at 18:30 (JST), October 31

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/20221031183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : south 154 130
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221031_05/

A Japanese survivor of the deadly crowd crush in Seoul, South Korea has described the horror of the experience.

A Japanese man in his 50s was in the capital's Itaewon district on Saturday night when the accident occurred.

He captured video of another narrow alley about 20 meters from the scene of the accident and posted it online.

He said even one hour before, people were packed together so tightly it appeared that they couldn't move.

The man whose YouTube account name is Yukkuri JKR Channel said, " I was caught between people trying to go back and those trying to move forward without knowing what was going on.
The pressure on my ribs and internal organs really started to hurt. I thought I might die if the situation got any worse."

South Korean authorities say at least 154 people had died as of early Monday morning and more than 130 others were injured.

Key words : local media popular
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221031_20/

The South Korean media are questioning whether authorities could have anticipated that more than 100,000 people would gather in Seoul's Itaewon district for Halloween.

At least 154 people, many of them youths, died on Saturday night in a massive crowd surge in the popular entertainment district. Two Japanese women are among the victims.

A woman in her 50s living near the scene said she is heartbroken, and that she hopes similar incidents never happen again.

A memorial incense stand was set up in the city center on Monday. President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife came to offer flowers and to observe a moment of silence.

The local media say that more than 100,000 people used a railway station closest to the scene of the incident on the day.

They quoted an expert who analyzed footage of the scene as saying that there were more than 10 people per square meter.

They also quoted eyewitnesses as saying that some people lost consciousness while still standing.

The media point out that investigators are expected to look into whether sufficient security measures had been taken.

Key words : tomikawa foreigner
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221031_08/

Officials in South Korea say most of the people who died or were injured during the Halloween crowd crush in Seoul on Saturday night, are in their teens and 20s. They say foreigners are among the victims, including two Japanese women.

26-year-old Tomikawa Mei was from Hokkaido in northern Japan. Her father told NHK that since June she had been studying the Korean language in Seoul.

Tomikawa Ayumu says he tried to call his daughter's mobile phone several times after he learned about the accident. However, he says Mei did not answer and after several attempts a South Korean police officer responded instead.

A Japanese Foreign Ministry official told him on Sunday that Mei had died.

Tomikawa says, "My daughter said she wanted to work in South Korea and had been studying Korean for a long time before she went there. I think she must be very disappointed."

Key words : western india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221031_06/

A pedestrian suspension bridge has collapsed in western India, throwing people into a river. Local media report that more than 70 people have died.

The accident occurred in Morbi in the state of Gujarat on Sunday.

Local footage shows some people swimming for safety or clinging to parts of the bridge.

Multiple local media outlets report the bridge reopened just days ago after renovation. They added that the death toll could climb further as a large number of people were crossing the bridge at the time of the disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter, pledging all-out rescue efforts and support for injured people and bereaved families.

Key words : 132
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221031_23/

The local government in India's western state of Gujarat says at least 132 people have been confirmed dead in Sunday's collapse of a pedestrian suspension bridge.

A senior official of the Gujarat government released the updated death toll on Monday.

Local footage of the accident in Morbi showed people swimming for safety or clinging to parts of the bridge.

Multiple local media outlets reported that the bridge had been reopened just days ago after being renovated. They added that the death toll could climb further, as a large number of people were crossing the bridge at the time of the disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter, pledging all-out rescue efforts and support for injured people and bereaved families.

Key words : religious researcher
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221028_36/

A group of religious researchers in Japan has called on authorities to exercise their right to ask questions to bring about a swift investigation into the religious group previously known as the Unification Church.

Twenty-five researchers, including Professor Emeritus Shimazono Susumu of the University of Tokyo and Professor Sakurai Yoshihide of Hokkaido University, issued a statement.

At a news conference on Friday, Shimazono said the government is tasked with a difficult job and that the group is presenting their views as researchers.

The researcher group said that the solicitation of huge donations that force followers and others into bankruptcy goes against the public welfare.

They urged authorities to quickly investigate by exercising their right to ask questions. They also called for a fair examination by a panel of experts.

In addition, they sought financial relief for victims who have suffered from allegedly shady marketing practices and the solicitation of large donations. They also called for support for the children of the church's followers.

