Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
JASDF Global Hawk Loses Contact
Japan's Air self-defense Force says it lost communication with a large unmanned reconnaissance aircraft on Tuesday at around 1 p.m. over borders off the western part of the country.
The Global Hawk aircraft was flying in international airspace over the Sea of Japan, about 50 kilometers off the coast of Tottori Prefecture.
The unmanned aircraft measures about 50 meters in length and has a wingspan of about 40 meters and a height of about 5 meters.
The defense ministry has procured three Global Hawks to date and has deployed them at the JASDF's Misaba Air Base in Aomori Prefecture.
A Japan Coast Guard aircraft has spotted what is thought to be a piece of an airplane floating in the area.
Japan Cabinet Approves Plan to Cut Food Consumption Tax
Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a policy to lower the consumption tax on food items. The tax will be cut to one percent from April 2027 for two years.
It currently stands at eight percent.
The policy document describes the tax relief as a temporary measure responding to high commodity prices.
The government will also introduce benefits for low and middle income earners.
It says this will make the tax effectively zero.
The government stresses it will not issue deficit-covering bonds to fund the tax cut, which is expected to cost about 5 trillion yen a year.
The policy document says all spending and revenue streams will be reviewed to secure the necessary funding.
Some experts have raised concerns about the temporary nature of the cut.
They say raising the tax back to eight percent in two years could impact consumer spending and the economy.
The administration hopes to present bills based on the policy at an extraordinary diet session expected in early October.
It will further discuss funding the policy in budget talks toward the end of the year.
Takaichi to Name LDP Leadership, New Cabinet
Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says she is set to name the next executive lineup of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday.
She will reshuffle her cabinet on the following day.
Takaichi announced the schedule at the party's executive meeting on Tuesday.
She said her government has consistently made decisive choices in undertaking challenges to build a strong and prosperous Japan.
It is driven by the conviction that its mission is to realize the major policy shifts pledged in the last lower house election.
She added that while the government puts top priority on dealing with rising prices, It has also drawn up growth strategies, regional future development plans and basic economic policies through responsible and proactive fiscal policy.
She also said the government will work to flesh out those plans.
In the fields of diplomacy and defense, she said she will promote the advancement of a free and open Indo-Pacific, updating the country's three key national security documents and strengthening intelligence under the National Intelligence Bureau.
Newcomer Elected as Okinawa's Governor
A newcomer has won the gubernatorial election in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.
Koja Genta, who was backed by the ruling parties and even some opposition parties, defeated the incumbent who was seeking a third term.
This year marks 54 years since Okinawa was returned to the mainland following 27 years of US occupation from 1945 to 1972.
About 70 percent of US military facilities in Japan are still concentrated in the prefecture.
In the last three elections, the relocation of US bases was the biggest point of contention and candidates that opposed that were elected.
But this time, Unlike in the past, people's quality of life and the economy were a bigger priority.
During the election campaign, incumbent Tamaki Deni reiterated his opposition to the relocation of the Futenma Air Station within Okinawa.
He also called for free school lunches and free medical expenses for sick children.
Koja advocated for increasing the income of people in the prefecture and taking measures against rising prices.
Koja met Prime Minister Takaichi on Tuesday morning for about 10 minutes at the LDP headquarters.
He said at the meeting, he wants government to consult him because he wants to work out policies quickly.
That includes improving people's quality of life, the economy and the development of remote islands.
The government and Okinawa Prefecture have confirmed that they will work together.
00:05:31 話者 11/Koja Genta
I think the national budget itself is going to be decided at the end of the year, so I'd like to make a firm request for that after I take office.
Analysis: What to Expect From New Okinawa Governor
00:05:42 話者 1
For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK World's Sano Yoshitaka, who is covering this story from Okinawa.
So Yoshitaka, take us through how Koja was able to win this election.
00:05:58 話者 12/Sano Yoshitaka
Well, Koja garnered broad support by campaigning on reforming the prefecture government.
National political parties, including both the ruling and opposition parties, supported him.
The biggest issue in previous gubernatorial election was the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
Futenma is said to be the world's most dangerous base given its location in the middle of a residential and commercial area of Okinawa.
A proposal to relocate it to the east of the island closer to the ocean had been front and center in previous elections.
But in this election, the focus was on Okinawa's economy and daily life.
