Thank you for joining us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.
JAPAN MARKS 2 YEARS SINCE NOTO QUAKE
January 1 marks two years since a massive earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula.
The quake left more than 690 people dead across central Japan.
Later that same year, torrential rains struck the region, killing 20.
Survivors and officials remembered the victims at a public memorial held on Thursday.
Ishikawa Governor Hase Hiroshi pledged he would be committed to recovery and reconstruction efforts.
00:00:54 (Hase Hiroshi/Ishikawa Governor)
We will continue to work closely with the victims and offer our unwavering support.
Working hand-in-hand with both the national and local governments and alongside the private sector, we are committed to uniting our collective wisdom and resources to ensure that, together with the people of Noto, we will move toward a creative reconstruction.
00:01:16 (Yamaguchi Hiroaki)
Bereaved families were represented by Nakayama Shin.
He lost his house in the earthquake.
And his older sister died in the torrential rains that struck that year in September.
He now speaks every day on a local radio program, sharing information, including evacuation updates and more.
00:01:40 (Nakayama Shin/Family member of victim)
I want to stand beside those who, like me, carry the grief of losing someone dear in these disasters to say we will overcome this together.
I believe that my sister is listening from above. This work is both a tribute to her memory and a way of giving back to the community that has supported me.
00:02:15 (Yamaguchi Hiroaki)
The earthquake left 698 people dead across Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata prefectures.
The count includes 470 deaths due to health issues and other disaster-related effects.
The number of these victims continues to climb.
The Cabinet Office says as of December 25, the quake had damaged more than 165,000 houses in 11 prefectures.
About 70 percent of the damaged homes were in Ishikawa prefecture.
Over 17,000 people are still living in temporary housing provided by local governments.
The populations of affected areas have continued to decline as residents move away.
Ishikawa estimates that the hard-hit Okunoto region has seen a drop of more than 13 percent since the disaster.
PRIME MINISTER TAKAICHI VOWS TO BRING REFORMS, HOPE TO JAPAN
In other news, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has pledged in her New Year's message to carry out necessary reforms and bring strength, prosperity and hope to Japan.
The prime minister noted, this year marks 100 years since the start of the Showa era that spanned 1926 to 1989.
Takai-ji says it was a time when Japan experienced changes at an unprecedented scale, including the war, the end of the war, reconstruction and rapid economic growth.
The Japanese leader said the country now faces population decline, rising prices and the most severe and complex security environment in the post-war period.
She points out the world is seeing the free and open international order waiver, while at the same time, hegemonic movements are gaining strength amid growing political and economic uncertainty.
The Japanese leader says that during much of the Showa era, people had a sense of hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
She says she will make the Japanese archipelago stronger and more prosperous, and give rise to hope in the nation.
PUTIN USES NEW YEAR ADDRESS TO RALLY PUBLIC BEHIND INVASION
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year's address to rally the public behind the invasion of Ukraine.
In the speech delivered on New Year's Eve, Putin said the strength of the people's unity determines the sovereignty and security of Russia, as well as its future.
He hailed the soldiers taking part in what Moscow calls the special military operation in Ukraine as heroes.
00:04:57 (Vladimir Putin/Russian President)
Millions of people across Russia are with you.
Both I and the public believe in our eventual victory.
00:05:06 (Yamaguchi Hiroaki)
Meanwhile, Russia's defense ministry on Wednesday released video of a downed Ukrainian drone.
Officials claimed it was one of the unmanned aerial vehicles used in an attempted attack on the official residence of Putin in the northwestern region of Novgorod.
The ministry also published a map showing the alleged trajectory of the drones.
It claimed all of them had been intercepted by air defense forces.
Ukraine has denied any involvement in the attack.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will only sign a peace deal if it guarantees Ukraine's security after fighting ends with Russia.
In a televised New Year's address on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said a peace agreement is 90 percent ready, but that a crucial 10 percent remains.
He said cooperation from the international community, including the United States and Europe, is indispensable for reaching a final agreement.
ZELENSKYY: NO PEACE DEAL WITHOUT SECURITY GUARANTEES
Zelenskyy renewed his criticism of Russia, saying the country does not want to end the fighting on its own.
He said signing weak agreements would just fuel the conflict, and he would only put his signature on a deal that is strong.
