(2026/7/30) Consumption Tax Cut, Food Price Relief & PM Takaichi Briefing | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

Prime Minister Takaichi explains the plan to cut the consumption tax on food to 1% starting next April.

The measure aims to ease the burden on low- and middle-income families facing high prices.

She also outlines future income-linked benefits scheduled for 2029.

日本の高市首相は、来年4月から食料品の消費税を1％に引き下げる方針を説明。

物価高に苦しむ低・中所得層の負担軽減が目的。

さらに、2029年に導入予定の所得連動型給付についても概要を示した。

20260730180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:04 話者 1/James Tengan

You're watching a live feed from the Office of Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, who's about to speak to reporters on the consumption tax cut on food items.

Japan PM Takaichi Speaks to Reporters
Takaichi Talks on Consumption Tax Cut
PM Takaichi to Lower Consumption Tax on Food to 1% From April

00:00:12 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae

To the people affected and to those who have lost their family members.

Now I'd like to explain a little bit about what I have said at the meeting within our party.

I'd like to show you slide number one.

So I would like to look at the net burden on families, which are higher than other countries.

And I have been looking at people who have been suffering from higher prices as well as a social security burden, especially the mid- to low-income families, and I wanted to reduce

the burden.

And I have placed at the core the reduction of these burdens with tax reductions with benefits, and I have been talking about that often.

And during the election in February, I have talked about

reducing the consumption tax to zero for food for two years, and I have talked about accelerating this.

And I believe the expectation of the people is very high, and therefore in order to make sure that this lightening of the burden will happen fully and speedily, we want to make sure that We can realize this and we will make efforts with determination.

And yesterday, the Social Security National Council was held and the interim report was compiled.

If you can look at slide two, in three years' time, we will have benefits that is linked to income.

And the general direction of this has been agreed upon by the parties that have been part of the council.

So this will be different from a benefit that is paid out in lump sum to everybody.

We will be looking at this so that it will be linked to the income of each family.

And with this, the low- and middle-income families and also the current working families will see their burden become lightened.

And we will also reduce the number of people who will refrain from working because they need to consider the taxation hurdle.

Before this is fully introduced, in order to face the current high prices and also the burden of taxation and social security premiums, we will be looking at measures, and we have discussed ways to do this.

However, concrete ideas -- we were unable to come to an agreement on concrete ideas.

What is it that we need to do to reduce the people's burden?

What the best action, what would that be?

In the interim report, we have had a list of opinions from many of the parties and therefore, after fully considering this, I believe I have been able to select the best action and in the extraordinary

Executive Board meeting today, we were able to gain a consensus.

Therefore, I would like to report on that.

Today at the Board meeting, I said that an income-linked benefit introduction of this should be following the interim report of the National Council, and I wanted to make sure that we will be able to start this from 2029.

Until this is fully introduced, we want to make sure that this is carried out fully and speedily.

And therefore, at this point in time, the income information held at ministries and agencies will be utilized.

And so from 2027, we will be able to start introducing this.

And for food, the consumption tax

If it is 1%, rather than bringing it down to 0%, the system changes needed at the stores will be easier, and therefore we believe that we will be able to start this from 2027.

In the interim report, the chairperson's opinion as well as opinions of other parties have been included, but as you see on slide 3 here,

We want to make sure that all families will see their burden reduced.

And therefore, from 2027, for two years, we will reduce the consumption tax on food.

And then we will look at the low- and middle-income families which are suffering most, and we will have this income-linked benefit from 2029 April.

And also, at the same timing, the food consumption tax will be brought up once again to 8%, the income-linked benefit.

Until this is introduced, we will provide support to middle and low-income families, while as we bring back the consumption tax on food,

we will have the full-fledged benefits, and we want to make that predictable.

And therefore, we will look at this 1 percent.

From 2027 and onwards, we will start the benefits.

So in that way, we will cut the consumption tax on food

so that they will be effectively zero percent.

And I am hoping that we can get the understanding of the nation.

00:07:01 話者 3/Takaichi Sanae

In order to allow enough time for the businesses to prepare, we will start the consumption tax cut from April next year.

And in order to do that, we would like to have the government and the ruling coalition's policy by early August based on the chairperson's proposal and I made that instruction in the executive committee.

As for the issues pointed out in the interim report, first about the farmers who could not benefit from their tax break, we will evaluate the impact

and looking at the support measures implemented in the past, we will listen to the voices of the ruling coalition and with the government responsibility we will come up with actual measures to support these farmers in the budgeting process.

And secondly, as for restaurant business, we will evaluate the impact on them and then looking at support measures in the past, we will come up with budgeting measures to support these restaurants.

And then as for the funding sources, some people will say that it's not very clear, but we as the government is proposing to have the budget reform and the fully-fledged introduction of the refundable tax credit to be implemented in 2029 as well as for the stopgap measure for the two years according to the interim summary and report, we will secure the budget without relying upon the deficit covering government bonds to ensure market confidence.

And as we have already shown, the policy direction of the budget reform, we will look at the review of both the income as well as the spending so that in a stable manner we will continue to reduce the debt balance to GDP ratio.

And special taxation measures and funds and subsidies will also be reviewed.

And because of some special income this year, 2.0 trillion yen outside of the tax income, this will also be reviewed on the zero basis.

So throughout such a reform, we will ensure the funding source needed for this policy.

And as budgeting reform, we will move away from the supplementary.

♪

With the recent supplementary budget, the budget　quite a big portion of that being posted for responding to higher prices that will also be reviewed in order to secure the funding for the stopgap measures.

And after I took the government in the budget process, we have accentuated the focus on certain items of the budget process, and this has been successfully done to reduce the new issuance of the government bonds.

So in the budgeting reform, we will appropriately control the issuance of the government bonds and we will have the full-fledged introduction of the refundable tax credit and stop gap measure with the secured funding.

And #4, as for the returning the tax rate back to 8%.

Some people are worried that it's not going to be possible, but some of the parties have said that a consumption tax is a very important source for social security.

And in order to ensure the sustainability of the finance as well as the market confidence, I will take my own responsibility to make sure that the tax rate will be returned to 8%.

When doing that, there is a concern that there may be an increased burden on the part of the people.

The rate returning to 8% from 1%, that would be starting from 2029, will be covered by the measures to reduce the burdens on the part of the low- to mid-income workers so that people can take more money back home.

And as you can see on slide number four, mid-income and low-income workers will receive support that exceeds the effect of the consumption tax cut on food.

So there should be no such concern.

And low-income persons who are willing to work. These people who require support will be identified thoroughly, and then we will come up with necessary measures to support these people.

And as much as possible, we will implement these measures by the time the fully fledged introduction of the refundable tax credit will start in 2029.

And these people who are elderly, people who are not working, We have the interim report saying that the existing system, including the pension system, will also be considered so that by 2030, when there will be another pension reform, it will be considered and we will make sure that no one will be left behind.

00:13:52 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae

So in between, we will be asking for a lot of ideas, and we have been asking for a lot of ideas, and many people said that benefits could be better and faster than reducing the consumption tax on food.

However, in order to have a benefit that is fair, We need to grasp the income made by high income families, spouses, and also to look at children 16 to 18 within a family who are dependent family members, and therefore after that only we will be able to fully introduce the system, and it will take time.

But the benefit in the past has been provided without the infrastructure, and therefore we did not have a system that is linked to income, and also the municipalities had to prepare very swiftly and quickly.

For example, last year and when we compiled the supplementary budget, the 20,000 yen per child to help the families raising children.

By the end of July this year, the actual benefit did not come out in some municipalities.

But we have pledged in the election in February, as well as feeling the expectation of the nation, we wanted to make sure that we can provide a full and big reduction in the consumption tax on food.

Among some ideas, there were some people who said that we should reduce the residence tax burden as well.

Totally looking at the social security burden on the low to mid-income families, yes, the direction can be agreed upon.

However, when we look at the local societies and when we think about reducing the residential tax in municipalities, as some mentioned in the National Council, 500,000 yen as deductible amount for independent people's residence tax, this may have a permanent effect.

And we need to look at this more fully, the food consumption tax reduction.

If we just do this, the local section for the consumption tax added together 1.6 trillion yen.

But if we look at the basic deduction of 500,000 yen, this will amount to 3 trillion yen in terms of resources.

And if we want to make this permanent, this is not something that we can do all of a sudden.

and the refundable tax credit that I've talked about.

The ideal would be that benefit and tax credit should be linked together, and we need to consider the future of this as well.

