Here in Japan, it's a Friday evening.
Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
JAPAN SEES LARGEST POPULATION DROP OVER 5-YEAR SPAN
Preliminary census figures show Japan's population declined by almost 3.1 million from 2020, marking its largest drop ever over a five-year period.
The latest survey indicates the population stood at just over 123,049,000 as of October 1 last year. That's a drop of about 2.5 percent from five years earlier.
It's also the third decrease in a row since 2015 when the population marked its first decline. Only two of the country's 47 prefectures saw their numbers of residents rise.
Tokyo posted an increase of 199,000 people, but the pace of increase slowed.
Forty-five prefectures recorded population drops.
Hokkaido's was the biggest, with 239,000 fewer people.
Meanwhile, the number of households has been on the increase.
The figure totaled just over 57 million, up about 1.3 million from the previous census.
It's the highest since comparable data became available in 1970.
But the number of people per household fell to 2.15.
The Internal Affairs Ministry suggests that an increasing number of elderly people are living alone. The Ministry plans to release the final figures by September.
JAPAN TO INTRODUCE NEW ONLINE IMMIGRATION PLATFORM
Japan's Diet has approved revisions to the Immigration Control Act, including the formal introduction of a new online immigration platform called JESTA.
It's intended to streamline procedures for visitors from overseas.
The draft revisions to the act were approved at an upper house plenary session on Friday.
The Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization is planned to be introduced by the end of March 2029.
The system will allow visitors from some 70 countries and regions exempt from short-term visas to undergo online immigration checks prior to leaving for Japan.
The system will also make immigration procedures stricter to prevent foreign nationals from staying in Japan illegally.
Under the revised legislation, immigration-related fees will also be raised sometime during this fiscal year, which ends in March 2027.
GOVT. PLAN AIMS TO REDUCE POTENTIAL DEATHS FROM MAJOR QUAKE
NHK has learned Japan's government has drafted a new disaster preparedness plan aimed at reducing the death toll from a major earthquake striking Tokyo.
Sources say the proposal envisions a 10-year program to more than half the number of potential deaths.
Last December, a government panel reviewed estimates of human losses and structural damage if a strong quake hits underneath the Japanese capital.
Updated figures show 18,000 people could be killed and 402,000 buildings destroyed or burned down in a worst-case scenario.
In response, the government has worked to revise its disaster preparedness basic plan.
A focus of the draft is preventing fires, as these are seen causing roughly 70 percent of both fatalities and building losses.
One measure involves installing quake-sensitive circuit breakers that automatically cut electricity supply when a strong tremor is detected.
The draft calls for the devices to be put in most buildings in designated parts of 10 prefectures including Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures.
This represents a much higher goal than was set previously.
The draft also aims to enhance the quake resistance of most homes.
The government is expected to release the updated plan after gaining cabinet's approval.
JAPAN TO SEND SDF PERSONNEL TO NATO MISSION ASSISTING UKRAINE
Japan will send four members of the Self-Defense Force to the NATO mission that provides assistance to Ukraine's armed forces.
The defense ministry says the personnel will join the command in June and will handle planning and coordination duties.
00:04:24 話者 11/Koizumi Shinjiro/Japanese Defense Minister
Dispatching the personnel will help bolster Japan's defense capabilities by learning various lessons, such as new forms of warfare in Ukraine.
00:04:35 話者 1
The NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine was established in Germany in 2024 to coordinate the provision of military equipment and instruction.
NATO member countries are working in the command along with Australia and New Zealand.
JAPAN REJECTS RUSSIA'S CLAIMS OF 'REMILITARIZATION' AT UNSC
Japan's ambassador to the United Nations has rejected Russia's claims that Tokyo is pursuing remilitarization, calling them groundless.
00:05:00 話者 22/Yamazaki Kazuyuki/Japanese Ambassador to UN
Russia is continuing its aggression against Ukraine in violation of the charter.
It is ridiculous to criticize such defense posture, Japan's defense posture as militaristic.
00:05:14 話者 1
At a UN Security Council debate on the UN Charter earlier this week, Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzia accused countries classified as enemy states of rebuilding their militaries.
The term enemy states refers to countries such as Japan and Germany that were defeated in World War II.
Nebenzia said Japan is boosting its defense capabilities and discussing constitutional amendments.
He said such policies toward remilitarization are undermining the UN-centered international system and represent a very dangerous trend.
IRAN CONFLICT
AXIOS: DEAL REACHED TO EXTEND CEASEFIRE
Negotiators from the US and Iran have been engaged in talks to end the fighting.
Now US officials say they've reached a deal that would extend the ceasefire for 60 days.
But they say President Donald Trump has yet to approve the plan.
