at 18:00 (JST), April 10

20260410180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/James Tengan

It's a Friday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.

IRAN CONFLICT
FOCUS ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ AS US AND IRAN PREPARE FOR TALKS

Delegates from the US and Iran are preparing for talks in Pakistan on Saturday.

They'll be led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baghur Ghalibaf.

Attention is now mainly focused on how the two sides will handle the Strait of Hormuz.

As of now, the Strait still appears to be effectively closed.

Iranian officials reportedly issued a designated route for tankers and are charging them fees for passing through.

US President Donald Trump reacted to those reports online, saying, They better not be, and if they are, they better stop now.

He also said in a separate post, Iran is doing a very poor job.

Iran's state media released what it says is a statement from the supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on Thursday.

It said Tehran will certainly demand compensation for every injury inflicted in the war, and bring management of the strait to a new stage.

Meanwhile, Israel has continued attacks on Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim group backed by Iran.

On Thursday, the Israeli military urged residents in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, to evacuate.

Authorities in Lebanon say at least 300 people have died since Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu says there's no ceasefire in Lebanon, but he did say his side is pursuing talks.

00:01:41 話者 9/Benyamin Netanyahu

Following repeated appeals from the Lebanese government to enter into peace negotiations with us, last night I instructed the cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon.

00:01:53 話者 1

He says they want to achieve two goals: a peace deal and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

A US State Department official tells NHK that it will host a meeting between Israel and Lebanon next week.

ANALYSIS: PAKISTAN AS MEDIATOR IN US-IRAN TALKS

For more on this, earlier I spoke with NHK's Islamabad bureau chief, Ota Yusuke.

He's been following the US-Iran talks for us. So, Yusuke, what's the mood like there?

00:02:23 話者 2/Ota Yusuke

Officials won't say where the talks are taking place, but we do know where some of the guests are staying.  

Tourists at one particular hotel were told to find other accommodations.

And authorities have completely sealed off the area around it.

Even those working nearby cannot get in, ourselves included.

Our NHK office is actually in that zone. We were locked out with just one day's notice.

So, as you can imagine, the city is buzzing.

Everyone wants to know how things are going to go.

00:03:00 話者 1

A unique situation indeed. Yusuke, why is Pakistan the one hosting these talks?

00:03:08 話者 2

For starters, it doesn't have any US military bases, despite sharing a border with Iran.

So it's easy to see it as neutral ground.

But Pakistan also has strong ties with both sides, thanks to Army Chief Ashim Munil.

He has enormous power, and not just in Pakistan.

He supposedly has ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard call, but he also enjoys a close relationship with President Trump.

Last year, he was even invited to a luncheon at the White House.

Plus, Pakistan is a motivated mediator. The conflict has dealt a major blow to its economy, so it has its own reasons for wanting a lasting solution.

00:03:57 話者 1

What do we expect will be the sticking points in these talks, Yusuke?

00:04:00 話者 2

A key issue will be uranium enrichment. According to Iranian state media, Tehran's 10-point proposal includes allowing it to continue enriching uranium.

The US, on the other hand, is demanding a complete stop because it could lead to the development of nuclear weapons.

Another major issue is the Strait of Hormuz.

The US has called on Iran to reopen it as part of a ceasefire.

But Iran insists it will continue to control the waterway, even during these two weeks.

Right now, they seem so far apart on these issues.

It's hard to imagine them reaching any kind of compromise.

It's unclear whether or not Pakistan can breach that divide.

IRAN CONFLICT
TAKAICHI: JAPAN WILL RELEASE MORE OIL RESERVES NEXT MONTH

00:05:00 話者 1

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says the government plans to release more oil from national reserves next month.

She announced the move during a cabinet meeting to discuss oil supplies amid the Middle East conflict.

00:05:15 話者 12/Takaichi Sanae

To ensure stable supply, we'll conduct a second release of crude oil from national reserves, amounting to about a 20-day supply starting in early May or later.

00:05:25 話者 1

Takaichi said the government has been trying to secure crude oil from alternative sources and through routes other than the Strait of Hormuz.

She also said Japan should be able to obtain enough oil to last beyond this year.

Takaichi also said people are concerned about the availability of paint thinners used in home construction and auto maintenance.

She said she instructed the country's industry and transport ministers to address supply chain issues.

00:05:54 話者 13/Akazawa Ryosei/Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister

We will carefully eliminate supply imbalances and bottlenecks one by one and take all necessary measures to fully protect people and safeguard their daily lives and economic activities.

00:06:06 話者 1

Takaichi also says she's checking into requests from countries that are looking for help obtaining oil.

ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR REIMPOSING SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for certain sanctions to be reimposed on Russia.

He says a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran has eased soaring oil prices.

Zelenskyy made the remarks on Wednesday following the announcement of the two-week ceasefire.

He noted markets have responded positively, triggering a sharp drop in oil prices.

Zelenskyy said that the US partially lifted sanctions on Russian crude oil and petroleum products in response to rising prices caused by the conflict with Iran.

Zelenskyy also pointed out that unblocking the Strait of Hormuz should reduce Russia's oil revenues.

In a video address on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president described safe navigation as a global value.

He expressed an eagerness to help secure the strait using his country's expertise in countering Russian maritime forces in the Black Sea.

TRUMP SAID TO CONSIDER PULLING TROOPS FROM NATO NATIONS

US President Donald Trump has reportedly discussed withdrawing some American troops from NATO member countries in Europe.

This comes as Trump posted a series of messages on social media expressing his frustration with NATO's response to the Iran conflict.

Reuters news agency said on Thursday the idea of withdrawal was raised with some advisers, but no decision was made.

The messages were posted after Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta on Wednesday in Washington. Details of the discussion have not been disclosed.

00:07:46 話者 14/Mark Rutte/NATO Secretary General

When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow.

00:07:57 話者 1

Ruta also commented on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said if NATO can help, obviously NATO is there.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday he spoke with Trump by phone the previous day.

00:08:14 話者 15/Friedrich Merz

There is currently no substitute for this alliance, and this is why I have a keen interest in preserving it and developing it further with the American President.

00:08:25 話者 1

Merz also said he offered further consultations on NATO's future ahead of the alliance's July summit in Ankara.

UK WARNS RUSSIA OVER ALLEGED COVERT SUBMARINE MISSION

Britain has accused Russia of conducting covert submarine operations in its waters.

The Russian embassy is reportedly denying the claim.

Defense Secretary John Healey said on Thursday that three Russian submarines had conducted nefarious activity near critical underwater infrastructure.

He said the operation took place in waters north of Britain.

Healey said the British military identified the vessel several weeks ago, and deployed a naval frigate and aircraft to track them.

He said Britain has not confirmed any damage to its underwater cables or pipelines.

00:09:22 話者 23/John Healey

To President Putin, I say, we see you. We see your activity over our cables and our pipelines.

And you should know that any attempt to damage them will not be tolerated and will have serious consequences.

00:09:39 話者 1

Norway said on Thursday it had also confirmed Russian submarine activity around Norwegian and British waters.

CHINA, NORTH KOREA AGREE TO STRENGTHEN TIES

China and North Korea have agreed to bolster ties in line with an agreement reached by their top leaders last year.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his North Korean counterpart, Chaesonyi, in Pyongyang on Thursday.

China's foreign ministry says Wang told Che that Beijing wants to develop ties by reinforcing communication, expanding exchanges, and boosting cooperation.

It also says the North Korean minister confirmed they plan to strengthen relations based on the leader's pact reached during their summit in Beijing last September.

It added that Che affirmed North Korea's support for China on issues Beijing counts as core interests.

Those include Taiwan and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The ministry quotes her as saying Pyongyang fully supports the One China principle and opposes interference in Beijing's internal affairs.

BUSINESS

Up next is Yuko Fukushima from our BizDesk to unpack for us today's business and financial news.

00:10:50 話者 5/Yuko Fukushima

Yeah, thanks, James.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN SETS UP FARM-SUPPLY TASK FORCE AMID HIGHER OIL PRICES

Well, Japan's agriculture ministry has set up a task force to assist the farming and fishery industries.

The move comes as elevated oil prices raise concerns about material and logistic costs.

Minister Suzuki Norikazu says the team will focus on investigating supply chines and distribution networks to make sure they are functioning as needed.

00:11:14 話者 33/Suzuki Norikazu

We will conduct a thorough verification of inventory, production outlook, and imports of materials.

We will use all possible measures to ensure that food supply is secure for Japan's people.

00:11:32 話者 5

Suzuki said the team will check on the status of supplies of petroleum-related products, such as food trays and packaging materials.

Supply of fuel for farm machinery and fishing vessels is also a focus of the team.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN'S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WORSENS IN MARCH

A government survey shows Japan's consumer confidence worsened in March for the first time in three months. Analysts lay the blame on soaring crude oil prices.

The consumer confidence index for households of two or more people came to 33.3.

That's down 6.4 points from February.

The Cabinet Office asked 8,400 households nationwide about their views on livelihoods over the next six months, including spending plans and employment.

Willingness to buy durables such as vehicles fell 7.7 points from the previous month, while confidence about employment dropped 5.7 points.

Analysts believe concerns over spiking oil prices are behind the survey results.

