Welcome back to NHK News Line. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
WSJ: TRUMP MAY END OPERATION WITHOUT REOPENING STRAIT
US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering ending the conflict with Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. That's according to a new Wall Street Journal report.
It cited unnamed administration officials who say Trump may leave reopening the Key waterway to a later date. The strait has been effectively closed due to the conflict.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that negotiations with the Iranian side are ongoing, though Tehran previously denied that any direct talks have taken place.
00:00:50 話者 11/Karoline Leavitt
If the Iranians reject this golden opportunity, the greatest military in the history of the world continues to stand by to provide President Trump with every option available to ensure this regime continues to pay a grave price.
00:01:05 話者 1
She said the US timeline for the operation remains unchanged at four to six weeks.
The Wall Street Journal report suggests reopening the strait would take even longer.
It says that may be why Trump is opting for diplomatic pressure instead.
All this comes as the US has been ramping up in other ways.
It has deployed a rapid response force to the area.
Some observers believe Washington will try to seize control of Kharg Island, Iran's largest oil shipment hub in the Persian Gulf.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagheer Ghalibaf, has vowed to fight back.
He claims the US is passing off its desires as fact and threatening his nation.
He claimed that is a big mistake.
JAPAN PM TELLS TASK FORCE TO SECURE STABLE OIL PRODUCTS SUPPLY
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has told a newly launched government task force to ensure stable supplies of oil-related products.
The government held a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers at the Prime Minister's office on Tuesday amid the continuing Middle East conflict.
00:02:11 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae
The government should secure the essential amounts of crude oil and oil products that will be needed across Japan. It should also diversify procurement sources.
00:02:22 話者 1
The task force is centered around Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akazawa Yosei, who on Monday was assigned the responsibility of securing stable amounts of key materials.
The Prime Minister said that stable supplies of oil derivatives, including NAFTA, need to be guaranteed. NAFTA is widely used in health care, farming and packaging.
Takaichi also noted that medical-related products now sourced from Asia, such as plastic items used in dialysis, should be procured from across the world.
She says sufficient fuel should be delivered to the manufacturing, farming and fishing industries, as well as bus and ferry services.
Takaichi indicated that she hopes to cooperate with other Asian economies.
She also called for a thorough examination of the current supply situation for crucial materials and developing plans to ensure a stable supply.
JAPAN, INDONESIA AGREE TO WORK CLOSELY ON ENERGY SECURITY
Japan and Indonesia have confirmed that they will work closely on energy security in view of recent developments in the Middle East.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi met with visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the State Guesthouse in Tokyo on Tuesday.
00:03:39 話者 2
I'm very pleased about progress in various efforts between Japan and Indonesia in economic and security fields.
I hope our two countries will make the region strong and prosperous to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.
00:03:59 話者 1
Prabowo, meanwhile, said at the outset of the meeting that Indonesia and Japan are close friends and strategic partners.
He said that as the geopolitical situation around the world becomes more complex, Indonesia and Japan must promote stability and play a role in resolving problems.
In economic areas, they agreed to foster the development of personnel in the fields of artificial intelligence and energy and resources such as critical minerals and nuclear power.
They also plan to cooperate in the maritime sector, including the promotion of fisheries industries.
On security, Takaichi and Prabowo plan to strengthen cooperation through Japan's official security assistance.
The program provides the armed forces of like-minded countries with defense equipment and other items.
The two leaders confirmed they will cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.
They also exchanged views on the South China Sea and North Korea.
PHILIPPINES GETS DIESEL FROM JAPAN AMID FUEL SHORTAGE
The Philippines government says it has received a shipment of diesel from Japan.
This comes as the Southeast Asian nation struggles with a severe energy shortage.
The Department of Energy announced on Monday that 142,000 barrels arrived on March 26. It said the diesel was purchased by a state-run oil company.
More than 90 percent of the Philippines' crude oil imports come from the Middle East.
Fuel prices have been rising since the start of US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The situation prompted the Philippine government to declare a national energy emergency this month.
Officials have been in talks to secure supplies from other nations.
The Department of Energy said a combined total of around one million barrels of diesel has been secured for delivery through April.
Malaysia, Singapore and India are also among the sources.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin told reporters that the government will work with the nation's embassies to make sure that supply contracts are honored.
BLOSSOMS HIT FULL BLOOM ACROSS MUCH OF JAPAN
Weather officials say cherry blossoms across Japan bloomed several days earlier than average this year. And sakura spots around Tokyo are now bustling with visitors.
That means a centuries-old tradition that takes people on boats to view the blossoms should be booming.
But industry leaders say the sudden rise in the price of oil is casting a shadow over this sakura season.
NHK World's Murata Riho tells us more.
00:06:44 話者 3/Murata Riho
It's one of Tokyo's most popular places to soak up the blossoms.
