at 18:00 (JST), March 19

20260319180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Morishita Erika

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.

TAKAICHI IN WASHINGTON FOR SUMMIT WITH TRUMP

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump.

On the agenda are the situation in Iran and Japanese investment in the United States.

For Takaichi, it will be her first summit at the White House, but her second face-to-face meeting with Trump.

Before departing, Takaichi told reporters that global peace and stability are under threat.

She cited risks to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to energy security.

00:00:48 話者 11/Takaichi Sanae

It is important that the situation is de-escalated as soon as possible.

And that efforts are made for peace and stability in the Middle East, including energy security. I want to hold thorough discussions based on Japan's position and views.

00:01:08 話者 1

The Prime Minister stressed the need to maximize Japan's national interests.

She warned if the current instability continues, it will seriously affect the economies of Japan, the US, and other countries.

Takaichi also hopes to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-US alliance.

As part of a broader bilateral cooperation, she plans to tell Trump that Japan will work with the US to boost American crude oil production.

Meanwhile, final preparations are underway for the two leaders to announce a second set of projects. They related to a deal struck last year for Japan to invest $550 billion in the US.

The two countries will also draw up an action plan to introduce a floor price for rare earth and other key minerals.

The mechanism is intended to protect rare earth producers from price swings caused by low-cost Chinese exports.

Japan has been moving to diversify its supply and reduce its dependence on China.

ANALYSIS: FORMER AMBASSADOR'S EXPECTATIONS OF SUMMIT MEETING

For more on what to expect at the upcoming summit, earlier, I spoke with Sugiyama Shinsuke.

He's a former Japanese ambassador to the US and served during Trump's first term.

There have been major political developments since these two leaders last met in October.

So how significant is the timing of this summit and what does it mean for both Takaichi and Trump?

00:02:45 話者 2/Sugiyama Shinsuke

Yeah, well, as you rightly mentioned, lots have taken place since the last summit meeting last October.  Of course, Japan, Takaichi had landstrait general election victory.

00:02:56 話者 1

Yes.

00:02:56 話者 2

But for the POTUS, the current United States of America president, America did take a military action against the beginning of this year, but among them all, this Iran.

So notably, the two leaders must be engaged in dealing with this discussion about the Iranian situation.

00:03:19 話者 1

And over the weekend, Trump hoped countries, including Japan, would send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

And just days later, he claimed the US no longer needs support.

So do you believe he will still ask for Japan's cooperation during the summit?

And what do you think Japan's response should be?

00:03:41 話者 2

Actually, very few people would be able to tell what the real intention, what the real action, the part of the POTUS is.

So, but I think all what the Prime Minister Takaichi would be able to say or do is to take actions based upon the domestic legal requirements and domestic law of Japan.

So I think Prime Minister Takaichi is going to talk to the reporters in a very certain manner on that basis.

00:04:18 話者 1

And I would like to ask you about the situation of Iran.

Japan traditionally has friendly ties with Iran. And what could Takaichi do during this summit, and if anything, to help de-escalate the situation in Iran?

00:04:32 話者 2

You're quite right that while the US is the single ally to Japan, but at the same time Japan has been enjoying a very traditional good relation with Iran. 

even after Iranian revolution in 1979.

But on that basis, I think Japanese government, Japanese people have been telling Iranians that they must stick to the Pacific and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, not try to develop anything nuclear weapons or missile activities.

And then it is in that context Japan is the number one student in terms of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

So I think It is really, really right moment for Japanese government to tell the Iranian government or leaders that they should stick to that idea and not to try to develop anything nuclear arsenals.

00:05:27 話者 1

And that is what Japan and US wants to discuss about.

00:05:31 話者 2

I think so. And then everybody has been suffered from, suffering from Iranian development of nuclear arsenals and missile technologies.

But at the same time, no one wants to see the areas have been blocked by anything military, particularly the home strait.

So I'm sure they will discuss how to handle the current difficult situation in relation to Iran.

00:06:00 話者 1

And last year, Japan agreed to invest $550 billion in the US, and details of the first projects were released last month, with the next batch possibly announced during this summit.

What could Trump possibly ask Japan for next?

00:06:16 話者 2

I would say that a fundamental deal has been already done on the table.

So all we, the Japanese side as well as the American side, and Prime Minister Takaichi in the porters Should and want to do is to surely implement what have been agreed upon on the table, and then that's exactly what the government of Japan is doing, and then that's exactly what the port and the American government is doing together with the Japanese government.

00:06:43 話者 1

And at last, following this meeting, Trump was supported to visit China, but that has now been postponed.

Given the strained relationship between Tokyo and Beijing, how much will China be focused at the summit? And will they discuss a plan for free?

00:06:58 話者 2

I would say everybody in the international community should pay that much very high attention to this summit meeting between the Prime Minister and the porters because of reasons, including China.

But the fact that the current president postponed his scheduled visit to Beijing is, I don't think, nothing to do with the importance of Sino-US or Sino-Japan or anything, but because of this Iranian very much urgent military as well as political and economic situation.

So as Porter's been saying that this is only a postponement and surely he's going to just try to visit Beijing within four or five or six weeks or something, not that much distant future.

So China points...

not gone, China discussion, something about China or Taiwan or related issues are going to be discussed surely between the two leaders and then things about China is going to stay as one of their top agenda for everybody.

00:08:08 話者 1

And in your opinion, will the two leaders be able to navigate all these difficult situations?

00:08:13 話者 2

Well, I wouldn't say very easily that they would with easiness, but I'm sure this summit meeting is going to be a great success.

Because I would say that I'm told that Prime Minister Takaishi should be accommodated in Blair House, which is the state guest house, and then the porters is ready to host the two meals, lunch, working lunch, as well as dinner which is really extraordinary thing.

So that shows how much US is welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi.

00:08:52 話者 1

Iranian media outlets said on Wednesday natural gas and oil facilities in the south of the country had been attacked.

US President Donald Trump denies his country's involvement.

Following the report, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement vowing retaliation on oil and gas-related facilities in other Gulf countries.

A state-run energy firm in Qatar said on Wednesday that missiles had struck Razrafan industrial city, causing extensive damage.

The Qatari Ministry of Defense said There were two separate strikes on Wednesday night and in the early morning of Thursday.

Also on Wednesday, President Trump revealed that Israel struck facilities in Iran while denying US involvement.

He wrote in a social media post that Qatar was also not involved in the attack.

He said further Iranian attacks against Qatar would result in significant retaliation from the United States.

Foreign ministers from a number of Arab and Islamic countries held a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in response to the escalating attacks.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke at the news conference after the meeting.

00:10:19 話者 3/Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud/Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister

I have to tell you, what little trust there was before has completely been shattered.

00:10:27 話者 1

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration is considering deploying thousands of US troops to step up its campaign against Iran.

The Washington Post reports that the Department of Defense has submitted an additional budget bill worth more than $200 billion to cover the cost of military operations.

Trump had been scheduled to visit China at the end of the month for a meeting with President Xi Jinping.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt said on Wednesday that the Chinese have now agreed to postpone the visit.

Trump is now believed to be making arrangements for a visit in late April.

ZELENSKYY WORRIED ABOUT IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT ON UKRAINE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's worried about the future of his country's missile defense systems.

He warned that supplies of US Patriot missiles could run short if the offensive in Iran is prolonged.

Zelenskyy told the BBC in an interview on Wednesday that there will definitely be a deficit of US Patriot missiles when the stockpiles in the Middle East are exhausted.

He said that on the first day of what he called the Middle East war, the number of missiles used amounted to the number produced in the air.

The remarks come as the Ukrainian president had been requesting additional patriot systems, calling them indispensable to intercept ballistic missiles from Russia.

Zelenskyy also noted that trilateral diplomatic talks among Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington are constantly being postponed due to the war in Iran.

BUSINESS

Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Ramin Mellegard from The BizDesk.

00:12:23 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

BOJ HOLDS RATES STEADY AMID TENSIONS OVER MIDDLE EAST

Now, the Bank of Japan says it will keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged.

Policymakers noted they need to carefully monitor economic and price data as oil prices rise amid the situation in the Middle East.

The BOJ said at the end of its two-day policy meeting on Thursday that it will continue to target a short-term rate of around 0.75 percent.

It's the second time in a row for the BOJ to maintain the level following a rate hike in December.

The central bank said the economy is likely to continue growing moderately, but the bank noted that higher prices for crude could push up inflation and weigh on growth.

00:13:09 話者 13/Ueda Kazuo/Bank of Japan Governor

The key point is the impact of the situation in the Middle East.

We will look at how much downward pressure worsening conditions stemming from rising oil prices could have on the economy.

00:13:23 話者 3

Ueda went on to say such downward pressure might be stronger than when Russia started its full invasion of Ukraine.

The bank has indicated plans to raise rates gradually if economic activity and prices improve in line with its January report.