The food tax consumption reduction is the first tax reduction or consumption tax reduction since consumption taxes have been introduced here in Japan.

For big disasters or infectious diseases, pandemics, we have been considering that there is a necessity of being able to flexibly change the tax rate.

And therefore we will come up with a system that will make that possible.

This will be a new challenge for Japan and now the income-linked benefit and the plan for the interim.

will be decided early August as a policy for the government as well as the ruling parties.

And then we will have a basic plan in September and we will submit this to the extraordinary session of the Diet.

We are hoping that the burden on people suffering from high prices and social security and tax burdens will be reduced quickly.

And I'm hoping to gain the understanding of the nation.

So that is all from myself. Thank you very much.

00:18:58 話者 12

So now we'd like to take questions.

00:19:07 話者 13

From Nikkei newspaper.

So about the consumption tax cut on food, funding that is estimated to require 5 trillion yen.

Can you truly guarantee that this amount can be covered solely by reviewing special taxation measures and funds?

So for two years, can you guarantee the funding?

And if the funding cannot be secured as expected, can you guarantee with absolute certainty that there will be no shortfall in social security funding?

If income-linked benefits are also to be provided, can you secure a permanent funding source for that as well?

When do you plan to announce the details of this funding?

Given concerns over fiscal deterioration, the risk of depreciation and high prices, on what basis do you still believe that the consumption tax cut can ease the burden of the rising cost of living?

What legal framework or mechanism would ensure that the rate actually returns to its original level after two years?

According to reports, you are considering including an economic contingency clause that would allow the tax cut period to be extended depending on economic condition at that time.

00:20:26 話者 3/Takaichi Sanae

So in our discussion.

According to the policy shown in the chairperson draft, we will not be relying upon deficit covering government bonds to secure the funding.

And then as the policy of the budget reform, we have already demonstrated that we will look at the tax revenue and we will review both tax revenue as well as the spending.

And then the debt to GDP will be stably reduced.

And then that way, we will estimate how much funding can be secured.

And in terms of the review of the special taxation measures and the funds, we will continue to do that in a thorough manner.

we will have some income, which amounts to 9 trillion yen, which is outside of the tax income.

And we will try and secure the funding from the zero basis, the evaluation, so that we will be able to secure the funding for the refundable tax credit as well as the stopgap measure.

And as budget reform will move away from the supplementary budget process and this has been clarified and the supplementary budget has been posted in order to address the rising prices but, the refundable tax credit and a stopgap measure will respond to the price hike.

Therefore, we will review the supplementary budget as well.

And in this big framework of the budget reform, throughout the year we will appropriately control the issue amount of the deficit covering government bonds and

including the stopgap measure and refundable tax credit, we will make sure to respond to the funding source's securement.

Therefore, I do not believe that there will be a shortfall in the social security money.

And in the budget process, we will show you the details of how to secure the budget.

And in two years, in terms of the rate, the parties which took part in the National Council

all said that consumption tax is an important funding source for social security.

We need to ensure market confidence.

Therefore, in two years, under my responsibility, I will make sure to return the rate back to the original rate.

And then in 2029, when the consumption tax rate is returned to the original rate, we will have the fully-fledged introduction of a refundable tax credit.

for low- to mid-income workers to reduce their burden.

And we will make sure that they can have more take-home pay, mid- to long-term, mid- to low-income workers.

they will be able to receive a support that exceeds the tax cut benefit as shown in the slide.

And then we will also have the income-based refundable tax credit and those people who are willing to work, low-income people as well as the elderly people.

They will receive benefits based on their income as well as from the social security perspective, they will never be left behind.

So that will be delivering government support to these people.

And then income-based benefits also will be legally secured, and this will be considered, therefore, the bill to be submitted to the diet in the future.

We do not believe that we need to have economic contingency close.

00:24:38 話者 14

Shimizu from NHK.

Yesterday, you attended the National Council, and the opposition parties said that cutting the consumption tax on food for two years may still be a big burden when you return the consumption tax.

So with the benefits that the opposition parties are calling for, where do you see the issue?

And also Obuchi, the former Election Strategy Committee chair, has left the LDP Research Commission on the tax system because she opposes.

And how will you deal with all these things in order to submit a bill?

Well, food and also daily supplies.

We need some measures in order to deal with the high prices.

And that was the main thing.

And right now here in Japan, the price increase, if we watch the trend, it's getting a bit better, especially food prices.

It's very high. It remains quite high.

Well, then why is it not benefits?

In the past, When we tried to hand out benefits, it took a long time until it reached the people.

So rather than that, reducing the consumption tax on food would be better for people who are struggling now and they will be able to feel the effect of these measures more quickly.

00:26:06 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae

The basic system will be utilized in order to provide benefits.

If we try to start this from March, as some parties have indicated, an advance introduction will be done with the benefits that are linked to income.

In order to do this, we will utilize the information held by ministries and agencies right now.

And then after that, this will be introduced after the residential tax and others will be determined in June.

So the preparation period for the system vendors and for municipalities I believe they will need more time in order to do this, and I was also the internal affairs minister.

I do understand how difficult this could be the 100,000 yen cash benefit, it took a very long time until it reached all the people, and the municipalities had to carry a very heavy burden, workload for this, 

and therefore, even now, what has been approved when we compiled the supplementary budget last year hasn't reached the people in some municipalities now.

So within the party, of course, as a responsible ruling party, we have said that we will reduce the consumption tax on food for two years, and we have said that we will accelerate the deliberation on this.

Therefore, the expectation of the nation was quite high and we have been able to push this through. We believe that a full reduction of consumption tax on...

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

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Once again, the broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

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(2026/7/29) Kumamoto Quake, Mall Explosion & Heatwave | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

A powerful quake struck Kumamoto, causing casualties, a mall explosion, 

and widespread infrastructure damage. Rescue efforts continue under severe heat. 

Japan also faces record temperatures nationwide.

熊本で強い地震が発生し、多数の犠牲、商業施設の爆発、

広範な被害が出ています。猛暑の中で救助活動が続行中です。

日本各地でも記録的な高温が続いています。

20260729180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Yoko Nishimuna

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

Breaking News: Many Casualties Reported After Kumamoto Quake

We begin with updates on the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Japan.

Local officials say at least 12 people are dead and six were found without vital signs in the aftermath of Tuesday's quake. And some are still missing.

The country's prime minister said the clock to save them is ticking.

00:00:38 話者 12/Takaichi Sanae/Japanese Prime Minister

Search and rescue operations are underway at all sites.

More than 20 hours have passed since the quake.

Some people are still waiting for help, and it is a race against time.

00:00:54 話者 1

The tremor hit Kumamoto Prefecture Tuesday afternoon.

It was 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 0 to 7.

Dozens of aftershocks followed, some of them strong earthquakes in their own right.

The Japan Meteorological Agency named the disaster the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake.

The agency says there is still a risk of houses collapsing and the possibility of landslides.

People are being told to be on full alert for more tremors and to stay away from dangerous places.

Officials warn there's still an increased risk for quakes of the maximum intensity for the next week or so, especially in the next few days.

Breaking News: 3 Dead at Large Mall in Kumamoto After Explosion

Rescue operations continue at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where an explosion occurred following the quakes.

Major retailer Aeon says the blast killed three employees and another was in called your pulmonary arrest.

Aeon's executives held a news conference on Wednesday.

The company's president said they sincerely pray for those who lost their lives and offer deepest apologies to the bereaved families and those who were injured.

Aeon said it has been using its group system to confirm the safety of about 2,700 workers, including those from specialized stores. But the status of three people is still unknown.

A car driving past the mall captured the moment of the blast on its dash cam.

Local police say the explosion occurred after about 200 customers, employees and others had already evacuated the shopping center.

This footage was taken by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force using a drone at around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Debris scattered all over the floor and what appears to be the framework of the building is visible.

Kumamoto Mall Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Hot Temperatures

Earlier, I spoke to NHK World's Miyamoto Rikuya, who is outside the mall.

Rikuya, what's the situation like right now?

00:03:03 話者 3/Miyamoto Rikuya

As you can see behind me, the mall itself looks like it was blasted open.

The outdoor walls have collapsed. It looks like a shell of fat it is supposed to be.

As I arrived, I saw rescue workers outside the building.

The traffic lights were all down as workers tried to repair nearby power lines.

Those are back up and running now, but there's still a lot to be done.

It will likely be a long time before this place feels normal again.

00:03:33 話者 1

Now, how are people there feeling about all of this?

