Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
JAPAN CABINET APPROVES RECORD DRAFT BUDGET FOR FY2026
Japan's cabinet has approved a draft budget for the next fiscal year starting in April.
It comes in at a record 122.3 trillion yen, or about $780 billion.
The draft endorsed on Friday is up more than 7 trillion yen from the initial budget for the current fiscal year, which was also a record high.
Social security spending will top 39 trillion yen as the country tackles an aging society and responds to hikes in medical service fees.
Defense spending will increase to 8.9 trillion yen, while outlays for education and science projects will jump to 6 trillion yen.
Around 31.2 trillion yen will be allocated to redeem or pay interest on government bonds.
That's another all-time high, as the rise in long-term interest rates has been pushing up debt servicing costs.
Now, tax revenues are projected to hit a record 83.7 trillion yen. This is thanks to solid corporate earnings that are expected to lead to wage hikes and higher income.
Still, the government will issue new bonds worth 29.5 trillion yen to make up for revenue shortfalls.
00:01:34(Katayama Satsuki/Japanese Finance Minister)
The aim is to keep the economy strong. The draft budget will fund what we have done in multiple fiscal years and normalize the spending structure.
We increased the initial budget to accommodate important measures.
00:01:48(Ramin Mellegard)
The government will submit the draft budget to the ordinary session of the diet early next year, with the aim of getting it passed into law swiftly.
PRICES OF 3,600 FOOD ITEMS TO RISE FROM JAN. TO APR. IN JAPAN
A credit research firm says the price of nearly 3,600 food items in Japan will rise between January and April next year.
Teikoku Data Bank surveyed 195 major domestic food and beverage makers
It found the number of planned price hikes is about 40% less from the same period this year, when prices on more than 6,100 food items were expected to be raised.
But the firm also says the trend of rising prices will likely continue.
The most commonly cited reason for the hikes was the cost of materials, followed by transportation expenses and wage increases.
KREMLIN: PEACE PLAN FROM US TALKS BEING ANALYZED
A Kremlin spokesperson has revealed that a peace plan Russia took home from its latest talks with the United States was conveyed to President Vladimir Putin.
00:03:00(Dmitry Peskov/Russian Presidential Press Secretary)
We're Analyzing this material, and then, depending on the decisions by the head of state, we'll continue our communication with the Americans.
00:03:13(Ramin Mellegard)
The plan was brought back by the Russian special representative following talks in Florida.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with US envoys, including Steve Witkoff, for nearly an hour on Thursday.
00:03:31(Volodymyr Zelenskyy/Ukrainian President)
There are good ideas, which we discussed. We have some new ideas in terms of formats, meetings, and of course timing on how to bring peace closer.
00:03:41(Ramin Mellegard)
Zelenskyy said work remains to be done on sensitive issues, but together with the American team, they understand how to put it all in place.
Now, his announcement on his meeting with Washington is the first since he unveiled the content of a 20-point peace plan on Tuesday.
US MILITARY STRIKES ISLAMIC STATE TARGETS IN NIGERIA
US President Donald Trump says the military has attacked Islamic State militants in the western African nation of Nigeria under his direction.
The Nigerian side confirmed it would remain engaged in security cooperation.
Trump posted on social media on Thursday that US forces executed numerous perfect strikes on ISIS in Nigeria's northwest. He called the group's members terrorist scum.
He said they have been targeted in killing innocent Christians and indicated there will be more strikes unless the group stops the slaughter.
Trump called attention to the killings in November and said he would take military action if Nigeria failed to respond appropriately.
Nigeria's foreign ministry issued a statement confirming that precision airstrikes hit terrorist targets.
The ministry stressed that the country is responding to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism in cooperation with international partners, including the US.
KIM JONG UN ORDERS EXPANDED PRODUCTION OF MISSILES
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered an expansion of his country's production capacity of missiles and shells. The move comes as Pyongyang's current five-year national defense plan is reaching its end.
The North's state-run media reported on Friday that Kim inspected munitions industry enterprises.
