Welcome to NHK NewsLine. I'm Yoko Nishimuna in Tokyo with the latest news.
Breaking News: Many Casualties Reported After Kumamoto Quake
We begin with updates on the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck southwestern Japan.
Local officials say at least 12 people are dead and six were found without vital signs in the aftermath of Tuesday's quake. And some are still missing.
The country's prime minister said the clock to save them is ticking.
00:00:38 話者 12/Takaichi Sanae/Japanese Prime Minister
Search and rescue operations are underway at all sites.
More than 20 hours have passed since the quake.
Some people are still waiting for help, and it is a race against time.
00:00:54 話者 1
The tremor hit Kumamoto Prefecture Tuesday afternoon.
It was 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 0 to 7.
Dozens of aftershocks followed, some of them strong earthquakes in their own right.
The Japan Meteorological Agency named the disaster the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake.
The agency says there is still a risk of houses collapsing and the possibility of landslides.
People are being told to be on full alert for more tremors and to stay away from dangerous places.
Officials warn there's still an increased risk for quakes of the maximum intensity for the next week or so, especially in the next few days.
Breaking News: 3 Dead at Large Mall in Kumamoto After Explosion
Rescue operations continue at Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima Town, where an explosion occurred following the quakes.
Major retailer Aeon says the blast killed three employees and another was in called your pulmonary arrest.
Aeon's executives held a news conference on Wednesday.
The company's president said they sincerely pray for those who lost their lives and offer deepest apologies to the bereaved families and those who were injured.
Aeon said it has been using its group system to confirm the safety of about 2,700 workers, including those from specialized stores. But the status of three people is still unknown.
A car driving past the mall captured the moment of the blast on its dash cam.
Local police say the explosion occurred after about 200 customers, employees and others had already evacuated the shopping center.
This footage was taken by Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force using a drone at around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Debris scattered all over the floor and what appears to be the framework of the building is visible.
Kumamoto Mall Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Hot Temperatures
Earlier, I spoke to NHK World's Miyamoto Rikuya, who is outside the mall.
Rikuya, what's the situation like right now?
00:03:03 話者 3/Miyamoto Rikuya
As you can see behind me, the mall itself looks like it was blasted open.
The outdoor walls have collapsed. It looks like a shell of fat it is supposed to be.
As I arrived, I saw rescue workers outside the building.
The traffic lights were all down as workers tried to repair nearby power lines.
Those are back up and running now, but there's still a lot to be done.
It will likely be a long time before this place feels normal again.
00:03:33 話者 1
Now, how are people there feeling about all of this?
00:03:39 話者 3
As you can imagine, a lot of shock. People told me it felt like the reconstruction after the quakes 10 years ago had finally finished, and now this.
I spoke to one 74-year-old man who lives nearby.
He often holds stretching exercises for fellow seniors at the mall.
He says he can't believe this place he saw every day first turned into this.
00:04:08 話者 24/74-year-old man
I heard the big boom yesterday. At the time, I didn't think it was an explosion.
I was shocked when I saw the news on TV. I realized something terrible had happened.
00:04:23 話者 1
As for the rescue operation, do we know how it's going?
00:04:29 話者 3
We haven't heard much, but what I can tell you is that rescuers are working in really rough conditions.
Temperatures have been well over 30 degrees in the Kumamoto region today, and the humidity is intense. You can't stand outside without breaking out in a sweat.
Right now, the forecast is finding those trapped inside.
As for the cause, they will have to wait until later.
Breaking News: 5 Dead, 2 Injured at Factory; 4 Still Missing
00:04:57 話者 1
NHK captured aerial shots of a factory in Kumamoto Prefecture where a smokestack collapsed due to the earthquake.
00:05:08 話者 22/HIrose Osamu/NHK World
This is Nippon Paper Industries plant in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Firefighters can be seen at several places in the factory where the smokestack collapsed.
The search for the missing continues.
00:05:28 話者 1
Officials say that five people are dead and two have been rescued with injuries.
Four people are still trapped inside.
The National Police Agency released footage of the rescue operation at the factory.
It shows major damage to walls, pipes and other equipment.
Local police say there are people trapped under the blue tarps that have been hung on walls and other structures. It's unclear what state they are in.
Breaking News: Extensive Damage Across Kumamoto Prefecture
We are getting more details on the extensive damage caused across Kumamoto Prefecture.
This footage captured by a security camera shows an irrigation canal running between a road and a greenhouse in Yatsushiro City.
Water can be seen surging in waves, splashing higher than the greenhouse and overflowing onto the road.
A barn near a house collapsed in Hikawa town, leaving debris from its roof scattered across the site.
00:06:28 話者 31
There was no damage in the earthquakes ten years ago, but this time the barn collapsed.
There are cracks in the ground here and there.
