It's a Friday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. This is NHK Newsline.
Kumamoto Quake Effects Being Felt One Month Later
Friday marks one month since a powerful earthquake rocked Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto.
In some places, the July 28 quake registered as a seven on the Japanese scale, the maximum intensity.
The shaking caused widespread damage across the Kumamoto region.
Seismic activity has been ongoing since then and is still higher than normal.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says further strong tremors could strike the area over the next month or so.
In Yatsushiro City, where the quake registered as an upper six, all elementary and junior high schools began a new term on Friday.
At Hinaku Elementary School, some children walked to their classrooms from the school gymnasium, which is still being used as an evacuation center.
00:01:13 話者 12/Yonehara Koji/Principal, Hinagu Elementary School
We care about you and want to protect you.
Let's make this term a great one together.
00:01:20 話者 1
One child's summer vacation diary described how they cooked rice at an evacuation center, where they spent much of their summer break.
00:01:31 話者 13
I was very happy to see my classmates again. It was exciting and made me feel relieved.
I'm looking forward to having fun and spending time together.
00:01:44 話者 1
But the prefecture is recovering amid scorching summer heat.
In the last month, Kumamoto and Yatsushiro cities both broke their own weather records, with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees Celsius on the most brutal days.
The weather makes water scarcity even worse for residents still struggling with limited access.
In Yatsushiro City, over 4,000 households that rely on well water have been affected, with some reporting that their water has stopped flowing or turned cloudy.
Araki Kiyomi, a resident of the city, was relying on a well that was repaired after the earthquake. But the water vanished again several days ago.
00:02:30 話者 14/Araki Kiyomi/Resident
It is really tough when no water comes out.
I was told they don't know how long it will take to fix.
00:02:38 話者 1
People engaged in cleaning and recovery activities should watch out for heat stroke.
Officials recommend rusting regularly and consuming water and salt at intervals of 20 to 30 minutes.
Kumamoto Quake
Japan To Use Contingency Funds To Help Kumamoto Recovery
Japan's government is set to use contingency funds in the fiscal 2026 budget to support the recovery in Kumamoto Prefecture.
At a cabinet meeting on Friday, the government approved a plan to use 147.8 billion yen, or around $930 million for relief measures.
About $480 million will be used primarily to construct temporary housing and clear and demolish destroyed and damaged dwellings.
Another $240 million has been set aside to help rebuild the livelihoods of residents.
This includes assistance for small and medium-sized companies to replace lost equipment and facilities.
The government wants to revive tourism in the Kyushu region, including Kumamoto.
and will use this fund to help subsidize lodging fees for tourists.
For river restoration work and road repairs, about $210 million will be provided.
It will also be used for surveys and repairs of damaged wells and other purposes.
Japan Enters Early Flu Season
Health authorities in Japan say flu season has officially arrived.
It's the earliest start in over 15 years.
The health ministry says medical institutions across the country reported more than 4,000 patients in the week through August 23. The average number per institution was 1.11.
That exceeds the threshold of one, which indicates the onset of flu season.
An August announcement is exceedingly rare.
This sparks the second earliest start on record following 2009.
and setting aside 2023 when the flu spread throughout the year.
The current survey was launched in 1999.
The health ministry is advising people to follow basic precautions such as wearing masks and washing their hands.
Hundreds Feared Dead As Floods Hit Nepal-China Border
Rescue crews in Nepal and China are scrambling to respond to devastating flash floods and mudslides in the border region that have left hundreds dead and more than 1,400 missing.
On the Nepal side, a catastrophic flow struck the central part of the country on Wednesday. Police say at least 469 people were killed.
Local authorities are reporting that 910 people, including tourists, are still missing.
The Japanese embassy in Kathmandu has asked Nepali authorities to search for five Japanese believed have been in the area.
Meanwhile, Chinese state-run media says mudslides have hit Shigatse City in the Tibet Autonomous Region. At least three people are dead and 558 are still unaccounted for.
The risk for the region isn't yet over.
Chinese television appears to show a swelling barrier lake near one of the mudslide sites, which could overflow in the coming week.
NHK World's Matsumoto Yuzuru has been covering the situation in Nepal.
00:06:07 話者 22/Matsumoto Yuzuru
I am at a hospital in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.
Over 40 people injured in Thursday's disaster were brought here.
Families searching for loved ones who remain unaccounted for are also checking the hospital.
Many have been providing information to police officers here in hopes it will help ongoing search and rescue efforts.
One man in his 30s who came here at midnight told us that he has lost contact with relatives who lived in the impacted area.
He said, I came here hoping to find even the smallest clue.
He added that he believes they are still alive.
