2025年6月30日月曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 30

Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

CHINA RESTARTS PROCEDURES FOR JAPANESE SEAFOOD IMPORTS

China says it has restarted procedures to permit seafood imports from some parts of Japan. The two countries came to an agreement to resume them in May. China began blocking shipments about two years ago, and that followed Japan's release of treated and diluted water into the ocean from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Officials at China's General Administration of Customs announced on Sunday that they were allowing the restart from the same day.
The officials also noted that imports from 10 prefectures, including Fukushima, Miyagi and Tokyo, will remain banned.
They said imports will be permitted after Japanese businesses have their processing and other facilities registered with Chinese authorities. The officials added that the businesses will need to submit certificates issued by Japanese authorities regarding sanitation, radioactive materials and places of production. They said they will rigorously monitor and control imports of Japanese farming products and vowed to take prompt action if they ascertain cases in which China's relevant laws or food safety standards are not met. They added similar steps will also be taken if the Japanese side fails to fulfill its supervisory responsibilities.

JAPANESE GOVT., PRODUCERS WELCOME RESTART

Japanese seafood exporters and government officials have reacted positively to China's announcement. The head of a scallop producer in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido welcomed the move.

I'm glad the sales channels will increase and Japan's delicious seafood products will be available to people in China.

The country-- rather, the company had been stepping up exports to the US and Vietnam in an effort to expand its export markets beyond China. Japan's fisheries minister called the move an important development.

It is a major milestone. Marine products are an important export item for Japan. The public and private sectors will work together to resume exports to China swiftly and smoothly.

Koizumi said he appreciates all who have made efforts on the issue.
Earlier, I spoke with Nakamura Genta in Beijing for more details on the country's decision on Japanese seafood imports.

WHAT'S BEHIND BEIJING'S DECISION ON JAPANESE SEAFOOD

Genta, why did China decide to resume imports of Japanese seafood at this time? 

Well, Beijing knew it would eventually have to lift the ban. And I believe there are several reasons for doing it now. Just last month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it would study Japan's request to restart seafood imports under the principles of science and safety. That signaled a green light for officials to move ahead.
On the other hand, Beijing had its own reasons for wanting to resume imports as soon as possible. With tensions expected to drag on with the Trump administration, China wants to improve ties with Japan. The domestic economy is slowing, so reviving economic exchanges with Japan was in Beijing's interest. They were likely waiting for the right moment.

So the economic situation was a major reason for the announcement.

Yes, but I don't think that's all. Last week, China announced plans for a massive military parade on September 3. That marks the day after Japan signed its World War II surrender, which China commemorates as Victory Day.
This year is the 80th anniversary, and Beijing is planning a major campaign around it to fuel patriotism.
So the closer the import resumption announcement got to that sensitive date, the more criticism the government could face at home about where its loyalties lie. 

So does this mean that tensions between Japan and China on this issue are resolved? 

Far from it. For starters, Chinese customs authorities are requiring Japanese companies to register processing facilities in China before they can export. They will also need to provide radiation inspection certificates with every shipment. One Japanese industry official told me the registrations are only just starting, and there is a long road ahead, so actual exports could take time.
And it is worth noting, this new process doesn't even include 10 prefectures like Fukushima and Miyagi. China has restricted imports from those areas since the nuclear accident, even before the treated and diluted water release.
So, in effect, this just resets the situation to what it was before the latest dispute. For Japan, it's back to square one.
And China's government has warned it will take prompt measures if Japan fails to uphold safety standards. While Beijing is showing some willingness to ease tensions, the broader trajectory of its Japan policy remains highly uncertain.

TRUMP SUGGESTS SANCTIONS ON IRAN COULD BE LIFTED

The US president has reiterated that recent strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were a success and suggested that he could lift sanctions on the country. Donald Trump was speaking on Fox News Channel's Sunday Morning Features, The interview came about questions about the true extent of damage caused by the US attack. 

And then it turned out, no, it was obliterated like nobody's ever seen before. 

Trump indicated that Iran was unable to move its enriched uranium from the facilities before the strikes. He stressed that Iran should not proceed with its nuclear development program, and he said he would lift sanctions if the country can, as he put it, be peaceful and show it's not going to do any more harm.

IAEA: IRAN COULD RESUME ENRICHMENT IN 'MONTHS'

Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says the US attacks caused a very serious level of damage to the nuclear facilities. But Rafael Grossi told CBS News that it's possible the country could resume the uranium enrichment in a matter of months. The IAEA director general stressed the need for the agency to conduct inspections as soon as possible. But Iran's parliament adopted a plan last week to suspend cooperation with the agency. Multiple US media outlets also reported that a preliminary intelligence assessment indicates Iran's nuclear program was only set back by a few months. And the Washington Post reports the US obtained intercepted communication between senior Iranian officials about the strikes. It cites sources close to the government as saying officials said the attack was less devastating than they had expected.

EXPERT: HIGH RISK OF MORE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN

For more on this, we spoke with Tanaka Koichiro, a professor at Keio University and an expert on Middle East affairs. He says that, despite indications by the Trump administration Iran may soon be ready to negotiate, the outlook is not good, and there could be further military confrontation ahead. 

Well, last week, President Trump announced that he would be willing to see Iran coming back to the negotiating tables this week. The Iranians have responded that they are not willing to negotiate at this moment, or at least that they haven't been, say, called into a negotiation yet. So if that sort of a, say, tip attack continues, President Trump may be, I mean, usually his patient runs out quite soon, and quite quickly. And there will be the possibility that he will, I mean, the United States will again attack militarily the Iranian nuclear sites.

Tanaka notes that Trump has raised the possibility of easing sanctions on Tehran as part of negotiations. But he says there is nothing concrete about this, and it is far from clear how this would work.

So what is he talking? When he talks about sanctions, which sanctions are you talking about?That's one question that remains. 

Rather than taking a conciliatory stance, Tanaka says Tehran will try to keep Washington off balance, being evasive about its intentions.

Iranian strategy, as far as I understand, is to keep the Americans busy in a way that they would either suspect that Iran is up to something, or at the same time there is sort of an ambiguity whether or not the United States needs to back again. 

Tanaka is pessimistic that a clear resolution to the confrontation is at hand. Instead, he thinks there is a high chance there could be more military action to come.

well Eventually, I believe that this current situation, meaning that the ceasefire that came into force on June, late June, I believe is not going to last. It's going to be either the Israelis again, or the Americans along with them, that are going to target some Iranian nuclear facilities, and maybe others. And eventually, I believe that this ceasefire is not going to last for long. 

Tanaka says the Tehran regime has few options.
However, it still hopes there may be some diplomatic way out and could be willing to negotiate. It thinks the US could be distracted by other geopolitical issues, such as China.
At the same time, the regime understands its survival is at stake if it compromises too much with the US and Israel. 

I think that's going to be a death wish for themselves. So it's not going to happen. I think it's quite unlikely until the very end of the Islamic Republic that they were going to comply with these total surrender that President Trump has placed in front of their face.

N.KOREA AIMS TO DEVELOP CULTURAL TIES WITH RUSSIA

North Korean leader has said he wants to expand ties with Russia beyond the military field. Kim Jong-un has reportedly underscored the importance of cultural ties with the country. North Korea's state-run television has reported that Kim sat down with Russia's Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimowa in Pyongyang. Kim reportedly said exchanges in culture and art can foster mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries. Ryubi Moa also met with her North Korean counterpart Soon Jong-yu. The two reportedly approved a plan to promote such exchanges. The local media say the Russian minister's visit coincides at the first anniversary of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow. It calls for mutual military support.

CANADA SCRAPS DIGITAL SERVICES TAX FOR US TARIFF TALKS

Canada says it's scrapping its digital services tax just hours before it was set to take effect in a bid to advance trade negotiations with the United States. The Canadian government announced the news Sunday. It was supposed to start collecting the tax Monday. Instead, the government said it will submit draft legislation to rescind the tax to parliament. The tax would have applied to tech giants operating in Canada. Many of those companies are American. US President Trump has said he would call off talks with Canada unless they ditched the tax. Canada says Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump agreed to resume negotiations. They're hoping to hammer out a deal by July 21. In a statement, Carney said he will continue to seek an agreement that's in the best interests of Canadian workers and businesses. 

TRUMP TARIFFS 
US PRESIDENT: AUTO TRADE WITH JAPAN 'NOT FAIR'

Well, the US president continues to take issue with the trade deficit with Japan. He noted again. That the US buys way more cars from the country than the other way around. 

It's not fair. And I explained that to Japan and they understand it. 

In an interview aired Sunday, Trump indicated that he will not easily compromise on his 25% extra levy on car imports to the US. The tariffs on Japanese auto totaled 27.5% and had been imposed since April. They're likely to put the brakes on Japan's economy and have been a major concern for negotiators trying to hammer out a trade deal in Washington. US-made automobiles have not sold well in Japan's market. One expert points out that they don't fit well in the country's traffic, nor often meet local customer needs.

ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR MORE US ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEMS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the need to introduce additional US air defense systems to better protect the country as Russian forces continue to carry out large-scale aerial attacks. Zelenskyy noted on social media on Sunday that Russia has lost at least 114 missiles and 1,270 drones at Ukraine this week alone. He said, quote. Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense, the things that best protects lives. These are American systems which we are ready to buy.
Zelenskyy apparently had Patriot systems in mind. Ukraine's defense ministry said Russia had staged massive airstrikes across the country involving 60 missiles and 477 drones overnight through Sunday morning, but said Ukrainian air defenders destroyed or shot down many of them. But local media reported six people, including a child, were injured in the central region of Cherkosy. The reports also said infrastructure was damaged in the southern region of Nikolayev.

