It's a Wednesday evening here in Japan.
I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.
Kumamoto Quake: Intense Heat Continues One Week After Disaster
The Japan Meteorological Agency says more strong quakes could hit the country's southwest.
It comes over a week after a magnitude 7.1 tremor struck Kumamoto Prefecture leaving 38 dead. Temperatures were still rising in the prefecture on Wednesday.
The mercury topped 38.6 degrees Celsius in Kosa town around 2:30 p.m.
That's having a serious impact on the older population.
NHK looked into how elder care facilities in the hard-hit Hikawa town were faring.
In the three days after the quake, over 70 residents were suspected of developing heat stroke.
Most facilities didn't have power and were unable to run air conditioning.
Electricity has since been restored, and most residents have recovered.
But authorities say more than 44,000 households and businesses in the affected areas still don't have running water.
The infrastructure ministry says it hopes to have the water back by the end of the month.
00:01:18 話者 12
I hope the water will come back soon. There are laundromats around,
People are flocking to them, so it's hard to get in and wash your clothes.
00:01:28 話者 1
In the meantime, the Maritime Self-Defense Force is helping people stay clean.
It parked a transport vessel at a local port in Yatsushiro City.
Residents can come, have a bath, and even get their laundry done.
Meanwhile, the prefecture is hoping to get some evacuees into more comfortable accommodations. It's trying to secure spots in local inns and hotels.
Two families were able to settle into rooms in Yatsushiro Tuesday.
About 7,300 are staying in evacuation centers, with many more sheltering in their cars.
The quake destroyed about 700 homes, with thousands others left damaged.
Officials are calling on people to take care, especially in this heat.
Kumamoto Quake: Taiwan's TSMC Pledges US$1.6 Mil. In Aid
Kumamoto is a manufacturing base for the world's largest chipmaker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.
The firm known as TSMC has offered a $1.6 million donation to help recovery and reconstruction in the quake-hit region.
The donation, which is the equivalent of 250 million yen, was announced by TSMC on Monday.
It said Kumamoto is a key production base and the company will offer further support where it can.
Another Taiwanese business, China Airlines Group, has also offered financial support.
It runs flights to and from Kumamoto.
The airline said it will donate about $300,000 and fly relief supplies free of charge to the region until the end of August.
Typhoon Dolphin Nearing Japan's Southern Regions
A powerful typhoon is expected to approach Japan's southern regions of Okinawa and Amami later this week.
Weather officials are urging caution against high waves and violent winds.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Dolphin was traveling in a westerly direction over waters south of Japan's main island.
Waves on Wednesday could reach 9 meters high in Okinawa Prefecture and Tokyo's Ogasawara Islands and 6 meters in the Amami region.
Winds will also intensify as the typhoon approaches.
Okinawa could see gusts strong enough to knock down buildings on Thursday.
Officials are advising people to take shelter in sturdy buildings or other safe places before the winds intensify.
Business
And here with business and financial news is Ramin Mellegard.
00:04:03 話者 3/Ramin Mellegard
Thank you very much indeed.
Breaking News: Japan Govt. Approves Food Consumption Tax Cut
Now, Japan's government has decided to lower the consumption tax on food to 1% for two years from April 2027. It currently stands at 8%.
The government approved the policy at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
The plan is based on lowering the tax on food items to 1 percent for two years.
In addition, benefits will be provided to make the tax effectively zero for low- and middle-income earners.
The policy says the government will review all spending and revenue streams, such as subsidies and special tax breaks, as well as non-tax incomes to secure the necessary funding. It will not rely on deficit covering bonds.
The government aims to finalize the plan during its budget formulation process for fiscal 2027.
After the two-year tax cut, a new income linked benefit will be introduced from fiscal 2029 that will provide handouts according to each person's income.
But even within the ruling party, concerns have been raised regarding funding sources and fiscal discipline.
Ahead of the Cabinet decision, the Liberal Democratic Party approved the policy at its General Council meeting, though some known opponents were not present.
The ruling coalition will compile tax reform guidelines that include the tax cut.
The government plans to submit draft bills during an extraordinary diet session expected in the fall.
Bessent: Intervention Symbolizes Bilateral Ties
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gave an interview to NHK.
He spoke about why the US intervened to prop up the Japanese yen, saying it's a symbol of their bilateral alliance.
00:05:55 話者 4/Scott Bessent
The US wanted to join with our great Japanese allies to show that we think the Takeichi government has the right policies that will lead to long-term yen strengthening.
00:06:09 話者 3
It caused the currency to surge more than 5 yen against the dollar.
Bessent also says the weak yen is part of the reason inflation had been ticking up in Japan.
00:06:21 話者 4
Energy will come down.
