Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.
DOCUMENTS: US FRUSTRATED WITH JAPAN ON N.KOREA ISSUE IN 1990s
Documents released by Japan's foreign ministry are shedding light on relations with the US in the 1990s.
They show American officials were frustrated with Japan's apparent lack of security preparedness amid the North Korean nuclear threat.
The documents were released on Wednesday.
They include records of a visit to the US by Japan's prime minister in February 1994.
Tensions were soaring over North Korea's suspected nuclear development at that time.
The administration of US President Bill Clinton considered an airstrike against a suspected nuclear facility in North Korea.
The records reveal talks between then-Prime Minister Hosokawa Morihiro and US officials, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
Hosokawa told them it would be difficult for the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to be directly involved in a naval blockade.
Mitchell responded that it would be hard for Americans to understand why their countries should worry about North Korea when Japan is not more concerned.
Mitchell also wondered whether clear proof of Pyongyang's possession of nuclear weapons would increase domestic political pressure on Japan to act on its own.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Tanaka Hitoshi was a division chief dealing with the issue at the time.
He says 1994 became a turning point for Japan to develop its own national security laws.
00:01:40 話者 2
At that time, Japan's mindset that America will come to its aid in an emergency was shattered. Without that experience, Japan's security legislation would likely not have advanced in the way it did.
00:01:51 話者 1
The Foreign Ministry releases diplomatic documents annually that are more than 30 years old and deemed to have historical significance and relevance to the public.
JAPAN TO COMPILE RECORD 122.3-TRILLION-YEN DRAFT BUDGET
The Japanese government is in the final stage of compiling a draft budget for the next fiscal year starting in April.
NHK has learned the total is expected to reach about 122.3 trillion yen, or about 784 billion dollars, the largest ever in yen terms.
That figure marks an increase from the initial budget for the current fiscal year of about 115.2 trillion yen, which was a record high at the time.
The draft budget estimates Social Security spending rise to about 39.1 trillion yen.
It also sets aside a record 31.3 trillion yen to redeem and pay interest on government bonds, as rising long-term interest rates push up debt servicing costs.
The government expects tax revenue to reach about 83.7 trillion yen, an all-time high.
Government bond issuance is set at about 29.6 trillion yen, exceeding the initial target for the current fiscal year.
The government plans to decide on the draft budget at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
JAPAN'S FOREIGN POPULATION GREW IN MOST PLACES SINCE 2015
The number of foreign residents in Japan has been on the increase this year.
Government figures show a record more than 3.95 million were living in the country as of the end of June.
NHK looked at data from local registries and found the foreign population in many places has risen significantly over the past decade.
NHK analyzed figures from more than 1,700 communities since 2015.
The conclusion was the foreign population increased in about 96 percent of them.
In about half of the places, the number more than doubled.
The largest rate of increase was in towns and villages in less populated areas.
The biggest jump was about 20 times.
But finding ways for foreign residents to acquire Japanese language skills remains challenging for many local communities.
In Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, the number of foreign workers has more than doubled in the past decade.
While more family members are attending Japanese language classes, many schools are struggling to secure support staff.
NHK confirmed with 28 organizations in the prefecture that at least 88 residents are waiting to join classes. Some are said to be waiting for more than a year.
An expert on Japanese policies on overseas nationals says a workforce shortage is behind the sudden influx of foreign residents in some communities.
He urges the central government to help municipalities provide more support measures because it has adopted a policy of accepting foreign nationals.
GSDF OSPREY OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY RATE BELOW 40%
NHK has learned that the Osprey transport aircraft used by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force have an operational availability rate of less than 40 percent.
Ospreys were introduced to Japan from the United States at a cost of about $1.1 billion.
Since 2020, a total of 17 have been deployed in stages as of June last year.
But a source familiar with the matter says the average operational availability rate in fiscal 2024 was 36.5 percent.
A primary factor behind the low rate was regularly scheduled maintenance work.
Other factors included malfunctions, such as warning lights not turning on properly, maintenance delays caused by personnel shortages, and delays getting parts from the US.
The source says the lack of maintenance workers and the parts delays are major concerns for the GSDF. It is considering taking measures such as prioritizing staff for maintenance.
JAPAN TO RESUME ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SYRIA
A senior official of Japan's foreign ministry has visited Syria and told authorities there that Japan will resume bilateral economic cooperation with the country.
Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Onishi Yohei held talks with the Syrian interim government's finance minister, Mohamed Yasser Barnier, and other officials in the capital, Damascus, on Monday.
During the meeting, Onishi said Japan will resume bilateral economic cooperation for the first time in about 15 years, in addition to providing support through international organizations and NGOs.
Specifically, 53 million dollars was included in the supplementary budget for this fiscal year to help refugees who fled abroad return home and also for disposal of chemical weapons.
They also exchanged opinions on cooperation in human resources development, with the removal of landmines and disaster prevention in mind, as well as holding a forum to promote investment by Japanese companies.
