at 18:30 (JST), July 05

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/20220705183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : coast guard two chinese patrol
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220705_12/

Japan Coast Guard officials say two Chinese government ships have entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The officials say the ships entered waters off Uotsuri Island at around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, and apparently tried to approach a Japanese fishing boat operating in the area.

The officials say that as of 4:50 a.m., the Chinese vessels were sailing in Japanese waters about 19 to 21 kilometers southwest of Uotsuri Island. They say the vessels appear to be shadowing the fishing boat.

Japanese patrol ships have been cruising near the fishing boat to ensure its safety and warning the Chinese vessels to immediately leave Japan's territorial waters.

This is the 12th time this year that Chinese government ships have been spotted entering Japanese waters off the islands. The last incident took place June 23.

Japan controls the Senkaku Islands. The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.

Key words : 12 bodies
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_33/

Rescuers have found 12 bodies near the area where a Chinese engineering vessel sank on Saturday in stormy weather off the coast of southern China.

Maritime authorities in the southern province of Guangdong say the bodies were found on Monday. They are suspected to be of the crew members.

The accident occurred in waters off the city of Yangjiang in Guangdong, about 300 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong on Saturday.

The vessel had 30 crew members on board. They were working on building offshore wind farms when the ship was caught in rough seas generated by Tropical Storm Chaba.

Four people have been rescued so far.

Chinese media reported that the waves had reached heights of around 10 meters at the time of the accident.

The authorities believe that the vessel lost control after its anchor chain snapped, and it was swept away by winds and waves.

They are continuing search and rescue efforts with helicopters and rescue ships.

Key words : kumamoto two years ago
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_15/

People in southwestern Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture are offering prayers for dozens of people who died two years ago when torrential rains turned neighborhoods into disaster areas.

Record rainfalls hit the prefecture in July 2020. Including those who died in the aftermath, 67 people were killed. Two more remain missing.

Sirens wailed at municipal offices, temporary housing complexes and elsewhere at 8:30 a.m. Monday to mark the anniversary. People were seen praying silently for those who died as a result of the disaster.

Fourteen residents of the Senjuen nursing home for the elderly lost their lives when a nearby river flooded.
Bereaved family members offered flowers and prayers at the former site of the facility in Kuma Village.

One said she wished to see her aunt again, even though she knew it is impossible.

A man who lost his mother said the support he received from many people had enabled him to get through the two years since the disaster. He said he promised in his prayer that he will live his life to the fullest.

Prefectural officials say that as of a week ago 2,618 people affected by the disaster are still living in temporary housing or private homes that local authorities rent for them.

One evacuee said he wants to move in to his own house, even a small one, so he can stop worrying.

Rebuilding continues to be a challenge for the prefecture. Vacant lots are still visible in many areas.

Key words : zelenskyy online lecture
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220705_09/

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has given an online lecture stressing the importance of peace to people who gathered at a university in Tokyo.

More than 350 people, including Japanese students, faculty members and students from Ukraine, listened to Zelenskyy talking about peace on Monday at Toyo University. The lecture was also seen at 14 other universities across Japan.

Toyo University sealed academic contracts with Ukrainian counterparts following Russia's invasion in February. It has since accepted more than 10 students from Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said, "The sky without missiles and bombs, houses and buildings - not destroyed and not damaged, loved ones and simply all your fellow citizens - not injured and alive. All this is a great blessing. And even more. All this is a miracle for us today."

The president said, "With weapons in our hands, we defend ourselves so that this miracle becomes a reality for us again. So simple and natural for human civilization. A normal state of affairs for a normal society and a normal country." He said, "This is exactly what Ukraine is defending today."

In a question and answer session, a Ukrainian student asked what she could do to help her home country.

Zelenskyy responded, "I hope you will use your experiences in Japan for the good of our country after the war is over."

A Japanese student asked him about the source of his power.

Zelenskyy said, "Nowadays, weapons are not just things used on the battlefield."

He said, "Information policy, information weapons have the same significant influence - influence on societies of various states, on their leaders."

The president added, "I sincerely hope that in the future you will use only the weapon of communication."

It was Zelenskyy's first online lecture to an audience in Japan since one he made to Japanese lawmakers in March.

Key words : tokura counterpart office
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_29/

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol received a courtesy call by the head of Japan's largest business lobby on Monday in Seoul.

The call took place after Chairman Tokura Masakazu of the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, met with his South Korean counterpart earlier in the day for the first time in three years.

The presidential office says Yoon and Tokura discussed bilateral cooperation in areas such as the economy and the increase of people-to-people exchanges. Yoon reportedly expressed his appreciation for Keidanren's visit to South Korea, saying it will help activate exchanges between the two countries.

Officials say Yoon also commented that both governments should use their power and wisdom to build future-oriented, cooperative relationships. He reportedly also said that the two nations should work together to resolve pending issues between them.

After the meeting, Tokura told reporters that President Yoon appeared to have a strong wish to revitalize bilateral exchanges with Japan.

Tokura also said a sound political climate would further accelerate economic exchanges. He said that he asked the president to have summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and for ministerial and other talks to be organized with Japan.

Key words : wartime breach
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_06/

The South Korean government is set to hold on Monday the first meeting of a consultative body to address wartime labor-related issues with Japan.

Government sources and others say members of the body, made up of government officials and private-sector experts, will meet behind closed doors in the afternoon.

In an interview with a local television network on Saturday, Foreign Minister Park Jin said the body will seek to work out a solution by listening to opinions from people concerned and various fields. He pledged efforts to move things in a positive direction.

South Korean courts have ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to people who say they or their relatives were forced to work for the firms during World War Two.

The Japanese government says any right to claims was settled completely and finally in 1965, when Japan and South Korea normalized ties.

Japan says the rulings and related judicial procedures are in breach of international law, and urges South Korea to rectify the situation.

But procedures are underway in South Korea to sell assets seized from the Japanese firms. At a news conference last Thursday, a support group for the plaintiffs reiterated its stance that an apology and compensation from the firms are necessary.

Attention is on whether the body's discussions will lead to progress over one of the major issues pending between the two countries at a time when the government of President Yoon Suk-yeol shows a willingness to mend ties. He took office in May.

Key words : onigiri
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220704_30/

Japanese retailers are introducing specialty rice products to lure customers as prices for the staple have steadily declined.

The Lawson convenience store chain will start using high quality rice for "onigiri" products.

The firm says the price of the premium rice balls will be almost the same as the ones it currently offers that use lower-cost rice.

The firm expects onigiri sales to be 15 percent higher over the next 12 months, compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Discount supermarket operator OK added 10 percent more rice to bags of the grain it sold without raising prices. It has also lowered the prices of some brands of rice since May.

Government data show rice prices fell 5.9 percent at the consumer level in May from a year earlier. It was the 21st straight month of decline.