Shimazono said the ex-Unification Church's practices deviate from those of religious institutions and can be called unreasonable.

On legal procedures for a disbandment order, he said authorities should proceed after fully considering accuracy, discretion, fairness and transparency.

Key words : hong kong prison sentence
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221028_43/

A Hong Kong court has sentenced eight anti-government protesters to jail for engaging in violent demonstrations three years ago.

In November, 2019, protesters gathered near Polytechnic University on the Kowloon Peninsula to help students holed up on the campus. The protesters clashed with police, who used tear gas to disperse them.

Among those indicted, eight people in their 20s to their 60s were given prison sentences on Friday ranging from 3 years 8 months to 4 years 8 months.

Police have arrested about 1,400 people in relation to a series of such incidents, and 420 of them have been indicted.

Key words : russia ambassador
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221029_04/

Russia's ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin will reportedly leave his post as early as next month.

Galuzin assumed the role in 2018. He has served in Japan four times, stretching back to the days of the Soviet Union.

Galuzin promoted cultural exchanges between the two countries, while taking a hardline stance over the issue of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.

Japan calls the islands the Northern Territories.

Galuzin says Japan should recognize that the islands became Russian territory as a result of World War Two.

In February, just before Russia invaded Ukraine, he told NHK that Moscow had no intention of waging war.

He has since sought to justify the invasion, and also Russia's unilateral annexation of Ukrainian territory.

Russia's state news agency also reported about Galuzin's impending departure from Japan.

Key words : industry minister inspected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221029_17/

Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Nishimura Yasutoshi has inspected a next generation nuclear reactor being developed to produce energy more efficiently.

Nishimura visited a research center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in Ibaraki Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Saturday.

He observed the prototype of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor, or HTGR. It uses helium gas for coolant, and is touted to have superior characteristics of safety and economy.

Nishimura's visit comes as the government considers promoting the development and construction of next generation reactors. It plans to utilize nuclear power to achieve stable power supply and carbon neutrality.

During the closed inspection, Nishimura is said to have received an explanation about the reactor's characteristics while he was inside the test reactor's containment vessel.

The minister later told reporters he believes nuclear power is extremely important to achieve both stable power supply and decarbonization.

He said he had heard that some supply chains are in danger because of the suspension of operations at some nuclear plants.

Nishimura said the government will provide the necessary support to promote its energy policy, including human resources and technology.

Key words : 2030s
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221029_14/

The Japanese government plans to consider developing and building next-generation nuclear reactors. One of them is known as a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor.

One feature of such a reactor is the use of helium gas to cool the reactor's core. That theoretically makes it possible to extract extreme heat in an efficient manner compared with existing light-water reactors.

Electricity can be generated using gas turbines in addition to steam turbines. Experts say this can enhance power generating efficiency.

They also say the extreme heat extracted from the reactor could be used to produce hydrogen, seen as a next-generation energy source that can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Experts add that a structure that easily removes heat, along with fuel that can withstand high temperatures, can ensure the reactor's safety, even if it loses power in an earthquake or tsunami.

According to a timetable set by the government, a demonstration reactor is expected to go into operation in the 2030s.

Researchers have been exploring the idea of developing a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor since the 1960s. But more than 50 years on, the technology is still under development. No reactors of this type have been used for commercial operation anywhere in the world.

Key words : miura
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221030_21/

Miura Kazuyoshi has set a new record as the oldest player to score in the highest level of the Japanese amateur soccer league.

The 55-year-old star, who used to play in the country's top J1 league, now belongs to Suzuka Point Getters in the Japan Football League, or JFL. His team played FC Tiamo Hirakata in Osaka Prefecture on Sunday.

Miura was sent onto the pitch 39 minutes after the break, when his team had a 2-0 lead.

Shortly later, his team member headed the ball from a corner kick. The ball hit an opponent's hand, so the referee gave Suzuka Point Getters a penalty kick for a handball violation. Miura netted the goal, allowing his team to widen its lead.

Miura, surrounded by his teammates, performed his so-called "Kazu dance," which he typically does after he scores.

The previous JFL record was held by Nagai Hideki of FC Ryukyu, who scored a goal in 2013 at the age of 42 years and 50 days. Miura broke that record at 55 years and 246 days.