Koja appears to have garnered popularity for his focus on doubling the public's per capita income in the next decade, as well as his proposed measures to combat rising prices and provide support for people's livelihood.
Okinawa's per capita income is among the lowest in the country and its economy is facing a serious situation.
That means cooperation and financial support from the central government is essential.
Part of Koja's appeal to the people of Okinawa could be due to his past government experience.
He previously worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and during his campaign emphasized having a strong relationship with the national government.
This is in stark contrast to his predecessor who emphasized the US military bases issues and focus on peace initiatives.
NHK found that out of 2,490 voters surveyed, 49% said the policy they most hoped for was combating inflation and other economy measures.
That is nearly three times the number who said addressing the US-based issue was their priority. This suggests that voters' attention is shifting towards the economy.
00:08:22 話者 1
Then what can we expect to see when it comes to the US-based issue?
00:08:27 話者 12
With Koja as the new governor, relations with the national government, which have been odds until now, are expected to change significantly.
Opportunities to discuss issues like reducing the burden of military bases are likely to increase.
Attention will be focused on whether Koja can speak up when the interests of Okinawa and the national governments do not necessarily align regarding the US-based issue.
The election result doesn't mean that public opinion in Okinawa against the relocation of the Futenma base has disappeared.
For Koja, the challenge will be how to listen to those voices and gain their understanding.
The impact this election will have on regional security is another matter to watch closely, specifically shifting self-defense forces to the southwest in case of a situation with Taiwan.
Throughout this election, Koja has stressed the importance of gaining the voters' understanding when it comes to this issue.
He says there will need to be convincing explanations from the national government and measures implemented to protect the people of Okinawa.
In comparison, Koja's predecessor maintained a cautious stance until now.
With all this in mind, We will continue to closely watch Okinawa's first conservative prefectural government in 12 years.
Japan's 100-Year-Old and Up Population Hits Record High
00:10:15 話者 1
Moving on, Japan has crossed a major milestone.
The number of 100-year-olds has now passed 100,000.
The triple-digit club has been growing for 56 straight years.
Japan's health and welfare ministry says there are now 107,677 people aged 100 or older.
That's nearly 8,000 more than last year.
The vast majority of centenarians, about 88 percent, are women.
The oldest is 114-year-old Shimoto Fuyo, who lives in Kyoto.
The oldest man is 112 and lives in Kumamoto.
The number of centenarians has grown rapidly in recent decades.
When the Act on Social Welfare for the Elderly was passed in 1963, there were only 153 of them in all of Japan.
China Dismisses Anthropic's AI Warning as 'Fearmongering'
China has hit out at remarks from Anthropic's CEO warning of a possible Chinese lead in AI. Beijing says the comments amount to fear-mongering and will only hurt development.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday, AI can benefit the well-being of all humanity and called for open and inclusive development.
00:11:41 話者 22/Guo Jiakun/Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Fearmongering, confrontation and vicious competition will only hamper efforts toward sound global AI governance, which serves no one's interest.
00:11:53 話者 1
This comes after Anthropic CEO Dario Amadei wrote a blog post about the dangers of AI development.
He said he agreed with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant who said a Chinese lead in AI would pose grave danger for the United States and the world.
He called for efforts to slow the pace of development and warned that if left unchecked, AI could outrun our ability to understand and control these systems.
Trump Rejects AI Dangers
US President Donald Trump criticized Amadei on social media, saying he is pretending to be a perfect little angel.
He added the only control AI needs is a strong and smart president and that his administration has regulatory power over AI companies.
Trump also waved off concerns about the dangers of advanced AI.
00:12:48 話者 23/
I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn't be bringing it up and they're bringing up things that won't happen. But whoever wins with AI wins.
00:13:00 話者 1
The US and China are set to hold summit talks later this month, where AI is expected to be high on the agenda.
Saudi Pipeline Repair May Take Weeks
A crucial Saudi oil pipeline has been damaged in a drone attack reportedly launched from neighboring Iraq.
Now, Washington is pointing the finger at Iran, but Tehran denies any involvement.
Reuters released satellite images showing damage to Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline following the drone attack on Thursday.
Images from last October show several buildings in the pipeline network.
and ones taken Sunday indicate extensive damage.
AP cites officials as saying repairs could take between three to five weeks.
