2026年9月22日火曜日

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/9/22) Typhoon Dujuan, Nepal Support & Noto Memorial

Typhoon Dujuan caused deadly floods and landslides in Japan. 
日本では台風ドゥージャンによる洪水と土砂災害が発生した。
Japan pledged long-term support for flood-hit Nepal. 
日本はネパールの洪水被災地への長期支援を表明した。
Noto Peninsula marked two years since the deadly rainfall disaster. 
能登半島は豪雨災害から2年の節目を迎えた。
NHK World Newsline Anchor Yuko Fukushima
20260922180000_english_1.mp3

00:00:11 話者 1/Yuko Fukushima

Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

Typhoon Dujuan Leaves 4 Dead, 6 Missing in Japan

Typhoon Dujuan has brought record rainfall to the Kanto and Tokyo's island regions. This has caused widespread flooding and landslides. Dujuan is now moving away from Japan, but weather officials are urging people to remain on high alert. Flooding was seen on Tuesday morning in parts of a residential area in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture.

00:00:40 話者 11

I knew there was flooding, but I was surprised this morning that the water hadn't receded much. 

00:00:48 話者 1

The city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa prefecture reported multiple landslides. A woman in her 60s has been confirmed dead after mud flowed into her house. Police and firefighters are trying to find a couple in their 70s.

In the prefecture's city of Miura, a mudslide struck a two-story apartment building. A female resident in her 20s is unaccounted for. In a house about two kilometers away, another woman in her 30s is said to be missing. 

Local authorities in Chiba say a series of landslides hit the prefecture. They say three people have been killed and two others are missing. They are believed to have been inside homes that collapsed.

Japan Pledges Long-Term Support for Flood-Hit Nepal

00:01:32 話者 1

Japan's foreign minister has expressed Tokyo's long-term support for Nepal as the nation recovers from last month's devastating flash floods. Motegi Toshimitsu made the comments when he met Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Kanal on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

00:01:54 話者 22/Motegi Toshimitsu

Japan will do everything it can for Nepal, its longtime friend, including support for emergency measures, as well as medium and long-term assistance.

00:02:06 話者 1

Kunal expressed gratitude, adding Nepal is sparing no efforts to search for foreign nationals who remain unaccounted for, including five from Japan.

Noto Peninsula Marks Two Years Since Deadly Rain

Devastating rainfall can leave communities with deep scars. People in central Japan's Noto Peninsula are remembering their loved ones who died when disaster struck two years ago. Residents of Wajima City offered flowers on Monday at a makeshift memorial at the city hall. They included the parents of Nakayama Miki, who died while driving home from work.

00:02:44 話者 31/Nakayama Miki

Two years have passed, but it still hurts, and the loneliness of not having my daughter with me hasn't eased.

00:02:59 話者 32/Sakaguchi Shigeru/Wajima Mayor

We are recovering and overcoming a mountain of challenges. Two years have flown by. I renew my determination to transform Wajima City into a place where people can live with peace of mind as soon as possible.

00:03:15 話者 1

The disaster claimed 21 lives, including related deaths. 15 were in Wajima.

Takaichi Heads to UN General Assembly

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has arrived in the United States to attend the UN General Assembly. Takaichi touched down at New York's John F Kennedy Airport. It will be the first time for her to address the UN as prime minister. She spoke to reporters before leaving Japan.

00:04:03 話者 43/Takaichi Sanae

I want to stress the issues of North Korea's abductions, the importance of measures against climate change, as well as the rule of law and the need for UN reform.

00:04:15 話者 1

Takaichi said she wants to express Japan's resolve to take a leading role under an evolved vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. She highlighted areas such as strengthening supply chains especially for energy cooperating with the global South and addressing challenges arising from AI and other technology. 

Takaichi indicated that arrangements are underway for meetings with other world leaders. She is seeking a meeting with President Trump to coordinate their views on China ahead of Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Motegi Meets US, S. Korean Counterparts

Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu is also in New York. He's discussed a range of issues with his US and South Korean counterparts. Motegi met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyong on Monday. They agreed trilateral cooperation is the key to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

They also agreed to promote support for international disaster relief and measures against cross-border crime in Southeast Asia. Motaegi, Rubio and Cho reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. They also agreed to resolve the abduction issue and tackle Pyongyang's revenue-building cyber activities.

They stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and countering unilateral attempts to change the regional status quo. Separately, Motegi and Rubio agreed to strengthen the Japan-US alliance.

North Korea Hails New Weapon Test

North Korea has reportedly tested a new weapon, and leader Kim Jong-un is calling it clear progress.

State-run TV says the test took place on Sunday. Photos show a missile lifting off from a mobile launcher, with Kim and his daughter present. The North Korean leader reportedly described it as a striking demonstration of ultra-modern defense technology. 

South Korean media say a monitor show the word Hwasong-11, meaning the weapon is likely a short-range ballistic missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead.

South Korea's military detected two launches from the north on Sunday afternoon. Officials said the projectiles flew toward the Sea of Japan. 

Russian Ruling Party Set to Win Landslide

Russia has held its first parliamentary election since it invaded Ukraine. Candidates ran for 450 seats in the lower house. Preliminary results are pointing to a landslide victory for the pro-Kremlin ruling party.

Voting for the State Duma started on Friday and lasted three days. The Russian Central Election Commission says 95% of the votes were counted as of Monday. It says the United Russia party is projected to gain 355 seats or about 80%, exceeding its current 310 seats. United Russia and other parties put forward more than 180 candidates who had served in Ukraine.

Last month, the Supreme Court had removed the opposition party Yabloko from the nationwide party list. Observers say President Vladimir Putin is expected to stress that he gained more public support for continuing the fighting in Ukraine. But one opposition politician who has fled to France has criticized the election and called it an autocratic move.

Boris Nadezhdin was designated as a foreign agent after he tried to run in the election opposing the fighting in Ukraine. NHK spoke with him in Paris.

00:08:01 話者 53/Boris Nadezhdin

The presidential administration has one main role: to make sure Putin doesn't get upset and thinks everything is going well.

00:08:10 話者 1

He stressed that he was probably barred because the Kremlin wants to show a victorious ruling party.

Other countries have denounced the election. EU foreign policy chief Kayak Kallis says they underscore the deepening erosion of democracy in Russia in an increasingly authoritarian political environment. And she adds that these so-called elections are a blatant violation of international law. 

World Weather

And now here is the three-day weather forecast around the world.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

And that's it for this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us and do stay with us on NHK World Japan.

checked.

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Easy Japanese

00:10:09 話者 4

Hi there. It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese. I'm Erico Kojima.

00:10:15 話者 5

And I'm Michael Reese. Let's have fun learning Japanese together.

00:10:19 話者 4

Today we bring you lesson 30 on expressing a variety of things such as what you've done or what you're going to do.

00:10:30 話者 5

The main character of our skit is Tab, a student from Vietnam. She's come to a cafe with Mia, a photographer from China.

Tam tells Miya about her memories of a

00:10:46 話者 6

Japanese music student, Yuki.

00:10:50 話者 4

Listen to the skit for lesson 30. .

00:10:58 話者 6

. . . . . . . . . .

00:11:16 話者 4

Now let's go through the conversation line by line.

00:11:20 話者 5

The waitress brings over parfaits and says,

00:11:25 話者 4

Here are your melon parfaits! Tam exclaims, They look delicious!

00:11:32 話者 5

As they enjoy the food, Mia asks,

00:11:39 話者 4

Tam, where did you first meet Yuki-san? Tam replies, In Vietnam. We were volunteering at an elementary school. We sang songs and danced together. Miya says, I see.

00:12:03 話者 5

Tam continues,

00:12:09 話者 4

Yes, I'd like to meet him again.

00:12:12 話者 5

It's a nice memory, Tam and Yuki singing and dancing with the children.

00:12:16 話者 4

I hope they have another chance to get together.

00:12:26 話者 5

Today's key phrase is We sang songs and danced together.

Once you learn this pattern, you'll be able to express various things, such as what you've done and what you're going to do.

00:12:42 話者 4

Now, let's break it down. Ishoni means together. Utattari is to sing utau with the ending becoming tari. Odottari is to dance Odoru also with the tari ending. Shimashita means did.

When you want to list some examples out of a number of actions, use the 'tari' form of the verb. To make the 'tari' form, change the 'te' at the end of the verb's 'te' form to 'tari'.

00:13:20 話者 5

In the key phrase, out of the many things Tam did together with Yuki, she listed two: singing and dancing. That's why she said 'utatari odottari'.

00:13:31 話者 4

And because the actions were in the past, the sentences ends with did shimashita.

00:13:38 話者 5

Okay, give it a try. Listen and repeat out loud.

00:13:44 話者 7

Udattari odottari shimashita. Ishoni utattari odottari shimashita.

00:14:04 話者 5

Now, listen to a conversation. A tourist is listing what he wants to do in Hokkaido.

00:14:13 話者 8

Hokkaido denani osimasuka. Hikingo study. Onseni Haitari status.

00:14:24 話者 4

Here's the meaning.

00:14:26 話者 8

Hokkaido denani osimasuka.

00:14:29 話者 5

What are you going

do in Hokkaido?

00:14:32 話者 4

Hokkaido de means in Hokkaido. Naniyo shimasuka means what are you going to do?

00:14:40 話者 8

Hiking goshitari. Onseni haitari stai desu.

00:14:44 話者 5

I want to go hiking and go bathing in a hot spring.

