Welcome back to NHK Newsline. Here's the latest we have for you at this hour.
WILDFIRE SUBSIDES IN CENTRAL JAPAN
Firefighters say a wildfire that broke out on Saturday in central Japan has largely subsided.
Fire crews and Japan's Self-Defense Forces personnel resumed operations on Monday after suspended work, suspending work overnight.
On Sunday, helicopters dropped water on the fire in the northern part of Fujieda City in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The fire department says about five and a half hectares of forest have been burned as of 9 a.m. on Monday.
There have been no reports of injuries or damage to buildings.
Fujieda City has opened an evacuation center, but says no residents have been forced to evacuate.
TEPCO DELAYS REACTOR RESTART OVER ALARM ISSUE
Tokyo Electric Power Company is postponing the restart of one of its nuclear reactors.
TEPCO workers found an error with some of the alarm settings during a test just days before it was set to come online.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant's reactor number six was set to resume operations on Tuesday.
On Saturday, staff were conducting a test that involved removing control rods, which regulate the amount of power that's generated.
But an alarm that was supposed to sound stayed silent.
TEPCO says it determined that staff had not enabled a setting that triggers a warning when two or more control rods are removed.
Testing continued from Sunday evening, and TEPCO says it reviewed the process to determine whether the reactivation could happen on the original timeline.
The utilities firm announced on Monday that the restart has been temporarily postponed.
This was set to be TEPCO's first reactor restart since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami critically damaged another facility, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
CHINA POPULATION SHRINKS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR
The Chinese government says its population has declined for a fourth consecutive year.
It says the number of births has also fallen to its lowest point since modern record-keeping began in 1949.
The National Bureau of Statistics says there were 1.404 billion people in mainland China at the end of last year. That figure was down almost 3.4 million from a year earlier.
The tally marked the fourth straight year of decline since the population began falling in 2022, after growing for more than 60 years.
The number of people aged 65 and over reached more than 223 million.
They accounted for around 16 percent of the populace.
The number of births came in at nearly 8 million, down about 1.6 million from the previous year.
Local media say this was even lower than the nadir marked in 2023.
One of the world's most populous countries is facing social problems, such as labor shortages caused by a rapidly aging population and declining birth rate.
The country abolished its one-child policy in 2016, and couples are now allowed to have up to three children.
49% OF JAPAN FIRMS SEE TOUGH GOING FOR BUSINESS WITH CHINA
An NHK survey of 100 major Japanese firms has found that nearly half of the respondents think the outlook for business with China is tough.
71 companies responded to the survey between December 12 and January 8.
49 percent said the outlook is tough for this year.
Another 49 percent said it would remain unchanged.
The survey had a multiple-choice question about specific concerns.
Restrictions on human exchanges topped the list with 46 percent.
Forty percent of the respondents cited fears that sales in China would decline due to boycotts of Japanese products and other reasons.
Another 40 percent were worried that exports of rare earths and other critical minerals would be restricted.
China announced this month that it will tighten export controls to Japan over items that can be used for both military and civilian purposes.
The restrictions are affecting the production of magnets at this Japanese company.
It imports alloys that contain rare-earth metals from a Chinese supplier.
These are used for a wide range of products, including motors and car-mounted sensors.
Deliveries are being delayed for two to three months, and the firm can only obtain about one-third of what it used to buy.
The Chinese side says obtaining government approval is taking time.
00:04:48 話者 2
The supplier told us it may not be able to handle orders from Japan for the time being.
00:04:55 話者 1
An expert offers an insight about China's move.
00:05:01 話者 3
Until recently, China's leaders seemed to exercise self-restraint to avoid damaging business relations with Japan.
But the announcement of export controls that cover rare-earth metals may indicate the hardliners are winning.
00:05:17 話者 1
Which is a bit worrying.
In the NHK survey, nearly a third of the respondents indicated they would try to reduce reliance on China, while less than 15 percent hope to strengthen cooperation.
