From our studios in Tokyo, this is NHK Newsline. I'm Ross Mihara.
ZELENSKYY: 20-POINT PEACE PLAN COMPILED WITH US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has unveiled a 20-point peace plan to end the fighting with Russia. He says the proposal was drawn up with the United States.
Zelenskyy revealed details of the plan on Tuesday at a news conference.
Concerning the territorial issue in Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east and Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south, the current troop locations would serve as the de facto line of contact.
Russia is not expected to agree to this, so the plan includes a proposal to discuss a demilitarized zone in Donetsk.
It suggests that both sides would withdraw their troops.
Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked by reporters on Wednesday about his response to the document.
He said he has already answered this question, so he would not repeat it.
The Russian side has made no specific response so far.
Russian diplomatic sources told NHK that the Kremlin is expected to examine the contents and answer questions, but hinted that it would be difficult to accept them.
It is unclear whether the move will lead to progress in the peace process.
N.KOREA'S KIM VISITS NUCLEAR SUB CONSTRUCTION SITE
North Korean media have reported that the country's leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine.
Kim is also said to have criticized South Korea's plan to build a similar vessel.
State-run Korean Central Television reported on Thursday that Kim visited a site where an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine is being built.
A nuclear-powered submarine is one of the goals in Pyongyang's five-year national defense plan that ends this year.
Kim reportedly stressed the significance of the sub for the country's defense.
At the same time, he said Washington's approval of Seoul possessing nuclear-powered submarines would increase instability around the Korean Peninsula.
KIM OBSERVES TEST-FIRING OF NEW SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES
Kim also reportedly observed the test firing of new surface-to-air missiles on Wednesday.
South Korea's military says the North fired what appeared to be surface-to-air missiles at around 5 p.m. on that day.
It says several missiles were launched from near Sondok in the north's eastern province of South Hamgyong toward the Sea of Japan.
THAI-CAMBODIA CEASEFIRE TALKS RESUME
Thailand and Cambodia have resumed cease-fire talks.
The move comes after fighting between the two countries broke out again this month.
The meeting began Wednesday near the border.
Defense ministers from both sides are expected to participate on Saturday.
The countries had agreed to restart truce talks at a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Monday in Malaysia.
Border clashes have left more than 40 people, including civilians, dead and forcing the evacuation of over 700,000 others.
Observers say it remains uncertain whether the talks will make any progress.
OFFICIALS HEAD TO EGYPT FOR TALKS OVER LAST HOSTAGE'S BODY
Israel has sent a delegation to Egypt for talks to recover the remains of the last hostage held in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Islamic group Hamas have been conferring with officials from Turkey over the transition to the next phase of a peace plan for Gaza.
Egypt and Turkey are two of the countries mediating discussions over the peace plan between Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire agreement took effect in October, but the plan has not moved forward as Hamas has yet to hand over the body of the last hostage.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said that it dispatched officials to Egypt.
On the same day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced its Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, held talks with Hamas officials.
Reuters news agency quoted a Turkish source as saying that Hamas officials discussed the ceasefire and advancing the peace plan.
The source also reportedly quoted the officials as saying that the amount of supplies entering Gaza, such as medication and fuel, has not been sufficient.
Amid intensifying talks for the transition, an explosive device detonated in southern Gaza on Wednesday, wounding an Israeli soldier.
Israel claimed that Hamas planted the device and that the Islamic group is violating the cease-fire agreement.
JAPAN EXPECTS REAL GDP TO GROW 1.3% IN FY2026
The Japanese government says it expects the country's economy to continue on a moderate recovery path in fiscal 2026, growing about 1.3 percent in real terms for the year beginning in April.
The forecast is 0.2 percentage points higher than that for fiscal 2025, when GDP is projected to grow about 1.1 percent.
Private consumption growth next fiscal year is expected to match this year's figure of about 1.3 percent.
Government officials say they project a rise in disposable income, sharp increases in food prices are likely to slow down, and a provisional gasoline tax will be abolished.