00:14:48 話者 4

Hiking goshitari is hiking gosuru to go hiking in the tari form and onseni haitari is

to go bathing in a hot spring in the 'tari' form. In this sentence, the speaker is explaining what he wants to do. So, he says 'want to' at the end. See? 'tari' can be used to express things in the past as well as in the future.

00:15:17 話者 5

Listen and repeat out loud.

00:15:21 話者 4

Hai-kingu o-shitari, onseni ha-tari shitai desu.

00:15:30 話者 5

Let's try some other examples. Imagine you took a trip to Okinawa and someone asks you what you did. How would you say, I went shopping and swam in the ocean?

00:15:52 話者 4

To go shopping is...

Suru or to do in the Tari form is Shitari and to swim in the ocean is Umi de oyogu. Umi de oyogu. To swim in the Tari form is Oyoi dari.

00:16:17 話者 7

Oyoi dari.

00:16:19 話者 4

Go ahead.

00:16:28 話者 8

Gaimono ostari.

Today's bonus phrase is what Tam says when she sees her parfait.

00:16:49 話者 5

So why don't you memorize it?

00:16:54 話者 4

Oishiso means it looks delicious.

To say delicious while eating something, use oishii. But to say it looks delicious before you eat it, use oishiso.

00:17:08 話者 5

Give a listen to various people saying it.

00:17:11 話者 4

Oishiso. Oishiso.

00:17:14 話者 5

Oishiso. Now it's your turn.

00:17:28 話者 6

Now listen to the skit once again. . .

.......

00:17:56 話者 5

On now to Kaito is your food guide. In today's skit, Tam and Mia had melon parfaits, so the topic this time is Japanese sweets. You can find all kinds of sweet things in Japan, such as traditional Japanese and Western confections.

00:18:22 話者 4

That's true.

But many of the items known as Western style have spawned variations in Japan. For example, Shotokeiki. It may look like strawberry shortcake, but it uses a sponge cake.

00:18:35 話者 5

A kind of a Japanese twist on it.

00:18:38 話者 4

Rice cakes, rice crackers, and bean paste buns are old favorites. Others come and go with the seasons, like shaved ice in the summer called kakigori and sweet red bean soup called zenzai in winter.

00:18:51 話者 5

and then there are East meets West confections such as matcha flavored cake mhm

00:18:57 話者 4

Japanese sweets are also known for their visual appeal in spring cherry blossom motifs are all around and in summer some items look like starry skies and clear streams they're really pretty to look at

00:19:11 話者 5

indeed and we hope you'll have the opportunity to savor both the look and of course the flavor of Japanese sweets

00:19:28 話者 4

Did you enjoy today's Easy Japanese?

00:19:30 話者 5

Join us again next time.

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Fushimi Inari Shrine

00:20:18 話者 9

Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.

They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.

The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.

In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for more than a thousand years until 1868, when the capital was moved to then Edo, now Tokyo.

When the imperial capital was moved from Nara to Kyoto in the year 794, it went by the name Heian-kyo, which means the capital of peace and tranquility.

The city was modeled after the Chinese Tang Dynasty capital of Chang'an and built on a grid pattern system.

In fact, the streets of Kyoto today continue to follow this well-arranged grid.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its seemingly endless rows of vermilion torii gates, is popular among tourists from both Japan and abroad.

It's less than 10 minutes by train or bus from Kyoto Station or about a 35-minute walk.

The shrine has a history of more than 1300 years.

It serves as the headquarters for over 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan.

As legend goes, more than 1,300 years ago, a deity was enshrined at Mount Inari.

The mountain has since been considered sacred.

People express their belief by dedicating torii of various sizes.

Another practice is engraving the deity's various names onto stones called otsuka and placing them on the mountain.

The most famous part of Fushiminari Shrine is the thousand torii gates.

Torii are the gate-like structures at shrines.

Although the size may vary, a torii is generally made of two pillars and a beam.

It stands on the boundary of the shrine's precincts and indicates that the area inside is sacred.

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto has long rows of vermilion torii that seem to stretch on without end.

Inari shrines are dedicated to a deity popular among common people, representing good harvest, prosperous business, safety for the family, and the accomplishment of ambitions.

The Edo period from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century was when much of the popular culture leading up to the present age took shape.

It was during this period that people started offering torii to Inari shrines, hoping that their wishes would be fulfilled or to give thanks when their wishes came true.

As the headquarters shrine, Fushiminari Shrine received the most of these offerings,

This is why there are nearly 10,000 torii gates in various sizes in the precincts.

Particularly famous are the rows of torii called sembum torii or thousand torii which lead to the main shrine building.

The endless torii make for a great photo background for tourists.

Fox statues are a common sight at Inari shrines.

The foxes are believed to be messengers for the Inari deity.

Unlike actual foxes, these are imaginary creatures considered sacred and invisible.

There are many scary stories about Inari shrines and foxes across Japan.

Also, the sushi wrapped with deep-fried tofu is called Inari sushi.

This is because fried tofu is believed to be a favorite food of the sacred foxes.

Inari shrines and foxes have long been a part of Japanese people's lives.

Thank you for tuning in to the backstory of Japanese landmarks.

We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.

NHK World

00:25:01 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年9月21日月曜日

NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/9/21) Japan Weather Alerts, Global Security & Market Trends

Typhoon Dujuan prompts a level 5 emergency warning as severe weather threatens eastern Japan.
台風Dujuanの接近に伴いレベル5の緊急特別警報が発令され、東日本で厳重な警戒が続いています。
Global leaders gather in New York to address key issues at the UN General Assembly.
国連総会が開幕し、世界各地の課題に向けて各国首脳が演説を行います。
Ukraine conducts massive long-range strikes on major Russian facilities in Moscow.
ウクライナがモスクワの主要施設に対して大規模な遠距離攻撃を実施しました。
NHK World Newsline Anchor Yuko Fukushima
 00:00:11 話者 1/Yuko Fukushima

Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

Danger Increases as Typhoon Nears

A large and powerful typhoon is moving north over the Pacific, bringing Japan's Izu Islands and parts of the Konto region within its storm zone.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has issued a level 5 emergency warning for Oshima Town in the Izu Islands, Tokyo Prefecture.

A level 5 emergency warning is the highest level of alert on the agency's scale.

Oshima town has received 781.5 millimeters of rain in the 48 hours through 4 pm on Monday.

That's more than twice its average rainfall for September.

The meteorological agency also held a news conference to share the latest information.

00:01:00 話者 2/Hosomi Takuya/Japan Meteorological Agency

It is extremely likely that some kind of disaster has already occurred in the landslide warning zone and other areas. People's lives are in imminent danger.

Please ensure your safety immediately.

00:01:21 話者 1

The agency added that if it is more dangerous to travel to designated evacuation areas, people should move to upper levels of buildings as far as possible from cliffs and waterways.

The agency says that as of 4 p.m. on Monday, Typhoon Dujuan was believed to be heading northeast over waters south of Japan at 30 kilometers per hour.

In the one hour through 3 pm, Yokohama city received 44.5 millimeters of rain, while Chiba city recorded 41 millimeters of intense rainfall.

In the Kanto-Koshin, Tokai and Tohoku regions, very heavy rain accompanied by lightning is expected.

A linear rain band may form in large areas of Kanto-Koshin and the Izu Islands.

It may develop in the Izu Islands and Kanagawa and Yamanashi prefectures through early evening and in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Ibanaki prefectures through late Monday.

Weather officials are urging vigilance for landslides and violent winds.

They are also warning people to watch out for swollen or overflowing rivers, flooding in low-lying areas and high waves.

Rainfall and strong winds are expected to intensify further as the typhoon approaches.

People are urged to stay in safe places and avoid unnecessary travel.

Transportation services are also being disrupted.

People are advised to check the latest information.

Being safe and smart are key during a level 5 emergency warning.

Our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh, tells us what those of you in the affected areas need to do now.

00:03:08 話者 3/Jonathan Oh

A level 5 emergency warning is in effect, which means if you are in the affected area, you need to take immediate survival action.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issues the top level warning when a natural disaster is imminent or the natural disaster is already taking place.

This means that you need to put your evacuation plan into action now.

Get to the safe location if it is all possible, make sure you take your emergency supplies with you, avoid drainage areas in the process and make sure that you pay attention to the latest weather warning alerts.

There are situations such as nighttime as well as things like landslides and inundation that could prevent you from getting to your safe location.

So if that's the case in the case of landslides, get away from sloped areas and in case of flooding, make sure you get to the higher floors and try to ride out the storm as much as possible.

Again, take immediate safety action right now.

World Leaders Set to Address UN General Assembly

00:04:14 話者 1

World leaders are meeting in New York on Tuesday for the start of high-level speeches at the United Nations General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae are among those scheduled to speak on the first day.

Trump criticized the UN in his speech last year, saying the world body failed to live up to expectations. He called UN-led measures against climate change a scam.

On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are scheduled to address the assembly, both lead countries currently involved in conflicts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to speak on Thursday. Abbas will appear via pre-recorded video.

The Trump administration has denied him entry into the US for a second straight year.

The General Assembly is taking place as the UN selects a successor to Secretary General Antonio Guterres, whose term expires at the end of the year.

His successor will be the first new UN chief in ten years.

Attention is focused on how world leaders will deal with current world conflicts and what stances they will take toward UN-led multinational cooperation on issues including climate change and artificial intelligence.

Ukraine Conducts Massive Attacks on Moscow Facilities

Ukraine has carried out large-scale attacks on Russia's capital.