The full scale of the disaster remains unknown.
People across the country are deeply shocked by what is being described as an unprecedented tragedy.
Russian Intel Chief Confirms Talks With CIA Head
00:07:10 話者 1
The head of Russia's foreign intelligence service has acknowledged meeting the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency in Moscow. He called the meeting nothing unusual.
SVR Director Sergei Naryshkin was speaking to media on Thursday about reports that CIA Chief John Ratcliffe visited the Russian capital.
Naryshkin said meetings between heads of intelligence agencies, whether in person or online, are part of the job. He added that he and Ratcliffe had a regular working meeting.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, US news website Politico reported that the CIA director warned Russian officials not to escalate conflict with NATO allies.
It said he singled out the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
In response to similar accounts by other media outlets about Ratcliffe's trip, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called them scare stories.
He told reporters on Thursday they have nothing to do with reality or Russia's intentions.
Iran Conflict Survey: Americans Expect Long-Term US Involvement
Leaders in Washington are stepping up economic pressure on Iran.
But six months into the conflict, their counterparts in Tehran are showing little sign of compromise. And the standoff is shaping public opinion at home.
A poll suggests that most Americans expect military involvement to continue into the long term.
Reuters and polling firm Ipsos conducted a survey of more than 1,200 Americans aged 18 and older. It was carried out over four days through August 24.
83% of respondents say they expect US military involvement to go on for an extended period of time.
That figure stood at 60 just after the conflict began in early March.
And just a quarter say they approve President Donald Trump's handling of the situation.
while nearly two-thirds disapprove.
But among Republican supporters, 62% say they approve Trump's response.
One policy expert offered us his view on what's driving down the poll numbers.
00:09:22 話者 34/Mark Brewer/Professor, University of Maine
Probably the biggest reason why is that for most Americans, They don't see really the need for this. They don't see why the United States went to war with Iran.
I think also a relatively big part of it is the fact that fuel prices are very high right now in the United States.
Americans are very cognizant of gasoline prices and specifically in energy prices more broadly. And Americans don't like high gasoline prices.
00:09:53 話者 1
He says soaring energy costs could have an impact on the midterm elections in November.
UN Chief: DR Congo Ebola Spread Fastest On Record
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging the world to work together to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Guterres said on Thursday the epidemic in the Central African country is the fastest growing one on record, challenging efforts to contain it.
00:10:19 話者 55/Antonio Guterres
The world still has an opportunity to get ahead of this crisis. But time is not on our side.
The Ebola outbreak deserves far greater attention than it is receiving today.
00:10:31 話者 1
Guterres said over 5,700 cases have been confirmed so far, and more than 2,700 people have died. He says about 500 new cases are being reported every week.
The UN chief stressed that less than half of the funds necessary to deal with the outbreak have been raised.
He called for collective action before the situation becomes more deadly, more difficult and more expensive.
The virus is said to remain highly contagious even after the death of an infected person.
The UN said it is accelerating efforts to contain the spread, including deploying additional teams to support safe burials in the affected areas.
Business
And now here with business and financial news is Yuko Fukushima.
00:11:20 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, James.
Kioxia, SanDisk To Invest $31 Bil. In Japan Amid AI Growth
Japanese semiconductor giant Kioxia Holdings says subsidiary Kioxia and US chipmaker SanDisk will invest over $31 billion in Japan through 2032.
That's to expand production of flash memories for data centers amid the growing use of artificial intelligence.
Kioxia plans to build a third production facility at its plant in the northeastern prefecture of Iwate. Operations are planned to start in or after 2029.
The plant makes flash memories and its second building started production last September.
The investment will also support the build out of Kioxia's factory in the central prefecture of Mie.
Kioxia Holdings CEO Ota Hiro and SanDisk CEO David Geckler announced a plan when they met with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on Thursday.
The companies say they asked the government to finance one-third of the investment fund.
00:12:23 話者 66/Takaichi Sanae
Semiconductors are a crucial strategic field for investment based on Japan's growth strategy from the standpoint of economic security.
00:12:35 話者 6
The government plans a public-private investment of more than 100 trillion yen or about 630 billion dollars in memory chips and advanced semiconductors for physical AI by fiscal 2040.
Container-Based Data Centers A Solution For Urban Tokyo
With land at a premium in Tokyo, container-based data centers are one solution to accommodate the growing use of AI.
NTT Docomo Business and TEPCO Power Grid unveiled a prefabricated data center on Thursday.
They plan to install the first unit in Tokyo's Ota Ward with an eye to making it operational in the fall of next year.
The six-meter-long structure is equipped with a liquid-filled cooling system for the server and its high-performance but heat-generating semiconductors.
