at 18:30 (JST), September 15

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/20220915183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : emperor first in 2019
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_14/

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will attend the state funeral of late British Queen Elizabeth II. The funeral is scheduled for September 19.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu made the announcement on Wednesday.

It will be their first visit of a foreign country since the Emperor ascended the throne in 2019.

Key words : Imperial family close ties
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_13/

Japan's Imperial Household Agency says Emperor Naruhito will become the second Japanese Emperor to attend a funeral for a foreign royal family member or head of state, when he takes part in the ceremony for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II next week.

The agency says Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko attended the state funeral for Belgium's King Baudouin in 1993. They were the Emperor and Empress at that time.

The Japanese Imperial family and the British royal family have maintained close ties. Emperor Emeritus Akihito attended the coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth in 1953 on behalf of Emperor Showa. He was the Crown Prince at the time.

Emperor Naruhito studied at the University of Oxford when he was a graduate school student. He subsequently made three official visits to Britain and had dinner with Queen Elizabeth.

Key words : thailand ordered
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_40/

The Supreme Court of Thailand has ordered the government to restore the natural environment of a southern resort island used to shoot the 2000 hit film "The Beach," with Leonardo DiCaprio.

The shooting took place in Maya Bay in the Phi Phi islands. Local authorities filed a lawsuit in 1999 against the government, 20th Century Fox, and a Thai film coordinator. They said the island's nature had been destroyed, imported palm trees had been planted and vegetation had been ripped out.

The studio has said it kept the beach in its original condition, and removed a large amount of garbage.

But the Supreme Court disagreed. In a ruling on Tuesday, it ordered the government to repair the damage that had been done. The studio must also pay 10 million baht, or about 273,000 dollars, in restoration costs.

Tourists flocked to the bay after the movie's release. It was closed in 2018 to restore the environment. The island started accepting a limited number of tourists again this year, and must now balance tourism with preservation.

Key words : hamada met north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220915_04/

The defense chiefs of Japan and the United States have reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as China is stepping up pressure on Taiwan.

Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu met with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Wednesday. It was their first in-person meeting.

Austin said, "China's coercive actions in the Taiwan Strait and in the waters surrounding Japan are provocative, destabilizing and unprecedented." He also said the US commitment to the defense of Japan is unwavering.

Hamada mentioned a number of events that are of concern for the Japan-US alliance, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Chinese ballistic missiles landing in waters near Japan and joint drills by China and Russia.

They agreed to urge China and Taiwan to pursue a peaceful solution.

They also confirmed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an outrageous act that shakes the foundation of the international order, and that Japan and the US will continue to work together in supporting Ukraine.

On North Korea, they confirmed that Japan, the US and South Korea will work more closely to jointly deal with the North's repeated provocations, including ballistic missile launches.

Hamada referred to revisions of three security documents, including the National Security Strategy, to be carried out by the year-end.

He said Japan will study all options, including so-called counterstrike capabilities, and wants to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities. He added that the government aims to substantially increase the defense budget.

Austin reportedly welcomed the ideas.

They agreed to coordinate more closely to strengthen the Japan-US alliance, confirming that the two sides are in the same direction on their strategies.

Key words : south google
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_33/

The South Korean government has fined Google and Meta a combined 100 billion won, or about 72 million dollars, for privacy law violations.

South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission says the two companies collected users' information without their consent and used the data for customized advertisements.

The commission on Wednesday fined Google 69.2 billion won, or about 50 million dollars, and Meta, which used to be known as Facebook, 30.8 billion won, or about 22 million dollars.

The commission says the fines are the highest ever for alleged violations of the personal information protection law.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says Google expressed "deep regrets" and said it will continue talks with the commission on protecting user privacy.

Yonhap also quoted a Meta official as saying the company cannot agree with the commission's decision and will review all possibilities, including a legal fight.

Key words : peace and friendship nagasaki
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_22/

Officials of a Japanese-style garden in the US state of Oregon have presented a replica of its Peace Lantern to Hiroshima City as a symbol of peace and friendship.

A presentation ceremony was held in the city on Wednesday.

Community members opened the Portland Japanese Garden 59 years ago with the aim to forge a healing connection with Japan following the end of World War Two.

A stone lantern sent from Japan sits in the garden as a reminder of a desire for understanding and appreciation between the two cultures.

A replica of the lantern was to be donated to Hiroshima in 2020, to mark 75 years since the atomic bombing of the city. But the ceremony was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The lantern, which is a little over a meter tall, is inscribed with the words "Casting the Light of Everlasting Peace."

The garden's CEO, Steve Bloom, described the lantern as a first step in bringing peace to the world. He stressed that mutual understanding through culture and dialogue is what is needed in the world.

Another replica will be presented to Nagasaki City, which also suffered an atomic bombing in 1945.

Key words : giant panda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220914_27/

A giant panda at a zoo in western Japan marked a landmark birthday this week turning 30 years old, or 90 in human years.

Eimei is not the oldest giant panda in the world, but Wakayama Prefecture's Adventure World says he is the oldest to have naturally fathered cubs while in captivity -- a feat he's accomplished sixteen times.

In honor of his special day, zookeepers gave the panda ice blocks that spelled out 'Happy Birthday.' But Eimei quickly pushed them aside to reveal his present: bamboo, his favorite treat.

"I am deeply moved and very happy that Eimei turned 30 years old," said zookeeper Shinagawa Yuka.

"We hope he will continue to live in good health for a long time."

Born in Beijing, Eimei has been in Japan since 1994.

Eimei's minders say he may be getting on in years, but he still has quite the appetite, and they expect he'll keep breaking records for quite some time.