at 18:00 (JST), June 29

20250629180000_english_1.mp3

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.

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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.