The strikes on an oil refinery and other sites took place amid Russia's parliamentary election. The mayor of Moscow criticized Ukraine for the attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a social media post on Sunday that the long-range strikes had a very significant impact on the Moscow region.

He wrote that the key Russian oil and logistics facilities had been hit.

Zelenskyy also said drones and missiles, including a new domestic cruise missile, the Flamingo, were used in the strikes.

The mayor of Moscow wrote on social media on Sunday that the largest-scale attack by enemy drones on the capital had been repelled.

He said more than 1,600 drones were shot down across Russia and that 450 of them had been approaching Moscow.

The mayor also said several drones reached the premises of an oil refinery and a residential building in the city, but he said there were no fatalities.

Sunday was the final day of voting in Russia's lower house election.

The mayor said the attacks were clearly aimed at disrupting the vote but did not succeed.

German Election: AfD Gains in State Parliaments

Germany held elections on Sunday.

As a result, the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, party has become the leading party in one state parliament, while the center-right Christian Democratic Union, or CDU, has failed to secure any seat.

The AFD advocates anti-immigrant policies and has been designated as a far-right group in some states.

The public broadcaster ZDF says that the AfD has gained 32 of 71 parliamentary seats in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg, western Pomerania to become the largest party in the state.

The party had earlier won a plurality of states in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony and Holt.

The CDU, headed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, failed to reach the 5 percent threshold needed to secure a seat.

This is the first time the CDU has lost representation in the state parliament.

Merz issued a statement after the polls closed describing the outcome as a disaster.

He indicated he will stay on, saying he will demonstrate his qualities as a leader of the CDU and as German chancellor.

As a result of the election, the AfD also became the third largest party in Berlin's state parliament.

WSJ: Washington Preparing Sanctions on ICC

A major US newspaper says the administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that the sanctions would forbid most transactions with the ICC after a grace period of six to seven months.

The article said the measures could potentially cripple the court by prohibiting it from conducting transactions in US dollars, cutting it off from much of the global financial system.

The newspaper described the administration's move as a sharp escalation in Washington's efforts to dismantle the court.

The paper made the report by signing documents and US officials.

The administration implemented sanctions on the ICC's leadership, including President Akane Tomoko, last month.

The measures call for any assets held in the US to be frozen.

World Weather

Now here's the three-day weather forecast around the world.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

And that's the news for this hour NHK Newsline. 

I am Yuko Fukushima in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.

checked.

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Easy Japanese

00:10:09 話者 4

Hi there.

It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.

I'm Erico Kojima.

00:10:15 話者 5

And I'm Michael Reese.

Let's have fun learning Japanese together.

00:10:19 話者 4

Today we bring you lesson 30 on expressing a variety of things such as what you've done or what you're going to do.

00:10:30 話者 5

The main character of our skit is Tab, a student from Vietnam.

She's come to a cafe with Mia, a photographer from China.

Tam tells Miya about her memories of a Japanese music student, Yuki.

00:10:44 話者 4

Listen to the skit for lesson 30.

00:11:07 話者 6

...

...

...

...

00:11:16 話者 4

Now let's go through the conversation line by line.

00:11:20 話者 5

The waitress brings over parfaits and says.

00:11:25 話者 4

Here are your melon parfaits! Tam exclaims, They look delicious.

00:11:32 話者 5

As they enjoy the food, Mia asks.

00:11:39 話者 4

Tam, where did you first meet Yuki-san?

Tam replies, In Vietnam.

We were volunteering at an elementary school.

We sang songs and danced together.

Miya says, I see.

00:12:03 話者 5

Tam continues.

00:12:09 話者 4

Yes, I'd like to meet him again.

00:12:12 話者 5

It's a nice memory, Tam and Yuki singing and dancing with the children.

00:12:16 話者 4

I hope they have another chance to get together.

00:12:26 話者 5

Today's key phrase is We sang songs and danced together.

Once you learn this pattern, you'll be able to express various things, such as what you've done and what you're going to do.

00:12:42 話者 4

Now, let's break it down.

Ishoni means together.

Utattari is to sing utau with the ending becoming tari.

Odottari is to dance Odoru also with the tari ending.

Shimashita means did.

When you want to list some examples out of a number of actions, use the 'tari' form of the verb.

To make the 'tari' form, change the 'te' at the end of the verb's 'te' form to 'tari'.

00:13:20 話者 5

In the key phrase, out of the many things Tam did together with Yuki, she listed two: singing and dancing.

That's why she said 'utatari odottari'.

00:13:31 話者 4

And because the actions were in the past, the sentences ends with did, shimashita.

00:13:38 話者 5

Okay, give it a try.

Listen and repeat out loud.

00:13:44 話者 7

Udattari odottari shimashita.

Ishoni utattari odottari shimashita.

00:14:04 話者 5

Now, listen to a conversation.

A tourist is listing what he wants to do in Hokkaido.

00:14:13 話者 8

Hokkaido denani wo shimasuka.

Hai gingo study.

Onseni haitari status.

00:14:24 話者 4

Here is the meaning.

00:14:26 話者 8

Hokkaido denani wo shimasuka.

00:14:29 話者 5

What are you going to?

do in Hokkaido.

00:14:32 話者 4

Hokkaido de means in Hokkaido.

Naniyoshimasuka means what are you going to do?

00:14:40 話者 8

Hiking goshitari.

Onseni haittari staidus.

00:14:44 話者 5

I want to go hiking and go bathing in a hot spring.

00:14:48 話者 4

Hiking goshitari is hiking gosuru to go hiking in the tari form and onseni haittari is

to go bathing in a hot spring in the tari form.

In this sentence, the speaker is explaining what he wants to do.

So, he says, want to at the end.

See?

tari can be used to express things in the past as well as in the future.

00:15:17 話者 5

Listen and repeat out loud.

00:15:21 話者 4

Hai-king-yo-shitari, onseni-hattari shitai desu.

00:15:31 話者 5

Let's try some other examples.

Imagine you took a trip to Okinawa and someone asks you what you did.

How would you say, I went shopping and swam in the ocean?

00:15:52 話者 4

To go shopping is...

Tsuru or to do in the Tari form is Shitari and to swim in the ocean is Umi de oyogu.

Umi de oyogu.

To swim in the Tari form is Oyoi dari.

00:16:17 話者 7

Oyoi dari.

00:16:19 話者 4

Go ahead.

00:16:28 話者 8

Gaimono ostari.

Today's bonus phrase is what Tam says when she sees her parfait.

00:16:49 話者 5

So why don't you memorize it?

00:16:54 話者 4

Oishiso means it looks delicious.

To say delicious while eating something, use oishii.

But to say it looks delicious before you eat it, use oishiso.

00:17:08 話者 5

Give a listen to various people saying it.

00:17:12 話者 6

Oishiso.

00:17:16 話者 5

Now it's your turn.

00:17:28 話者 6

Now, listen to the skit once again.

.

.

.......

On now to Kaito is your food guide.

00:18:06 話者 5

In today's skit, Tam and Mia had melon parfaits, so the topic this time is Japanese sweets.

You can find all kinds of sweet things in Japan, such as traditional Japanese and Western confections.

00:18:22 話者 4

That's true.

But many of the items known as Western style have spawned variations in Japan.

For example, Shotokeiki.

It may look like strawberry shortcake, but it uses a sponge cake.

00:18:35 話者 5

Kind of a Japanese twist on it.

00:18:38 話者 4

Rice cakes, rice crackers, and bean paste buns are old favorites.

Others come and go with the seasons, like shaved ice in the summer called kakigori and sweet red bean soup called zenzai in winter.

00:18:51 話者 5

And then there are East meets West confections such as matcha flavored cake.

00:18:57 話者 4

Japanese sweets are also known for their visual appeal in spring cherry blossom motifs are all around and in summer some items look like starry skies and clear streams they're really pretty to look at.

00:19:11 話者 5

Indeed and we hope you'll have the opportunity to savor both the look and of course the flavor of Japanese sweets.

00:19:28 話者 4

Did you enjoy today's Easy Japanese?

00:19:30 話者 5

Join us again next time.

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Tokyo Skytree

00:20:19 話者 9

Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.

They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.

What led to their creation and what were the challenges involved?

The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.

In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature the world's tallest broadcast tower, Tokyo Skytree.

Tokyo Skytree is 634 meters tall.

Other landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower and Paris's Eiffel Tower have wide bases.

But Tokyo Skytree is slim and more like a spire.

Its color, named Skytree White, is based on the lightest shade of Japanese indigo blue.

The tower can be seen from a great distance, but when people first see it, something its form is rather simple.

Tokyo Skytree was built using state-of-the-art Japanese technology.

But that's not all.

Traditional skills, respected and handed down over generations of craftspeople, also played a vital role in its construction.

The base of Tokyo Skytree is triangular in shape when seen from above.

This was designed to let people enter from the three sides of the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the two observation decks at the heights of 350 meters and 450 meters are round and offer a 360-degree panoramic view.

This means the cross-section of the tower's base is a triangle but becomes round toward the top.

Looking more carefully, Tokyo Skytree's outline is not made of straight lines.

The lines are actually slightly curved.

Depending where the tower is viewed from, some parts of the tower warp inwards, while other parts bulge outwards.

This comes from traditional Japanese architecture.

The inward warp is called sori, while the outward curve is called mukuri.

Tokyo Skytree's towering outline is a combination of sori and mukuri.