His remarks come as a post-conflict security guarantee for Ukraine has become a key factor in peace negotiations involving US and other envoys.
Zelenskyy said he thinks Russian threats are also looming over Europe.
He said Ukraine is the only shield that now separates Europe's comfortable way of life from the Russian world.
XI'S MESSAGE REITERATES CALL FOR CHINA-TAIWAN UNIFICATION
Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his desire for China and Taiwan unification in his annual New Year's message for 2026.
Xi's speech was delivered through a state-run TV broadcaster and other media on New Year's Eve.
00:07:06 (Xi Jinping / Chinese President)
(Chinese)We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship.
The unification of our motherland is unstoppable.
00:07:13 (Yamaguchi Hiroaki)
His remarks followed the Chinese military's announcement of the conclusion of large-scale drills around Taiwan that started on Monday.
The military said the drills served as a serious warning to Taiwan independence separatist forces and external interference forces.
Xi went on to say, the world today is undergoing both changes and turbulence, and some regions are still engulfed in war.
He added, China always stands on the right side of history and is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development.
Xi then referred to China's five-year plan for economic and social development that starts in 2026.
He called for steps to promote high-quality development as well as reforms and openness.
Another topic was his government's achievements to crack down on corruption in the Communist Party of China.
He said his administration exercised strict governance of the party through credible measures and took steps to fight corruption and advance healthy governance.
♪
NEW YEAR VISITORS PRAY FOR GOOD LUCK AT MEIJI JINGU
Now, worshipers have flocked to a major Shinto shrine in Tokyo to pray for good luck in the new year.
At midnight, to the slow, solemn beat of taiko drums, crowds gathered at Meiji Jingu in Shibuya Ward.
They threw monetary offerings and made wishes for the year ahead.
00:08:57 (New year visitor 1)
I prayed for health.
00:09:01 (New year visitor 2)
I was transferred by my company in October.
I hope to excel at my new office this year.
00:09:09 (New year visitor 3)
I want to speak foreign languages better.
The number of foreign visitors is increasing, so I hope I can help them as much as possible.
00:09:21 (Yamaguchi Hiroaki)
The shrine is especially crowded with worshippers in the first three days of January.
Visitors are asked to avoid peak hours.
And those were the headlines for this hour.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫And that's all from us for now. Thanks for watching.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 8
Hi there. It's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Mary Kokojima.
00:10:15 話者 9
And I'm Michael Reese.
Let's have fun learning Japanese together.
Today we bring you lesson 40, expressing a reason.
Tam, a student from Vietnam, and Mia, a Chinese photographer, were relaxing in the living room of Haru-san house.
Just then, the sensors of Haru-san robot landlady detected something out of the ordinary.
00:10:41 話者 8
Listen to the skit for lesson 40.
00:11:02 話者 6
Now let's look at the meaning line by line.
00:11:17 話者 9
Haru-san's cheeks flashed light blue as an earthquake shook the ground.
Miya felt it.
00:11:25 話者 8
Oh, the ground is shaking.
00:11:27 話者 9
Tam screamed.
00:11:31 話者 8
Earthquake! Help.
00:11:33 話者 9
Haru-san tried to put her at ease.
00:11:38 話者 8
Please calm down.
It's all right.
00:11:43 話者 9
The shaking subsided, and Miya said to Tam, See.
00:11:50 話者 8
It's already over.
00:11:52 話者 9
Feeling relieved, Tam replied.
00:11:57 話者 8
Since it was my first earthquake, I was startled.
00:12:02 話者 9
I think anyone would be taken back by experiencing an earthquake for the first time.
00:12:07 話者 8
Even a small jolt can be unnerving for people who come from countries where earthquakes are rare.
00:12:19 話者 9
Today's key phrase is, Since it was my first earthquake, I was startled.
00:12:25 話者 6
If.
00:12:29 話者 9
You memorize this pattern,
you'll be able to express a reason.
00:12:34 話者 8
Here's the meaning part by part.
Hajimetedatta means it was my first time.
Bikkurishimashita is the polite past tense of the verb bikkurisuru, meaning to be startled.
Today's point.
To give a reason, use the particle kara.
00:12:56 話者 9
In the skit,
Tam explained she was startled by the quake since it was her first time.