ANALYSIS: IRAN CONFLICT LOWERS APPETITE FOR RATE HIKES

Now, we spoke with Kobayashi Shunsuke, chief economist at Mizuho Securities, who tells us what's behind the BOJ's decision.

00:13:51 話者 4/Kobayashi Shunsuke

There are three reasons. The first is that the BOJ wants to continue monitoring the situation following the rate hike in December. Second is that inflation is not accelerating. Rather, the pace is slower compared to the past three years. This is partly because of government subsidies and tax cuts.

But even when these factors are excluded, inflation is still slowing down.

So the BOJ has little reason to rush to raise rates.

Third, the situation in Iran and the rest of the Middle East is causing great uncertainty around the outlook for the economy and inflation.

The central bank cannot decide policy based on a single scenario when this much uncertainty exists. That's why the BOJ has decided to keep rates unchanged.

00:14:39 話者 3

The key question remains, when will the BOJ resume interest rate hikes?

Kobayashi thinks July is the most likely timing, but he says the uncertainty in the Middle East poses a challenge.

00:14:53 話者 4

If the situation surrounding Iran continues to be tense, energy prices will remain high, and the pace of inflation will exceed the forecast.

The BOJ is unlikely to raise rates quickly to try and rein in rising prices.

But if the expected inflation rate goes up, and concerns grow about greater underlying inflation, the central bank may be forced to slightly move up the timing of a hike.

00:15:25 話者 3

All eyes will be on the Iran conflict to see how it impacts Japan's economy going forward.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN BEGINS MOVING TO LOWER GASOLINE PRICES

The Japanese government is hoping to limit pain at the pump by moving to lower gasoline prices.

Japanese officials aim to keep the retail price of gasoline at around 170 yen per liter. That's about $1.06.

The EU government is providing subsidies to oil wholesalers for the amount exceeding the target. The initiative will apply to fuel shipments starting from Thursday.

The Oil Information Center, which monitors price trends, says as of Monday, regular gasoline averaged 190.8 yen. That's its highest level since 1990, when the survey began.

The Economy Ministry says it will provide a subsidy worth 30.2 yen a liter for a week from Thursday. The amount will be reviewed regularly.

MARKETS

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for business news.

SEOUL BRACES FOR CROWDS AS BOY BAND BTS RETURNS

00:17:12 話者 1

K-pop fans from around the world are gathering in Seoul for a superstar comeback.

A boy band, BTS, went on hiatus four years ago so its members could complete their mandatory military service.

Now, they're set to reunite on stage for the first time this weekend, but the city is bracing for potential problems.

For more, earlier, I spoke with NHK's Kim Chan-ju, who was standing by near the venue.

So, Chan-ju, what's the atmosphere like there in Seoul?

00:17:48 話者 5/Kim Chan-ju

Excitement is in the air. I'm near Gwanghwamun Square where BTS will perform.

As you can see over here, there are huge billboards all over paying tribute to the band.

People keep stopping to take pictures. It feels like the whole city is buzzing.

The concert itself will take place smack in the heart of Seoul.

This is what the square usually looks like. It's iconic in its own right.

It's not only a place to relax in a bustling city, but also home to the foreign ministry, embassies and even the presidential office is nearby.

Now, it's being transformed into a concert arena. 

Over 22,000 people won free tickets to the event.

But it's a lot of work to accommodate that many people.

For example, they've set up 2,400 portable toilets near the venue.

Officials have also been busy cleaning up local shopping districts for the occasion.

And the city says thousands of fans without tickets are also expected to hit the streets.

Many have flocked to Seoul just to mark the band's return.

00:19:03 話者 13

We chose this year to come here, because of that we hope to see the concert, but unfortunately we didn't get the tickets.

00:19:14 話者 5

But the influx is also putting a strain on local businesses.

Most hotels near the square are fully booked.

And restaurants are also bracing for increased demand.

This restaurant added foreign languages to its menu and plans to do its part to ease the strain on the city.

00:19:34 話者 4/Kim Seong-dae/Restaurant owner

The Seoul city government has asked businesses to make their bathrooms available to the public. We decided to participate in open hours as well.

00:19:43 話者 1

With that many people, are there concerns about safety?

00:19:50 話者 5

Absolutely. Again, over 20,000 fans will attend the concert.

But the city estimates 10 times more will gather near the venue.

So we are talking about over 200,000 people.

In an effort to reduce congestion, the subway won't stop at stations near the venue, and over 30 buildings around here will close for the day.

The mayor says he will also deploy over 3,000 personnel to help keep people safe.

00:20:24 話者 15/Oh Se-hoon/Seoul Mayor

To prevent any issues, please check the site carefully for places where people may gather or crowd together. Take whatever reinforcement measures are necessary.

We must keep in mind that accidents are born from just a little carelessness.

00:20:39 話者 5

He also upgraded the city's alert level.

After a fire at a capsule hotel last Saturday, the blaze left 10 foreign tourists injured.

He urged officials to re-examine safety conditions in accommodation facilities.

As for crowding, the city will be managing crowd density in real time using CCTV.

Police will be sent out in case of emergency.

00:21:06 話者 1

This is seriously such a huge event.

What does this tell us about the scale of the K-pop industry now?

00:21:16 話者 5

One expert told me K-pop has moved beyond just an entertainment industry into a core growth engine for the nation.

Professor Shim Ichul says the K-pop industry is worth over 3 trillion won, or about 2 billion dollars.

That may seem small compared to traditional sectors, but Shim says it also propels other industries like beauty, food and tourism.

00:21:46 話者 16/Sim Hee-chul/Professor, Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts

I think from a global perspective, the K-pop industry looks much larger than it actually is.

K-pop is a great tool to lead not only our culture, but also our national brand.

So I think our government should support K-pop as a strategic industry.

Saturday's concert will be broadcast live to 190 countries.

People here hope it will cement Gwanghwamun as the stage for K-pop and attract more visitors from around the world.

VIENNA BOYS CHOIR TO SING ORIGINAL JAPANESE-LANGUAGE SONG

00:22:32 話者 1

A world-renowned voice choir in Austria, known for their angelic voices, have released their first original song in Japanese.

The song is called Moon Boat. A Vienna voice choir unveiled it to the media at a palace in the Austrian capital on Wednesday.

The song was created by Japanese composer Fujikura Dai to commemorate the 100th year since the choir started touring overseas.

Fujikura is now based in Britain.

Moon Boat is said to have been inspired by works of Japanese literature.

One of the boys, Ishishima Tenpu, is originally from Tokyo.

00:23:23 話者 31/Ishijima Tempu/Vienna Boys Choir member

I'm very proud of being able to sing on behalf of everyone to celebrate 100 years.

00:23:29 話者 32/Manolo Cagnin/Choirmaster

I think a lot of fans and a lot of people are waiting for us, and I'm very proud and very happy to sing the Japanese song.

00:23:39 話者 1

The choir was founded more than 500 years ago.

They will present Moonboat during their Japanese tour, scheduled to start in May.

HIROSHIMA TO IDENTIFY MORE A-BOMB VICTIMS FROM HAIR

NHK has learned that authorities in Hiroshima city have found hair strands belonging to at least 40 atomic bomb victims in urns at the city's Peace Memorial Park.

It is hoped that further DNA analysis of the hair samples will enable authorities to identify more victims.

Unclaimed remains of about 70,000 people are entombed in a facility at the park.

Some of the remains include the deceased hair.

Last year, the city analyzed the DNA of one victim's hair sample at the request of their relatives.

Researchers concluded that the victim was a girl who was 13 years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

In February, city officials began examining the urns of over 800 identifiable victims, but whose relatives are unknown.

It's the first such survey to be conducted in about four decades.

WEATHER

Next, our meteorologist, Sayaka Mori, joins us now with the Sakura forecast.

00:25:06 話者 6/Sayaka Mori

Hello there. 

It's officially Sakura season for Tokyo. Officials declared the first bloom on Thursday. That's five days earlier than usual. The peak will likely arrive next Wednesday. 

And Hiroshima also enter the cherry blossom season.

The cherry blossom front will move up to the north, arrive in Hokkaido by late April.

Now Friday is the astronomical start to spring. It looks like snow is in the forecast in Sapporo, but Tokyo and Kyoto will see warmer conditions during the weekend.

and Kochi will likely see a return of rain on Sunday.

Talking about rain, a storm hit the financial capital, Pakistan.

We have some video. Take a look at this.

Deadly heavy rain and thunderstorms lashed Karachi overnight Wednesday, inundating streets and houses. Cars and motorists struggled along flooded roads.

The storm also caused power outages in the city.

The monsoon typically hit the area in summer and March is typically one of the driest months of the year.

However, heavy rain hit Karachi, so heavy rain is not common during this time of the year.

More rain is likely, but that should taper off by Friday, so that's at least good news.

Now talking about rain once again, we are looking at heavy rain heading towards Australia.

