at 18:30 (JST), May 18

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/20220517183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : initiative launch infrastructure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220518_05/

Japanese government officials are arranging for Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to announce Japan's participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF, which the US plans to launch early this year.

Japanese government sources say US President Joe Biden is expected to announce the official launch of the IPEF when he holds talks with Kishida in Japan next Monday.

The US-led initiative is expected to promote cooperation in creating more resilient supply chains and investing in high-quality infrastructure.

But the IPEF does not target cutting tariff rates.

Kishida intends to continue tenacious efforts to persuade the US to get back to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, or CPTPP, but the US does not appear eager to rejoin the pact.

Kishida and Biden are also expected to exchange views on how to stabilize the supply of key resources as China is keeping tight control over its rare earths and other raw materials as part of its national strategy.

Key words : approved 21
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220517_36/

Japan's government has approved a draft supplementary budget worth 2.7 trillion yen, or about 21 billion dollars, to fund an emergency package to tackle rising prices.

The draft supplementary budget for the current fiscal year was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. It includes about 9.1 billion dollars for subsidies to oil wholesalers to be provided from June to deal with soaring crude oil prices.

About 11.7 billion dollars will added to reserve funds.

Additional government bonds will be issued to finance the package.

The government aims to pass the draft budget in the current Diet session. But opposition parties have expressed criticism about adding massive funds to the reserves, which could be used without Diet approval.

Key words : small group tour
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220517_27/

The Japanese government plans to accept small group tours from four countries in a trial this month. The program is intended to be a prelude to a full reopening of the country to foreign visitors starting in June.

Japan has generally barred the entry of tourists from overseas since early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism Minister Saito Tetsuo said on Tuesday the test tours will include people from the United States, Australia, Thailand and Singapore. He says infections by the virus's variants are under control in those countries. All the visitors will need to be triple-vaccinated.

The Japan Tourism Agency will study the trial's results to come up with ways of ensuring that foreign tourists take COVID precautions and with responses for when visitors become infected.

Agency officials plan to compile guidelines for the tourism industry based on the findings.

Key words : japanese artist painting
https://emb3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20220506143834372/

Painting murals to bring hope around the world, working together with people living in harsh conditions... That is the mission of Japanese artist Miyazaki Kensuke. Five years ago, he brought this project to Ukraine. Now, in the face of Russia's military invasion, he has painted a follow-up image.