UKRAINE TO WITHDRAW FROM TREATY BANNING ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

And staying with Ukraine, Zelenskyy has signed a decree to pull the country out of a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. The president's move on Sunday concerns the Ottawa Convention that prohibits the production and use of anti-personnel mines. Russia is not a party to the convention. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry statement said Russia has used anti-personnel mines extensively as a method of warfare. It said that placed Ukraine in what it called an an equal and unjust situation that restricts its right to self-defense. Media reports say Ukraine is expected to notify the United Nations of its withdrawal from the treaty after securing parliamentary approval.
Other countries bordering Russia, including Poland, Finland and three former Soviet ballistic Baltic states, announced earlier this year that they would withdraw from the convention.

the latest in business

Now let's get to the latest in business with Gene Ohtani.

Yuko, thanks. 

NIKKEI 225 CLOSES AT 2025 HIGH

In our top business story this hour, the Tokyo Benchmark Stock Index climbed on Monday, finishing at its highest level of the year for a second straight trading day.
The momentum carried over from a Friday rally in New York. The Nikkei 225 closed at 40,487, up 0.8 percent. Investors placed buy orders on a wide range of shares. Soon after the opening, the index briefly gained 1.7 percent. Analysts say this was partly due to news the Canadian government was revoking attacks on US tech firms in order to resume talks with Washington. But the benchmark lost steam as some investors sold off export-related shares on the back of a stronger yen.
The Nikkei index extended its winning streak to five days. It has been on an upward trend since April. That's when US President Donald Trump's tariff rollout and related events led to dramatic swings.

JAPAN'S MAY INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT RISES FOR 1ST GAIN IN 2 MONTHS

Japan's industrial production rose for the first time in two months in May, led by auto parts and passenger vehicles.
The industry ministry says total output increased 0.5% from the previous month.
Nine of the 15 industries surveyed saw growth. Production machinery saw the largest increase among all sectors, growing 5.6%. General purpose and commercial machinery gained 4.5%, driven partly by increased output of compressors. Automobile manufacturing climbed 2.5% due to brisk sales of passenger vehicles.
Further gains in industrial production are forecast for June, but a decline is expected in July. The ministry maintains its basic assessment that output is fluctuating without a clear trend.
Ministry officials say US tariff policies are set to be affecting production plans and adding to uncertainty about the future.

JAPAN LIFE INSURERS TO RAISE YIELD ON WHOLE LIFE POLICIES 

Japan's life insurers are raising the yield on new whole life policies to reflect an increase in long-term interest rates after the central bank hiked rates.
Sumitomo Life Insurance says it will increase the yield from 1.3% to 1.75% in July.
That's the highest in 24 years. The new yield will apply to whole life policies with a single upfront premium payment.
Sumitomo Life invests funds and bonds.
The yield on the benchmarkTen-year JGBs has risen following BOJ rate hikes.
It's lately been hovering around 1.5 percent.
Asahi Mutual Life Insurance says it will also raise the yield on whole life policies from July. The insurers aim to attract more customers with the higher yield products because they require a smaller premium payment.

CHINA'S FACTORY ACTIVITY TICKS UP BUT REMAINS BELOW KEY LEVEL

China's factory activity picked up slightly in June, but its key gauge remained below the boom or bust line for a third month in a row. This is as businesses are still concerned about the future of trade talks with the US The National Bureau of Statistics says the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index was 49.7 for the month. That's up 0.2 from May, but still below the 50-point threshold. Figures above the mark indicate expansion, while those below suggest contraction. The Bureau surveyed 3,200 manufacturers.
The index for large businesses exceeded the threshold at 51.2, but activity at medium- and small-sized firms remained sluggish. Meanwhile, the index for the non-manufacturing sectorincluding service providers, improved by 0.2 points to 50.5.
Washington and Beijing continue to hold tariff negotiations after slashing additional levies on each other. Concerns were somewhat eased following a round of talks in London, but this was not enough to reverse the cautious outlook.

JAPANESE TOILET TECH CONTINUES TO EVOLVE

Japanese toilets are world-renowned for their cleanliness, comfort and cutting-edge features. But public restrooms get less rave reviews, especially when it comes to long lines. We take a look at efforts to solve the problem through technologies aimed at reducing wait times and improving the experience for everyone.

And this is toilet. Ohh You see? 

Wow. 

A hot item for foreign visitors to Tokyo is toilet tours. They take people to see modern Japanese commode construction done by famous architects. 

That is amazing. 

But when it comes to the wait for using facilities, some visitors to Japan are less impressed.

The woman toilet always has more cue.

I had to wait in line for the restroom at shopping malls in Shinjuku and Shibuya.

This public event space in Shibuya has adopted A surprisingly simple solution.
Stools in the restroom are arranged along a corridor with men's and women's sides separated by a barrier, but depending on the needs, the wall can be slid to change the number of toilets available. Adjustments are made for events like concerts based on the ratio of attendees.

We've gotten feedback that the waiting time for restrooms has decreased compared to before. We hope that other venues take note and consider adopting the system.

The wait time issue stems from a long-standing problem, according to Kobayashi Junko, an architect with extensive experience in restroom design.

Society was male-dominated for quite some time, so more men's restrooms were built than women's. Things are gradually changing, but the old thinking for restroom design has remained.

One possible solution that can be implemented at existing facilities is showing how busy a restroom is. This department store has digital displays that indicate occupied status, making it clear when toilets are available. People can even scan a QR code with their phones to see if there are any free seats.
Sensors detect when a door opens and closes, and a screen in the store notifies users when they've been inside for over 10 minutes.
It also lets them know how busy the bathroom is by showing how many stools are in use. But people are also encouraged to stay longer if they need to. 

People can see how long they've been using the stall and how many are open or full. It generally encourages people to take less time and result in improved usage for everyone.

Japanese restroom tech is regarded as some of the best in the world. But efforts are still underway to make it even better and ensure greater accessibility for all.

markets

All right, let's have a look at the markets.

And that's it for business news.

♪ ♪ ♪

a check on the weather

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan. Oh, so Jonathan, we're back to seeing the heat cranking up across Japan. Is it here to stay for a while?

Hello, we are definitely seeing the mercury rising as we see the hot weather taking place across Japan. Even though the northeastern portions of the country are still technically in the rainy season, it doesn't feel like it.
37.1 degrees was the high on Monday in Mayabashi back for the West, close to 38 degrees, setting a record for the month of June for that location in Tokyo, also hitting 33.2 degrees on Monday. So yeah, it's. Definitely on the hot side and we're not going to be getting much in terms of relief as we go through at least the next couple of days. High pressure is the main dominant factor. You've probably heard me talk about the high pressure system that's been coming through or a few of them over the past week or two and that's really the main key feature, keeping things dry. I mean we'll have some clouds probably popping up from time to time, not much in terms of rain chances, can't really out maybe a stray possibility if there's just a little bit instability, but in general is actually going to be relatively calm but hot. 35 in Osaka coming up on Tuesday, 32 in Fukuoka, 33 in Tokyo, near 30 in Sapporo. So you've heard us on the weather team talk about this many, many times, but just bears repeating that as the temperatures continue to get hot and make sure that you take the proper precautions of staying hydrated, dressing appropriately and trying to get into those air conditioned spaces because it's just going to continue being hot as we go now forward into the next several weeks during the summer months. Meanwhile, we're looking at what's happening across near Mexico and North America, where we have a couple of tropical setups on either side of the country bringing some very heavy rainfall. And that's going to continue to be a concern as we go throughout the next couple of days. We have another kind of unstable area near the Gulf that may be moving over Florida. So we'll keep an eye out on that cold front moving through the central portions of the United States and along that we'll be seeing some thunderstorms. As we go through day on Monday, Chicago into Oklahoma City, Houston also looking at thunderstorms, the high of 33 and hot across the western side as well, 28 in Seattle as you go through Monday. 

Hope you have a good day wherever you.

♫~ 3-DAY FORECAST ~♫

And that's it for this hour on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.

2025年6月29日日曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 29

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.

TRUMP TARIFFS 
AKAZAWA, LUTNICK HOLD MORE TALKS 

Japanese negotiators are trying to hammer out a trade deal with top officials in Washington. Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei has extended his stay in the US He talked with his counterpart twice over the phone on Saturday.Akazawa spoke with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lucknick for 15 and 20 minutes, respectively. The Japanese side says they confirmed each other's positions on the tariff issue. They also discussed trade expansion, non-tariff measures, and cooperation in economic security. In their in-person talks on Friday, Akazawa and Lutnik agreed to continue vigorous coordination to realize a mutually beneficial accord.

PROTESTERS DEMAND THAI PRIME MINISTER RESIGN

Protesters in Thailand have taken to the streets to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Petrong Thang Shinabat.
Local media report the rally in Bangkok on Saturday drew about 17,000 people, including conservative supporters. The demonstration was triggered by a leaked telephone call between the Prime Minister and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is currently serving as Senate President. During the call on June 15, Petrong Tang reportedly made negative remarks about a Thai army regional commander. A territorial dispute between Thailand and neighboring Cambodia has been escalating since May.
Public dissatisfaction in Thailand over the prime minister's handling of the conflict exploded when the audio was leaked.

I want the prime minister to resign because I don't trust her. That's a good reason.

On June 19, the second largest ruling party pulled itself out of the ruling coalition in protest. The following day, a group of senators submitted formal letters to the Constitutional Court requesting the Prime Minister be removed from office. But Baitong Khan has not given in to the demands.

ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT
TEL AVIV RALLY CALLS FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE

Protesters have rallied in Tel Aviv on the first weekend since Israel entered a ceasefire with Iran. They're calling for a truce with the Islamic group Hamas.
The demonstrators also want to gain the release of the remaining 50 hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. They say military operations in the enclave are endangering their lives.

We want the war to be over. We want our kidnapped to be returned. It's the suffering on both sides. It needs to end.

