Here in Japan, it's a Friday evening. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo.
Welcome to NHK Newsline.
Kumamoto Quake: Death Toll Rises to 35 as Rescue Efforts Continue
Officials in Japan's southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto say the death toll from Tuesday's devastating earthquake has reached 35.
They're still confirming, however, if all of these can directly be attributed to the quake.
The tremor had a magnitude of 7.1 and hit the highest intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale. Hundreds of smaller quakes have occurred since.
Essential infrastructure, transportation, homes and buildings have been severely impacted.
In Kashima town, rescue workers are still on the scene at the Aeon Mall Kumamoto Shopping Center.
The mall was ripped apart by a huge explosion.
Of the 12 people who were pulled out, Seven died and five were injured.
Officials say in Yasushiro City, 11 people were trapped after a smokestack at a Nippon Paper Industries plant collapsed. Only two survived.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says seismic activity is continuing across a wide area.
It warns that strong shaking could occur depending on the size and location of future tremors.
Officials say there's still an increased risk of major jolts, especially in the coming days.
In Scorching Heat, Kumamoto Residents Weigh Next Steps
For more on the situation on the ground, NHK World's Miyamoto Rikuya reported from Hikawa, one of the towns that saw the strongest shaking.
00:01:40 話者 2/Miyamoto Rikuya
Daily life is still tough for those in the hardest hit areas.
Here in Hikawa, over 120 houses and other buildings were completely destroyed.
Behind me is one of them. It was a beautiful home, about 120 years old.
And in fact, this new extension was finished just 10 days before the quake.
And now it is all gone.
To hear more about what happened, I spoke with Shiromaru Hiroyuki.
He lived in this home with his 92-year-old mother, his brother, and his sister-in-law.
When the quake struck, The house came down on top of them.
00:02:30 話者 13/Shiromaru Hiroyuki
The shaking started, and I was thrown about two meters this way, then that way, again and again. It kept going like that for about a minute. It was a long time.
It's a miracle we managed to escape alive, really a miracle,
considering the house is in ruins.
00:02:59 話者 2
Since then, the four of them have been living out of pop-up tents.
They could go to an evacuation center, but many of them have health issues, so they have decided to stay put.
00:03:15 話者 13
When we think we're at risk of heat stroke. We get in the car and use the air conditioning.
Then we make sure to hydrate.
00:03:29 話者 2
But they cannot rely on that for long. Getting gasoline has become a major issue.
Shiromaru says he drove around this morning to look for some, but didn't manage to find any. That also makes it harder to get key essentials, like food and water.
He says there are no stores open nearby.
And with so little gas left, he cannot risk driving in circles.
As we spoke, a friend stopped by to drop off a meal. While every bit helps,
Shiromaru says it's still hard to get the things they really need.
00:04:23 話者 13
Water is the most important thing.
It's so hot and we need it to wipe ourselves down and stay clean.
That's key for us, though I think my mother really wants to take a proper bath.
00:04:37 話者 2
It is not clear when she will be able to, but Shiromaru says a friend happens to have a vacant house available. Once it's cleaned up, they will live there, at least for now.
But these problems are not unique to Shiromaru's family.
Many are grappling with these same issues.
Meanwhile, residents are trying to figure out what comes next and whether or not to rebuild. As for this house, Shiromaru says they are going to tear it down.
Kumamoto Quake: Women's Clinic Carries On, Despite Damage
00:05:16 話者 1
Still in Kumamoto, quake recovery efforts are vital when it comes to childbirth.
Staff at a women's clinic continue to support new mothers despite damage to their building.
The parents of a five-day-old baby took their newborn for a checkup in the city of Uki.
The mother had given birth in the clinic just two days before the quake struck.
00:05:42 話者 24/Fujimoto Tsugumi
There's been no running water at home since the quake.
so I've been unable to sterilize our milk bottles or bathe my baby.
I'm barely managing on water supplies for my acquaintances.