News site Axios reports that the two sides would use the pause to begin talks on Iran's nuclear program. It says Tehran will make a commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons.
And it says they'll discuss ways to dispose of highly enriched uranium.
The deal calls for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to be unrestricted.
A source says Tehran would remove any mines within 30 days and stop charging tolls.
The US in turn plans to lift its blockade of Iranian ports.
The report says Trump told mediators that he wants a couple of days to decide.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the president is not going to take a bad deal.
00:06:58 話者 32/Scott Bessent
The teams have been going back and forth and President Trump has made it very clear, he talked about it at the cabinet meeting, that he has several red lines and Iran has to turn over their highly enriched uranium. They cannot pursue a nuclear weapon.
00:07:16 話者 1
He added that the Strait of Hormuz must be free and open.
And he says Oman's ambassador has confirmed that there are no plans to charge fees in the Straits. But Iran's Tasnim news agency dismissed the claims as not true.
It says a deal has not been finalized or confirmed.
REPORT: US PREPARING FOR CUBA'S POSSIBLE COLLAPSE
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been turning up pressure on Cuba.
A media report says it's bracing for the potential collapse of the Cuban government as early as this summer, and it's preparing to take military action.
News website Axios cites officials as saying the administration has war-gamed new military response plans in case the island descends into chaos.
They say the Southern Command held a multi-agency tabletop exercise.
Officials taking part discussed Cuba's possession of drones and how to respond to possible unrest during the hot summer.
The report says Trump prefers a peaceful transition to a free Cuba, and quotes a senior official as saying, Iran's not finished and the president is not in a rush.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to lash out at the Cuban leadership.
00:08:34 話者 41/Marco Rubio
Cuba's in a lot of trouble because unfortunately for them it's run by a bunch of incompetent communists.
Having a failed state 90 miles from our shores is a threat to the national security of the United States.
00:08:48 話者 1
Washington has been demanding that Cuba carry out political and economic reforms.
And last week the administration indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro.
It accuses him of being involved in the fatal downing of two civilian airplanes in the 1990s.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
NETANYAHU DIRECTS IDF TO EXPAND CONTROL OF GAZA TO 70%
Israeli Prime Minister Bin Yamin Netanyahu says he has directed his country's military to expand its control of the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel now controls 60 percent of the Strip.
His directive was to increase this to 70 percent in an effort to step up pressure on the Islamic group Hamas.
A ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas took effect in October last year based on a US-led peace plan.
But local health authorities said on Thursday that 922 people have died since the ceasefire was agreed to. The Israeli military has continued to launch intermittent attacks in Gaza.
The peace plan includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the disarmament of Hamas.
But no major progress on the plan has been made so far.
Gaza continues to face a dire humanitarian situation.
Many residents are still living in tents.
As of February, the UN estimates that about two-thirds of the strip's population have been displaced from their homes by the conflict.
WAR IN UKRAINE
SWEDEN TO DELIVER GRIPEN FIGHTER JETS TO UKRAINE
Sweden has announced plans to provide fighter jets to Ukraine with deliveries expected to begin before 2030.
Speaking at a joint news conference on Thursday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Christersen said, 20 new Gripen fighter jets will be supplied to Ukraine.
Christerson also says Sweden will donate up to 16 of its current model Gripen jets starting as early as next year.
The Prime Minister called the decision historic for Sweden and said it also significantly strengthens Ukraine's air defense.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the deal.
00:10:56 話者 53/Volodymyr Zelenskyy
We think that we will push out these jets.
Russian jets and they will not be able to use massively aerial bombs.
00:11:07 話者 1
The two leaders signed a letter of intent in October 2025, paving the way for Ukraine to purchase up to 150 Gripen fighters.
Ukraine faces the challenge of beefing up its air defense capabilities to counter Russia's continued attacks with drones and ballistic missiles.
SHANGRI-LA DIALOGUE
JAPAN TO PUSH FOR 'FREE AND OPEN' INDO-PACIFIC AT ASIAN FORUM
It's called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and it's a Japan-led proposal a decade in the making.
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae unveiled the updated vision earlier this month in Vietnam, calling on countries across the region to build up resilience in the face of growing geopolitical competition.
Now at a gathering of Asia-Pacific nations this weekend, her administration is expected to take the idea a step further.
00:11:56 話者 61/Takaichi Sanae
Japan will play a more proactive role in building an international order based on freedom, openness, diversity, inclusiveness, and the rule of law.
00:12:14 話者 64
The unpredictable nature of the world order these days has left democracies scrambling and Japan is expected to address that in Singapore this week at a major forum on Asian security called the Shangri-La Dialogue.
One regional security expert says the upcoming forum is an opportunity for those countries to hash out a framework, one that doesn't depend so heavily on the US or China.