This is a powerful severe tropical cyclone called Narelle and it's a category 5 powerful one.

It's packing wind gusts of over 300 kilometers per hour. So it's like a gigantic tornado.

The center will likely move over the Cape York Peninsula by early Friday morning local time and then head towards the Northern Territory.

It looks like the landfill timing could be around Sunday morning.

So a lot of rain is on the way for northern Australia and also southern areas like Sydney.

So drenching rains on Wednesday and rain will likely persist here for a while, at least for the rest of the week. The high could be 27 on Friday.

That's it for me. Stay safe.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. 

I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), March 18

20260318180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Tashiro Kyoko

Thank you for joining us. From our studio here in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP SAYS NO HELP NEEDED SECURING STRAIT OF HORMUZ

US President Donald Trump says his country does not need help from other NATO members or US allies for the military operation against Iran.

He had been calling on other countries to send ships to the region amid Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made a remark in a social media post on Tuesday where he explicitly named Japan, Australia and South Korea as countries whose help isn't needed.

Later that day, he reiterated frustration with what he called NATO's unwillingness to get involved.

00:00:54 話者 10/Donald Trump

I think NATO's making a very foolish mistake and I've long said that I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us.

So this was a great test because we don't need them, but they should have been there.

00:01:08 話者 1

Japan's chief cabinet secretary said the US side has not made any specific requests to dispatch ships.

He said Japan recognizes the global importance of maintaining safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

00:01:26 話者 3/Kihara Minoru/Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary

In order to bring the situation under control as soon as possible, Japan will continue to take various opportunities to closely communicate with relevant countries, including the US, and make every diplomatic effort.

00:01:40 話者 1

Meanwhile, a top US counterterrorism official has announced his resignation, saying he  oes not support the operation.

Joe Kent wrote on social media on Tuesday that,  "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."

US media outlets says  Kent is the first senior member of the Trump administration to quit over the Iran conflict.

IRAN CONFLICT
MORE THAN 1,400 REPORTED DEAD IN IRAN

Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera says more than 1,400 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the US-Israeli attacks.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says airstrikes have damaged or destroyed more than 67,000 civilian sites.

It says nearly 500 schools have been damaged, in addition to medical facilities.

IRAN CONFLICT
ISRAEL EXPANDS MILITARY OPERATION IN LEBANON

Israeli forces have also been stepping up attacks on Lebanon.

They're targeting the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

And they say they've launched ground operations in the south of the country.

UN humanitarian officials warn the conflict continues to cause large-scale displacement.

The Israeli military says troops located and dismantled a facility where Shia Muslim militants were storing weapons.

And they also carried out airstrikes on the outskirts of Beirut and other areas.

Defense Minister Israel Kotz says the ground operations are targeted at removing threats and protecting residents in northern Israel.

Lebanon's state-run media says more than 900 people have been killed since March 2.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says more than 830,000 people in the country have been displaced. That's around 14 percent of the population.

Qatz says it could be a long campaign.

00:03:48 話者 3/Israel Katz/Israeli Defense Minister

Hundreds of thousands of Shiite residents in southern Lebanon who have evacuated or are evacuating their homes in southern Lebanon and Beirut will not return to areas south of the Litani Line until the safety of northern residents is ensured.

00:04:04 話者 1

Hezbollah has also continued to attack Israel. Drone and rocket strikes on a northern Israeli town on Monday reportedly injured multiple people.

The hostilities were sparked after Hezbollah attacked Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

France and other countries released a statement on the escalating conflict, saying they are gravely concerned. They called for both sides to negotiate a sustainable political solution.

IRAN CONFLICT
RUSSIA MOCKS EUROPE'S REFUSAL TO HELP TRUMP SECURE HORMUZ

A special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken aim at Europe's rejection of Trump's calls to send naval ships to the Strait of Hormuz.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Kirill Dimitriev wrote, The masks are off.

He called the UK and EU warmongers, saying they're showing how deeply anti-Trump they really are. And that Trump will remember.

Germany and France are among the European countries that have signaled they will not respond to Trump's calls to help secure the vital shipping lane.

Dmitriev's comments apparently aim to drive a deeper wedge between the US and Europe, which have already displayed differences over Ukraine.

IRAN CONFLICT
GUARDIAN: UK OFFICIAL CITES IRAN PEACE OFFER DAYS BEFORE ATTACK

A British newspaper has cited a U.K. official saying that Iran made a viable peace offer two days before the US-Israeli attack.

The Guardian on Tuesday reported that Britain's national security adviser Jonathan Powell took part in the talks with Iranian officials in Geneva on February 26.

Powell judged that an offer made by Tehran was significant enough to prevent a rush to war.

The Guardian cited sources close to the matter, who explained that Iran agreed to having no stockpiles of highly enriched uranium built up in the future.

Nearly 80 percent of the economic sanctions on Iran would have been lifted under the proposed deal.

The paper reported that U.K. officials explained they were impressed that Iran proposed a permanent agreement.

The paper said Powell believed the path remained open to a negotiated solution.

Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi of Oman, which mediated US-Iran talks, also noted that progress was made in the talks. He has been calling for a diplomatic solution.

The Guardian quoted one Gulf diplomat with knowledge of the talks, saying, We regarded US special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner as Israeli assets that dragged the president into a war he wants to get out of.

TAKAICHI TO VISIT US FOR SUMMIT WITH TRUMP

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is set to travel to the US for talks with President Trump on Thursday. Takaichi will depart Japan for Washington on Wednesday evening.

It will be her first trip to the US since she took office.

00:07:29 話者 4/Takaichi Sanae

I will meet President Trump as the situation changes every day and US messages change.

I will focus on maximizing Japan's national interests and protecting the lives of our people.

I'd like to hold thorough discussions on national security as well as economic issues, including economic security.

00:07:58 話者 1

Attention is focused on how she will respond to the situation in the Middle East.

As for the potential demand to send ships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz,

Takaichi had this to say:.

00:08:10 話者 4

I intend to make it clear that, under Japanese law, what can be done will be done, but what cannot be done will not be done.

00:08:20 話者 1

The prime minister also plans to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-US alliance.

She hopes to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of fields.

ALASKAN OIL LIKELY ON JAPAN-US SUMMIT AGENDA

Takaichi is also expected to tell the US president that Tokyo intends to cooperate on crude oil production in Alaska.

Sources say the Japanese government will use the upcoming summit to express its intention to help boost oil output in the northernmost US state.

Japan will also ask that the increased production be exported to Japan.

Japan seeks to diversify oil supplies amid growing concern that escalating conflict in Iran poses a threat to oil flows. The country relies heavily on the Middle East for crude oil.

JAPAN DEAL WITH US MAY INCLUDE NUCLEAR REACTORS

Separately, Tokyo and Washington have been discussing a second round of investments under an agreement last year to plough 550 billion dollars into the US.

The projects currently under discussion are worth up to 73 billion dollars.

Sources say a joint statement, including three candidate plans, will be released to coincide with the summit meeting.

Natural gas power generation plants in Pennsylvania and Texas are expected to be on the list of possible investments.

Another project is likely to involve small modular nuclear reactors in Tennessee and elsewhere.

ANALYSIS: WHAT'S NEXT IN THE IRAN CONFLICT?

So more than two weeks have passed since the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran.

How does US President Donald Trump intend to bring this military campaign to an end?

And how is Iran likely to respond going forward?

NHK World's Takemura Tomomasa spoke with experts on both sides to assess the outlook.

00:10:13 話者 5/Takemura Tomomasa

Former US Marine Mark Cancian is a senior advisor at the US think tank CSIS, the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He points out that there were two developments in this conflict that came as a surprise for the United States.

00:10:31 話者 12/Mark Cancian

On the military side is that the Iranians have been able to shut the Straits of Hormuz.

The United States did not expect that. On a political side, I think that the resilience of the Iranian regime has been a surprise after so much of the leadership was killed.

The United States expected that they might be more flexible on negotiations.

So far, that's not the case.

00:11:01 話者 5

Meanwhile, President Trump has changed his stance when it comes to requesting help.

He says he no longer needs other nations to send vessels to the Strait of Hormuz.

Cancian points out that there were two main reasons he originally asked for this.

First, these countries could provide additional power and possess highly advanced mine-sweeping expertise.

Second, having many nations participate in the operation helps frame it not as unilateral action by the United States. but as an international effort to secure the strait.

Against this backdrop, Japan-US summit talks are scheduled to begin Thursday, US time.

Cancian says any US request to help secure the strait would pose extremely difficult challenges for Japan.

00:11:56 話者 12

Although escorting ships is defensive, inevitably there will be an offensive element that is the ships will be shooting back at Iranian forces, maybe shooting at forces on the mainland, at least shooting at drones and naval vessels.

So Japan or any other coalition partner would become a participant in the war.

00:12:31 話者 5

So does the United States have an exit strategy to bring the conflict to an end?

And how long could that take?