BUSINESS
Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.
Here is Ramin Mellegard from the BizDesk.
00:05:39 話者 4
Thank you very much indeed.
CHINA SAYS GDP GREW 5.0% IN 2025 TO MEET TARGET
And we're pretty much staying with China.
Now, China says its economy grew and inflation adjusted 5% in 2025 from the year before, meeting the government's target.
The National Bureau of Statistics released the gross domestic product data on Monday.
Beijing had set the annual growth target at around 5%.
GDP grew at the same rate in 2024.
Industrial production was solid, but budget-conscious consumers kept growth in retail sales at a modest level of 3.7%.
Investment in plant, real estate and other fixed assets fell 3.8%.
Now, in the October-December quarter, GDP grew 4.5% year-on-year or slower than the 4.8% in the previous three months.
China's economic outlook is clouded by a slump in domestic demand, as well as persistent fears of a resurgence in trade friction with the United States.
The Chinese Communist Party is expected to announce stronger stimulus measures to boost local demand.
BOJ LIKELY TO KEEP INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED, DISCUSS WEAK YEN
The Bank of Japan is expected to leave its interest rate unchanged at a meeting later this week.
Now, the agenda is likely to include the weak yen's impact on the economy, as well as the pace of future rate hikes.
The central bank is holding its first policy meeting of the year for two days from Thursday.
The BOJ's key rate is currently around 0.75%.
It raised the rates by a quarter percentage point at the last meeting in late December.
Bank watchers say officials want more time to monitor the effect of that rate hike on households and businesses.
The officials will also compile their latest outlook on the economy and price trends.
They are expected to upgrade the economy's gross rate based on the latest government policy.
December's rate hike came amid concern the yen's weakness would further accelerate inflation.
The Japanese currency has continued to depreciate since then.
It reached the 159 yen range against the dollar at one point, the weakest since July 2024.
Central bank officials are concerned the weak yen trend could drive prices higher and slow consumer spending.
10-YEAR JGB YIELD HITS 27-YEAR HIGH ON FISCAL CONCERNS
The yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond rose to a 27-year high on Monday.
Investors are concerned about the growing prospect of a tax cut that could worsen Japan's fiscal health.
The benchmark yield briefly climbed to 2.275 percent, the highest since February 1999.
Yields rise when prices fall.
Many lawmakers in ruling and opposition parties have mentioned the possibility of a rate cut in the consumption tax following an expected snap general election early next month.
NIKKEI 225 FALLS ON PROFIT-TAKING, STRONGER YEN
Meanwhile, Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index fell for the third straight day to end down 0.65% at 53,583.
Monday's decline was due to profit-taking and the stronger yen.
Investors sold auto and other export-related shares as the yen appreciated to the 157 range against the dollar.
Analysts say there was a mood of caution about currency intervention by the Japanese government and the central bank.
The Nikkei set all-time closing highs twice last week.
It topped the 54,000 mark for the first time on Wednesday.
That was on expectations.
Prime Minister Takeichi Sanae will introduce stimulus policies.
LAWSON USING IMPORTED RICE IN SUSHI ROLLS AS COSTS SOAR
Major Japanese convenience store chains are preparing to stock sushi rolls called ehomaki that are traditionally eaten in early February for good luck, but soaring costs have prompted some changes to ingredients in a bid to avoid raising product prices.
Lawson will use US-grown rice for about 10% of the grain contained in Ehomaki that will be sold at some outlets in and around Tokyo.
The chain has seen the cost of the rice it buys surge by roughly 100% compared with fiscal 2022.
A lot of ingenuity went into developing this product because we think customers want something affordable to enjoy the special occasions.
But not all products have been spared the impact of surging material costs.
Lawson says the prices of some popular items have increased by around 10% compared with a year earlier.
JAPANESE FIRMS HELPING UKRAINE OVERCOME DESTRUCTION
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has left a trail of devastation in the country.
Estimates place the cost of reconstruction at over $500 billion, a figure likely to climb as the war continues.
