2025年6月16日月曜日

at 18:00 (JST), June 16

20250616180000_english_1.mp3

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

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba arrives in Canada for G7 summit

World leaders are starting to arrive in Canada for the G7 summit. Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru landed in Calgary on Sunday.
It's the first time for Ishiba, who took office last autumn to take part in a G7 summit. He's also due to deliver a speech on the Indo-Pacific region during a session on regional affairs. Ahead of the trip, he said he wants to explain what Japan can do to help maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Ishiba also stressed the importance of unity among the G7 members.

We're facing various challenges, among them the increasingly serious international situation, the global economy, global security, and emerging technologies. I'd like to talk frankly about these issues with the G7 leaders.

G7 leaders are expected to address urgent issues, such as the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the global economy will also likely take priority. Ishiba is expected to hold other talks on the sidelines of the summit. These include his first in-person meetings with invited leaders such as South Korean President Lee Jae-myung  and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But the biggest item on Yeshiba's agenda is a proposed meeting with Trump. The US president arrived in Calgary Sunday.
Differences emerged between Trump and other leaders at a G7 summit during his first term. There are fears that could happen again as Trump tries to follow through on his American first policies.
The G7 is unlikely to issue a joint communique this year. Instead, Canada is planning to compile outcome documents on individual themes.
NHK spoke with international politics expert Victor Cha, who previously worked for the Biden and Bush administrations.
We asked him what sort of plan Trump may have going into this year's G7 summit.

To the extent that he could have one, it might be to try to organize countries with regard to China. Whether we're talking about technology competition or China's economic coercion, but it's really hard to do that when you are already economically coercing all of the G7 members the United States is with tariffs.

Despite ongoing trade tensions, Cha says the leaders will likely try to show unity. But he says hard conversations will be happening behind closed doors on topics like the war in Ukraine. Cha says other leaders will be trying to learn whether Trump's pursuit of peace with Moscow has changed after he made a critical minerals deal with Kyiv last month.

I think there'll be many questions from European as well as in the Pacific countries about um You know, what is the balance between in a ceasefire arrangement, post conflict arrangement, what is the balance between supporting Ukraine and then normalizing commercial relations with Russia?

Cha also says the US appears to be receding as a key proponent of a rural space international order. He says it may be time for the other G7 members to play that part.

Swedish institute says nuclear war risks growing

A Swedish research institute says the risk of nuclear war is growing as arms control agreements are weakening and some nuclear powers are building up their arsenals. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released its latest annual assessment on Monday. It said the reduction in nuclear weapons ever since the end of the Cold War is coming to an end. The report says the nine nuclear-armed countries had an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, down just 164 from a year earlier. More than 30 percent of those were deployed with operational forces. The report says Russia and the United States possess about 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. Russia is estimated to have 5,459 warheads, about 280 more than the US The Research Institute estimates that China has the third largest nuclear stockpile, with at least 600 warheads. It says Beijing's nuclear arsenal is growing at the rate of about 100 new warheads a year, faster than that of any other country.

business desk

Now let's get to the latest in business. Here's Gene Otani from our business desk.

Thanks, Yuko. In our top business story this hour,

Lutnick: US Steel 'golden share' provides US oversight, protection

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has provided details on the scope of the government's golden share in US Steel after it's acquired by Japan's Nippon Steel. Lutnick wrote in a social media post, the share gives President Donald Trump or his designee the authority to block certain management decisions. These include moving the steelmaker's headquartersFrom Pittsburgh, PA or changing the company name, Lutnick said the share prevents and reduction or delay in the Japanese companies $14 billion commitment to upgrade US steel facilities. It also provides veto power over the transfer of production or jobs outside the US. Nippon Steel on Saturday said Trump had approved the acquisition. The two companies signed a national security agreement with Washington, which includes the golden share.
The head of Madhubeni Institute says Trump gave the green light for the deal because it benefits US manufacturers and his voter support base.

Nippon Steel needs to make US Steel a wholly owned subsidiary to protect its technology. But at the same time, the US government wants the steel maker to remain an American company. I think the golden share is a compromise to satisfy both sides.

Imamura says the demand outlook for high-quality steel products is likely to remain strong. For this reason, Nippon Steel was ready to accept the deal conditions.

