Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno.
Uncertainty and anxiety are spreading at one of the world's most elite schools.
the US government has issued an order that prevents Harvard University from enrolling international students.
The word that describes our emotion the best right now is confusion. Should I maybe even apply to a new university?Like it's we're all not sure what we are we are supposed to do right now.
I would just completely lose all respect for this country and lose all respect for this entire higher educational culture that has been developed in the US.
The Donald Trump administration issued a statement on Thursday saying it will revoke recognition of the school as an organization that accepts foreign students. It says current international students must transfer to a different university or lose their legal status in the US. It claims the school has failed to confront pervasive race discrimination and anti-Semitic harassment plaguing its campus. A Harvard spokesperson tells NHK the order is unlawful. He says it threatens to seriously damage the school community and the country, undermining Harvard's academic and research missions. The Trump administration had previously frozen part of the university's funding, saying administrators were not doing enough to fight anti-Semitism.
The decision has sent shock waves around the world for international students hoping to attend Harvard, including here in Japan. We sent an HK World Sato Mariko out to hear how they're reacting.
I'm at the University of Tokyo. This is one of Japan's top schools. Many who attend here also go on to study in other countries, sometimes at prestigious Ivy League schools in the US But now, Harvard is off that list.
Students I spoke to say they are disappointed.
I'm kind of upset because I don't I don't see like a a reason for them doing that.
It narrows down our options for our futures.
It's sad because Harvard is a university that I look up to. There are other American universities that specialize in many fields, so I still want to go to the US to study.
The Harvard International Officesays there are 260 Japanese students and scholars this year, but their future could be in doubt. Sato Mariko, NHK World.
We also spoke with a Japanese professor who earned his PhD at Harvard. He says the Trump administration's decision could hurt America's standing in the world.
In the United States, where academic autonomy has been highly valued, The possibility of restrictions on autonomy is shocking to countries around the world. This means that the United States itself is reducing the soft power that the late Professor Nye named. The ability to attract talented students and researchers may be affected, potentially leading to a decline in America's international influence.
A picture Trump used to argue that there's white persecution in South Africa may not be from South Africa at all.
Reuters says the photo was taken by one of its journalists in another country.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Trump held up what he said was proof there are mass killings of white minorities.
Look, here's burial sites all over the place. They're all these are all white farmers that are being buried.
But Reuters said Thursday that shot was filmed by one of its reporters in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The news agency says the video was first published in February. It shows a mass burial following an assault by anti-government rebels in the DRC. The Reuters journalist said seeing Trump hold up a screen grab of his photo came as a shock.
The White House has not responded to the Reuters report.
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru spoke with President Trump by phone on Friday. It came just as Tokyo's top tariff negotiator left for Washington for a third round of trade talks. The call between the leaders lasted about 45 minutes.
I told President Trump that I hope the discussions between both sides will be productive, and the President agreed as well.
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei spoke with reporters before leaving Tokyo.
The US tariffs are regrettable, and I will insist that they should be removed. But the two sides have to discuss the issues and reach an agreement that is a win-win for both. I will listen to the proposals from the Washington side and try to find common ground between the US and Japan.
Ishiba met with Akazawa on Thursday and told him to be prepared to discuss a wide range of issues at the trade talks. The head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association says the US import tariffs imposed this year have begun to damage the global economy.
Katayama Masanori called on the government to reach an early agreement to remove the levies on Japanese goods.
For more on what we should expect from these talks, I spoke with our Biz Desk's Esaki Daisuke.
The UK and China have already been able to reach agreements with the US in their talks. Can Japan's delegation pull that off this time?
I would not expect things to move that quickly. Japan has actually been negotiating these US tariffs longer than many other countries.
We started back in April and have had multiple meetings, but so far there has been no major progress.
So what's taking so long?
It comes down to the ought. Auto industry. Automobiles were Japan's top export to the US last year. They accounted for more than 28% of the total value of the goods we sell there. Auto parts came in second at almost 6%. Right now, that industry is dealing 25% additional US tariffs. Many automakers have already forecasted huge declines in profits for this fiscal year.
It's a massive hit to the Japanese economy. So Japan wants a really good deal.
So Daisuke, what would a really good deal for Japan look like?
Well, you mentioned the UK. It was able to get the US to lower its auto tariffs to 10% on up to 100,000 British units per year. For Japan, I don't think that's good enough. It's seeking a package agreement. It would address both the auto industry levies as well as Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs of 24%, which are currently on post. But a big deal like that takes time.
Another complication is non-tariff trade barriers. The US claims Japanese safety standards are shutting American car makers out of the Japan market.
So Washington is asking Tokyo to review them. Japanese government associates tell us this was discussed during working-level talks in Washington this week. They exchanged views on what changes could make it easier for Japan to import US cards. So we have no idea how long this will all take. All we can say is at least both sides are speaking.
Right, but is there anything Japan could do to move things along?
Well, one thing we know about Trump is, he wants everyone to know he scored the amazing deal. This could play into Japan's strategy. The Trump administration's main priority in its talks with Japan is reducing the trade deficit. Japanese government associates say they plan to propose more investment and importing of American soybeans and corn. They may also discuss a big potential Japanese investment in air energy extraction in Alaska.