Meanwhile, growth in corporate capital investment is forecast to accelerate to around 2.8 percent.
The government says businesses are willing to invest more amid worker shortages and planned cuts in corporate taxes to encourage capital spending.
Officials project nominal GDP expansion of 3.4 percent next fiscal year, slower than this year's 4.2 percent due to decreasing inflation.
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00:06:02 話者 2
Hi.
SANTA CLAUS STARTS HIS ANNUAL GIFT-GIVING JOURNEY
00:06:07(Ross Mihara)
Santa Claus has boarded a reindeer-pulled sleigh in Finland and set off on his annual journey. He will now deliver Christmas gifts to children across the globe.
The journey began at Santa's home. He lives in a Finnish village on the Arctic Circle.
A video clip shows him preparing to deliver gifts by reading letters he has received from children everywhere.
He sent a warm message to people all over the world ahead of his departure.
00:06:37(Santa Claus)
And I hope this Christmas we could take a moment to think about how could Christmas bring us closer to each other. How could we all live in peace together around the world?
00:06:50(Ross Mihara)
Meanwhile, aerospace defense officials in the United States and Canada are operating a special website that tracks Santa Claus.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command normally monitors missiles and aircraft, but it carries out this unique mission every year in December.
This is the 70th anniversary of the holiday tradition.
00:07:12(Maj. Gen. David Moar/NORAD)
Something really interesting is that Rudolph's nose is very bright and very hot, and our satellite systems can actually track Rudolph's nose as he travels around the world as well.
So we have very good awareness of where Santa is.
00:07:27(Ross Mihara)
Over 1,200 soldiers and volunteers will respond to telephone and e-mail inquiries about Santa's whereabouts made by thousands of children around the world.
FAREWELL APPROACHES FOR UENO ZOO'S GIANT PANDAS
People are flocking to a zoo in Tokyo for a final look at a pair of much-loved giant pandas.
There's only about a month before Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei are returned to China.
The twins' final day on public display will be January 25.
On Thursday, visitors watched as the pandas munched on carrots and bamboo.
And the site is so popular that the zoo has had to introduce viewing restrictions to handle the crowds.
00:08:14(unknown)
I knew they would leave eventually, but I feel sad now that the time has come.
00:08:22(Ross Mihara)
The zoo is marking the twins' departure with a photo exhibition that includes pictures of them as newborns.
00:08:31(unknown)
I want to say thank you to all staff at Ueno Zoo for taking great care of the pandas.
00:08:37(Ross Mihara)
From Saturday, the pandas will be kept indoors as they begin their quarantine ahead of their trip.
Those were the stories for this hour.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
I'm Ross Mihara in Tokyo. We thank you for joining us on NHK News Line.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 5
Hi there.
It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Erica Kojima.
00:10:16 話者 7
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 5
Listen to the skit for lesson 39.
00:10:52 話者 2
My master.
00:11:17 話者 5
Now let's go through the skit line by line.
00:11:21 話者 7
Tam tells Haru-san what happened.
00:11:28 話者 5
Haru-san, I lost my wallet.
00:11:31 話者 2
Haru-san suggests what to do.
00:11:38 話者 5
Oh my, you should go to the police box.
00:11:42 話者 7
Tam follows the suggestion and tells the police officer her situation.
00:11:46 話者 5
The officer asks, So what kind of a wallet is it?
Tam explains, It's yellow.
00:11:57 話者 8
Then the officer says, Ah, yellow.
00:12:06 話者 5
Is this it?
00:12:07 話者 7
Tam seems happy.
00:12:11 話者 5
Yes, that's the one.
00:12:14 話者 7
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.
00:12:38 話者 2
Saifu, dos teshu, my master.
00:12:41 話者 7
If you remember this pattern, you'll be able to describe a mistake you've made.
00:12:46 話者 5
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 7
Listen and repeat.
00:13:37 話者 9
Otoshite shimaimashita.
Got it.
00:13:56 話者 7
Listen to a conversation in which a hotel guest tells a front desk clerk.
that he forgot something.
00:14:13 話者 8
Now, let's see what it means.