00:05:57 話者 1
She says she's now staying with family members in the city of Yatsushiro, also in the prefecture.
The clinic building was partially wrecked.
Medical staff have set up a temporary treatment area in a less damaged section.
00:06:14 話者 21/Tanaka Hiroaki/Clinic Director
Childbirth doesn't wait, so prompt action is absolutely critical.
To be honest, we can't say when the clinic will be functioning again.
00:06:25 話者 1
Eleven inpatients were being looked after when the earthquake hit.
The clinic says they were transferred to nearby hospitals or sent home for their safety.
Kumamoto Quake: Over 9,000 People Staying in Evacuation Centers
After the extensive damage from Tuesday's quake, thousands of residents have been forced to move to emergency shelters.
And workers are rushing to restore electricity and water supplies amid intense heat.
Prefectural officials say more than 9,000 people were staying at 374 evacuation centers as of 3 p.m. Friday.
Staff at an elderly care facility in Uki city that has accepted about 30 evacuees say stocks of diapers and other items are running low.
One supplier has told the facility it has to stop deliveries due to the quake.
The facility says it could run out of diapers as early as Saturday.
00:07:21 話者 35/Yamashita Masumi/Deputy director, elderly care facility
We don't have enough consumable goods.
No one can take a bath and there is no laundry.
We are struggling to prevent them getting sick.
00:07:34 話者 1
The local government says about 80,000 households were without running water as of Friday morning.
It has set up water stations and it remains unclear when the mains supply will be restored.
Thousands of households are still without electricity, but the regional utility says it expects power could be restored as soon as Friday evening.
Parts of Japan Face Extreme Heat, Including Quake‑Hit Areas
As those hard-hit areas of Kumamoto remain without water supply or electricity, the region was hit with even hotter temperatures on Friday.
Extreme heat also continued across wide areas of Japan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius in areas of Kumamoto Prefecture damaged by the quake.
People involved in cleaning operations are advised to take sufficient breaks while working outdoors.
The young and elderly should take special caution because they're at higher risk of developing heat stroke.
The JMA says that temperatures have climbed across much of eastern and western Japan.
Heat stroke alerts were issued for 30 of the country's 47 prefectures from the Kanto region in the east to the Kyushu region in the southwest.
The highest temperature recorded Friday was 39.6 degrees in Kantayama village in Nara Prefecture.
The second highest was 39.5 degrees in Totsukawa village in Nara prefecture.
The temperatures also exceeded 36 degrees in central Tokyo and Osaka.
People are advised to use air conditioners, drink water frequently, replenish salt and avoid prolonged outdoor activities.
Business
Moves to stabilize the weakening yen are making the headlines in financial news.
Here from our biz desk is Yuko Fukushima to walk us through the details.
00:09:30 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, James.
Sources: Japan Intervenes in Foreign Exchange Market
Well, sources say the Japanese government and the Bank of Japan have intervened in the foreign exchange market.
Yen buying picked up during New York trading on Thursday, with the currency briefly rising to the 157 range against the dollar.
The sharp gain of about five yen saw the currency hit its highest level in about two and a half months. The yen had been languishing at a nearly 40 year low.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with the Fox Business Network that Washington believes excess yen volatility isn't healthy.
He added he believes the Japanese currency is very undervalued.
Market players believe the US Federal Reserve conducted rate checks with currency dealers on Thursday.
This is considered a precursor to market intervention, which suggests the US may have worked with Japan on the latest move.
Japan's vice minister of finance for international affairs spoke to reporters on Friday.
He was asked if Japan had worked with the US, but declined to comment on any specifics.
00:10:37 話者 47/Mimura Atsushi/Japanese Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs
As I understand it, the US has been very supportive of Japan.
The two sides have been in constant contact.
00:10:49 話者 6
The yen traded mainly in the 160 range in Tokyo on Friday.
The Japanese government and BOJ previously intervened in April and May.