00:03:39 話者 3

As you can imagine, a lot of shock. People told me it felt like the reconstruction after the quakes 10 years ago had finally finished, and now this.

I spoke to one 74-year-old man who lives nearby.

He often holds stretching exercises for fellow seniors at the mall.

He says he can't believe this place he saw every day first turned into this.

00:04:08 話者 24/74-year-old man

I heard the big boom yesterday. At the time, I didn't think it was an explosion.

I was shocked when I saw the news on TV. I realized something terrible had happened.

00:04:23 話者 1

As for the rescue operation, do we know how it's going?

00:04:29 話者 3

We haven't heard much, but what I can tell you is that rescuers are working in really rough conditions.

Temperatures have been well over 30 degrees in the Kumamoto region today, and the humidity is intense. You can't stand outside without breaking out in a sweat.

Right now, the forecast is finding those trapped inside.

As for the cause, they will have to wait until later.

Breaking News: 5 Dead, 2 Injured at Factory; 4 Still Missing

00:04:57 話者 1

NHK captured aerial shots of a factory in Kumamoto Prefecture where a smokestack collapsed due to the earthquake.

00:05:08 話者 22/HIrose Osamu/NHK World

This is Nippon Paper Industries plant in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Firefighters can be seen at several places in the factory where the smokestack collapsed.

The search for the missing continues.

00:05:28 話者 1

Officials say that five people are dead and two have been rescued with injuries.

Four people are still trapped inside.

The National Police Agency released footage of the rescue operation at the factory.

It shows major damage to walls, pipes and other equipment.

Local police say there are people trapped under the blue tarps that have been hung on walls and other structures. It's unclear what state they are in.

Breaking News: Extensive Damage Across Kumamoto Prefecture

We are getting more details on the extensive damage caused across Kumamoto Prefecture.

This footage captured by a security camera shows an irrigation canal running between a road and a greenhouse in Yatsushiro City.

Water can be seen surging in waves, splashing higher than the greenhouse and overflowing onto the road.

A barn near a house collapsed in Hikawa town, leaving debris from its roof scattered across the site.

00:06:28 話者 31

There was no damage in the earthquakes ten years ago, but this time the barn collapsed.

There are cracks in the ground here and there.

00:06:45 話者 1

Officials said as of 2 p.m. that about 8,800 people were taking shelter at 432 evacuation centers.

Thousands of households remained without water across the prefecture as of 4 p.m.

That includes roughly 14,000 homes in Uki City and just over 12,000 in Uto City.

Six other municipalities are also affected.

00:07:13 話者 36

We use 20 liters of water for a family of five.

Everything inside the house, like the furniture, kitchen and bath, have collapsed.

So we can't do anything without electricity and running water.

00:07:31 話者 1

Local governments are trying to confirm the situation and are making arrangements to send water trucks.

Kyushu Electric Power Company said on its website that about 34,000 households in Kumamoto Prefecture were without power as of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Major mobile carriers have also said communication services have been disrupted in some disaster-affected areas.

JR Kyushu says that all services on the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train remain suspended.

Some sections of Kyushu expressways are closed in Kumamoto prefecture.

And airline companies say some flights to and from Kumamoto airport have been cancelled.

Breaking News
Kumamoto Quake Forces Plant Closures by Major Companies

The earthquake has also disrupted operations at many factories run by major manufacturers in the prefecture.

Auto parts maker Astemo says several workers at its factory in Kumamoto suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The company has halted operations at the plant and is assessing the damage.

Chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron and printing giant Toppan Holdings have also taken their plans offline while checks are carried out.

Major dairy company Morinaga Milk Industry has suspended operations for the sake of workers' safety amid continuing aftershocks.

Sony Group has also taken a local chip plant offline.

Honda Motor has halted operations at its motorcycle factory in the town of Ozu through Friday due to water leaking at the site.

Japan Hot Spell Persists Including in Quake‑Hit Kumamoto

And it's another hot day across much of Japan on Wednesday, including quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture.

The meteorological agency says temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and 37 degrees in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture by 12:30 p.m.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued in 19 of the country's 47 prefectures from the Kanto region to Okinawa.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, temperatures were 35.5 degrees in Kosa Town and 35 degrees in Kumamoto City by 12:30 p.m.

Weather officials are calling on people in the disaster-stricken areas to take regular breaks as they engage in rescue, cleanup and other recovery operations.

Business

Now to tell us what's happening in the world of business, here's Yuko Fukushima from the Biz Desk.

00:10:13 話者 7/Yuko Fukushima

Thanks, Yoko.

Japan Govt. Panel Proposes 2nd Biggest Hike in Minimum Wage

A Japanese government panel has recommended the average hourly minimum wage be raised by 5 percent. This comes amid a nationwide upward trend for wages.

The 55 yen increase would be the second highest in history following last year's.

The labor ministry panel aims to bring the rate for the current fiscal year to 1,176 yen, or about $7.18.

The target is lower than the 66 yen increase achieved last fiscal year, but it would still be the second largest hike since fiscal 1978 when the panel started making recommendations.

The panel noted the national upward momentum for wages, but also cited a slower rate of inflation as a reason for the lower recommendation.

Prefectural panels will now start discussions on final figures.

The government is pushing to achieve a national average minimum wage of 1,500 yen or $9.15 by the early 2030s.

BYD Launches Sales of Electric Minicar in Japan

Chinese EV giant BYD has launched sales of its debut mini car in Japan.

It's the company's first foray into a market traditionally dominated by domestic makers.

BYD started sales of the electric mini car across Japan on Tuesday.

The least expensive model costs just under 2 million yen or about $12,000 with government subsidies. It can run 210 kilometers on a single charge.

The automaker aims to sell about 10,000 mini cars per year in Japan.

An official says the firm developed the car specifically for the country and designed it to be 100% compliant with domestic standards.

Mini cars are a specific category defined by the Japanese government.

BYD began selling electric passenger cars in Japan in 2023.

Last year, it ranked sixth in the world in terms of vehicles sold, according to one research company.

Markets

Now let's get you a check on the markets.

♪

And that wraps it up for Biz for this hour.

Keiko Fujimori Sworn In as Peru's President

00:12:55 話者 1

Moving to South America, Keiko Fujimori has been sworn in as Peru's president following her narrow victory in the country's presidential runoff election.

Rightist Fujimori is the eldest daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who died in 2024. She defeated a leftist candidate in June.

At her inauguration ceremony in Lima on Tuesday, Fujimori said that her main goal is to close the social gap that affects millions of Peruvians.

She also vowed to boost economic growth.

A series of corruption scandals had resulted in eight people serving as president over the past decade. Fujimori faces the challenge of stabilizing domestic politics.

However, her party lacks a majority in both chambers of parliament, making it essential to form a coalition with other parties.

Many are watching Fujimori's diplomatic priorities closely to see if she can strike a good balance between the US and China.

President Donald Trump's administration has been increasing its commitments in Latin America, while China is Peru's largest trade partner.

In Focus
Radio Host Works to Unite Divided Iranian Diaspora  

The situation in Iran is casting a shadow over relations among Iranians in America.

The largest Iranian community in the US is located in and around Los Angeles with some 230,000 residents.

We follow a radio host who has been listening to the divided voices inside the diaspora.

00:14:46 話者 6/Narrator: Bill Sullivan/Reporter: Komiya Lisa

This radio station in Los Angeles broadcasts Persian-language shows covering a range of topics. A regular host is clinical psychologist Jaleh Benshian.

Born in Iran, she has lived in the United States for more than 20 years.

On her show, she welcomes live callers every Friday.

She's popular for her empathetic engagement that brings out callers' unfiltered voices.

...

The Iran-US conflict has been a major topic on the show.

Right after military operations by the US began,

Iranians in Los Angeles took to the streets to celebrate, in anticipation that the strikes would lead to a regime change.

And Benshian was on the ground too.

However, as devastation spread in Iran, calls for a cease-fire intensified.

A line formed between those who continued to support the war and those who no longer did.

...

Benchian sought to bridge the widening rift within the community.

She intentionally raised a question designed to elicit strong views.

...

She wants to keep the conversation going among people with opposing political views.

...

...

...

Benshian encourages Iranian communities to tolerate their disagreements and reminds them they share a common concern for Iran.

...

As a psychologist and radio host, Benshian helps people understand underlying emotions and find common ground.

00:19:02 話者 48/Jaleh Benshian/Clinical psychologist, radio host

We don't have control over political events, but what we do have control on is the response that we give.