The recovery is going to require an international effort that includes private companies.
We look at some Japanese firms that are set to have an impact.
00:10:45 話者 5
One of the biggest obstacles to Ukraine's reconstruction are dangerous weapons that are hidden from sight, landmines. There are vast numbers in the country.
Ukrainian officials say that mines and unexploded ordnance cover about 23% of the nation's territory.
The invisible killers have already taken a grim toll.
From the start of the war through October, mines have claimed the lives of 467 civilians and injured more than 1,100.
An annual conference on mines in Ukraine was held in Tokyo this year.
Japanese companies took part in a related event, hoping to make a difference.
This firm develops AI and other technology.
It has teamed up with institutions like the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine.
They are experimenting with drones that have high-definition cameras and magnetic sensors to detect mines.
The system can operate in areas where Internet infrastructure has been destroyed.
It uses peer-to-peer communication between smartphones to share the locations of mines with workers removing the devices, as well as citizens.
00:12:01 話者 2
Even if there's a ceasefire, it's still too dangerous to go to certain areas of Ukraine.
00:12:07 話者 5
Land mines are also having a major impact on Ukraine's core industry: agriculture.
The explosive devices have rendered vast swathes of farmland unusable.
A Japanese firm believes its alternative cultivation method may provide a workaround.
It doesn't require dirt or irrigation infrastructure.
00:12:31 話者 2
Tomato seedling roots grow on the film.
00:12:35 話者 5
Crops are grown on a thin film that controls moisture.
a method that was used in tsunami-hit areas after the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake.
00:12:46 話者 2
Our technology allows vegetables to be cultivated even with Russian landmines and unexploded ordnance remaining in the country.
00:12:54 話者 5
Ukrainian farmers and agriculture officials have shown a keen interest in the system.
00:13:00 話者 6
I think this technology allows to save areas, maybe to save money.
I think definitely we can get good yield of vegetables.
00:13:14 話者 5
However, significant challenges remain.
Russian attacks on power plants have crippled the energy supply.
Heating is essential for the firm's high-tech system.
Company executives are already working on a low-tech solution: stoves and firewood.
It shows how organizations are pulling out all the stops to help Ukraine find the path to recovery.
00:13:40 話者 2
Governments from various countries, including Japan, are trying to contribute to Ukraine's economic recovery.
I believe private companies, like ours, can also play a major role in making a positive impact.
MARKETS
00:13:55 話者 4
Okay, let's go to checking the markets.
♪
And that's all for business news.
TECH COMPANIES, OFFICIALS GATHER TO TALK SUBSEA CABLE NETWORK
00:14:29 話者 1
Now to Hawaii, where officials and experts from around the world have gathered for a conference about undersea cables.
Well, the cables are drawing major interest around the world as AI use skyrockets and keeping the network safe is more important to investors than ever before.
The Pacific Telecommunications Council holds the event annually, but a growing challenge has made this year's even more vital.
Artificial intelligence is using more and more data. And the subsea cable system that forms the backbone of the internet is already feeling the squeeze.
Companies at the conference are looking to expand and secure the cable network as a result.
On opening day Sunday, one speaker suggested working with governments could reduce the amount of time needed to lay new cables.
A participant said the conference helped him learn more about the industry.
They have discussed all the emerging issues regarding the submarine cables worldwide, and it gave us a new perspective of.
00:15:34 話者 6
The things that are coming in the future.
PROTECTING THE UNDERSEA CABLE NETWORK THAT PROPS UP THE INTERNET
00:15:38 話者 1
And for more on this, I earlier spoke with NHK World's Komiya Lisa, who's at the conference. Lisa, what have you been hearing so far?
00:15:52 話者 6
People here are talking about the challenges facing the world's digital infrastructure.
Subsea cables are vital to internet connectivity.
As you mentioned, with the rapid growth of AI, there's more demand on the current infrastructure.
But even without that sudden extra demand, having an undersea cable system is already complicated.
