00:00:10 (Yuko Fukushima)
Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.
HEAVY SNOW FORECAST FOR EASTERN, WESTERN JAPAN
Weather officials are forecasting heavy snow in eastern and western Japan through Saturday, mainly in mountainous areas.
They are calling on people, especially in urban areas, to be on alert for traffic disruptions.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says a strong cold air mass and a winter pressure pattern are bringing snow mainly along the Sea of Japan coast from eastern to western Japan.
In mountainous areas from the Tohoku to the Kinki regions, up to 20 centimeters of snow was recorded over six hours on Friday morning.
The Chugoku region could be affected by a Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone, or JPCZ, with localized heavy snow.
Snowfall in the 24-hour period through Saturday morning in mountainous areas is expected to reach up to 70 centimeters in Niigata Prefecture, 60 in the Hokuriku and ***** regions, 50 in the Chugoku region, 40 in the Kanto-Koshin region and 20 in the Shikoku region.
Weather officials say flatlands in the southern part of the Kanto region, including Tokyo's 23 wars, could see a light snow accumulation through Saturday.
They warned that accumulated snow and icy roads could affect traffic.
They're calling on people to be on alert for avalanches and power outages caused by snow.
TAIWAN PRESIDENT VOWS TO BOOST DEFENSES IN NEW YEAR'S SPEECH
Taiwanese President Lai Chung-te has stated Taiwan is determined to boost its defenses in the face of China's expansionary ambitions.
He made the remark during a New Year's address.
00:01:53 (Lai Ching-te/Taiwanese President)
I will staunchly defend our national sovereignty and establish robust deterrence and democratic defense mechanisms.
00:02:01 (Yuko Fukushima)
Lai delivered the speech on Thursday in Taipei.
China conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan earlier in the week.
Lai said the United States, Japan, European Union countries and other nations have expressed support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Here is the opposition parties to swiftly pass a $40 billion special defense budget.
The opposition parties have a majority in Taiwan's parliament, but they had refused to discuss the 2026 budget bill.
Lai noted Taiwan is willing to cooperate with Beijing and engage in exchanges as equals if Beijing acknowledges Taiwan's existence and if Beijing respects the Taiwanese people's desire for a democratic and free way of life.
MAMDANI SWORN IN AS NYC MAYOR, VOWS TO IMPROVE LIVES
Zoran Mamdani has become the first Muslim mayor of New York City.
At his inauguration ceremony on Thursday, the 34-year-old member of the Democratic Party vowed to improve the lives of city residents.
Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, delivered his speech at City Hall before supporters and politicians.
Many were from the left wing of the Democratic Party, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
00:03:25 (Zohran Mamdani/New York City Mayor)
No longer will City Hall hesitate to use its power to improve New Yorkers' lives.
City Hall will deliver an agenda of safety, affordability, and abundance.
00:03:38 (Yuko Fukushima)
The new mayor has pledged to help people struggling with high prices by raising taxes on businesses and the wealthy.
But some of these proposals may be difficult to implement as they would require approval from the state legislature and other bodies.
Observers say rivalry between leftists and moderates within the Democratic Party at the national level is likely to intensify as the party shapes its policy agenda.
They say this could influence the campaign strategies of the Republican and Democratic parties ahead of midterm elections later this year.
TWO YEARS SINCE NOTO QUAKE IN JAPAN
January 1 marked two years since a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula.
The quake left hundreds of people dead across central Japan.
Later that year, torrential rains struck the region, killing 20 more.
Survivors and local residents gathered to remember the victims and pray for the region's recovery.
Updated figures show the earthquake killed 698 people across Ishikawa, Toyama and Niigata prefectures.
The toll includes 470 deaths linked to health problems and other disaster-related effects.
Authorities say the number continues to climb.
Among those affected is Oma Keisuke, who lost his wife and three children in the quake.
00:05:09 (Oma Keisuke)
I've done my best as a father over the past year.
00:05:15 (Yuko Fukushima)
His family was killed in a mudslide while staying at his wife's parents' home in Suzu City.
Oma now lives alone in Kanazawa City, where he once lived with his family.
He says he has kept his children's room exactly as it was before the disaster.
00:05:34 (Oma Keisuke)
I feel connected to my family here.
When I come into this room, I remember my children sitting here.
00:05:46 (Yuko Fukushima)
Oma says support from those around him has helped him move forward. He now hopes to help others in need and has begun taking part in volunteer activities for children.
00:06:01 話(Oma Keisuke)
I'm grateful to be alive. I don't want to keep living in sadness.
I ask my family to watch over me from above.
00:06:16 (Yuko Fukushima)
According to the Cabinet Office, as of December 25, the quake had damaged more than 165,000 houses in 11 prefectures. About 70% of those homes were in Ichikawa Prefecture. More than 17,000 people are still living in temporary housing provided by local governments.
SWORDSMITHS IN CENTRAL JAPAN PERFORM NEW YEAR RITUAL
Now turning to a Japanese New Year tradition, swordsmiths in central Japan, Gifu Prefecture, have performed a ritual to pray for safety and success through the new year.