Sumida Park is busting, but a fair number of visitors are taking in the sights from a different vantage point.
They're aboard a yakata bune, a traditional pleasure boat.
which will take them down the river.
Boating trips like these date back to even before medieval times, when aristocrats enjoyed music and poetry reading.
Taking a ride on the yakata bune prospered as a leisure activity during the Edo period, when the boats became more decorative and the wealthy watched fireworks or held tea ceremonies. Eventually, the practice evolved into its modern-day form.
The cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times of year for those tour operators.
This one here already has about 5,000 reservations for the brief two-week period when the trees are in bloom.
(Japanese)
Today, Yakatabune ride are popular among tourists who want to see Sumida's blossoms dotting the riverside, while enjoying sashimi, tempura, and a good bit of sake.
00:08:11 話者 12
I heard that cherry blossoms will be in full bloom today, so I feel very comfortable.
But I might be enjoying this food more than I'm looking at the blossoms.
00:08:21 話者 13
I'm glad to be on the Yakata Bune boat.
I'm appreciative for the people that enable us to be here.
00:08:30 話者 3
But while it's a party on that boat, the company offices are a different story.
Gas prices have shot up suddenly, leaving this tour business in a bind.
The cruise company says it needs an average of 16,000 liters of diesel a month to operate its boats.
With costs up by 30 yen, or 20 cents a liter, they're taking a major hit.
The company says its guests reserve tickets as early as two months before cherry blossom season.
Since customers pay at the time of booking, it's hard to pass on the increased costs.
And it's not just a raw fuel.
A tour company like this has to worry about food and drink prices, too.
In fact, all of his operating costs are at risk of going way up.
If the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, sticker shock is a real possibility.
The head of the company says so far, the vendors he buys from are holding off raising prices. But if the situation in Iran drags on, they might have to.
And because of that, he says he could be forced to raise the costs of a cruise ticket.
00:09:46 話者 4/Yasuda Susumu/CEO, Harumiya
If the oil price keeps rising, it will put a strain on our business, so we hope the situation settles down soon.
00:09:53 話者 3
Boat tours along the Sumida River continue long after the flowers have fallen.
The cruises happen year-round, taking visitors across Tokyo to see the sights, no matter the season. But operators are now left waiting and watching the market.
The tradition of viewing cherry blossom from boats date back over a thousand years.
But if the surge in oil prices keep eating into profit margins, the future of the industry is uncertain.
Murata Riho, NHK World, Tokyo.
BUSINESS
00:10:29 話者 1
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Ramin Mellegard from The Biz Desk.
00:10:35 話者 5/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
NIKKEI 225 FALLS FOR 4TH DAY AFTER VOLATILE TRADING
Now, Japan's benchmark stock index fell for a fourth straight day on Tuesday after a volatile session. Investors see no clear sign of an end to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Nikkei 225 lost nearly 1.6 percent to close at 51,063.
Shares dropped sharply from the start of trading.
They briefly rebounded following a media report that US President Trump wants the military campaign against Iran to take four to six weeks.
The Nikkei has declined 13 percent in March after setting an all-time closing high on February 27. That was the day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
JAPAN GOVT. TO TAKE STEPS TO SECURE OIL-DERIVATIVES
The Japanese government is launching efforts to ensure stable supplies of oil-related products amid growing concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict on them.
The oil derivatives include NAFTA and are used in a wide range of industries such as healthcare and farming.
The government will seek to diversify procurement of medical-related products, including plastic items used in dialysis, syringes, gloves and aprons.
Japan currently obtains many of them from Asia, but will look for other sources around the world.
Plans are also being drawn up to ensure transport operators, manufacturers and farmers and fishers have sufficient fuel.
Now on Monday, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae delegated responsibility for stably securing key materials to Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akazawa Ryosei.
Akazawa said Japan has sufficient crude oil overall, but there have been imbalances in supply and clogged distribution.
He pledged to work to ensure supplies without disruption.
PRICE SURGES HIT DAILY LIFE IN JAPAN
Now, the impact of higher prices for crude oil and other products caused by the conflict in Iran is increasingly being felt in Japan.
Public bus operators are struggling to procure fuel, and farmers expect fertilizer to get even more expensive.
Senior officials representing six cities, including Kobe, Kyoto, and Nagoya, visited the transport ministry on Monday.
They submitted a request to ensure stable fuel supplies and provide financial assistance to public transport operators.
Kobe Mayor Hisamoto Kizo said diesel prices in Kobe and Kyoto have doubled, and the local administrations do not have the means to resolve the problem alone.
00:13:22 話者 6/Hisamoto Kizo/Kobe Mayor
We hope the ministry will help secure enough diesel so that bus operations, a key means of transport, will not be disrupted.
