00:00:09 話者 1
It's a Wednesday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
This is NHK NewsLine.
WAR IN UKRAINE
TRUMP DIRECTS ENVOY TO DISCUSS PEACE PLAN WITH PUTIN
US President Donald Trump has suggested online that an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia could be getting closer.
Referencing the negotiations over the US-drafted peace plan, he says there are only a few remaining points of disagreements.
00:00:30 話者 2
They're going to be meeting with President Putin, I believe, next week in Moscow.
00:00:36 話者 1
He says he has directed his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet with Russia's president in the hopes of finalizing the plan.
Trump initially proposed a Thursday deadline for the plan, but now says there is none.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggests that if the plan is revised in a way that does not reflect Moscow's demands,
it would create a fundamentally different situation.
Washington initially presented a peace plan that effectively recognizes areas such as the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk as Russian territory.
It called for significant concessions from Kyiv. Ukraine and other European countries are believed to have asked the US to revise the plan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has reviewed the proposal.
which reflects talks with the US in Geneva.
He signaled a positive stance toward reaching an agreement.
JAPAN-CHINA ROW OVER TAIWAN REMARKS COULD PERSIST
Observers expect a row between Japan and China will drag on. Beijing continues urging Japanese Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae to retract her recent remarks about Taiwan.
Takeichi spoke with US President Trump on the phone Tuesday.
Trump explained the latest on the state of US-China relations, including an earlier call ad with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
00:02:02 話者 2
I believe we could affirm close cooperation between Japan and the US
00:02:08 話者 1
Tokyo thinks the talks were significant as they were held in response to a request by the US and demonstrated that the alliance is steadfast.
Meanwhile, Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro met with Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Wu Jiang-hao.
Funakoshi is believed to have explained what happened at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
The government decided that it fully maintains its conventional view on the requirements for a survival-threatening situation. A trilateral summit in Japan with China and South Korea scheduled for January seems unlikely to take place.
Beijing said this week that conditions for holding it are not right at the moment.
Tokyo intends to maintain communication with China on many different levels.
But officials are likely to face difficulty in finding a compromise that would be acceptable for the two sides.
TOKYO MASSAGE PARLOR OWNER REARRESTED IN THAI GIRL CASE
Police are continuing to investigate how a 12-year-old Thai girl wound up working in a Tokyo massage parlor. They've issued a new arrest warrant to the owner, who allegedly forced her to provide sexual services.
51-year-old Hosono Masayuki was re-arrested on Tuesday. He's suspected of operating the parlor in violation of a law regulating adult entertainment.
He has reportedly admitted to the charge.
Police believe he forced the girl to provide sexual services to customers for about a month.
Authorities say she entered Japan in late June with her mother, before being abandoned at Hosono's parlor. Police have also obtained an arrest warrant for the mother.
It charges her with violating the Child Welfare Act. The woman has been detained in Taiwan. There's also a warrant for her arrest in Thailand.
Police there suspect her of human trafficking.
An official has suggested she will be sent to Japan in a few months.
The girl's relatives in Thailand are hoping she can come home soon.
The girl is currently under protection here in Japan.
00:04:32 話者 2
We truly miss her. I hope she'll come back soon. so we can live happily together.
00:04:45 話者 1
The case has sent shockwaves through both countries.
Thai media have reported on the possible role of brokers in the crime.
ANALYSIS: THE HOW AND WHY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World's Murata Riho.
She's been looking into human trafficking.
So Riho, this case brought this issue back into the public eye.
How widespread is human trafficking today?
00:05:11 話者 3
It's really hard to know. The vast majority of victims are undetected.
That's because many of them are afraid to seek help from authorities.
Many are in debt or lack the proper visas to live in the countries they're sent to.
So they're often scared of what will happen if they seek help.
So, to go back to your question, we don't know for sure how many trafficking victims there are. The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, estimates about 28 million people have been forced into labor, including trafficking victims.
Asia and the Pacific region counts for a lot of that.
I spoke with a migrant protection specialist at the IOM. She told me children being trafficked or sexual exploitation make up a significant amount of those incidents.
00:06:05 話者 4
The selling of children is not unusual when it comes to trafficking.
And often you may have, again, some of these structural issues in terms of poverty and destitution in the country of origin, as well as then opportunities and kind of
a marketplace in the destination country that creates these kinds of pathways.
