging in discussions on reforming the World Trade Organization in ways acceptable to its members.
She said a multilateral free trade system with the WTO at its core is the foundation of the world economy.
Kakaichi also held individual meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Metz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and others.
Bilateral cooperation on economic, security, and other issues was confirmed during those talks. The Prime Minister and Chinese Premier Li Chang both attended sessions, but they did not approach each other.
Observers wondered whether the two would have any contact, as Beijing has been reacting sharply to remarks Xi made in the Diet about Taiwan.
TORI-NO-ICHI FESTIVAL DRAWS CROWDS AT ASAKUSA SHRINE
In Tokyo's Asakusa District, the annual Tori no Ichi Festival is underway on Monday.
It's happening at Otori Shrine, where crowds of business owners and tourists flocked to buy a so-called lucky rake.
The history of the festival dates back centuries. It's held each November across Japan on the days of the tori, or rooster as determined by the zodiac calendar.
Now, the event in Asakusa is one of the largest in the country.
People rush to buy bamboo rakes called kumade.
They're believed to help rake in good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.
The rakes are decorated with various ornaments, including the horse, the zodiac symbol for next year. Some have ornaments modeled on Miyaku Miyaku, the official mascot of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.
(Japanese)
When someone buys a kumade, the vendors send them off with clapping and chanting for prosperity.
00:06:41 話者 3
I bought this to bring happiness to my house.
00:06:46 話者 4
I would like to make a further leap next year, like the Horse of the Zodiac.
00:06:53 話者 1
The Tori Noichi Festival continues till midnight on Monday.
METEOROID CLUSTER SPOTTED OVER WESTERN JAPAN
A cluster of meteoroids lit up the skies over western Japan on early Friday.
It's a phenomenon so rare, it's only been documented around 10 times worldwide.
Security cameras captured the flashes at around 5:40 A.m. on Friday in the prefectures of Osaka, Wakayama, Okayama, Tokushima, and Kagawa.
The footage shows several shooting stars appearing almost simultaneously.
Experts say the phenomenon occurs when fragments of space dust break apart just before entering Earth's atmosphere.
Science Center employee Imamura Kazuyoshi filmed the Michiroids in Tokushima.
He says a growing number of amateur astronomers are pointing security cameras at the night sky for continuous filming.
And that's why sightings are more frequent than they used to be.
00:07:56 話者 5
As more observational data accumulates, even data collected by ordinary citizens can help unravel the mystery of this phenomenon and maybe contribute to science.
00:08:08 話者 1
An asteroid cluster was first spotted in 1997.
The latest sighting was this August over Japan.
♪
And those are the top stories for this hour.
WEATHER
♫～ 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.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:10 話者 6
Hi there, it's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese. I'm Erico Kojima.
00:10:16 話者 7
And I'm Michael Reiss. Let's have fun learning Japanese together.
Today, lesson 35 on expressing what you're going to do or what you've done in order.
Tam, a student from Vietnam, and her friend Ayaka, are heading to Hakone, a popular tourist spot not far from Tokyo.
On the train, they are discussing what to do after they get there.
00:10:43 話者 6
Listen to this kit for lesson 35.
00:10:50 話者 8
Hakone niwai jiju nitsukuyo.
Tamua nani naishitai.
00:11:13 話者 6
Now let's go over the skit line by line.
00:11:16 話者 7
Ayaka says to Tam.
00:11:19 話者 6
We'll arrive at Hakone at 1 o'clock. Tam, what do you want to do?
Tam replies, I want to go to Owakudani and then eat a black egg.
Ayaka-san, are the eggs really black?
00:11:46 話者 8
Ayaka answers, Yes, but only on the outside.
00:11:57 話者 6
The inside is an ordinary boiled egg.
00:11:59 話者 7
Tam looks surprised. Owakudani is a place where a volcano collapsed a long time ago.
Even now, fumes continue to spew out. The black eggs are boiled in the hot spring.
A component in the water changes the color of the shells.
Today's key phrase is, I want to go to Owakudani and then eat a black egg.
If you remember this pattern, you'll be able to say two or more actions in sequence.
00:12:42 話者 6
Let's go over the meaning. Owakudani is a name of a place.
The particle ni that follows indicates it's a destination.
Itte is the verb to go, iku in the te form.
00:12:57 話者 7
The te form of a verb is the form that ends in te or de, right?
00:13:03 話者 6
Yes, exactly. Kuro tamago means black egg.
Tabetai is the verb to eat, taberu, in the form of tai, indicating desire.
Today's point. When mentioning two or more actions in sequence, connect them by using the te form of a verb.
In the skit, Tam is first going to Owakudani, so she uses the verb to go iku in the te form, which is itte, and says, Owakudani ni itte, meaning go to Owakudani.
After that, she connects it with, I want to eat a black egg, making it into one sentence.
00:13:52 話者 7
Now it's your turn. Listen and repeat.
Listen to a conversation about what someone did in order.
Two tourists are talking at the hot spring of Ryokan Inn.
00:14:33 話者 9
Bijutsu ka ni ite. Gohan wo tabete. Sorekara yuran seni norimashita.
00:14:41 話者 6
Here's what it means.
00:14:44 話者 10
Kyou wa doko ni ikimashita ka.
00:14:47 話者 7
Where did you go today?