Israeli forces are continuing their attacks on Gaza with the stated intent to destroy Hamas. An Arab media outlet quoted Hamas sources as saying that a new round of indirect negotiations on a ceasefire with Israel will be held within a few days in either Egypt or Qatar. On Saturday, health authorities in Gaza said 81 people have been killed in the past 24 hours.
That brings the death toll to over 56,000 since the conflict began in October 2023.

ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
STATE FUNERAL IN TEHRAN FOR THOSE KILLED IN ATTACKS

Iranian media say a state funeral has been held for over 60 people killed in the Israeli attacks that began on June 13.
Crowds filled central Tehran to mourn the dead, who include top military figures and nuclear scientists. Many people carried Iranian flags and photos of the victims. There was no appearance by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He is believed to be under heavy guard, as Israel reportedly plans to target him.
Some mourners said they came to show the enemy that they are united. Others said they want the ceasefire to be observed, but if it is not, there should be stronger retaliation.

♪ ♫

POP CULTURE HEALING RIFT BETWEEN SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN

It's been 60 years since Japan and South Korea normalized diplomatic ties. South Korean pop culture has long been winning friends worldwide, and in Japan it's especially popular with young people.
Now, influence is starting to flow the other way, with modern Japanese trends quietly gaining ground among South Korean youth. NHK World's Kim Chan-ju has the story.

Han Ji-eun is a high school senior in Incheon City, about an hour from Seoul. She has been drawn to Japanese pop culture for years, and visits these shops several times a month.

Watching anime helps me deal with the stress of school, and looking at the merchandise here or buying something I like makes me feel really happy.
The Hongdae area has become a hotspot for young South Koreans who are into Japan.
In the last five years, the number of shops selling anime and manga goods has increased to 40.
Locals now call it Hongkihabara, a blend of Hongdae and Akihabara, Tokyo's iconic culture hub.

Today's young people don't hold older generations' prejudices against Japan.
They accept and enjoy Japanese culture as it is, simply because they like it.
I think this business will continue to expand in the future.

A recent survey found that 66% of people aged 18 to 29 have a favorable view of Japan, the highest among all age groups even more expressed positive feelings toward Japanese people specifically.
Han fell in love with anime from Japan in fifth grade and soon surprised her mother by reeling off long chunks of the shows in Japanese.
Han started studying Japanese on her own with a textbook her mother bought. She later signed up for a course and worked hard to get her skills to a conversational level.
Han's language ability helped her make friends in Japan after she'd put her videos online.
She's been practicing a type of street dance since she saw it online four years ago. She discovered that dancing styles differ between the two countries, which stimulated her curiosity. Dancing has now become a central part of her dream.
Last year, she described her vision in a speech for a contest hosted by the Japanese Embassy and won a prize.
Han doesn't waste a minute when it comes to perfecting what she loves. She works on her language skills with her sister, who shares her love for Japanese culture.
Han is preparing to study at a university in Japan, where she can learn both the language and her favorite style of dance.
For me, Japan is a country that has given me the opportunity to broaden my perspective beyond the experiences I can get from South Korea alone.
Han's mother says older generations often view Japan negatively because of the history between the two countries.
But many young South Koreans like Han see Japan differently now, free from the stereotypes of the past. Kim  Chan-ju NHK World.

And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Naleghar. Thank you very much for joining us.

2025年6月28日土曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 28

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Sato Mariko in Tokyo. 

SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS NEW ACTIVITY AT IRAN NUCLEAR SITE

US firm Maxar Technologies has released satellite imagery of Iran's four-dome nuclear site that shows new activity around the area.The imagery captured on Friday shows vehicles and equipment near holes believed to be craters from airstrikes.
The vehicles and equipment were not seen in imagery taken last Sunday right after the United States bombed this site.
The company says several excavators and bulldozers are seen moving dirt. It says efforts are underway to repair the main access road to the nuclear facility.

TRUMP URGES IRAN TO GET BACK INTO 'WORLD ORDER FLOW'

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed victory on state television on Thursday.
It was his first address to the public since the ceasefire with Israel was announced. US President Donald Trump called the statement a lie in a social media post on Friday. He claimed he had saved Khamenei by stopping Israel or US forces from killing him.
Trump warned that Iran has to get back into what he called the world order flow, or things will only get worse for the country.

TRUMP: US COULD BOMB IRAN'S NUCLEAR FACILITIES AGAIN

Trump also says he would consider bombing Iran again if the country can still enrich uranium to high levels.

If the intelligence reports conclude that Iran can enrich uranium to a level that concerns you,Would you consider bombing the country again?

Sure, without question, absolutely. 

And have you had any conversation?

I mean, it has to be unbelievable.

Military tensions rose in the Middle East after US forces attacked three nuclear sites in Iran, and Tehran launched a retaliatory strike against a US military base in Qatar.
Asked about possible US-Iran talks, Trump said only that Iran wants to meet.
He mentioned no timing for the meeting.
The White House has said it is in communication with Iran on holding talks.
Observers say Trump signaled the possibility of another US attack in an apparent bid to press Iran to give up nuclear development.

TRUMP TARIFFS
US SIGNALS EXTENSION OF DEADLINE

Trump's top official for trade negotiations has hinted at an extension of deadline to work out deals with countries facing tariffs.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he hopes they can ink the agreements by September 1.
Besson told Fox Business, a lot of the countries are feeling pressure to get a deal done. That's because the 90-day pause on what Trump calls reciprocal tariffs ends on July 9. Besant says the US has 18 important trading partners and is seeking to wrap up deals with 10 or 12 of them.
He says they hope to make an agreement with another 20 by Labor Day.
Meanwhile, Trump said his administration has terminated all discussions with Canada over its plans to tax US technology firms. He says new tariffs will be imposed within the next week. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters talks would continue.

Any reaction to the news we put on?

Ohh Look, we'll we'll continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interest of Canadians. It's a negotiation.

Japanese negotiators are still working to cement a deal.
Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei is in Washington for a seventh round of talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. They agreed to continue to work hard towards an agreement.

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO ATTEND NAGASAKI PEACE CEREMONY

Russia's ambassador to Japan is set to attend an upcoming annual peace ceremony in Nagasaki. It's the first time Russia has been invited since invading Ukraine.
Moscow's embassy in Tokyo says Ambassador Nikolay Nozdoryev will lead the Russian delegation.
The ceremony will take place on August 9, exactly 80 years since the United States dropped an atomiclike bomb on the city in western Japan.
Nagasaki officials had not invited Russia and ally Belarus since 2022. But they planned to invite all countries and regions with diplomatic missions in Japan this year.
Russian embassy officials told NHK that Ambassador Nostriev decided to attend after receiving an invitation signed by the Nagasaki mayor.
They also say they received an explanation about previous circumstances. The officials say the ambassador will not attend the ceremony on August 6 in the city of Hiroshima.

NOBEL CHAIR TO VISIT HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI

Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Jolgen Fritnes will be visiting both cities starting July 21. He's expected to exchange opinions with atomic bomb survivors known as Hibakusha.
Last year's Peace Prize went to survivors' organization Nihong Hidankyo.

MYANMAR EARTHQUAKE
PEOPLE STRUGGLING TO REBUILD 3 MONTHS ON

People in central Myanmar are still struggling exactly three months after a powerful earthquake. More than 3,700 people died in the disaster and thousands of others were injured.
One of the hardest hit areas was the country's second largest city of Mandalay. Workers are sparing no efforts to clear rubble and rebuild infrastructure.
Many residents are living in tents and makeshift shelters. One survivor told NHK about how difficult it was trying to get by with her husband and two children.

Life is really tough here. We need financial help to rebuild our home. We want to return to our normal lives as soon as possible.
The clay flattened scores of offices and factories.
Smaller firms have been unable to resume operations due to a shortage of funds and workers.

I need money to rebuild my factory, which was destroyed. I've had no income for the past three months and have been living off my savings.

The head of the United Nations Development Program in Myanmar says he is worried that international concern has waned.

Myanmar, unfortunately, I I refer to it as not a forgotten crisis, but I would call it a neglected crisis.

Mitra is urging the international community to step up its assistance.

FOUR GIANT PANDAS LEAVE JAPAN FOR NEW HOME IN CHINA

Four female giant pandas have left a theme park in western Japan for their new home in China. The pandas are being transferred from Adventure World in the town of Shirahama in Wakayama Prefecture. The contract for a bilateral joint conservation project is set to expire shortly. The pandas were not shown to the public on Saturday to ensure their well-being as they were put in cages. The operator of the park said they were in good shape and were munching on bamboo as usual.
One of the keepers who has taken care of the pandas for eight years said she has no concerns because the staff are closely coordinating with their Chinese counterparts.

I feel so sad. I can't believe those pandas are gone.

I miss them so much. I hope they will do well in China.

Around 300 people, including staff and their families, gathered at the park to see the pandas off. They'll be sent to a breeding facility in Sichuan Province on a chartered flight.

Those were the headlines for this hour.

♫~ 3-DAY FORECAST ~♫

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Sato Mariko in Tokyo.
Thanks for joining us.

2025年6月27日金曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 27

 

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno. 

JAPAN TOP COURT RULES WELFARE REDUCTIONS WERE ILLEGAL

Japan's top court has ruled the government's decision to lower welfare benefits a decade ago was illegal, but it's not ordering the government to pay compensation. The plaintiffs went to the Supreme Court to learn the outcome. The ruling nullifies the benefit reductions that were in place between 2013 and 2015.
The Health and Welfare Ministry had lowered the payouts by up to 10% in stages, citing the need to reflect deflationary price trends. About 2 million people were reportedly on welfare at the time. Recipients across the country filed lawsuits, saying the ministry's decision violated a legal requirement to ensure the minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living. More than 30 lawsuits have been filed to date. The Supreme Court ruled on two of them in Nagoya and Osaka.
Presiding Justice Uga Katsuya on Friday said the decision by the welfare minister lacked expertise and consistency.
He also said that the procedures involved were flawed and unlawful. While lower court rulings have been split, the top court's decision provides A unified judgment on the case. It may also lead to demands for the state to cover the lost benefits.

