at 18:30 (JST), January 30

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/20230130183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : visa resume short-term
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230129_15/

China's embassy in Tokyo says it will resume issuing visas for Japanese visitors to the country from Sunday.

The embassy made the announcement on its website, without elaborating on the reason for the move.

China had stopped issuing visas to Japanese citizens on January 10. The Chinese Foreign Ministry cited Japan's border control measures for arrivals from mainland China.

The Japanese government had been calling on China to reverse the decision. It said the measure lacked reciprocity, as Tokyo has not limited visas for Chinese nationals.

China also stopped issuing short-term visas for South Korean visitors on January 10. This came after Seoul announced measures to restrict the entry of people from China, including limiting the issuance of short-term visas for Chinese citizens.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea has not made any announcement about resuming visa issuance.

On Friday, the South Korean government said it would extend its visa restrictions on Chinese travelers for one month to the end of February.

Key words : philippines handover requested
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230129_14/

NHK has learned that officials from the Philippines and Japan will soon discuss the handover of Japanese nationals who are suspected of involvement in a string of robberies.

The suspects are believed to have orchestrated the robberies in Japan from the Philippines.

Philippine Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told NHK on Sunday that talks on the matter will take place in coming days.

Japanese police have requested that Philippine authorities hand over four or five people now being held at an immigration facility in greater Manila.

The suspects include Watanabe Yuki and Imamura Kiyoto. At least one of them is thought to be a main organizer of the robberies who used the alias "Luffy."

Police believe that "Luffy" gave instructions to robbers across Japan through social media. They have not confirmed if the alias was used by a single person or multiple people.

Investigators believe that groups linked to "Luffy" were involved in robberies in at least 14 prefectures. Police had obtained arrest warrants for the suspects for their alleged involvement in separate cases.

Authorities in the Philippines say Imamura can be transferred to Japan as soon as the necessary paperwork has been completed.

But they indicated that Watanabe cannot be handed over before completing legal procedures in a separate criminal case pending against him in the Philippines.

Key words : accident pakistan 50
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230130_02/

Two transport accidents killed more than 50 people in Pakistan on Sunday morning.

A passenger bus plunged off a road and caught fire in the southwestern province of Balochistan.

Local authorities say 41 people, including passengers, are dead and that two injured were taken to hospital.

They are investigating the possibility that the bus was over-speeding at the time of the accident.

The bus departed from the southwestern city of Quetta the night before, heading for the southern city of Karachi.

Meanwhile, a boat capsized in a lake in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leaving at least 10 people dead and seven others injured.

The boat was reportedly carrying about 30 children from a local Islamic school when the accident occurred. They were visiting the area for a picnic.

Local firefighters and others are searching for those who remain missing.

Key words : coast guard senkaku
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230130_09/

Four Chinese government ships have entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The Japan Coast Guard says the vessels entered territorial waters near the islands of Minamikojima and Uotsurijima early Monday morning.

The vessels are reportedly navigating in waters a few kilometers away from Japanese fishing and survey ships.

The coast guard says it has dispatched patrol vessels to ensure the safety of the Japanese ships and to warn the Chinese vessels to leave Japan's territorial waters immediately.

The incident marks the second time this year that Chinese government ships have been spotted in Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. The first occurred on January 10.

Japan controls the Senkaku Islands. China and Taiwan claim them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.

Key words : nissan agreement capital
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230130_16/

NHK has learned that automakers Nissan and Renault may refocus their partnership in some key developing markets as part of efforts to rebalance their capital alliance.

Sources say the companies are eyeing expansion in India as well as South and Central America. The plan is said to be contained in a five-point agreement the two sides are working out.

Momentum to overhaul the alliance is gaining amid rapid changes in the global car market.

The French automaker now holds a 43 percent share of its Japanese partner. Nissan wants the figure to be cut to 15 percent to match its stake in Renault.

The two sides have broadly agreed to reduce Renault's stake by placing shares in a third-party trust to be sold off in phases.

The companies would have equal voting rights in each other. Nissan would also acquire up to 15 percent of Renault's new electric vehicle unit.

Negotiations are said to be in the final stages. A deal would potentially take the lopsided partnership to a new stage.

The automakers formed their alliance when Nissan was in serious financial trouble in the late 1990s.

Key words : world war
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230128_01/

The Japanese government's search for the remains of soldiers who died in World War Two has brought new results.

Officials say they've found a human bone fragment in a battle tank unearthed on Peleliu. The Pacific island witnessed fierce fighting between US forces and the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army in 1944.

The death toll on the Japan side topped 10,000. The government has already collected the remains of about 7,800 troops, but the search continues for others.

The health ministry has commissioned the work to the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties. The group began excavations in September, and found the bone three months later.

Officials say it's part of a leg, and measures about 30 centimeters long. They say it's highly likely to be from a Japanese soldier, and are now considering a DNA analysis.

The group has also found bone fragments in another tank, but they are in poor condition due to fire damage. Officials say DNA testing will be difficult.

The team plans to conduct more excavations on other buried tanks.

The group says the discovery of the bone in tanks will lead to the possibility that there are still bones left behind that can help identify the war dead.

Key words : hakuho
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230129_01/

A retirement ceremony was held on Saturday for former sumo Grand Champion Hakuho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

He won the most ever 45 tournaments, chalking up 1,187 wins before retiring in 2021 after that year's Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

He then took over the Miyagino stable, becoming its new stable master last July.

At the ceremony, held 16 months after his retirement, the new Miyagino stable master had his last bout with his son Mahato, and then performed a ring-entering ceremony that drew loud applause.

He was accompanied by Sekiwake Hoshoryu, and Ozeki Takakeisho, who won the New Year Grand Sumo tournament earlier this month.

At times he shed tears when nearly 300 people, including former Yokozuna Kisenosato, former Yokozuna Harumafuji and his mother, who turned 75 years old on that day, began cutting his topknot with scissors.

Stable master Magaki, who trained him when he was young, cut off the final portion of the topknot, bringing an end to his 20-year career.

Stable master Miyagino told reporters after the ceremony that he feels refreshed, but also a bit sad for losing what became a vital part of his body.

He said he will start fighting in another ring, and that he will work to live up to Miyagino's name, and give back by raising new Yokozuna and Ozeki.