The Syrian interim government is working to rebuild the country after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December last year, following more than a decade of civil war.
US TO STOP AUTHORIZING FOREIGN-MADE DRONES
The US government says it will stop authorizing foreign-made drones and drones with parts produced in foreign countries for use in the United States.
It says this is because they pose risks to national security.
The US Federal Communications Commission says drones do offer the potential to enhance public safety, but they can also be used by criminals and terrorists presenting serious threats to the country.
The FCC says, in principle, it is prohibiting unmanned aircraft systems and critical components made in foreign countries, including data transmission devices and mortars.
But the FCC says the import, sale or use of any models it has already authorized will not be prohibited.
The United States is planning to host a series of events in 2026, expected to draw large crowds.
The Trump administration says it is taking additional actions to safeguard Americans in public spaces.
The FCC's decision is likely to affect drones from countries such as China which produces devices widely used in US industry and by hobbyists.
THUNBERG DETAINED IN UK FOR PRO-PALESTINE ACTIVISM
Police in London have detained Swedish activist Greta Thunberg for supporting a pro-Palestinian group banned in the UK.
British media report that Thunberg was detained on Tuesday for holding a sign supporting Palestine action.
The group has shown solidarity with Palestinians and organized protests.
The UK government designated Palestine Action a terrorist group in July after members broke into an air base and sprayed paint on military aircraft.
British authorities say supporting the group is illegal.
Earlier this year, Thunberg was part of two efforts to deliver aid supplies to Gaza by boat, but Israel intercepted her vessel and deported her on both occasions.
Those were the main stories for this hour. This is NHK Newsline.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
That's the news for this hour. I'm Yuko Fukushima.
Thanks for joining us and do stay with us on NHK World Japan.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 3
Hi there.
It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Erica Kojima.
00:10:16 話者 4
And I'm Michael Reese.
Let's have fun learning Japanese together.
Today we bring you lesson 39 on describing a mistake you've made.
Tam, a student from Vietnam, hurries back to the share house where she's living.
She lost her wallet on her way back from the station.
Tam asks the robot landlady, Haru-san, for advice.
00:10:40 話者 3
Listen to this kit for lesson 39.
00:10:55 話者 5
My master.
00:11:17 話者 3
Now let's go through the skit line by line.
00:11:20 話者 4
Tam tells Haru-san what happened.
00:11:28 話者 3
Haru-san, I lost my wallet.
00:11:31 話者 5
Haru-san suggests what to do.
00:11:38 話者 3
Oh my, you should go to the police box.
00:11:42 話者 4
Tam follows the suggestion and tells the police officer her situation.
00:11:46 話者 3
The officer asks, So, what kind of a wallet is it?
Tam explains, It's yellow.
00:11:58 話者 4
Then the officer says, Ah, yellow.
00:12:06 話者 3
Is this it?
00:12:07 話者 4
Tam seems happy.
00:12:11 話者 3
Yes, that's the one.
00:12:14 話者 4
Well, it's a good thing Tam found her wallet.
Police boxes can be found all around the country.
The officers posted there look after the safety and security of people in the neighborhood.
It's a system that originated in Japan.
Today's key phrase is, I lost my wallet.
If you remember this pattern, you'll be able to describe a mistake you've made.
00:12:46 話者 3
Here's the meaning word by word.
Saifu is wallet.
The o that follows is a particle indicating the object.
Otoshite shimaimashita means happen to lose.
The te form of the verb to lose, otosu, is otoshite, and it's followed by shimaimashita.
Today's point is the use of shimaimashita after the te form of a verb.
It expresses remorse or regret about something that's happened.
So, when you want to talk about a mistake you've made, in this case, losing a wallet, instead of saying otoshimashita, it's better to say otoshite shimaimashita.
00:13:33 話者 4
Listen and repeat.
00:13:37 話者 6
Otoshite shimaimashita.
Got it.
00:13:56 話者 4
Listen to a conversation in which a hotel guest tells a front desk clerk.
00:14:00 話者 7
That he forgot something.
Now, let's see what it means.
00:14:21 話者 4
Excuse me, I forgot my room number.
00:14:24 話者 3
Heya is room, and bango is number.
Wasurete is the te form of the verb to forget, wasuderu, followed by shimaimashita.
It expresses the troubled feeling of the speaker.
00:14:40 話者 6
Onamae wa.
00:14:42 話者 4
Your name is...
00:14:44 話者 3
Namae is name.
Since it's a question directed to a guest, o is attached in front of the word for politeness, making it onamae.
00:14:54 話者 4
Give it a try.
Listen and repeat.
00:14:59 話者 6
Wasurete shima imashita.
Heia no bango wasurete shima imashita.
Sumimasen.
Heia no bango wasurete shima imashita.
00:15:24 話者 3
Now, try talking about other ways you may have messed up.