JAPAN EXECUTES SERIAL KILLER WHO LURED VICTIMS ONLINE

Japanese authorities have executed a 34 year old man convicted of killing nine people. Shiraishi Takahiro was dubbed the Twitter killer by media outlets for his method of seeking out victims.
Shiraishi was arrested in 2017 after police searched his apartment in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Inside, investigators found the remains of nine victims between the ages of 15 and 26 stored in coolers.
They said Shiraishi targeted people who were suicidal. He enticed them over social media to come to his residence where he killed them. Shiraishi was found guilty on multiple counts, including robbery and murder, as well as sexual assault. Defence lawyers initially appealed the conviction, but Shiraishi later withdrew the motion. He was put to death on Friday morning in Tokyo.
Justice Minister Suzuki Kisuke spoke to reporters.

This case hugely impacted society and caused a lot of anxiety. As Justice Minister, I very carefully considered the matter and ordered the execution to take place.

This is Japan's first execution since July 2022.

JAPAN EXECUTES SERIAL KILLER WHO LURED VICTIMS ONLINE

The White House has suggested it may call on US allies in the Asia-Pacific region to boost defense spending. This follows a similar agreement reached at this week's NATO summit in the Netherlands.
Alliance members vowed to raise defense and related spending to 5% of their respective countries' GDP figures over the coming decade. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the move means the US will carry less of the burden and make NATO stronger than ever.
She was asked about the impacts on other US allies. 

Look, if our allies in Europe and our NATO allies can do it, I think our allies and our friends in the Asia-Pacific region can do it as well. 

The US Defense Department has indicated allies in Asia, including Japan, also need to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP.

HEGSETH: ATTACK ON IRAN 'HISTORICALLY SUCCESSFUL'

Washington and Tehran are providing conflicting accounts of the damage caused by US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last weekend. The Pentagon leadership maintains the facilities were obliterated, paving the way for fresh talks with Iran. 

This was an historically successful attack. We should celebrate it as Americans, and it gives us a chance to have peace, a chance to have a deal, and an opportunity to prevent a nuclear Iran, which is something President Trump talked about for 20 years. 

The US Defense Secretary criticized media outlets for publishing details from an intel assessment which downplayed the effects of the strikes. Hegseth stressed that report was preliminary. He pointed to a subsequent statement from the CIA chief which said credible intelligence found that Iran's nuclear program had been severely damaged. The Pentagon also shared test footage demonstrating the power of the bunker busters used in the attacks. Defense officials say US pilots aimed their bombs at ventilation shafts and they all hit their targets.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has commented on the US assessments of the strikes.

Obliteration, annihilation, total destruction, et cetera, I don't know. What I can tell you, and I think everyone agrees on this, there is very, very, very considerable damage. 

Grossi says he's waiting to hear back from officials in Tehran about when his agency's nuclear inspectors could be allowed to inspect the nuclear sites.

IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER CLAIMS VICTORY

Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader declared victory over the US and Israel. In a TV address, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country will never surrender and claimed his nuclear program survived the US attacks.

They failed to do anything significant. The president of America greatly exaggerated what it is that happened. It became clear that he needed to say this exaggeration.

Tehran's foreign minister has also denied Washington's claims that the US and Iran have agreed to resume nuclear talks.

FOND FAREWELL TO FOUR PANDAS IN WESTERN JAPAN

People have flocked to a theme park in western Japan to catch a last glimpse of four giant pandas that will soon be returned to China.
A crowd of about 1,400 waited at the gates of the park in the town of Shirahama Wakayama Prefecture ahead of opening time on Friday. It's the last day the pandas will be on view. The four female pandas, Raohin and her daughters Yu Hin, Sai Hin and Fu Hin, have been part of a joint conservation project with China that's set to expire.
Visitors were waiting in line for up to 90 minutes at the facility for Raohin and Sai Hin. They snapped pictures and called out the pandas' names. The four pandas will leave Shiro Hama on Saturday and return to a panda breeding center in Sichuan province, China. The only remaining giant pandas in Japanwill be the two at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo.
For more on this, I spoke earlier to NHK World's Miyamoto Rikuya in Shirahama.

The panda is basically the local mascot.
Many of the visitors I saw at the zoo earlier were wearing panda T-shirts and holding up panda toys. Some lined up with messages expressing their gratitude to the animals. I spoke to some of them.

I come here a lot because the pandas are cute. Watching them is so soothing.
I couldn't stop crying today.

I don't know what will happen, but I hope the pandas come back. That will make my children so happy.

And how do residents feel about having to say goodbye to the pandas? 

Many of the people I spoke to are quite sad. They say they are losing a big part of the community's identity.
Everywhere you look in Shirahama, there are pandas. People arrive in town on a panda-themed train. Restaurants, shops, hotels, they all make a reference to the famous animals. And it's not just a matter of identity. Pandas are crucial to the town's livelihood. One estimate puts the total economic impact of the animals at over 125 billion yen, or 871 million dollars. One souvenir shop sells dozens of panda-related snacks.
The owner says he had plans to release another product, but stopped when it was announced the pandas were leaving.

Shirahama is known as Panda Town, and we've been making products to go along with this. I never thought they would all leave. I'm worried about the future.

The zoo started raising pandas in 1994 as part of a joint research project with China. 17 pandas have been born here,the most of any site outside of China. The research project will now be suspended.
The staff are worried they will be unable to pass on their expertise.

And what is China's motive for recalling the pandas?
Do you think they'll ever be back? 

The official reason is that the contract for the project expires this year.
Some people suspect China is flexing its soft power through panda diplomacy.
But I spoke to an expert who says that probably isn't the case. He says the fact China called back all the pandas, despite the huge economic cost, suggests it has some concerns. As for whether they return, he says that's unclear. But he adds, If China decides the partnership with Shirahama is a net positive for the country, the pandas will be back.

For China, it's important that sending pandas to Shirahama is beneficial to the country. Beijing requires good reasons to do so. For example, that Shirahama does a good job protecting the animals. Another factor is national image. It's important that sending pandas to Japan improves China's national image. That's what Beijing values.

The West Japan Railway Company says it will continue operating the panda trains for the time being. And the themed restaurants and shops are not going anywhere either. But Panda Town will feel empty with all the pandas. Residents and tourists are hoping their cuddly friends are back soon. ♪

the world of business

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the Biz Desk.

Thank you very much indeed. 

LUTNICK SAYS US WILL SOON ANNOUNCE SERIES OF TRADE DEALS

Now, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the US is set to reach new agreements with many of its trading partners.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday, Lutnick said a series of deals will be announced over the next week or so. He said there will be one category for what he called the top ten agreements and others in different groups. He added that President Donald Trump is going to close the deals himself. Lutnik indicated agreements will be signed by July 9, or when a 90-day pause on what Trump calls reciprocal tariffs ends. Lutnik gave no details on whether Japan is in the top ten group or what criteria is used to define the categories. Japan's trade tariff negotiator Akazawa Ryosei is in Washington for talks with Lutnik and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

JAPANESE AUTOMAKERS SEE MIXED US SALES

Now, six major Japanese automakers operating in the United States have reported contrasting unit sales results for May. They say demand slowed in the US market as the buying rush to avoid the impact of additional tariffs eased.
Nissan says its sales fell about 4% from a year earlier to nearly 77,000 vehicles. Subaru saw a decline of just over 10%.
Mazda's sales fell more than 18%. Some companies that cut sales incentives or had inventory shortages experienced lower sales. Now, in contrast, three other firms announced positive results.
Toyota says its unit sales climbed almost 11% last month to just over 240,000.
Honda's rose 6 1/2% and Mitsubishi's jumped nearly 14%.
Companies with competitive hybrids saw sales increases. Japanese automakers are set to raise prices in the coming months to deal with inflation in the US, but they say it is not due to a direct impact of the additional tariffs. 

NIKKEI 225 RECOVERS TO 40,000 MARK TO HIT YEAR'S HIGH

And Tokyo's benchmark stock index recovered to the 40,000 level on Friday for the first time in about. Six months to close at a year to date high.
Now investors bought in after the Trump administration indicated trade tariff deadlines may be extended, easing concerns about a slowdown in the global economy. The Nikkei 225 finished the day at 40,150, up 1.4%. The gains were led by semiconductor and export-related shares.
The index extended its winning streak to four days. Analysts say investors are finding more reason to be optimistic about the US economy amid speculation the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates sooner than expected.
And next, NHK World's Yanaka Marie is here with Bizpix, a look at upcoming business and economic stories.

Bizpicks

Let's look at the topics we'll be tracking in the week ahead. On Monday, China will announce its Purchasing Managers Index, measuring manufacturing and services activity for June. In May, manufacturing activity fell below the boom or bust line for a second month. And on Tuesday, the Bank of Japan will release its closely watched quarterly survey of business sentiment. 

ECONOMIST: JAPAN BUSINESS MOOD DIMS ON TRUMP TARIFFS

The central bank's Tankan will be the first concrete data expected to show how US tariffs are affecting business confidence and activity in Japan.
Ueno Tsuyoshi of the NLI Research Institute predicts the survey will reveal that sentiment among major manufacturers deteriorated for a second straight quarter.

I expect major manufacturer sentiment to worsen by about four points from the previous poll. By industry, automobiles and steel, on which high levies are already imposed, will likely see a significant deterioration.

Sure enough, there are signs that Japan's auto industry, the backbone of its economy, is being hurt by US tariffs. Export prices for North America-bound passenger cars plunged almost 19% in May from a year earlier.
In contrast, prices for exports to other regions remained mostly unchanged. 
Ueno notes that the export price declines show Trump's tariffs are likely to weaken profits for Japan's automakers.