Trump tariffs drive down China industrial output in May

The latest data out of China shows industrial production slowed last month.
This was partly due to the effects of US tariff measures. The National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday industrial output in May grew 5.8 percent from a year earlier, but it was down from April's 6.1 percent. Investment and real estate development tumbled 10.7 percent in the five months through May.
The decline has deepened in recent months. New home prices fell in 53 of China's 70 major cities. That's an increase of eight from the previous month. The latest figures underscore the prolonged slump in the property market, but retail sales rose 6.4% year on year, posting sharper growth than in April. Government subsidies to replace consumer goods such as cars and household appliances contributed to the increase, but concerns remain over a resurgence in trade friction between Beijing and Washington. This is even after both sides cut additional tariffs significantly in May and engaged in negotiations.

Japanese coastal cities Fujisawa, Kamakura saw rise in tourists in 2024

Fujisawa and Kamakura cities, south of Tokyo, have long been popular among domestic travelers looking for a weekend getaway. They have now become tourist hotspots for foreign visitors looking for alternative destinations outside the capital. Officials from Fujisawa City say they welcomed an estimated 20.4 million travelers in 2024. That's up about 4% from the previous year and is the highest number since comparable data became available in 1989. The officials cite good weather during the summer months when visitors flocked to the city's beaches. They also say foreign travelers went to Enoshima Island, which offers attractive views of the Pacific Ocean and Mount Fuji.
Visitors to the city spent a record 113.8 billion yen, or more than $780 million. Officials from neighboring Kamakura City, known for its big Buddha statue, say the number of travelers surged about 30% year on year to almost 16,000,000. They say this was driven by an increase in foreign tourists officials. from both cities say they are wary of overtourism and will work to protect the quality of life for residents.

Thailand and California a chance to export their grain to Japan

Rice prices at Japanese supermarkets have almost doubled in a year due to a supply shortage. That's giving farmers in Thailand and California a chance to export their grain to Japan.

Thailand is among the world's largest rice producers. These farmers near Bangkok have completed planting for the season. This rice exporter has its eyes set on Japan.
The company's research lab is developing strains that appeal to Japanese consumers. Testing for taste and texture is part of the process. The goal is finding varieties that grow in Thailand and satisfy Japanese palates.
This Thai rice is said to be fluffy and sweet. The firm has exported 800 tons of rice to Japan in the first three months of this year.
That's more than three times the annual export volume for all of last year.
The firm is enlisting influencers as part of its online advertising campaign.

Once people taste the rice, I'm confident they will trust its quality. We hope to stage tasting events in Japan. We want to give people across the country a chance to enjoy Thai rice.

An ocean away, rice farmers in California are also optimistic about selling their grain in Japan. This paddy measures about 20 hectares. The average rice farmer in the state cultivates 161 hectares, about 80 times the standard in Japan.
The vast paddies give these farmers economies of scale. Production costs are about 1/7 of that of Japan. The grain seeds are scattered by light plains. 
In Japan, farmers plant seedlings, but here seeds are released from the air after they're soaked in water to add weight for the airdrop.

California is fortunate because the valley is very flat, it's very open and it has good soils and good climate for rice. What we hear in Japan is a shortage. We're just happy that they are looking to California for additional supplies.

Cal Rose rice from California is now available at some major supermarkets in Japan.
Some expect the imports to help stabilize prices and ease tension at the Japanese dinner table.

All right. And that's business news. Yuko. I'm going to hand it back to you.

Thanks, Gene.

Osaka Expo 2 months in: Busy event connects world

Now It's been a little more than two months since the World Expo in Osaka opened its doors. Organizers initially struggled with construction delays and lack of public interest, but it seems things are a little different now.
Earlier, NHK World's Tashiro Kyoko gave you an update and explained how the event is bringing people together in more ways than one.
So, Kyoko, what's the situation like there these days?

Hello there. It's been pretty busy. The daily number of visitors recently has been averaging about 110,000, and that's a big increase compared to the 75,000 we saw in the first week back in April. It's been so busy that this has become a regular view.
Lots of long lines. We We see multiple here. The one in the back, that's for the France pavilion, and this one here, leads to the pavilion of the United States, which is a 90-minute-long wait. In some other places, the wait can be as long as five hours sometimes.
Originally, the organizers were aiming to become an expo without lines, using online ticket systems and facial recognition, but that hasn't quite worked out with some pavilions.
Plus, some of them have unexpectedly become super popular, like this one here.