It's expensive to maintain, and repairing it is a difficult task.
Four years ago, there was an undersea volcanic eruption near Tonga.
It shed light on threats that could knock us offline.
So people here are talking about how to prepare for natural disasters that could damage the cables.
00:16:32 話者 1
Well, it seems like protecting these cables is essential for us to continue living in this digital age.
00:16:41 話者 6
Exactly. These fiber optic cables create a network that spans the globe.
They have become essential for international digital communication, including for social media sites and video streaming platforms.
There are already 1.5 million kilometers of cable on the seafloor, enough to circle the Earth more than 35 times.
At the core of the cable are bundles of optical fibers as thin as human hair.
They're protected by a thick layer of metal and resin.
They lie as far as 8,000 meters below the ocean's surface.
Laying these cables requires technology and enormous funding, so it's not an easy feat.
Increased demand for data means more need to lay cables.
Traditionally, telecom giants took on the job.
But in the US, major IT companies like Google and Meta are ramping up their investments.
China is also getting into the game, and it looks like intense international competition is unfolding.
Meanwhile, there have been several recent incidents where the cables seem to have been damaged on purpose in the seas near Taiwan and northern Europe.
So protecting them in a rapidly challenging industry, rapidly changing industry, is going to pose yet another challenge.
00:18:08 話者 1
What is Japan's role in this subsea cable world?
00:18:15 話者 6
Japan has plans to protect its subsea infrastructure.
Japan is an island country and those cables account for 99 percent of its international communication.
An official from Japan's internal affairs ministry is here in Hawaii this week to talk about those challenges with other countries and companies.
He will promote a Japanese company that manufactures subsea cables.
EUROPEAN LEADERS SEEK DIALOGUE AMID TRUMP GREENLAND THREATS
00:18:41 話者 1
Eight European nations are standing firm amid trade threats from the United States over Greenland.
US President Donald Trump has threatened them with tariffs for resisting his effort to buy the autonomous territory from Denmark for security reasons.
On Sunday, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom issued a statement.
They say the tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.
They added that they are ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They also push back against Trump's claims that Denmark cannot defend Greenland's vast Arctic space.
They point to recent joint exercises conducted involving a multinational force of European troops.
They say they are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest as NATO members.
On Saturday, Trump announced that imports from the eight nations will face a 10 percent tariff from February.
He says the rate will rise to 25 percent from June unless they make a deal over Greenland.
EU leaders plan to meet in Belgium on Thursday to discuss the situation.
EU, SOUTH AMERICAN BLOC INK FREE TRADE DEAL
The EU and the South American economic bloc, known as Mercosur, have signed a major trade agreement after more than 25 years of negotiation.
The deal will create a free trade zone with a population of more than 700 million if it takes effect.
The signing ceremony took place on Saturday in Paraguay, a Mercosur member.
The regional bloc, which is also known as the Southern Common Market, includes Brazil and Argentina.
The European Union is seeking to diversify its trade network amid tariffs rolled out by President Trump's administration.
This agreement sends a very strong message to the world.
It reflects a clear and deliberate choice. We choose fair trade over tariffs.
We choose a productive, long-term partnership over isolation.
Some EU nations are strongly opposed to the deal, citing a possible influx of lower-priced agricultural imports from South America.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: KIDS FINDING THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY
In Japan, the number of children unable to attend elementary school and junior high school for various reasons topped 350,000 last fiscal year, a record high.
While teachers and parents struggle to get them back on track, an NPO is giving them a new way to reconnect with society.
NHK World's Kimura Hono has the story.
00:21:44 話者 7
This is a free school for working, an NPO-run program supporting elementary and junior high students who are not attending regular school.
This program is tailored for children who are out of school or struggling to attend.
In this third session, more than 100 elementary and junior high students took part.
A core value of the program is having a little courage.
Each child sets a personal goal and stick visit for four days.