The sharp drop in export prices suggests companies are covering a significant portion of the tariffs. As a result, the profit of exporting companies appears to be worsening considerably. Automakers may be taking a wait-and-see attitude right now, while carefully watching tariff developments and the moves of other auto firms. If the tariffs issue drags on, car makers may have no choice but to start to pass tariffs on to local prices. 

Ueno adds another gauge in the Tankan could offer important clues to the extent of economic risks Japan faces because of US trade measures. And that's corporate capital investment.

The Trump tariffs have raised concerns about profit squeeze and uncertainty about the future, gradually forcing businesses to postpone investment.
Looking at Japan's GDP growth rate in the last fiscal year, capital investment made substantial contributions.
If companies present restraint plans for capital investment, it would be difficult to find a driving force for the Japanese economy.

There's no sign Japan-US trade talks will produce a deal. The longer the discussions drag on, the greater the potential impact on the economy. With consumer sentiment already dampened by inflationary pressures, tariffs could double the blow. I'm Yanaka Marie, and that wraps up this edition of Biz Picks. 


OK, let's get a check on the markets.

And that is it for business news.

GUTERRES SOUNDS ALARM ON 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF UN CHARTER

Thursday marked 80 years since the signing of the United Nations Charter, which aims to maintain international peace and security. But the UN chief has sounded strong alarm over what he called assaults on the world world body's founding document.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres addressed a General Assembly meeting held to commemorate the anniversary, Guterres said. Over the decades, we've celebrated the end of wars while witnessing the start of others. He was apparently referring to conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere. 

Today we see assaults on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Like never before, we cannot and must not normalize violations of its most basic principles.

International Court of Justice President Iwasawa Yuji called for compliance with the law.

The vision of the Charter's drafters to uphold the rule of law for the maintenance of international peace and security remains not only relevant but indispensable today.

Analysts say the UN needs to undergo structural reform. They say its Security Council has become dysfunctional.

N. KOREAN ABDUCTIONS
JAPANESE ABDUCTEES' RELATIVES ADDRESS UN SYMPOSIUM

Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents decades ago have attended a UN symposium. They called for international cooperation to bring all remaining victims home as soon as possible. The online event was held on Thursday by the governments of Japan, the United States, South Korea and Australia, as well as the European Union. Yoko Tatakuya, who heads a group of Japanese abductees families, addressed the event.
His older sister, Megumi, was abducted in 1977 when she was 13 years old. 

The international community must not merely stand by while national sovereignty and human rights are violated. People in Japan and around the world, please fight with us to bring our families back.

Yokota's mother, Sakiya, has been a core member of the group for decades. She says time is running out as the 89 year old is the only surviving abductee parent.
Yokota later added he wants Tokyo to promptly realize a summit with Pyongyang.
He said no progress can be expected without a decision by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Japanese government says at least 17 of its citizens were abducted in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned home after a bilateral summit in 2002. Megumi and the other 11 remain unaccounted for.

OHTANI TO PLAY IN MLB ALL-STAR GAME FOR 5TH TIME

Major League Baseball sensation Ohtani Shohei is returning to the MLB All-Star game for the fifth straight year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player was chosen in the first round of fan balloting for fielders. Ohtani earned nearly four million votes as a designated hitter in the results announced on Thursday. That was the most among National League fielders. The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge led the American League with just over four million votes. Ohtani and Judge were tied for second place in the MLB home run race as of Thursday. Both have 28 homers. The top vote getters in each league in the first phase of voting are eligible to play in the All-Star game without waiting for the second round. The complete roster will be announced on July 6. The game happens on July 15 at the Atlanta Braves Truest Park.

NEW IOC CHIEF UNVEILS SHIFT ON GENDER ELIGIBILITY DISCUSSIONS

The new president of the International Olympic Committee has indicated a shift from the IOC's prior stance on gender eligibility criteria in sports.
Kirsty Coventry took over the post from Thomas Bach following a handover ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland on Monday.
She addressed an online news conference after the first executive board meeting of her presidency on Thursday.

We should make the effort to place emphasis on the protection of the female category and that we should ensure that this is done in consensus with all the stakeholders.

The first female IOC chief also said that the IOC should be the ones to bring experts and international sports bodies together to discuss gender regulations.

We're going to actually set up a working group made-up of experts and international federations. It was agreed by the members that the IOC should take a a leading role in this.

Up to now, the IOC has entrusted the governing bodies of individual sports with drawing up their own gender rules. In recent years, eligibility criteria for transgender athletes in Olympic competitions has been criticized. Given biological differences in muscular strength, there's a debate over whether it's fair for athletes who've changed their gender from male to female to take part in women's events. 

check on the weather

Now it's time to check on the weather. While northern Japan is seeing heavy rainfall, western Japan is sweltering. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details. 

Isolated thunder showers have occurred in parts of Hokkaido on Friday. About 120 millimeters of heavy rainfall in just an hour. People in Hokkaido should watch out for intense rain, lightning and even tornadoes Friday night. But western Japan is seeing clear skies, making the earliest end of the rainy season on record.
The rainy season ended across all of western Japan on Friday. It was the earliest and on record in northern Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kinki in southern Kyushu, it was the second earliest on record. Some areas in Miyazaki Prefecture experienced their hottest documented June temperatures.
The Japan Met Office says the heat is expected to continue into next week with a risk of heat strokes.
With the end of the rainy season, we need to be prepared for intense summer heat. The highs will be over 30 in many cities including Fukuoka and Osaka.
Tokyo may see the sun with a high of 34. Please be sure to avoid the heat and stay hydrated.
In the bigger picture across Asia, high pressure systems are covering Japan and eastern China, but a low pressure system is moving toward the Korean peninsula, so showers are likely in Seoul on Saturday. Heat is also a concern in Shanghai with a high of 36.
Finally, across Europe, a front swinging across Germany and Poland will bring severe weather such as intense rain, gusty winds,and lightning. But behind the system, clear skies are coming back. So sunny weather is expected in London, Paris and Lisbon.
That's it for now. Have a nice weekend.

♫~ 3-DAY FORECAST(+72h) ~♫

That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Kanako Sachno in Tokyo.
Thanks very much for joining us.

2025年6月25日水曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 25

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.

ISRAEL–IRAN CONFLICT
CEASEFIRE APPEARS TO HOLD, TRUMP APPEALS FOR CALM

A ceasefire first unveiled by US President Donald Trump between Israel and Iran appears to be holding. More than 24 hours have now passed since it took effect, according to a timeline laid out by the American leader, signifying an end to what he calls the 12-day war.
Early on, there were reports of violations on both sides that prompted Trump to lash out at Israel and Iran for threatening to sink the agreement he brokered. Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I'd never seen before. I'm not happy with Iran either, but I'm really unhappy if Israel's going out this morning. Trump made the remarks following an Israeli attack on a radar installation near Tehran. Officials say the strike was in response to what they claim were Iranian missile launches breaking the ceasefire. Trump says he stopped the attack from happening by speaking directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He emphasized that he does not want regime change in Iran because it would lead to chaos. Netanyahu says Israel has achieved a historic victory that will stand for generations, and he says his people have never had a greater friend in the White House than Trump.
Iranian President Masoud Pazeshkian also claimed a historic victory. He stressed that Iran's commitment to peaceful coexistence and stability in the region will continue. Iran's health ministry says 610 people were killed and more than 4,700 injured in the 12 days of fighting. In Israel, media report 28 people died and more than 3,000 have been hurt. Israeli defense forces say their focus will now shift back to Gaza and operations against Hamas. Health authorities in the enclave say more than 56,000 people have died there since fighting began in 2023.

REPORT: US STRIKES SET BACK IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM BY 'MONTHS'

CNN and the New York Times on Tuesday cited an early assessment from the US Defense Intelligence Agency. The US military on Sunday used bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles to target three Iranian nuclear sites. Bunker busters are designed to attack deeply buried facilities. CNN quoted sources as saying the strikes did not destroy Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and that its centrifuges are largely intact. 
Media reports say US airstrikes did not destroy the core components of Iran's nuclear program and likely only set it back by a few months.

TRUMP DISMISSES REPORTS DOWNPLAYING DAMAGE TO IRAN SITES

On Sunday, Trump asserted that Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities had been totally obliterated. And he stood by those claims on social media. Trump accused the Times and CNN of publishing fake news, saying they were trying to demean what he calls one of the most successful military strikes in history.

WAR IN UKRAINE
PUTIN: RUSSIA SCALING UP OUTPUT OF ORESHNIK MISSILE

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's begun mass-producing new Oreshnik missiles. Ukrainian officials say the weapon is capable of achieving maximum speeds of more than Mach 11, which poses challenges for air defenses.
State-run TASS news agency reports Putin made the remarks to military college graduates on Monday. He's quoted as saying the intermediate-range ballistic missile has proven itself very well in combat. Russia used the Ershnik for the first time in November last year during an attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Observers say if Moscow ramps up production and use of the missiles, Ukraine will have difficulty stopping them. In response, Zelensky has called for stronger sanctions on Russia. He says pressure must be applied to all those involved in the production of themissile.

HIROSHIMA GOVERNOR TO VISIT FORMER NUCLEAR SITE IN KAZAKHSTAN

NHK has learned the governor of Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture is arranging to visit a former nuclear testing site in Kazakhstan next month. He apparently hopes to boost relations with the country over efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.
Sources say Governor Yusaki Hidehiko plans to visit Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, to talk with senior government officials over topics such as peace-building policy. They say he also plans to travel to the former Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site in the country's northeast and visit a museum on the testing. More than 450 nuclear tests took place at the testing site during the Cold War. An estimated 1.5 million people are believed to have suffered health issues as a result. Kazakhstan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The country has been working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. In March, it chaired the third meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This year marks 80 years since atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of World War II.