Kyoko, I guess five hours is long, but long lines are not the only things people have to brace for. The weather has posed challenges too, right?

That is right. We're in the rainy season now, so it's either raining or hot and humid like it is today. We sometimes see these canopies set around the venue, but you can see that it covers only some parts of the long, long lines. And there's also the obvious shelter that people go to, which is the Grand Ring, the huge wooden structure that circles around the venue. 
People can walk underneath it, but the problemhere is that it doesn't shield the people from the rain so much when the wind blows. And many people are also concerned how the organizers are going to deal with the scorching summer heat, which is just around the corner.
Meanwhile, the visitors here are exploring new ways to enjoy the event by helping each other. This is just one example. This map of the expo, it was createdby one individual and put up on social media for everyone to print out. It's all written in Japanese, but it lists all the pavilion's locations, whether they need reservations or not, and even when the shows are going to be performed. And this has been praised for being helpful walking around here. And then, another person took it to another level.
This is a traditional Japanese uchiwa fan. What this person did was reorganize that map so it can be cut and pasted on the fan. So people can walk around holding this in one hand, looking around, and sometimes pulling down themselves like this. And this has become a major hit. I've seen so many people around here with this in hand.

Well, that is helpful and interesting, but no fan could have helped with another big issue. We've been reporting several pavilions weren't finished in time for opening day, so give us an update on that.

Sure. Among the 158 countries and regions that are participating, Nepal's has not opened, and Angola's has closed. But the rest are all running for people to visit and enjoy. What I've realized is that many visitors especially react to the exhibits that focuses on the similarities, the the connection they have with Japan. One place we can see that is the pavilion right there, the Ireland Pavilion.
It showcases multiple art pieces that are brought from the country's national museum. They were picked out to highlight how the cultures of Ireland and Japan have more in common than many people might think. One of the pieces explains how cartoons have been influenced by Japanese anime. Others show similarities in musical instruments, as well as traditional and modern art.
There's even an original dance that combines traditional moves of both countries as a show of unity.

I now feel so close to Ireland coming in here.

I'm grateful that they searched and showed what we have in common.

You can always have technology, you can always showcase the best, the most impressive, the most wow of everything. But I think at the at the very basic level, humans are always interested in other humans, and the nature and the world around them. So that's what we want to show.

Human connections is also on top of mind of another participating country.
Rwanda is trying to convey the lessons learned from the genocide it experienced more than 30 years ago. We're taking a moment to look at this next report. It follows a survivor that came here to share his story.

More than 300 people from around the world have gathered at Osaka Expo to remember the victims of Rwanda'sgenocide.
In 1994, ethnic conflict between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority led to about 800,000 deaths.
Many victims were Tutsi and moderate Hutu.
One Tutsi survivor, Klaver Irakose, shares painful memories. He was just 11 at that time.

Lives were killed by neighbors and friends who had lived with us for many years.
My father, alongside with many other men, Were taken and killed by the government soldiers.

Irakose later wrote a children's book to raise awareness of the massacre. He also gave a speech about genocide at the United Nations.
In recognition of his efforts, the Rwandan government sent him on this mission to Japan.

2025 Expo in Osaka has a theme that celebrates lives. It is important for people to know. what is happening around the world and what happened and what lessons people um learned from the past.

Iracose is visiting a local school. He wants to talk with children who were around the same age when he experienced the genocide.
The students spent the past year learning about Rwanda as part of an in-depth country study ahead of the expo.

Who are 11 years old here.

So I was your age 31 years ago. In my country, people have been taught to hate others, not because we have done anything, but simply because we existed the way we were.

Irakoza's story deeply touched the hearts of the children.

I want to tell everyone how precious life is.
I wish to make people aware of the terrible reality of genocide.

Thank you very much. It gives me hope that you have understood my story, and you are ready to be peacemakers, because peacemakers value everyone's life.
It brings back the memories, the pain, but it is a necessary thing to do for the world, for people in Japan to know what happened.

Rwanda will celebrate National Day at the Osaka Expo on July 4. And the nation hopes that sharing these genocide lessons will help humans coexist in peace around the world.

Irakoje says he wants to create more children's books based on his experience here in Osaka in order to spread his message.