I create a space that people can call in and they share their thoughts and at the same time they can become familiar with other people's point of view.

Then at the end we get into a conclusion altogether.

00:19:30 話者 1

Benshian says some of our listeners feel survivors guilt as they are safe in the US.

They want a better future for Iran while afraid of the further suffering of the people.

How Repairing Film Cameras Heals Hearts

In our increasingly digital world, film cameras might seem outdated and slow.

But inside a Tokyo repair workshop, fixing these broken devices reveals something much deeper, including the power to heal.

00:20:14 話者 5/Azuma Tetsuya/Limye camera repair shop

That click sounds great, not heard on modern cameras.

00:20:19 話者 10/Narrator: Christiane Brew/Reporters: Amakasu Ami / Nagoya Junko

The clicks are coming from a small workshop in Tokyo.

People come here to learn how to repair film cameras.

Some have a lifetime attachment to their cameras.

Others are fixing up secondhand ones to sell. And some just want a new hobby.

00:20:46 話者 5

That's perfect.

00:20:49 話者 4

I can work with complete focus and a clear mind. It's really fun.

00:20:57 話者 10

Azuma Tetsuya organizes the workshop. He has repaired more than 1,000 cameras.

00:21:09 話者 5/Azuma Tetsuya

The greatest reward is seeing people happy after their camera is repaired.

It feels amazing when I diagnose what the problem is, like this part must be broken.

And fixing that part solves the problem just as I predicted.

00:21:25 話者 10

This man hopes that someday he can prepare a camera built by his late grandfather, who once ran a company that made them.

00:21:38 話者 4/Tanaka Yoshihiro

It might sound a bit dramatic to say that my grandfather and his generation staked their lives on this, but I want to honor that. 

When I'm finished, I want to take photos of people smiling.

I want to let the camera live out a good life.

00:22:00 話者 5

Cameras have captured the history of people who are very close to us, like our fathers, mothers, children and grandchildren.

So I feel like we can't just throw these cameras away so easily.

00:22:17 話者 10

Modern society focuses on efficiency and convenience.

Repairing things by hand requires slowing down. which brings meaning into focus.

Nakano Nozomi has been coming here for more than two years.

00:22:41 話者 2/Nakano Nozomi

I was bullied quite a lot as a child, and my home life was difficult.

I think I spent more time than most people reflecting on my own feelings and considering my relationships with others.

00:23:02 話者 10

At some point, she began to see her own heart reflected in the mechanism she was repairing.

00:23:13 話者 2

It got me thinking If there's a common thread between repairing a broken camera and trying to mend a heart that's gradually worn down or on the verge of breaking in society, I wonder if the very act of taking the time to face it head on leads to healing.

00:23:36 話者 10

Workshop owner Azuma wonders too.

He says something special happens when people tinker with analog technology.

00:23:50 話者 5

When we treat our belongings with care, it can sometimes make us feel as if we're taking care of ourselves.

I believe this mindset can be put to good use in our lives when things aren't going well or when we're facing difficulties.

00:24:12 話者 10

Film cameras have survived the test of time.

Time spent repairing them brings frozen moments back to life.

World Weather

00:24:24 話者 1

People across most of Japan will need to be on the lookout for heat stroke concerns, especially those in Kyushu in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.

Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at the situation in world weather.

00:24:39 話者 11/Jonathan Oh

Hello. We continue to monitor the heat that's been impacting not just areas like Tokyo, but even into western portions of Japan.

In the aftermath of the major quick that took place the other day, Kumamoto is dealing with continued hot weather.

Yes, we talk about the high reaching 35 degrees, but the overnight low is not getting much lower. 27 degrees was an overnight low on Wednesday morning, and with the of power outages and with the infrastructure impacts, when you have temperatures like these and you don't have air conditioning to cool down your body, that could increase the concern for heat stroke.

And we have to look at what's happening next.

A high pressure system is moving in, and once that system pushes eastward and brings in a southerly flow, those temperatures are going to be going even higher.

And so that's the reason why it's really, really critical to try to get folks into the safe locations in terms of bringing down the tempreture.

Different story to the northeastern portion of Japan.

We have waves of low pressure system running on through and rain will be the story in places like Sapporo coming out over the next couple of days.

But check out the temperatures here.

Kumamoto moving up to 39 for the high on Saturday and Sunday.

And again, overnight temperatures not cooling off much.

So, we need to repeat the heat stroke prevention tips, staying hydrated at all costs, try to get into some air conditioned areas, make sure that you get the shading, make sure that you are trying to use light colored and loose clothing to help you stay cool as much as possible.

Switching gears and looking at what's happening.

Quick note on Dolphin, a powerful typhoon continue to make switch to north and west for the moment, not impacting any major island chains, but we'll have to watch for this over the next several days.

Foster north of Hawaii will be bringing continued rough surf for the north side of the area with rain, strong winds possible over the next few days.

Stay safe wherever you are.

00:27:35 話者 1

And that's it for now on NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service. Here's a frequency notice.

The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz. Once again, 

the broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj.

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

(2026/7/28) Kumamoto Quake, Infrastructure Damage & Emergency Updates | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

A magnitude 7.1 quake struck Kumamoto, causing bridge collapses, train derailments, and widespread outages. Emergency teams report injuries, fires, and structural damage across the region. 
Authorities urge caution as strong aftershocks continue.
熊本で震度7の地震が発生し、橋の崩落や列車脱線、停電など広範囲で被害が出ています。
負傷者、火災、建物損壊が相次ぎ、緊急対応が続いています。
強い余震への警戒が呼びかけられています。

20260728180000_english_1.mp3

Breaking News: M7.1 Quake Hits Kumamoto Pref.

Bridge Damage and Road Safety

00:00:07 話者 1

I believe that another smaller scale of the bridge, which is probably dedicated to the pedestrians and the bicycles, collapsed, and also the buttless.

Well, the pillars are disappearing from this side that I cannot see.

Maybe that the different structure or the deformed structure and the main bridge stays intact.

However, that you can see the part is collapsed.

How this was folded structurally that we don't know.

So this is probably caused by the earthquake, the damage caused by the earthquake is undoubtedly.

And you can see that on the side of on the main expressway that the roads, the cars are passing.

it looks to be relatively new, but the road may be damaged with a step wide of that, the difference of the elevation may take place after the earthquake and this should be inspected. And if you are driving a car, be extremely careful.

the smaller bridge, the side of the main bridge collapsed.

Yatsushiro City: Collapsed Houses and Blackouts

00:01:21 話者 1

And this is the footage from the Yatsushiro City of the Kumamoto Prefecture.

If you drive the cars, these are the things that are happening, and therefore be very, very careful if you drive the cars right now.

And in Yatsushiro City of the Upper Six, according to the local police, Yatsushiro City, Kagamimachi,

And there are the people who are trapped in the collapsed house, and there was a report to the police of the Yatsushito Police.

Let me repeat: in Yatsushito City, those are the upper six of the intensity, according to local police that in Kagami Nozaki and there is a reporting of the people trapped in the club's houses and also the blackout as well.

According to the media, according to the earthquakes, because of the earthquakes that the city gas, LP gas and also the power generation that they are inspecting whether any 

damages.

Widespread Power Outages

According to Kyushu Power Electricity Companies, about 48,000 households are out of the electricity right now in Kumamoto City.

Seismic Intensity and Affected Municipalities

00:02:32 話者 1

At 4:27 p.m., a strong earthquake occurred in Kumamoto Prefecture in Ukishi and Hikawa-cho that the intensity of seven was observed, and also that the upper six that the Minami district, Yatsushiro city, and Udo, Nemisatosumachi, and Mashimki Machi, and these are the places of the upper six.

And the lower six in Kumamoto project, Kami Amakusa, Koshi, and Utsumachi, and Eshiharamura, and Mihunemachi, and Ashikita townships. 

These are the places of the upper six.

00:03:07 話者 2

The meteorological agency says in Kashima town and Kosa town of Kumamoto prefecture, which is close to the focus, they are unable to know or observe the seismic intensity.

And the agency says that in the local governments near them, the seismic intensity of 5 is expected and a seismic intensity of upper five was registered in Kumamoto Prefectures, Central Ward, Higashi Ward, Nishi Ward, and others, and in Kikuyo Town and Tsunagi Town, and Nagasaki Prefectures, Minami-Shimabara City, in Kagoshima Prefectures, Satsuma Sendai City, Satsuma Town, and Nagashima Town.