00:13:02 話者 8
That's right.
It was my first time is hajimete datta.
So add kara to say hajimete datta kara, meaning since it was my first time.
00:13:16 話者 9
OK, so what's the difference between hajimete datta and hajimete deshita?
00:13:21 話者 8
Well, it's the same meaning.
Hajime te deshita is in what's called the polite style, while Hajime te datta is known as the plain style.
When giving a reason by adding kara, the plain style is more natural than the polite style.
00:13:38 話者 9
And the plain style is...?
00:13:40 話者 8
It's a style that doesn't use desu or masu.
The past tense of desu is deshita, and the plain style of that is datta.
00:13:50 話者 9
Now, listen and repeat.
Okay, got it?
Now listen to this conversation.
A woman is answering a man's question about a Japanese movie she's.
00:14:29 話者 10
Seen.
00:14:41 話者 8
Here's the meaning.
00:14:43 話者 10
Sono eiga omoshiro katta desuka.
00:14:46 話者 9
Was that movie interesting?
00:14:49 話者 8
Sono eiga means that movie.
And omoshiro katta is the past tense of the e-adjective omoshiroi meaning interesting.
Adding desuka
makes the question more polite.
00:15:05 話者 9
Since the story was difficult, I didn't understand it well.
00:15:14 話者 8
Hanashi means story.
Muzukashi katta is the past tense of i-adjective muzukashi, difficult.
The i-adjective becomes the plain style if you don't use this.
Kara is added to indicate the reason.
Yoku means well.
Wakarimasen deshita is the past tense of wakarimasen, or I don't understand.
The original verb or the dictionary form is wakaru, meaning to understand.
00:15:47 話者 9
All right then, listen and repeat.
00:15:53 話者 8
Hanashi ga muzukashikatta para.
Hanashi ga muzukashi katta kara yoku wa karimasen deshita.
Hanashi ga muzukashi katta kara yoku wa karimasen deshita.
Let's practice with some other examples.
Imagine you didn't go to the beach today because it rained.
Say, Since it rained, I didn't go.
00:16:32 話者 9
Rain is...
Ame.
And it rained in the plain style is...
00:16:38 話者 6
Ame datta.
Ame datta.
00:16:43 話者 9
I didn't go is...
00:16:45 話者 6
Ikimasen deshita.
Ikimasen deshita.
00:16:50 話者 9
Go ahead.
00:16:57 話者 6
Ame datta kara.
Ikimasen deshita.
00:17:09 話者 9
Okay, are you catching on?
Today's bonus phrase is this line by Tam.
Learn it by heart.
00:17:23 話者 8
Tasukete! Tasukete means help.
It's the te form of the verb tasukeru, to help.
Using the te form by itself expresses a light instruction or an order.
00:17:36 話者 9
Use the phrase if you ever need to ask for help, whether it's a run-in with a thief or some sickness or injury that you need to be helped with.
Now this will get people's attention.
Have it ready for emergencies.
Now it's your turn.
Listen and repeat.
00:18:03 話者 6
OK, let's listen to the skit one more time.
00:18:40 話者 9
Now it's Haru-san's bag full of advice, and today we'll talk about what to do in an earthquake.
00:18:49 話者 8
Earthquakes are pretty common in Japan.
00:18:52 話者 9
Yes, the country is prone to quakes and minor jolts occur all the time.
00:18:57 話者 8
So what should we do when one hits?
00:19:00 話者 9
Well, if you're in a quake-proof building, don't go outside.
Instead, find a safe spot inside.
If the swaying is too strong that it makes it hard for you to move, wait until the shaking stops, and then carefully make your way out.
Be sure to protect your head whenever you're outdoors or indoors.
Hold a cushion, a book, or a bag over your head.
And protecting yourself under a table can also be effective.
Hold the upper parts of the table's legs.
Be on the alert for aftershocks as well.
And if you're near the coast, you may also need to be concerned about tsunami.
Evacuate to somewhere high as soon as possible.
00:19:39 話者 8
That's important for everyone to remember.
Thanks for tuning in to Easy Japanese.
00:19:54 話者 9
Come back again next time.
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Kusatsu Hot Springs
00:20:19 話者 11
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 Guma 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 maths.
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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