A particularly important feature of Tokyo Skytree is its earthquake resistance.

The tower's construction began in 2008.

Three years later, in 2011, a massive earthquake struck eastern Japan.

After overcoming a number of challenges posed by the disaster, the tower was completed in 2012.

Tokyo Skytree has an outer frame and an inner column.

The two are structurally detached.

During an earthquake, the column acts as a weight and moves in the opposite direction as the outer frame.

This reduces the impact of tremors.

This anti-seismic structure was inspired by a traditional Japanese structure, the five-story pagoda.

Five-story pagodas of Buddhist temples have a column at the center, similar to Tokyo Skytree.

Due to their excellent quake resistance,

There are no records of any wooden pagodas collapsing in an earthquake in Japan's history.

Japan's oldest five-story pagoda is in Horyuji Temple in Nara, built more than 1,400 years ago.

The wisdom of ancient people lives on in today's advanced technologies.

Thank you for tuning in to the backstory of Japanese landmarks.

We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.

00:25:01 話者 2

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.

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00:27:42 話者 10

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00:27:55 話者 6


2026年9月20日日曜日

(2026/9/20) Missile Launch, Typhoon Dujuan & Asian Games | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

North Korea launched a possible ballistic missile. 
 北朝鮮が弾道ミサイルの可能性がある飛翔体を発射しました。
Typhoon Dujuan is set to bring heavy rain and strong winds. 
台風ドゥージャンが大雨と強風をもたらす見込みです。
The Asian Games opened in Nagoya with record Japanese participation. 
名古屋でアジア大会が開幕し、日本は過去最多の選手団を送りました。
 00:00:11 (Maria Sato)

Hello and welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo.

North Korea Launches Possible Ballistic Missile

The Japanese defense ministry says North Korea has launched what appears to be at least one ballistic missile and it probably has already fallen.

The ministry announced launch shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday.

It said a few minutes later that the projectile had likely already fallen.

Ministry sources say the projectile is believed to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The Japan Coast Guard said no damage to vessels had been confirmed as of 3:30 p.m.

The defense ministry is analyzing information while remaining on the alert and monitoring the situation.

This is the first time since August 20 and the ninth time this year that the ministry has announced North Korean launches of ballistic missiles or what could be ballistic missiles.

Typhoon Dujuan to Affect Kanto Region From Monday

A large and powerful typhoon is expected to approach Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan, including Tokyo, from Monday through Tuesday.

Weather officials are warning the rain may become heavy even before the typhoon makes landfall.

Japan's meteorological agency says that as of 3 p.m. on Sunday, Typhoon Dujuan was heading north over waters south of Japan at 10 kilometers per hour.

Dujuan is expected to shift to a northeasterly course starting on Monday.

While maintaining its strength through Tuesday, the storm is likely to approach the Izu Islands as well as Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan, including the Kanto region.

The Izu Islands and Pacific coastal areas of eastern Japan could experience heavy rainfall even before the typhoon's approach.

That could increase the total amount of precipitation before the storm moves back out to sea.

Extremely strong winds are expected on the Izu Islands and in the Tokai region on Sunday.

Even stronger gusts could lash the Izu Islands and the Kanto region on Monday.

Weather officials are advising people to be vigilant against landslides and violent winds.

They are also warning people to watch out for flooding in low-lying areas, swollen or overflowing rivers and high waves.

People in urban areas are being advised to remain on the alert for possible flooding on roads and in underground facilities.

For more on the impacts from Doujian and how you should prepare for the storm, we bring in our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.

00:02:57 話者 2/Jonathan Oh

Hello, Dujuan is going to be a real troublemaker as we go throughout the next couple of days when it comes to fierce winds, heavy rainfall and high waves.

The close approach of the storm in terms of the core will be on Monday, but all that rain that's coming with it, that's coming up especially throughout the day on Sunday and throughout the day on Monday.

Some locations in places like the Kanto-Koshin region and the Tokai regions, up to 300 millimeters of rainfall during a 24-hour period especially throughout the day on Monday. That can lead to landslides as well as flooding and that can pose a real danger so make sure right now review your evacuation plan make sure that your emergency supplies are ready to go and charge up your devices so that you can get the latest weather warning alerts.

The timing of this impact especially late Sunday and throughout the day on Monday and that's when it's going to be the worst you don't want to be traveling or being outdoors at all during that time period.

We go into Tuesday the storm will be pulling away but rain impacts will continue into places like sendai and Niigata please take care and stay safe wherever you are.

Asian Games Open in Japan

00:04:10 (Maria Sato)

The Asian Games have opened in Nagoya Japan the opening ceremony on Saturday brought together athletes from 45 countries and territories.

Team Japan was the last to enter the stadium.

Japan has its largest ever delegation in the Games, with 900 athletes.

Emperor Narushito officially declared the Games open.

Munofushi Koji, Olympic gold medalist in the men's hammer throw, and his father lit the cauldron.

16 days of competition will feature 43 sports, including qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in surfing and hockey.

There are also sports not featured at the Olympics, such as kabadi, seppaktakraw, and e-sports.

Ancient Murals on Exhibit in Nara Pref.

Ancient beauty is on display at a museum in western Japan's Nara Prefecture.

Three murals from the Kitora burial mound are being exhibited together for the first time.

Visitors can view the Suzaku vermilion bird with its dynamic wings, the Genbu black tortoise entwined by a snake, and the Seiryu azure dragon with a red tongue and front legs.

The special exhibition is being held at a preservation center in Asuka village.

The burial mound is thought to date back to the late 7th or early 8th century during the Asuka period.

The once brightly colored paintings of the divine creatures decorated the southern, northern and eastern walls of a stone chamber.

The murals are designated as national treasures.

The special exhibition comes after the registration of the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara as a World Cultural Heritage Site in July.

00:06:12 話者 13

It was easy to appreciate the characteristics and the conditions of the three mirrors because they were all together.

The red pigments inspired me to try to imagine how the paintings might have looked in ancient times.

00:06:25 (Maria Sato)

The exhibition lasts through October 18. Although application quotas are already full, admission could still be possible if there are cancellations.

Houthis: Strikes on Saudi Capital 'Successful'

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say they have conducted successful attacks on Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and elsewhere.

The AFP news agency says the attack set fire to a fuel tank near Riyadh's international airport on Saturday.

The tank reportedly had the logo of the state-run oil company Saudi Aramco.

The Reuters news agency also reports that a large plume of smoke was visible near the airport on the same day after loud blasts were heard.

The Houthis later issued a statement saying they had carried out two military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.

The statement said they targeted sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yambu on the Red Sea coast.

It asserted both operations had been successful and resulted in massive fires at the targeted locations.

Saudi-led coalition forces announced on Saturday that they had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired at Riyadh by the Houthi group.

US media outlet Bloomberg quoted sources on Friday as saying Aramco had told at least two oil refining customers in Europe that they would not receive the crude oil they had contracted for next month.

It's time to look a look at our three day weather forecast around the globe.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

And that's the latest we have for you at this hour on NHK Newsline.

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.

checked.

NHK World

00:10:01 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年9月19日土曜日

(2026/9/19) Storm Dujuan, Greenland Security Deal & Pakistan Blast | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

1. A severe tropical storm is approaching Japan with heavy rain and strong winds.  
日本に激しい雨と強風を伴う強い熱帯暴風雨が接近しています。
2. The US and Denmark reached a security agreement granting permanent control over Greenland.  
米国とデンマークは、グリーンランドの安全保障に関する恒久的管理権を認める合意に達しました。
3. A car bomber rammed a police compound in Pakistan, killing officers and civilians.  
パキスタンで車爆弾が警察施設に突入し、警官と民間人が死亡しました。
 00:00:12 (Maria Sato)

Hello and welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo with the top stories.

Severe Tropical Storm Approaching Japan

A severe tropical storm is bringing heavy rain and violent winds to remote parts of Japan, and authorities say it could come close to the Kanto region, including Tokyo.

High waves, landslides and flooding are possible.

Meteorological agency officials say severe tropical storm Dujuan was 270 kilometers west of Chichijima Island in the Ogasawala island chain as of noon on Saturday.

Up to 120 millimeters of rain is forecast in the 24 hours through Sunday morning.

Dojuan is expected to approach the Izu Islands south of Tokyo on Sunday and possibly affect areas along Japan's Pacific side through Tuesday, including Kanto and Shizuoka Prefecture. Rain will likely intensify ahead of the storm.

In the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, up to 300 millimeters is forecast for the Izu Islands and Kanto and 200 for the Tokai region.

Meanwhile, heavy rain hit parts of Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan.

An elderly woman died in Michinan City after a mountain slope near a house collapsed.

People are advised to check the latest information and prepare early.

Trump: US Has Reached Security Agreement on Greenland

US President Donald Trump says his country has reached an agreement with Denmark and Greenland.

He says the deal will give the US so-called permanent control over security in Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory.

Trump made the announcement on social media on Friday.

He wrote, We will immediately begin the process of developing a large military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland.

Following his post, the Danish Prime Minister's office issued a statement.

It says the three parties are expected to sign an agreement on strengthened security in the Arctic and North Atlantic area next week.

Danish Prime Minister Mete Frederiksen called the deal great for NATO and Europe.

She added it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark as well as the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said the agreement recognizes its interests and its place in international cooperation.

NBC: Pentagon Mulls Drastic Troop Drawdown in Europe

The US Defense Department is apparently considering withdrawing tens of thousands of troops from Europe.