And then, as we no longer have excess yen weakness, that that will also contribute to inflation coming down and that Japan and the yen can go into a virtuous cycle.
00:06:38 話者 3
We also asked about what impact the weak yen and rising Japanese government bond yields had on the US economy.
He says the bonds, known as JGBs, have been a global anchor for interest rates.
00:06:53 話者 4
Any perception that that anchor was being lost would be unhelpful and disorderly for markets.
And I know that the MOF, BOJ, and US Treasury are completely aligned that the JGBs are a very safe and sound asset.
00:07:15 話者 3
Bessent didn't say whether the Bank of Japan should raise the interest rate at its next meeting, but he did say the BOJ governor, Ueda Kazo, will do what's best for the Japanese economy.
Analysis: Significance For Japan In Bessent's Messaging
For more on this, our NHK Washington bureau correspondent looks at the message Besant intended to deliver.
He was speaking on one of our domestic news shows.
We are joined by Mineta Tomoyuki in Washington, who interviewed Secretary Bessent.
What impression did you get, and what did you make of his comments?
00:07:57 話者 5/Mineta Tomoyuki
I sensed a strong will to stem the yen's excessive weakness through bilateral cooperation.
Bessent has many years of experience in the financial markets under his belt.
In the interview, he referred to the Asian currency crisis in the 1990s.
He said an overly weak yen was one of the triggers.
He said the yen's current weakness could also have a negative impact on both Asia and the broader global economy.
He also stressed the significance of the unusual US intervention.
That left an impression on me.
00:08:34 話者 15
The US move could be seen as providing a helping hand for Japan.
What was the aim of the joint currency intervention?
00:08:45 話者 5
I think Bessent wanted to keep the effects of the yen's depreciation from spreading to the US.
The currency's excessive weakness and a rapid surge in Japan's long-term interest rates could lead to a rise in long-term US rates as well.
Rising rates in America would mean higher borrowing costs for home buyers and businesses there.
That would not only hurt the US economy, But it could also worsen the country's fiscal health through larger interest payments on Treasury securities.
Besant said in the interview that Japanese government bonds have long served as a global anchor to keep a lid on interest rates internationally.
He said if that anchor is perceived as being lost, that would be unhelpful and disorderly for markets.
He also stressed that Japanese government bonds are very safe and sound assets.
That gave me the impression that he wanted to proactively contain possible effects on the US and more widely.
But Bessent also called for Japan to follow through in implementing its policies steadily.
That sounded like a request to the Japanese government.
Looking ahead, the focus is not just on whether there will be more interventions, but if Japan can grow its economy while maintaining confidence in its fiscal health.
Attention is also on the direction of Japan's monetary policy.
Mitsubishi Heavy To Develop Small Next-Gen Nuclear Reactors
00:10:13 話者 3
NHK has learned that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is moving full steam ahead to develop next-generation small modular reactors, also known as SMRs.
This comes on the back of a government plan to maximize the use of nuclear power.
The move by the manufacturing giant is the first major effort in Japan's private sector toward deploying SMRs.
The compact reactors is set to offer advantages in terms of their safety and installation costs.
There are projects under way to set up SMRs in other countries, including Canada and the US.
Sources say Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will receive government support during development.
The company plans to take measures against earthquakes and tsunamis.
Government officials included a goal of the maximum use of nuclear power in the basic energy plan that was approved by the Cabinet last year.
And last week, ministers reconfirmed their intention to develop and install the next-generation reactors.
The plan calls for getting the new SMRs up and running in the 2040s.
Markets
OK, let's get a check of the markets.
♪
And that is it for Business News.
South Korean Readers Mourn Novelist Higashino Keigo
00:12:04 話者 1
Fans of Japanese author Higashi no Keigo lined up at midnight Wednesday in Japan for the release of his latest and posthumous novel.
The best-selling writer died last month at the age of 68.
News of his passing has reverberated around the world, including in neighboring South Korea.
NHK World's Kim Chan-ju reports on how readers there are remembering him.
00:12:28 話者 6/Kim Chan-ju
I'm at a major bookstore in Seoul.
As you can see, they've set up a memorial space to honor the late Higashino Keigo.
And a steady stream of visitors has been stopping by to pay their respects.
00:12:45 話者 22
I'm heartbroken. He kept releasing one bestseller after another.
It's such a shame to think there won't be any more to read.
00:12:54 話者 23
It's a great loss. He was such a creative and unconventional writer.
00:12:59 話者 6
Higashino is one of the most beloved Japanese novelists in South Korea.
His works are hugely popular and have spawned film and TV adaptations.
I spoke by the phone with the Korean translator of two of Higashino's recent books.
Kim Sun-young says the author helped to make mystery fiction accessible to a wider audience in the country.