The pipeline carries Saudi crude oil to the Red Sea.
It's become a key export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
And it's carried about five percent of global oil supplies in recent months.
US President Trump said Saturday that Iran was likely responsible for the attack.
But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ezmael Baghei has denied any involvement.
He accuses the US of fabricating lies and raising regional tensions.
Business
Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Ramin Mellegard joins us from our biz desk.
Ramin.
00:14:30 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Record Seizures of Fake Brand Goods in Japan
Now, seizures of fake goods hit a record high in Japan in the first half of the year as more consumers go online to shop for their favorite brands.
Officials at the finance ministry say cases surged more than 12 percent from a year earlier to over 19,000.
Now, that's the largest ever for the period since data became available in 1993.
Counterfeit stickers top the list with more than 4,200 cases, growing 27-fold from the same period last year.
Officials say 3D stickers are in high demand from young and old generations alike and fake products are riding the wave.
Now, imitation clothing turned up in more than 4,100 interceptions with counterfeit wallets and handbags among the contraband as well.
Japan Firms Launch Beanless Coffee Amid Supply Risks
Japan's beverage makers are set to market a range of coffee tasting drinks that are produced without using coffee beans.
The trend is based on concerns climate change will reduce coffee growing areas in coming years.
DyDo Drinco will market its version on October 5. The company says it used chickpea powder and chicory extract to recreate the aroma and taste of coffee.
00:16:06 話者 34/Sakamoto Daisuke/DyDo Dorinco
Offer coffee tasting drinks even if they are different from conventional products.
We have a sense of urgency about this due to climate change.
00:16:19 話者 3
Coca-Cola Japan will launch its coffee-less drink on September 21.
It's made using dietary fiber from corn and other ingredients.
Asahi Soft Drinks aims to have its version on supermarket shelves next year.
Now the coffee industry faces what is known as the 2050 problem when climate change is expected to significantly reduce land areas suited for growing coffee beans.
AI Threatens Some Jobs, Creates Demand for Others
Artificial intelligence is quickly changing the workplace and more office workers are leaving to do hands-on jobs that are more difficult to replace with AI.
We see how workers are exploring new career paths.
00:17:11 話者 5
This sushi academy in Tokyo trains about 300 people a year.
Administrators say they are getting more people coming from office jobs, who now account for nearly 70% of students.
00:17:24 話者 45
I used to work in accounting at an automaker, but when I looked at job listings, I realized sushi chefs earned more.
00:17:31 話者 5
Demand for sushi chefs is high, and the academy gets job offers from around Japan, as well as the US and Germany.
One job in Japan offers an annual salary of 13 million yen or about $85,000.
00:17:48 話者 46/Fukue Makoto/Principal, Tokyo Sushi Academy
We're seeing more people from consulting and other white-collar professions.
They see the chance to earn a good income in this field.
00:17:56 話者 5
Some graduates are doing very well for themselves. Shimizu Kazuki is one of them.
He previously worked in sales at a chemical company and an IT startup.
He trained at several restaurants. Then two years ago, he opened his own place in Tokyo.
He says he now earns about three times as much as he did as a company worker.
00:18:19 話者 42/Shimizu Kazuki
Sushi has been part of Japanese culture for hundreds of years.
I felt it was a skill that would remain valuable and serve me well in the future.
00:18:29 話者 5
High incomes are not limited to sushi chefs.
A private research institute analyzed government data and found that taxi drivers, car assembly workers and other hands-on jobs have seen much bigger pay increases than office clerks.
While jobs that are difficult to replace with AI are paying more, others have been hit hard.
Yuda Miho is a freelance web writer.
This year she began losing contracts one after another.
She blames AI. Her monthly income was about 450,000 yen or about $3,000.
Now it is just one third of that.
00:19:13 話者 43/Yuda Miho
These days, people keep saying it's all about AI and machines can do the work faster than humans. I wonder if my future is no longer in web writing.
Younger workers are also worried about the impact of AI.
A private survey of job seekers in their 20s found that nearly half have some interest in hands-on jobs. More than 80% think AI will reduce the number of office jobs.
Such concerns have already prompted some people to change jobs.
Ikeda Orie works as a construction site supervisor.
