Hello and welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Keiko Kitagawa in Tokyo.
Tropical Storm Chan-hom Approaching Eastern Japan
Eastern Japan could soon be feeling the effects of a tropical storm.
Authorities are urging people to be vigilant for strong winds, high waves, landslides, floods in low-lying areas and swollen rivers.
Tropical Storm Chan-hom is moving north-northwest off the east coast of Japan.
It will likely come close to the Tohoku and Kanto-Koshin regions on Tuesday, possibly bringing heavy rain and strong winds.
High Temperatures Persist in Japan
People in Japan are also grappling with scorching temperatures.
The Japan Meteorological Agency says five cities in Gifu and Mie Prefectures, central Japan, recorded over 37 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Temperatures in parts of Aichi and Hiroshima prefectures exceeded 36 degrees.
Iran Conflict
Iran Rules Out Resuming Negotiations Before US Compensation
Iran's top diplomat says the country is not currently negotiating with the US, saying it needs compensation from the US for attacks on the country.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on an Iranian media outlet on Sunday.
He indicated that Iran believes it will not be possible to resume negotiations until the alleged violations of the Memorandum of Understanding have been resolved.
The MOU signed in June aims to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Araghchi also noted that Iran is in the final stages of negotiations with Oman to determine a new sea route in the Strait of Hormuz.
But he said that this does not mean the Strait will be reopened.
He added that the reopening of the waterway is subject to the fulfillment of a series of other conditions.
US President Donald Trump has signaled that he is prepared to allow economic pressure on Iran to mount.
He was speaking in an interview with US news website Axios on Sunday.
The president said that the US is only semi-negotiating with Iran.
He added that the US is just watching Iran with its huge inflation and the fact they have no money.
Japan Logs Record Current Account Surplus in 2026 First Half
Japan posted a record current account surplus for the first half of this year.
It's the highest level for first half since comparable data became available in 1985.
Finance Ministry data shows the surplus from January to June was nearly 17.43 trillion yen, or about $110 billion.
The current account is a key measure of the nation's earnings from trade and investment outside the country.
The surplus was driven mainly by a rise in exports of semiconductors and other electronic components and an increase in dividend income from overseas subsidiaries.
Meanwhile, the monthly current account balance posted a deficit of 92.3 billion yen or about $583 million in June, falling into the red for the first time in 17 months or since January last year.
One factor was a decrease in the surplus for travel as the number of inbound travelers fell.
Japan Firms Struggle to Get Tungsten Amid China Controls
Manufacturers in Japan are facing difficulties procuring products that use tungsten, a critical metal.
This comes as China has tightened controls on exports deemed to have dual military and civilian use.
Prices of tungsten-related products have soared as Chinese shipments to Japan of raw materials used to produce the metal fell sharply this year.
Tungsten goes into industrial drills and is used in chip production.
China accounts for about 80 percent of global production of tungsten ore.
Furthermore, Chinese exports to Japan of ammonium peritungstate, a key material for the metal, have been at zero since January.
In February last year, Beijing strengthened controls on export items with potential dual military and civilian purposes that included tungsten-related products.
China further restricted exports of such items to Japan in January that came amid worsening relations with Tokyo over remarks by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae about a possible Taiwan emergency.
Mitsubishi Materials more than tripled the price of an intermediate product in June.
Sumitomo Electric Industries increased prices of industrial tools containing tungsten to over 1.6 times more in June. The situation is also affecting procurement.
A firm in Nagano Prefecture that produces industrial drills says multiple suppliers of tungsten-related materials have informed it since this spring they are limiting the orders they accept.
The amount the company has been able to procure has fallen to about 30 percent of the usual level.
00:05:13 話者 12/Hama Sota/Tool manufacturer president
We are proposing reducing the amount of alloys that are made from tungsten as much as possible. That's how we can get through the current situation.
00:05:24 話者 1
For now, the government and industry groups are calling on people to promote the recycling of tools that use tungsten.
Unicef: 300 Children Killed After Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
The United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, says at least 300 children have been reportedly killed in the Gaza Strip during the 10 months since the ceasefire agreement took effect.