The Cabinet Office downgraded its basic assessment of consumer sentiment from showing signs of improvement to weakening.

CHINA FACTORY PRICES TURN POSITIVE, FIRST TIME IN 3.5 YEARS

China's producer prices returned to positive territory for the first time in three and a half years in March. Surge in crude oil costs are a major factor.

The National Bureau of Statistics says the index rose half a percent last month from a year earlier, turning positive for the first time since September 2022.

The gauge measures price fluctuations of goods at factory gates.

March also saw the country's consumer price index climb 1%, marking the sixth straight month of gains. The escalating Iran conflict is driven up gasoline prices.

Higher gold prices also made jewelry and accessories significantly more expensive.

But cars continue to be sold at lower prices, reflecting the frugal mindset among consumers. Personal spending could cool further if energy prices don't come down.

BIZ PICKS

And now here is NHK World's Gene Otani with BizPix.

00:13:42 話者 6/Gene Otani

Here's a look at key business and economic stories in the week ahead.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve gives an update on US regional economies.

The release of the so-called Beige Book comes two weeks ahead of the Fed's next interest rate decision. A key data figure comes out on Thursday.

That's when China reveals its GDP numbers for the first quarter of 2026.

CHINA'S GDP GROWTH PRESSURED BY OIL PRICES, HOUSING SLUMP

China's economic growth met the government's annual target of 5% in 2025, but the pace of increase sloped steadily through the year.

The figure was only 4.5% year on year in the final quarter.

We talked to an analyst at Daiwa Institute of Research about the outlook for 2026.

Saito Naoto estimates There was a slight improvement in the January to March period.

He puts the growth at 4.7 to 4.8 percent.

00:14:40 話者 7/Saito Naoto

There are two main factors to consider.

First, strong exports. Outbound shipments rose over 20 percent between January and February.

Given that the trade surplus also expanded, I believe external demand made a greater contribution to the overall economy.

Secondly, there was the revival of subsidies for consumer goods, such as cars and household appliances. These had kept spending robust through last summer.

They ran out, and consumption slowed from around October.

But the subsidies came back at the start of this year, so there was a modest pickup in spending.

00:15:20 話者 6

The Chinese government said its 2026 economic growth target at between 4.5 and 5 percent during the National People's Congress in March, but Saito expects growth to slow even further.

00:15:35 話者 7

The slump in the real estate sector has gone into the fifth year, and it still continues.

Also, the impact of subsidies that supported spending until last summer may be reaching its limit.

These programs have pulled forward consumer demand that may have been spread over the next several years. So there's a consequence.

00:16:04 話者 6

Surging crude oil prices driven by the Iran conflict are also weighing on growth.

China imports about 70% of its oil. 

Saito says a prolonged situation in the Middle East could deal a heavy blow to the economy.

00:16:20 話者 7

Gasoline prices are being hiked in China too, but the rate of increase only reflects half of the reality.

State-run companies and public money are shouldering the rest.

Upward pressure on prices is definitely growing, but it is difficult to pass on higher costs to consumers in a deflationary economy like China's.

Weakening corporate performance is a concern too.

Given these factors, we project China will grow 4.4% in 2026.

00:16:52 話者 6

Saito also points to the US-China summit scheduled for mid-May.

He says its outcome may have an impact on the economy, along with housing market developments and deflationary trends from destructive price competition.

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

MARKETS

00:17:10 話者 5

And now to how currencies and stocks are trading here in the region.

♪

And that wraps it up for business.

MOTION CAPTURE SAVES CRITICAL PRODUCTION SKILLS

00:17:45 話者 1

Major Japanese companies have become popular household brands around the world, yet over 80% of Japan's manufacturing sector involves small-sized firms.

An ongoing problem those businesses are facing is how to pass on knowledge from older, skilled workers to a younger generation.

One answer to this dilemma takes a tip from moviemaking.

CONNECTING CRAFTSMEN

00:18:09 話者 4

The skill of the maker determines the quality of the product.

To preserve these techniques for the next generation,

Some small manufacturers are starting to implement a technology most commonly associated with digital entertainment: motion capture.

One of the people driving the adoption of this tech is Sato Shimpei.

He offers a service that records and analyzes the movements of craftspeople.

00:18:44 話者 53/Sato Shimpei/CEO, Acuity

Here we have two carpenters who specialize in building temples and shrines.

When using a hand plane, the more experienced one said it was important to pull with your hips, but it was hard to know what he meant just by watching him.

00:18:56 話者 4

But if you look at the data gathered using motion capture.

00:19:02 話者 53

You can see right here, the expert's buttocks is moving downward.

So we realized that pulling with your hips actually meant dropping your center of gravity down through your glutes.

00:19:14 話者 4

Analyzing the techniques of a craftsman requires recording even the most minute movements.

To achieve this, Santo made a range of changes, including to the capture markers.

He made sure that their surfaces were perfectly smooth.

These modifications increased measurement precision tenfold, allowing for accuracy down to 0.1 millimeters.

To date, more than 300 companies have adopted this service.

---

Like this small company, it specializes in manufacturing machined parts.

For this shop, passing on techniques to new hires has been a long-standing challenge.

Today, the president, Miyamoto Taku, is teaching a young employee proper TIG welding techniques.

The task is to attach a small bracket to an arch-shaped piece of metal.

When comparing the results of their welding, the difference is clear.

Miyamoto's weld features a series of evenly spaced ripples.

The young employees' work, on the other hand, lacks uniformity.

The varying thickness of the bead means it won't offer the same degree of strength.

00:20:45 話者 54

It's not something you can just grasp right away.

00:20:50 話者 55/Miyamoto Taku/CEO, Creative Works

It's really hard to teach. Words can only go so far, so beyond that, all I can do is show them and say, Do it just like this.

00:20:58 話者 4

To improve employee training, Miyamoto recently began using motion capture analysis.

tThe orch must be held just millimeters above the surface of the metal.

This is one of the basic techniques of welding.

Here's an employee's practice weld.

Miyamoto uses the system to break down the employee's technique.

You can see that the expert's orange line remains steady throughout the weld, maintaining a distance within one millimeter of the plate.

The young employee's blue line, however, fluctuates much more significantly.

00:21:41 話者 55

As you can see, a good stable weld remains within a range of one millimeter.

But once you exceed that, the instability makes the way the metal melts inconsistent.

Like here, when you got too close to the metal.

Let's work on improving our steadiness.

00:22:00 話者 54

The analysis makes it very clear where I need to improve.

00:22:06 話者 55

It's made a huge difference. Being able to see the data broken down numerically makes it much easier for me to process.

♫～

00:23:19 話者 1

I've gained weight just seeing all those goodies.

WEATHER

Now it's time to check out the weather.　

A spring storm has been battering parts of Japan. 

Our meteorologist, Yumi Hirano, has the details.

00:23:29 話者 8/Yumi Hirano

Japan has been experiencing widespread showers on Friday, and intense downpours have been reported in Kyushu.

Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture saw over 60 millimeters in just an hour, setting an April record.

In addition, strong winds are a concern. 

High winds hit western and central Japan on Friday.

Gusts of over 100 kilometers per hour were reported in Wakayama City.

And southerly winds also pushed up temperatures in Toyama City with a high of about 20 degrees.

The weather agency is urging caution over strong winds in coastal areas on Friday.

The storm is approaching northern Japan through Saturday, bringing gusty winds.

On top of that, rain is expected to turn to snow in Hokkaido, so white out and blizzard conditions are possible, leading to potential transportation disruptions over the weekend.

But in western and eastern Japan, sunny skies will return on Saturday.

The high in Tokyo will jump to 26, and people in Kumagaya may see 29, which is as warm as in July.

Further south, a tropical storm has formed near Guam.

It's expected to intensify into the first typhoon this year in the western Pacific.

The system is likely to approach Guam from Saturday, bringing strong winds, so long-lasting power outages could be a big concern.

On top of that, 300 millimeters of rain is possible in total, leading to potential flooding.

It's still unclear whether the system will move west or north after next week, so please stay updated.

That's it for now. Stay safe.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

FLORAL 'CARPETS' ENCHANT VISITORS OF WESTERN JAPAN ISLAND

00:26:40 話者 1

One more item before we leave you. Flowers are in peak bloom on a small island in Japan's western prefecture of Kagawa, creating breathtaking displays.

From spring to early summer every year, hillsides on Shishijima are covered with carpets of vivid blooms against the background of this Seto Inland Sea.

About 20 species are blossoming on the island around this time of year, including moss phlox, pot marigold, and pneumophila.

00:27:14 話者 66

The landscape is so impressive. I will remember it for the rest of my life.

00:27:19 話者 1

Flower growing once thrived as a business on Shishijima.

A former member of the industry and her family are trying to revive its reputation as an island of flowers.

They say they're really happy if their creations bring comfort to visitors.

---

We invite you to visit our website or app for more news, features, stories, and information.

More to come here on NHK World Japan, so stay with us.

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.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), April 09

20260409180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Ross Mihara

From our studios in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara.

IRAN CONFLICT
VANCE WILL HEAD TO PAKISTAN FOR TALKS WITH IRAN

Leaders in the US and Iran have agreed to pause their hostilities over the next two weeks and meet for high-level talks in Pakistan on Saturday.