The impact was short-lived and the yen returned to its previous level in a little over a month.
BOJ Leaves Key Interest Rate Unchanged
The Bank of Japan has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at around 1%.
The central bank made the announcement after wrapping up a two-day policy meeting on Friday.
Governor Ueda Kazuo said the BOJ will continue to raise its interest rate and adjust monetary easing in line with the economic price and financial situations.
00:11:24 話者 57/Ueda Kazuo
Regarding the timing and pace of the adjustment, we will examine the situation in the Middle East, an increase in demand related to artificial intelligence and the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, as well as the degree and risks that the outlook for the economy and prices will be realized.
00:11:43 話者 6
The BOJ raised the rate in June by a quarter of a percentage point to the current level.
It is believed to be still assessing the effect of that decision on businesses and households.
BOJ Forecast: Faster Growth, Moderate Inflation
The bank also announced its latest outlook for academic activity and prices.
It says robust AI related demand will support the economy and upgraded its growth projections for the current and next fiscal year.
Its median forecast for fiscal 2026 is now 0.6% in real terms compared to the April outlook of 0.5%. The bank projects fiscal 2027 growth at 0.8%, up from 0.7% in April.
The BOJ foresees a slowing of inflation this fiscal year.
Its latest median forecast for price growth, excluding fresh food, is 2.5 percent.
That compares to April's projection of 2.8 percent.
The bank's inflation outlook for next fiscal year is now at 2.4 percent.
It was 2.3 percent in the previous forecast.
Biz Picks
And now to NHK World's Gene Otani with BizPix.
00:12:54 話者 8/Gene Otani
Let's take a look at the key business stories for the week ahead.
Earnings season is in full swing in Japan.
Several of the country's biggest companies are set to post their financial results.
On Monday, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group reports on its April to June performance and Toyota Border follows on Tuesday and SoftBank Group on Thursday.
Japanese Banks Regain Earnings Power
This edition focuses on the changing earnings environment for Japan's financial groups.
On July 13, Mitsubishi UFJ became Japan's most valuable company by market capitalization, overtaking Toyota.
This is said to be the first time in four decades that a financial institution has topped the rankings. Mitsubishi UFJ is not the only bank flying high.
Two industry rivals appeared in the list of Japan's top ten companies by market value.
Sameshima Toyoki at SBI Securities says the sector has benefited from the Bank of Japan's shift away from negative interest rates.
Tighter monetary policy gives banks room to charge more for loans.
00:14:09 話者 9/Sameshima Toyoki/Senior Analyst, SBI Securities
The BOJ's change in its policy interest rate has had very significant consequences.
The rate hikes have greatly improved the profit margin for lending money, contributing to the improvement in banks' profits.
This environment, where interest rates return to positive territory, has allowed banks to regain their earning power.
00:14:31 話者 8
When the BOJ raises its policy rate, banks can earn more from the gap between what they pay on deposits and what they earn on loans.
This is fueling expectations for strong profits.
When Japan's bubble economy collapsed in the early 1990s, banks were burdened with massive bad loans.
Years of ultra-low interest rates also made it difficult to increase lending rates and weighed on earnings. Today, banks are entering a new era due to the widening rate gap.
Sameshima says they are also profiting from strong demand for loans.
00:15:12 話者 9
There is very strong demand for funds from businesses who face higher operating costs amid inflation.
Companies also need funds for capital investment, including equipment renewals and efforts to deal with labor shortages.
On top of that, financing needs related to business restructuring, such as mergers and acquisitions, are growing rapidly.
00:15:34 話者 8
Sameshimai expects earnings momentum to continue supported by future rate hikes and solid demand for corporate financing. At the same time, he warns of risks from overseas.
00:15:45 話者 9
There are risks of a slowdown in the global and Japanese economies if supply chains are disrupted due to conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Such a downturn could limit the scope for further rate hikes and reduce potential for growth and interest income.
