Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
Iran Conflict: No Plans for Direct Talks in Qatar
We start with developments in the Middle East, where US and Iranian negotiators are in the Qatari capital, Doha, to hold talks with mediators.
But so far, there are no signs that the two sides will meet face-to-face.
The US team is led by Special Envoy Steve Witcoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
A senior Washington official told NHK on Tuesday that the two had what were described as very positive talks with leaders in the Middle East.
The official said the US and Iranian delegations will hold separate talks with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Wednesday.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baghir-Galibav, has indicated that Tehran is still not ready to enter talks with the US toward a final agreement.
It wants five provisions of their agreed memorandum of understanding implemented first.
They include the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon.
A spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry said Witkoff and Kushner are not in Doha for direct negotiations with the Iranians.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance told Fox News on Tuesday that the US is trying to gauge how serious the Iranians are.
He said Washington cares more about what the Iranians do than what they say.
Pm Takaichi to Promote Biogas Technology on India Visit
Japan's prime minister is traveling to India for a three-day visit to the capital, New Delhi.
The two countries are expected to agree to cooperate on the promotion of biogas-powered vehicles.
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will hold a summit meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Thursday.
This time around, she is accompanied by representatives of Japanese economic organizations and business leaders.
Biogas is made from cow manure, among other things.
The two sides aim to revitalize India's farm villages by producing the environmentally friendly energy source.
They also aim to expand the market for Japanese automakers.
Specifically, the countries intend to establish one-thousand plants around India and conduct research and developments on improving biogas productivity.
The two leaders also hope to confirm efforts to create a market in India of about two-and-a-half million vehicles that run on biogas-powered natural gas.
Takaichi spoke to reporters before leaving Tokyo.
She said an economic firm will also be held, including more than 150 Japanese companies.
00:03:00 話者 2/Takaichi Sanae
I hope to make concrete progress with Prime Minister Modi.
We will focus on strengthening the Japan-India strategic partnership, advancing cooperation and economic security, and promoting investment and innovation by companies from both countries.
Takaichi, Modi Expected to Discuss Security, Energy
00:03:20 話者 1
Earlier, I spoke to our New Delhi correspondent, Matsumoto Yuzuru, for a closer look at what else the two leaders are expected to discuss at the summit.
00:03:31 話者 3/Matsumoto Yuzuru
One of Prime Minister Modi's key policies has been courting foreign investment to strengthen the country's manufacturing sector.
He's been pursuing this for more than a decade now under the slogan Make in India.
So I think a key goal for him here will be securing investment and technology from Japan in order to maintain his country's economic growth.
India's GDP grew 7.7 percent last fiscal year, supported by strong personal consumption by the country's population of about 1.4 billion.
India is aiming to become an advanced country by 2047, the 100th anniversary of its independence from British rule.
In particular, it's prioritizing the development of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and semiconductors, a sector where there is already intensifying competition between the US and China. So India is hoping for Japan's cooperation in this area, specifically.
00:04:38 話者 1
So Yuzuru, what other topics are expected to be on the agenda?
00:04:44 話者 3
I think defense and security cooperation will be a major one.
India has an unresolved border dispute with China, and they are wary of some of China's recent moves, such as port and railway developments in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, both neighboring India.
Diplomatic sources have told NHK that Japan and India are likely to discuss the transfer of communication antennas used on the latest frigates in Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Modi has also expressed support for Takaichi's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Initiative.
So it seems that India wants to keep China in check by deepening cooperation with Japan.
00:05:32 話者 1
The situation in the Middle East has of course meant significant disruptions to energy supplies in both countries. How might the two leaders address that?
00:05:43 話者 3
India imports a large amount of energy and LPG from the Middle East.
So that disruption has led to layoffs and forced some manufacturing companies to suspend operations altogether.
I spoke with a former diplomat who now works for a think tank affiliated with the Indian government. He expects energy to be a major topic of discussion.
00:06:08 話者 13/Ashok Sajjanhar/Executive Council Member, MP-IDSA
Definitely how to ensure energy security, how to ensure critical minerals supplies.
That is very essential for us, for the like-minded countries, to come together to cooperate.
00:06:29 話者 3
He also said it's important for India to deepen its cooperation with Japan, particularly amid so much recent and ongoing global turmoil.
Against that backdrop of international conflicts, economic disruption and changes to the geopolitical order. There's a lot at stake here for both countries.
So we will be watching this summit closely and we'll bring you all the details as we learn them.
