Hello, welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
JAPAN-S.KOREA LEADERS WRAP UP SUMMIT IN NARA
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has just wrapped up a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myo. They met in her home district of Nara.
This was Lee's second visit to Japan as president.
They met behind closed doors before speaking to reporters at a joint news conference.
Takaichi said they agreed to advance their relationship. She added that Japan and South Korea should coordinate with each other to stabilize the region.
Lee said their meeting had special importance. Both leaders agreed to continue close communication through so-called shuttle diplomacy.
JAPANESE OPPOSITION PARTIES BRACE FOR POSSIBLE ELECTION
And turning to domestic politics,...
Japanese opposition parties are bracing for a possible snap election. There's speculation that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae may dissolve the lower house later this month.
Noda Yoshihiko, President of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, sat down on Monday with Saito Tetsuo, Chief Representative of Komeito.
The opposition leaders agreed that Takaishi should not create a political vacuum while the government is required to tackle inflation and other issues.
They also agreed their parties will consider closer cooperation if an election is called.
Noda says he wants to build a political bloc that can stand up to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Saito says the two agree that Komeito and the CDP will study ways to elevate their cooperation to a higher level.
Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki Yuichiro says dissolving the lower house at this time would mean the government putting the economy on the back burner.
He says that's because the budget for the next fiscal year has not been passed.
Some LDP members say that in the event of a snap election, the party should aim for a single-party majority to ensure stable government administration.
Experts say Takaichi is expected to make her final decision on a snap election while taking into account her diplomatic schedule.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here's Gene Otani from The BizDesk.
00:02:30 話者 2
Miki, thanks.
NIKKEI 225 CLOSES ABOVE 53,000 ON STIMULUS SPECULATION
In our top business story this hour, Japan's main equity index surged on anticipation a snap election may boost stimulus spending.
The Nikkei 225 closed above the 53,000 mark for the first time ever on Tuesday.
Our business reporter Amma Raimu has more from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
00:02:52 話者 3
Buying jumped at the opening following reports over the three-day weekend that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae may dissolve the lower house.
The Tokyo benchmark ended the day at 53,549, up 3-point-1 percent from Friday's close.
Investors take the view Takaichi's stimulus measures will support Japan's economy.
Her policies are taking center stage, even as the Japanese yen hit the weakest level in a year against the dollar in Tokyo.
Analysts say the weaker yen could hurt the economy through higher prices for imports, but the market is focusing on the potential benefits from proactive government measures to drive growth. Amma Raimu, NHK World.
JAPAN FINANCE MINISTER RAISES YEN CONCERNS WITH US
00:03:41 話者 2
Japan's Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki has shared her concern about the yen's weakness against the dollar with US Treasury Secretary Scott Besson.
Katayama met with Bessant in Washington on Monday during her visit to the US.
The meeting came after the Japanese currency on Friday moved in the lower 158 range to the dollar, the weakest level in about a year.
Speculation that Japanese Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae might call a snap election is seen as a factor behind the yen's further slide.
Currency traders speculate an election may lead to further stimulus spending that could increase Japan's debt burden.
Katayama spoke to reporters after the meeting with Besant.
00:04:28 話者 4
I conveyed my deep concern over the one-sided depreciation of the yen seen also on Friday, and Secretary Besant shared this view.
00:04:42 話者 2
Katayama indicated she and Bessent will work together as needed to respond to trends in the currency market.
Finance ministers of the Group of Seven countries and other nations have agreed to quickly take steps to diversify supply chains of critical minerals.
That includes rare earth elements.
FINANCE CHIEFS AGREE TO DIVERSIFY CRITICAL MINERAL SUPPLY CHAINS
The United States convened the beating of finance chiefs, with Katayama Satsuki representing Japan, ministers of Australia, Mexico, India and South Korea joined their G7 counterparts.
The talks come as China increasingly asserts its dominant position in supplying key minerals.
US officials said their country is pushing a joint public-private sector effort to expand production of critical minerals.
They called for further cooperation from other participants at the meeting.
Katayama highlighted China's new restrictions on exports to Japan.
Beijing announced last week tighter controls of dual-use goods with potential military applications. This is raising concerns that the items may include rare-earth minerals.
00:05:55 話者 4
Participants agreed they need to act quickly to reduce their reliance on China.
They feel this is the only way forward.
Countries that previously had no keen sense of urgency have now shared a view that they could also face restrictions similar to those imposed on Japan.