00:16:05 話者 8
Sameshima says now is the time for mega banks to diversify their businesses.
That means expanding fee-based services for corporate and individual clients, including corporate restructuring and wealth management.
The real test for Japan's lenders is yet to come.
Sameshima says they will only show true strength when their business strategies no longer rely on rising interest rates.
I'm Gene Otani and that's this week's Biz Picks.
Markets
00:16:37 話者 6
And after the latest in markets.
♪
And that's the best for this hour.
00:17:11 話者 1
Yuko Fukushima from our biz desk.
Iran Conflict: US, Iran Trade Strikes, Sparking Escalation Fears
Fears are mounting that hostilities between the US and Iran may again escalate after the two countries resumed attacks on each other.
The US Central Command said on Wednesday that it struck dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran, including military command centers and missile facilities.
Iranian media outlets reported that three people, including a two-year-old child, were killed in US strikes on Keshem Island. They said two other children were injured.
Meanwhile, Iran launched new attacks against US forces stationed in the Middle East, including drone strikes on a US military facility in Bahrain.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement on Thursday claiming the IRGC fired ballistic missiles at an air base in Jordan. and destroyed three US F-35 fighter jets.
The statement says several enemy officers and maintenance personnel were killed.
CENTCOM denied Iran's claims in a social media post saying, No US aircraft were destroyed or damaged in recent attempted Iranian attacks.
Last Friday, the US paused attacks after striking Iran for 13 days in a row and expressed its intention to hold talks.
Not Cool Enough for the School Pool? Lessons Head Indoors
For years, Japanese schools have taught their students how to swim, part of an ongoing effort to prevent water-related accidents.
But in recent years, schools have been forced to change the way swimming lessons are taught due to extreme heat and other factors.
NHK World's Amma Raimu reports.
00:19:01 話者 10/Amma Raimu
This is a common sight in Japan, an outdoor pool right in the middle of a schoolyard.
It's where children usually learn how to swim.
But in July, conditions here teeter on dangerous.
Right now, the thermometer here is showing 40 degrees Celsius.
The sun is beating down and the heat is intense even just standing beside the pool.
Temperatures this extreme mean the only way kids can take their lessons is by heading indoors.
These third graders are on their way to another pool nearby, one that's not owned by the school.
Taman City began outsourcing elementary swimming lessons to community facilities four years ago.
The indoor pool allows lessons to go ahead as scheduled. and kids are no longer affected by the temperature or the weather.
It may be a solution for other schools in the same boat.
A national survey of education boards found that about three out of four elementary schools encounter heat-related problems.
00:20:14 話者 63
Tuck your chin and put your head firmly between your arms.
00:20:18 話者 10
At the indoor pool, professional instructors lead the classes.
On their final lesson before summer break, children practiced in small groups under their guidance.
00:20:33 話者 64
My family is planning to visit Okinawa during summer break.
I want to be careful not to drown when we go to the beach.
00:20:43 話者 65
The coach taught me how to improve my breaststroke.
He taught me to keep my body lower in the water.
He also showed me a better way to move my arms.
00:20:57 話者 10
The school's principal said outsourcing swimming lessons has also reduced teacher workload.
Teachers used to spend a great deal of time maintaining the pool, including cleaning it and managing the water level and quality.
He says the new approach has brought significant benefits.
00:21:20 話者 11/Saitoh Kohnosuke/Minamitsurumaki Elementary School Principal
I do feel it's a little unfortunate that children miss out on the seasonal feeling of swimming outdoors in the summer. But being able to hold lessons as planned is a real advantage.
And by leaving instruction to trained professionals, we're also seeing that teachers are much more hopeful that the children will improve their swimming skills.
Analysis: Fix Needed for Japan's Crumbling, Scorched School Pools
00:21:47 話者 1
For more on this, I earlier spoke with Amma Raimu about ways to make sure Japanese students keep swimming.