On Friday, 7 artisans of the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum demonstrated their Japanese sword-forging skills.
They heated steel to more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, then pounded the metal with hammers to remove impurities. About 90 visitors looked on as they worked.
00:07:14 (visitor 1)
This is the first time I've seen this. It was more spectacular than I imagined.
00:07:20 (visitor 2)
These artisans are working so hard. The sparks are intense. It's amazing.
00:07:27 (Yuko Fukushima)
The museum stages a sword-making ceremony every year on January 2.
Seki City is one of Japan's major knife-producing regions.
YOKOHAMA DEPARTMENT STORE OPENS FOR NEW YEAR WITH LUCKY BAGS
And some department stores in Japan have begun their first New Year sales.
At a department store in Yokohama, many shoppers lined up before the store opened at 9 a.m. Because a horse is a Chinese zodiac sign for this year, horseshoe-shaped sweets were handed out at the entrance.
One of the main attractions was bargain deals known as lucky bags.
00:08:02 (customer 1)
I came to buy clothes.
00:08:05 (customer 2)
There's a wide variety of items in the lucky bags, so it feels like a good deal.
I tend to spend more than usual.
00:08:13 (Yuko Fukushima)
The department store says the bags contain essential daily items, such as clothing and food, as consumers remain cost-conscious amid rising prices.
00:08:24 (Toyoda Takanobu/Manager, Sogo Yokohama)
This kind of sale allows people to buy luxury items on special occasions and customers are enjoying the experience.
00:08:33 (Yuko Fukushima)
The store says it has increased the number of bags by about 30 percent from last year.
Those were the main stories for this hour. This is NHK Newsline.
WEATHER
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫That's it for this hour NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 7
Hi there, it's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Mary Kokojiba.
00:10:15 話者 10
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 7
Listen to the skit for lesson 40.
Now let's look at the meaning line by line.
00:11:17 話者 10
Haru-san's cheeks flashed light blue as an earthquake shook the ground.
Miya felt it.
00:11:25 話者 7
Oh, the ground is shaking.
00:11:27 話者 10
Tam screamed.
00:11:31 話者 7
Earthquake! Help.
00:11:33 話者 10
Haru-san tried to put her at ease.
00:11:38 話者 7
Please calm down.
It's all right.
00:11:43 話者 10
The shaking subsided, and Miya said to Tam, See.
00:11:50 話者 7
It's already over.
00:11:52 話者 10
Feeling relieved, Tam replied.
00:11:57 話者 7
Since it was my first earthquake, I was startled.
00:12:02 話者 10
I think anyone would be taken back by experiencing an earthquake for the first time.
00:12:07 話者 7
Even a small jolt can be unnerving for people who come from countries where earthquakes are rare.
00:12:19 話者 10
Today's key phrase is, Since it was my first earthquake, I was startled.
If you memorize this pattern,
You'll be able to express a reason.
00:12:33 話者 7
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 10
In the skit,
Tam explained she was startled by the quake since it was her first time.
00:13:02 話者 7
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 10
OK, so what's the difference between hajimete datta and hajimete deshita?
00:13:21 話者 7
Well, it's the same meaning.
Hajimete deshita is in what's called the polite style, while Hajimete datta is known as the plain style.
When giving a reason by adding kara, the plain style is more natural than the polite style.
00:13:37 話者 10
And the plain style is...?
00:13:40 話者 7
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 10
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 seen.
00:14:33 話者 7
Here's the meaning.
00:14:44 話者 10
Was that movie interesting?
00:14:50 話者 7
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 10
Since the story was difficult, I didn't understand it well.
00:15:14 話者 7
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 10
All right then, listen and repeat.
00:15:53 話者 11
Hanashi ga muzukashika takara.
Hanashi ga muzukashi katta kara yoku wa karimasen deshita.
Hanashi ga muzukashi katta kara yoku wa karimasen deshita.
00:16:21 話者 7
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 10
Rain is...
Ame.
And it rained in the plain style is...
00:16:38 話者 11
Ame datta.
Ame datta.
00:16:43 話者 10
I didn't go is...
00:16:45 話者 11
Ikimasen deshita.
Ikimasen deshita.
00:16:50 話者 10
Go ahead.
00:16:57 話者 12
Ame datta kara.
Ikimasen deshita.
00:17:09 話者 10
Okay, are you catching on?
Today's bonus phrase is this line by Tam.
Learn it by heart.
00:17:23 話者 7
Tasukete! Tasukete means help.
It's the te form of the verb tasukiru, to help.
Using the te form by itself expresses a light instruction or an order.
00:17:36 話者 10
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 7
OK, let's listen to the skit one more time.
00:18:40 話者 10
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 7
Earthquakes are pretty common in Japan.
00:18:52 話者 10
Yes, the country is prone to quakes and minor jolts occur all the time.
00:18:57 話者 7
So what should we do when one hits?
00:19:00 話者 10
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 7
That's important for everyone to remember.
Thanks for tuning in to Easy Japanese.
00:19:54 話者 10
Come back again next time.
00:20:19 話者 13
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Mount Takao
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 lift 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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