00:13:29 話者 5
The National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations said higher fertilizer prices for this fall's planting and beyond will be inevitable if the cost of raw materials remains high.
00:13:44 話者 6/Omoto Hideki/National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations
We will negotiate to prevent a blow to the production costs of farmers, but it will be extremely difficult.
00:13:53 話者 5
Agriculture Ministry figures show international prices of urea, a key ingredient of fertilizers, rose more than 50 percent in March from February.
About 40 percent of global urea exports come from the Middle East.
TEPCO ASKS TO START COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF REACTOR IN APRIL
The operator of a nuclear power plant in Japan's Niigata Prefecture has formally asked for permission to bring one of its reactors online in April.
Tokyo Electric Power submitted the request to the Nuclear Regulation Authority on Monday.
It aims to start commercial operation of reactor number six at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant on April 16. That would be the first time since March 2012.
TEPCO reactivated the reactor in January. It has been conducting checks ahead of the start of commercial operation, which had been planned for March 18.
But the date was pushed back after a damaged component of an electrical leak detection device triggered an alarm earlier in the month.
TEPCO said it replaced the component and resolved the problem, the reactor has been running at full capacity.
The company said the resumption of commercial operations at the plant will bolster power supplies to users, including those in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
FOREIGN STARTUPS SET SIGHTS ON JAPAN
Japan's startup scene is relatively small by global standards, but the country is on its way to becoming the place to be for foreign entrepreneurs who see a growing demand for new ideas across many industries.
00:15:33 話者 22
Tokyo's Shibuya district is a world-renowned spot for visitors, but the vibrant area is attracting more than just tourists.
In February, 10 startups based outside Japan took part in an event there to showcase their technologies.
00:15:53 話者 25/Jia Shen/Co-Founder, Shisa.Al
Shibuya has technology, it has art, it has music, it has fashion.
We're able to intersect with so many other industries that we wouldn't be able to if we were in San Francisco.
00:16:04 話者 22
This Canadian firm develops artificial intelligence partners that can converse with humans. Shown on the screen is an avatar of a virtual person.
00:16:15 話者 27
Hello, I'm Companion.
00:16:17 話者 22
The avatar can read the emotions of people it interacts with. The company sees the system being used at tourist sites, museums and other locations in Japan.
00:16:29 話者 28/David Rouxel/CEO & Co-Founder, Renraku Dynamics
I know that you love robots, you love avatars, you love gaming.
So I think there's a good match.
00:16:37 話者 22
Overseas entrepreneurs are also eyeing Japan's regional areas.
00:16:42 話者 23
Welcome to Hokkaido.
00:16:44 話者 22
A business pitch event was held in Hokkaido, attended by companies from countries including the United States, Canada and South Korea.
00:16:55 話者 24
Hokkaido is described as a hotspot of Japan's social problems, facing population decline, aging communities and deteriorating infrastructure.
00:17:05 話者 22
The event was organized by a US venture capital firm. 310 companies from around the world offered to help resolve the challenges facing the prefecture.
Eleven were selected.
Worker shortages and rapidly aging communities are issues any country can face.
Being able to conduct experiments in real-life situations is a major draw for the participants.
Travis Peterson works for a Canadian firm that develops sensor technology to monitor elderly people.
The systems can be installed in the homes of seniors living alone.
Alerts can be sent to their families when something unusual, such as a fall, is detected.
Local businesses are beginning to take notice of such start-ups.
This elderly care facility has cooperated in the company's demonstrations.
00:18:09 話者 25
Thank you.
00:18:10 話者 22
The facility houses 34 people with just seven staffs, there are many challenges.
00:18:19 話者 26/Care manager
There is a limit to watching over the residents with a small number of staff, so a sensor like this can give us a feeling of security.
00:18:28 話者 22
Peterson hopes to set up a base in Japan and sell its technology in other countries as well.
00:18:36 話者 29/Travis Peterson/CCO, Pontosense
I think we want to understand if there's any unique challenges that maybe we aren't aware in terms of deploying the technology so that we can make those changes, those improvements.
So our goal is really to go across anyone in the world that needs it, especially in Japan.
00:18:52 話者 22
From innovation-driven urban centres to regional communities tackling social issues, Japan is emerging as a promising environment for overseas startups.
MARKETS
00:19:08 話者 5
Okay, let's go to check on the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
DISPLACED FUKUSHIMA RESIDENTS KEEP MEMORIES ALIVE
00:20:08 話者 1
Next, we look at how decontamination work after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has been affecting local residents.
A facility to temporarily store soil and waste removed during the work was built on land where homes once stood.
The residents may not be able to return until 2045, the deadline of taking the waste outside the prefecture for final disposal.
Faced with such a long wait, some are working to leave behind reminders that they once lived there.