00:12:40 話者 12

I would say that at the end of three weeks, we will be in a different position and maybe the war will end.

And when I say a different position, the Marines will be there and maybe the streets will be open, maybe the Marines will have seized an island, but we will be in a different position.

00:13:00 話者 5

Meanwhile, Iranian affairs expert Saito Masamichi says the timing of when Iran chooses to pivot toward ending the conflict will be crucial.

00:13:17 話者 3/Saito Masamichi

Iran is now using ballistic missiles, but it appears to be saving some.

Before the war, it was estimated that the country possessed about 80,000 drones.

Iran has effectively used the cheap drones to attack Gulf nations and Israel.

On the other hand, the burden is heavy for Iran.

If this situation continues, military personnel and senior officials who support the Iranian regime may break away from the current regime.

They will monitor the situation and try to find a move toward a ceasefire at some point while keeping an eye on the actions of the US.

00:14:26 話者 5

If the conflict drags on, there could be major repercussions for the global economy.

The critical question is how to find a political exit strategy, not just a military one.

The situation has now reached a decisive and highly consequential phase.

Takemura Tomomasa, NHK World.

BUSINESS

00:14:50 話者 1

And now let's look at what's happening in the world of business.

Here's our Ramin Mellegard from our business desk.

00:14:57 話者 6/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN'S AVERAGE GASOLINE PRICE HITS RECORD HIGH

Now, gasoline prices at the pump in Japan have hit a record high amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.

The Oil Information Center says as of Monday, a liter of regular gasoline averaged 190.8 yen or $1.20 per liter.

That was up 18% from a week earlier and the fifth straight week of increase.

It is also the highest price since 1990 when the survey began in its current four.

A government initiative to keep the retail price of gasoline at around 170 yen per liter will start with fuel to be shipped out on Thursday.

The effect is expected to be reflected at the pump in one to two weeks.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN'S TRUCKING FIRMS FACE TIGHT FUEL SUPPLIES

Japanese trucking firms are now feeling the pinch at the pump as the escalating Iran conflict is restricting fuel supplies.

Trucking firm Toshin Sangyo, based in Kobe, western Japan, buys wholesale diesel fuel and fills the tanks of its roughly 200 trucks on its premises.

But the bill from the wholesaler has no deliveries listed for the next few weeks.

00:16:13 話者 24/Yoshioka Satoshi/Toshin Sangyo

We order the same amount for every week, but blanks in the bill mean that orders can't be placed. Cancellation would require us to refuel our vehicles at regular gas stations outside.

00:16:27 話者 6

The company executive says the firm is now looking at a nearly 40 percent rise in its monthly fuel bill.

Higher diesel fuel prices also raise the cost.

Transport Minister Kanako Yasushi says he aims to address such cases and draft appropriate measures.

00:16:47 話者 26/Kaneko Yasushi/Japanese Transport Minister

I heard that some oil wholesalers are halting or limiting diesel fuel deliveries to large-volume clients making it hard for these buyers to obtain the fuel.

00:17:00 話者 6

The transport minister also points out that the maritime shipping sector is facing similar sales restrictions for heavy oil.

JAPAN'S EXPORTS TO US FALL FOR 3RD STRAIGHT MONTH

And Japan's exports to the United States fell in February for the third straight month.

It was a sign of the ongoing impact of tariffs imposed by the administration of Donald Trump.

The finance ministry says shipments bound for the US stood at 1.75 trillion yen, or $11 billion. That was down 8% from a year earlier.

Autos declined nearly 15%, while auto parts dropped almost 16%.

Pharmaceuticals tumbled a hefty 58%.

Now, meanwhile, imports from China grew by more than 35%, the seventh straight month of gains.

Overall, Japan managed to post a trade surplus of $360 million, but that was down almost 90% in yen terms from February last year.

BOJ LIKELY TO HOLD RATES STEADY AS IRAN CONFLICT DRAGS ON

Policymakers at the Bank of Japan will likely keep interest rates unchanged at a two-day meeting starting on Wednesday.

They will be focused on the economic impact of the worsening situation with Iran.

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz is fueling worries about rising crude oil prices and stable supply. Prices of NAFTA are also going up as it is derived from oil.

Some BOJ officials have expressed concern the high prices of oil products could push up other prices and hurt the economy.

Financial markets have also been showing instability.

The Japanese yen has been weakening, with traders selling in favor of dollars.

Given the circumstances, Japanese central bankers are likely to keep their current monetary policy unchanged while taking stock of the effects of their previous rate increase. They last raised the policy rate three months ago to around 0.75%.

Policymakers have indicated plans to raise rates gradually, but that could be called into question as the Iran conflict raises various uncertainties.

NVIDIA TO DEVELOP CHIPS FOR AI INFERENCE

US semiconductor giant Nvidia has unveiled plans to develop chips that improve AI inference capabilities. The company will begin shipments in the latter half of the year.

CEO Jensen Hong made the announcement at a developer's event.

Inference describes the process in which AI decides on its next action based on what it has previously learned.

It is said to be crucial to the development of AI agents that can operate independently in place of humans.

00:19:49 話者 36/Jensen Huang/CEO, Nvidia

Finally, AI is able to do productive work, and therefore, the inflection point of inference has arrived. 

AI now has to think. In order to think, it has to inference.

00:20:06 話者 6

Huang says rapid AI development is driving strong semiconductor demand. He says he expects sales of the most advanced chips to total at least $1 trillion by the end of 2027.

MARKERS

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for business news.

RUBIO: CUBA NEEDS 'NEW PEOPLE IN CHARGE'

00:21:05 話者 1

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Cuba's economy is non-functional and that the country has to change dramatically.

00:21:15 話者 43/Marco Rubio

Cuba has an economy that doesn't work and a political and governmental system that can't fix it.

The people in charge, they don't know how to fix it, so they have to get new people in charge. That's what has to happen.

00:21:25 話者 1

His remarks came after the Cuban government said it would allow nationals living abroad to invest in the island's infrastructure in energy and other sectors.

But Rubio said that announcement was not dramatic enough and was not going to fix the situation.

The Caribbean socialist nation has been facing serious fuel shortages and regular blackouts as the United States has stepped up pressure.

This includes cutting off financial flows as well as oil supplies from Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration may take action against Cuba after military operations in Iran come to an end.

Trump said on Monday he could free it, take it, or do anything he wants with Cuba.

He has repeatedly called for more steps, while hinting at the use of military force.

RUSSIA: JETS WITH HYPERSONIC MISSILES FLEW OVER SEA OF JAPAN

Russia's defense ministry says Russian fighter jets carrying Kinzhal missiles flew over international waters in the Sea of Japan.

Moscow says the Kinzhal is a hypersonic weapon.

The ministry said on Tuesday that MiG-31 aircraft armed with the missiles conducted a planned flight. It's unusual for Russia to make such an announcement.

This video shows an aerial refueling tanker connecting a fuel hose to a fighter jet.

The defense ministry says the flights were carried out in strict accordance with international law.

The Kinzhal missile is one of six new weapons announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. Russia says it has a maximum speed of Mach 10.

Russian forces have said they used Kinzhal missiles to strike a Ukrainian military facility in March 2022 and have since used it frequently to attack Ukraine.

Observers believe Russia is showing off the cutting-edge combat weapon to keep Japan and the US in check.

♪

WEATHER

Now let's check on the world weather with our meteorologist, Sayaka Mori.

So, Sayaka, spring around Japan means Sakura season.

How are things looking right now?

00:24:06 話者 7/Sayaka Mori

Hello there. The cherry blossom season is underway in Japan.

We are here with parts of the first bloom in parts of western and central Japan.

So the question is, who will be the next? It's likely to be Tokyo.

We are expecting the first bloom on Thursday in Tokyo.

By the way, the first bloom means more than five flowers are open on a sample tree.

And as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, there are a couple.

So the sakura season is just around the corner for Tokyo.

And we are seeing some rain developing as well across parts of Japan.

below and the attached front. This is a relatively fast mover.

It's moving at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour, so rain will likely affect Tokyo, but that should taper off by tomorrow morning.

Now another storm will produce some snowfall across portions of Hokkaido and Sapporo could see snow on Friday.

And Tokyo will see unusually warm conditions on Thursday, 21 for the high, about 5 degrees higher than normal.

And look at this, Taipei is cooler than Tokyo with a high of 19 degrees with rain in the forecast for this area.

Now, I want to draw your attention to the Mediterranean. You can see the spinning clouds.

This is often called the Medicane, so Mediterranean hurricane, but it's not a hurricane.

It's the hybrid system.

We have a cold air a lot and it's cut off from the jet stream, so it's moving quite slowly.

We are hearing reports of strong winds over Tunisia, as well as heavy rainfall in the south of Italy. More than 100 millimeters of rain fell in just five hours.

The system will continue to spin over the Mediterranean, so severe weather conditions will continue across this area. And then we have another system to talk about.