NBC News reported the potential move on Thursday, citing current and former US

and Western officials.

It said the cuts could reach 25,000 or even up to 40,000, which will be half of the force.

NBC News said Germany, Italy and Spain are among the countries that will likely be affected.

It added that the leaders of the three nations have clashed with Trump over the US military operation against Iran.

A Pentagon official told NHK the department is engaging extensively with the State Department, Congress, NATO and US allies.

The official added that the review is still ongoing.

The Trump administration has been pressing NATO members to play a bigger role in their own defense.

Takaichi to Hold Summit with Trump

A senior US government official has announced Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will hold talks with President Trump on Tuesday.

Takaichi will visit New York for four days starting Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly where she will deliver a speech.

Her discussions with Trump will likely cover Japan-US cooperation in a wide range of areas and reaffirm the importance of the bilateral alliance.

The prime minister is also expected to reiterate Japan's position regarding strained relations with China and seek to align views with Trump.

This comes ahead of his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.

Car Bomber Rams Pakistan Police Compound

A vehicle loaded with explosives has rammed into a police facility in northwestern Pakistan and exploded.

Local police are investigating the incident as a suicide bombing.

Police say the blast occurred near a mosque in the police compound on Friday afternoon.

Local media have reported 15 police officials and six civilians were killed and 103 people were injured.

An Islamic extremist group operating in the region reportedly claimed responsibility.

Authorities are carrying out counter-terrorism operations in the province which borders Afghanistan.

Concerns are growing over a deterioration of security in the area.

Last month, an explosion outside a police station killed 16 people.

Philippine-China Tensions Rise After Collision at Sea

Maritime tensions are rising again between the Philippines and China.

The two sides are pointing the finger at each other over a collision in the South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard says a China Coast Guard vessel rammed and damaged a Philippine government vessel on Friday.

The incident took place off the coast of Palawan within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.

A video released by the Philippine side shows a Chinese boat navigating very close by.

The Philippine Coast Guard says the China Coast Guard deliberately rammed its vessel, endangering the lives of those on board.

The China Coast Guard says the Philippine vessel ignored warnings, deliberately changed course, accelerated and cut across the bow of the Chinese boat.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun says the Philippines should immediately stop engaging in maritime infringements and spreading false narratives.

Nature: New Evidence Found in King Tut's Tomb

Researchers in Egypt have made a discovery that could turn out to be one of the most significant in decades.

They say they found evidence of hidden chambers near the tomb of the ancient King Tutankhamun.

The British scientific journal Nature published the findings on Thursday.

It says experts in archaeology and geophysics studied the structure of the tomb.

They used underground radar and also measured slight changes in gravity.

They found data that strongly suggests the presence of a hidden complex of corridors and rooms.

They say those may have been created before the king was entombed.

Some theories say the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti might be buried near Tutankhamun. She is believed to be his mother-in-law.

The lead researcher says if confirmed, the finding could rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era.

But some experts say it's too early to draw conclusions.

They note that there's not enough information to confirm the results yet.

The team is considering additional research.

They're going to peek inside the suspected chambers if they get approval from the Egyptian authorities.

World Weather

And here's a look at our three-day weather forecast around the globe.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

And that's the latest we have for you at this hour on NHK Newsline.

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.

checked.

NHK World

00:10:01 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年9月18日金曜日

(2026/9/18) Storm Dujuan, BOJ Rate Hike & Iran Conflict | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

1. Storm Dujuan brings severe winds and heavy rain across Japan.  
日本各地で台風ドゥージャンが強風と大雨をもたらしています。
2. BOJ raises its key interest rate to 1.25%, the highest in 31 years.  
日銀は政策金利を1.25%へ引き上げ、31年ぶりの高水準となりました。
3. UN reports reasonable grounds that a US strike in Iran was a war crime.  
国連は米国のイラン攻撃が戦争犯罪の可能性が高いと報告しました。
 00:00:11 話者 1/Kanako Sachno

You're watching NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.

Severe Tropical Storm Approaches Ogasawara Islands

Severe tropical storm Dujuan is expected to approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific through Saturday.

Weather officials are calling on people to be on the alert for high waves and violent winds.

The storm may also trigger mudslides and flooding in low-lying areas.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says Dujuan was about 170 kilometers off Chichijima Island as of 3 p.m. Friday. It was moving west-northwest at about 35 kilometers per hour.

The agency says it's expected to approach the islands with wind gusts of up to 126 kilometers per hour. Rough seas are expected, with waves reaching 7 meters high.

Heavy rain with thunder is also forecast. Up to 250 millimetres of rain could fall on the islands in the 24 hours until noon on Saturday.

People are being advised to be on the alert for lightning strikes and wind gusts.

The storm is then expected to move north, nearing the Izu Islands on Sunday.

It's then forecast to approach the Kanto region around Monday, possibly bringing heavy rain. The agency says rain clouds will form to the north of the storm.

People on the Pacific side of the Tokai to Tohoku regions could expect alert-level heavy rains from Sunday through Monday.

Weather officials are urging residents to be cautious even before the storm approaches.

It comes during a five-day holiday and may affect transportation.

Officials are urging people to stay up to date with the latest weather information.

Business

Now for some business stories, here's Ramin Mellegard.

00:01:53 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

Breaking News: BOJ Raises Key Interest Rate to 1.25%

And a big focus on business news.

The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 1.25%, the highest in 31 years.

Now, it made the announcement after concluding a two day policy meeting on Friday.

The move suggests the central bank is upping the pace of its rate hikes.

It last raised rates in June and prior to that acted roughly every six months.

Now the central bank's decision was widely expected.

It was approved by a majority of seven board members in favor and two against.

The central bank is concerned about inflation moving above its 2% target.

This includes pressure from higher oil prices, exchange rate movements, and strong AI-related demand.

The ongoing tensions in the Middle East have the bank mindful of the risks of an economic downturn and price fluctuations.

The cost of everyday goods in Japan continues to rise due to higher commodity prices and the weak yen.

Breaking News: BOJ Governor Speaks on Policy Outlook

BOJ Governor Ueda Kazuo said the bank's policy stance has entered a new phase because the underlying inflation rate had previously been viewed as below 2%.

He talked about the BOJ's outlook.

00:03:23 話者 13/Ueda Kazuo

Given that financial conditions remain accommodative, the Bank will continue to raise the rate and adjust the degree of monetary easing in response to developments in economic activity, prices and financial conditions.

00:03:39 話者 2

The Governor did not mention the specific timing for future rate hikes.

Expert: BOJ Rate Hike Outlook

So where does the BOJ go from here?

My colleague Yuko Fukushima talked to an economist who's been watching the bank for decades.

00:03:55 話者 4/Yuko Fukushima

Some analysts expect the central bank to raise rates again in December, not Okubo Takuji.

He sees the bank hiking rates later, possibly in March.

He says pushing up rates too fast could hit the economy.

He says he already sees that happening in the construction and real estate sector.

00:04:14 話者 22/Okubo Takuji

Doing a huge project when interest rate were near zero was so easy to raise money.

But now that the government interest rate, 10-year interest rate is 3%, they will probably have to use 5%, 6% interest rate to pay for their project.

So for those big developers, I think it is already having a negative impact on their business.

00:04:40 話者 4

It seems certain the bank will raise rates again, but before it does, it needs to take into account the various risks involved that will not be an easy task and one the world will be watching closely.

Japan Stocks Up, Yen Dips After BOJ Rate Hike

00:04:55 話者 2

Now. Investors in Tokyo bought stocks and sold the yen on Friday after the BOJ raised its benchmark interest rate. 

The Nikkei 225 stock index at one stage gained 2 percent. The benchmark finished nearly 1.4 percent higher at 65,018, extending its winning streak to three days.

Analysts say investors were encouraged because the BOJ's decision was in line with expectations.

However, the yen weakened against the dollar to the mid 157 yen level at one point.

Markets

Okay, let's have a look at the markets.

And that is it for business news.

Iran Conflict: UN Finds 'Reasonable Grounds' US Committed War Crime

00:06:13 話者 1

A United Nations mission says there are reasonable grounds to believe the United States committed a war crime by launching a fatal missile attack on a school in southern Iran earlier this year.

A UN Human Rights Council fact-finding mission on Iran released a report on Thursday.

The strike on an elementary school in Minab, Kormozgan province in February left at least 160 people dead, most of them children.

The New York Times had reported that the US military mistakenly set its target based on outdated information.

The UN team noted that the school had been operating in a converted structure of Iran's elite military unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

It said the US failed in its obligation to do everything feasible to verify that the school was a military objective.

It said the US launched the airstrike while being aware of a substantial risk of striking a civilian object.

The report also covered attacks on a gymnasium and an elementary school in the southern Iranian town of Lamed in February. At least 20 people were killed.

It said the US military fired a missile that scattered small metal pellets in residential areas.

It said that strike too could amount to a war crime.

A US State Department representative commented on the report.

The official said the Trump administration formally withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council as it pushes anti-American rhetoric and anti-Semitism.

The official added that the US does not give credibility to the findings of the UN report.

The official said the protection of civilians is of utmost importance to the US.

US Marine Colonel Calls Iranian Forces 'Very Creative'

The commanding officer of a US Marine unit that deployed to the Middle East has called Iranian forces very creative and innovative.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, assisted US operations against Iran from the region in March.

This included supporting a US blockade on vessels entering or departing Iranian ports.

The 31st MEU returned to Okinawa in July.