JAPAN BUSINESS GROUP CALLS ON CHINA TO CLARIFY EXPORT RESTRICTIONS
00:06:17 話者 2
Meanwhile, a Japanese business organization has called on Beijing to reaffirm that restrictions it announced last week will not affect exports of civilian-use items to Japan.
A ministry spokesperson appeared to play down the rule changes, telling reporters that goods for civilian use would not be affected.
But there are growing concerns that civilian-purpose items, too, are subject to the tighter restrictions.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that China had already begun holding back exports of rare earths to Japanese companies.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China is now calling for clarity, is asked the Chinese ministry to reaffirm that the new measures do not apply to civilian use items and to take steps to keep business communities informed.
The organization says it has yet to receive reports of member companies being affected by the new rules.
Its officials, however, say they intend to lodge a complaint if any disruption is confirmed.
The ongoing confusion is a major concern for Japanese manufacturers.
Stalled rare-earth shipments from China could cause huge disruptions at auto companies and chip makers, among other sectors.
JAPANESE SLOW-FAST WALKING EXERCISE WINS GLOBAL FANS
A Japanese walking exercise is gaining international attention for its simplicity and reported health benefits.
A video on the technique was posted on social media by an Australian fitness coach kicking off the Japanese walking Boom.
00:08:02 話者 5
You've probably heard that you should walk 10,000 steps a day, but in 2007, Japanese researchers discovered a walking technique that gives you 10 times the benefits in just 30 minutes.
You switch between 3 minutes of fast walking and 3 minutes of slow walking for five total cents.
00:08:16 話者 6
Coach Eugene Teo posted the video in May.
It was just 39 seconds long, but has since surpassed 50 million views.
People are posting their own videos online of trying out Japanese walking.
00:08:32 話者 5
It's recently been taken social media by storm.
00:08:36 話者 6
Besides TV, the exercise has been featured in magazines and newspapers like Fortune, Time, The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Teo says he was searching for exercise methods for people of all ages when he discovered a report on the walking technique. It was exactly what he needed.
00:08:57 話者 5
Yeah, it's still hot. Like it makes a lot of sense.
from a mechanistic cardio metabolic standpoint.
And it was really cool to see research backing it up as like, here is the protocol you can start to use. And I love just how accessible it was.
Walk slowly for three minutes at a pace where you can hold a conversation.
For the next 3 minutes, walk briskly with large strides.
Repeat the cycle five times for a total of 30 minutes.
00:09:29 話者 5
Join us as we explore medical frontiers.
00:09:34 話者 6
An NHK World Japan program in February 2024 covered the exercise technique.
They interviewed the developer Nose Hiroshi, a specially appointed professor at Shinshu University in Matsumoto City.
00:09:50 話者 5
How many minutes do we need to be aiming for?
(Japanese)
00:09:55 話者 5
Okay. Great.
00:10:02 話者 6
Professor Masuki Shizue at the same university ran studies on the exercise and says besides muscle gain, it may help lower blood pressure, the risk of stroke, and also combat depression.
The exercise is officially referred to as Interval Walking Training, or IWT.
But Tao named it Japanese Walking when posting the video to respect the researchers.
He believes the name attracted viewers.
00:10:38 話者 5
I think people just, on some level, understand that Japanese, there's a very specific, unique way that Japanese people do things. It's very thorough.
It's very detail-oriented, and I think leveraging that is, it's a really powerful thing that makes people click a little bit.
00:11:00 話者 6
He says the great value of the exercise is that even the elderly can try it.
00:11:06 話者 5
Like my mum, like that's who I'm always thinking about.
Whenever I make any content, I think, can this be something that my mum could do?
They're the people who are probably at the highest risk of injuries and detriments to their health, who don't have the skill set or the knowledge or the tools available to them to be able to improve their health.
00:11:31 話者 6
Teo's comment helps sum up the worldwide attraction to Japanese walking.
It's a simple exercise almost anyone can benefit from.
MARKETS
00:11:43 話者 2
All right, let's have a look at the markets.
♪
And that's it for Business News.
FORMER FED CHIEFS CONDEMN CRIMINAL INQUIRY INTO POWELL
00:12:17 話者 1
The US Justice Department is facing a backlash for threatening to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Three former Fed chiefs are among those who have released a statement condemning the move.
00:12:30 話者 2
This unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.
00:12:38 話者 1
Powell says the Justice Department has served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas over his congressional testimony last June on renovations of Federal Reserve buildings.
The statement criticizing the probe released on Monday included the signatures of former Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen.
It says the Fed's independence is critical for economic performance, including maintaining stable prices, maximum employment and moderate long-term interest rates.