This is Teresa, a low pressure system that is affecting the Iberian Peninsula that will bring strong winds, damaging winds, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms for low-lying areas and mountain areas could see snowfall.

Elsewhere, a couple of highs will bring sunny and warm conditions.

Whether it's going to be May-like in Paris as well as London on Wednesday.

That's it for me. Stay safe.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

ROBOT SOCCER TOURNAMENT HELD IN CENTRAL JAPAN

00:26:35 話者 1

And before we go, Palais, Maradona, and now Cristiano Roboto.

Engineering students from across Japan have gathered for a unique soccer tournament featuring mechanical players.

The event in Susono City, Shizuoku Prefecture, was organized by a robotics company and other organizations.

It featured robots designed to support people with disabilities that make it hard for them to go outside.

The robots were equipped with cameras and microphones, and were controlled remotely by tablet devices.

Students from the National Institute of Technology, Numazu College, played against a team that included a housebound person who joined from home.

00:27:24 話者 3

It was a good time. I want to help people with disabilities in the future.

00:27:35 話者 1

And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline.

Thank you very much for watching and hope you join us again.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), March 17

20260317180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:10 話者 1/Yoko Nishimura

Welcome to NHK NewsLine. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo with the latest news.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP SLAMS RESPONSE OF ALLIES TO CALL FOR HELP ON HORMUZ

US President Donald Trump has expressed displeasure with some US allies over their responses to his request for help to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has been enforcing a de facto closure of the major oil shipping route in response to US and Israeli attacks.

Trump told reporters on Monday the United States has tens of thousands of troops in Japan, South Korea and Germany.

00:00:42 話者 10/Donald Trump

We defend all these countries. And then do you have any minesweepers?

And they say, well, would it be possible for us not to get involved?

00:00:54 話者 1

Trump also criticized NATO. He claimed the US spends trillions of dollars defending its NATO allies, but he has long doubted if they would defend the US in return.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the UK will not be drawn into a wider war in Iran, but he says he will work with allies on a viable plan to reopen the strait.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Berlin will not send ships or be involved in military operations by the US and Israel.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru says nothing has been decided regarding the dispatch of the country's Self-Defense Forces.

00:01:38 話者 2/Kihara Minoru

There has been no specific request from the US for Japan to dispatch ships, including in the phone talks between Japan and US defense ministers on Sunday.

00:01:50 話者 1

A senior official in the South Korean presidential office says the US and South Korea will take time to discuss and carefully decide whether to send ships.

Trump has also said he hopes China will send ships.

China's foreign ministry has not made the country's position clear on the matter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abba Sarakchi says the strait is open.

He says it's only closed to those who have carried out what he calls unfair aggression and Iran's enemies.

IRAN CONFLICT
EX-IRGC COMMANDER WARNS JAPAN OVER ESCORT PLAN

A former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has a warning for Japan.

He says Japanese vessels could face danger if they are sent to secure the Strait of Hormuz at the request of the United States.

Hossein Kanani Mogadam spoke to NHK in an online interview from Tehran.

00:02:45 話者 11/Hossein Kanani Moghaddam/Former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Iran has placed mines on the seabed that can be detonated by remote control.

Mine sweeping is not really applicable and Japanese vessels will be exposed to danger.

00:03:00 話者 1

The former commander also says US bases in Japan will be targeted if they are used to launch attacks on his country.

He suggested Japanese commercial vessels would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, as long as Tokyo does not support the US military operation.

IRAN CONFLICT
ATTACKS CONTINUE ACROSS MIDDLE EAST

Meanwhile, the US and Israel continue to launch further attacks against Iran, and Tehran is vowing to fight to the bitter end.

US Central Command says it's destroyed over 100 Iranian naval vessels.

CENTCOM says it will continue to deplete Iran's ability to threaten navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

It also says US forces attacked Iran's Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf on Friday.

They say they have destroyed more than 90 military targets, including storage bunkers for naval mines and missiles. The island serves as a key oil export hub for Iran.

Pipelines from oil fields across Iran are connected to the island's facilities.

The Israeli military says it's launched a wide-scale wave of strikes against Tehran and other cities. It says the strikes are targeted at the regime's infrastructure.

It also says the Israeli Air Force destroyed a compound in Tehran, which was used to develop satellite attack capabilities.

An Israeli media outlet says debris from the missile interceptions hit a building in Jerusalem.

Iranian state-run media released a post from the new Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei.

It's his second official statement since taking on the role, and once again, it does not contain his image.

He calls for officials appointed by his father, the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to continue to carry out his father's orders and policies.

IRAN CONFLICT
UN RAPPORTEUR CONDEMNS US-ISRAELI STRIKES AS 'UNLAWFUL'

A UN expert has condemned the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

She made the comments during a briefing on the situation in the country to the UN Human Rights Council.

The strikes remain unlawful, no matter the assumed or stated objectives of those strikes.

She also criticized the government in Iran for restricting internet access.

She said this has cut off people from information and connectivity.

Sato added the reported absence of bomb shelters adds to concerns about civilian safety.

She told reporters after the meeting that she was deeply concerned the war has exacerbated the already poor human rights situation in the country.

TALIBAN: 400 KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE ON KABUL HOSPITAL

Afghanistan's interim Taliban government says a Pakistani airstrike on a hospital in Kabul has left at least 400 people dead and about 250 others wounded.

A Taliban spokesperson says the attack took place Monday night at a hospital in the Afghan capital dedicated to treating drug addiction.

He condemned the attack, saying many of the victims were innocent civilians.

Pakistan denied targeting a hospital.

Authorities said the country's forces struck Taliban military installations.

They claim the facilities housed technical equipment and ammunition being used against Pakistani civilians.

Clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban erupted last October over cross-border terror attacks, leading to many civilian casualties.

Both sides agreed on an immediate ceasefire, but fighting resumed last month and has been escalating.

KUMAMOTO GOVERNOR, MAYOR BRIEFED ON NEW MISSILE DEPLOYMENT

Japan's defense ministry has briefed the local governor and a mayor in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto on an extended-range anti-ship missile deployment to a Ground Self-Defense Force camp.

The ministry plans to deploy the upgraded Type 12 surface-to-ship missile at Camp Kangun in Kumamoto City on March 31.

With an extended range of about 1,000 kilometers, it will be part of Japan's counter-strike capabilities.

On Tuesday, Kumamoto Governor Kimura Takashi and Kumamoto City Mayor Onishi Kazufumi were among those invited to the camp.

They were briefed by officials of the Kyushu Defense Bureau on the reasons for the deployment of the upgraded missile, and inspected the launchers and other equipment.

Governor Kimura said that he and the mayor asked the government to provide detailed explanations to ease residents' concerns.

00:07:41 話者 12/Governor Kimura

I think if a thorough explanation is given to the people in the prefecture based on the fundamental premise that the deployment is to strengthen deterrence to prevent an attack from enemy countries, their understanding will deepen.

00:07:53 話者 1

Representatives of local residents' associations and shopping districts were also invited to the camp on Tuesday afternoon for briefings.

FIVE UNITS OF LIFE'S GENETIC CODE FOUND IN ASTEROID SAMPLE

A team of Japanese scientists say they've identified all five nucleobases that make up DNA and RNA in samples brought back from a distant asteroid.

The researchers from the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology analyzed organic matter extracted from about 20 milligrams of the samples.

Japan's space probe Hayabusa-2 collected the samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

The same nucleobases were also found in material that was retrieved by a NASA probe from a different asteroid.

00:08:40 話者 4/Koga Toshiki/JAMSTEC Biogeochemistry Research Center

Our finding makes it more certain that the nuclear bases were universally generated in the formation process of the solar system.

00:08:49 話者 1

The researchers say the discoveries from the two separate asteroids suggest that these basic building blocks of life may be widespread throughout the solar system.

BUSINESS

And now for business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.

00:09:04 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

JAPAN CABINET APPROVES DRAFT ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT SCREENING

Now, Japan's cabinet has approved a draft amendment to tighten screening of investments from abroad.

The government aims to set up a body similar to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

The Cabinet on Tuesday signed off on a revision to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.

The current law requires overseas investors to give the government notice when buying shares of Japanese companies in certain sectors.

The draft would extend the mandate to purchases by Japan-based investors deemed to be under the influence of a foreign government or a state-owned firm.

Notification would be also required when overseas investors acquire shares in foreign companies with stakes in Japanese businesses.

In addition, the revision calls for strengthened cooperation among entities such as the Finance Ministry and National Security Secretariat.

The government aims to have the draft bill passed into law during the current diet session through July.

IRAN CONFLICT
MAJOR JAPANESE CONTAINER SHIP FIRM TO ADD FUEL SURCHARGE

A major Japanese container ship operator says it will introduce an emergency fuel surcharge from March 24. The move comes amid surging crude oil prices.

Ocean Network Express owns about 260 container ships.