Raimu, it seems like a huge disappointment for students here in Japan, having the pools there but not being able to use them.
00:22:03 話者 10
Yes, and extreme heat in the summer is only one factor in that.
In one survey, half the schools said they were worried about old swimming pools that are falling apart.
For example, the swimming pool at this junior high school in Kagawa Prefecture was built more than 50 years ago. You can see lots of peeling and exposed concrete.
Rebuilding it would cost about $1.7 million.
We have to remember that one of the reasons swimming education was originally introduced in Japan was a tragic accident during a school trip in 1955.
168 people drowned, many of them children.
So keeping swimming lessons in the Japanese curriculum is a major priority.
00:22:54 話者 1
Right, so it's crucial to find a solution here.
It seems like indoor pools are the answer given the extreme heat.
00:23:01 話者 10
That seems to be the case. I want to point out that there's also a shift in thinking when it comes to the job duties of teachers.
Over half of survey schools said swimming lessons placed undue burden on their staff.
They check curly levels and inspect all the equipment.
Japanese teachers are often said to work some of the longest hours in the world, and the preparation and management required for swimming lessons is one contributing factor.
So shifting toward outsourcing lessons is, in part, driven by needs to reduce teachers' workloads.
00:23:40 話者 1
So Raimu, what's the solution here?
Are all the schools going to adopt the outsourcing model?
00:23:46 話者 10
Well, it's not feasible everywhere.
Some places simply don't have those private pools available or schools may not have the budget for private lessons and some schools are now teaching water safety in the classroom instead. I spoke with an expert about this issue.
Hamagami Yohei is an associate professor at Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences.
He says one solution is for schools to share pools instead of each school having its own.
That would help reduce costs.
Another idea is to let schools use existing municipal pools.
If there aren't any, building one indoor public pool for multiple schools may be more cost effective.
Swimming skills have been taught in Japan for decades, and educators believe it's essential for students to have the chance to learn them. It could, after all, save their lives.
World Weather
00:24:48 話者 1
As we head into the weekend, people across Japan will need to be prepared to deal with the summer heat, as most places will see the mercury pushing toward 30 degrees or above. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh breaks it down for us in this World Weather Report.
00:25:04 話者 12/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we're talking about another day with quite warm and dry weather across the western central portions of Japan while we have this pattern, a series of low pressure systems that are continuing to bring in a lot of rain over into the northeastern portions of Japan. And guess what?
That's going to be the story as we go through the weekend as well.
We may be talking about some heavy rainfall with some strong thunderstorms from time to time in the northeastern areas of Japan.
So, Make sure that you stay weather aware for that.
For those of you who are saying it's hot across the western central portions of Japan, well guess what?
That's still going to be the case as you go throughout the next several days as two high pressure systems, major ones, Tibetan High and also Pacific High, have its influence over, especially the Pacific side of Japan.
Looking at the forecast for Saturday, it's not much relief.
37 in Fukuoka, 36 in Osaka, 37 in Tokyo, areas north and east looking at rain and
thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, Typhoon Dolphin, it's a powerful system.
It's keeping itself together, but at least it's over open water for the next few days.
But we will have to keep an eye out on this because the first part next week, it may be approaching the Ogasawa Islands.
And when it does so, it can bring some real intense impacts into the area.
Hopefully it's going to stay away from the major islands of Japan.
We'll have to keep an eye out on it as we go into next week.
Here's look at what's happening across North America.
We've been keeping an eye out on a heat dome down toward the south.
Highs in the 40s into the desert southwest because of this pattern that we typically see over this time of year, but not quite that hot.
Up toward the north into the upper Midwest, we're talking about a series of rain, probably some thunderstorms as we see a series of systems moving through the area, rain in Chicago with a high of 26, thunderstorms into Toronto, and a high of 38 in Oklahoma City as we go through Friday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:35 話者 1
For more news, feature stories, and information, check out our website and app.
I'm James Tangone. Bye for now.
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NHK World
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