2 Detained Japanese Reportedly Arrested in China
00:06:57 話者 1
In other news, sources say two Japanese nationals who were detained in May in northeastern China have been arrested by Chinese authorities.
The two were apprehended separately in Dalian, Liaoning Province by Chinese customs authorities. They are suspected of smuggling items prohibited for import or export.
The two are reportedly linked to the Japanese electronics industry and are believed to be involved in the exports of magnets containing rare earths.
Amid souring bilateral relations, the Chinese government has stepped up export restrictions on Japan for what it calls civilian-military dual-use items since January.
These include rare earths.
Some Japanese companies operating in China say they are struggling to secure materials even for civilian purposes.
Exports of magnets containing rare earths to Japan have been declining.
China's Ethnic Unity Law Sparks International Concerns
A new law promoting ethnic unity in China is raising concerns.
Critics fear it will target the country's minority communities as well as individuals and organizations overseas.
Beijing says the ethnic unity and progress promotion law is aimed at forging a strong sense of community within the Chinese nation.
The law, which took effect on Wednesday, stipulates that educational institutions will use standard Chinese as the basic language for education.
It also states that anyone who undermines the law will be punished.
This would also apply to organizations and individuals outside of China in accordance with the legislation.
The European Parliament and US Congress have condemned the new law.
They say it could openly promote assimilation policies towards Tibetans, Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities within China.
Eight special UN rapporteurs have also raised objections in a letter to the Chinese government.
It says the legislation fails to define what the words undermines ethnic unity and progress mean.
It also expresses concerns about arbitrary enforcement and a risk that the law may incite transnational repression.
But a high-ranking Chinese Justice Ministry official has rejected the criticism, saying the law complies with international practices and is justified and lawful.
Earthquakes in Venezuela
Heavy Rain Poses New Threat to Quake‑Battered Areas
Relief efforts in areas hardest hit by last week's double earthquakes in Venezuela are facing a new challenge.
The United Nations is warning that heavy rain has increased risk of landslides and further structural damage.
Two massive quakes with magnitudes above seven struck within a minute on June 24.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said on Tuesday that 1,943 people had so far been confirmed dead.
The worst of the damage is concentrated along the Caribbean coast in the state of La Guaila. Many of the collapsed buildings are apartment blocks or vacation homes.
An unknown number of people remain unaccounted for.
Satellite data released by NASA show the affected areas sandwiched between mountains and the sea.
Most of the buildings there have collapsed or are heavily damaged, as show in red.
00:10:29 話者 24/Stephane Dujarric/Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General
These conditions are increasing the risk of additional collapse as well as landslides in already impacted areas.
This poses a significant challenge to search and rescue operation and complicates the delivery of shelter, health and other essential services.
00:10:46 話者 1
The UN spokesperson added that the organization is working closely with its partners to ensure a coordinated relief response.
Business
Now, let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Yuko Fukushima joins us from our biz desk.
Yuko.
00:11:01 話者 5/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, Hiroaki.
Japanese Yen Weakens Further to Upper 162 Level
The Japanese currency remained under pressure in Tokyo and traded at the upper 162 level on Wednesday.
Analysts say the yen is being sold in favor of the US currency on increasing expectations of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
The last time the pair traded at this range was almost 40 years ago in December 1986.
Traders are favoring the greenback on the view the Fed will raise interest rates to contain inflation.
That outlook was reinforced by recent data showing US job openings in May came in higher than expected.
Market sources say, in contrast to the Fed, the pace of rate increases by the Bank of Japan is unclear.
They add that traders are betting Japan's authorities are not planning any immediate market intervention to support the yen.
Anthropic to Resume Access to Advanced AI Models
A US artificial intelligence startup says it will begin restoring access to its advanced A.I. models on Wednesday.
The move comes after expert controls were lifted by the US government.
Anthropic said in June that it would disable access to Quad Mythos 5 and Fable 5 due to an order from the US government.
Access to Mythos 5 was later restored for select US companies and organizations.
The model is expected to be available for the government and some financial institutions in Japan following Tuesday's announcement.
Meanwhile, access to Fable 5 had remained suspended until Wednesday.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick said on social media that they have worked closely with Anthropic to prove Fable 5 and to strengthen America's leadership in AI.
Tankan Shows Business Sentiment Improves for 5th Quarter
A quickly followed business survey in Japan shows sentiment improved at major manufacturers for the fifth straight quarter.
This is despite analysts' concerns the Middle East conflict would dampen the mood.
The Bank of Japan released its latest quarterly Tankan survey on Wednesday.
The sentiment index for large manufacturers came in at plus 22, up five points from the previous survey.