Kyoko, you've covered the expo a lot for us. Even before it opened, it continues on for four more months, but based on what you've seen so far, what does the event mean for people?

So the official theme of the expo is Designing Future Society for Our Lives.
Participants are here to share their ideas on sustainability, new technology and the like. But we can also see here that they're trying to find out new ways to build ground for unity and connection.
So the whole event is can also become an opportunity for everyone to remind ourselves that working together can be the real key in solving problems the world faces today and in the future.

It's good. First time. Yeah, first time. We tried it a bit on the street like that.

いらっしゃい

How was the taste? Really good. Amazing.

Ohtani to return to pitching on Monday after elbow surgery

The Los Angeles Dodgers says Ohtani Shohei will make his long anticipated return to the mound Monday. Japanese two way star has not pitched in a Major League game for about two years due to elbow injury. The Dodgers posted on social media on Sunday that Ohtani will be the starting pitcher in a game against the San Diego Pedros. It will be the first of a four-game series at the Dodgers' home stadium in Los Angeles.
Team manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani told him that he was ready to pitch in a big league game. He added that Ohtani will likely pitch in one inning and will also be in the batting lineup. This will be Ohtani's pitching debut for the Dodgers.

Mercury rises to mid-summer levels in wide areas of Japan

Summer-like heat hit much of Japan Monday, stretching from its western shores all the way to the country's northeast. Weather officials say people should stay alert for heat stroke. Temperatures topped 36 degrees Celsius in several cities by 2 PM.
Tokushima saw the mercury hit 36-point-2 degrees, with similar heat observed in Miye and Niyazaki prefectures. Fukui and Nada prefectures saw temperatures in excess of 35 degrees. The mercury topped 31 degrees in Tokyo. Its fire department says that so far, 21 people with suspected heat stroke have been taken to the hospital. Heat stroke alerts have been issued for other regions. The list includes all of Wakayama and Kagawa prefectures, the Amami region of Kagoshima and the Yayama region in Okinawa. The meteorological agency suggests people use air conditioners and consume plenty of fluids and salt.
Weather officials say more unpredictable weather could be on the horizon. Heavy rain clouds are covering areas in the northern Kyushu and Chugoku regions.
There could be lightning strikes, strong gusts and sudden downpours in western Japan. Atmospheric conditions there are expected to be unstable through Tuesday morning.

check on the weather

It's time for a check on the weather with our meteorologist Jonathan. Oh, so Jonathan, we just mentioned the big change around Japan where we went from cloudy, cool and wet to sunny, humid and hot in just a couple of days. So what's ahead this week?

Hello. For those of you who are like we don't need summer yet, well it just kind of came up and slapped you in the face because that's the swing that we see around this time of year where as the rainy season in front tries to move northward and moves back down where we get kind of like opening the door a little bit where all the hot air comes in from the South. And that's when we see the temperatures really jumping up. Places like Tokushima hitting 36.2 degrees, which is a record for the month of June. And it's not just there many areas seeing temperatures in the 30s, if not mid 30s. And we are going to be seeing some locations with seeing some rain up toward the north of the low pressure system pushes on through and even down toward the western portions of the country. But the heat is a big part of the story and it's not going to end at least for the next few days. And so you want to make sure that you take the precautions that you need to as you go forward in time. I mean look at this hot water you're getting, you're flirting with that 30 degree mark as you go through the next few days. That's not.
Typical for you. And so you want to make sure that you know where some of the safer air conditioning locations are, because not everybody has air conditioning in that part of the country.
33 in Tokyo on Tuesday, up to 34 on Wednesday, even 36 in Osaka by Thursday. It's going to be hot.
So you want to make sure you take the proper prevention when it comes to heat stroke. Taking in water with electrolytes, air conditioning. Make sure you have the proper covering with parasols, a hat and light colored clothing. Avoid alcohol, avoid too much sun, and definitely do not leave your cars unattended as that he can really bake the inside of the car really quickly.
Looking at what's happening across North America, we have some strong thunderstorms up into the Dakotas as a low pressure system moves on through. But we also have some disturbance down toward the South as we have that station in front in place, but hot in between there.
35 Endeavor, 33 to Oklahoma City thunderstorms into Winnipeg and also from Houston into Atlanta with heavy rainfall possible into the northeast. So keep an eye out for that as you go through Monday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫~

That wraps it up for NHK Newsline and Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.

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