The White House says the US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, but questions still remain about whether the Strait of Hormuz is open for free passage and if Lebanon is covered by the cease-fire agreement.

At an event in Hungary, Vance said Iran agreed to keep the strait open while the US and its allies halt their attacks. But he says leadership in Tehran is divided.

00:00:47 話者 2/JD Vance

I think the president has struck a good deal for the American people, but fundamentally, the Iranians have got to take the next step or the president has a lot of options to go back to the war.

00:00:57 話者 1

Vance also said one of the main subjects of negotiation is that Iran not be able to make a nuclear weapon.

In the meantime, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that US forces will remain in place in and around Iran until such time as the real agreement reached is fully complied with. 

IRAN CONFLICT
ISRAEL CONTINUES STRIKES ON LEBANON

It also remains unclear whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire.

Israel says it is not and has continued targeting dozens of Hezbollah headquarters and bases in the country. The Shia Muslim group is backed by Iran.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating the ceasefire, had said it also includes Lebanon.

But the White House press secretary says Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire deal at this point.

Lebanon's state-run news agency reports that more than 180 people have been killed and nearly 900 injured in the Israeli strikes.

Reports out of Iran say Israel's actions violate the ceasefire and that if they continue, Iran will consider withdrawing from the agreement.

IRAN CONFLICT
IRAN OUTLINES CONTROLLED ROUTE FOR SHIPS

Iranian media also reported on Thursday that the Revolutionary Guard Navy posted a map showing shipping routes that all vessels should follow when passing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has said it will maintain control of the strait during the two-week ceasefire.

It remains unclear to what extent the safe passage of vessels will be guaranteed.

IRAN CONFLICT
IMF, WORLD BANK, WFP WARN OF FOOD INSECURITY

The heads of three major international organizations have warned that the conflict in the Middle East could drive up food prices and worsen food insecurity worldwide.

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank Group, and the World Food Programme issued a joint statement on Wednesday.

The statement says sharp increases in oil, gas, and fertilizer prices combined with transport bottlenecks will inevitably lead to rising food prices and food insecurity.

They stress that people in low-income, import-dependent economies are likely to be hit the hardest.

WFP Assistant Executive Director Rania Dagash-Kamara told NHK that global hunger may worsen unless the situation in the Middle East improves.

00:03:13 話者 3/Rania Dagash-Kamara/WFP Assistant Executive Director

Our analysis says that an extra 45 million people will be acutely hungry if this crisis continues.

00:03:23 話者 1

She said 318 million people currently suffer from hunger and that the conflict will put unprecedented numbers of people in a vulnerable situation.

N.KOREA SAYS IT TESTED MISSILE WITH CLUSTER-BOMB WARHEAD

North Korean media say the country has carried out tests of key weapons systems, including a ballistic missile armed with a cluster bomb warhead.

State-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the Academy of Defense Science and the Missile Administration conducted the testing over three days through Wednesday.

KCNA said the tests involved a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile armed with a cluster bomb warhead.

It said they showed that the missile is capable of reducing a wide targeted area to ashes.

KCNA said other systems were also tested.

They included an electromagnetic weapon designed to disrupt communications networks and what it called a carbon fiber bomb.

South Korea's military said earlier the North had fired short-range ballistic missiles from the eastern city of Wonsan toward the Sea of Japan on Wednesday.

It also reported that projectiles originating near Pyongyang were launched on Tuesday.

Those are believed to have been part of the weapons tests.

A South Korean expert says the weapons are designed to target South Korea, and the tests were intended to convey Pyongyang's view of the South as a hostile state.

ZELENSKYY BACKS US-IRAN TRUCE, CALLS FOR CEASEFIRE WITH RUSSIA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the cease-fire agreement between the US and Iran, and he says his country would be ready to do the same if Russia halts its attacks.

In a social media post on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said the cease-fire is the right decision that leads to ending the war. He said the situation in the region has global implications.

And he added that threats to security and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf amplify challenges for the economy and the cost of living in every country.

Ukraine has sent military experts to Gulf countries to assist with interceptor drones and other areas. Zelenskyy said the expert teams will continue working in the region.

JAPAN BOLSTERS BEAR COUNTERMEASURES AS HIBERNATION ENDS

Local governments in Japan are stepping up measures to prevent bear attacks as the animals emerge from hibernation.

In the town of Fukushima in Hokkaido, electric fences are being reinstalled to ward off brown bears.

The town set up the fences along a five-kilometer stretch of a pathway used by bears following a fatal attack on a newspaper delivery man last July.

On Thursday, officials were seen reinstalling the fences along the borders between the town's residential areas and the nearby mountains.

00:06:19 話者 4/Fukuhara Takayuki/Fukushima town official

We believe the first priority is to create an environment where bears won't leave the mountains.

00:06:30 話者 1

Meanwhile, the city of Tomiya in Miyagi Prefecture plans to distribute bear bells to some 5,000 students in its 13 elementary and junior high schools.

The move follows a September bear attack on a man in his 60s near one of the city's elementary schools.

The city's mayor gave bells to two student representatives on Thursday.

00:06:53 話者 15

I'll put this bell on my school bag, or the bag I carry when I play.

00:07:00 話者 16

I want to keep the bears away with this bell.

00:07:06 話者 1

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has launched an urgent inspection following multiple reports of fallen trees in a park in the city's Setagaya ward.

Experts, including tree surgeons, started the inspection in Kinuta Park on Thursday morning. It covers about 5,000 trees, three meters high or taller.

Trees deemed to require removal will be promptly cut down.

Fallen trees have been reported four times in the park over the past month.

A cherry blossom tree fell last month, injuring one person.

Two oak trees toppled over on Tuesday.

Tokyo officials say in the fiscal year that ended in March, 86 trees fell on land managed by the metropolitan government, including parks and cemeteries.

The officials say they'll conduct similar checks at other locations.

JAPANESE WWII FIGHTER SALVAGED FROM SEA

A Japanese fighter aircraft used during World War II has been salvaged.

It was lying underwater for 81 years.

The Shidenkai was found at a depth of about three meters, roughly 300 meters offshore in Akune City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

The warplane of the Imperial Japanese Navy crashed into the sea after exchanging fire with US forces on April 21, 1945. The pilot, Lieutenant Hayashi Yoshishige, was killed.

A local nonprofit working to preserve war heritage in the area launched a project to retrieve the aircraft.

Using a large crane, workers lifted the plane's parts one by one onto a barge.

The wings remain clearly recognizable despite decades underwater.

00:08:51 話者 24/Himoto Eisuke/Head, local nonprofit organization

The plane was preserved in remarkably good condition. That made me really happy.

00:08:57 話者 1

The aircraft will be taken to port and undergo a year of desalination in a special water tank. The MPO plans to display it as a heritage item to convey the importance of peace.

FEARING BLUE: BIKE BUSINESSES ADAPT TO NEW RULES

Cyclists in Japan are adjusting to new rules against unsafe behavior. Riding while on the phone or ignoring traffic signals can now lead to fines, but not everybody knows that.

NHK World's Endo Yuka tells us how bike businesses are trying to keep their customers safe from the blue ticket.

00:09:34 話者 5/Reporting/Endo Yuka/NHK WORLD

One might not think of coming all the way to Tokyo's capital of high-tech,

for a low-tech way to get around.

This bike rental shop in Akihabara says about 80 percent of its customers are foreign visitors. For some, it's their first time hitting Japanese pavement.

00:09:54 話者 21

For sure the traffic, it's a lot more congested, a lot more traffic lights.

I'm sure it'll be hard for me to navigate.

00:10:02 話者 22

I think in Germany you drive on the right side, same with cars, so that's certainly a big difference.

00:10:09 話者 5

Before embarking, riders get a rundown on the rules of the road from staff.

the kind of knowledge that will keep them out of harm's way and out of trouble.

00:10:22 話者 23/Toyama Masaya/ZuttoRide Sharing Corporation

They often ask whether it is okay to ride on the sidewalk.

We hear that in many countries, riding on the sidewalk is not allowed.

00:10:31 話者 5

In Japan, cyclists can sometimes go on the sidewalk, but only under certain conditions.

Since April 1, disobeying those kinds of rules could result in a blue ticket.

That may come with fines ranging from around 20 to 80 dollars.

Riders at the rental shop say they understand the push for safe cycling.

00:10:57 話者 24

You want to have clear rules that everybody follows and have penalties if you don't follow the rules. And those rules are made for everyone to be able to coexist in harmony.

So I think that's a good decision.

00:11:12 話者 5

Even with the new system in place, it's not uncommon to see blue ticket violations just about anywhere you go.

These rules can be confusing, even for those who've been cycling in Japan all their lives.

Elsewhere in Tokyo, one major e-bike rental service has teamed up with police and other organizations for a safety workshop.

00:11:39 話者 25

We don't want anyone to be involved in an accident, and we don't want anyone to cause one. That is the police's one and only wish.

00:11:47 話者 5

It's a hands-on experience. Participants are even encouraged to try some reckless behaviors, like riding while looking at a phone.

It's meant to demonstrate the dangers the blue tickets are meant to correct.