The report says Kim highly appreciated this year's achievements in the missile and shell production sector.
Photos released show a large number of missiles being laid out on a factory floor.
South Korea's Yonhap, a news agency, quotes an expert as saying they are KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles, the type North Korea has provided to Russia.
Observers say Kim issued his orders on missiles and shells with supplying munitions to Russia in mind.
Kim reportedly said the decision to build new munitions factories will be made at the next Workers' Party Congress, expected to be held early next year.
QUESTIONS REMAIN ONE MONTH AFTER DEADLY HONG KONG HIGH-RISE FIRE
Friday marks one month since a deadly fire broke out at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong as calls for accountability persist.
The blaze killed 161 people and displaced more than 4,000.
Scaffolding nets that did not meet fire safety standards and highly flammable foam boards were used during renovation work at the complex.
Fire alarms at the site were also reportedly faulty.
Police are investigating 16 people, including individuals from companies involved in the renovation on suspicion of manslaughter.
The cause of the fire has not yet been identified.
The Hong Kong government says an independent committee aims to complete its investigation within nine months.
Calls for government accountability have met with resistance.
Police arrested three people on suspicion of sedition days after the disaster, including a university student who launched a petition seeking answers from the government.
A university in Hong Kong has also reportedly urged student societies not to organize memorial events for the victims, citing what it called social conditions.
And those are the top stories for this hour.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
KIDS POUND RICE IN JAPAN FOR NEW YEAR CAKES
Okay, actually, one more story. Now, preparing to welcome 2026.
Nursery school children in northern Japan have tried their hands at making sticky rice cakes or mochi for New Year decorations.
Kids at the nursery in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, took part in the winter tradition of pounding steamed rice to make kagami mochi.
Next up was making the gluey rice into a round shape and getting one piece to stay on top of the other.
Kagami mochi is an offering to a Shinto deity to pray for a good harvest and health in the coming year.
00:09:27(children)
(Japanese)
00:09:30(Ramin Mellegard)
Afterward, the kids got to take their finished products home to display during New Year holidays.
And that is a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard.
Thank you very much for joining us.
checked.
Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 7
Hi there.
It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Eric Kokojima.
00:10:16 話者 8
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, Harusan, for advice.
00:10:40 話者 7
Listen to this kit for lesson 39.
00:10:55 話者 6
Harusan.
00:10:58 話者 3
Now let's go through the skit line by line.
00:11:21 話者 8
Tam tells Haru-san what happened.
00:11:24 話者 3
Haru-san.
00:11:28 話者 7
Haru-san, I lost my wallet.
00:11:31 話者 6
Haru-san suggests what to do.
00:11:38 話者 7
Oh my, you should go to the police box.
00:11:42 話者 8
Tam follows the suggestion and tells the police officer her situation.
00:11:46 話者 7
The officer asks, So what kind of a wallet is it?
00:11:53 話者 8
Tam explains.
00:11:56 話者 7
It's yellow.
00:11:58 話者 8
Then the officer says...
00:12:04 話者 7
Ah, yellow.
Is this it?
00:12:07 話者 8
Tam seems happy.
00:12:10 話者 3
So is this it?
00:12:11 話者 7
Yes, that's the one.
00:12:14 話者 8
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 7
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 otoshi mashita, it's better to say otoshi te shimai mashita.
00:13:33 話者 8
Listen and repeat.
00:13:37 話者 9
Otoshi te shimai mashita.
Saifu otoshi te shimai mashita.
00:13:49 話者 8
Got it?
Listen to a conversation in which a hotel guest tells a front desk clerk.
that he forgot something.
00:14:13 話者 3
Now, let's see what it means.
00:14:21 話者 8
Excuse me, I forgot my room number.
00:14:24 話者 7
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 3
Onamae wa.
00:14:42 話者 8
Your name is...
00:14:44 話者 7
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 8
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 7
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 8
Spill water is...
00:15:37 話者 9
Mizuo kobosu.
00:15:40 話者 8
The verb to spill is...
00:15:42 話者 9
Gobosu.