We should say Japan's Akazawa is not expected to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this time, but he's making arrangements for face-to-face talks as soon as possible.
let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Gene Ortani from the Biz Desk.
Thanks, Kanako.
In our top business story this hour, the fate of Deep Bone Steel's takeover offer for US Steel now rests with President Donald Trump.
The government body reviewing the offer has reportedly sent its recommendation to the president. The panel's report hasn't been made public, but Reuters says it recommends that any national security issues raised by the deal can be addressed.
The news agency on Thursday cited an unnamed White House official in its reporting on the decision by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS. Former President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel's acquisition plan in January, citing national security concerns.
Last month, Trump instructed CFIUS to run a fresh review to identify any security risks. The panel is believed to have submitted its recommendation to Trump on Wednesday. Reuters quoted the White House official as saying that CFIUS members were not unanimous in their recommendation, but the majority believe any risks can be addressed. Nippon Steel declined to comment on the CFIUS report. Trump has welcomed more investment by Nippon Steel, but he has previously rejected the Japanese company's plan to make US Steel a wholly owned subsidiary.
Trump has until June 5 to make his decision. The United Steel Workers Union has urged President Trump to block the bid. The union issued a statement on Thursday condemning the proposed takeover. It says allowing the sale will be a disaster for American steelworkers, our national security, and the future of American manufacturing. It adds that Trump has repeatedly said he opposed the deal and called on him to act decisively. Nippon Steel's plan to take over US Steel was announced in December 2023. It soon became a major political issue.
Donald Trump called the deal a horrible thing when he was a contender for president in January 2024. He promised to block it immediately if he won office.
Then President Joe Biden also took a negative stance. He lined up behind the steel workers union in a speech ahead of the election. The union, seen as a major vote gathering and support base for the Democratic Party, had come out against the deal from the outset.
It should remain a totally American company. American owned, American operated by American Union steelworkers, the best in the world.
At the same time, the takeover offer came under the scrutiny of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The panel checks for national security risks. In December, the committee failed to reach a consensus and left the decision up to Biden. Biden blocked the buyout plan a month later on national security grounds.
Trump was sworn in as president on January 20. He held summit talks with Japan's Prime Minister Ishibashigeru in early February.
The US deal is a very important company to us. We didn't want to see that leave and it wouldn't actually leave, but the concept psychologically not good.
Trump said Nippon Steel agreed to invest heavily in US Steel as opposed to owning it. Trump reaffirmed his hard line just days later, saying nobody can have a majority stake in US Steel. On April 7, the President instructed the Committee on Foreign Investment to conduct a fresh review of the proposed deal to identify any national security risks. Ordering another review is unusual. Some saw it as a sign the acquisition might be approved. But once again, Trump poured cold water on the idea of turning US Steel into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese company.
And we love Japan, but for a foreign country to buy that cherished US Steel brand, that's hard for me to do.
On May 9, Nippon Steel president Imae Tadashi told reporters the company's stance remained unchanged.
If we invest in US Steel, there has to be a return. As I have been saying, the starting point for negotiations is to make US Steel a wholly owned subsidiary.
Sources say Nippon Steel is considering an additional investment of over $10 billion in the American company if Washington approves its proposal.
In other business news, Japan's new agriculture minister says he is taking steps to bring down the price of rice reserves the government is going to sell.
Koizumi Shinjiro says he expects 5 kilogram bags of the rice to sell for around $14 to $21, much lower than current prices. He says they could be in stores as early as the beginning of June.
Our basic plan at the moment is to sell the stockpiles in the 2,000 yen range by using discretionary contracts.
The ministry has been selling the stockpiles, but rice prices continue to soar. Some argue that auctioning off the staple to the highest bidders kept prices high. Koizumi temporarily cancelled the auction of rice reserves scheduled for next week.
We plan to start procedures for discretionary contracts as early as next week. There is a possibility that consumers can buy the stockpiled rice at the target price range at stores as early as early June.
Koizumi added that based on an end of April survey, the ministry estimates this year's rice production at 7.19 million tons. That would be up 400,000 tons from last year.
A record surge in the price of rice drove Japan's consumer inflation higher in April, the country's staple crop nearly doubled in price compared to the same month a year earlier.
The Internal Affairs Ministry says the 98.4% jump was the highest since the government started keeping comparable data in 1971. It was 6.3 points higher than in March, extending a record for the seventh straight month. Japan's consumers paid more for popular rice-based dishes.
Onigiri rice balls were up roughly 18%. Restaurant sushi 5%. Overall, Japan's consumer price index rose 3.5% from a year earlier. It was the fifth straight month for the reading to be 3% or above. Egg prices rose 10% due to a series of bird flu outbreaks throughout Japan. Beer was up 4.6 percent. Households paid 13.5 percent more on their electricity bills and 4.7 percent for city gas. Those increases came after the government cut back on energy subsidies.