A positive number indicates more companies are optimistic about business conditions than pessimistic. The survey covers about 9,000 companies.
Confidence improved in the machinery sectors thanks to robust demand for artificial intelligence and chip-related equipment.
In contrast, sentiment took a hit in the petroleum and coal sector due to the situation in the Middle East, but it had little impact on the overall index.
The index for large non-manufacturers imperial for the first time in five quarters at plus 37, up one point.
Looking three months ahead, confidence of major manufacturers declined five points.
The same measure at large non-manufacturers fell nine points.
Japan's Average Land Price Rises for 5th Straight Year
Average land prices in Japan have risen for the fifth straight year as areas benefiting from inbound tourism saw significant gains. The increase in 2026 was the biggest in 16 years.
The National Tax Agency announced new numbers on Wednesday that are used to calculate inheritance and gift taxes.
It says the average price of land along major streets at around 307,000 locations as of January 1 was up 2.9% from a year earlier.
Gains were seen in over two-thirds of Japan's 47 prefectures. Tokyo had the highest rate of increase at 9.4%, followed by Okinawa at 6.6% and Osaka at 5.1%.
The upward trend was attributed to strong housing demand, increased tourist traffic, and redevelopment projects in commercial areas.
Ginza Chuo Street in central Tokyo marked the highest land price in the country for the 41st straight year.
The figure hit an all-time high of 53.36 million yen, or around $330,000 per square meter.
An expert says demand for commercial land will remain solid given record foreign visitor arrivals and the government's aim to raise the figure to 60 million a year by 2030.
Japan Crude Oil Imports Drop 38% by Volume in May
The volume of Japan's crude oil imports in May dropped by 38 percent from a year earlier amid the Middle East conflict.
Preliminary figures from the Agency for National Natural Resources and Energy show the total stood at almost 7.3 million kiloliters.
Imports from the United Arab Emirates were down 33% to 3.2 million kiloliters.
Those from Saudi Arabia slid 58% to just over 2 million.
In contrast, shipments from the United States surged by nearly 75%.
Japan also bought more than 130,000 kiloliters from Oman and over 120,000 from Russia.
It didn't purchase any from them a year ago.
Japan saw about a 66 percent fall in crude oil imports in April.
A drop in May was less severe due to more shipments taking route that bypassed the Strait of Hormuz.
Markets
And now the latest in markets.
♪
And that's the bits for this hour.
Japan's Imperial House Law Revisions Headed for Diet Debate
00:16:37 話者 1
Japan's government has approved a bill aimed at securing the future of the imperial family.
The government and ruling parties hope to have the revisions to the imperial house law passed before the current dying session ends later this month.
But opposition parties say the proposals adopted on Tuesday need further discussion.
00:17:00 話者 32/Kobayashi Takayuki/LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson
In order to secure the number of imperial family members, firmly protect the imperial line, which has been sustained down the ages.
And pass it on to the next generation, we will make sure to pass the revised law in this Diet session.
00:17:20 話者 1
Under the bill, females would remain part of the imperial family after marriage.
They currently leave the imperial household when they marry commoners.
As a transitional measure, female members at the time the law takes effect can request to leave the imperial family upon marriage.
The bill also enables the adoption into the imperial family of male descendants in the male line of former imperial branches.
The imperial family currently consists of Emperor Narushito and 15 others.
Under the Imperial House Law, succession to the throne is by males in the male line.
At present, only three members are eligible.
The revisions enable adoption of male descendants in the male line of eleven former imperial branches that lost imperial status in 1947.
The bill says adoptees must be 15 or older, unmarried and childless.
They would not be able to succeed to the throne, but their male offspring would be eligible.
Some lawmakers say the revised bill is being rushed through before gaining broad backing.
00:18:32 話者 33/Tanabu Masayo/CDP Secretary-General
It hasn't been fully discussed. It is far from reflecting the consensus of the legislature.
And the procedure for submitting the bill to the Diet is rather heavy-handed.
00:18:43 話者 1
The bill does not include any provision for the spouses and children of female members to become imperial family members. There are calls for that to also be discussed.
Japan Raises Departure Tax to 3,000 Yen
Japan is raising its tax on departing travelers effective Wednesday.
The fee is going up from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen, or about 18 dollars.
All travelers leaving the country, including Japanese citizens, pay the international tourist tax.
The charge is added to the price of air, cruise and other tickets purchased from Wednesday.
The tax hike is expected to bring additional revenue of about 120 billion yen, or 739 million dollars a year.