Colonel Chris Nitioka commanded that unit and spoke to media at the Pentagon on Wednesday. The colonel said that Iranian forces have embraced unmanned systems.

He added that this enabled them to closely monitor the US military.

Nitioka described the Iranian forces as degraded but adaptable when his unit had arrived.

He said US troops needed to exercise caution and regard the Iranians with the utmost respect.

The colonel stated, If you make it easy for them, they're going to take advantage of it.

Carney: Canada to Step Up Cooperation with EU

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said his country will strengthen cooperation with the European Union, including on the economy and defense.

The remarks came amid Canada's worsening relations with the United States over tariffs.

Carney gave an address to the European Parliament on Thursday in Strasbourg, France.

00:09:21 話者 33/Mark Carney

Together, Canada and the European Union can anchor our ground to hold our values while forming a protective canopy under which our citizens can thrive.

00:09:35 話者 1

He mentioned deepening cooperation in a range of areas, including critical minerals, defence industrial capacity, AI and energy security.

He made the remarks after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Wednesday opening the door for Canada to be the first associate member of the EU.

Carney said at a news conference that Canada's potential status as an EU associate member is a question for Europe. He added that what matters is the substance.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has commented on the deepening cooperation between the EU and Canada.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that if he thinks the EU is committing a hostile act, he will enact very serious tariffs or cut off many aspects of trade with Europe.

Russia Holds First Election Since Invasion

Russia is holding its first parliamentary election since its invasion of Ukraine.

The vote comes as the Kremlin wants to demonstrate public support for the ongoing military campaign, and an opposition party that's criticised the conflict has been kept off the ballot.

The election takes place every five years and the voting will last three days.

Candidates are competing for 450 seats in the lower house, known as the State Duma.

Half are filled by party lists and the other half are single-seat races.

Officials will start counting ballots on Sunday.

Russian media is reporting that political parties, including the ruling United Russia Party, have put forward more than 180 candidates who've served in Ukraine.

But the Supreme Court removed the opposition party Yabloko from the nationwide party list last month.

The head of its Moscow branch told NHK that Russian President Vladimir Putin fears anti-war groups.

00:11:26 話者 45/Kirill Goncharov/Head of Yabloko Moscow branch

We expected this would happen sooner or later.

That's because we are the only party in Russia that opposes the war and calls for a ceasefire.

00:11:39 話者 1

He says that Yabloko candidates are still running in district races and he vowed to keep campaigning against the Putin administration.

Ukrainian in Japan Using Business Chops to Help Home Country Rebuild

Ukraine has spent over four years beset by the Russian invasion.

But amid the ongoing conflict, some see opportunities for growth and innovation.

In our next report, we'll meet a Ukrainian woman who's part of a push for stronger business ties with Japan in an effort to help her home country recover.

00:12:26 話者 6

Kateryna Yavorska is no stranger to doing business. She moved to Japan eight years ago, got married, and settled in, and now runs a popular Ukrainian restaurant.

But while she flourishes in Japan, her home country is being torn apart by war.

And rather than watch from afar, she's using her business skills to help Ukraine rebuild.

Yavorska co-founded the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan two years ago, a way to cement the economic ties between the two countries.

Now she's leveraging those ties to help both countries benefit.

00:13:10 話者 3/Kateryna Yavorska/President, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Japan has amazing industrial lines, the robotic lines, the quality control lines.

So this equipment really needed in Ukraine.

New businesses opening, they supply with new workplaces.

So it's giving opportunity to bring back some people.

It's not just about the after war recovery, it's needs like right now.

00:13:36 話者 6

This Tokyo-based company may have a solution to a problem plaguing homes across Ukraine.

Yavorska is meeting with representatives to gauge whether its technology could help Ukrainians survive ongoing power outages during its frigid winters.

The company has created a technology that uses solar power to store heat, which can then be used to create both hot air and hot water.

But one challenge remain. Finding reliable partners in the conflict-torn country.

Yavorska's group introduced the solar company to a poultry farm in Kyiv.

They're hoping the technology will help regulate the temperature inside chicken coops.

00:14:21 話者 56/Hamamoto Shinpei/Representative Director, Blossom Energy Inc.

Operating in such difficult conditions would allow us to demonstrate to the world what our equipment is capable of.

Normally, there can be uncertainty about whether a potential partner is trustworthy.

But having this introduction gives us a certain level of confidence.

We count on them and have high expectations.

00:14:44 話者 6

Earlier this year, Yavorska returned to Ukraine for the first time in eight years, making contacts with local companies at a business conference.

She says the trip confirmed she's on the right track.

00:14:58 話者 3

They have high interest in Japanese market and cooperation with Japan as well.

We could get really practical insights from the Ukrainian like resilience economy and rebuilding and such kind of reconstructions as well and human resources.

So we will bring back this information to Japan.

It's totally worth it to come here and I will come more often.

00:15:25 話者 1

Akiyoshi Kana is the reporter who covered this story, and she joins us now from our auto bureau to tell us a bit more.

Kana, what did you learn about the kinds of things Ukrainians want from Japan?

00:15:36 話者 53/Akiyoshi Kana

Well, it's not all recovery and risk construction goods.

There's also a lot of demand for high quality Japanese consumer products and cosmetics, for example, especially from wealthier consumers.

Jetro is a government-affiliated trade promotion agency, but its officials have described Ukraine as a growth market within battlefield, and dozens of businesses seem to have noticed that.

There are currently 42 Japanese companies, conducting business in Ukraine, and seven of those actually entered the market after Russia's invasion in 2022.

So the market is not slowing down.

00:16:26 話者 1

Could we also see more Ukrainian products and technologies entering the Japanese market?

00:16:32 話者 53

Yes, and that's Yavorska's goal.

When the Ukrainian technology sees focusing on its drones, which she believes can help with disaster response in Japan.

And she is seeing some interest already from several Japanese companies.

00:16:53 話者 1

It seems like these partnerships are doing quite well despite the conflict.

Do you expect that to continue?

00:17:00 話者 53

Economic conditions in Ukraine are unpredictable, but there is still an array of business opportunities for both countries.

The key is people like Yavorska who understand the world of business and have one foot in both countries.

They can act as a bridge between Ukraine and Japan and promote these kinds of exchanges, which in turn will hopefully aid the country's reconstruction efforts as the world drags on.

00:17:35 話者 1

Thank you, Kana. That was Akiyoshi Kana.

Taiwan Donates Over US$9 Mil. for Quake Recovery

Taiwan has given Japan more than $9 million for recovery work in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto, struck by a powerful earthquake in July.

A total of 300 million new Taiwan dollars, or over 9.4 million US dollars, was raised through donations by businesses and private individuals.

The funds were presented to Katayama Kazuyuki, head of the Taipei office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung on Thursday.

00:18:18 話者 63/Lin Chia-lung

Once the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Kumamoto have reached a certain stage, the people of Taiwan will definitely visit Kumamoto with our families and friends to offer our full support.

00:18:32 話者 1

Lin said he hopes Taiwan and Japan will join hands and deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation in the future.

Taiwan has previously sent large donations to Japan following other natural disasters, such as after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the major quake that jolted the Noto Peninsula in 2024.

Bullet Train Service Fully Resumes After Kumamoto Quake

The Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train has fully resumed operations following the massive Kumamoto earthquake in July.

Restoration work was completed between Kumamoto and Shin Minamata stations, the last section of the line where service was suspended.

Full service on the Kyushu Shinkansen resumed on Friday morning for the first time in 52 days.

00:19:20 話者 73

It was tough commuting to school with a different, unfamiliar route.

I'm really grateful because using this bullet train saves me time.

00:19:31 話者 1

The Kyushu Shinkansen had been partially operating.

The section that resumed service Friday remained closed due to damage found in over 1,000 locations, including tracks and facilities.

Kyushu Railway Company will run about 90 percent of the normal number of bullet trains connecting directly to the Sanyo Shinkansen line, since trains need to slow down near Shin-Yatsushiro Station, where quake damage was severe.

Biz Picks

Next, NHK World's Gene Otani is here with Biz picks.

00:20:10 話者 7/Gene Otani

Let's take a look at the key business and economic stories for the week ahead.

Three major economies are releasing their latest purchasing managers indices.

The figures measure the health of manufacturing and services in the private sector.

We'll look at US business sentiment in this edition of Biz Picks

The manufacturing PMI was at 53.9 in August marking the 13th straight month of positive sentiment.

A reading above 50 indicates expansion while below 50 points to contraction.

The figure for the services sector surged to 56.5 that was the highest since December 2024.

Analyst: Inflation Spike May Test Strong US Business Mood

Yasaku Daisuke is a senior researcher at Daiwa Institute of Research.

He sees a virtuous cycle based on AI-related investments behind the strong activity.

00:21:01 話者 5/Yasaku Daisuke

What is remarkable is the robust manufacturing sector.

It continues to expand despite soaring costs, including higher tariffs and rising energy prices.

The reason is that businesses are boosting investments in AI fields on the back of high expectations for the increasing use of AI. Stock prices are also rising on that.

This is adding to assets held by high-income earners who hold shares and bolstering private spending. This is where the current US economy stands.

And, when personal spending remains firm, it pushes up the sentiment of the service industry, which is closely linked to consumption.

00:21:41 話者 7

The rise in consumer prices has again accelerated to above 3% in the US.

But Yasaku notes wholesale prices are rising even faster.

That's pressuring corporate profitability.

00:21:55 話者 5

To consumers, CPI represents the prices they pay, but to businesses that means the money they receive.

