at 18:30 (JST), November 15

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20211115183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : government released GDP figures
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_14/

The Japanese government has released the country's latest GDP figures.

Officials say Japan's economy shrank at an annualized 3.0 percent in the July-to-September period from the previous quarter in real terms, marking the first drop in two quarters.

The Cabinet Office says the pandemic dented consumer spending, which accounts for more than half of the country's GDP.

Exports were also dampened by sagging vehicle production due to a global shortage of chips and auto parts.

Key words : demonstrators bangkok
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_04/

Demonstrators in Thailand have taken to the streets of the capital Bangkok to protest a Constitutional Court ruling, which found calls for reform of the monarchy are unconstitutional.

Police say about 1,000 people took part in the demonstration on Sunday. Local authorities say three people were injured.

The court ruled on Wednesday that demands to reform the country's monarchy are unconstitutional and tantamount to attempting to overthrow the royal institution.

Such calls grew during anti-government protests that have been continuing since last year. The demands include reducing royal budgets and abolishing the lese majeste law that bans defaming the royal family.

The court also ordered the three main activists and their associates to refrain from making such demands in the future.

Protesters at the latest rally said the court's decision is incorrect as they do not intend to topple the constitutional monarchy. They burned effigies of court judges before marching.

Some demonstrators clashed with police who had blocked their way.

A 30-year-old protester said some demonstrators who were detained during previous rallies have continued to fight while in prison. She added that she cannot remain silent and must continue to protest.

Key words : ohtani back japan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_17/

Two-way star Ohtani Shohei is back in Japan and has spoken to the media after his breakout season in Major League Baseball.

The Los Angeles Angel is a nominee for Most Valuable Player in the American League, which will be announced on Thursday.

Ohtani looked back at his stellar year, after recovering from injuries.

He said it was sometimes mentally tough because of his injuries, but he believed he would be able to pitch again, without fail. He added that the doctors who operated on him, as well as his trainers, also said he would surely recover.

Ohtani performed brilliantly this season. He racked up 46 homers, 100 runs batted in and 26 stolen bases. He also became only the sixth MLB player to hit 45 homers and steal 25 bases in a single season.

As a pitcher, Ohtani recorded nine wins. He was the first player ever to start as both a pitcher and a leadoff batter in the All-Star Game in July.

He has already earned significant honors for his performance.

Key words : three months facing economy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_05/

The Taliban are facing the challenge of stabilizing Afghanistan's security situation amid a series of attacks believed to have been mounted by a local affiliate of the Islamic State militant group.

Monday marks three months since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. After the takeover, the Islamist group launched an interim government and initiated other moves to rule the country.

But with the Taliban government yet to be recognized by the international community, Afghanistan's economy is in dire straits, partly because its overseas assets remain frozen.

Against this backdrop, Afghanistan has suffered a series of deadly attacks since October believed to have been launched by the Islamic State group's local affiliate. The attacks include suicide bombings at Shia mosques and an assault on a hospital.

The Taliban are working to improve security such as by setting up checkpoints near mosques in the capital Kabul. Their forces stop vehicles and motorcycles to check drivers' licenses and search vehicles.

The Taliban have also deployed elite units armed with advanced weapons in various locations. One commander said Taliban forces remain on alert around the clock, and are entirely ready to confront Islamic State combatants.

Key words : canadian navy
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_15/

A Canadian navy frigate has made a port call at a US naval base in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Okinawa, amid China's increasingly assertive maritime activities in the East and South China seas.

The Canadian Royal Navy's Winnipeg docked at the US White Beach Naval Facility in Uruma City.

The Canadian military says the Winnipeg has been on a surveillance mission in waters near Japan since September to monitor North Korea's illicit activities, including ship-to-ship transfers.

Last month, the Winnipeg took part in joint drills by six countries, including Japan, the United States and Britain, in waters southwest of Okinawa. It also navigated the Taiwan Strait with a US naval vessel.

Commander Doug Layton of the Winnipeg said the ongoing "Operation Projection" shows Canada's commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

He also said the operation shows "our commitment to work with our allies and partners in the Pacific region, ensuring interoperability so that we are able to work in case of crisis." He stressed Canada's role in ensuring peace and stability in the region alongside the US and other nations.