00:06:27 話者 3
She also says Japan's system to protect victims isn't strong enough.
That makes it a good destination for traffickers.
00:06:37 話者 4
I understand that in Japan, it is illegal to sell sex, but it is not illegal to buy sex.
And that would be a legal framework that would very quickly put the onus
or make the victim look like the criminal because they have been at the end of selling.
00:06:56 話者 1
So Riho, tell us, how does this start? How do the traffickers find their victims?
00:07:01 話者 3
Many are tricked by agents or brokers. From an outside perspective, it is almost impossible to tell whether something is a real job opportunity or a broker trying to traffic them. For example, across Asia, we're seeing many cases where victims go abroad for work, but are then confined in scam centers.
Family members or relatives can also play a role, drawing in new victims.
00:07:29 話者 1
Which is what the authorities think happened to this Thai girl in Tokyo, right?
00:07:33 話者 3
Exactly. But the expert says we have to keep in mind that those family members are often victims themselves.
Trafficker Traffickers may tell them, if you want your freedom, you need to recruit someone else. So they end up selling out their own relatives.
That's why the IOM says you need to look beyond that one individual.
00:07:57 話者 4
So it is good to, again, really understand who the traffickers are, really trying to understand who are the people who are making the most money out of this exploitation.
Because I think one of the pitfalls is particularly in the trafficking space, is that it's the easiest to go after the victims or the sort of mid-level agents.
But we rarely see law enforcement capacity going after the really large organized criminal syndicates.
00:08:26 話者 1
So, Riho, given all that, what can be done to actually help those being trafficked?
00:08:32 話者 3
Victims are often exploited across borders, both in their destination country and their country of origin. So cross-border cooperation is essential.
Again, victims of human trafficking can be anywhere, often hidden in plain sight, unable to raise their voices. So a wide approach is needed if we want any hope of finding them.
BUSINESS
00:08:57 話者 1
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business with Ramin Mellegard, who starts off with stocks.
00:09:04 話者 5
Thank you very much indeed.
NIKKEI 225 RISES SHARPLY ON SOLID US ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
And just having a look at the big screen here, the Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose sharply on Wednesday on the view that the US economic outlook is solid.
There's growing speculation that next month the Federal Reserve will cut its key rate.
The benchmark ended at 49,559, up 1.85%. Investors bought shares across the board in early trading, but some later locked in profits.
Tuesday last week, the Nikkei index closed below the 50,000 mark for the first time in three weeks.
SURVEY FINDS JUMP IN OVERSEAS TOKYO CONDO BUYERS
Japan's land ministry has conducted its first-ever survey of new condominium ownership as prices surge. Foreign ownership in Tokyo has doubled since 2024 to reach 3%.
The survey covered sales in the first half of the year across three metropolitan areas, as well as four major cities. The ratio of foreign owners is higher in concentrated areas, hitting 3.5% in the 23 wards that form the center of Tokyo.
Now, when looking at only six of those wards, the figure jumps up to 7.5%.
The highest figure is in Shinjuku Ward at 14.6%. In the 23 wards, the largest number of buyers were from Taiwan, followed by those from China.
In Osaka City, over 4% of new apartments were acquired by people based abroad.
In Kyoto City, 2.5%, and in Sapporo, 2%.
Now, the ministry also looked at condos that are resold within one year of the initial purchase, regardless of where the owners were based. It found in the first six months of 2020 in Tokyo, these accounted for 8.5% in new apartment purchases.
That rose more than 3 percentage points from 5.2% a year earlier.
The Ministry plans to analyze the results and discuss with relative entities if measures are needed against speculative transactions.
TOKYO SAID TO BE MULLING CHANGING FIXED-FEE HOTEL TAX TO 3%
NHK has learned that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is considering revising a tax on hotel stays from a fixed amount to 3% of accommodation fees.
Tokyo introduced the tax in 2002 to help promote tourism.
Guests staying at a hotel or inn in the capital are currently charged a maximum of 200 yen per night if their room rate is at least 10,000 yen, or about $64.
Officials have been reviewing the rules as the growing number of foreign tourists and other visitors has driven up administrative costs.
Sources say the Tokyo government is also considering extending the tax to cover short stays at rented private lodgings and low-cost accommodation that are currently excluded.