It's jointly funded by three Japanese shipping firms, NYK Line, Mitsui OSK Lines, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.

The operator says the surcharge will range from $80 to $210 per TEU or standard 20-foot container. The price depends on the cargo and shipping distance.

The company says fuel costs have spiked and the surcharge is a contingency measure.

It says the duration of the measure is uncertain as it depends on the situation in Iran.

The introduction of the surcharge means higher shipping costs for cargo owners, which could push up prices of many different items.

Makers of oil-related products in Japan are starting to take measures as the mounting tension in the Middle East affects their business.

Some are concerned about the supply of nafta.

The raw material comes from crude oil and is used in various petroleum products.

A potential shortage has prompted leading oil wholesaler, Idemitsu Kosan, to start cutting output of ethylene at two of its domestic sites.

Ethylene is a key material for many plastics, and its production includes naphtha.

The company says it's making efforts to ensure stable supply of naphtha by anticipating every possible situation.

Now, two other firms, Mitsubishi Chemical and Mitsui Chemicals, have also started cutting production of ethylene.

Japan's Industry Minister Akazawa Ryosei said on Tuesday he sees no immediate supply and demand problem for NAFTA.

00:12:17 話者 23/Akazawa Ryosei

Japanese companies have been pursuing ways to procure NAFTA from areas other than the Middle East.

00:12:23 話者 5

Akazawa says the country is also seeking to source the material from the United States and South America, as well as from domestic refining.

JAPANESE PREFECTURE LOOKS TO SPARK BAMBOO BOOM

Now, bamboo spreads across Asia, South America, and Africa.

It's known for growing fast and tall, but in parts of Japan, that can be a negative.

Overgrown and neglected groves invade farmland, forests, and residential areas, damaging ecosystems and risking landslides.

The western prefecture of Yamaguchi is working to manage its bamboo resources and spark business opportunities.

00:13:05 話者 2/Narrator: Marcus Pittman

In Yamaguchi Prefecture, the encroachment of bamboo is causing headaches for orange farmers. The citrus trees are in the shadow of the towering plants even on this sunny day.

Because of this, some of the oranges don't turn sweet and have to be discarded.

The bamboo also draws wild boars seeking out hiding places.

they wreak havoc on the fields.

00:13:36 話者 23/Kadoi Masayuki/Farmer

Bamboo is the enemy, pure and simple. 

Honestly, I don't think we can handle it on our own.

00:13:44 話者 2

Yamaguchi has the fourth largest area of bamboo growth in Japan.

It has started training people in forest management to minimize such damage.

This is a session held last year. 

Participants spent six days learning cutting and other techniques.

So far, 25 people have been certified as bamboo forest management meisters.

The prefecture also established Japan's first bamboo market facilities last year at two locations. Only the meisters can sell there.

00:14:21 話者 25/Sueda Akio/Bamboo Forest Management Meister

Before, even if we cut bamboo, there was almost nowhere to sell it.

We just left the cut bamboo in the bamboo.

Now, since we can sell it in the market, the cut areas will look clean.

I think this is a really good situation.

00:14:39 話者 2

By limiting the sellers and setting prices, officials aim to encourage fair trade.

Their efforts seek to transform a negative legacy into an asset.

00:14:51 話者 27/Kawamura Shota/Yamaguchi Pref. official

We frequently heard from bamboo grove owners that even if they cut bamboo, they didn't know where to sell it. We want to effectively match owners with buyers.

00:15:05 話者 2

So what happens to the bamboo after it's sold?

Tazawa Etsuko is one of the buyers.

Her company manufactures and sells products based on the forest resource.

They include towels made from the plant's fiber, as well as detergents and insect repellent using bamboo extracts.

For about five years, she has been exporting to Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Peru. Annual export sales are about $100,000.

The company needs over 500 stalks a day, but previously struggled to secure a stable supply. She sees her business model extending to any place bamboo is found.

00:15:54 話者 29/Tazawa Etsuko/President, Ethical Bamboo

For manufacturers, local markets are incredibly important because they can use locally sourced bamboo as raw material.

If local people can bring in materials and sell them at the market, it becomes easier to establish a stable production schedule.

00:16:14 話者 2

Tozawa was invited to India to give a lecture on bamboo business last year. Evidence that eco-friendly initiatives from one rural area in Japan are beginning to spread globally.

MARKETS

00:16:29 話者 5

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for Business News.

IN FOCUS

00:17:07 話者 1

Next, let's go to Shibiya Aki for Newsline in Focus. She has a story about how Russia's youth are voicing their concerns about the current situation in the country.

ANTI-WAR SONGS RESONATE WITH RUSSIA'S YOUTH

00:17:18 話者 6/Shibiya Aki

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine drags on, rumblings of discontent are becoming louder among the younger generations.

The government has also designated individuals and organizations critical of it as foreign agents effectively as spies.

At the same time, the authorities are tightening their grip on free speech suppressing gatherings against the invasion, and even punishing people for what it considers negative social media posts.

These are the circumstances in which one 19-year-old musician has been singing her anti-war songs on the streets.

And ordinary Russians are listening, spreading solidarity in support of freedom.

00:18:16 話者 4/Narrator: Robert Jefferson

This is Naoko. The 19-year-old musician took her name from a character in Lodakami Haruki's novel, Norwegian Wood.

Naoko focuses on songs by musicians who have fled abroad and been labeled foreign agents by the government.

Musical protests began drawing attention within Russia last summer.

Mass sing-alongs by young people started to spread across the country.

00:19:14 話者 41/Naoko/Musician

For me, singing is a way to express my feelings and my position through music rather than speech.

00:19:37 話者 4

Greb Vasilia is also a street musician. As censorship intensified, he says Naoko's performances offered special meaning to young people.

00:19:53 話者 43/Greb Vasiliev/Musician

I'm surprised myself, but the more things are banned, the stronger people's feelings become.

We listened to Naoko's songs as a reflection of our complex emotions, our fears, suspicions, hopes, and more.

According to independent polling agency Levada Center, which has itself been branded a foreign agent, support for the Ukraine invasion exceeds 80% among those aged 55 and older.

But when it comes to people 25 and below, It's just 66 percent.

00:20:36 話者 42/Lev Gudkov/Academic supervisor, Levada-Center

Anti-war sentiment is extremely high among young people in the big cities.

Anti-war messages are widely accepted, especially within youth culture and subculture.

00:20:55 話者 4

That feeling was fueled to even greater heights last October, when Naoko and her band were arrested. The charges included holding an unauthorized gathering.

Outraged supporters posted countless messages protesting her detention.

Many took the bold step of revealing their faces.

(Russian)

00:21:27 話者 4

Street musicians joined the fray too, bringing their voices to the same songs Naoko played. The movement gathered pace, despite the risk from above.

No more champagne.

And 39 days after being detained, Naoko was released from custody.

She left immediately for neighboring Lithuania, where she continues to play her music.

00:22:46 話者 41

I believe that every person has the right to express themselves, not only through art, but also directly.

That is why I call on you not to be afraid and to do what you believe is right for yourself and for your family.

00:23:10 話者 6

We've just seen the risk that speaking out can pose, and four years into the conflict, social media restrictions continue to tighten, making it increasingly difficult for people to connect with each other.

Alongside the mounting frustration, there is also the possibility of further call-ups to the army this year.

The question now is, will activists such as Naoko be able to make their feelings heard even more widely?

At present, it seems the protest movement could be gaining momentum.

And that's all for me.

♪

WEATHER

00:24:11 話者 1

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.

So Jonathan, some parts of Japan are dealing with a serious lack of rainfall.

What can you tell us about the situation?

00:24:23 話者 7/Jonathan Oh

Hello, as we went through the day on Tuesday, it was a dry day and a sunny day, but the dry weather is adding to some problems that are taking place in parts of Japan.

Here's a look at some video that's coming out of Miya Prefecture, where for the first time since 2013, the National Japan Water Agency has placed a restriction on water use for those in the prefecture.

According to the agency, since July of last year, low rainfall has led to serious drought conditions, and as of last

Friday, total water levels in storage facilities fell to about half of what's normal.

The agency is calling for people to save water as much as possible.

We're going to be looking at the possibility of some wet weather coming in from the west.

And as it moves eastward, we may be talking about seeing some rainfall.

But when you have such a long period of drought and dry weather, it's going to take a little more than just a little bit of rain for things to be restored. But at least it is on the way.

So western areas of Japan picking up on the wet weather as we go into Wednesday.

A place like Fukuoka and Osako, we're seeing the rain.

Then we see Tokyo picking up on the rain action as we go into Thursday as we head into...

But Saturday, Friday and Saturday, we'll be seeing some drier weather that'll be coming into the pictures.

Sapporo, we picking up as a possibility of some snow on Thursday and Friday?

Speaking of snow, lots of it taking place up toward Canada and the northeastern portions of the United States as a cold front with a low pressure system pushes on through.

And that cold air is dipping way down toward the deep south of the United States.