00:12:03 話者 26

When I don't know the way, or even when I'm not riding a bicycle, I sometimes find myself walking while looking at my phone.

It made me realize again that both pedestrians and cyclists need to be careful and watch out for each other.

00:12:18 話者 5

The company's CEO says he sees riders trying their best to follow the rules.

But cyclists sometimes forget they have many of the same responsibilities as cars or motorcycles.

00:12:33 話者 27/Okai Daiki/CEO, Luup

We really want users to be more aware that both electric assist bicycles and electric scooters are vehicles, and that we believe this awareness needs to be much more widespread.

00:12:44 話者 5

The hope is that officials, shops and rental services can all work together to get the word out.

More blue ticket awareness will save cyclists from surprise finds and help make Japan's streets a bit safer.

Endo Yuka, NHK World.

BUSINESS

00:13:03 話者 1

Now let's go to Yuko Fukushima for more business stories.

00:13:08 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima

Thanks, Ross.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN CONSIDERS FINANCING TO HELP ASIAN SUPPLIERS OBTAIN OIL

Well, NHK has learned Japan is exploring financing measures to help secure crude oil for key Asian business partners of domestic companies.

The new framework will include loans and is projected to exceed 1 trillion yen, or more than 6 billion dollars.

Government-backed institutions, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, are expected to be involved.

Like Japan, many Asian nations rely heavily on energy shipments from the Middle East to power their economies.

Japan itself has announced efforts to diversify suppliers in response to the conflict in Iran.

Tokyo may work with the Asian Development Bank on the financing scheme.

It could also propose creating an Asian-wide stockpile of crude oil.

IRAN CONFLICT
DELTA FUEL COSTS TO SOAR $2 BIL. IN APR .- JUN. QUARTER

Rising oil prices are also taking a toll on air carriers with their fleets of fuel-thirsty planes.

Delta Airlines says it expects jet fuel costs to soar and some of that will be passed on to customers.

The American carrier says it expects fuel costs to jump by over $2 billion during the current April to June period.

Delta plans to reduce flights for unprofitable routes to counter the expense.

It will also hike baggage fees for domestic and some international flights.

Relief from the current situation appears unlikely to come soon.

The international Air Transport Association says even if the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, it will take months for fuel supplies to recover.

IRAN CONFLICT
SPRING HOLIDAY TRAVELERS RETHINKING MIDDLE EAST FLIGHTS

The situation in the Middle East is also casting a shadow over travel plans for Japan's coming spring holidays.

Although a growing number of people are expected to go overseas, some are having second thoughts.

Travel agency JTB estimates that more than 570,000 Japanese will go abroad and stay at least one night between April 25tand May 7. That's up 8.5% from a year ago.

But there are growing doubts about troops with flight transfers in the Middle East.

A travel agency that specializes in overseas stores has decided to call off trips to Europe and elsewhere that use airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

The cancellations go up to May 6 for departures from Japan.

Such routes are usually cheaper than flying direct, but the worsening situation in Iran has forced the agency's hand. Some travelers are also canceling tours.

Switching to direct flights can raise the price by over $600.

00:15:44 話者 34/Torimi Ryosuke/STWorld

The travel industry is basically a peacetime industry.

People tend to not go abroad unless the situation is calm.

We're worried because we're not sure when things will improve.

00:15:55 話者 6

The agency is also seeing cancellations among people going to the United States.

They're worried about possible retaliation from Iran.

JAPAN'S WAGE GROWTH BEATS INFLATION FOR 2ND MONTH

Well, real pay in Japan increased in February for the second straight month held by a jump in base pay.

The gains mark a reversal after long periods of wage hikes lagging price increases.

Preliminary figures released by the labor ministry on Wednesday show inflation adjusted wages grew 1.9% in February from the same month last year.

The salary surveyed by the ministry covers about 30,000 businesses nationwide with at least five employees.

Workers took home an average of slightly more than 298,000 yen in February.

That's equivalent to about $1,880. It includes base pay and overtime.

The figure is up 3.3% on-year and marks the 50th consecutive month of gains.

Base wages also rose 3.3% to $1,700. 

This is the biggest increase in 33 years and eight months.

The average bonus paid between November last year and January this year was $2,670.

That's up 2.8% from the same period a year earlier.

Ministry officials say paychecks are growing steadily while inflation is easing off.

JAPAN CONSUMPTION TAX WAIVER COULD TAKE A YEAR TO IMPLEMENT

Well, people expecting relief at the register from the consumption tax could be in for a wait.

Japanese businesses say technical challenges may push implementation of a waiver out about a year.

A working group has met to discuss the government's plan to eliminate the tax on food items for two years.

Members include the tax panel chiefs of the ruling and opposition parties.

The aim of the measure is to help soften the blow of rising prices.

But a firm that handles cash register upgrades has thrown cold water on hopes for a quick change. 

A company official told the meeting that the systems not designed for a zero tax rate and that it will take up to about a year to modify them.

00:18:02 話者 44/Furukawa Motohisa/Democratic Party for the People

If the tax waiver doesn't actually go into effect for another year or year and a half, it won't help with the current price increases.

We want to hold hearings to overcome these challenges and consider ways to implement the plan.

00:18:21 話者 6

The ruling parties are also looking for revenue sources to pay for the tax waiver.

They want to compile an interim report around the summer through the National Council.

MARKETS

And now let's get you a check on the markets. 

♪

And that's the biz for this hour.

S.KOREA SEES LANGUAGE BOOM AMID CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT

00:19:10 話者 1

K-pop and K-dramas have tourists flocking to South Korea, but not everyone is just sightseeing.

Language schools say they're facing unprecedented demand, with many students hoping to stay long-term.

NHK World's Kim Chan-ju reports.

00:19:28 話者 3/Kim Chan-ju

These people are at Seoul's Yonsei University for one reason: to learn Korean.

In the past, students like them came from neighboring countries like Japan or China.

Now things have changed, with more coming from further afield.

But they all have one thing in common.

00:19:50 話者 53

K-pop became very popular and watching that kind of encouraged me to get into learning the language.

00:19:50 話者 54

I like the unique alphabet. It's only unique to Korea.

And obviously you hear it a lot in K-pop songs and K-dramas.

00:20:13 話者 3

Christina Alamansola from Spain is one of those who made the jump.

She says she became fascinated by K-pop nine years ago through BTS.

Since then, she's immersed herself in Korean culture.

00:20:28 話者 55/Cristina Alaman Sola/Korean language student

For me, Korean language sounds amazing.

I don't know how to explain, but I really like the pronunciation.

00:20:39 話者 3

After studying fashion back home, she enrolled at Yonsei to learn Korean and chase her dream.

00:20:47 話者 55

My dream is to become a K-pop fashion stylist, and it came from

And when I see 80s concert costume made jacket, I thought it was so cool.

00:21:05 話者 3

But making friends in a foreign country isn't easy, especially when you're not fluent.

So she joined her school's K-pop dance club as a way to practice her hobbies and her Korean.

This club member says about half the recent applicants were international students.

00:21:41 話者 56

They like K-pop and performed well in their own countries, so they can dance very well.

But it's puzzling for us every time we have to choose new members.

00:21:55 話者 3

Christina says this is one small step towards her long-term future in Korea.

00:22:03 話者 55

I want to live here for the rest of my life if I can. I really feel like this is my place.

00:22:18 話者 3

And she's not alone.

A growing number of international students are looking to settle in Korea after graduation.

That means getting a job at career fairs like this one.

00:22:42 話者 55

(Korean)

00:22:58 話者 56

We are looking for, usually we are looking for engineers.

00:23:05 話者 3

The South Korean government also wants them to stay.

It plans to attract 300,000 international students by 2027. Their hope is that they can help boost the workforce to fill gaps caused by the population decline.

But the latest statistics suggest only 30 percent of them actually find jobs in South Korea.

Kwon Bo-geun helps support foreigners settling in the country.

She says things like communication issues and visa paperwork have been major hurdles.

00:23:42 話者 57/Kweon Bo-guen/Seoul Global Center

Many Korean companies recognize the need to hire foreigners.

But they don't know how to recruit them or what methods they should use.

00:23:54 話者 3

While K-culture's popularity may be enough to draw students here, she says the government and Korean society as a whole needs to do more to get them to stay.

Kim chan-ju NHK World.

WEATHER

00:24:10 話者 1

It's time now for the world weather with meteorologist Yumi Hirano.

00:24:15 話者 8/Yumi Hirano

After calm and dry conditions, a storm system is approaching western Japan on Thursday.

It's expected to develop over the Sea of Japan and bring strong winds on Friday.

In addition, intense rain, lightning, and even tornadoes are possible, especially from Kyushu to Tokai.

Showers are also expected in Tokyo, with a high of 19.

Wet weather is likely in Seoul, Shanghai, and Chonchim.

But further south, hot and dry conditions are expected.

The high will be 31 in Taipei, 30 in Hong Kong, and 38 in Bangkok.

Now moving to Europe.

Warm air is covering the west, creating higher-than-average temperatures.

London hit 26.1 degrees on Wednesday, the earliest ever that it's gone above 25.

The heat may have surprised even the seasonal flowers.