00:13:28 話者 24/Kim Sun-young
Higashino was a writer like the sea. The sea is vast and all-embracing.
In the same way, his works had a remarkable variety of themes, storylines, and narrative approaches, which resonated deeply with a wide range of readers.
00:13:48 話者 6
I met one reader whose love of Higashino's works runs particularly deep.
Park In-gon became immersed in the author's world about 20 years ago after reading one of his best-known novels, Journey Under the Midnight Sun.
00:14:07 話者 27/Park In-gon
Reading it, I felt that this was an author unlike any writer I'd ever known.
The many stories woven into the novel were incredibly suspenseful and entertaining, and they touched the depths of human emotions.
00:14:25 話者 6
The bookshelves in his home are dedicated entirely to Higashino's work.
There is everything from first editions to Japanese originals and translations in other languages. Over time, his collection has grown to more than 500 books.
The news of Higashino's sudden passing came as a great shock.
But Park expressed his respect and gratitude for all the author had given.
00:15:01 話者 27
His books brought me a special kind of excitement and joy. Every time I read them, I felt a thrill that delighted me more than any movie or any other book ever could.
00:15:17 話者 6
The author may be gone, but the stories he left behind will live on in the hearts of his many devoted readers.
Kim Chan-ju NHK World, Seoul.
Iran Conflict Report: US Has 'Used Up' Much Of Missile Stockpile
00:15:37 話者 1
Reuters news agency says the US military has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month military operations against Iran.
Reuters published the report on Tuesday quoting people familiar with the data.
The report says the US has used virtually all of the Army's ATACMS surface-to-surface missiles and ground-launched PRISM precision strike missiles.
It also says the US has used nearly half of its supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Reuters notes that President Donald Trump may have to rely more on riskier piloted bombing missions if he relaunches large-scale attacks on Iran.
Deputy White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly issued a comment to NHK.
Kelly says the US military has more than enough munitions, ammo and stockpiles to serve all of Trump's strategic goals and beyond.
She added that Trump has urged defense contractors to constantly produce more made in America weapons.
US Intelligence Chief Sworn In Following Senate Clash
The new US Director of National Intelligence has been sworn in at the White House.
Jay Clayton will oversee the country's intelligence agencies, including the CIA.
Clayton previously served as US Attorney in New York State.
He took the oath of office on Tuesday.
At his Senate confirmation hearing last month, Clayton refused to clearly admit that Trump lost the 2020 election when grilled by a Democratic Party lawmaker.
That led Democrats to oppose his confirmation.
One member said he had serious reservations about Clayton's willingness to stand up to political pressure.
Clayton was confirmed in a 51-47 vote.
He said in a statement he would work to make sure Americans have complete confidence in the intelligence service through proper oversight, transparency, and accountability.
N.Korea's Kim Yo Jong Denounces Japan's Test-Firing
North Korea has condemned Japan's first live-fire test of a Tomahawk cruise missile, and it said it would not stand idly by watching Japan's military evolution.
Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued the statement Wednesday through the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
She referred to the test firing of the US-made missile from the Aegis destroyer Chokai in the Pacific Ocean last week.
Kim accused Japan of transforming into a military power that could threaten international peace and stability.
She warned that Pyongyang's military leadership would be considering response measures.
At a meeting of the party's central committee in June, leader Kim Jong-un said Japan was openly turning itself into a war state.
NASA: SpaceX Rocket Part Expected To Crash Into Moon
US space agency NASA says a SpaceX rocket part was expected to hit the moon on Wednesday.
NASA says it will observe the impact and collect data to be used for future moon missions.
SpaceX launched the rocket in January last year carrying two lunar landers, one each developed respectively by US and Japanese private firms.
NASA says the rocket part had been drifting in space before making an unexpected return.
It said the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket had been expected to crash into the moon at 2.35 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. It issued no update at that time.
NASA says the rocket part was expected to create a crater about 18 meters wide and 4 meters deep and kick up about 360 tons of dust and rock.
A director of SpaceX commented on the situation.
00:19:31 話者 38/Julianna Scheiman/Director, SpaceX
What has happened is essentially a mixture of solar activity and gravity forces have put it on a path towards the moon.
00:19:40 話者 1
NASA says the collision poses no danger to Earth.
The agency says it hopes to obtain knowledge from the event about the moon's geology and other information that could aid future lunar explorations.
Bruce Betts is chief scientist at the Planetary Society.
He says the incident will help people understand more about the potential dangers for future astronauts and spacecraft.
00:20:04 話者 35/Bruce Betts
This is a few spacecraft a year at most that have any chance of hitting the moon.
But it obviously it does happen as represent a potential danger for future astronaut missions or robotic missions. So it's something we need to pay attention to.