Lower five was registered in many regions in Kumoto, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima Prefectures.

The meteorological agency says that the focus of the quake is in Kumamoto region and the depth is 10 kilometers and magnitude is estimated to be 7.1.

Cargo Train Derailment

00:04:17 話者 2

This is the current situation in Yatsushiro city in Kumamoto.

You can see the cargo train has been turned over, it could be the locomotive engine.

The train has collapsed and derailed, probably.

And this is Yatsushiro town in Kumamoto prefecture.

And this information just in Jr. Cargo says, in Yatsushiro city where seismic intensity of upper six was registered, a cargo train has derailed and flipped.

There are no passengers on board and Jr. cargo is currently checking whether the conductor is safe or not.

We don't know if this is the actual train that has been reported, but we can see that the train has derailed hand hat turned on the side.

And we have information that a train has derailed and turned to the side.

Looking at this image, the train is detached from the cargo car, so we don't know what the relationship is between the positions here.

But what we can say is that the first car has turned to that side, has derailed.

That could be confirmed from this image.

Generally speaking, when there is a strong jolt, 

Yes, so yes, this train has derailed and on the side.

So the cargo train has derailed.

So depending on the situation, maybe they were one train all connected together.

So the cargo car as well as the train itself.

And there are several cars that are on the side, so you can see the derailment in many of the cars. So I think this train had been affected by a very strong jolt.

00:06:25 話者 3

And the damage, what caused this damage, we don't know, but this area may have been shaken very violently.

And usually, if the shaking is not that violent, this doesn't happen.

And also the cargo and the train car, we can see that the earthquake has affected them greatly.

In any case, the Kumamoto earthquake was an intensity 7 on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7 compared to the Noto earthquake and the previous Kumamoto earthquake.

It's on par with them and therefore we may imagine that similar damage has been caused.

And it's now 6 p.m. Please make sure that you find a safe place to stay this evening and also look around and see if there's anybody needing help.

Also, try to tell everybody around you if you are safe.

00:07:27 話者 3

And now we have a phone call connected to Kashima City of Kumamoto Prefecture.

We have the General Affairs Division person, Sakaguchi-san.

Thank you very much.

Can you hear us?

Yes.

In your town, we don't know the intensity of the earthquake there.

But what was the shake like?

Well, it felt very strong.

So I believe it's lower six or maybe upper six or even lower seven.

That's how strong the jolt was felt.

And right now, where are you?

Well, right now I'm inside the town hall and I'm trying to deal with the situation here.

Are you getting information about damage inside the municipality?

Well, yes, we hear about some injuries and well water.

Some people say that it's turned muddy and they can't drink or use the water from the wells.

And also, what is the situation with the lifeline, like power, water supply, and others?

Well, the water supply, the wells are being used, the well water is being used in many households. And people say that the water from the tap is turning muddy.

They can't really drink the water.

That's one thing. And also concerning blackouts, we have not been able to confirm the situation ourselves yet.

And also about people who have evacuated.

Do you have any information about them?

Well, so far, no, we don't know.

We don't have any information about people who have evacuated.

Now, I'm very sorry. I'd like to ask you, right now, around the office, what is the situation about collapsed buildings or any fires? Can you tell us what you see?

00:09:30 話者 1

We have not checked the details yet, so this is preliminary information.

There are some smokes observed at some places and also the city hall that I can see some whitish smoke rising after the explosive sound.

Yes.

Again, I have to refrain from saying anything categorical because it is preliminary information.

Is the information quite confused about the damaged information?

Not exactly.

Right now, yes.

Well, the telephones are calling one after the telephones are not ringing off the phone, for example.

So, so far, that it is enough for us to take measures.

But the more that we know about the damage, there may be the situation we have to be more concerned. I don't know.

During the night, what are the support that are you going to provide for the sheltered people or evacuees?

As for the shelter centers -- I'm sorry. 

I'm sorry. Well,

The tsunami warrant tsunami advisory was lifted.

Sakaguchi-san, I'm very sorry.

But this news has just come in.

Sorry for the interruption.

That tsunami advisory was lifted.

And after the dark and during the night, what is your wish to the local people?

First of all, to contain

that ensure your safety and also to protect yourself from the aftershocks and the tsunami.

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Sakaguchi, and be careful yourself.

Thank you.

Sakaguchi-san is from the General Affairs section of the city hold of the Kashima Township.

Long-Period Ground Motion Effects

00:11:31 話者 1

This is the Yatsushiro cities, and this is the Japan paper. that are limited.

And you can see that the Nippon Paper Corporations, the building, that you can see that the stack is collapsed in the middle of their Yatsushiro, the plant of the Nippon Seishi, the plant.

You can see that the footage tells you that the stack, that the big stack was collapsed.

It was broken into two because of the level four of the long period ground motion.

And so the shaking was violent and also that continued a long time, which was suspected because the big structure like this has affected in a significant way the breaking of the stack in two, for example, or the rollover of the cargo trains. attest to this big shaking.

Continued Aftershocks and Structural Risks

00:12:40 話者 2

So please ensure safety around you first.

This is the key message we want to convey to people on the ground.

things might fall from unexpected places and there could be secondary damage, so please be on the alert.

This is footage from above the Yatsushiro city in Kumamoto Prefecture.

At 4:27 p.m., a seismic intensity of maximum of seven was registered and then there was a seismic intensity of five later on, two minutes later, so there's a danger that they will be continuing to have strong jolts.

So right now the structures might be in place, but the next quake might actually collapse such structures.

So please be on the alert. Little by little we are knowing, we are finding out what is going on.

There's been some collapse of houses, infrastructures, as well as water pipes bursting.

And there are also regions where we don't know what the seismic intensity was, so please be on the alert.

Medical Response and Injuries

The seismic intensity of seven was registered in Hikawa Town at the Yatsushiro Northern Medical Center.

Shortly before 6 p.m., more than about 50 people due to injuries have been transported or have visited the hospital.

Once again, in Kumamoto Prefecture's Hikawa Town at the Yatsushiro Northern Region Medical Center shortly before 6 p.m. at least around 50 people due to injuries have been transported or have arrived at the hospital.

Nuclear Power Plant Status

And here's an information about the nuclear power plant Kyushu region and Shikoku region. Each of the electricity companies says that they have not seen any abnormalities.

Kyushu electric power company says a seismic intensity of upper five was registered in Kagoshima prefecture's Sasuma Sendai Sea.

The Sendai number one and number two plants are in operation, but there are no abnormalities registered at this moment.

As you can see, there was a seismic intensity of two in Saga Prefecture's Genkai Town's Genkai Nuclear Power Plant.

Number three is going through inspections and is out of operation, as well as number four is not in operation.

Shikoku Electric Power Company says a seismic intensity of four was registered in Ikata Town, Ikime Prefecture.

Ikata Nuclear Power Plant number three is in operation, but they did not see any abnormalities at this moment.

For all nuclear power plants, the monitoring posts are not showing any deviations in the radioactive material and measurements.

Building Collapses and Missing Persons

00:15:34 話者 3

According to the Kumamoto police, where intensity 7 was observed as of 512 buildings or houses have collapsed and in four cases people have been trapped under the rubble.

It's mainly in Yatsushiro city.

And also people who have not been contacted, right now there are about nine within the prefecture.

And this is according to the Kumamoto Prefectural Police.

Expressway Damage and Fires

Now looking at the latest on the earthquake, this is the Kyushu Expressway, and because of the shaking, we can see that parts of the road have collapsed.

And this is Yatsushiro City, Kumomuto Prefecture, the Kyushu Expressway.

We can see that along two bridge piers, the road has shifted and are misaligned.

And we also see some fire occurring.

In Uki City as of 5 p.m., we see flames coming out of buildings and we also see black smoke rising from the buildings.

And this is within Kumamoto City right after the earthquake or right when the earthquake occurred.

The speaker says that he is on a bypass and he can see that the poles are shaking widely.

And we also hear the alarm sound of the early earthquake warning.

And this is as of 5 p.m. also in Kumamoto City.

The driver says that the traffic lights are not on, they are not working.

And he also says that from the road he sees water seeping out.

He says that he sees water seeping out from the road.

And there are cracks along the road. This is in Kumamoto.

And This could be because of the earthquake. There are cracks along the road.

Evacuations and Public Reaction

00:17:44 話者 1

This is the central district, Kumamoto, and many people evacuated to outside of the building to the road after a big jolt happened very just now.