The statement calls the criminal inquiry into Powell an unprecedented attempt to undermine the Fed's independence.
UN: N.KOREAN CYBERATTACKS FUNDING WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT
A multinational team monitoring UN sanctions on North Korea warns that Pyongyang is financing its development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles through cyberattacks.
The 11-nation group, including Japan, the United States and South Korea, held its first open session at the United Nations.
A US State Department official reported that North Korea is estimated to have stolen at least 2.8 billion dollars in cryptocurrencies from January 2024 to September 2025.
The official highlighted the need for the international community to work together.
Japan's UN Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki called on countries to be on alert.
00:14:09 話者 7
We cannot underestimate how much North Korea has gained in revenue from malicious cyborg activities for the sake of developing its own its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, which is a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions.
00:14:30 話者 1
The monitoring team was created in 2024 to replace a UN panel of experts whose activities were halted by a Russian veto at the UN Security Council.
US CONDEMNS RUSSIA FOR USE OF LATEST MISSILE ON UKRAINE
Concerns are mounting at the United Nations over what diplomats describe as a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine, with Russia's use of a new ballistic missile among the latest attacks.
US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Tammy Bruce spoke Monday at an emergency Security Council meeting.
She said Russia used an Oreshnik missile just as peace talks are gaining momentum.
00:15:09 話者 11
We are closer to a deal now than at any point since the war began.
Despite this, Russia launched more attacks on Ukraine.
This constitutes another dangerous and inexplicable escalation of this war.
00:15:28 話者 1
Ukraine's permanent representative warned that the weapon can carry a nuclear payload and said it represents a new level of escalation.
Russia's UN representative said recent strikes were in response to an attack by Ukraine on the Russian president's official residence and civilian infrastructure.
Russia's large-scale attacks on infrastructure and other facilities have left people in Ukraine without heat, electricity or water in the middle of winter.
FRANCE LAUNCHES YOUTH MILITARY SERVICE AMID RUSSIA THREATS
With concerns growing over Russia's aggression spreading beyond Ukraine, France has launched a campaign to recruit young people for new voluntary military service.
The program will mainly target people between the ages of 18 and 19.
00:16:20 話者 12
There is a generation ready to stand up for their country, and our army is the natural framework for expressing this need to serve.
00:16:30 話者 1
The French defense ministry says the volunteers will serve for ten months in France and its overseas territories and will not be deployed abroad nor to conflict zones.
The program will begin with about 3,000 volunteers this year and will gradually grow to more than 40,000 by 2035.
The recruits will undergo military training, including taking part in firing drills using replica guns. Other European countries are also boosting their defense capabilities.
Germany recently passed legislation that could see compulsory military service reinstated if voluntary enlistments fall short.
Croatia has decided to reintroduce mandatory conscription this year.
JAPAN STARTUP AIMS TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR FOREIGN WORKERS
Foreign workers have become a valuable asset in Japan amid the country's severe labor shortage.
But some end up disappearing after working for a while, about 65-hundred in 2024, due to lack of language skills and other reasons.
A start-up in Aichi prefecture has come up with ways to help solve the problem.
00:17:48 話者 4
Four Indian workers arrived in Japan last fall.
They were trained in India by this man, Ratnish Kumar.
He's the president of a start-up in Nagoya, where he was born and raised.
He launched the company four years ago to support Indians seeking jobs in Japan.
Many foreign workers arrive and work under a system called technical intern training.
But Kumar thinks it has problems.
00:18:23 話者 8
First, there's no exam, so people can come to Japan with low Japanese language skills.
Second, they can't change jobs, so they end up disappearing.
00:18:33 話者 4
He thought one way to fix that would be to have people come after getting the higher-level specified skilled worker qualification.
Here's the difference between being a technical intern trainee or a specified skilled worker.
Technical intern trainees generally aren't allowed to change to another company, but specified skilled workers can.
While basic Japanese language proficiency is required for technical intern trainees, there is no test.
Specified skilled workers, however, must pass a Japanese language exam.
Kumar believed foreign workers and his company would both benefit if people got the skills before coming to Japan.
He set off to test the idea in India.
These students there are studying Japanese and will take an exam to judge their ability.
While in India, They'll also get on-site experience to help them obtain specified skills in fields like construction or manufacturing.
So far, 74 people have taken the exam. 67 passed.
Kumar says companies that hire these workers see them as ready-to-go talent that can fill labor shortages.
Kumar's company has sent four workers to this elevator construction company in Japan's Kasugai City. They are specified skilled workers and are entrusted on-site.