A Life-Changing Hometown Beer
00:20:38 話者 1
Many regions across Japan are home to locally produced and beloved craft beers.
A special brew from Okayama Prefecture's Mabi District in western Japan is one example.
One brewer has recreated a local recipe after floods damaged his former employer's factory. Here is his story.
00:21:00 話者 8/Narrator: Carolyn Miller//Reporter: Nakama Taichiro
This is a beer event where you can taste craft beers from the local regions.
Moriya Kanto sells beer. He is originally from Mabi and used to brew beer there.
After the brewery he worked for closed, he outsourced production to another brewery.
00:21:23 話者 9/Moriya Kanto
In the future, I want to brew beer using ingredients from Mabi.
00:21:28 話者 8
Moria hopes to return to brewing in his hometown and has a special reason.
In his 20s, he worked in Tokyo and the United States.
He experienced burnout and was diagnosed with a mental illness.
00:21:44 話者 9
It was really tough for me. I stayed cooped up all the time. I didn't have anything to do.
00:21:51 話者 8
In 2007, Moriya quit his job and returned to Mabi.
He began working at a brewery founded by an NPO that supports the employment of people with mental illnesses.
With his colleagues, he strove to create better flavors and interacting with customers, healed his heart.
00:22:15 話者 9
Mabi is really good for me when I'm struggling mentally.
It's a quiet, peaceful place that's incredibly healing.
00:22:25 話者 8
But in 2018, Mabi was hit by torrential rains that caused widespread flooding.
The brewery was flooded and production declined.
Years later, the brewery closed due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the challenges, Moria didn't give up. He started a company to brew and sell beer.
This June, he began brewing beer himself in Mabi.
He strove to recreate the sweet flavor from the very first beer he made with his work friends. Moria relied on a recipe written down just before that brewery closed.
Following the recipe, he sets the temperature inside the tanks for fermentation and adjusts the balance of sweetness and bitterness.
00:23:27 話者 9
Some people say the old Mabi beer tasted better.
So if I can brew it that way, they'll think I've revived it here in Mabi.
It makes me happy to be able to brew it here in Mabi.
00:23:42 話者 8
Moriya has mentioned at events that Mabi beer will likely be unveiled soon.
00:23:51 話者 48
I really enjoy drinking it. When will you be able to brew it in Mabi?
00:23:57 話者 9
I've already brewed it, twice.
00:24:00 話者 48
I'm glad that you can brew it in Mabi.
00:24:05 話者 9
Connections with people are the most important thing in life.
That's the most valuable lesson I've learned since discovering beer.
00:24:17 話者 8
Mabi beer changed Moriya's life. He hopes to brew new connections with people.
World Weather
00:24:26 話者 1
We're keeping our eyes on a few tropical systems in the Western Pacific.
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has the details in this World Weather Report.
00:24:36 話者 10/Jonathan Oh
Hello, we have been keeping an eye out on Dolphin, but there are also a couple other systems that we're keeping an eye out on. I'll talk about that in just a bit.
But Dolphin is now clearing away from the Osawa Islands, so the outer bands will still be bringing some impacts for it throughout the evening and overnight hours into Thursday.
The system will be making its way toward the west.
And for those of you in the Okinawa and Amami regions, you're already seeing some of the impacts and the waves that are being generated by the system.
The storm will continue to make its westward approach, and so I mentioned just the other day, make the preparations now, and I'm going to repeat that again today, to make the preparations now as the system will be running right over Okinawa during the next couple of days and then setting its sites toward China.
Meanwhile, you may notice toward the east, another system trying to gather itself together.
China is now a tropical system, and It's having a little bit of a hard time generating a clear central area of pressure, but it is still going to eventually organize itself, though not as powerful as Dauphin has been.
But we'll watch and see where it goes.
But for the moment, it's expected to just move drifting to the north and west.
Not expected to make landfall in Japan for the moment, but we want to see if there's possible wave impacts from the system as it gets relatively or tries to get a little bit close toward Japan.
Down toward the Philippines, we have yet another system that's bringing a bunch of rain into Lausanne and the northern portions of the Philippines.
Kujira will continue to be a part of the story there.
Heat continues to be the story across the northeastern portion of China, into the Korean Peninsula, and even into western portions of Japan.
High pressure is sitting right on top of the area, so we'll see the heat continue to be the story here.
38 in Seoul, 36 in Beijing, Tokyo, moving back up into what's normal time of year after a cool few days coming up on Thursday with a high of 32.
Keeping an eye out on some storms near the Great Lakes as we have a system moving through there with heat down through the south, highs in the upper Thursday for Oklahoma City for Wednesday.
Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:27:40 話者 1
And with that, we end this hour's NHK Newsline. I'm James Tengan, thanks for watching.
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