I used to work at the eighth floor of the building and all the furniture collapsed and she said that it was the mess inside of her office.

At around 5 o'clock, this is the Kumamoto station in front of the Kumamoto station.

Many people are gathered in front of the stations looking at the smartphone screens and calling their friends and relatives.

J.R.'s operation is going to be suspended all that the convention and on the Shinkansen.

And I was in the third floor of the building, but the jolt was strong and long, and she was very, very surprised.

Kagoshima is close by and she was planning to go back home tonight, but it is very difficult tonight.

And this woman says horizontally that the jolt was very violent and she was afraid that the ceiling is going to collapse and she felt her legs started to shake.

Mountain Slope Dust and Castle Damage

This is Midabishiraba city of the Kumamoto prefecture at about the earthquake took place.

You can see that the white smoke-like things are rising from the mid of the mountains.

So you can see that this is probably that the dust is going down from the slope of the mountains of the Kumamoto prefecture.

And Kumamoto, the district area in center of five, according to the city center of the general affairs sections, a part of the stone walls of the Kumamoto castle partly collapsed.

However, there are no reports of the damage or the injuries of the visitors.

And according to operators of the Kumamoto airport, in Masukimachi, Kumamoto

airport where the upper sixth of the intensity was observed.

And oh, that taking off and landing of the aircrafts are suspended for the inspection.

There is no plan of that resuming the operation.

Telecommunications Disruptions

00:20:15 話者 2

And we are hearing about cell phone services in Kumamoto parts of the areas.

They are unable to provide telecommunication service and DOCOMO says

including emergency alerts.

Part of Kumamoto Prefecture, they are having a hard time providing connections and providing communication services.

KDDI, that operates AU, says in Yatsushiro City and Hitoshi City in Kumamoto Prefecture, they are unable to provide or having a hard time connecting communication service, including emergency alerts.

Rakuten Mobile says in part of Kumamoto Prefecture, they are having a difficulty providing the telecommunication services and sometimes the connection is not that far available.

Softbank says there are no major effects from this quake at this moment.

All telecommunication carriers are saying that they are checking on the damage to the base stations and via internet you may use the bulletin board service for disaster hit people where you could register your safety and whereabouts.

Collapse of Commercial Facility

00:21:25 話者 2

We are looking at the live footage of Kumamoto.

This It seems to be a very large structure and you can see it has collapsed significantly.

So the ceiling and the outer walls have collapsed.

This is said to be a commercial facility in Kumamoto city.

A part of the ceiling has been gone.

So we just see the structure, the base structure, and there are people who are near the building.

We hear that this is a commercial facility in Kumamoto Prefecture.

There are no emergency vehicles nearby.

We do identify several people near the structure, but we can see the collapsed walls and some of the part of the structure that has fallen a little bit far from the building itself.

So it shows the significance of the jolt.

Yes, we can't really tell what it is, but even if it's just a jolt that caused such a collapse, it's hard to believe that a significant jolt only would cause such a structure.

Maybe there could be another phenomenon that occurred.

What do you mean phenomenon?

So together with the jolt, there could have been some sort of, for example, a fire could occur or some other developments.

Tsunami Advisory Lifted

00:23:02 話者 4

This is NHK World Japan's breaking news on Japan's strong earthquake.

A shortly after 6 p.m., the Japan Meteorological Agency lifted the tsunami advisory for the coast of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsuchiro Sea.

Once again, the JMA has already lifted the tsunami advisory that was once in place for the coast of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsuchiro Sea.

And going back to the earthquake itself, and an extremely powerful one has struck Japan's Kyushu region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has once issued a tsunami advisory for the coast of the Ariake Sea and the Yatsuchiro Sea, but As I just said, it's been now lifted.

The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.1. It is struck in Kumamoto Prefecture at 4:27 p.m., about two hours ago from now, on Tuesday.

It registered an intensity of 7 on the Japanese seismic scale of 0 to 7.

It's the most powerful one.

The last time a quake hit that level was during the 2024 Noto Peninsular New Year's quake.

Long tremors that could rock high-rise buildings have been recorded in the region.

The JMA calls this long-period ground motion. It affects people on higher floors.

A four-level scale ranks their intensity. There was class 4 shaking in Kamamoto region.

and that is so strong it can be impossible to move without crawling.

Government Response

And moving on, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made a statement at her office.

00:24:53 話者 5/Takaichi Sanae

I instructed relevant ministries and agencies to determine the extent of damage as soon as possible and closely coordinate with local governments and make utmost efforts to take emergency measures such as saving and rescuing disaster victims under the government's policy of putting human lives first and also provide information on tsunami and evacuation to the people in an appropriate manner.

00:25:22 話者 4

She said the government has received reports of some injuries and damage to roads and bridges, as well as fires and power blackouts.

Takaichi said a team has been dispatched to the affected area to assess the situation on the ground.

Meteorological Agency Briefing

The Japan Meteorological Agency held a news conference.

00:25:46 話者 5/Kiyomoto Masashi/Japan Meteorological Agency

Because this earthquake occurred at a shallow depth, many tremors are taking place.

Please remain alert for further tremors and rainfall, and please stay away from dangerous areas. And also, please be alert for potential earthquakes with a maximum seismic intensity of around 7 over the next week or so.

JR Freight Derailment Confirmation

00:26:06 話者 4

Jr. Freight Railway Company says a freight train derailed and overturned at Yatsushiro Station in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. No passengers are reported injured.

The company is checking whether the train driver was injured.

As we've been reporting, a perflous series of earthquakes struck Japan's Kyushu region on Tuesday afternoon.

Summary of Aftershocks and Long-Period Motion

The Japan Meteorological Agency has now lifted its tsunami advisory.

A magnitude 7.1 tremor struck in Kumamoto Prefecture at 4.27 p.m. 2 hours ago.

It registered intensity 7 on the Japanese seismic scale of 0 to 7.

The last time to hit that level was the 2024 Noto Peninsular New Year's quake.

Tuesday's powerful quake was followed by a number of others, some of which reached up to lower five on the Japanese scale. Long tremors were also recorded in the region.

The JMA calls this long-period ground motion and ranks its intensity on a four-level scale.

These tremors can rock high-rise buildings and affect people on higher floors.

The Kumamoto region saw class 4 shaking that is strong enough to make it impossible to move without crawling. And class 3 tremors make it difficult to remain standing.

These were felt in the Amakusa and Ashikita regions of the prefecture.

Experts say this can be strong enough to topple furniture.

Live Footage of Shopping Mall Fire

We're getting some live footage of the Kumamoto prefecture of shopping mall.

This is an aerial shot. We see two fire engines and some fire.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English radio service. Here's a frequency notice.

The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz. Once again, 

the broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj. nhk.jp/rj

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

(2026/7/27) Iran Conflict, Ukraine Strikes & Tokyo Business | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

US–Iran tensions continue as Washington pauses strikes for diplomatic talks.
Ukraine expands attacks on Russian and Iranian-linked logistics routes.
Japan sees rising rents, BOJ policy decisions, and new tech in agriculture.
米国はイランへの攻撃を一時停止し、外交交渉の余地を探っている。
ウクライナはロシア・イラン関連の物流ルートへの攻撃を拡大。
日本では家賃上昇、日銀政策判断、新技術導入などの動きが続く。

20260727180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Yamaguchi Hiroaki

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.

Iran Conflict: Us Pauses Attacks On Iran To Allow For Diplomatic Talks

The US ambassador to the United Nations says President Donald Trump has paused attacks on Iran to allow for talks with the country.

Ambassador Mike Waltz made the comment in an interview with Fox News Channel's Fox News Sunday. He said that Trump is giving the talks some space.

00:00:33 話者 12/Mike Waltz

He's giving it a little bit of room.

We've had both Amman and Iran and a number of our other negotiators engaged at every level, from the most senior levels all the way down to the technical level.

00:00:47 話者 1

The US military had announced its 13th consecutive day of strikes on Iran on Thursday, but made no such announcement on Friday.

There had been no reports of direct strikes by either side since then.

According to Reuters, senior Iranian officials have voiced skepticism over the halt in attacks and have called it a tactical pause rather than a genuine one.

The Turkish government-affiliated Anadoru news agency cites mediators from Pakistan and Qatar as having proposed a joint de-escalation plan.

It urges the US and Iran to return to their pre-July 9 positions as a first step to resume stalled talks to permanently end the conflict.

The news agency also quoted the sources as saying that both sides have communicated their consent for dialogue and diplomacy.