So rising CPI means companies have been able to pass on cost increases to their sales prices. But the key is the balance between cost and sales prices.

For example, let us consider the PPI, or producer price index, as showing wholesale prices.

The latest PPI growth was over 5% compared with a year earlier, but sales prices, or CPI,

grew roughly 3%. The growth of purchase prices is thus faster than that of sales prices.

00:22:30 話者 7

Yasaku is also concerned about the direction of private spending.

00:22:37 話者 5

The pace of wage increase is slowing down, so real wages are in fact decreasing from a year earlier when considering inflation.

Due to this, personal spending by low and middle income earners is rather weak.

Moreover, share price increases have been a bit sluggish lately, so high income earners are not seeing their assets increase as much, potentially reducing their sentiment in the short term. Given these fundamentals, private consumption is not expected to grow much.

00:23:09 話者 7

A lack of momentum for consumer spending and private investment could slow the economy, but Yasaku sees that as a potential positive as it may also curb demand and stem inflation.

He says finding the right balance between the two is crucial.

I'm Gene Otani, and that's this week's Biz Picks.

World Weather

00:24:01 話者 1

Now it's time to check the world weather.

As we've reported, Storm Dujuan is affecting parts of Japan into the holiday weekend.

Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has the latest updates.

00:24:12 話者 4/Yuumi Hirano

Severe tropical storm Dujuan is now approaching the Ogasawara Islands, bringing high waves of up to 7 meters and gusts of over 120 kilometers per hour.

The system is expected to approach the Kanto and Tohoku regions from Sunday to Monday. Heavy rain and strong rains could be a major issue.

But even before the storm approaches, heavy rain is expected along the Pacific side, including Tokyo.

As the storm moves north, it will push a front up toward Kanto and Tohoku.

So up to 200 mm of rain is possible in Kanto by Sunday evening and another 200 mm by Monday. so people there should get ready for the storm by Saturday.

Please check out your emergency plans and supplies.

Now moving to Europe.

Severe downpours have hit parts of Spain this week, causing many disruptions.

Parts of Valencia were severely flooded on Thursday after heavy rain hit the city the night before.

Many roads looked more like rivers, making them difficult to navigate.

Many cars were flooded in parking lots, while some streets were blocked by falling trees.

Residents cleaned their homes and vehicles while emergency crews towed some stranded cars away.

A low pressure system is now over Italy and is expected to move towards the Balkans on Friday. There is a risk of thundershowers, wind gusts, and even tornadoes.

Showers are also likely in Rome, but sunny skies are expected in Vienna, Paris, and Lisbon, with highs around 25 degrees.

That's all for now. Have a nice weekend.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

00:27:45 話者 1

That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.

I'm Kanako Sachno Tokyo. 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 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年9月17日木曜日

(2026/9/17) Cabinet Shake-up, Saudi Oil Disruption & Middle East Tensions | NHK World English Podcast Scripts

Japan reshuffles cabinet, keeping key ministers while adding a JIP member.  
日本は内閣を改造し、主要閣僚を続投させつつ維新系の新任を加えた。
Saudi Arabia halts oil loadings after a pipeline attack, raising global supply concerns.  
サウジはパイプライン攻撃後に積み出しを停止し、世界的な供給不安が高まっている。
Middle East tensions grow as Houthi rebels expand control and China urges restraint.  
フーシ派の勢力拡大で中東緊張が高まり、中国は自制と対話を呼びかけている。
 00:00:11 話者 1/Yamagichi Hiroaki
Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.

Takaichi Reshuffles Cabinet, Keeps Key Members in Place

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has reshuffled her cabinet.
She kept certain core ministers in place, but has also appointed a new member from her coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party or JIP.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minoru unveiled the new cabinet lineup Thursday.
Of the 18 members, eight will remain in their posts.
They include Kihara himself as well as Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki.
Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro.
And for the first time, there is a member from the JIP.
Former Secretary General Nakatsuka Hiroshi has been named minister in charge of regulatory reform. Takaichi will address reporters Thursday evening.
She will likely explain her picks and discuss the future direction of her administration.

Reuters: Saudi Arabia Suspends Oil Loadings at Red Sea Port

Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended oil loadings at a Red Sea port after an attack on a key pipeline. The move is adding to growing concerns about the global oil supply.
The country was forced to shut the pipeline which carries crude oil to the port of Yeombu after it was damaged in a drone attack last Thursday.
The pipeline had been used as an alternative export route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
And now, Reuters says Saudi Arabia has suspended oil loadings at Yambu.
This comes as Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen ramp up their offensive against the Saudi-backed interim government.
The fighters have expanded their control of areas around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, an important Red Sea shipping waterway.
The Iran-backed Houthis said in a statement on Wednesday they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
They also claim to have damaged an oil-related facility in Yambu with ballistic missiles and other weapons. The Saudi side has not commented on these developments.
The closure of the pipeline and attacks on Saudi oil-related facilities are fueling worries that a disruption to global supply will drive up prices.
WTI crude oil futures remain above 100 dollars per barrel.

Reuters: US Met with Houthi Leaders

Meanwhile, US officials have reportedly held talks with the leaders of the Fouthis.
Reuters news agency quoted sources as saying that US officials met with representatives of the Fouthis at the US embassy in Oman's capital, Muscat, over the weekend.
The Fouthis side apparently said that it has no intention of attacking US vessels and it will not attack Israeli ships or other commercial vessels, excluding Saudi Arabian ships.
US news outlet Axios attributed sources as saying that Trump is due to hold talks with Gulf leaders.
They will reportedly meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next Tuesday.
The talks are expected to focus on US ideas for a post-war strategy.

China, Iran Foreign Ministers Hold Talks

China's foreign minister has called on the US and Iran to hold talks and he's urged the two sides to remain rational and restrained.
Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Arakchi in Beijing.
China's foreign ministry said Wang expressed eagerness to develop relations between Beijing and Tehran.
He said China is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran to safeguard its legitimate rights.
Wang says China does not want Middle East tensions to spread to Yemen and the Red Sea.
He urged relevant parties to negotiate.
Arakchi said Iran does not want the fighting to continue and seeks a diplomatic resolution while protecting its interests.
He said Iran believes its memorandum of understanding with the US remains valid and Washington should fulfill all its commitments.
The meeting comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's summit with US President Donald Trump, set to take place in the US later this month.
It's believed that China aims to demonstrate its influence over the situation in the Middle East.

Business

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Ramin Mellegard joins us from our biz desk. Ramin.
00:04:55 話者 2/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.

Investors Await Outcome of BOJ Meeting

Now, Tokyo's benchmark stock index moved in a narrow range, as you can see on my screen here on Thursday, as I saw mixed trading ahead of decisions at the central bank's policy meeting.
The Nikkei 225 closed out Thursday's session up 0.3% at 64,136, analysts say issues were bought across the board.
Crude oil futures somewhat stabilized after the recent surge, helping to lift sentiment.
But selling of semiconductor-related shares as traders' locked in profits trimmed the Nikkei's gains. The analysts say investors will now focus on Friday's BOJ meeting.
They will be paying special attention to what Governor Ueda Kaso has to say on the pace of future rate hikes.

BOJ Discusses Raising Interest Rate

Now, policymakers in Tokyo are also taking a very close look at inflation.
The Bank of Japan kicked off a two day meeting on Thursday.
They're considering hiking their policy rate from around 1% to 1.25%.
It's believed policymakers will confirm that underlying inflation is approaching their target of 2% as prices of food and other items continue to rise.
Now, concerns are growing at the central bank that inflation could climb well above that target.
And soaring oil prices stemming from the Middle East situation are one focus of attention.
Exchange rate trends affecting the yen and strong demand related to the AI boom are other factors.
The bank's last rate increase came in June. 
Another one of this week could -- would mean
Another one this week would mean accelerating the pace of tightening.
Rate hikes earlier this cycle arrive roughly once every six months.
Raising the policy rate to 1.25% would put it at the highest level since 1995, more than 30 years ago.

TEPCO: Home Power Bills to Hit Record High in October

Tokyo Electric Power Company has told customers to brace for record-high electricity bills in October.
The latest jolt for household budgets comes as the government pulls the plug on energy subsidies at the end of September.
Operating firm TEPCO Energy Partner estimates that the average fee for home use will come to just over 9,300 yen or roughly $60.
That's up 12.5% from the previous month.
Now, the projection is based on import prices of fuel in Japan's latest trade statistics.
Costs of liquefied natural gas and coal used for thermal power generation are soaring due to the supply disruption in the Middle East.
The utility says the previous record high for bills was set in the latter half of 2022 when fuel prices surged following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Robot Prototypes Articulate Push for Domestic AI

Japan's robot developers have given a glimpse of the future at an event in Tokyo.
Startups and others showed their technology as part of a government push to promote domestic artificial intelligence.
Robots at the event imitated the arm and hand movements of operators through wearable devices. Visitors watched the machines move food and drinks and even hammer nails.
Now, developers aim to eventually power the robots with AI, allowing them to make their decisions and perform tasks.
The motion data collected from these prototypes will be used to help make that happen.
A government initiative to support the development of domestic AI is being led by the AI Robot Association. 
Its chairperson, Ogata Tetsuya, says real-world data is extremely valuable.
00:09:15 話者 13/Ogata Tetsuya
In addition to AI models, a crucial focal point is using robots to collect data.
Companies have built the devices needed for this imitation learning
The next phase is evaluating them.
00:09:29 話者 2
Ogata added, It is important to create a framework that allows companies to share their learnings.