Koga Kei is an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University.
He says Japan's call to action might be seen as a pushback against global instability.
00:12:56 話者 65/Koga Kei
The US-China strategic competition becomes so intense that their great powers are actually trying to dictate the direction of the international politics, where the small powers or the middle powers are actually becoming more and more receptive.
00:13:14 話者 64
At the heart of Japan's free and open plan is more resilient supply chains, ones that don't rely on countries that might use export controls to cut off the flow of trade.
And amid the crisis in the Middle East, Japan believes that securing affordable and reliable energy supplies demands that everyone in the Indo-Pacific work together.
Koga says Southeast Asian countries seem receptive to the updated free and open proposal as long as they can remain neutral and refrain from taking a side in the great power struggle.
00:13:56 話者 65
It's more kind of trying to do something in the region and also empower regional states to be more resilient and autonomous.
So I think in that sense they are actually accepting this concept.
00:14:15 話者 64
China, meanwhile, is critical.
00:14:20 話者 62/Lin Jian/Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Japan says it is free and open, but in reality it is creating cliques by fanning the conflict between camps.
00:14:30 話者 64
Koga says China sees the free and open proposal as part of a strategy to contain it.
He warns that could undermine support in Southeast Asia, where many countries maintain close economic ties to Beijing.
00:14:45 話者 65
So this is going to be not well received in China.
But at the same time, again, if there is the ASEAN and ASEAN countries that could actually accept these principles, then China couldn't actually deny what Japan is saying.
00:15:09 話者 64
Questions also remain about the role of the United States within this proposed new framework.
00:15:17 話者 65
So it's going to be pretty hard for Japan to gain the support from the United States in pursuing the rules-based international order right now.
But then, at the same time, if you look around, you could actually see the many countries, including Southeast Asia or South Korea or the European countries, are trying to push forward the rules-based order.
00:15:43 話者 64
Koga says as the global order faces upheaval, the success of Japan's free and open Indo-Pacific plan depends on how well it can pitch its idea and work its diplomatic levers to get the region's nations on board.
BUSINESS
00:16:03 話者 1
Now for the latest in business and finance with Ramin Mellegard.
00:16:08 話者 6/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
TOKYO STOCKS HIT RECORD HIGH AMID US-IRAN CEASEFIRE OPTIMISM
Tokyo's benchmark stock index surged past the 66,000 mark on Friday to a fresh record high. The buying came on reports of progress in ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.
The Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.5% to end the day at 66,329.
The broader topics barometer also finished at a new high.
However, analysts cautioned that headlines on the Middle East conflict are driving the market and creating excessive volatility.
They say stocks are showing signs of overheating in this environment.
SOURCES: TOYOTA PULLS PLUG ON NEXT-GENERATION EV SEDAN
Toyota Motor appears set to halt the development of a next generation EV sedan amid slowing demand.
Sources say the Japanese automaker has decided to drop the electric vehicle that had been in the works.
In 2023, Toyota unveiled a Lexus EV concept car.
It said the vehicle would carry next generation batteries, offering extended range.
It also said it would be built with a new production method known as giga casting.
The automaker initially planned to have it on the market this year, but it postponed production to mid-2027, saying it wanted more development time.
EV demand has been slowing in the United States, Toyota's main market.
The administration of President Donald Trump has abolished a tax credit for EV buyers.
Toyota says it will still continue developing technologies for next generation EVs.
MITSUBISHI, NISSAN PLAN COLLABORATION IN US PRODUCTION
NHK has learned that Japan's Mitsubishi Motors is furthering talks to produce vehicles in the US at Nissan Motor Factories.
The US is a major market for Mitsubishi, but it doesn't have production plants there and exports vehicles from Japan.
This left the company vulnerable to the hike in import tariffs by the Trump administration last year.
The higher levies reduced Mitsubishi's operating profit by 47 billion yen or about $300 million in fiscal 2025.
Sources say vehicles produced at the Nissan plants will be sold under the Mitsubishi brand in the US market.
Mitsubishi is set to be considering production of larger hybrids, which enjoy strong demand in the United States.
A collaboration agreement would give Nissan an opportunity to boost operation rates at its US plants. The rates have fallen due to declining sales.
SOURCES: JAPAN'S 3 MEGABANKS TO ACCESS NEW OPENAI MODEL
Sources say Japan's three mega banks are expected to gain access to new artificial intelligence model from US firm OpenAI.
MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui and Mizuho are likely to use it to help prevent cyber attacks.
Some experts say the latest OpenAI model is equivalent to Claude Mythos developed by US firm Anthropic.
That model is said to have an extremely high ability to identify vulnerabilities in operating systems and other software. It has raised concerns about possible abuse.