00:13:25 話者 77/Matsubayashi Osamu/NTT Docomo Business
It would take five years at the earliest, or even eight to 10 years to put a new facility into operation, including elevators.
But that time frame can't keep up with the speed of AI demand.
So the advantages of this container-based data center will soon be apparent.
00:13:42 話者 6
The companies say it is becoming more difficult to secure land for data centers in the Tokyo metropolitan area, but there is still room to set up container-based facilities.
Tokyo Toy Show Offerings Reflect Social Trends
The Tokyo Toy Show has opened its doors with thousands of products on display and many reflecting social trends. The event is one of Japan's largest trade shows.
Organizers say more than 180 companies and organizations are attending to exhibit about 35,000 items. One product is an investment-themed board game.
Players roll dice to win cards equivalent to stocks, gold, or cryptocurrency.
Players move around squares filled with events such as an economic downturn or prices.
increases. The winner is the one who collects a set amount of assets.
Another item replicates a supermarket with a self-checkout, smartphone cashless payment and other functions.
An event official says Valley-added toys that reflect social trends are popular even for children.
00:14:54 話者 87/Fujii Daisuke/Japan Toy Association
Children these days like to play with things that they see their parents using and are trending on social media. Such toys are selling well.
00:15:04 話者 6
The exhibition is open to businesses through Friday and to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
Biz Picks
And now, NHK Worls's Gene Otani with BizPix.
00:15:23 話者 8/Gene Otani
Let's take a look at the key business and economic stories for the week ahead.
On Monday, G20 finance leaders meet in the United States with global economic issues high on the agenda.
Then on Friday, the US releases its August jobs data.
Also on Monday, India releases GDP figures for the April to June quarter.
That's our focus for BizPicks this week.
Expert: India To Focus On Job Creation To Maintain Growth
The South Asian nation has maintained a high rate of economic growth and was expected to soon overtake Japan as the world's fourth largest economy.
But India slipped to sixth place in the International Monetary Fund's latest outlook released in April. This came as a surprise to many.
We spoke to an expert about the loss of GDP momentum and the outlook.
Economist Saito Makoto at NLI Research Institute says there are two reasons for India's fall in the rankings.
One is the country's latest revision to its GDP data, but more significant is the sharp depreciation of the rupee.
00:16:34 話者 9/Saito Makoto
A major reason behind the weaker rupee is the rise in oil prices, driven by worsening tensions in the Middle East. India relies on imports of about 90% of its oil needs.
So when oil prices rise, the cost of imports goes up.
That increases demand for dollars among Indian companies, putting downward pressure on the rupee.
Other factors are higher US interest rates and capital outflows by risk-averse foreign investors.
00:17:02 話者 8
As a result, the IMF's rupee-dollar exchange rate assumption is nearly 6% weaker than it was six months ago.
This led to a downward revision in India's nominal GDP in dollar terms.
But Saito points out, India's real GDP growth remains strong.
The figure grew 7.8% in the January to March quarter from a year earlier.
He expects it to stay at around 7% in April to June.
00:17:35 話者 9
The forecast is based on relatively strong domestic demand.
Consumer spending is expected to remain resilient.
Investment is also likely to remain solid.
Government spending on infrastructure is continuing.
And high-capacity utilization and strong bank lending suggest private sector investment will continue to grow steadily.
00:18:00 話者 8
Still, India faces serious challenges.
Large-scale protests by young people frustrated by a lack of future prospects have rocked the nation. Saito says the latest jobless rate for people aged 15 to 29 is over 15%.
That's about three times the overall figure.
00:18:22 話者 9
More and more young people are getting a higher education, but stable jobs aren't growing fast enough to keep pace.
Around 10 million young people enter India's labor market every year.
Many end up in relatively low-paid jobs, including self-employment and informal agricultural work.
There simply aren't enough well-paid, stable jobs for educated young people.
00:18:50 話者 8
Saito says India's main growth engine is domestic demand driven by rising incomes and population.
He says the key to long-term growth will be derived from expanding labor-intensive industries and creating good quality jobs.
I'm Gene Otani, and that was this week's BizPix.
Markets
00:19:13 話者 6
And now to the markets.
♪
And that wraps it up for biz for this hour.
Saving Taiwan's Beautiful Ceramic Tiles
00:19:46 話者 1
Decorative ceramic tiles used to be seen across Taiwan, imbuing places like temples and homes with vibrant hues.
But they have become a disappearing art with the passage of time.
Here we meet a museum director working to ensure they can be enjoyed for many more generations to come.
00:20:08 話者 10/Reporter: Matsuda Tomoki/Narrator: Yoshino Mika
The Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles opened 10 years ago in Chiayi.