00:14:21 話者 7
Excuse me, I forgot my room number.
00:14:24 話者 5
Heya is room, and bango is number.
Wasurete is the te form of the verb to forget, wasureru, followed by shimaimashita.
It expresses the troubled feeling of the speaker.
00:14:42 話者 7
Your name is...
00:14:44 話者 5
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 7
Give it a try.
Listen and repeat.
00:14:59 話者 9
Wasurete shima imashita.
Heia no bango wasurete shima imashita.
Sumimasen.
Heia no bango wasurete shima imashita.
00:15:24 話者 5
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 7
Spill water is...
The verb to spill is...
The te form is...
Okay, go ahead.
00:16:14 話者 5
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 7
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 5
Red akai white shiroi black kuroi blue
Aoi.
00:17:05 話者 7
So are all the colour names e-adjectives?
00:17:08 話者 5
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.
Long words like pink or grey are also nouns.
00:17:30 話者 2
And with that in mind, listen to the skit one more time.
00:17:48 話者 8
My master.
Ah...
Kiro...
Kore desu ka.
00:18:08 話者 5
Sorry desu...
00:18:12 話者 7
Next up, Haru-san's bag full of advice.
And today's topic, police boxes or koban?
00:18:20 話者 5
So, Michael, have you ever been to a koban in Japan?
00:18:23 話者 7
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 5
Wow, that surprises me.
00:18:36 話者 7
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 5
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 7
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 5
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 7
Tune in again.
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Kusatsu Hot Springs
00:20:19 話者 10
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 Kusatsu Hot Springs.
The first thing a visitor notices upon entering the town of Kusatsu is what appears to be a giant pond of hot water.
Some 4,000 liters of hot spring water gushes up every minute at this yubatake, or literally hot water field.
It's 60 meters across and 20 meters wide.
The area is filled with the sound of flowing water, steam rising from the yubatake, and a sulfurous odor typical of hot spring resorts.
It all adds up to create an atmosphere that helps visitors step away from their everyday mind state.
Kusatsu Hot Springs is in Gunma Prefecture in the central part of Japan.
You can get there by the Shinkansen bullet train or buses from Tokyo.
Kusatsu has been a renowned hot spring resort for many centuries.
Emperors and shoguns, as well as regular people, have long taken a dip in its baths.
The natural hot springs are said to ease fatigue from long travels and supposedly have curative effects for illnesses, bruises, and sprains.
Kusatsu is ranked as one of the top three hot springs in Japan.
Bathing is a well-loved part of life in Japan, but bathing in hot springs is not the same as taking a bath at home.
Under Japan's hot spring law, in order to be officially considered a hot spring, the water, steam, and gas must well up from the ground and contain certain natural elements, and the temperature must be at least 25 degrees Celsius.
One of the main features of Kusatsu Hot Springs is the sheer amount of water that wells up from the ground in the area.
In terms of volume, it's the top hot spring in Japan, with more than 32,000 liters gushing out a minute.
That's enough to fill 230,000 oil drums a day.
The Yubatake hot water pond at the center of the town is where visitors can get a sense of the vast amount of water flowing out from the ground.
Seven wooden conduits line the oval-shaped Yubatake.
Hot water of around 50 degrees Celsius cools as it flows through the conduits before being distributed for bathing to some baths.
The conduits also accumulate what are known as yunohana, or literally hot spring flowers.
They're crystalline compounds that form from the elements in the water as it's cooled by the air.
The crystals are gathered and dried and made into a powder.
The powder is a popular souvenir, as it can be used as a natural bath salt.
But the most famous of the attractions at Kusetsu is a water-stirring event called yumomi.
With a temperature of around 50 degrees Celsius, the hot spring water must be cooled down to a temperature suitable for bathing.
One way to do this is yumomi, stirring the water using wooden paddles.
Locals stir the water while singing traditional folk songs to keep rhythm.
The most famous of these are the ksetsu folk songs.
Visitors can enjoy Yumomi performances and even try their own hand at stirring the water.
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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