NAGASAKI CATHEDRAL VIDEO BELIEVED TO BE OLDEST EVER FOUND

The black and white video of the church lasts around 30 seconds. It was found in NHK's archives. NHK examined the footage with an expert, and they say the sidewalls of the structure look whitish. The walls were repainted in a brick red color in 1934, so they've determined that the video was shot before then.
Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikaku recorded it on a home movie camera. He was known to have been a key amateur cameraman, and he donated it to NHK in 1976. NHK found that Nakamura toured Nagasaki in 1930. A note attached to the video says it was filmed around that time too.
Matsuda Sei is with the Nagasaki Foundation for the Promotion of Peace. He worked with NHK on this and says the footage appears to pre-date video that had been believed to be the oldest by about two years.
The discovery of previously unseen footage holds significant value, as many documents are being lost as the years go by.
Udakami Cathedral was rebuilt in the post war years. The original version was completed in 1925 after 30 years of construction.
All these decades later, we're getting a new look at a Nagasaki landmark before the bombing destroyed it, and HK recently found what's believed to be the oldest ever footage of Urakami Cathedral.

3D IMAGE DATA OF BUDDHIST STATUE TO BE SENT TO S. KOREA

Ownership of the statue became the subject of a legal dispute with the temple there. Once South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that it belonged to Kanon-ji Temple on Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, the statue was returned there in May. It is now being kept at a museum in Tsushima City to ensure its safety. Officials of the temple and the city said,They decided to provide 3D imagery data of the statue to the temple in South Korea after it said it wanted to create a replica. And they said the data will be assembled this month. A former Kanwonji priest said he hopes the replica will help supporters of the South Korean temple feel the presence of the Buddhist saint. The city and the prefecture will also consider making a replica to be kept at Kanwonji Temple.
NHK has learned a temple in southwestern Japan will provide South Korea with three-dimensional imagery data of its Buddhist statue so that a replica can be made. The statue of Kanon, the compassionate deity, was stolen in 2012 and later found in South Korea.

SHARING A HOME, SHARING THE BURDEN OF SOCIAL ISOLATION

31-year-old Yoo Seung Kyu runs what looks like an ordinary share house, with six people living under one roof. But these tenants all have one thing in common.
They're all trying to reconnect with society. After going through severe social isolation, they each had their own reasons to hide. After my parents divorced, I grew up as a lonely child and started to pull away from other people.
After finishing military service at university, I still couldn't find a job.
I felt different from my friends.
But isolation also fosters loneliness. anxiety, and shame. The hope is that by coming together, they can form a community that understands what they're going through.
It's important to speak honestly about one's feelings here. Even saying what you don't like will help build communication skills.
Yu is sure it will work, because it saved him. He spent five years alone, unable to leave his home. South Korean society does not acknowledge social isolation as a widespread issue. So he said he didn't know how to change, and didn't know other people were going through the same thing. Then, he learned about a Japanese support group active in South Korea.
I didn't think that kind of thing existed here. When I heard that a Japanese organization was offering help, I decided to reach out.
Okusa Minoru has long tried to tackle the problem. He started the Sharehouse initiative in South Korea a few years ago.
Even if you study hard in South Korea's intense, achievement-focused culture, opportunities can be limited. Eventually, people burn out.
Yoo spent two years at Okusa's sharehouse. After seeing the benefits first-hand, he hopes to use that experience to help others.
In Japan, there are established support systems in place. South Korea can look towards Japan as a pioneer. Our society lacks places where people can even ask for help. My dream is to create a society where that kind of support is available.
But Yoo says more still needs to be done. There's not enough resources to help everyone.
He's already had to turn away many, hoping to reconnect with society.
But he says he'll keep trying to reach those he can, one lonely person at a time. Kang Na-young, NHK World Seoul.
Japan may have coined the term hikikomori to describe social hermits, but it's a growing problem in other countries too. A South Korean government survey found that 5% of that country's young people are withdrawing from society. One man who's been through it is now hoping to bring others out of their shells. NHK World's Kang Na-young reports.

the world of business

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the biz desk. 

Thank you very much indeed. 

FUJI MEDIA WINS BOARDROOM BATTLE

Now, Japanese broadcasting giant Fuji Media Holdings has held its annual shareholders meeting.
The company was embroiled in a power struggle with a major shareholder, but has come out on top with all eleven of its candidates being named to the board.
The company and its subsidiary, Fuji Television Network, have come under fire for a sexual assault scandal involving former pop star Nakai Masahiro.
An independent panel found he had committed sexual violence against a then Fuji TV announcer.
We sincerely apologize for the trouble and concerns we have caused.
Fuji Media had proposed a management reshuffle and improvements to corporate governance in response, but US based activist shareholder Dalton Investments called for stronger measures. Fuji Media named 11 candidates for the board. They included the president of Fuji TV and the former president of the Family Mart.
Convenience store chain Dalton said external directors should be appointed and proposed 12 candidates of its own, but none of them were voted onto the board. Shareholders had mixed reactions after the meeting.
It's a big problem. The employees of Fuji TV have been put in a position of weakness because of the firm's response to the scandal. As a woman, I'll keep an eye on how the company improves.
I want the company to confront its problems more deeply. I hope this leads to a more open atmosphere and ensures the voices of the workers are heard.
The scandal has dealt a serious blow toto Fuji Media's earnings, with many corporate sponsors dropping their commercials from the network.

BOJ BOARD MEMBER SUGGESTS MORE RATE HIKES POSSIBLE

And a Bank of Japan policy board meeting board member has suggested the central bank may consider additional rate hikes, even as Japan's economy faces a period of greater uncertainty.
Tamura Naoki cited the US Trump administration's tariff policy as one concern, but he said the direct effects will be limited to export-oriented manufacturers and related businesses. He said Japan's economy as a whole will be able to weather the impacts. Tamura added the bank's outlook for economic activity and prices could be revised significantly, either upward or downward, because of these factors. But, he noted, independent of that, wages and product prices are rising in Japan.
Tamura said given the situation, he believes there is a good chance the bank's 2 percent price stability target is achieved earlier than expected. 

NINJA ARTS EMERGE FROM THE SHADOWS
And Japan is seeing a growing number of visitors, but not all come here just for the sights. Some are looking to study the skills of the ninja. The covert agents of ancient times, Inishikura Sasahara Renna, steps into one dojo that is attracting the world's warriors.

Visitors are flocking to this residential district in Chiba, near Tokyo.
They come here to learn the secretive arts of the ninja, mostly for self-defense. Very surprising, right?I'm from Germany. My dream has already come true. You know, I've ever seen as a little boy, you know, fascinated by ninjas and all thosethings.
This is the Bujinkan Dojo, which opened about 50 years ago.
The trainees study techniques drawn from nine different ninja schools, as well as other ancient Japanese martial arts. The class is held three times a day. Sometimes, more than 100 students take part.
A ninja works in the shadows, right?He finds the blind spots. He creates the blind spots, right?Paul Massey is a master instructor here.
He came to Japan from the United States 31 years ago to learn directly from the Dojo's founder, Hatsumi Masaki.
After studying a variety of martial arts, he found that the way of the ninja was the best for self-defense. Their skills were designed for survival through awareness, agility, and strategy Not necessarily for attack.
It wasn't just about fighting, it was how to survive and using anything around you. The skills taught here are extremely practical.
Paul demonstrates, with a stick, how to use an umbrella for self-defense.
We'll start with a position like this, right?Maybe you have your umbrella in his hand, right?You know Or, you're walking to work with your umbrella, whatever, right?Right This could happen, right?I mean, it's easy. So, I don't know, someone's coming in, oh, excuse me, boom, like that. And then up, like that.
You've got the finger there. In Japan, it's very safe, so we often don't feel the need for a ninja. But, have you traveled the world a bit?We have wars still happening, even in this day and age. And I think that's why that many people from around the world come, because they need this information. They need the way of survival.
One of the participants in the May session came from Chile on a working holiday program. She studied the art of the ninja for 14 years at a dojo in her country for self-defense.
I am from Chile, Valparaiso, and it's a very dangerous place. Very, very dangerous place. I want to fun and not be afraid about my city, about the night. It's very important for me, walking in the night freely.
Paul says learning the art of the ninja makes people creative about getting out of difficult situations.
And that's what I would like to keep doing as a ninja. is to allow that creativity of the ninja, to allow the wit of the ninja, to allow the uncommon sense of a ninja to create a better world. Because we're always going to need ninja. The appeal of the ninja continues to cross borders, because you never know what could be coming around the corner. Sasahara Rena, NHK World.


Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

And that is it for Business News. I'm going to hand it back to you. 

Thanks, Ramin. 

JAPAN PANEL DETAILS CHILDREN'S ACCIDENTAL FALLS

The report said children in about 74 percent of the accidents could have first climbed an object, such as furniture placed near windows or planters and air conditioner units on balconies. Many children may have opened window locks.
The government, the housing industry and parents need to work together on a system to prevent children's accidental falls.
The panel underscored the need to urge industry groups to study and develop products designed to prevent such accidents.
A Japanese government panel has released a report on fatal accidents in which young children fell from buildings. The Consumer Affairs Agency panel found nearly three-quarters of the cases had some object at the site which children could have climbed. In April last year, a three-year-old girl died after she fell from a balcony of a high-rise apartment in Hiroshima. In March of 2023, two year old twin brothers died after falling from a window of an apartment in Nagoya. The panel said 134 cases occurred over three decades through 2024, in which children under six years old fell to their deaths. The victims fell from balconies in 92 of the cases, while 42 involved falls from windows.