More than a hundred types of tulips burst into color to welcome spring near London on Wednesday.

Organizers at a spring festival said that seeing these flowers bloom after a cold winter is always a special moment.

In London itself, the weather seems to have jumped straight to summer, with temperatures in the mid-twenties.

Many people could be seen out and about near popular tourist areas, basking in the heat.

But a big temperature change is coming to London.

The high will drop to 21 on Thursday, only 15 on Friday, and finally 14 on Saturday.

The same patterns are expected in other cities. After thunder showers, the high in Paris will drop from 27 on Thursday to only 17 on Friday.

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

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

PEAK VIEWING FOR CHERRY BLOSSOMS NEAR MT. FUJI

00:26:47 話者 1

Before we go, cherry blossoms in full bloom in a town at the foot of Japan's highest peak, Mount Fuji, are attracting tourists to enjoy the iconic view.

The town of Fuji Kawaguchi-ko is holding a festival to celebrate the blossoms.

About 200 cherry trees on the north side of Lake Kawaguchi, the main venue of the event, are now at their best.

00:27:14 話者 64

We really like the scenery here.

We came from Germany just to visit it.

00:27:19 話者 65

Perfect sunny day and Mount Fuji looks very beautiful.

I think it's the perfect time to see cherry blossoms.

00:27:27 話者 1

The festival was originally due to run through Sunday, but organizers decided to extend it until April 15 because the blossoms are still at their peak.

I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo. We thank you for joining us on NHK Newsline.

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.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), April 08

20260408180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Yamamoto Miki

Hello, glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP POSTPONES ATTACKS, IRAN AGREES TO OPEN HORMUZ STRAIT

We start with major developments in the US-Iran conflict.

The two sides have now agreed to an immediate ceasefire, and US President Donald Trump announced he will suspend attacks on Iran.

This came just hours before his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Trump warned a whole civilization will die tonight if the passage remained closed.

Trump posted online that he agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

He said the US received a 10-point proposal from Tehran and he sees it as a workable basis for negotiations.

Trump also said a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalized and consummated.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi responded on social media, saying if attacks are halted, Iran's forces will cease their defensive operations.

He also says ships will be able to safely navigate the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks by coordinating with the Iranian military.

IRAN CONFLICT
PAKISTAN PM INVITES US, IRAN FOR TALKS ON APRIL 10

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who's been serving as a mediator, suggested the idea.

Sharif said in a social media post that Iran and the US, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including in Lebanon.

He said he has invited Washington and Tehran to hold talks to end the fighting in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Friday.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP POSTPONES ATTACKS, IRAN AGREES TO OPEN HORMUZ STRAIT

In a statement, Israel's prime minister's office said it supports Trump's decision to suspend strikes.

It said it was subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region.

Notably, it said that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, hinting at continued attacks on the Iran-backed Shia Muslim group Hezbollah.

US-IRAN PAUSE LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Now, for more on this, I earlier spoke with our senior international correspondent, Ishii Yusaku. Yusaku, why did Trump back down from his threats to end Iran's civilization?

00:02:30 話者 2/Ishii Yusaku

I think there's a lot that's unclear about the ceasefire, but we still don't know exactly what both sides agreed on. But I think posing the conflict makes sense for Trump.

And one big reason is energy prices.

The market has been volatile since the conflict started, and that's because the Strait of Hormuz is so vital for global oil shipments, and this was impacting the world economy.

And gas prices in the US, too, climbed to an average of around $4 per gallon, and now, with this deal, oil prices are plunging.

And also, Americans were getting frustrated with this war, and the US midterm elections are coming up this fall.

The president has even seen backlash among his core supporters, the so-called MAGA base, and many said they voted for Trump to avoid foreign wars.

00:03:26 話者 1

Right.

00:03:27 話者 2

NHK recently sent a crew to a gathering of young Trump supporters in Washington, and some attendees told us they were concerned the conflict with Iran could spiral out of control.

00:03:40 話者 12

I voted for Trump in 2024 off the idea that he would, you know, tone down the wars.

I'm hoping if everything goes well, he knows that it needs to end at some point.

00:03:51 話者 13

I think we're spending an unbelievable amount of money, weapons, service members' lives. I find that to be super antithetical to America First.

00:04:00 話者 2

And if we look back at what happened in Venezuela earlier this year, Trump scored a coup de grace. He likely felt he'd get another quick win, but he did not.

Trump claims US was exceeded their goals and that killing many of its leaders represents regime change. But that might be a tough sell to American voters.

00:04:26 話者 1

And beyond the US, can we also guess that Trump could be trying to wrap up the conflict before he visits China?

00:04:34 話者 2

Right, and that's probably the case as well.

Trump actually had to postpone scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and now it's set to happen in May.

Beijing and Tehran are not close allies, but they do have friendly relations, and China purchases much of its Iran's oil.

If Trump follows through with his threat to destroy Iran, it's hard to say how Xi would react.

00:05:02 話者 1

Right. Now, shifting gears to Iran, its leaders appear to be declaring victory.

What do you make of that?

00:05:10 話者 2

Well, Iran has certainly been devastated. Many of its political, military, and religious leaders have been killed, but it has not been toppled.

Despite facing sustained attacks from US and Israeli forces, Iran's military remains a threat and has been able to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed.

And its troops shot down a US fighter jet just days ago.

And now Tehran claims Washington is willing to discuss its 10-point peace proposal.

And some drafts include demands for complete US military withdrawal and acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment.

And the last point could contradict Trump's main goal, preventing Tehran from ever being able to make a nuclear bomb.

And if Iranian leaders can make these kinds of demands, then they are far from being defeated at this point.

00:06:16 話者 1

Right. So what do we watch out for for the next two weeks?

00:06:21 話者 2

I think we'll have to see if this ceasefire is violated or not, especially between Iran and Israel.

It's been reported that Trump was advised against launching strikes on Iran, but followed through in alignment with his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel has also launched military operation in Lebanon, vowing to crush Iran and its proxies.

And Netanyahu has made clear he wants to end the Iranian regime, and it's unclear if he'll abide by a deal that keeps it intact.

And as well, over the next two weeks, if the talks between the US and Iran seems to be stalling, we could see oil prices go back up the closer we get to the next deadline.

BUSINESS

00:07:20 話者 1

Now let's turn to Yuko Fukushima for business stories making headlines.

00:07:25 話者 3/Yuko Fukushima

Yeah, thanks, Miki.

IRAN CONFLICT
NIKKEI 225 SURGES TO 3RD-HIGHEST GAIN ON RECORD

Well, Japanese stocks surged on Wednesday after the US announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Tokyo's Niki225 index finished with its third largest gain of more than 2,800 points.

The benchmark soared nearly 5.4 percent to a one-month high of 56,308.

It jumped soon after the opening, and investors kept buying throughout the day.

The rally followed a sharp drop in WTI crude oil futures in New York overnight.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPAN PM: CRUDE OIL SUPPLY SECURED UNTIL EARLY 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has reassured the public that the government should be able to secure enough crude oil to last beyond this year.

00:08:07 話者 4/Takaichi Sanae

Japan has enough oil reserves to meet eight months' demand.

We've got a clear idea now that alternative procurement and curbing the release of reserves will help secure supply into next year.

00:08:25 話者 3

Takaichi said on Tuesday that the government has been purchasing crude oil from the Middle East and the United States through routes other than the Strait of Hormuz.

She said that based on last year's figures, oil purchases from alternative sources in April are expected to account for more than 20 percent of the total.

The percentage is projected to exceed 50 percent in May.

Takaichi spoke with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nakhian over the phone and asked the country to help Japan with stable oil supplies.

The UAE can ship oil from its eastern port without using the Strait of Hormuz.

JAPANESE FIRMS EYE CUTS TO NEW GRADUATE HIRES

Well, it's still a seller's market in Japan for new graduates who will be looking for jobs next spring. 

But some major firms are planning to cut back on hiring, partly due to the introduction of AI.

Leading electronics firm Mitsubishi Electric aims to reduce the intake of new graduates by about 20 percent to around 750 people.

The company cites improved business efficiency due to AI and digitalization.

Central Japan Railway says it will lower recruiting by 30 percent to around 430 people.

And major machinery maker Kubota is looking at a cut of about 40 percent to 280.

The company says it has a sufficient number of employees due to active hiring over the past several years.

Kurita Takayoshi, a senior researcher at Indeed Recruit Partners, says some firms are cautiously hiring some new graduates.

00:10:07 話者 23/Kurita Takayoshi

Some companies are considering a balance between hiring new graduates and mid-career job seekers. Amid the rapid advancement in generative AI and other technologies.

00:10:19 話者 3

Kurita believes human resources in the future will be required to have the ability to set up their own challenges and verify them.

MARKETS

Now, let's see how the market figures are performing now.

♪

And that's what it is for this hour.

00:11:06 話者 1

Thank you, Yuko.

N.KOREA LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILES HOURS APART

North Korea launched ballistic missiles twice in one day.

Pyongyang reportedly fired at least one missile eastward on Wednesday morning.

And hours later, it launched again. The Japanese government says projectiles fell outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The chief cabinet secretary says that Japan is protesting the launches through diplomatic channels.