Israel has carried out sporadic attacks in Gaza even after the agreement with Hamas took effect in October based on a US-led peace plan.
Israel accused the Islamic group of violating the agreement.
Local authorities say more than 1,250 people were killed during about 10 months through Sunday. UNICEF said all parties must protect children.
It called on them to comply with their obligations under international law.
NHK's Gaza office interviewed a woman who lost her nine-year-old daughter.
She said a bullet came through the doorway and went into her daughter's chest while they were taking shelter inside a tent.
The bullet is believed to have come from a sudden drone attack.
My daughter was just sitting in a tent. Why did she have to die? What did she do?
I'm hoping for safety, peace and a complete ceasefire. There is nothing else I want.
00:06:51 話者 1
She said she is suffering a sense of loss and keeps looking back on memories with her daughter, seeing things she left behind.
Crying Sumo for Babies Event Held in Fukushima
About 40 babies have taken part in a crying sumo event in Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan.
The event was held in Date City on Sunday to wish for the healthy growth of the babies.
The babies range in age from six months to two and a half years.
A few babies began crying as soon as they were lifted up.
Some only looked around with wonder and never cried.
00:07:35 話者 22
It was very good the baby was crying.
I hope the way the baby was crying indicates it will grow up in good health.
00:07:43 話者 23
I hope my kid will become a little bigger like a sumo wrestler and stay healthy.
00:07:49 話者 1
Family members of the babies took pictures and laughed as they watched the matches.
♪
And those were the stories for this hour.
World Weather
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
That wraps up this edition of NHK Newsline.
I'm Keiko Kitagawa in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 2
Hi there, it's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Erico Kojima.
00:10:14 話者 4
And I'm Michael Reese.
Let's have fun studying Japanese together.
Today we bring you lesson 24 on explaining what you can't eat.
The main character of our skit is Tam, a student from Vietnam who lives in Haru-san House.
Today, her housemate, Kaito, has made a typical Japanese breakfast.
Kaito loves to cook.
00:10:41 話者 2
Listen to the skit for lesson 24.
Itadakimasu.
Nihon shakua kenko niin desuyo.
Now let's go over the skit line by line.
00:11:20 話者 4
The table is filled with breakfast dishes, things like steamed rice, miso soup, and grilled fish.
Kaito and Tam say something that people in Japan usually say before a meal.
00:11:33 話者 2
Let's eat.
00:11:35 話者 4
The robot landlady, Haru-san, on the dining table, says.
00:11:42 話者 2
Japanese food is very healthy.
00:11:45 話者 4
Tam asks Haru-san.
00:11:50 話者 2
Is this raw egg?
00:11:52 話者 4
Haru-san replies.
00:11:55 話者 2
Yes, it is.
00:11:57 話者 4
Tam apologizes.
00:12:01 話者 2
I'm sorry.
I can't eat raw eggs.
Kaito says, I see.
So you don't like natto either?
Tam happily answers, Natto, I love it.
Natto is made of fermented soybeans.
It's usually flavored with soy sauce and eaten on steamed rice.
Natto is sticky and has a distinct smell.
Not everybody finds it appealing.
00:12:36 話者 4
But Tam seems to like it.
Today's key phrase is I can't eat raw eggs.
If you remember this pattern, you'll be able to say what you can't eat.
00:12:57 話者 2
Let's break down the phrase.
Nama tamago is raw egg, and taberaremasen means can't eat.
Today's point is how to say what you cannot do, such as can't eat taberaremasen.
The verb taberu, to eat, in its potential form is taberareru, meaning can eat.
Taberareru in the polite negative form is taberaremasen.
For now, just memorize the whole word, taberaremasen.
00:13:33 話者 4
Okay, so can't eat is taberaremasen.
00:13:37 話者 2
That's right.
When you can't eat something, you can say so by placing the particle wa after the name of the food, followed by taberaremasen.
00:13:47 話者 4
OK, got it.
So, listen and repeat out loud.
00:13:53 話者 2
Taberare masen.
Nama tama goa taberare masen.
Nama tama goa taberare masen.