A draft proposal is expected to be announced soon. Officials plan to seek opinions from the public with a view to enacting the new ordinance next year.
SUICA, PASMO TO SHARE QR-CODE PAYMENT SYSTEM
Suica and Pasmo are electronic money systems that can be used for train and bus rides, or to buy something at a convenience store.
Now, East Japan Railways say they will share the same payment system.
Jr. East wants to compete with other payment services by launching in autumn of next year its own QR code system called Tepe.
SUICA is managed by Jr. East, while PASMO is run by a consortium of transit services.
Users can generally top up their accounts at 20,000 yen, or roughly $130.
Jr. East's new system will raise the limit to 300,000 yen, or about $1,900.
When the shared QR code system launches in April of 2027, users will be able to transfer their balances between SUICA and PASMO.
Purchases using such transit systems accounted for just 4.4 percent of cashless payments in Japan last year, while QR code payments had risen to 9.6 percent.
The Suica and PASMO systems have a combined 35 million users of their mobile apps.
The operators hope the tie-up will help them compete with QR code systems run by major tech companies.
MARKETS
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
JAPANESE FACTORY TURNS SCRAPS INTO TEA-TIME ELEGANCE
00:14:50 話者 1
A Japanese manufacturer has entered an unexpected field, afternoon tea sets made from leftover materials. The initiative has reduced factory waste.
00:15:02 話者 2
Afternoon tea is a British tradition that has taken hold in Japan as well. It uses a multi-level stand that presents sandwiches, sweets, and tea as an elegant treat.
00:15:19 話者 3
It's not just about enjoying the sweets themselves. I think the dessert stand and tableware play a crucial role in creating a visually appealing experience that enhances the enjoyment.
00:15:35 話者 2
This is the factory where the afternoon tea stands are made.
The company's main business is stainless steel floodgates. Trimming sheets of the metal into the right size for the massive water barriers leaves waste cuttings.
A designer at the factory, Tokunaga Yayoi, took note that the pieces weren't being used.
She hoped to fulfill the idea of motai nai, or not wasting things.
00:16:15 話者 9
I saw many beautiful stainless steel plates with intricate cutouts. I thought they were so clean and lovely. I decided that the best use would be to turn them into small practical tableware.
00:16:27 話者 2
The factory manager at the time, Nishikawa Toshio, was thrilled by Tokunaga's proposal.
00:16:40 話者 8
I didn't even know about afternoon tea itself, nor did I understand tableware.
As a new pillar for the factory's business, I wanted to actively help with it.
00:16:52 話者 2
Engineers incorporate the designs drawn by Tokunaga into pieces of floodgates that will be cut away. The laser cutter leaves the metal a little dull and with scorched areas.
Drawing inspiration from machines that polish car parts, they developed custom equipment for the job. The tumblr uses stones to bring out the metal's luster.
This also creates a smooth surface and luminous shine.
The tableware is sold in department stores or used in hotels and cafes.
The factory has managed to reduce its waste rate by as much as 20 percent.
00:17:45 話者 7
We believe we have succeeded in creating products that make the most use of materials, minimizing waste and ensuring they are used effectively.
00:17:55 話者 2
This year, she exhibited at an interior design trade show. She hoped to spread awareness of tableware born from the concept of motai nai, or don't waste.
Tokunaga's tableware is just a start.
She also makes necklaces and accessories and plans to make lamps
Her goal is to share the joy of giving unused materials new life.
NEW OZEKI AONISHIKI PLEDGES TO AIM HIGHER
00:18:38 話者 1
Ukrainian sumo wrestler Al Nishki has reached a new milestone in his blisteringly fast rise up the rankings. The 21-year-old who fled the conflict in his home country just three years ago has been promoted to Ozeki, the second highest rank.
(Japanese)
Two messengers from the Japan Sumo Association delivered the news to Aonishiki and his stable master at the Ajigawa Stables lodging. The association decided on the promotion at an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors earlier Wednesday.
Aonishiki earned his first grand sumo tournament title in the Kyushu tourney that ended last weekend. He has notched 34 wins over the past three tournaments.
He's reached his new rank in just 14 tournaments.
Aonishiki left Ukraine in 2022 to escape the Russian invasion.