They follow yet another North Korean attempt Tuesday to get a missile into the air.

While the South Korean military says the North fired a projectile from around Pyongyang, a local media outlet says that launch failed.

WAR IN UKRAINE
ZELENSKYY: 4 KILLED IN RUSSIAN DRONE STRIKE ON BUS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says four people have been killed by a Russian drone attack in eastern Ukraine.

The president said in a social media post on Tuesday, a drone struck a bus in Nikopol city and seven other people were hospitalized.

Zelenskyy said it seems absurd to block new sanctions on Moscow and attempt to weaken existing ones and trade with Russia when attacks on civilians continue daily.

Zelenskyy has expressed opposition to the United States easing sanctions on Russian crude oil amid the Middle East conflict.

Russia's defense ministry said on Tuesday the country's drones and missiles struck a range of targets in Ukraine.

They included energy and transportation infrastructure used by Kyiv's military, as well as storage facilities for unmanned vehicles and boats.

TAIWAN KMT LEADER STRESSES OPPOSITION TO TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE

The leader of Taiwan's largest opposition party has emphasized its opposition to Taiwan independence at the start of a six-day visit to China.

Cheng Li-wen, chair of the Kuomintang, or KMT, landed in Shanghai on Tuesday.

She was greeted by Sun Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council.

The two then took a high-speed train to Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, where a welcome banquet was held.

In their speeches, both stressed they will uphold the 1992 consensus.

That's an agreement reportedly reached that year between the Chinese Communist Party and the then-ruling Kuomintang that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China.

00:13:32 話者 36/Cheng Li-wun/Kuomintang Chairperson

History has shown that as long as the 1992 consensus is adhered to and the separatist forces in Taiwan are opposed, exchanges and dialogues can be conducted across the Taiwan Strait.

00:13:46 話者 1

Chen's visit is the first to China by a KMT leader since 2016. 

She is due to visit Shanghai and Beijing and is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before leaving on Sunday.

JAPAN'S DIET PASSES RECORD BUDGET FOR FISCAL 2026

Japan's diet has passed a record budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

It totals over 122 trillion yen, or about 765 billion dollars.

This follows intense diet debate, which pushed back approval until after the start of the fiscal year, for the first time in over a decade.

An upper house plenary session held a final debate on Tuesday before taking a vote.

00:14:39 話者 47/Morimoto Shinji/Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan

In the lower house, the ruling parties led the committee in an authoritarian manner.

They repeated outrageous acts that cannot be overlooked, such as significantly reducing the amount of debate time.

We cannot accept this bill since the deliberation process was flawed.

00:14:55 話者 48/Hasegawa Gaku/Liberal Democratic Party of Japan

Changes in the Middle East directly and seriously affect people's lives and economic activities. The bill includes strategic costs.

It is expected to bring about changes in our country's resource procurement structure.

00:15:10 話者 1

The bill passed the upper chamber with support from the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, the Conservative Party of Japan, and others.

The last time budget approval was delayed until after the start of the new fiscal year was 2015.

The general account totals more than 122.3 trillion yen.

Social insurance expenditures increased to over 39 trillion yen.

This is due to the aging population and other factors.

Expenditures to strengthen defense capabilities totaled 8.98 trillion yen.

The government and the ruling bloc initially aimed to enact the budget before the new fiscal year, but the opposition demanded thorough debate.

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae told reporters after the vote that while she had hoped for quicker approval, she was satisfied with the result.

00:16:15 話者 4/Takaichi Sanae

It's regrettable the budget bill couldn't be enacted by the end of the fiscal year.

But with the determination to ensure people's safety and build a strong economy, we asked the relevant people to support us.

And we also sincerely responded to the Diet deliberations.

As a result, we believe we were able to minimize the risk of disruptions to people's lives.

00:16:44 話者 1

Japan's imperial family has wrapped up a two-day trip to Fukushima Prefecture.

Their visit comes 15 years after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the region, triggering a nuclear accident.

On Tuesday, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko visited an educational facility in the town of Okuma.

They observed a class for sixth graders, smiling as they listened to a girl's presentation.

She talked about her interest in sewing and a stuffed toy she had made for the childcare center at the facility.

The family then spoke with residents who returned to Okuma after the evacuation, as well as those who moved there following the accident.

The emperor told one resident it must have been an incredibly difficult time.

Before returning to Tokyo, the family also visited a facility in Namie Town, where traditional crafts and sake are sold.

THIEVES LOOT TOKYO LUXURY GOODS SHOP

Police say thieves stole the brand items worth 70 to 80 million yen, or around 500-thousand dollars, from a second-hand luxury goods shop in downtown Tokyo.

Security camera footage shows three people wearing ski masks entering the shop at around 3:10 a.m.

They then smashed display cases with what appears to be a crowbar and put stolen items into a big bag.

Tokyo police say the three fled the scene in a white van about three minutes later.

The police say a security firm alerted them early on Wednesday that an alarm was sounding at the shop in Shibuya Ward.

They say at least 75 items were stolen, including high-end designer-brand bags, precious metals and watches.

IRAN CONFLICT
TAKAICHI HOLDS CALL WITH IRANIAN PRESIDENT PEZESHKIAN

And now to a new development regarding the US-Iran conflict.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone. The call on Wednesday lasted about 25 minutes.

The two are believed to have exchanged opinions on ways to ease tensions.

and implement measures to ensure the safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.

And Takaichi has just spoken to reporters about the call.

00:19:10 話者 4

I firstly explained Japan's stance once again, including that the most important thing is the early de-escalation of the situation.

On top of that, I also said that we welcome the latest positive move, which is the announcement by the US and Iran.

And the priority is the actual realization of the de-escalation of the situation, including securing the safe navigation through the Strait of Homus going forward.

And I said that we hope that the final agreement will be reached at an early date through diplomacy.

Also, I stressed that the strait is an important area of the global logistics and the public asset of the international community.

I requested that securing the safe navigation of vessels of all countries, including those related to Japan, will be realized at an early date swiftly.

LIFE THRIVES IN THE GENKAI SEA

00:20:18 話者 1

The Genkai Sea, located south of the Sea of Japan, is fed by warped currents, making it a rich fishing ground.

Even in the cold month of February, it teems with a remarkable diversity of life.

NHK World's video journalist Tateoka Atsushi takes us on a journey through the early spring sea.

00:20:40 話者 8/Tateoka Atsushi

We head out to the Genkai Sea, off the coast of Fukuoka City.

The water temperature is around 13 degrees Celsius.

These are rockfish, known as a fish, that welcomes spring.

A flounder hides in the sand. A school of yellowtail swims by. Each about a meter long.

Seaweed is beginning to grow.

Pair of cuttlefish, each about 30 centimeters long, is drawn to the seaweed.

They will lay their eggs here.

Fishers use a cage to take advantage of this cuttlefish behavior.

They attach a holly branch, which attracts cuttlefish looking for prey to lay eggs.

A cuttlefish is in the cage. The gray balls are cuttlefish eggs.

A large red sea bream has approached the cage.

The cuttlefish crawls in. The red sea bream attacks one of the cuttlefish.

The cuttlefish season runs from February to May.

After the harvest, the branches covered in eggs are returned to the sea.

allowing new life to continue.

00:23:19 話者 5/Imabayashi Shuichi/Fisher

Spring is here.

00:23:21 話者 8

How many did you catch?

00:23:24 話者 5

I didn't count them.

00:23:28 話者 8

Maybe about 100.

00:23:31 話者 5

If about half the traps were full, that's not bad.

00:23:38 話者 8

The Genkai Sea in early spring there are life stripes, undaunted by the cold.

Tateoka Atsushi, NHK World.

00:23:52 話者 1

All right.

WEATHER

Let's check out the world weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.

So, Jonathan, it seems like spring warmth is picking up around Northeast Asia again.

What can you tell us?

00:24:05 話者 7/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we are starting to see temperatures trying to inch their way back up into some places like the 20s as they continue on this week.

High pressure is going to help bring those temperatures up in places like Japan and even areas back toward China also seeing temperatures in the 20s.

Now we are looking at the possibility of some rain around a stationary front that's developing around the Yangtze River Basin and that's going to bring the wet weather, but we're still talking about the possibility of seeing temperatures in the 20s continuing on through this week.

Now the moisture will be pushing eastward and into the Korean Peninsula as we go through Thursday and then into Friday across Japan.

So you'll need the umbrellas as we go forward throughout the next few days.

But for Thursday, Tokyo staying dry, 20 with sunnier skies during the early hours, then clouds pick up later on in the day.

Seoul looking at rain to Shanghai and Beijing as well.

But notice Shanghai topping off into the upper 20s as we go through Thursday.

Meanwhile, down to Southwest River, we got Myla and we got Waiianu.

Waiianu is weakening, but it still has a lot of momentum with it.

And so for those located in the North Island of New Zealand, you're going to see the impacts of this as we head into the weekend.

And Myla is spinning its wheel for just a bit, but we are expecting it as we go toward the weekend to eventually get itself together and move its way down to the south and west and setting its sights for the northern portions of Queensland.

So both locations need to be on the lookout for these storms.