Experts worry it could be used for cyber attacks against financial systems.
The three Japanese banks are expected to employ the OpenAI model to probe for security weaknesses.
ANTHROPIC'S NEW AI MODEL MAY COME IN WEEKS
Meanwhile, Anthropic says it may be able to offer all customers access to a model as powerful as Claude Mythos in the coming weeks.
Claude Mythos is currently only available to about 50 companies and organizations.
BIZ PICKS
Okay, next, NHK World's Gene Otani is here with Biz Fix.
00:20:03 話者 7/Gene Otani
Let's take a look at the key business and economic stories for the week ahead.
Key indices of manufacturing activity are released in China and the US at the beginning of the week.
A major focus will be on how high oil prices are affecting business sentiment in the two biggest economies.
TASTY TECH ON SHOW AT TOKYO FOOD EXPO
And on Tuesday, one of the world's largest food equipment exhibitions starts in Tokyo.
FUMA Japan has been held annually since 1978.
It showcases technologies and solutions covering nearly every stage of the food manufacturing process.
Last year, the event attracted over 1,000 exhibitors and 110,000 visitors from all over the world. These are some of the highlights for 2026.
Watanabe Fumak is showing this high-speed meat slicer.
The company says it takes just 60 seconds to turn a slab of roast beef into as many as 660 uniform cuts. That's faster and more evenly sliced than any human chef working by hand.
System Square is demonstrating an X-ray food inspector designed to spot packaging defects for materials and other flaws.
It uses powerful jet of air to blow the item off the line for disposal.
The company says it improves efficiency and productivity.
And this giant wok from Shinagawa Machinery Works uses an automated stirrer to make fried rice like an expert chef.
The machine is easy to operate and requires no special skills.
It can produce enough to serve 50 people in a single batch.
Kishita Yusuke from Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting is an expert on the food tech industry.
He says Japanese equipment leads the world on many fronts, including power efficiency.
He notes that energy-saving features such as a frequent turn on and turn off function and recycling technology for wrapping materials may prove attractive in the face of surging oil prices.
00:22:18 話者 78/Kishita Yusuke
Risks posed by oil shortages are becoming apparent due to the tensions in the Middle East.
For continuity and cost cutting, saving energy and preserving or recycling resources will be crucial. This situation is a headwind, but it can be a tailwind for the industry.
00:22:35 話者 7
However, Kishita says Japan's overall food market has structural problems.
00:22:44 話者 78
The main characteristic of the value chain is that it is made-up of relatively small players.
Business structures are fragmented and many of the transactions are small.
This leaves the value chain without much surplus capital for investment.
As a result, the industry faces a challenge in financing and staff recruitment.
00:23:04 話者 7
Kishita argues that individual machinery and software services have become less important in the era of AI and robots.
He says that means businesses need to cooperate more as an ecosystem, such as through sharing data among supply chain players.
I'm Gene Otani, and that's this week's Biz Picks.
MARKETS
00:23:28 話者 6
Okay, let's get a check of the markets.
♪
And that is it for business news.
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WEATHER
00:24:22 話者 1
Here on NHK Newsline, it's time now for a check on the weather.
Parts of Japan saw stormy conditions on Friday.
Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano joins us with the details.
00:24:33 話者 9/Yumi Hirano
A developing low-pressure system is bringing strong winds to northern Japan.
Gusts of more than 100 kilometers per hour were reported in Miyagi Prefecture.
Meanwhile, Tokyo experienced 31 degrees on Friday, the highest temperature so far this year.
The winds are expected to ease gradually, but the heat may continue over the weekend.
The highest in Tokyo will be 30 on Saturday and Sunday, Nagoya may see 33, so please stay cool and hydrated.
Here in Japan, we have to monitor one more issue.
A tropical storm is expected to intensify into a typhoon over the weekend.
The system may move northward and approach Japan's Okinawa and Amami by Monday, bringing strong winds and high waves. People there have already started to prepare.
Officials on Amami Oshima Island were busy preparing sandbags on Friday.
They used about nine tons of sand and will place the bags where they are needed over the weekend.
A senior official said rivers have flooded before and recent rainfall has raised concern about landslides, so they want to prepare early.
It could be the first typhoon affecting Japan this year.
After hitting Okinawa and Amami, the storm is expected to move along the Pacific side of the country.
Downpours are possible from Kyushu to Kanto from Tuesday to Wednesday, so please keep an eye on it.
In the bigger picture across Asia, high-pressure systems will cover much of China and the Korean Peninsula, so sunny skies are expected in Seoul and Beijing with highs around 30.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
Visit our app or website for more news, feature stories, and information.
For all of us here on the show, I'm James Tingan in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.
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