JAPAN VIDEO SHOWCASES ANTI-SHIP MISSILE DRILL

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has released a video showing the first-ever test launch from Japanese territory of a missile targeting a ship offshore.
The drill was conducted in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Tuesday. The 20 second footage shows the missile being fired from a launcher vehicle and soaring in the direction of the sea. The 88-type surface-to-ship missile has a range of more than 100 kilometers.
GSDF officials say until now they have only conducted such test launches overseas due to space constraints and safety concerns, but this time they were able to get the necessary permission from authorities. A plan is now in the works to build a new testing range for surface-to-ship missiles on Japan's easternmost island of Minami-Torishima in the Pacific. It is part of Tokyo's efforts to strengthen the country's defense capacity amid China's military buildup in the region.

check on the weather

It is time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So Jonathan, we are hearing more reports of heavy rain having an impact across especially western and central Japan. What is the latest? 

Hello, we've been keeping an eye out on the rain that's been moving across Japan, especially for the western and central portions of the country. We were concerned about the possibility of seeing flooding and also landslides, and that's something we have to continue to look out for as we head toward Thursday, though the focal point will be more toward the east. As we see the low pressure system that's really kind of twisting the frontal boundary and helping to push that moisture toward the east as we go toward Thursday. I mean one location is seeing close to 210 millimeters of rainfall not in 24 hours, but in six hours.
That's a tremendous amount of rainfall and that's an all time record. I mean it's just that's just the case. Well, we are going to be seeing again is that low push toward the east. Now for those of you in the eastern side of Japan like Tokyo, you're like one moment it's like raining, one moment's like sunny. It's like what is going on?We have a tropical system down to the South that's very kind of disorganized. And so that's helping to really send bands of rain in, but it's not particularly consistent. Now we go into Thursday, it's going to be a lot more consistent, especially later in the day as we see that push of moisture coming in from the West. Rain from Sapura into Osaka. Fukuoka getting a break now looking at drier weather coming over Thursday and we'll see the temperatures starting to creep back up as we head toward the weekend. Meanwhile, India is also talking about a serious rainfall the northern portions of the country. Take a look at this video that's coming out from. The area as intense downpours in a number of states have caused devastating flooding this week.
Authorities say some rivers are dangerously high levels. Many buildings, roads and other infrastructure have an overrun by muddy waters. I mean, they need the rain. It's always important for the farmers to get the rain, especially this time of year, but just a little too much causes a lot of problems. We're also seeing the fact that the monsoon is coming up a little bit faster toward the north. Typically around this point we'll be seeing it back toward the central portions of the country, but the rains are pushing up to the north relatively quickly and we're going to see more rain coming up as you go throughout the on Thursday. Thunderstorms in New Delhi and Varanasi with highs in the low to mid 30s for the day. Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫~ 3-DAY FORECAST(+72h) ~♫

BABY KOALA MAKES HIS DEBUT AT KAGOSHIMA ZOO

One more story before we go. A six-month-old baby koala in Japan has made its much anticipated public appearance coming out of its mother's pouch for the first time.
The healthy male koala was born in November last year at Hirakawa Zoo in Kagoshima City, in the country's southwest. 20 koalas, including this baby, are being raised there, the largest number in Japan.
The zoo says the baby measures about 25 centimeters and has been almost inseparable from his mother since emerging from her pouch earlier this month. On Monday, zookeepers managed to separate them for his first ever weigh-in. They said he weighed 816 grams, proof of his steady growth. According to the zoo, koalas raised their babies for only one year, and the intimate mother-baby connection is worth seeing now.
This is the only period the baby clings tightly to his mother. I hope many people come and see them.
The zoo plans to hold a public poll to choose a name for the baby koala.
Kawaii, as we say in Japanese. 

That wraps up the citizen of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon. Thanks for joining us.

2025年6月24日火曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 24

 

Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.

ISRAEL, IRAN AGREE TO US-BACKED CEASEFIRE

The Israeli government and Iranian state television say their countries have agreed to a ceasefire. The deal was first unveiled by the US president on social media. Israel says in a statement that while it has agreed to Donald Trump's proposal, the country will respond forcefully to any violation.
Trump is asking both sides not to violate the ceasefire. Earlier, he congratulated them for ending a war he said could have destroyed the Middle East. After Trump's initial announcement, Iran's foreign minister posted on social media. Abbas Araqchi said that his country will seize its response if Israel ceases its aggression. Attacks appear to continue until the final moments. Israel says Iran struck its territory with missiles early Tuesday morning, local time, killing at least three people.
And Iranian media report Israel attacked residential areas in northern Iran, killing nine and injuring more than 30.
The ceasefire announcement comes on the heels of an Iranian missile attack against a US base in Qatar. That was in response, in retaliation, rather, for American strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.

N. KOREA REPORTEDLY DECIDES TO HOLD RULING PARTY CONGRESS

North Korea says the country's ruling Workers' Party has decided to convene its
Ninth congress. The party's highest policy meeting last took place in 2021. North Korea's state-run television reported Tuesday the decision was approved at a three day plenary meeting of the party's Central Committee.
It did not say when the Congress would be held. It said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivered an important speech but gave no details of its content.
It also did not say if the meeting addressed the country's failed launch of a new destroyer in May. Kim had reportedly commented on the launch, saying irresponsible errors by senior officials would be discussed at the plenary meeting. At the last Congress, the North unveiled a five-year defense plan. It contained calls to improve the performance of intercontinental ballistic missiles and to miniaturize nuclear weapons.

S. KOREA FM NOMINEE SUPPORTS US-N. KOREA DIALOGUE

South Korea's foreign minister nominee has said he supports dialogue between the US and North Korea. Cho Hyun spoke to reporters in Seoul on Tuesday. The White House said earlier this month that the US president is open to communication with the North Korean leader. Cho said realizing dialogue between the US and the North and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula is a diplomatic priority. He said he will cooperate with the US and other friendly countries and make efforts to ensure there are no obstacles to promoting dialogue. He also said he will develop bilateral ties with Japan and search for ways to build on their framework while resolving any problems through diplomacy. Cho's appointment is expected to become official after a National Assembly hearing.

the world of business

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business. Here's Ramin Mellegard from the Biz Desk. 
Thank you very much indeed. 

CRUDE OIL FUTURES IN TOKYO DROP AFTER TRUMP CEASEFIRE POST

Now, US President Donald Trump's announcement that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire came on Tuesday morning in Japan, and that sent oil prices tumbling.
Dubai crude futures for November delivery ended the day down 12% to 57,970 yen, or about $400 a kilo liter in Tokyo. They had surged on fears the Iran-Israel conflict would disrupt supplies. The US currency lost ground against the Japanese yen to the 145 level. The dollar had briefly climbed to the 148 yen level following the US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. The greenback is considered a safe. haven for investors in times of crisis. Investors sold the dollar following the ceasefire announcement.
Now, Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index gained 1.1 percent to finish at 38,790. Many investors placed buy orders for a wide range of shares after Trump's announcement eased concerns about escalating conflict in the Middle East.

STRUGGLING NISSAN HOLDS FRACTIOUS STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING

Struggling Japanese automaker Nissan Motor held a stockholders meeting on Tuesday. President and CEO Ivan Espinosa apologized for the deteriorating performance and explained plans to turn the company around, but shareholders reacted harshly.
The meeting was held at Nissan's main office in Yokohama, with more than 1,000 people attending. Espinosa also revealed plans to cut the group wide payroll by 20,000 workers and close 7 factories. Shareholders approved a proposal to select four new board members, including Espinosa, who took the helm in April. Now, stockholders also agreed to reappoint eight external board directors, including three members of a committee that elected Espinosa's predecessor, Uchida Makoto. One shareholder blamed the board for the worsening performance.

I'm anxious about Nissan's future because external board members, who appear to have done nothing to stop problematic things from happening, will be retained.

A notice about the shareholders meeting revealed that the former president and three other executives had received nearly 650 million yen combined, or roughly $4.4 million as part of their resignation package.

The high compensation for the resigning executives looks unbalanced. While many employees are suffering with job cuts.

Nissan is under pressure to turn around his financial health after posting a net loss of more than 670 billion yen, or about $4.6 billion in fiscal 2024. 

LAWSON OPENS NEXT-GEN STORE IN TOKYO

Convenience store operator Lawson is going digital to boost sales amid a severe labor shortage. Now it opened a next generation outlet equipped with state-of-the-art technology with help from telecom giant KDDI.
The store opened on Monday in an office building in central Tokyo, where one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the capital is underway. At the store, robots cook food and stack shelves. Electronic labels eliminate the need for manual price changes. Artificial intelligence analyzes customer behavior based on footage from over 20 cameras.
The information is used to compile data on hot items and improve efficiency.
Lawson and KDDI, which acquired a 50% stake in the firm last year, hope such futuristic technologies will give the stores an edge. Lawson aims to expand use of the new tech. And cut the workload by 30% at all stores by fiscal 2030.

US PUSHES ASIA TO BACK PRICEY LNG MEGAPROJECT

the US government is pushing ahead with a major project to extract liquefied natural gas in the state of Alaska.
President Donald Trump believes this could cut the trade deficit with Asia.
And he wants the region to help pay for it, but it comes with a steep price tag and plenty of risks. That's given potential partners reason to pause. NHK World's Raja Pradhan has more.

We're talking about a joint venture of some type between Japan and us having to do with Alaska oil and gas, and that's very exciting. 

Trump touted the project during a summit with Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in February and signaled he wants the country on board.
The massive undertaking involves the construction of a pipeline that'll stretch 1,300 kilometers across Alaska. It would deliver natural gas from the northern part of the state to a facility that'll be built in the southern part. From there, the natural gas will be converted into LNG and shipped across the Pacific to Asia. The project's developers say it could cut transport time and reduce geopolitical risks as compared to purchasing from the Middle East. But any benefits would not come cheap. Construction carries a price tag of $44 billion.
To help offset the cost, the US wants investment from overseas. Washington recently invited officials from Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, to the site for gas production in Alaska. Officials pitched them on the project. 

And when we can have enough energy for ourselves and then sell energy to our friends and allies, they don't have to buy it from our adversaries. That makes the world a more peaceful place. 

But there's deep skepticism about its feasibility.

