at 18:30 (JST), August 24

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/20220824183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : japanese firm russia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220824_04/

A survey by a private research firm indicates that Japanese firms are slowing down their shift away from Russia, six months after the country's invasion of Ukraine began.

Teikoku Databank says, as of Sunday, 44 percent of 168 major Japanese companies have decided to suspend their business in Russia or pull out from the market.

The shift away from Russia, began by Western businesses, has been followed by Japanese firms.

But the survey shows that since July no Japanese companies newly decided to suspend their business or pull out.

The research firm says the shift away from Russia by businesses including Western companies is slowing down. It says this tendency may be prompted by a growing view that the risk of damaging their reputation by operating in Russia is not as serious as had been thought.

But the research firm also says some companies are facing difficult decisions whether to withdraw from Russia to avoid more damage to their business, as no end to the invasion is in sight any time soon.

Chairman and CEO Sasaki Nobuhiko of the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, said on Monday that Japanese firms are at a critical turning point, forced to make urgent decisions, with no bright outlook for the future.

Exports and imports have been notably affected by the Ukrainian situation.

Exports of vehicles to Russia were down to about 16,000 in the half year through the end of June. That's down 60 percent from the previous year.

Imports of Russian crude oil have been on the decline since May, following Japanese government policy.

Imports of natural gas, however, have not been affected much so far, as they are on long-term contracts.

This month, the Russian government has established a new company to take over the Sakhalin-2 oil and natural gas project in the country's Far East.

Moscow urges the two Japanese investors, Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation, to notify it by September 4 whether the trading firms wish to hold onto their stakes.

Key words : lawmaker furuya met
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220823_24/

A Japanese ruling party lawmaker has agreed with Taiwan's president that the international community must work together to stop China's efforts to change the status quo by force.

Former National Public Safety Commission chairperson Furuya Keiji heads a nonpartisan group of lawmakers working to advance exchanges with Taiwan. The Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker is visiting Taiwan with the group's secretary-general.

Furuya met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday in Taipei.

Tsai described the lawmakers' visit as a manifestation of the Japanese Diet's support for Taiwan. She expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Taiwanese people.

Referring to China's large-scale military drills earlier this month, which included launches of ballistic missiles, Tsai noted the international community must cooperate in dealing with provocations and attempts to expand authoritarianism.

She added that if Taiwan is invaded, it would be a massive blow to the values of democracy and to the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Tsai stressed that Taiwan and Japan are close security partners that share the values of democracy and freedom, and that they must continue to deepen cooperation and work together to secure regional peace, stability, freedom and prosperity.

Furuya said peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are crucial not only for Japan's national security, but for the international community as well.

He stressed the importance of coordinated international efforts, headed by Japan and the United States, to stop China's attempts to change the status quo by force.

Key words : ease restriction foreign tourist
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220824_01/

The Japanese government is moving to start accepting overseas tourists who do not want to take guided tours in a bid to address a decline in the numbers of foreign travelers visiting Japan.

The country reopened to foreign holidaymakers in June with the easing of anti-coronavirus border controls. But all tourists are still required to join guided tours and obtain a visa.

The tourists also have to comply with anti-infection measures, such as wearing masks, set under guidelines by the Japanese government.

The government's decision to further ease anti-coronavirus border controls came as the number of foreign tourists entering Japan stood at about 7,900 in July, well below pre-pandemic levels.

Many in the tourism industry insist the current restrictions are discouraging Western tourists from coming to Japan as they prefer an individual style of traveling.

The Japanese government has decided to allow tourists to enter the country without joining a guided tour, if their visit has been arranged through a travel agency. The agencies that arrange tours are expected to manage their clients' schedules. Tourists will also be asked to follow guidelines if cases of infection are confirmed.

But the government will continue to deny entry to individual travelers who don't make arrangements through travel agencies.

The new measure is expected to go into effect in September.

Key words : 6 years deadly disabilities
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2063/

Six years after Uematsu Satoshi killed 19 residents at a care home for people with intellectual disabilities, advocates are calling for a society that better integrates those with differences.