00:20:44 話者 7/Narrator: Shimizu Risa
A memorial monument stands just outside the interim storage facility.
It was commissioned by 81-year-old Yamaguchi Mitsuyoshi, who used to live nearby.
Like other local residents, Yamaguchi was forced to evacuate after the nuclear accident.
The monument bears the names of those who died without being able to return.
00:21:10 話者 6/Yamaguchi Mitsuyoshi
We had to evacuate and couldn't come back.
I think everyone hoped to return, so I at least wanted to leave their names behind.
00:21:19 話者 7
The site where Yamaguchi's home once stood is now part of the interim storage facility.
00:21:30 話者 6
I can see where my house used to be. It's visible just between those houses over there.
00:21:38 話者 7
Wanting to get as close as possible, three years ago, Yamaguchi bought land near the monument.
He plans to build a new home and spend the rest of his days there.
00:21:53 話者 6
My old land won't be returned until 2045. I'll be 100 by then.
And realistically, I'm not going to wait around that long.
But when I'm here, it feels like I've already come home.
So I don't mind even if I'm by myself.
As long as I can still move, I'll keep at it, though I don't know how many years I have left.
00:22:21 話者 7
Some people continue to visit areas within the interim storage facility to keep the memory of their hometown alive.
77-year-old Watanabe Masakatsu is one of them.
Several times a year, he and other former residents apply for permission to return.
They have rebuilt a local shrine that was damaged by the earthquake in 2011 and continue to look after it.
Last November, Watanabe planted 8 wild cherry trees there, replacing ones that had been lost.
00:23:00 話者 4/Watanabe Masakatsu
For the past 15 years, many people have said they won't go back to the town because there's nothing left.
So if even a small part of the landscape from before the disaster remains and is preserved, I think that would be a good thing.
00:23:18 話者 7
There were traditional New Year bonfires and bon dances in summer.
The shrine was a focal point for the local community.
00:23:28 話者 4
We used to hold festivals along that road in front of the shrine. Around that area, with the green tarpaulin over there, people used to grow strawberries and asparagus.
00:23:44 話者 7
Nearly two decades remain until the material being stored here is finally disposed of outside the prefecture.
00:23:52 話者 4
We don't know what this area will be like 20 years from now, but I think we should do what we can now so we can pass it on properly to the next generation.
I hope the cherry trees will become a place for people to retrace old memories.
00:24:13 話者 7
Watanabe doesn't know if he will live to see the day people can live here again.
but he hopes the cherry trees will serve as a lasting reminder of those like him who once called this place home.
WEATHER
00:24:33 話者 1
It is time for us to check the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, it was a weird mix of warm, wet, windy Tuesday in Japan, but how are things looking for the rest of the week?
00:24:46 話者 8/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we did see temperatures on the warm side, but it was definitely on the wet side and windy as well.
We saw it in Tokyo, but also places like Hamamatsu saw rain of 107 millimeters in just 12 hours in the Ki Peninsula over in Cape Shiono, gusts reaching up to 92 kilometers per hour.
And the reason is because we have a low pressure system that is moving through the country.
And as it continues to do so, it will help to bring in the warm air from the south and wrap around that moisture. And so we'll see a wet Wednesday for at least part of the day.
But that's not the end of the story. We look back toward the West, where we saw that low originally coming from over near southern areas of China.
Another push of moisture will be coming through by the time we go into Thursday.
And so for those of you who are saying, we want a chance to look at the cherry blossoms.
It looks like it's going to be a little bit harder, at least if you want to stay dry for the next couple of days.
Then we look toward Friday.
Thursday to Friday, we have a little bit of a window where we're going to see dry weather and temperatures some places in the 20s from Tokyo into Fukuoka.
And then the weekend comes and the rain comes back to the picture once again.
And also with the wind as part of the equation, some of the flowers, the blossoms may be flying through the air as well.
So a bit of a hit and miss situation for the next few days when it comes to the cherry blossom viewing.
Meanwhile, we're talking about some strong, severe thunderstorms taking place into the central areas of the United States.
Low pressure system with the cold front pushing on through, these white big dots popping up or these hot spots where storms are just popping up.
And some of these are severe or strong to severe rating possibilities as we go throughout the day on Tuesday.
So you want to be weather aware near the Great Lakes as that low pressure system pushes on through.
If you look back toward the west, low pressure system also bringing some wet weather into places like Denver as we go through Tuesday with a high of 15.
Thunderstorms from Toronto into Chicago, Atlanta looking at 28 with these thunderstorms as well.
And because of that system, very warm air ahead of it as the cold front pushes on through.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
00:27:40 話者 1
And that's all we have for this edition of NHK Newsline.
We'll have more for you at the top of the hour. Thanks for joining us.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 9
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