Representative Shio Yamariyo launched this project after his own childhood experience of school refusal and the fear of being left behind by society.
00:22:35 話者 2
In the case of school refusal, opportunities to gain life experience decrease.
Therefore, I strongly believe early exposure to society can help students set goals for themselves and see new viewpoints.
00:22:51 話者 7
Two middle school students tried their hands at some cafe bar.
I was so nervous, I couldn't sleep.
If I mess up, I'll get flustered and my face will turn red.
00:23:02 話者 1
So I want to do my best.
00:23:06 話者 7
They learn how to make chiffon cake.
At least I did my best.
00:23:18 話者 1
I was really nervous about working with people I'd just met, but I'm glad we got along well.
00:23:24 話者 7
At first, the girls seemed a bit awkward about even making eye contact.
00:23:29 話者 3
But by the end, they cheerfully said bye-bye, so I guess it turned out OK.
00:23:34 話者 7
This time, 16 stores volunteered to take them in after showing they understood the needs to support children who refused to go to school.
Even adults meeting the children for the first time discovered something new.
00:23:53 話者 1
I wanted to tell them to value the things they like and find enjoyable, but the children already had a clear idea of that themselves.
00:24:05 話者 7
After the workplace experience, they are paid in gift certificates.
This helps them develop a sense of self-esteem.
00:24:16 話者 2
I believe many children who refuse to attend school share the same quiet anxiety about whether they will ever be able to shine, work, and find their place in society.
By meeting adults who help them realize, I can earn money, or I can work, and through the experience of working itself, I hope they can build real confidence.
00:24:37 話者 7
Students attending the event appear to have realized
that their place in life does not have to be determined by school and school alone.
Kimura Hono, NHK World.
WEATHER
00:24:51 話者 1
Now let's get our weather update.
Heavy snow is expected to pile up in parts of northern Japan as cold weather kicks in this week. Our meteorologist, Jetsimo Nare, has the details.
00:25:02 話者 3
Hi there, we're getting a round of some of our coldest temperatures for the season so far as a cold blast is coming in from the north.
And already we've seen some big numbers in just three hours.
5 to 7 centimeters of snowfall has been reported across northern parts of Japan.
Let us take a look at this following video.
This is coming out of Akita where already snow started falling there.
And we can see up to 7 centimeters in that region.
And it is coming with some strong winds as well.
Gusts of over 50 kilometers per hour were reported, making
it a little bit of a blizzard in that region.
Some trains are expected to be canceled in the prefecture on Tuesday, and residents have been urged to just bank in more time if you're going to be traveling and also make sure you're safe at all the times, especially if you're going to be along highly elevated areas.
A lot easier to slip going downhill in those parts.
Look at this map here.
We can see a lot of sea effect snow coming in across this western side of Japan.
So all these prefectures along the Sea of Japan side are going to be
be hit with a lot of snowfall, but it's not going to stop there.
Even parts where it usually doesn't snow so much in the Pacific side, you could also start seeing some snowfall.
Then Hokkaido and Tok regions will be seeing up to 50 centimeters.
These are the conditions you should watch out for.
And like I mentioned, blizzards could be a bit of a concern.
Driving late at night, make sure you have your lights on, drive safely, keep following distance pretty safe and make sure you are careful.
Power outages quite likely because a lot of snowfall will pile up on the trees and the branches could topple over, fall into power lines leading to power outages.
So have your cell phone charged, have your flashlights ready if you need them.
And if you look at the rest of Northeast Asia, cool weather for Beijing, Seoul,
Also into those sub zeros.
Another area that's seeing very cold weather is across Europe, particularly towards Eastern Europe.
If you were in Kyiv, you might have seen temperatures dropping to about minus 16 for you there.
And in fact, temperatures for Monday going into Tuesday, look at this minus 11.
So a bit of cold weather coming your way there.
Please bundle up, get warm and stay safe.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:41 話者 1
That's all we have for this edition of NHK Newsline. We'll have more for you soon.
Thanks for watching.
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