Temperatures topping off at 8 in Atlanta.

Overnight lows at or even below freezing over the next couple of nights.

And look at this snow into Winnipeg and Toronto.

Meanwhile, 36 in Los Angeles. I mean, it's like the opposite situation as you go through Tuesday. So make sure you take care if you have to be outdoors.

Quick note on Europe. Low pressure down to the southern portions of the continent, bringing in some rain to places like Athens on Tuesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

And that's it for now on NHK Newsline.

I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.

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at 18:00 (JST), March 16

20260316180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Takao Minori

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.

TWO DEAD AFTER SHIPS CAPSIZE NEAR US BASE RELOCATION SITE

Two ships have capsized near the site of a US airbase relocation project in Okinawa, leaving two people dead. The majority of the passengers were high school students.

Japan Coast Guard officials say the accident occurred off the coast of the Henoko District in Nago City on Monday morning.

The ships have been used in protest against relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station from Ginowon City.

Twenty-one people were on board, including 18 high school students from Kyoto.

They were all thrown into the sea.

A 17-year-old student and the captain of one of the ships were treated at a hospital and later confirmed dead. Two other people are said to have sustained injuries.

An employee of the high school said the students are visiting Okinawa until Tuesday for a trip about peace studies.

The employee said one group was scheduled to visit the Henoko site by boat on Monday as part of the itinerary.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP ASKS COUNTRIES TO SEND NAVAL SUPPORT TO HORMUZ

US President Donald Trump is asking China, NATO, and others to send ships to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices have spiked around the world in recent weeks, since Iran's de facto closure of the vital trade route.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the Trump administration is expected to announce the formation of a coalition.

The newspaper cites officials who say the announcement could come as early as this week. Trump says he had contacted around seven countries about potential membership.

He earlier said online that he hopes countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK will send vessels to keep the strait open and safe.

Speaking to the Financial Times over the weekend, Trump said that China should provide support, noting that it gets 90 percent of its oil through the strait.

He says waiting until his planned meeting with his Chinese counterpart later this month would be too late, and he may postpone his trip to China.

Trump has also alluded to US allies in NATO. He says that if there's no response from them, it could be very bad for the future of the alliance.

00:02:29 話者 10/Donald Trump

We are talking to other countries about working with us for the policing of the strength.

We've had some positive response. We had a few that would rather not get involved.

00:02:43 話者 1

During an upper house meeting on Monday, Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae was asked how the government intends to respond.

She says Japan has not received a request yet, and that it is difficult to answer a hypothetical question.

00:02:58 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae

The government is considering how to secure the safety of ships and crew members and what can be done within the framework of Japanese law.

00:03:13 話者 1

Takaichi says nothing has been decided yet regarding the dispatch of destroyers.

She says serious discussions have been taking place across ministries in the past few days on what course of action Japan can take independently and legally.

British Secretary of State for Energy Security Ed Miliband tells the BBC that there are several ways Britain could contribute.

He says that includes the use of mine detection drones and he indicated that options are being considered with allies.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi tells CBS News that countries have been making contact asking for safe passage for their ships.

He says the matter is for the military to decide, but that groups of ships belonging to multiple countries are already being allowed to pass safely.

Arachi also says Iran has never called for a ceasefire nor sought negotiations.

Japan is moving to provide some relief for domestic oil prices.

BUSINESS

Let's hear more from our business teams. Ramin Mellegard.

00:04:18 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN STARTS RELEASING OIL FROM PRIVATE-SECTOR STOCKPILES

Now Japan started to release oil from private sector stockpiles on Monday in an attempt to stabilize supply. The fuel released amounts to 15 days of consumption.

Oil-related companies in Japan hold reserves equivalent to 70 days.

The government has a separate stockpile and is expected to release one month of supply later in March.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry says the number of tankers arriving in Japan could drop sharply from around Friday.

Member nations of the International Energy Agency agreed last week to release a record 410 million barrels of oil from reserves.

The IEA on Sunday said countries in Asia, Oceania, will release 108.6 million barrels immediately.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol says unprecedented additional volumes of oil will be brought to the market from March 16, but he stresses opening the Strait of Hormuz is vital for a return to stable flows.

CHINA'S ECONOMY SHOWS MIXED RESULTS FOR START OF YEAR

China's economy is showing mixed results for the start of the year.

The country reported solid growth in industrial output in the combined January and February period, but consumption was weak while a property market slump continues.

China's National Bureau statistics said on Monday that industrial production grew 6.3% from the same period last year.

That's faster than December's growth rate of 5.2%.

Retail sales also improved, but the relatively low 2.8% growth rate showed that consumers were still keeping their wallets closed.

Investment in real estate development sank just over 11 percent from a year ago.

Meanwhile, prices of new homes fell in 53 out of 70 major cities in February compared to January.

At a recent meeting of the country's legislature, the Chinese government vowed to place top priority this year on boosting domestic demand.

DEVICE KEEPS TABS ON JAPAN'S LITTER PROBLEM

Now, a startup in a popular tourist destination in western Japan has come up with a tool that may make the streets cleaner.

The device is a simple garbage grabber, but with a twist.

It's been fitted with AI technology capable of visualizing litter and analyzing the data.

00:06:44 話者 4

A demonstration of the device was held in front of Nara Station, which is always crowded with tourists.

00:06:52 話者 13

Please take up the tongs.

00:06:54 話者 4

The man behind the high-tech garbage collector is Tachibana Koki, who launched the startup while studying information communications technology at graduate school.

Tachibana's tongs are equipped with a small AI camera.

Artificial intelligence analyzes images of the trash being collected and then records the type of litter and the place where it was picked up. The data is then visualized.

00:07:28 話者 5

This is all the trash I collected.

00:07:32 話者 4

The tongues produce a sound that informs users they've been successful in picking up some trash.

00:07:41 話者 6

It feels rewarding to hear the sound.

00:07:44 話者 7

This is fun, almost like playing a game.

00:07:48 話者 4

The collected data can identify littering trends, including the type of trash that's being discarded and where more of it is thrown away.

On this particular day, all sorts of scraps of paper were found in a nearby park.

The municipal government intends to use the data to decide where to install trash cans.

00:08:14 話者 16/Omaki Ryosei/Nara prefectural government official

Until now, we've not been able to manage the hard data to monitor what types of litter is thrown out and where.

00:08:20 話者 4

The high-tech tongs have generated interest around the country and are now being leased out to other municipalities and entities.

The lease comes with access to the accumulated data collected by the devices.

After trying out the tongs, the municipal government of Osaka reviewed its cleanup route and succeeded in shortening the time needed for the job.

Tachibana is pleased with the interest his tongs have generated, but he hopes to use the collected information on a larger scale.

00:08:57 話者 14/Tachibana Koki/Student, Nara Institute of Science and Technology

I believe that we can fundamentally solve environmental problems from the route if we can collect large amounts of data.

00:09:06 話者 4

The strategic removal of litter from Japan's streets has already begun producing results.

The high-tech tongs are not only gathering small bits of litter, but vital data that will be used to address bigger challenges.

MARKETS

00:09:23 話者 3

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for Business News.

'TAYLOR LIBRARY' HONORS AMERICAN TEACHER KILLED IN 2011 TSUNAMI

00:10:01 話者 1

Taylor Anderson lost her life in Miyagi Prefecture's Ishinomaki City when the great East Japan earthquake struck in 2011.

The American book lover was working as an assistant English teacher at that time and was adored by her students.

In memory of her death, her father established the Taylor Library, where students now learn about the importance of disaster preparedness.

NHK World's Yamada Nana reports.

00:10:29 話者 5/Yamada Nana

Taylor's father, Andy Anderson, established a Taylor Library.

It is named after his daughter, Taylor.

00:10:40 話者 8/Andy Anderson

A lot of these books, we gave them a list of what she liked when she was a kid.

00:10:46 話者 5

Taylor worked as an assistant language teacher at an elementary school in Ishinomaki City. She was at the school on the day of the disaster.

She went home to get her mobile phone to let her family in the US know she was safe.

But Taylor was caught and swept away by the tsunami. She was just 24 years old.

Andy wanted to preserve the memory of his daughter and her love of books.

He used donations collected in both Japan and the United States.

Taylor Libraries have now been established at 40 institutions, including elementary and junior high schools.

00:11:31 話者 8

Taylor learned about the world through books, and that got her to start to explore and have dreams that she pursued. I feel like I'm closer to her when I'm here.

00:11:50 話者 5

Kimura Emiko, an English teacher at a junior high school in Tokyo, came to visit an elementary school that has a Taylor Library.

Kimura listened as school staff members described what they experienced during the disaster.

00:12:07 話者 15/Kimura Emiko/Teacher

Just standing here brings up so many emotions.

Okay, let's start. Good morning, everyone.

00:12:20 話者 5

Kimura conducted a class about disaster preparedness and told her students about the Taylor Library.