Director James Hsu has collected about 10,000 tiles over more than two decades.
Approximately 1,000 are on display.
Hsu's passion started when he was at university.
He now preserves what has become a fading craft.
00:20:33 話者 11/James Hsu/Director, Museum Of Old Taiwan Tiles
All of these are hand-painted. They are extremely precious.
00:20:39 話者 10
Hsu says most were made in Japan between 1915 and 1935 in places such as Hyogo and Aichi prefectures.
Manufacturers based theirs on European imports, and they became popular in Taiwan for resonating with the local culture and values.
Apples symbolize well-being, peaches longevity, and pomegranates and grapes, the prosperity of a person's descendants.
00:21:09 話者 11
Many people may not have seen these tiles before, but they will likely be inspired after visiting the museum.
00:21:18 話者 10
Tiled buildings from yesteryear are being demolished across Taiwan.
Hsu steps in If the tiles cannot be saved individually, he sometimes takes entire sections.
He removes building materials from their backs.
Surface mold is cleaned off, and each tile is painstakingly restored over about six months.
Hsu is also reviving old production methods. He works with Taiwanese artisans.
They produce these tiles with a raised peacock. They are based on a design from Japan.
They created a mold using a technique known as ukibori.
They were meticulous about color.
Meeting shoes' standards took about a year and a half.
00:22:19 話者 11
We want to create new tiles while improving our skills.
These tiles embody the passion of the artisans, history and human bonds.
00:22:33 話者 10
She helps to restore old buildings too, including this Taoist temple in Jiaoxi, northeastern Taiwan. A stage built more than a century ago features 39 of its tiles.
Performances used to be held several times a year, and those days can now return.
00:22:58 話者 19/Wu Hung-yu/Temple administrator
By holding performances again, we can help young people in the community learn about traditional theater and how these stages were used.
00:23:08 話者 11
These tiles can become part of history with each passing generation.
That way, their history will never disappear.
00:23:18 話者 10
She believes tiles are a priceless part of Taiwan's cultural heritage.
Beautiful little squares, whose four corners hold the emotions and memories of the people.
Children In Western Japan Try Out Traditional Puppetry
00:23:31 話者 1
Children on Awaji Island in western Japan have the opportunity to try out a regional tradition that dates back centuries.
They learned about a form of puppetry unique to the island called Awaji Ningyojoruri.
They first watched a performance featuring Ebisu, the deity of prosperity in business and fishing.
The children then split into two groups.
One handled the narration and the musical instrument known as the shamisen, and the other operated the puppets.
Leading the workshop were junior high school students who are in a puppet theater club at school.
00:24:17 話者 82
It was fun moving the puppet's hands and head. I want to try it again.
00:24:25 話者 83
I want the young ones to get more skills, so I worked hard to teach them.
00:24:32 話者 1
Awaji Ningyo Joruri has a history dating back about 500 years and is designated by Japan as an important intangible folk cultural property.
World Weather
Parts of Japan are still dealing with the aftermath of the torrential rain that led to an emergency warning for the Hokuriku region on Thursday.
Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the details in this weather update.
00:24:58 話者 92/Yuumi Hirano
A frontal system that brought the heavy rain has weakened on Friday.
However, the impacts of the downpours are still continuing.
People are still busy with recovery efforts on Friday after record-breaking rainfall.
In Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, more than 250 houses were flooded and over a dozen households were without power.
Meanwhile, heavy rain caused trees to fall and triggered landslides in Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
This left 54 people isolated, but no injuries had been reported as of Friday morning.
The frontal system is expected to go northward to the Hokuriku region and is likely to intensify again over the weekend.
Up to 100 millimeters of rain is expected in the region by Saturday evening and more is likely by Sunday. People there should remain a lot for flooding and landslides.
Rain could also be heavier in Kanazawa.
Showers in Tokyo are likely to bring cooler temperatures with a high of only 26.
But we cannot say the same for western Japan. The biggest concern is intense heat.
Kumamoto, which was hit by a major earthquake last month, is expected to continue experiencing scorching conditions with a high of 37.
Now moving to the United States, a high pressure system is dominating the west and the south, while a front is stretching along the east coast.
Thunder showers expected in Washington, Atlanta and Miami, but dry and coaching conditions are a concern in the west. The highs will be 36 in LA and 44 in Phoenix.
That's it for now. Stay safe.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
Visit our website or app for more news, feature stories, and information for all of us here on NHK Newsline. I'm James Tengan. Bye for now.
checked.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service. Here's a frequency notice.
The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.
Once again, the broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.
For more details of our programs, nhk.jp/rj nhk.jp/rj
We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.