Meanwhile, looking at what's happening across North America, we have a cold front and a couple of low purchases moving through the upper Midwest into the southern portions of Canada.

And so as that pushed on through showers and into the Rockies, but down toward the south, dry weather expected from Oklahoma City into Houston with highs in the mid-20s.

Still chilly on the north side of that front.

Winnipeg looking at some snow with a high of 1 as we go through Wednesday.

Quick note on Europe, cut off low stuck over the Iberian Peninsula, continue to bring some rain in the area and a couple of low pressures to the eastern side of Europe bringing plenty of wet weather and even some snow into places like Kyiv for Wednesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:35 話者 1

And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.

I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thank you for staying with us.

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.

checked.

at 18:00 (JST), April 07

20260407180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Yamamoto Miki

Hello, a very warm welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP CONTINUES THREATS TO DESTROY IRAN'S INFRASTRUCTURE

US President Donald Trump has repeated his threat to destroy Iran's energy facilities if it fails to meet his deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz.

But Tehran is showing no sign of backing down.

Trump spoke at a news conference held at the White House on Monday.

He suggested that US forces will implement the attacks immediately after the deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern US time if it is missed.

00:00:42 話者 10/Donald Trump

We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business.

00:01:00 話者 1

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for weeks since the conflict began at the end of February.

During that time, Trump has constantly criticized other countries for their lack of support to reopen the Strait, a point he made once again at the latest news conference.

00:01:20 話者 10

I've always said NATO's a paper tiger. See, NATO is a paper tiger.

Japan didn't help us, Australia didn't help us, South Korea didn't help us.

00:01:31 話者 1

Iran's spokesperson for the Military Central Command called Trump delusional in a statement.

He said Trump's rude rhetoric, arrogance and baseless threats will in no way affect Iran's continued military operation against the US and Israel.

Earlier, Iran's state-run media agency reported Tehran had rejected a US ceasefire proposal.

The response was delivered through its intermediary, Pakistan, and emphasized the need to find a permanent end to the war.

Meanwhile, military strikes continued to rock the Middle East.

The Israeli defense minister said in a video statement on Monday that the country's forces have struck Iran's largest petrochemical facility in Assaluyeh in the south.

Israel Kotz said the facility and another complex attacked last week account for 85 percent of Iran's petrochemical exports.

He claimed that the airstrikes have dealt a heavy blow to the key funding sources of Iran's regime.

JAPAN PREPARES PHONE TALKS WITH IRAN PRESIDENT

The Japanese government says it is arranging telephone talks between Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Iranian President Masoud Pezeskian.

Takaichi told lawmakers on Monday that efforts are underway towards top-level dialogue and other diplomatic efforts are being explored.

She wants to directly urge Tehran to de-escalate the situation and ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Motegui Toshimitsu spoke Monday night with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.

He expressed grave concern over prolonged retaliatory attacks and urged Iran to engage sincerely with the diplomatic efforts currently underway.

Motegui also held a separate phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

He expressed thanks for Islamabad's efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran, adding that Japan hopes to work closely with Pakistan.

ARTEMIS II CREW SET DISTANCE RECORD FOR HUMANS IN SPACE

The astronauts of NASA's Artemis II mission have reached the farthest distance from Earth ever traveled by humanity as they journeyed to the far side of the moon.

00:03:52 話者 3/NASA narrator

We are getting a first views  from Orion after the loss of signal. Orion has come back around the other side of the moon and that little crescent that you see is Earth.

00:04:05 話者 1

Orion entered the moon's gravitational sphere of influence on the fifth day of the 10-day mission. It then made a swing around the far side of the moon.

NASA says the crew set the distance record at 23:02 UTC Monday.

The US space agency says the spacecraft was more than 406,700 kilometers from Earth at its farthest point.

It surpassed the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970 by about 6,600 kilometers.

The latest mission is the first crewed test flight under the US-led Artemis program aimed at landing astronauts on the moon in 2028.

The crew of Artemis II is due to return to Earth on Friday with a splashdown off the US coast.

PAKISTANI MAN ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING STIMULANTS INTO JAPAN

A Pakistani man has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling stimulant drugs into Tokyo from the United Arab Emirates. The drugs have an estimated street value of $90 million.

But Shafkat Mushtaq is said to be denying the charge.

He's a 53-year-old used car dealer without a known address.

Tokyo police and other officials suspected him of smuggling 270 kilograms of stimulants into Tokyo port in a container.

They say he did so across three days, from December 30 of last year to January 1.

They say Tokyo customs officials inspected the container after it had been left unattended for three months. They found the drugs in bags, typically used for cosmetic products.

Investigators say the suspect also gave instructions on how to smuggle to other people, including another Pakistani citizen.

They arrested the suspect on Sunday as he was attempting to leave Japan through Narita Airport. They are now investigating how he acquired the drugs.

IMPERIAL FAMILY VISITS MUSEUM DISPLAY ON FUKUSHIMA DISASTER

Japan's imperial family has visited a museum display in the town of Tomioka, Fukushima Prefecture, on the damage done by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko are in the prefecture for two days starting Monday.

They arrived at the Historical Archive Museum of Tomioka on Tuesday and were welcomed by the mayor and other officials.

The family saw an exhibit of a police car that was swept away by the tsunami while helping to evacuate residents.

They listened closely as museum staff explained that one of the two officers in the vehicle died and the other is still missing.

Officials said the emperor asked how the vehicles had been preserved.

The empress commented that the incident was tragic.

The family visited an education facility in the town of Okuma in the afternoon and will return to Tokyo on Tuesday evening.

BUSINESS

Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Yuko Fukushima from The Biz Desk. Yuko.

00:07:32 話者 4/Yuko Fukushima

Thanks, Miki.

IRAN CONFLICT
JAPANESE AIRLINES MAY ADD FUEL FEES FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Well, NHK has learned the surge in crude oil prices has prompted some Japanese airlines to consider adding fuel surcharges for domestic flights.

This comes as the country's two biggest airlines announced last week they would hike fuel fees for international routes.

Almost no carriers currently apply the charges for travel within Japan.

Japan Airlines and Skymark Airlines responded to a survey by saying they may start applying the charges next spring.

Skymark, in addition, may raise ticket prices before collecting fuel surcharges.

Most of the other surveyed carriers are exploring the possibility of raising airfares for domestic routes.

A group representing domestic airlines says a key price index for jet fuel has jumped roughly two-and-a-half times since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.

Japan's Transport Minister Kaneko Yasushi said he will continue to ask airlines to provide consumers with clear explanations of any changes.

00:08:33 話者 5/Kaneko Yasushi

We will coordinate with the relevant authorities while monitoring trends for fuel prices and demand. The ministry will deal with the situation in a timely and appropriate manner.

00:08:45 話者 4

Kaneko added that jet fuel is subject to the government's emergency measures to address rising energy costs.

JAPAN HOUSEHOLD SPENDING DIPS FOR 3RD MONTH IN FEBRUARY

Japan's household spending in February fell for the third straight month year-on-year.

Food expenditures dipped, desk prices rose, car purchases declined.

The Internal Affairs Ministry says outlays by households of two or more people dropped 1.8 percent from a year earlier, adjusted for inflation.

The average stood at just over 289,000 yen, or about 1,800 dollars.

Food typically accounts for a relatively large share of household spending, and this fell half a percent in the month.

The dip reflects the higher cost of fishery products and seasonings.

Disbursements on transport and communications fell almost 6% as consumers bought fewer automobiles.

On the upside, spending on culture and recreation climbed almost 11%.

The category includes overseas package tours and accommodation services.

Expenditures rose 1.9% for furniture and household goods, such as bedding and electric products.

The ministry says the data indicates households are being more selective about their purchases rather than cutting overall spending.

SAMSUNG'S QUARTERLY OPERATING PROFIT JUMPS EIGHTFOLD TO RECORD

Samson Electronics says operating profit in January to March surged more than eight-fold from a year earlier to a record soaring semiconductor sales led the way.

The South Korean technology conglomerate released the preliminary figures on Tuesday.

Profit hit 57.2 trillion won, or about $38 billion, which exceeds the number for all of last year. Sales jumped 133 trillion won, another record for a quarter.

Besides chips, Simpson says the strong performance was helped by the improved competitiveness of its home appliance and smartphone businesses.

SMART RECYCLING SET TO BOOST SOURCES OF METALS

Demand is climbing for metals used in everything from electronic devices to cars.

Recyclers in Japan are developing new ways to capture nickel, palladium, lithium and others for reuse. The efforts are critical in the resource-poor country.

00:11:05 話者 6

This company began a demonstration project here last September.

At this factory, disused devices, including smartphones, game consoles, and digital cameras, are sorted as the first step.

The process yields bits that contain metals, listed by the government as rare.

The company that operates the plant says this is the world's first automated system to break down gadgets to recycle metals.

These ceramic capacitors on circuit boards contain rare metals such as nickel and palladium that can now be extracted using the process.

00:11:50 話者 13/Nakagawa Yukimi/Technical Department Group Leader, Daiei Kankyo

Because the parts are so small, removing and sorting them by hand would not be realistic.

00:12:01 話者 6

Lithium batteries are separated from other components to reduce fire risk.