I want you to strive to become disaster prevention experts in both English and Japanese.

Kimura told her students about the elementary school that houses the library.

She explained kids there learn about the terrifying tsunami that took Taylor's life.

At the end of the lesson, the students wrote messages to Taylor's father.

00:12:55 話者 18

We must never forget that this happened, and we really need to learn about disaster preparedness.

00:13:06 話者 5

Andy visited a park in Ishinomaki City on March 11. 

There is a memorial to his daughter at the park.

It is the first time he has been to Ishinomaki on March 11.

00:13:20 話者 8

We always wanted to avoid March 11. We felt it would be hard to be here on March 11.

(Japanese)

We look forward to being with you again someday. And we are living our dream like you'd want us to. That's what I tell her.

00:13:52 話者 5

Kimura came from Tokyo to visit Andy that evening.

00:13:58 話者 8

Hello.

00:13:58 話者 15

Hello, Andy.

00:14:00 話者 5

She wanted to hand Andy letters and let him know her students truly admire him for establishing such a meaningful memorial to his daughter.

00:14:09 話者 15

These are the message from my students.

00:14:11 話者 8

Thank you. So they're all junior high school, third year, because that's why they're taking the third year. So this is their handwriting.

00:14:19 話者 15

Oh yes, handwriting.

00:14:20 話者 8

I love that we want to become a warm-hearted person like your daughter.

Yeah.

It's sweet. I hope that they would see that story and take it more seriously than they might otherwise, and to think that it really is real and it really affects people's lives.

00:14:39 話者 1

Well, earlier I spoke to Yamada Nana, who covered the story.

She was at the Taylor Library in an elementary school in Ishinomaki City.

Nana tells us more about how this library was first established.

00:14:56 話者 5

I am in the elementary school where Taylor was actually teaching English 15 years ago.

This library was first set up here six months after the disaster.

When it was created, there were 40 books, but now the library stores more than 1,400.

That's thanks to a fund set up by Taylor's parents.

Although most of the books are in English, I want you to look at here.

Some of them have Japanese translation on them.

That work was done by local volunteers so that all the kids could enjoy the books.

I should note, the bookshelves here have a special meaning too.

They were made by a local carpenter named Endo Shinichi.

The project was deeply personal to him because he lost three of his children to the tsunami. They were also Taylor's students at that time.

So for Endo, helping with the library helped return meaning to his life after such a dark period.

00:16:05 話者 1

Right, well, what does the Taylor Library mean to the children?

00:16:12 話者 5

I'd say it's like a link that connects children to the world.

Taylor expanded her own world through reading books which eventually landed her in Japan.

She apparently wanted to work as a bridge between Japan and the United States.

For some kids, the Taylor Library may be the first opportunity to read English books.

Taylor's father hopes they might help the children envision what different worlds look like and pursue their dreams like Taylor once did.

00:16:45 話者 1

Now, what role does this library play in terms of disaster preparedness?

00:16:52 話者 5

I think it will play an important role to educate children on the dangers of tsunami and how vital it is for us to be well prepared for any disasters.

A teacher at school told me because these students never experienced the disaster themselves, telling them about Taylor's story is a crucial reminder.

IN FOCUS

00:17:18 話者 1

We now go to my colleague Shibuya Aki for Newsline in Focus.

She's following a young Ukrainian sumo wrestler with big dreams.

00:17:27 話者 7/Shibuya Aki

The spring grand sumo tournament is heating up.

One wrestler drawing attention is Aonishiki.

The Ukrainian has climbed from the lowest division to sumo's second highest rank of ozeki, faster than any wrestler since 1958.

Among Ukrainians, Aonishiki is a national treasure.

But today, we're spotlighting another young sumo wrestler from Ukraine.

Inspired by his countryman's remarkable rise, he dreams of becoming just like Aonishiki, training every day with passion and determination.

00:18:07 話者 6

This international sumo tournament, held in Tokyo in February, brought together about 1,700 amateur wrestlers from 19 countries and regions.

Among the competitors were six wrestlers from Ukraine, aged 10 to 14.

They included 11-year-old Vladyslav Stavitskii.

Even after Russia began its invasion of his country, Vladyslav kept on training.

He's now competing on the international stage.

00:18:39 話者 9/Vladyslav Stavitskii

It's great. I feel like this is a world-class tournament for young sumo wrestlers.

00:18:48 話者 6

About 10 days before the competition, Vladyslav and his teammates arrived in Ehime Prefecture, Western Japan. They went to Seiyo City to join a training camp.

The Sumo Federation of Ukraine began interacting with the city four years ago.

Since young Ukrainian wrestlers were unable to train for the tournament in their country due to the invasion, the city invited them to practice here.

One Ukrainian taking part in the camp in 2022 was the future star Aonishiki, who had evacuated to Japan.

00:19:51 話者 9

I want to be like Aonishiki in the future. He has been training so hard for many years.

00:20:06 話者 6

Vladislav started Sumo at the age of three.

He says he became interested in the sport because his mother watched it on TV.

Just as he was committing foley to sumo, Russia launched its invasion.

The Stavitsky family was forced to flee the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk, one of the fiercest battle zones.

They now live in a suburb of the capital Kyiv, but apart from Vladislav's father, who is serving as a soldier.

It wasn't until nearly two years after the start of the invasion that Vladislav's Sumo Club members were able to retrieve their practice mat from their hometown.

At the training camp in Japan, the Ukrainians practiced with local junior high school students who had competed at the national level.

00:21:13 話者 9

I'm grateful and proud to be here in Japan, training with young Japanese wrestlers.

00:21:24 話者 6

Vladislav also received guidance from a Japanese sumo club's head coach on how to position his arms.

00:21:36 話者 19

Sumo wrestlers with a background in wrestling often keep their arms like this.

But that lets opponents gain control. Keep your arms down.

00:21:45 話者 6

They also learn training methods using a pole, called teppo, as well as ways to practice hari-te, or slapping drills, on a wall.

The Ukrainians can do the exercises even after returning to their country.

00:22:02 話者 9

I want to reach the final and win the championship to prove what I can do.

00:22:09 話者 6

On the day of the tournament, Vladislav competes in the 5th grade division.

He warms up with shiko, or foot stamping, and shows a focused, determined attitude.

Finally, it's his turn. He wins his first match with one of his signature powerful throws.

In the third round, he's up against a much bigger opponent.

He can't secure a grip on his opponent's mawashi belt and loses the bow.

00:23:32 話者 9

I was really sad. It's frustrating. because I couldn't prove how strong I am.

But I want to become a powerful sumo wrestler, like Aonishiki.

I want to compete in the top division consistently, and someday become a yokozuna.

00:23:54 話者 6

Turning his frustration into motivation, young Vladislav has renewed his determination to keep climbing step by step toward achieving his sumo dream.

00:24:08 話者 7

Vladislav is already looking forward to next year's international tournament.

He says he's determined to work hard in his home country, practicing the techniques he learned in the training camp to become a champion.

And that's all for me.

WEATHER

00:24:32 話者 1

It's time for us to check the world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.

So, Jonathan, those living in the eastern US are bracing for serious, severe storms.

What is the latest?

00:24:43 話者 10/Jonathan Oh

Hello, over the weekend, a cold front and a low pressure system was marching through the central United States, extending from the Great Lakes down toward the Deep South, producing damaging winds and even some tornadoes.

And this storm is really means serious business along the eastern seaboard.

We're talking about severe weather threats, especially for straight line winds, but also the threat for tornadoes. And behind it, very cold air coming into the picture.

So make sure that you stay weather aware as you go throughout the day on Monday during the daytime hours.

We'll see that front passing on through 13 for the high in Atlanta, minus 3 in Chicago.

So those temperatures are going to be plummeting as we go through the day on Monday.

Looking at what's happening across East Asia, it's really more like spring.

We're talking about warm temperatures with high pressure controlling places like Japan, where highs will be topping off at 16 for partly cloudy skies, 15 in Seoul, 12 in Beijing, showers still in Shanghai with a high of 13 on Tuesday.

That's a look at your forecast.

I hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

JAPAN SEES EARLY SOMEI-YOSHINO CHERRY BLOSSOMS

00:26:50 話者 1

One more story before we go.

Japan Meteorological Agency officials announced that Someiyoshino cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in cities in western and central Japan.

The tree is a famous variety.

The start of the cherry blossom season was announced on Monday morning.

The officials say that Someiyoshino blossoms appeared in Kochi City seven days earlier than last year and six days ahead of the average. In Gifu City, it was nine days earlier.

00:27:23 話者 4

I'm surprised about the pace they began to bloom.

I'm really looking forward to seeing many kinds of cherry blossoms.

00:27:30 話者 1

Many parts of the country are set to see cherry trees bloom this week as temperatures are forecast to be around or above average.

And that wraps up this edition of NHK Newsletter.

We'll have more for you soon. Thanks for joining us.

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