00:14:49 話者 6
Kyou is today, and doko ni means to wear.
Ikimashita is the polite past form of the verb iku, to go.
00:15:00 話者 9
Bijutsu ka ni ite. Gohan wo taberu.
00:15:07 話者 7
I went to an art museum, had a meal, and then took a sightseeing cruise.
00:15:12 話者 6
Three actions are mentioned in one sentence, in the order in which they occurred.
go to an art museum gohan wo taberu, have a meal and yuuran sen ni noru, get on a sightseeing cruise.
Iku in the te form is itte. And taberu in the te form is tabete.
Sorekara is a conjunction meaning and then.
The end of the sentence becomes past tense, norimashita, got on, because the action has been completed.
00:15:49 話者 7
Try saying it part by part.
00:16:01 話者 11
Gohan wo tabete. Bijutsukan ni de. Gohan wo tabete.
Sorekara yuranseni norimashita.
00:16:28 話者 7
It's time for Step Up. Today, we'll study how to say the time.
Ayaka said they'd arrive in Hakkone at Ichiji, one o'clock.
When you want to say the time, add ji after a number.
00:16:44 話者 6
Let's try saying 1 to 12 o'clock.
Note that the pronunciations for 4, 7, and 9 o'clock are a bit different from usual.
00:16:56 話者 7
1 o'clock 2 o'clock 3 o'clock 4 o'clock
Five o'clock.
Six o'clock.
Seven o'clock.
Eight o'clock.
Nine o'clock.
Ten o'clock.
Eleven o'clock.
00:17:42 話者 6
Twelve o'clock When you want to express minutes, say fun or pun, meaning minutes after a number, just as in the case of hours you learned in lesson 33.
00:17:59 話者 7
Okay, listen to the skit once again.
Next up, Miya's Travel Guide, this time featuring Hakone.
00:18:44 話者 6
Hakone is a scenic tourist spot in the mountains, about an hour and a half from Tokyo.
We heard about Owakudani in the skid, but the area has many more attractions, including the Hakone Checkpoint.
During the Edo era, Hakone used to be an important checkpoint.
Every autumn, many tourists flock to watch a recreation of a feudal lore procession of that era.
00:19:08 話者 7
When I think of Hakone, the hot springs are what come to mind.
00:19:12 話者 6
Of course.
Visitors love spending the night at hotels and Japanese inns called ryokan, soaking in the hot springs.
There are the mountain train, Lake Ashinoko, and art museums.
And if the weather is good, you can enjoy a grand view of Mount Fuji.
We hope you enjoyed today's Easy Japanese.
00:19:43 話者 7
Please join us again next time.
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Mount Takao
00:20:19 話者 12
Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.
They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.
The backstory of Japanese landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.
In this episode of the Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature Mount Takao.
Mount Takao has long been a popular hiking destination, as it's perfect for day trips.
In recent years, many tourists from overseas have climbed its slopes as well.
One reason for its popularity is its easy access from central Tokyo, less than an hour's train ride away. But Mount Takao has much more to offer.
At the foot of Mount Takao, people are dressed in various styles.
Some are wearing trekking shoes and backpacks ready to go hiking.
Others are dressed in a more casual style better suited for cities.
The reason? Mount Takao has seven hiking trails. One is a full ascent to the summit.
Another course includes a cable car and a Lyft ride and winds around the halfway point of the mountain.
Visitors can choose from several options depending on the season, the size of the group, who's climbing, and what they're in the mood for.
The cable car and Lyft route is not only fast, it's also exciting.
At one point, the cable car's ascent is at an angle of just over 31 degrees, the steepest in Japan. Riders ooh and ah as the cable car climbs the steepest part.
Meanwhile, the two-seater chairlift leaves riders' legs dangling in the air, which means it can be a bit of a thrill for some.
But with the feel of the breeze, it makes for a great ride, and many kids ride with their parents.
Just be aware that the cable car and the chairlift may not be running when there's bad weather, and visitors should check ahead.
The hiking courses offer various sites each season. Come spring, there are canopies of cherry blossoms in full bloom, while violets cover the ground.
In the summer, visitors can splash around in rivers or explore what's upstream.
Gorgeous foliage of reds, yellows, and oranges welcome visitors in the fall.
On New Year's Day, many people flock to Mount Takao to enjoy the first sunrise of the year.
Mount Takao has long been associated with the strict practice of mountain asceticism called shigendo.
A traditional form of aesthetic training called suigyo involves standing under a waterfall to cleanse oneself.
Mount Takao has two waterfalls, Jataki and Biwataki, where this is practiced.
During the winter months, visitors can watch people training in the ice-cold water.
For those willing to give it a shot, Yakuoin Temple offers a suigyo tryout experience at its dojo. For hikers, Mount Takao offers gorgeous views.
From an observation deck midway up the mountain, they can see Tokyo and its vicinity, including the iconic Tokyo Tower and Yokohama Landmark Tower.
It's a spectacular view of the metropolis while being surrounded by the great outdoors.
When weather conditions are good, the summit of Mount Takao offers a view of Mount Fuji. In fact, the top of Mount Takao has been selected as one of the 100 best places in the Kanto region to view Japan's most famous peak.
Thank you for tuning in to the backstory of Japanese landmarks.
We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.
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