He moved to Japan to pursue his passion for sumo, training first at Kansai University before joining a formal stable. He made his grand sumo debut in September 2023 and rocketed through the ranks. Aonishiki is now just one step below Yokozuna and the first person from his country to climb so high.
OHTANI LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING IN NEXT YEAR'S WBC
Major League Baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei says he's looking forward to playing for Japan for the second straight time at the World Baseball Classic.
00:20:23 話者 6
I played in the previous competition for the first time and thought it was great.
I think next year's WBC will be even more wonderful.
I'm honored to be selected as a member, so I'm looking forward to the competition.
00:20:40 話者 1
Ohtani had earlier announced on social media his plans to take part in the WBC next year.
He spoke at an online news conference to Japanese media on Wednesday.
00:20:53 話者 6
There are many great players and teams from around the world, not just from Major League Baseball.
Representing Japan will be a different experience from playing in the MLB.
00:21:09 話者 1
Ohtani was asked whether he will both pitch and hit as a two-way player during the games, and if he will join Japan's team for training. He responded he hasn't decided yet.
and he would discuss those issues with Dodgers staff members. Ohtani said he should prepare for multiple scenarios, regardless of whether or not he pitches.
♪
WEATHER
It's time to check on world weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, the situation for displaced residents of the Gaza Strip continue to worsen as rain and winter cold descend on the region. What's the latest?
00:22:48 話者 6
Hello, we have been reporting to you about the particularly heavy rainfall that has been impacting those living in the Gaza Strip, and especially for the displaced residents who are having to live in tents. But we had more heavy rainfall that rolled through the area.
And if you take a look at this video, it'll give you an idea of the situation on the ground.
Displaced people in the Gaza Strip were trying to find safety and instead found themselves dealing with heavy rain that caused flooding and additional challenges to those living there. As the waters flowed down roads, the messy mud made their way down the streets and into the tents and ended up looking like rivers of murky water.
One woman said that she was injured after the wood and metal structures she was living in collapsed from the power of the overnight rain.
The UN's humanitarian office said last week that thousands of tents were flooded, making the conditions harsh for those living there.
It looks like at least the rain likely to back off, and hopefully that means that the water will start to clear out.
We are looking at the temperatures to be in the 20s in that general area here, so we'll be looking at drier conditions.
Now we go down to the south, highs into the 30s, and so we're looking at temperatures to be on the moderate side as we go through the daytime hours on Thursday.
Meanwhile, looking at what's happening across Japan, sunny skies was in the area as we went through Wednesday. ahead into Thursday, may still see some instability to the northeastern portions during the overnight period.
So be on the lookout for that.
We're looking at temperatures to be on the moderate side as well.
I mean, up to 19 by Friday in Tokyo.
And so we're looking at relatively dry weather, but wet weather up toward the north and also down toward Fukuoka as well.
It looks like that we're dealing with a bit of a messy weather pattern across the eastern side of the United States for those traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Snow up toward the Great Lakes with rain along the eastern seaboard.
Some rain also toward the Pacific Northwest.
As we go through Wednesday, we go into Thursday. It looks like they're generally dry toward the west, a bit more wet toward the east as we go through Thanksgiving Day.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
FERMENTED SUSHI HERALDS THE HOLIDAY SEASON
00:26:21 話者 1
Production of a beloved winter delicacy is ramping up as Japan heads into the year-end season. In factories across the Hokuriku region, workers are racing to fill orders for a fermented sushi dish called Kabura-zushi.
The cold-season classic is made by sandwiching slices of fish between thick, round slices of turnip.
Workers at a long-established factory in Kanazawa are assembling this year's batches.
They slip slices of yellowtail, fermented in salt for about 10 months, into turnip that's been cured for around three days.
The pieces are then packed into bowls, slathered with a fermented rice paste, and garnished with shredded carrot for color.
The whole package is then left to pickle for about 10 days.
00:27:13 話者 5
We hope people will enjoy our Kabura-zushi again this year, and feel the winter season as well as the spirit of Kanazawa.
00:27:20 話者 1
Many of the boxes will be snapped up as winter gifts. And with the holidays approaching fast, the next few weeks will be busy ones in Kanazawa.
If you're in the neighborhood when they're made available, do check them out.
I'm James Tengan, and thanks for watching.
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