Various countries are increasing their involvement in the region's security. Last month, the French navy dispatched a surveillance aircraft to the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.

Key words : appeal yokota as soon as possible
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_01/

Monday marks 44 years since North Korea abducted Japanese national Yokota Megumi. Her mother strongly urged the Japanese government to bring all remaining abductees back home as soon as possible through talks between the leaders of the two nations.

Yokota Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents on November 15, 1977, while on her way home from junior high school. Last month marked the 57th year since her birth.

Her mother, Yokota Sakie, spoke to reporters ahead of the 44th anniversary of her daughter's abduction. Sakie said she has been ever more exhausted from indescribable frustration.
She said she is distressed by not knowing anything because of the lack of a thorough explanation from Japan's government.

Sakie said she feels disheartened when thinking about how many decades she has to continue to appeal for her daughter's return.

Sakie noted that she has been speaking to the photographs of Megumi and her late husband Shigeru, who died last year. She tells them that she is sorry for failing to bring her daughter back home after such a long time.

Sakie said she is determined to bring Megumi back, and that she wants her daughter to wait, stay healthy and hopeful until she can return home.

Sakie has asked successive prime ministers to realize the return of the abductees, but to no avail.
The 85-year-old mother said that considering her age, she thinks the tenure of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is her last chance to see her daughter return.

Sakie said she wants Kishida to realize a Japan-North Korea summit that allows both countries to move in a positive direction.

Sakie said she hopes to see the remaining abductees descend from an aircraft in Japan by sometime next year or thereafter. She added that she believes such a delightful day will come.

The Japanese government says at least 17 citizens, including Megumi, were abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned in 2002, but the other 12 are still unaccounted for.

Key words : automaker downgraded
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211114_14/

Major Japanese automakers have downgraded their unit sales forecasts for fiscal 2021 due to a lack of semiconductors and other auto parts. The outlook of seven companies for the year through March will drop more than 2 million vehicles from their previous forecasts.

Auto firms announced revised forecasts along with their midterm earnings reports.

Toyota cut its forecast for its group companies to 10.29 million vehicles, down 260,000 from its previous forecast.

Honda cut its outlook by 650,000 to 4.2 million vehicles, and Nissan slashed its estimate by 600,000 to 3.8 million.

Suzuki announced a cut of 225,000 vehicles, Subaru 130,000, Mazda 98,000 and Mitsubishi 64,000.

A global chip shortage and parts supply disruptions in pandemic-battered Southeast Asia have forced the companies to slash output.

But the impact of the pandemic is gradually easing in Southeast Asia.

Toyota now expects its domestic factories to return to normal next month -- for the first time in seven months.

But the impact may linger for some other automakers.

Key words : major publishers
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211115_07/

Major publishers in Japan are preparing to file a criminal complaint against the operator of one of the largest illegal manga-viewing websites in the country. A US court decision has now allowed them to identify the operator.

Four publishers, including Shueisha, have accused the pirate website "Manga Bank" of infringing on copyrights. They say the operator posted all the pages of their comic books and magazines on the website without permission.

Shueisha asked a US court in October to instruct Google and other Internet firms to disclose information about the operator. It wanted the operator's name, address, phone number, IP address and other data.

Last Friday, the court reportedly ordered the Internet platforms to disclose the relevant information.

Illegal manga websites emerged as a major problem in the publishing industry around four years ago.

A website named "Manga-mura," or manga village, was once the largest illegal manga site in Japan. In June, its operator was sentenced to three years in prison for copyright violations and other actions.

Manga Bank then replaced Manga-mura. The site was accessed about 81 million times in one month. But it was closed early in November.

The four publishers plan to file a damages lawsuit in addition to the criminal complaint.

A Shueisha official, Ito Atsushi, says it is the role of a publisher to protect works that authors devoted themselves to creating, and to offer them to readers in a proper form. Ito has pledged to fight against piracy websites.

One of the lawyers for the publishers, Nakajima Hiroyuki, says operators of piracy websites can be identified by taking legal steps, even if they use overseas servers.

He added that he hopes taking legal action in the Manga Bank case will help deter people from operating illegal websites.