We can see it very, very clearly. Dramatic warming. Dramatic warming of permafrost. 

Vast stretches of the pipeline would be built on permafrost. Experts warn the warming climate is melting it. 

Yeah, this is, yeah, it's all ice. It's all ice.

As the frozen earth thaws, the land could soften and subside, potentially leading to catastrophic damage to the pipeline.
Moreover, there are worries persistent inflation could send the project's construction costs soaring, along with the price of the LNG it produces.
The Japanese government says it's important to diversify its energy resources, but it's also appeared to acknowledge swirling concerns about the project's price.

Whether or not Japanese companies commit to the project depends in large part on what the cost is going to be and when it could start producing results.

Despite these concerns, the governor of Alaska has expressed confidence in the project and signaled the firms involved intend to move forward.

Glenn Farne and others are very optimistic that this is going to pan out and actually have a project that can actually startBut being built because we have all the permits, all the right of ways, everything is ready to go.

Construction is expected to be in 2026, and it wouldn't produce LNG for at least another five years. Given the timeline and the price tag, it remains to be seen whether Japanese firms will commit. 

OK, let's get a check on the markets.

And that is it for Business News. Going to hand it back to you. 

Thanks, Ramin.

MAN POSING AS OHTANI SHOHEI ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF FRAUD

A man in Tokyo has been arrested on suspicion of committing fraud by posing as Major League Baseball star Otani Shohei. NHK has learned that 26-year-old Niure Suman Kumar from Nepal contacted a woman in her 80s last November. He used a social media account disguised as that of the Los Angeles Dodgers player. The suspect messaged the woman as Otani for several months. He told her that as the world's best player, he had to pay huge insurance premiums. He also told her not to worry, as he would pay her back when he went to Tokyo. The suspect later met the woman, reportedly posing as Ohtani's agent.
She gave him the equivalent of about 7,000 US dollars in cash.
When the woman asked to speak to Ohtani by phone, the suspect told her the star could not because he was about to play a game. The suspect is said to have sent most of the money to the account of his father, who also lives in Japan. Tokyo police have also arrested the father.

IN FOCUS

Now we go to Shibuya Aki for Newsline in Focus. She has a story about some interesting ways that companies in Japan are trying to keep employees from quitting. 

KEEPING WORKERS IN A LABOR SHORTAGE

Japan's labor shortage is making it tough to find and keep workers. The employment rate for university graduates this year reached 98%. That ease of getting hired has led to an increase in job-hopping. A labor ministry survey shows that about 35% of those who graduated university in 2021 left their employer within three years.
That's prompting companies to work even harderto keep people longer term.

This construction company has struggled with young employees quitting, including three who left during training.

There were cases where employees came to talk to HR after already deciding on their next job. We had no idea what they had been thinking. 

The company introduced an internal survey last year to flag any problems earlier.
Employees in their first to third year answered. three questions emailed to them at the start of each month.
The queries are aimed at finding out whether they feel comfortable talking with their supervisors or senior colleagues and assessing how satisfied they are with work conditions.
The responses to questions can be selected from five levels of agreement or disagreement. There is also space for writing any comments.

It only takes two to three minutes. I can easily answer it even during busy periods. 

The data gathered from the questionnaire is automatically compared with responses from more than 9000 companies to generate an assessment of how likely it is the worker might leave. The state of each employee who takes the survey is rated as sunny, cloudy or rainy, helping to quickly identify those who are struggling or dissatisfied.
This second-year clerical employee, Ueda Taisei, was overwhelmed with his workload, but he felt he couldn't talk to his manager about it. 

I had many unfamiliar tasks piling up and couldn't manage on my own, but I felt like I shouldn't trouble my boss with that.

That month, Waida's survey result was rainy. He wrote in the comments section that he was overwhelmed with immediate tasks. The system's artificial intelligence automatically flagged the response to HR, suggesting follow-up was needed.
Human resources staff set up a meeting with Ueda and reassured him that the increase in tasks was a sign of trust and responsibility, then gave him advice on how to prioritize tasks.

I appreciated that someone noticed I was struggling. The meeting helped me understand where I was stumbling, and I think things have improved.

Since introducing the system, the HR staff meets with about 10 employees each month. Among more than 100 clerical employees in their first and second year, none have quit.

Our current policy is to not leave small problems unaddressed. As an HR and development manager, being able to spend time supporting employees has been a major improvement.

Some companies are trying to prevent young employees from quitting by providing a traditional perk.
This insurance firm offers very affordable accommodations. Its dormitory opened two years ago. It's about a 10 minute walk from the nearest station.
The rent is set at less than 1/3 of the local market rate. It's available to employees in their first three years. About 150 workers currently live there.

When your living situation is stable, it makes work easier and increases the desire to stay with the company. That leads to better retention.

This third year employee says by keeping housing costs low, he's able to save money while going on a leisure trip once a month. 

A good personal life helps me recharge for work, and it's great to spend on what I enjoy without worrying too much.

The dorm also has a shared lounge where employees can interact, aiming to strengthen bonds among peers.

Having fellow young employees around really keeps me motivated. It gives me the strength to keep going.

A leading recruitment agency survey showed the most common reasons people in their 20s left their job was dissatisfaction with pay, followed by poor human relationships. So aside from steps such as conducting surveys and offering housing benefits, raising salaries is definitely one way to go.
considering Japan's low birth rate and aging demographic trends it's no mystery that competition to hire and keep staff will intensify and for sure companies will have to utilize whatever means possible be it AI support or community building amongst its workers to stay afloat. And that's all for me. 

(Japanese)

SETOUCHI LOCALS INHERIT ISLAND ART TREASURES

The Seto Inland Sea in western Japan is home to more than 700 islands. And the Setochi Triennale Art Festival is being held there this year. Well, after the event, some of the artworks are kept and maintained by the locals. NHK World's Matsunaga Kanoko covers the islanders' desire to preserve the artworks as local treasures. 

Awashima is one of the island venues for the Setochi Triennale.
These huge wild bones were first displayed six years ago.
And this mural on the wall reproduces the art of an Indian minority group that is more than 3,000 years old.
After the festival, the islanders took over the work. Volunteers show it took visitors every Saturday.
The work was created by two artists and about 50 locals. It took four months to finish. Together, they overcame many difficulties.
They repair any damages themselves. 

you know We think of the artwork as if it were part of ourselves, so we do repairs with care.

Around 140 people live on Awashima, many of them getting on in years. Nishiyama Teruko, our resident, lives alone and is worried about the increasing number of empty houses.

I don't hear many voices on the island these days.

What she enjoys most is working to keep the artwork alive.
They got burnt.

Once a week, Nishiyama and Hug Wolf embroidered mural motifs. They sell their clothes to tourists to pay for the conservation of the artworks.
Please have some of the pastries I baked yesterday.

Everything you make is delicious.

They are still in contact with Vayedu, the Indian artist who painted the mural.

Got a girlfriend yet? 

No, not yet.

Quick, find a girlfriend.

I want to protect this activity for as long as possible. I think of the artwork as a treasure because it connects people.

This year's Setouchi Triennale for Awashima starts in the autumn. And the residents are looking forward to taking part in the vibrant sea. Deer tracks bring to the island.
Matsunaga Kanako, NHK World. 

CORAL STARTS SPAWNING OFF WAKAYAMA PREF.

A variety of coral in the Pacific Ocean off Wakayama Prefecture in western Japan has begun its annual spawning. The sea off the prefecture's Kushimoto town is the habitat for several kinds of coral. Well, that's thanks to the warm Kuroshio current that's flowing nearby.
A staff member at the local aquarium took video of the spawning of one kind of staghorn coral on Saturday night.
The coral began releasing pale pink bundles containing both eggs and sperm, each measuring about one millimeter across.

It's quite a fantastic scene at any time, and it is a once-in-a-year event for coral. I'm very happy to be able to see this. The aquarium said another type of coral is expected to spawn early next month.

check the weather

And now it's time for us to check the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh. So Jonathan, we continue to see the rainy season front bringing heavy rain into many areas across Japan. What can we expect the rest of the week? 

Hello, we are definitely seeing a wetter pattern taking place across Japan and it looks like that as we go throughout the next few days, we'll be seeing that rain focus in place but shifting from the West toward the north and east depending on where the front is actually be actually located. I want to show you some video coming out of the western portion of Japan. This is in Nada where the rainy season front continues to dump heavy rain across eastern and western Japan Tuesday. This one of locations dealing with the wet weather, but we're talking about heavy rain warnings and advisories being issued across a wide area from the Kyushu to Tokai regions and it looks like that's going to be the story as we go into Wednesday as well. Low pressure back for the West.
Bring some rain into South Korea as well as the western portion of Japan. But we also have this tropical system down to the South bringing some rain into Chichijima. And it looks like that even though the system it may not hold itself together, the moisture that's bringing up toward the north will interact with the front and that could lead to some rain, some locations heavier at times. So you're just going to have to be vigilant as we go throughout the next couple of days because it's going to be quite wet again from West to East.
Sapporo, you're kind of like the. At the moment you're hot way above average for this time we at 32 rain coming in by Thursday into Friday. Tokyo Osaka Fukuoka all seeing rain as we go into Wednesday and those Tokyo going back into the 30s as we head from Thursday into the weekend. Then we dry out and the heat continues and so yeah, we're kind of going swinging back and forth between rain and a hot weather and so just.
V rate to be flexible because we're seeing quite a bit of a change here for the next several days. 
Speaking of heat, highs near 40 in places like DC, Washington DC into New York. Get on the lookout for that as high pressure just really controls the weather toward the east. Rain and thunderstorms possible again from the plain seas into the Great Lakes as we had this front batted up against the high pressure with thunderstorms from Denver into Chicago for Tuesday. 
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫~ 3-DAY FORECAST(+72h) ~♫

And that wraps it up for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you very soon. Thanks for watching.