The crushed matter from disused devices is sorted based on weight, electrical conductivity, and other factors.

The resulting materials are sent to refiners where metals are extracted.

00:12:27 話者 15/Yamada Makoto/Executive Officer, Daiei Kankyo

We'd like to see this lead to a future where rare metals and rare earths are recycled within the country.

00:12:36 話者 6

This white powder is high-purity lithium, recycled from used batteries at another demonstration project.

At this non-ferrous metals plant, batteries are burned in a specially designed furnace.

The process removes non-metal materials.

The remains are then crushed and refined into a black powder that is rich in metals.

That fine powder is dissolved in water and treated repeatedly with special chemicals and then dried. The result is high purity lithium powder.

The company says it has boosted recovery rates from under 50% to 90% by using different chemicals and processes. That's among the highest rates in the world.

00:13:43 話者 17/Nakagawa Tadashi/Vice President & Director, JX Metals Circular Solutions Tsuruga

We believe it's crucial to recycle lithium-ion batteries safely. We hope our technology can be put to use in that area, and it would really benefit Japan as a whole.

00:14:00 話者 6

Advances in recycling technology are raising hopes that metals designated as rare can be secured more steadily within Japan, which is also important for economic security.

MARKETS

00:14:15 話者 4

And now to courtesies and stocks here in Asia.

♪

And that's the biz for this hour.

JAPANESE AMERICAN MEDIC'S LETTERS REVEAL REALITY OF WWII

00:14:59 話者 1

Sunday marked National Go for Broke Day in the US.

The saying means wager everything. It originates from the motto of a combat team made-up of Japanese Americans during World War II.

More people are now learning about their contributions, thanks in part to the writings of a medic. NHK World's Komiya Lisa reports.

00:15:22 話者 7

I can't stand the atmosphere of being guarded day and night in this barbed wire enclosed space. It will be a relief to breathe fresh, free air again on the outside.

00:15:39 話者 8/Komiya Lisa

Toshiaki Kuge's account of life inside a US incarceration camp. He was part of the more than 125,000 people sent to one simply because of their Japanese ancestry.

Kuge was born in 1919 in Oregon as a second-generation Japanese-American.

He was 22 years old and a pre-med student when the war broke out.

He was sent to an incarceration camp the following year.

While incarcerated, he put his name forward to serve as a medic.

00:16:15 話者 9/Carole Kawamura/Kuge's niece

I know he wanted to be the best American he could be, and that would be by volunteering.

00:16:27 話者 8

Carol Kawamura is Kuge's niece.

Her family preserved his letters and items after they were passed on to them.

00:16:36 話者 9

Recently.

00:16:40 話者 8

Kuge's team was sent to the European front in 1944, the site of fierce fighting against Nazi Germany. In letters to his future wife, Kuge conveyed the horrifying realities of war.

00:16:54 話者 7

There's nothing so dispiriting as to see friends wounded and killed.

I only hope that this all ends soon. 

So my brothers won't have to go through all of this, too.

00:17:13 話者 8

But that hope was not to be. His younger brother, Thomas, was drafted while incarcerated and deployed to the front lines later that year.

And just months after that, another devastating letter.

00:17:30 話者 9

My brother Thomas was killed in action

It came as a great shock to me at the time, and I haven't quite gotten over it yet.

00:17:43 話者 8

The 442nd Regiment had launched a surprise attack on German forces in Italy, breaking through their defensive line and chasing them off. Thomas was killed during that fight.

Two weeks later, the Germans surrendered, but there was no joy in Kuge's letter.

00:18:02 話者 7

I can only console myself in thinking that he died bravely in the performance of the duty, which he and so many other thousands have signed up to do.

There wasn't much celebrating for me, even after the fighting stopped.

00:18:23 話者 9

I cried. He would have been very on the offensive, knowing he would die.

And I just think about all of those soldiers. And it's just, like, so art ready.

00:18:42 話者 8

Kawamura says she wants more people to learn about the Japanese-American soldiers.

So this year, she arranged for a temporary exhibit at a local library.

00:18:55 話者 9

Do you know about the 442? What do you know about?

My grandfather was-- Was he?

00:19:02 話者 8

On this day, she told visitors that love for one's country has nothing to do with one's roots.

00:19:11 話者 18

I wasn't aware that some of the Japanese-Americans were fighting.

I think it should receive a little bit more recognition and acknowledgement.

00:19:23 話者 19

We need to look at Americans as being Americans, regardless to where you're from or where your family came from. Yes.

00:19:32 話者 9

This is exactly what I wanted, to be able to reach out and let people know there's this big story here.

I hope that everyone realizes that there are so many different paths to being an American and that all of us have an important impact on our country.

00:19:53 話者 1

And earlier, I delved further into this topic with Lisa, who is in Los Angeles.

So, Lisa, How did Japanese-American families back then feel about their children serving in the US military.

00:20:08 話者 8

There were a lot of complex emotions involved.

Many of their parents were the first generation to come to the United States.

They had families and friends in Japan with lots of childhood memories there.

It would not have been easy for that generation to swear loyalty to the US.

That said, a parent's love for their child does not change.

This is a separate traveling exhibit that began in San Francisco in February.

It tells the stories of Japanese-American soldiers who served in the US military during World War II. It includes a Japanese amulet called Sennimbari on display.

It's a strip of cloth with a thousand stitches made to wish for the safety of a soldier heading off to war.

This shows how much they prayed for their children who had decided to volunteer.

Kuga's diary and other items related to him are part of the exhibit, too.

Among them is a service flag. It's displayed by family members with a loved one serving in the US forces during war.

His parents seem to have displayed this flag at the camp they were incarcerated at.

That suggests they respected their son's choice to dedicate himself to the country.

00:21:21 話者 1

Serving the US may have entailed fighting against Japan at times.

Were there any cases of Japanese-American soldiers having to do that?

00:21:32 話者 8

Yes, there were Japanese Americans who were deployed to the Pacific front.

Particularly known are those who served in the military intelligence service.

6,000 Japanese Americans were responsible for translating enemy documents, interrogating prisoners of war, and intercepting communications.

During the Battle of Okinawa, they were tasked with calling on civilians to surrender.

What is not widely known is that there were also some Japanese Americans who fought as part of the now defunct Japanese military.

They were in Japan mostly for education when the war broke out and were eventually drafted. There were even cases where siblings were split between the two countries.

These stories about the Japanese Americans are not well known in either country, making Kuga's documents a valuable resource.

Kawamura says she hopes that such materials will help people learn the harsh realities of war and make sure that this kind of history is never repeated.

RURAL TOWN TURNS TO COSPLAY TO BOOST TOURISM

00:22:38 話者 1

Now, a small Japanese town with an aging population is betting on cosplay and cherry blossom to revive its fortunes.

It's hoping a new social media drive will draw a younger crowd and a global audience.

Cosplayers and photographers gathered at a shrine in the Okayama town of Wake for an event timed with the cherry blossom season.

They posed as your favorite characters from anime and video games as the cameras clicked away.

Organizers say the goal is simple: get more young people talking about the town online and build new buzz for a town where about 40 percent of the residents are elderly.

00:23:28 話者 23

I have quite a few followers from overseas on social media.

I want to share scenery like this with them.

00:23:39 話者 1

Local leaders are hoping that if images like these can spread, then the visitors will follow.

Now in the previous Artemis story, we regret the poor sound quality.

WEATHER

And it's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.

So Jonathan, we saw some April showers in parts of Japan Tuesday. What can you tell us?

00:24:04 話者 12/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we had a front that was pushing through Japan, and in the process it brought some rainfall, plenty of it, down toward even places like Okinawa.

Take a look at this video.

Heavy rain and strong winds hit Okinawa on Tuesday as a cold front passed through.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that 20 millimeters of rain fell in just one hour and wind gusts hit over 75 kilometers per hour in Nago City.

Now that same system is making its way toward the Izo Island South of Tokyo.

The weather agency is urging caution against landslides through Tuesday night and so the front is passing through. 

We'll go into Wednesday. High pressure will be coming in behind it and that means we're going to be dealing with drier weather as go through the day on Wednesday.

The morning hours, especially for the eastern side of Japan, may be dealing with some showers, but then we'll see brighter skies.

Temperatures moving their way back up to 20s, 26 in Tokyo, possibly by Saturday, 28 in Naha.

And so we're looking at the temperatures climbing their way back up as we head toward the end of the week.

Meanwhile, we're looking at relatively calm weather across the United States, but with the stationary front down from the south, we have some wet weather across Florida.

Behind that, a cold front is pushing on through, driving temperatures down.

Highs at around 2 from Toronto into Chicago with some snow in the forecast as we go through the day on Tuesday.

Plenty warmth though south of there, highs in the low to mid-20s from Atlanta to Houston as we go through Tuesday.

Wrapping things up with a look at Europe.

High pressure is the big story across the central portions of the continent.

But low pressure is still pushing toward the east, bringing the chance for some wet weather in places like Moscow, Warsaw, Kiev, Istanbul, looking at some wet weather as well. But highs into the 20s from Paris into Rome as they go through Tuesday.

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

And that's NHK Newsline for this hour.

I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo. Thanks for staying with us.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 5

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.

checked.