Markets

Okay, let's have a look at the markets.
And that is it for business news.

Zelenskyy: Conflict May Impact East Asian Security

00:10:18 話者 1
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sat down with NHK in Kyiv.
He warns that the conflict in Ukraine could impact regional security in East Asia.
and he pointed to North Korea, which is boosting ties with Russia.
Zelenskyy says North Korea has sent tens of thousands of troops to join the fighting.
00:10:39 話者 24/Volodymyr Zelenskyy
It's a big problem because it was not expensive for North Korea just to send people
And they began to learn modern war where they can do it for today.
00:10:53 話者 1
He says Russia allowed North Korea to get wartime experience without big losses.
And he believes this has increased the regional security threat in East Asia.
Zelenskyy also refers to China.
He says he's never seen Chinese missiles, but he notes that many Chinese parts are used in missiles and drones.
He also criticized Beijing's diplomatic stance on the conflict.
00:11:19 話者 24
It's a pity that China is not on our side in this war.
Politically, even it's not about weapons, it's about political will and it's a pity because this war can be started and stopped immediately by strong leaders, including China.
00:11:44 話者 1
He says the problem is that they are not in the middle and they are a little bit more with Russia.
Zelenskyy also says he wants to cooperate with Japan on defense, including in areas like cybersecurity and drones.

China Defense Chief Warns Against Militarism in Forum Speech

China's defense chief has urged participants at an international conference to exercise what he called vigilance against militarism in remarks apparently directed towards Japan.
Defense Minister Dong Jun spoke at the three-day Beijing Xianxian Forum, which opened in the Chinese capital on Tuesday.
Senior military officials and experts from more than a hundred countries and regions are taking part in the event.
00:12:28 話者 34/Dong Jun
We must bear in mind the lessons of history and remain highly vigilant against any latent manifestations of hegemony, militarism and historical revisionism.
00:12:42 話者 1
Sources at the forum say Japanese defense attaches and experts from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies who were invited last year were not asked to attend this year amid soured bilateral relations. 
However, participants included North Korea's vice defense minister.
South Korean media report this is the first time in seven years that a vice ministerial-level official from the North has taken part.
China has been protesting a remark by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi in the Diet last November about a possible Thailand contingency.

US Senator Sanders, MAGA Strategist Call for AI Controls

Left-wing US Senator Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon have appeared together to call for tighter controls on AI development.
US media say it's a rare show of bipartisan unity by the country's leading progressive voice and a major figure in the Trump movement.
Sanders and Bannon spoke at an event in Washington on Tuesday.
This comes amid ongoing debates in the country about AI safety.
00:13:48 話者 44/Bernie Sanders
The public has had virtually no input into the AI revolution that is transforming the world in which they live.
00:14:03 話者 1
Sanders added that virtually all the decisions on AI have been made by a handful of the richest people in the world.
Bannon served as chief White House strategist during Trump's first administration.
He remains an influencer figure within Trump's MAGA base.
00:14:21 話者 45/Steve Bannon
Obviously he and I have a quite different opinion of the president of the United States, but we're trying to raise above partisanship and we have to.
00:14:32 話者 1
The heads of major US AI firms have been urging for a slowdown in development and are pointing to a need for regulation.
But President Trump has dismissed these calls, saying the government can guarantee the safety of the technology.

EU to Limit Social Media Access for Under-15s

The president of the European Union says she will propose a bill on Thursday for member nations to restrict social media use for those under 15.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the remarks in her State of the Union address on Wednesday.
00:15:06 話者 54/Ursula von der Leyen
Day and night, parents see the costs. Loss of sleep, anxiety, even self-harm.
And in a growing number of cases, even fatal tragedies.
00:15:21 話者 1
Under the proposal, social media will be banned for children under 13.
Those aged 13 and up to 15 are allowed to open only accounts supervised by their parents or guardians.
The proposal also says social media operators will be obliged to adopt safe design for those between 15 and 18.

Japan Mulls More Foreign Workers in Security Sector

Japan's National Police Agency has begun discussion of expanding opportunities for foreign workers in the security industry.
The security services law currently allows some foreign residents, including those with permanent residency and spouses of Japanese nationals, to work in the industry.
An expert panel will discuss the possibility of adding foreign workers under the specified skilled worker system and the employment for skill development program.
The panel, which includes a senior official at a security services association, a university professor and a lawyer, gathered for its inaugural meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday.
The group will discuss which security services can employ more foreign workers and develop a system that helps those workers build related experience and skills.
According to the police agency, the Japanese security industry faces a labor shortage and an aging workforce, with nearly half of its employees aged 60 or over.

In Focus

Japan's Senior Citizens Alive and Kicking

Close to one in three people in Japan is now aged 65 or over.
One of the biggest challenges facing them is how to maintain optimum health.
For some older people in one area of Tokyo, the answer appears to lie in kickboxing.
00:17:17 話者 5/Reporter: Chiba Ryohei/Narrator: Bill Sullivan
A gym in a residential area of Tokyo.
These fighters, working up a sweat, are all senior citizens.
(Japanese)
Namai Hiroki is a former pro kickboxer.
He opened this gym five years ago for all age groups.
There are about 150 members and half of them are over 70.
00:18:02 話者 6/Namai Hiroki
I always want people to go all out no matter how old they are.
If they do their utmost at all times, for me that's perfect.
00:18:12 話者 5
The key point Namai always emphasizes in coaching is don't let age limit your potential.
The basic training is mitt work, throwing punches and kicks nonstop for 90 seconds.
This is repeated for about 30 minutes.
Namai creates individual training programs based on each member's fitness level and physical strength. Even the height of the pads is carefully thought out.
This 76-year-old woman began coming to the gym last year.
She had been confined to her bed for a time with a herniated disc.
But after starting this training, her condition improved so much, she was able to go back to playing tennis again.
00:19:11 話者 64
The other older ladies are getting so energetic. It really inspires me.
00:19:17 話者 6
Sometimes we see how much a person can do, and we're happy when they see it too.
00:19:26 話者 5
Has a long background in kickboxing.
As a college student he took first place in a national competition.
After he retired he became a traditional judo therapist and nine years ago he opened his own clinic. A year later he received an unexpected request from one of his patients.
Could you teach me kickboxing?
It all started from there.
83-year-old Hidabayashi Saiko was that person.
At the time, her legs were troubling her, and she found it difficult even to stand up.
During visits to the clinic, Hidabayashi found out about Namae's former career in kickboxing.
But nervous he might say no due to her age, it took her half a year to pluck up the courage.
00:20:27 話者 65
After watching the way he worked treating me, I thought it would be okay to ask him.
When I did, he just said, Sure.
00:20:38 話者 6
It's no exaggeration to say that she changed my life. It was a turning point for me as well.
I am where I am today, thanks to her.
00:20:51 話者 5
Given the condition of her legs, she started out with punching only.
It wasn't long before she was able to try kicking, which requires balancing on one leg.
In just a few months, she was delivering powerful kicks.
After close to two years training, her legs had recovered enough strength for her to go out walking.
00:21:22 話者 66
I didn't usually do anything that involved lifting my legs, but as I kept it up, my whole body started to feel better. It's amazing.  Maybe I'll be able to do a handstand.
00:21:39 話者 5
Namai is not just building up their physical strength, but also their courage to take a new step in their lives.
00:21:47 話者 67
It may sound strange to say at my age, but I've started wanting to get good at it.
00:21:54 話者 68
My aim is to stay strong so I can keep walking because I want to go on more trips.
00:22:02 話者 6
For many people, it takes courage to come in here, especially for older people.
Even I was nervous when I first started kickboxing.
So I think it must take even more courage for an older person.
I really respect that and want to be there for them.
00:22:20 話者 5
For the older people at this gym, it's about more than just kickboxing.
They also act as a support group for each other both physically and mentally.

For More, See Our Website and Free App

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00:23:50 話者 1
Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details on those stories.
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World Weather

Now let's check out the weather. People here in Japan are keeping an eye out for a severe tropical storm which is moving toward Japan.
Our meteorologist Yuumi Hirano has all the details.
00:24:37 話者 7/Yuumi Hirano
You can see a circulating system on the satellite.
Storm Dujuan is now moving northward to the Ogasawara Islands, bringing gusts of over 120 kilometers per hour.
The system is expected to approach the Tokai and Kanto regions, including Tokyo, from Sunday to Monday. Strong winds and heavy rain could be a major concern.
But before the storm approaches, we have to monitor one more system.
A front is likely to bring downpours to Kyushu on Friday and Kanto on Sunday.
Many people may travel during the long holiday weekend, so please check the latest weather and also transportation updates.
Now moving to Europe. Long-lasting heat and dry conditions could make wildfires worse.
A massive wildfire broke out in the western parts of Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday.
Firefighters battled the blaze on Wednesday as the flames consumed hundreds of hectares of land.
Crew members, including military personnel, were deployed to take on the fires.
Firefighting strategies, such as defensive fire lines and vegetation clearing, were used to stop the flames from spreading.
A low pressure system is bringing showers to eastern Spain, but they will taper off on Friday.
Further east, a frontal system is bringing severe weather, including thunder showers and strong winds. Showers are also expected in Rome, Vienna and Warsaw.
But another storm will bring thunder showers to Istanbul with a high of 25.
That's it for now. Stay safe.

♫~ 3-Day Forecast ~♫

00:27:40 話者 1
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