at 18:30 (JST), December 31

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/20211231183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : investigative sources died
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211231_01/

Investigative sources say the man suspected of starting a deadly fire at a clinic in the western Japanese city of Osaka has died. His death will make it harder to determine the motive for the arson attack.

The sources say Tanimoto Morio died on Thursday evening at the hospital where he had been in critical condition after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning in the incident.

The 61-year-old man is believed to have bought gasoline before spraying and lighting it at the mental health clinic on the fourth floor of a building on December 17. Twenty-five people were killed and another remains in serious condition.

Police have been investigating Tanimoto, who was a patient of the clinic, on suspicion of arson and murder.

He is believed to have premeditated the arson attack and carried it out with intent to kill. But police say they have not found any evidence of trouble between the clinic and the suspect that could have led to the incident.

Police found a memo bearing the handwritten words "arson-murder" during a search of a property related to Tanimoto. They also found newspaper clippings on past arson cases in Japan, including the 2019 attack at a studio of the Kyoto Animation production company that left 36 employees dead and 32 others injured.

Key words : nikkei
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211230_15/

The Tokyo Stock Exchange marked its last trading day of the year with a ceremony on Thursday, as the benchmark Nikkei Average enjoyed its highest final-day close in 32 years.

Like last year, the ceremony was held with a smaller number of participants than usual to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

Kiyota Akira, the Japan Exchange Group CEO, gave a review of the year.

He said market players continued to be affected by the pandemic and had to deal with the effects throughout the year. He also said the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused some concern but that the market overall has been relatively strong.

Yoshizawa Ryo, a popular actor, rang the bell at the exchange.

The event wrapped up with a ceremonial handclap by participants.

The Nikkei Average temporarily recovered to the 30,000 mark in February and again in September, but share prices have been volatile due to the pandemic. The index ended the day at 28,791, the highest final-day close since 1989.

Key words : south court
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211230_19/

A South Korean court has approved the sale of assets seized from Japan's Nippon Steel to compensate plaintiffs seeking damages for wartime labor.

In 2018, South Korea's Supreme Court ordered Nippon Steel to compensate South Koreans who say they were forced to work for the firm in Japan during World War Two.

Judicial sources say a district court branch in the city of Daegu on Thursday ordered the sale of the company's shares that were held in South Korea and later confiscated by the plaintiffs. The court decision is the second of its kind in the country.

In another wartime labor case, a district court in September approved the sale of some of the assets seized from Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The company immediately appealed.

The Japanese government says any rights to claims were settled completely and finally in 1965, when Tokyo and Seoul normalized ties.

The government argues that the compensation orders issued to Japanese firms and the legal proceedings are in breach of international law, and is urging South Korea to rectify the situation.

Key words : former south
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211231_04/

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye was released under a presidential pardon on Friday after four years and nine months in detention.

Park was removed from office in March 2017. She was arrested and convicted of taking bribes, including from the country's largest conglomerate Samsung Group. She was serving a prison sentence of 22 years.

Last week, the Justice Ministry announced that President Moon Jae-in would grant a pardon to Park.

Park, 69, has been treated at a hospital in Seoul since last month for the deterioration of her back, shoulder and other pre-existing conditions.

Local media say she is expected to be hospitalized for some time to come.

Park's supporters gathered in front of the hospital to welcome her release, while those opposed to it protested in central Seoul.

Key words : Kodo Nishimura
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2058796/

Kodo Nishimura blends his duties as a Buddhist monk with work as a makeup artist. He speaks from experience about overcoming adversity, being true to yourself, and what it means to be different.