00:15:43 話者 8
The te form is...
00:15:45 話者 9
Goboshite.
Goboshite.
00:15:49 話者 8
Okay, go ahead.
00:16:14 話者 7
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 8
Yellow is an i adjective.
Other common colors are red.
00:16:35 話者 9
Akai.
00:16:36 話者 8
White.
00:16:37 話者 9
Shiroi.
00:16:38 話者 8
Black.
00:16:39 話者 9
Kuroi.
00:16:40 話者 8
And blue.
00:16:42 話者 9
Aoi.
00:16:43 話者 8
Listen and repeat.
00:16:47 話者 7
Red.
00:16:48 話者 9
Akai.
00:16:51 話者 7
White.
00:16:52 話者 9
Shiroi.
00:16:54 話者 7
Black.
00:16:56 話者 9
Kuroi.
00:16:58 話者 7
Blue.
Aoi.
00:17:05 話者 8
So, are all the colour names e-adjectives?
00:17:08 話者 7
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.
Loanwords like pink, pinku, or grey, gurei, are also nouns.
00:17:30 話者 3
And with that in mind, listen to the skit one more time...
Ah...
00:18:12 話者 8
Next up, Haru-san's bag full of advice, and today's topic, police boxes, or koban.
00:18:20 話者 7
So Michael, have you ever been to a koban in Japan?
00:18:23 話者 8
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 7
Wow, that surprises me.
00:18:36 話者 8
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 7
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 8
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 7
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 8
Tune in again.
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Mount Takao
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 Mount Takao.
Mount Takao has long been a popular hiking destination, as it's perfect for day trips.
In recent years, many tourists from overseas have climbed its slopes as well.
One reason for its popularity is its easy access from central Tokyo, less than an hour's train ride away.
But Mount Takao has much more to offer.
At the foot of Mount Takao, people are dressed in various styles.
Some are wearing trekking shoes and backpacks, ready to go hiking.
Others are dressed in a more casual style better suited for cities.
The reason?
Mount Takao has seven hiking trails.
One is a full ascent to the summit.
Another course includes a cable car and a Lyft ride and winds around the halfway point up the mountain.
Visitors can choose from several options depending on the season, the size of the group, who's climbing, and what they're in the mood for.
The cable car and Lyft route is not only fast, it's also exciting.
At one point, the cable car's ascent is at an angle of just over 31 degrees, the steepest in Japan.
Riders ooh and ah as the cable car climbs the steepest part.
Meanwhile, the two-seater chairlift leaves riders' legs dangling in the air, which means it can be a bit of a thrill for some.
But with the feel of the breeze, it makes for a great ride, and many kids ride with their parents.
Just be aware that the cable car and the chairlift may not be running when there's bad weather, and visitors should check ahead.
The hiking courses offer various sites each season.
Come spring, there are canopies of cherry blossoms in full bloom, while violets cover the ground.
In the summer, visitors can splash around in rivers or explore what's upstream.
Gorgeous foliage of reds, yellows, and oranges welcome visitors in the fall.
On New Year's Day, many people flock to Mount Takao to enjoy the first sunrise of the year.
Mount Takao has long been associated with the strict practice of mountain asceticism called shugendo.
A traditional form of aesthetic training called suigyo involves standing under a waterfall to cleanse oneself.
Mount Takao has two waterfalls, jataki and biwataki, where this is practiced.
During the winter months, visitors can watch people training in the ice-cold water.
For those willing to give it a shot, Yakuoin Temple offers a suigyo tryout experience at its dojo.
For hikers, Mount Takao offers gorgeous views.
From an observation deck midway up the mountain, they can see Tokyo and its vicinity, including the iconic Tokyo Tower and Yokohama Landmark Tower.
It's a spectacular view of the metropolis while being surrounded by the great outdoors.
When weather conditions are good, the summit of Mount Takao offers a view of Mount Fuji.
In fact, the top of Mount Takao has been selected as one of the 100 best places in the Kanto region to view Japan's most famous peak.
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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