He started the job in March after 17 years as an editor at a major publisher.
she saw more of her coworkers relying on AI to make decisions, and that left her feeling uneasy about the future.
00:20:10 話者 44/Ikeda Orie
Some colleagues wanted to follow what AI suggested, and I just couldn't get used to that.
I worried there might no longer be a place for me.
00:20:20 話者 5
Now she manages construction projects and checks progress on site.
She says the communication skills she learned in publishing help in her new job.
00:20:33 話者 44
To build a future, I think it's important to learn practical skills.
I want to keep learning and taking on new challenges every day.
Markets
00:20:45 話者 3
Okay, let's get a check on the markets.
♪
And that's it for business use.
♫
China's Exit-Entry Regulation Takes Effect
00:21:34 話者 1
China's new regulations on who can enter and leave the country have come into effect.
The government says the aim is to safeguard national security and development interests.
Authorities can now ban Chinese citizens from leaving the country if they have violated import-export rules around technology.
The government says illegal transfers have harmed industrial and technological safety.
Observers say Beijing seemingly wants to prevent the outflow of cutting-edge tech by placing travel restrictions on those with advanced skills.
Under the new rules, people entering or leaving the country must cooperate when asked to present documents or electronic data.
Foreign nationals who provide false information during visa applications or at immigration control could face a five-year ban.
Philippine Region Holds Election After Decades of Conflict
A region of the Philippines that saw decades of conflict between separatists and the government has held its first parliamentary election.
Over 40 years of conflict ended when a peace deal was reached in 2014.
Some estimates put the death toll at over 120,000.
The country's largest Muslim armed group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, was among those fighting.
There are 2.4 million eligible voters in the Muslim-majority region that spans parts of Mindanao and other islands.
Voters lined up early Monday morning in the city of Kotobato.
This election to choose members of the official autonomous government is seen as a major step towards lasting peace.
00:23:24 話者 52
I'm happy I was able to vote. I hope we can achieve freedom and peace here in Mindanao.
00:23:33 話者 1
Japan has been closely involved in the peace process. Since the 1990s, it has developed infrastructure and training programs to get former fighters into new jobs.
The Japanese government also sent observers for this election.
The newly elected parliament will choose a chief minister as soon as next month, officially launching the autonomous government.
♫～
World Weather
It looks like we'll have to keep an eye out for the possibility of heavy rain going into Wednesday.
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at the forecast in our world weather update.
00:24:38 話者 4/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we've seen quite a contrast in the Kanto-Koshin region where we went from a summer like day on Monday to clouds and rain on Tuesday and that story is impacting a good chunk of Japan as we have the autumnal front that's located right across the country and we're gonna have to continue to keep an eye out on this front as we go into Wednesday as well it has a history of producing some copious amounts of rainfall and here's the thing it's not that everybody is see the same type of rain all across the country.
It's spotty here and there. And so some places may just see a drizzle. Other places may see a downpour. And so that's the reason why we just keep an eye out on this as we continue on through today on Wednesday as we have that front continue to just linger in the area.
Looking at the forecast, if you're in Sendai, Niigata, Tokyo, Osaka, we're looking at the chance for some rain to go through Wednesday, umbrella action day, as I like to call it from time to time. That's the case as we go through Wednesday.
Dry to the north and to the west, though, we're looking at a little bit more sunshine coming up now.
I want us to take a look at what's happening south of Japan. A tropical system trying to gather itself together, and here's the thing: for those of you who live in Japan, you may be aware that starting on Saturday, it kicks off a holiday, a long holiday weekend, and this thing might try to spoil some plans here but it's expected to become more of a little bit tighter tropical system a tropical storm and making its way toward the north and west might be looking at impacts as wide from portions of the man way over into Okinawa it's that uncertain
So we have to keep an eye on this as well, but it's not really particularly welcome news as we head toward that weekend.
Quick north North America, storms toward the Great Lakes, the cold fronts takes its way back toward the Rockies.
So we're looking at the possibility of seeing rain and thunderstorms in places like Chicago as we go through the day on Tuesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-Day Forecast ～♫
00:27:45 話者 1
And that's all from us for now. Thanks for watching.
checked.
NHK World
00:28:01 話者 99
This is NHK World Japan English radio service.
Here's a frequency notice.
The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.
Once again,
Broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.
For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj.
nhk.jp/rj
We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website