00:20:27 話者 8
The language used on site is Japanese, so if you give instructions about a dangerous situation, unless they can quickly understand and back off, I can't bring them to the site.
They usually communicate very well with senior staff.
I think things are going well so far.
00:20:47 話者 4
Kumar thinks that if companies sending them out also provide full-scale training,
Fewer foreign workers who come to Japan will have trouble.
00:20:59 話者 8
I believe specified skilled workers benefit both parties.
The hurdles to coming to Japan are high, so only capable workers can come.
Of course, it's not just Japanese language ability, but also skills that matter.
If that's the case, we want to help them.
00:21:16 話者 4
Some experts say efforts like Kumar's may reduce the risk of Japanese firms losing foreign talent.
JAPAN, S.KOREA AGREE ON CONTINUING 'SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY'
00:21:26 話者 1
As we've been reporting, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has wrapped up a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Both leaders agreed to continue close communication through so-called shuttle diplomacy.
This was Lee's second visit to Japan as president.
They met in Takaichi's home district of Nara before speaking to reporters at a joint news conference.
00:21:51 話者 1
As the strategic environment surrounding our countries is becoming increasingly severe, the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and coordination between Japan, South Korea and the US Is growing.
We shared a view on the strategic importance of the Japan-South Korea relations.
We also confirmed that the two countries should work together to stabilize the region and play a role.
00:22:21 話者 1
Takeichi said they agreed to advance discussions among relevant government agencies around economic security.
She added they had in-depth talks about supply chain cooperation.
They also discussed North Korea and its nuclear and missile programs.
Takaichi said they reaffirmed the need for close cooperation toward complete denuclearization of the peninsula.
In addition, she expressed gratitude for Lee's strong support toward immediately resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.
Speaking to reporters, Lee referenced the summit location's history as Japan's ancient capital, as well as centuries of relations between their two peoples.
00:23:10 話者 6
Our two countries have gone beyond simple exchanges.
We share our lives and futures broadly, in areas such as economics, society and culture.
Our history of exchanges stretches back 1500 years, originating here in Nara, offering an opportunity to remind us that studying the past can teach us new things.
00:23:39 話者 1
Lee mentioned enhancing coordination between South Korea, Japan and the US.
As well, he mentioned Beijing coming on the heels of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.
He emphasized that his country, as well as Japan and China, must find maximum common ground, communicate, and cooperate.
♫～
WEATHER
And it's time to check the weather with our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
So, Jonathan, it looks like winter is in full swing in the northern parts of Japan.
How are people coping with the wind and snow there?
00:24:39 話者 7
Hello, we have been keeping an eye out on that winter pattern where plenty of snow and even stronger winds have been impacting the northern portions of Japan.
Here's a look at some video that's coming out of Sapporo, where the city got smacked with another dose of heavy, wet snow and winds Tuesday afternoon as a developing low pressure system passed nearby.
Transportation officials said that at least 58 flights were canceled at New Chitose Airport due to the winter storm.
The snow depth in the center of the city reached 50 centimeters.
And we have more snow on the way for the area. We have a more traditional winter pressure pattern with the northwesterly winds coming in.
So plenty of snow from Hokkaido and the northeastern portions of the country as we go into Wednesday.
Now, for those of you who are in Tokyo, you're probably saying, it doesn't feel like winter.
It's a little bit warmer. And what's happening is we have plenty of the drier air that's falling out from the mountains with this flow.
And so because of that, we saw a sunny day with temperatures on the the rise.
It looks like we'll be seeing highs in the low teens coming up on Wednesday and Thursday in Tokyo, mid-teens by the end of the week.
So yeah, I think we're kind of forgetting that it's actually still supposed to be winter.
Sapporo, though, seeing plenty of snowfall with temperatures below freezing even for daytime highs as we go through the rest of the week.
Meanwhile, we're seeing a bitter blast taking place or will be taking place as we go through the day on Tuesday into Wednesday, low pressure up toward Canada, helping to usher in a very sharp northwesterly flow.
And that's going to help sink some of those temperatures as we go forward in time.
Three in Winnipeg, 4 in Toronto, 9 in Chicago.
Down to the south is where we see some of that warmer air.
And back toward the west, Los Angeles topping off at 27 as we go through Tuesday.
We have some issues with warm air into the western portions of Europe where avalanche concerns are into the mountains near Spain and into France.
You want to be on the lookout for that as we go today on Tuesday.
Paris topping off at 12 with partly cloudy skies.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
And that's NHK Newsline for this hour. I'm Yamamoto Miki in Tokyo.
Thank you for joining us.
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