You've spilled some water from your glass at a restaurant.
Call the server and explain what happened.
00:15:36 話者 4
Spill water is...
The verb to spill is...
The te form is...
Okay, go ahead.
00:16:14 話者 3
Here's Step Up.
Today it's about the names of colors.
When Tam was describing her wallet at the police box, she said, Kiiroi saifu, yellow wallet, remember?
00:16:28 話者 4
Yellow.
is an i adjective other common colors are red akai white shiroi black kuroi and blue aoi listen and repeat.
00:16:47 話者 3
Red akai white shiroi black kuroi blue
Aoi.
00:17:05 話者 4
So, are all the colour names e-adjectives?
00:17:08 話者 3
Well, now that you mention it, some are nouns.
For example, midori, which is green.
With nouns like green wallet, you add the particle no in between and say, midori no saifu.
Loan words like pink, pinku, or grey, gray, are also nouns.
00:17:30 話者 4
And with that in mind, listen to the skit one more time.
00:17:58 話者 8
Ah, Kiro...
00:18:12 話者 4
Next up, Haru-san's bag full of advice and today's topic, police boxes or koban.
00:18:20 話者 3
So Michael, have you ever been to a koban in Japan?
00:18:23 話者 4
Oh yes, on a number of occasions.
When I'm looking for a particular place and I need help.
Also, when my bicycle tire is a little flat and I don't have a pump, I borrow theirs.
00:18:34 話者 3
Wow, that surprises me.
00:18:36 話者 4
Well, they're very useful.
And of course, their role there is to help the people.
So yeah, they're very helpful people.
00:18:43 話者 3
At a koban, you can also ask for directions or file a report on something you've lost.
The officers also handle criminal investigations, neighborhood patrols, and traffic enforcement.
00:18:55 話者 4
Police boxes are public safety hubs.
They often show up in Japanese movies, novels, and manga because they are an integral part of daily life.
00:19:04 話者 3
Some people think the Koban system may be one reason why Japan's crime rate is relatively low.
Other countries have tried it out, and nowadays, you can also find aspects of the Koban system in such countries as the US, Singapore, and Brazil.
Well, we hope you enjoyed today's Easy Japanese.
00:19:33 話者 4
Tune in again!
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Fushimi Inari Shrine
00:20:19 話者 9
Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.
They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.
The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.
In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks, we feature Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for more than a thousand years until 1868, when the capital was moved to then Edo, now Tokyo.
When the imperial capital was moved from Nara to Kyoto in the year 794,
It went by the name Heian-kyo, which means the capital of peace and tranquility.
The city was modeled after the Chinese Tang Dynasty capital of Chang'an and built on a grid-pattern system.
In fact, the streets of Kyoto today continue to follow this well-arranged grid.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its seemingly endless rows of vermilion torii gates, is popular among tourists from both Japan and abroad.
It's less than 10 minutes by train or bus from Kyoto Station, or about a 35-minute walk.
The shrine has a history of more than 1,300 years.
It serves as the headquarters for over 30,000 Inari shrines across Japan.
As legend goes, more than 1,300 years ago, a deity was enshrined at Mount Inari.
The mountain has since been considered sacred.
People express their belief by dedicating torii of various sizes.
Another practice is engraving the deity's various names onto stones called otsuka and placing them on the mountain.
The most famous part of Fushiminari Shrine is the thousand torii gates.
Torii are the gate-like structures at shrines.
Although the size may vary, the torii is generally made of two pillars and a beam.
It stands on the boundary of the shrine's precincts and indicates that the area inside is sacred.
Fushimi Nari Shrine in Kyoto has long rows of vermilion torii that seem to stretch on without end.
Inari shrines are dedicated to a deity popular among common people, representing good harvest, prosperous business, safety for the family, and the accomplishment of ambitions.
The Edo period from the 17th century to the end of the 19th century was when much of the popular culture leading up to the present age took shape.
It was during this period that people started offering torii to Inari shrines,
hoping that their wishes would be fulfilled, or to give thanks when their wishes came true.
As the headquarters shrine, Fushiminari Shrine, received the most of these offerings, this is why there are nearly 10,000 torii gates in various sizes in the precincts.
Particularly famous are the rows of torii called Sembom torii, or Thousand torii, which lead to the main shrine building.
The endless torii make for a great photo background for tourists.
Fox statues are a common sight at Inari shrines.
The foxes are believed to be messengers for the Inari deity.
Unlike actual foxes, these are imaginary creatures considered sacred and invisible.
There are many scary stories about Inari shrines and foxes across Japan.
Also, the sushi wrapped with deep-fried tofu is called inari sushi.
This is because fried tofu is believed to be a favorite food of the sacred foxes.
Inari shrines and foxes have long been a part of Japanese people's lives.
Thank you for tuning in to the backstory of Japanese landmarks.
We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.
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