The government plans to use the extra revenue to tackle over-tourism and other challenges caused by an increasing number of foreign tourists.
Meanwhile, the government slashes passport application fees starting Wednesday as a measure to reduce financial burdens on Japanese traveling abroad.
The cost for a 10-year passport will be reduced by about 43 dollars.
New Techniques Add Shine to Traditional Lion Dance Heads
Each July, a town in Hokkaido, northern Japan, draws crowds for its summer festival.
People come for the traditional lion dances that feature ornate lion heads.
While the lion heads are often damaged by vigorous dancing, one man has been using new techniques to repair and add a new shine to these traditional costumes.
00:20:29 話者 42
A glossy sheen, colors shimmering from every angle.
These are striking modern lion heads with a metallic finish.
Each summer, people come to Akkeshi town to enjoy dynamic lion dances.
Mori Tetsuya has taken part as a lion dancer since childhood.
He used to rely on a local craftsman to repair damages caused by the lively performances.
But the artisan died a few years ago, leaving Mori in a tough situation.
00:21:16 話者 46/Mori Tetsuya
There's no one here who can fix them anymore.
We'll have to send them all the way to the mainland for repairs.
00:21:26 話者 42
That's when Ishiyama Koki stepped in to take on Mori's request.
Based in nearby Kushiro City, Ishiyama runs a car painting business.
A lifelong fan of lion dances, he says he has long wondered if his skills could help restore the damaged heads.
00:21:49 話者 47/Ishiyama Koki
I think it's important to repair and preserve old things.
If we do not fix them, we won't know how long they will last.
00:22:07 話者 42
He starts by inspecting cracks, chips, and peeling paint, just as he would with a car, before fixing the damages.
His main focus is the paintwork.
While using lacquer is traditional, Ishiyama turns to automotive paint.
00:22:32 話者 47
Costs and technical limits sometimes make using traditional methods difficult.
So I take a completely new approach, transforming the look.
00:22:43 話者 42
The result is a glossy texture, creating a sheen and color distinct from lacquer.
After three months' work, Ishiyama brings the restored heads back to Mori.
00:23:03 話者 46
It's cool. It looks like a brand-new car. It shines from every angle.
I think my work is only complete when they go through an energetic dance at the festival.
That's what I most want to see.
00:23:35 話者 42
Reborn with a new shine, the lion heads are set to be unveiled this summer.
They will bring fresh color to this year's celebrations.
♪
Japan Sketch
00:24:35 話者 51
And it's like an apple. The juice and the... I love it.
00:24:47 話者 1
Well, that looked really good.
Weather
Now, we're in July, and we're starting to see more areas wrapping up the rainy season in Japan. Our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh, has the details in world weather.
00:25:00 話者 7/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we are looking at a new month, but we are still talking about rain in portions of Japan.
But down toward the southwestern portions of the country, things are starting to dry up.
Here's a look at some video that's coming out from the Amami region, where the rainy season ended on Wednesday, two days later than normal.
The day started with clear, sunny skies in Amami City.
You can see the beach right there as well with that blue.
Temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius, according to Japan Meteorological Agency, with the season lasting 11 days longer than the average.
The local weather office saying the city received a little over a meter of rain during the season, more than 1.5 times the norm.
So here's the current status. If you go toward Okinawa and also into the Aomami region, the rainy season is over for you.
But from Kyushu points toward the north and east, we're still in the rainy season.
So we'll have to watch this as we go throughout the next few weeks to see how things are wrapping up.
Excuse me.
So we have the stationary front with the low pressure system rolling on through.
And as it does so, it's going to bring some rain.
So make sure that you are prepared for the wet weather.
Osaka and Tokyo looking at some rain coming up on Thursday.
And then we'll start to dry out even some sunshine on Saturday in Tokyo.
Over in Naze in the Amami region, temperatures in the low 30s as we go through the rest of the week and it's going to remain dry.
Now, I want to focus on what's happening further down toward the south.
We have one, two tropical systems, both tropical depressions at the moment, and they're continuing to make their way slowly toward the west and north.
Now, the one located toward the west, heading toward the southern portion of China into portions of Vietnam. So we'll keep an eye out on that.
And then the other system back out toward the ocean, that's going to be happening, moving toward the west and heading toward a place like Guam and Taipan.
So we have to keep an eye out on that as we head toward the weekend in the first part of next week.
Quick note on North America, Eastern areas of the United States really hot with the cold for bringing some strong storms in between them.
And so we're talking about highs like near 38 on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And that concludes this edition of NHK Newsline. Thank you very much for.
checked.
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