00:14:09 話者 4
So, how did you do?
Listen now to a conversation in which a woman says she can't eat something when she's about to eat a Japanese meal.
00:14:37 話者 2
Now let's examine what was said.
Dozo takusan tabete kudasai.
00:14:44 話者 4
Please eat a lot.
00:14:46 話者 2
Dozo means please, and it's used when you want to invite someone to do something.
Takusan means a lot.
Tabete kudasai means please eat.
It's the verb taberu in the te form, followed by kudasai.
00:15:09 話者 4
I'm sorry.
I can't eat raw fish.
00:15:13 話者 2
Sumimasen in this situation means I'm sorry.
Watashi is I.
Sashimi is raw fish.
00:15:23 話者 4
Now your turn.
Listen and repeat out loud.
00:15:29 話者 2
Sashimi wa taberare masen.
Watashi sashimi wa taberare masen.
Sumimasen.
Watashi sashimi wa taberare masen.
00:15:53 話者 4
All right, let's try saying other food you can't eat.
What if you have an allergy to shrimp?
Shrimp is Ebi.
00:16:03 話者 2
Ebi.
00:16:04 話者 4
Try explaining yourself by starting with sumimasen.
00:16:13 話者 2
Sumimasen watashi ebi wa taberaremasen.
Sumimasen watashi ebi wa taberaremasen.
Now change the food to pork.
Pork is
Botaniku.
Botaniku.
Go ahead.
00:16:42 話者 3
Seimasen.
00:16:44 話者 2
Watashi.
Botanikua.
Taberaremasen.
00:16:51 話者 3
Seimasen.
00:16:52 話者 2
Watashi.
00:16:54 話者 3
Botanikua.
Taberaremasen.
00:16:58 話者 4
All right, I think you're getting the hang of it.
Today's bonus phrase is what Tam and Kaito said in the skit.
Memorize it and make it yours.
00:17:12 話者 2
Itadakimasu! Itadakimasu is what people say before eating.
It expresses thanks to those who prepared the meal and respect for the food.
And once the meal is over, it's customary to say, Gochisousamadeshita.
So, remember them as a set.
Itadakimasu to start and gochisou sama deshita to finish.
00:17:35 話者 4
Now you say them.
Listen and repeat.
00:17:41 話者 2
Itadakimasu.
Gochisou sama deshita.
Listen to the skit one more time.
Itadakimasu.
Nihon Shokua Kenko niin desu, yo?
Hi.
So, ja natto motame?
Natto, daisuke desu.
Kuishinbo kaito nyu makase.
00:18:26 話者 4
Now onto Kaito is your food guide.
Today the subject is Japanese breakfast.
00:18:35 話者 2
Michael, what comes to your mind when you think of a Japanese breakfast?
00:18:40 話者 4
Oh, I suppose a bowl of rice, miso soup and of course grilled fish, really just like in the skit.
00:18:47 話者 2
That would be the typical Japanese breakfast.
Sometimes you might have natto, dried seaweed, pickled plums or eggs to go with your rice.
In the skit, it was raw eggs, but Japanese-style omelets are also very common.
00:19:01 話者 4
What about Western-style breakfast?
00:19:03 話者 2
Well, it's quite common to have bread, eggs like sunny-side ups, fruit juice, and coffee.
Actually, that's more my typical breakfast.
00:19:12 話者 4
How about in hotels and inns?
00:19:15 話者 2
Well, inns usually offer a Japanese-style breakfast, but most hotels give their customers a choice.
All-you-can-eat buffets with both kinds of dishes are quite common too.
00:19:26 話者 4
It's nice to be able to have anything you want, really as much as you want.
You know, I'd like to try everything.
00:19:33 話者 2
Me too.
I always end up eating too much and then regret it later.
We hope you enjoyed today's Easy Japanese.
00:19:49 話者 4
Join us next time. Don't miss it.
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Mount Takao
00:20:18 話者 3
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 back story of Japanese landmarks.
We hope you have a chance to visit these landmarks and see for yourself what makes them so special.
NHK World
00:25:01 話者 99
This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service Here's a frequency notice
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