Meanwhile, other sources tell the news agency there are still concerns that either side could reignite hostilities.

Iran Conflict: Top Us Commander Reportedly Advises Halting Strikes

The top US military commander in the Middle East has reportedly recommended halting the airstrike campaign around the Strait of Hormuz.

A report Sunday by US news outlet Axios cites two sources as saying Admiral Brad Cooper gave his recommendation to the Pentagon, the Joint Chiefs and the White House.

The article says the US Central Command leader stressed that two weeks of strikes in the Strait of Hormuz area had significantly degraded Iran's ability to attack ships.

It says Cooper noted that designated targets had been mostly exhausted.

The article says Cooper mentioned a possible next step would be resuming major combat operations to finish the 20 percent of targets the US military designated, but did not strike.

Cooper reportedly said unless a decision was made to return to major combat operations, there would be no point in continuing the bombing campaign of the previous two weeks.

Axios said Cooper's recommendation and those from other advisers impacted President Donald Trump's decision on Friday to pause the US strikes against Iran.

On Sunday, Iran's state-run media reported Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ismael Baghei says the Americans are exchanging messages.

War In Ukraine
Kyiv Claims Strikes On Ships Moving Cargo Between Russia, Iran

Ukraine says it has struck vessels in the Caspian Sea used to transfer cargo with military uses between Russia and Iran. Tehran has condemned Kyiv for the attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the strikes on Saturday.

He also said that Ukrainian forces hit a logistics facility in Yekaterinburg in central Russia.

Kyiv has been stepping up attacks meant to disrupt Russian supply chains and weaken its ability to sustain military operations.

Iran's foreign ministry slammed Ukraine for striking an Iranian commercial vessel, calling the act a violation of international law.

It says the attack killed one sailor and injured another.

Iran says that it has never intervened in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

It accused Kyiv of seeking to expand hostilities.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued its attacks.

Ukraine's state emergency service said on Sunday that Russian strikes killed two people, including a nine-year-old girl in Ukraine's north.

It also said one person was killed in the eastern region of Kharkiv and another in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.

War In Ukraine
Expert: Ukraine Aiming To Force Russia To Stretch Resources

Ukraine's forces are also stepping up their attacks on the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea. Russia unilaterally annexed the territory in 2014.

A Ukrainian military expert says his country has been targeting sites in Crimea and on Russian soil.

He explains the aim is to force Moscow to stretch its resources by compelling it to protect wide swaths of land. Ivan Stupak spoke to NHK in an interview.

He acknowledged Russia has a vast advantage over Ukraine in troop numbers.

00:05:13 話者 23/Ivan Stupak/Ukrainian defense analyst

We have no ability to stop Russia on battlefront.

They have an incredibly great army, I mean, in terms from personnel, about 700,000 of Russian individuals right now on Ukrainian soil.

00:05:32 話者 1

Stupak noted Ukraine has been ramping up attacks on oil-related facilities and other targets within Russia's territory and elsewhere.

He pointed out the intention of the strategy is to undermine Moscow's ability to continue the fighting.

00:05:48 話者 23

Some of Ukrainian Western countries supplying Ukraine with extremely sophisticated intelligence information and it allows us to conduct precise strike.

00:06:03 話者 1

Stupak made it clear strike in Crimea is especially important as the region has many military and other facilities.

00:06:12 話者 23

The Kremlin, Putin and his officials, they are waiting for winter to destroy Ukrainian economy and to undermine Ukrainian morale.

So I think at least until next February, war will continue, unfortunately.

00:06:30 話者 1

Stupak predicts Russia's forces will resume intense assaults on energy-related infrastructure and other targets in Ukraine during the winter.

Suspect In Berlin Ramming Attack Killed By Police

Police in Germany have fatally shot a man suspected of driving a vehicle into a crowd in central Berlin on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring 29 others.

German police and media outlets report the vehicle rammed into a crowd near the capital's Brandenburg Gate.

The incident occurred not far from the Berlin Pride Festival, a major LGBTQ+ pride gathering.

Following the search, police said they located the suspect on Sunday and fatally shot him as he ran toward officers with what they called a stabbing weapon.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the scene of the attack and offered flowers to the victims.

00:07:27 話者 34/Friedrich Merz

We will not allow this poison of terrorism, this poison that threatens our freedom to continue to spread throughout our society.

Regardless of any party political differences of opinion, we will defend the freedom of our society.

00:07:50 話者 1

The 21-year-old suspect had been under police surveillance for suspected connections with Islamist networks. Police are continuing their investigation into the case.

Business

Now let's turn to Yuko Fukushima for what's happening in the world of business.

Yuko.

00:08:07 話者 5/Yuko Fukushima

Thank you, Hiroaki.

Boj Expected To Consider Leaving Policy Rate On Hold

The Bank of Japan is set to hold a policy meeting later this week.

Experts say the bank will likely keep the rate unchanged this time to see how last month's hike is affecting households and businesses.

The BOJ's two-day meeting will start on Thursday.

In June, board members raised the policy rate by a quarter of a percentage point to around one percent.

Policymakers also plan to compile their latest outlook on the economy and prices.

Some POJ officials have indicated the country's growth rate for fiscal 2026 will likely be higher than previously forecast.

They say there has been strong demand in sectors related to AI.

They also say Japan's securing of alternative crude oil sources has eased the risk of disruptions to corporate activities stemming from the situation in the Middle East.

But some officials have expressed concerns about tensions flaring up in the region and point to rising crude oil futures.

They also say the historically weak yen, which is now in the 163 range against the dollar, could contribute to higher prices.

Tokyo Single-Use Condo Rent Hits Record High For 25th Month

A new survey shows that the average rent for single occupancy condominium units in Tokyo's 23 wars rose to a record high in June for the 25th month in a row.

Real estate information company At Home says rent for rooms up to 30 square meters stood at over 114,000 yen or about $700.

That's up more than 12% in yen terms from a year earlier and is the highest since the survey began in 2015.

At Home officials say rents normally drop in June following the peak moving season around April when Japan's new fiscal and school year starts.

But they say this year, landlords have continued to raise prices after the peak season due to higher costs.

Rice Planting Drone Takes Flight

Japan's shrinking population is bringing with it a decline in the number of rice farmers.

The situation is leading companies and governments to explore new ways to make rice growing more efficient, including the use of aerial drones.

HK World Serizawa Marina has more.

00:10:22 話者 6/Serizawa Marina

These machines are common sight across rice paddies in Japan.

They can plant seedlings that have been carefully nurtured in greenhouses.

While the method enables stable yields, it's time-consuming and labor-intensive.

A group in Akita Prefecture may be about to get a solution off the ground.

The collaboration between a local government, a university, and a company has developed a flying drone that sows rice seeds.

The 1.8 meter square craft can navigate autonomously.

One challenge was keeping the seeds in the device from bunching up.

00:11:11 話者 61

The seeds clogged easily, and whenever a blockade occurred, we had to land the drone, clear the clog, and then fly it again.

They install a rod that stirs the rice seeds inside the tank to prevent them from clumping together.

Another problem was even distribution.

The drone pushes out seeds with a spinning blade located inside.

Initially, the drone had a single dispensing outlet, but the centrifugal force of the blade caused the seeds to spread more in one direction.

So the engineers installed guison outlets in all directions to ensure even distribution.

The company has been working with a local government and a university to help farmers effectively use the device.

The result is that seed with the drone is only 3% lower than when planting seedlings with the traditional method.

Komatsu Nahoko wanted to try it to see if she could reduce her father's workload.

Today, she was able to finish rice planting in less than an hour.

00:12:33 話者 67/Komatsu Nahoko

It was very efficient. We needed fewer people, and it was done in such a short time.

00:12:44 話者 6

The national government is paying close attention to the use of drones.

00:12:52 話者 64/Abe Daiki/Japanese Agriculture Ministry official

I believe this technology could help save labor and reduce the number of workers needed, so I expect it to spread throughout Japan in the future.

00:13:03 話者 6

The manufacturer hopes this drone will be used in other parts of Asia as well, helping make time spent planting rice fly by.

Serizawa Marina NHK World.

Markets

00:13:19 話者 5

Now let's get you a check on the markets.

♪

And that wraps it up for a biz for this hour.

00:13:52 話者 1

Thanks, Yuko.

Ancient Japanese Capitals Join World Heritage List

Now, Japan has a new entry on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The organization has officially recognized the importance of the ancient capitals Asuka and Fujiwara.

The United Nations Cultural Agency made the decision on Sunday in Busan, South Korea.