Tens of thousands of Japan's companies have been doing business for over a century. The head of a 300-year-old metal foundry is taking a flexible approach to meet evolving demands. We sat down with him to learn a few secrets of its success.
The city of Kanazawa is known for its rich cultural heritage and streets lined with historic houses and buildings.
Here you'll find Kanamori Aloy, a foundry that's been in business for over 300 years. It's a small, family-owned business that currently has eight employees. Kanamori Kazuharu is the 23rd president to head the company.
We're melting down copper materials at 1,200 degrees.
Since its founding, the company has continued to use a technique called sand casting, in which molten metal is poured into a mold made of sand to create a variety of products.
The oldest casting method in Japan. It was first introduced here about 2,000 years ago. The process involves burying a pattern or model of the product in sand, packing the sand tightly around it, and then removing it to create a mold.
Since the molds are made from sand, they can easily be modified and adjusted. This process also allows for accurately creating complex shapes, and this can all be achieved at a lower cost than other types of casting. Founded in 1714 during the Edo period, it's one of the oldest sand casting foundries in Japan. It started off by producing bells and other Buddhist ceremonial items, as well as items for less peaceful purposes, such as armor.
When the unrest and fighting subsided, demand for many of our core products decreased, so we had to make a change. We ended up moving our focus toward making items that would be useful for daily life, such as pots and pans.
Yet another turning point came in the late 1800s, with the arrival of the Industrial Age. Kanamori's company once again adapted to change and began producing parts for spinning machines and other mechanical equipment.
In the 1980s, the company witnessed another major shift. This time, demand for items made with copper alloys began to decline as aluminum saw a rapid increase in popularity.
We found ourselves with a limited number of customers and we're seeing a steady decrease in production orders, so we had to face the writing on the wall. Since aluminum was so much lighter than copper, it was going to become the metal of choice for many of our clients.
The company then began sourcing aluminum from old items like this sheet, which was used for printing newspapers.
By melting old aluminum products down at extremely high temperatures, they can remove any impurities, such as printing ink. And then use the molten aluminum to make new sand casted products.
After once again steering the company in a new direction, Kanamori was able to secure orders for products such as automotive parts, ensuring that his company would survive into the next century.
While processing aluminum was new for the foundry, it had long relied on recycling waste metals to create its products. And had passed its high level refining techniques down through the generations.
When it first began 300 years ago, using scrap metal was commonplace. But today, with the division of specialized labor, few manufacturers still do everything from metal refining to casting in house.
It was this ability that helped it to secure a contract to produce components for a domestically produced rocket in 2006. After several other larger manufacturers could not reach the strict specifications required for the project, engineers ended up contacting Konamori's foundry. During the production process, even pure metals can become contaminated during melting, which can reduce purity. However, by using the trade methods it had cultivated since its founding. Karamoni Alloy was able to successfully produce rocket components with a purity of 99.99%, something no other manufacturer was able to do. From turning melted copper waste into temple bells to producing precision parts capable of withstanding the harshness of outer space, the skills and expertise developed over several centuries continued to carry this small manufacturer to greater heights.
And that's it for business news.
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Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details.
The North's ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Friday that an investigation team had filed a report to the party's Central Military Commission. The commission reportedly instructed the team to identify who's to blame for the incident.
The country's law enforcement authorities have reportedly summoned senior officials at the shipyard. Satellite imagery shows the 5,000-ton destroyer lying on its side and partially submerged. The vessel apparently lost balance when its bow failed to detach from the shipway.
The investigation team's report said there were no holes at the bottom of the vessel as initially reported. It added the stern section was partially flooded.
The Commission reportedly said that the extent of damage to the ship is not serious. But the newspaper also quoted a statement by the Commission describing the accident as an unpardonable criminal act.
Time now for a check on the world weather with our meteorologist Yumi Hirano.
A severe drought hasn't made it hard to put out fires in the Russian Far East.
Only 10 to 20 percent of the usual rainfall fell in late May, and winter gusts of about 70 kilometers per hour fanned the flames. Hot and dry conditions will continue into the middle of next week, with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees in the regional capital, Chito, next Tuesday and Wednesday. So there is a chance of some showers by Saturday, but at the same time, strong winds and lightning are possible, so the risk of wildfires remains. For the south, downpours are an issue from southern China to Japan over the weekend.
The heaviest rainfall is expected in western and eastern Japan. Up to 200 millimeters of rainfall is possible in Kyushu and Shikoku by Saturday, and more by Sunday. Tokyo may have showers from Saturday evening. The temperature will drop down to only 19. Showers are also likely in Taipei and Hong Kong. But sunny skies are expected in Beijing, with a high of 28.
Moving to Australia, over 600 millimeters of torrential rainfall has been observed in just three days, which is more than four times the monthly average. Large-scale flooding has been reported in the area. Fortunately, the rain is expected to finally taper off by Saturday. However, the flooding could continue for a while. Sunny skies are likely in Brisbane and Sydney, but showers are possible in Melbourne with a high of 19.
That's all for now. Have a nice weekend.
♫～
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.
Thanks very much for joining us.
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