at 18:30 (JST), July 19

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/20220719183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : foreign minister agreed three years
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220718_17/

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have agreed to work for an early resolution of the issue of wartime labor.

Hayashi Yoshimasa and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin met in Tokyo on Monday.

This is the first time in about three years that a South Korean foreign minister has visited Japan. The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours.

Park offered condolences regarding former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was fatally shot while giving an election campaign speech this month. Hayashi expressed gratitude in return.

Hayashi reiterated that it is necessary to resolve matters of concern for the two countries, such as wartime labor and those referred to as comfort women, to develop bilateral relations.

On the issue of wartime labor, Park expressed intent to work on hammering out a desirable solution before assets seized from Japanese firms are liquidated.

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

Judicial proceedings are underway in South Korea to liquidate the companies' seized assets.

The two ministers also agreed to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine and work more closely to tackle issues involving North Korea.
Park will be in Japan until Wednesday. Officials from the two countries are arranging a meeting between him and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

Key words : two percent
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220719_09/

Policymakers at the Bank of Japan are expected to discuss raising their annual inflation outlook to the two-percent range later this week.

The BOJ is due to start its two-day policy board meeting from Wednesday.

Prices of crude oil, wheat and other raw materials are soaring globally, due to the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Policymakers projected back in April that the consumer price index would rise 1.9 percent in fiscal 2022. Raising the outlook would mean the figure hitting two percent -- which is the target the BOJ set in 2013.

But the policymakers believe current price rises would weigh on both household incomes and corporate earnings. That's because the inflation has not come with growth in wages or private demand.

In light of this, they are likely to agree to maintain the current massive monetary easing measures to prop up the economy -- in line with a position advocated by BOJ Governor Kuroda Haruhiko.

A widening gap in interest rates between Japan and the United States has led to a sharp depreciation of the yen against the dollar.

BOJ policymakers will discuss what impact the weaker yen, as well as the country's resurging coronavirus infections, may have on the economy and price trends.

Key words : metropolitan on Monday
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220718_14/

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government reported 12,696 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday.

The figure is up 6,465 from a week ago, or about 2 times the total last Monday.

The number has topped 10,000 for seven straight days.

The seven-day average of the daily count through Monday came to 16,216.4. That's 201.3 percent of the number from a week earlier.

The number of seriously ill patients on ventilators or ECMO heart-lung machines in Tokyo is 15, up two from Sunday.

Tokyo officials also reported that one person died from the virus.
Across Japan, health authorities reported 76,200 new infections on Monday.

Key words : six people dead
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220718_12/

Flooding in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan has left at least six people dead and 12 missing.

The state-run Xinhua news agency and other media outlets have reported that torrential rain on Friday and Saturday triggered flooding in Beichuan County.

Some 22,000 people have been displaced, while mudslides have destroyed residential buildings.

Severe damage to infrastructure, including roads, has been reported, while power and communications have been disrupted throughout the region.

Downpours from Monday through Friday last week in neighboring Gansu Province also caused floods, killing six people.

The Chinese government has called on residents throughout the country to be on the alert for possible flooding between July and August.

Key words : memorial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220718_08/

A memorial service was held on Monday for people killed in an arson attack at a western Japan animation studio three years ago.

The fire at Kyoto Animation on July 18 in 2019 killed 36 people and injured 32.

About 120 people, including victims' family members and employees of the company, took part in the ceremony held at the former site of the studio.

Attendees observed a minute of silence shortly after 10:30 a.m. -- the time the attack took place.

Then the attendees laid flowers and offered prayers at an altar decorated with 36 sunflowers.

Kyoto Animation President Hatta Hideaki said in a statement that he regrets the loss of the 36 lives, no matter how many years pass. He expressed hope that his company will keep the victims' feelings in mind and continue to create works.

It is still unclear when the 44-year-old suspect, Aoba Shinji, will go on trial.

Procedures for starting the trial are believed to have progressed little since the suspect underwent his second psychiatric evaluation.

Sources say the trial may begin next year at earliest.

Elderly family members of some victims say they hope the trial will start soon because they want to know while they are still in good health why the suspect carried out the attack.

Key words : lawmaker visit taiwan
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220719_02/

A group of Japanese lawmakers is planning to visit Taiwan next week to discuss security issues.

The group includes former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Ishiba Shigeru, former defense minister Hamada Yasukazu, Democratic Party for the People deputy leader Maehara Seiji and Watanabe Shu of the Constitutional Democratic Party.

They are members of a group of lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition blocs who take an interest in security affairs.

They plan to visit Taiwan starting July 27 to meet officials there and discuss ways to enhance ties between Japan and Taiwan, as well as possible responses to a contingency involving Taiwan.

The Japanese lawmakers are also trying to arrange a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen.

They are apparently aiming to reassure Taiwanese officials that their commitment to relations with Taiwan will not change following the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was keen on promoting friendship with Taiwan.

Key words : expo osaka
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220719_01/

Events have been held in Japan to mark 1,000 days until the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

One of the ceremonial events was held at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, western Japan, on Monday.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi said he is very excited about the expo. He said he wants to make it one that inspires people to imagine what the future will look like.

A flying car is one of the items expected to be featured at the expo.

Its prototype was tested in Hyogo Prefecture, which neighbors Osaka.

The nearly 6-meter-long craft has propellers on the tips of eight arms extending from its body.

Spectators applauded as it floated about 30 meters above the ground and flew 280 meters at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, at an event in Tokyo, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said Japan needs to overcome major challenges it is facing at home and abroad, such as the coronavirus pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he wants to use the expo as an opportunity for Japan to take the initiative in addressing a range of social issues with state-of-the-art technology.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is scheduled to start in April 2025 and last for about 6 months.