Japan nominated 19 archaeological sites in the western prefecture of Nara dating from the 6th to 8th centuries.

They include the remains of an imperial court and a burial mound called Takamatsuzuka Tomb.

The Cultural heritage sites are centered in the village of Asuka and extend into the cities of Kashihara and Sakurai.

This will be Japan's 27th entry on UNESCO's list of important cultural and natural sites.

Locals in Nara held public viewing events for the announcement.

00:14:55 話者 57

I'm really happy. People in Asuka Village have been working on this for a long time.

00:15:04 話者 53

I think this is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on this area.

00:15:14 話者 1

UNESCO recognized the ancient capitals as marking the introduction of a centralized state system in Japan modeled after Chinese codified law.

It represents the significant political and cultural influence from China and Korea at the time.

Ancient Capitals Show Historical Intra-Asian Ties

Earlier, I spoke to NHK World's Kim Chan-ju in Busan, where the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session is being held.

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

00:15:44 話者 8/Kim Chan-ju

There has been a lot of energy here at the venue.

This is the first committee session to be hosted by South Korea since the country joined the World Heritage Convention 38 years ago.

The official exhibition pavilion is called K-Heritage House and it is attracting huge crowds.

It gives an overview of Korea's world heritage sites and cultures, including demonstrations of traditional crafts.

People here are even more excited after the expansion of the Kepa Tidal Flats heritage site was officially approved on Saturday.

The flats run along South Korea's southern and western coasts and are recognized for their biodiversity and ecological importance.

00:16:36 話者 1

Chan-ju, what has the reaction been there to the official recognition of the ancient Japanese capitals as World Heritage sites?

00:16:47 話者 8

People here have been celebrating it as proof of the historical exchange between Japan and South Korea.

Yesterday, a re-enactment of the departure of the Choson Tongsin Sa Procession was held here in Busan as a symbol of international friendship.

The Jojeon Tongshinsa were a series of Korean diplomatic missions to Japan during the Edo period.

And they are jointly inscribed by the two countries on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.

I spoke earlier with Choi Jae-heon, chair of the Korean National Committee of ICOMOS.

He said the Asuka-Fujiwara ancient capitals would serve as a bridge between countries, enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation, which is one of the guiding principles of UNESCO's World Heritage Initiative.

00:17:46 話者 84/Choi Jae-heon

I believe it is extremely important for ordinary people to visit the site, recognize its status and realize that its importance is what the evidence there shows about the close exchanges between Korea, Japan and China since ancient times.

00:18:05 話者 8

Some South Korean media outlets say Japan needs to make a greater effort to inform locals and visitors about the historical influence from the Korean Peninsula as current leaflets and information boards at the sites lack such explanations.

For his part, Choi Jae-heon says he hopes that people can come to see culture not just as a source of personal pride, but as the product of fusion between people.

He believes that world heritage designations like this help people to cherish not only their own culture, but the cultures of others as well.

Okinawa Coffee Growers Brew Up New Techniques

00:18:53 話者 1

Okinawa is a well-known holiday spot, but there's another industry with growing potential, which is coffee.

The humid climate is challenging, so local farmers are learning from Taiwanese experts whose coffee has earned high praise.

00:19:09 話者 7/Narrator: Kitadai Hiroko/Reporters: Nakahora Takuto / Koyanagi Kazuhiro

This event in Okinawa promotes locally grown coffee, but large-scale production is proving difficult. Higa Eriko began producing coffee five years ago.

But there are difficulties in terms of quality and output compared to other areas around the world.

00:19:40 話者 71

These beans swelled and split open due to moisture.

00:19:49 話者 7

While most coffee-growing regions are located at high altitudes and in drier areas, Okinawa has low elevation and high rainfall.

So, Higa is focusing on coffee from nearby Taiwan, which has grown in popularity over the past decade. 

At auction, it can go for about 40 US dollars per 100 grams, and its quality is recognized worldwide. Higa visited Taiwan to study cultivation techniques.

This specialist has worked with farms and cafes to improve quality and yield.

00:20:39 話者 74/Lin Che-hao/Coffee specialist

In Taiwan, the distance from farm to table is short and it's easy to visit the farms.

Okinawa has similar conditions.

00:20:50 話者 7

In April, she invited Taiwanese experts and farmers to Okinawa.

Here, the yeon per tree is less than half that of Taiwan.

Farmers are learning techniques to boost production even in Okinawa's humid climate.

00:21:10 話者 75/Janna/Taiwanese coffee farmer

Is it okay to cut this tree?

00:21:15 話者 7

Two of the four trunks are cut down and about half the branches are pruned.

00:21:23 話者 75

This lets the air circulate better.

00:21:27 話者 7

Pruning helps prevent disease and ensures that nutrients reach the fruit thoroughly.

00:21:37 話者 76

Are there any special methods for securing trees against typhoons in Taiwan?

00:21:41 話者 75

Staking is the correct way. If it falls over in the wind, don't prop it back up.

Just leave it as it is, new branches will grow.

00:21:56 話者 7

The Taiwanese style is to wait for new buds to emerge from the fallen tree.

00:22:05 話者 77/Okinawa coffee farmer

Not propping up a fallen tree was a valuable lesson.

00:22:10 話者 78/Okinawa coffee farmer

I want to put this into practice in Okinawa while observing Taiwanese methods.

00:22:21 話者 79/Higa Eriko/Coffee farmer

I'm deeply grateful to the farmers in Taiwan for teaching Okinawan farmers who are passionate about making great coffee.

00:22:33 話者 7

With the help of Taiwanese know-how, Okinawa's coffee farmers aim to attract tourists with palate-pleasing local brews.

Majestic Floats Paraded At Western Japan Festival

00:22:44 話者 1

In other news, colorful floats paraded through a city in Japan's western prefecture of Oita at a traditional summer festival.

The Hita Gion Festival began more than 300 years ago to ward off disease and disaster.

Floats paraded through a part of the city full of historic buildings.

Some depicted scenes from the traditional performing arts of Kabuki and Joruri.

00:23:13 話者 94

The white clouds in the blue sky and the landscape of the city matches perfectly with the floats. I was able to take wonderful photos.

00:23:23 話者 1

The back of one float was adorned with a textile measuring about 3 by 1.3 meters.

It featured embroidery depicting a golden carp climbing up a waterfall at sunrise.

It is a reproduction of a now-retired textile said to have been made in 1840.

00:23:43 話者 91/Iwasawa Koji/Float operator

The sun and the waterfall depicted on the new textile look clearer.

I hope the sight of the carp energizes people.

00:23:53 話者 1

The festival is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

♪

World Weather

Now the weather.

Amid the hotter weather spreading across Japan, we also saw heavy rain and storms during the day Monday. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at the details.

00:24:37 話者 2/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we have been seeing some of these clouds popping up over the past couple of days.

A little burst of clouds, a little burst of rain, and it's causing some problems in the ground as well.

For Monday, central and western portions of Japan saw some of the activity.

I want to show you some video to give you an idea of the scene on the ground.

It has been another day of unstable weather in parts of Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported over 80 millimeters of rainfall in just one hour in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture early Monday morning.

The torrential rain caused a landslide as well as inundation.

Heavy rain also suddenly hit Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture.

JMA said that it was the first time in three weeks that the city had reported significant rainfall.

So, we got a little bit of instability in place. We've got a stationary front that's off toward the east, a low coming out of the continent of the parts of Asia.

And so as that rolls on through, you might want to have the umbrellas nearby.

It's not going to bring a lot of relief in terms of the heat, especially for the western portions of Japan.

So you need to take those precautions as we go throughout the next few days.

So notice Fukuoka still in the mid 30s for the rest of the week.

Rain to Toyama, also Tokyo and seeing the rain ending and then hello heat, you're back again.

Sapporo looking at some rain coming up for Wednesday into Thursday.

Speaking of heat still taking place in the southern portions of Europe, we do have a front that's moving through the central portions of the continent and that's how we bring some rain and some thunderstorms as well as we go through Monday from Moscow through Warsaw, Vienna, Rome seeing rain, but 37 for the high, 37 also into Lisbon, 35 in Athens.

So we are definitely going to need to take those proper precautions as we go forward throughout the next few days.

He'd also part of the story into western portions of North America, especially the United States, but to the east, instability, rain and possibly strong thunderstorms into the upper Midwest as we go throughout the day on Monday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:35 話者 1

And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline. Thank you very much for staying with us.

cheked.

NHK World

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