00:06:45 話者 1
Officials said as of 2 p.m. that about 8,800 people were taking shelter at 432 evacuation centers.
Thousands of households remained without water across the prefecture as of 4 p.m.
That includes roughly 14,000 homes in Uki City and just over 12,000 in Uto City.
Six other municipalities are also affected.
00:07:13 話者 36
We use 20 liters of water for a family of five.
Everything inside the house, like the furniture, kitchen and bath, have collapsed.
So we can't do anything without electricity and running water.
00:07:31 話者 1
Local governments are trying to confirm the situation and are making arrangements to send water trucks.
Kyushu Electric Power Company said on its website that about 34,000 households in Kumamoto Prefecture were without power as of 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Major mobile carriers have also said communication services have been disrupted in some disaster-affected areas.
JR Kyushu says that all services on the Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train remain suspended.
Some sections of Kyushu expressways are closed in Kumamoto prefecture.
And airline companies say some flights to and from Kumamoto airport have been cancelled.
Breaking News
Kumamoto Quake Forces Plant Closures by Major Companies
The earthquake has also disrupted operations at many factories run by major manufacturers in the prefecture.
Auto parts maker Astemo says several workers at its factory in Kumamoto suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The company has halted operations at the plant and is assessing the damage.
Chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron and printing giant Toppan Holdings have also taken their plans offline while checks are carried out.
Major dairy company Morinaga Milk Industry has suspended operations for the sake of workers' safety amid continuing aftershocks.
Sony Group has also taken a local chip plant offline.
Honda Motor has halted operations at its motorcycle factory in the town of Ozu through Friday due to water leaking at the site.
Japan Hot Spell Persists Including in Quake‑Hit Kumamoto
And it's another hot day across much of Japan on Wednesday, including quake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture.
The meteorological agency says temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and 37 degrees in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture by 12:30 p.m.
Heatstroke alerts have been issued in 19 of the country's 47 prefectures from the Kanto region to Okinawa.
In Kumamoto Prefecture, temperatures were 35.5 degrees in Kosa Town and 35 degrees in Kumamoto City by 12:30 p.m.
Weather officials are calling on people in the disaster-stricken areas to take regular breaks as they engage in rescue, cleanup and other recovery operations.
Business
Now to tell us what's happening in the world of business, here's Yuko Fukushima from the Biz Desk.
00:10:13 話者 7/Yuko Fukushima
Thanks, Yoko.
Japan Govt. Panel Proposes 2nd Biggest Hike in Minimum Wage
A Japanese government panel has recommended the average hourly minimum wage be raised by 5 percent. This comes amid a nationwide upward trend for wages.
The 55 yen increase would be the second highest in history following last year's.
The labor ministry panel aims to bring the rate for the current fiscal year to 1,176 yen, or about $7.18.
The target is lower than the 66 yen increase achieved last fiscal year, but it would still be the second largest hike since fiscal 1978 when the panel started making recommendations.
The panel noted the national upward momentum for wages, but also cited a slower rate of inflation as a reason for the lower recommendation.
Prefectural panels will now start discussions on final figures.
The government is pushing to achieve a national average minimum wage of 1,500 yen or $9.15 by the early 2030s.
BYD Launches Sales of Electric Minicar in Japan
Chinese EV giant BYD has launched sales of its debut mini car in Japan.
It's the company's first foray into a market traditionally dominated by domestic makers.
BYD started sales of the electric mini car across Japan on Tuesday.
The least expensive model costs just under 2 million yen or about $12,000 with government subsidies. It can run 210 kilometers on a single charge.
The automaker aims to sell about 10,000 mini cars per year in Japan.
An official says the firm developed the car specifically for the country and designed it to be 100% compliant with domestic standards.
Mini cars are a specific category defined by the Japanese government.
BYD began selling electric passenger cars in Japan in 2023.
Last year, it ranked sixth in the world in terms of vehicles sold, according to one research company.
Markets
Now let's get you a check on the markets.
♪
And that wraps it up for Biz for this hour.
Keiko Fujimori Sworn In as Peru's President
00:12:55 話者 1
Moving to South America, Keiko Fujimori has been sworn in as Peru's president following her narrow victory in the country's presidential runoff election.
Rightist Fujimori is the eldest daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, who died in 2024. She defeated a leftist candidate in June.
At her inauguration ceremony in Lima on Tuesday, Fujimori said that her main goal is to close the social gap that affects millions of Peruvians.
She also vowed to boost economic growth.
A series of corruption scandals had resulted in eight people serving as president over the past decade. Fujimori faces the challenge of stabilizing domestic politics.
However, her party lacks a majority in both chambers of parliament, making it essential to form a coalition with other parties.
Many are watching Fujimori's diplomatic priorities closely to see if she can strike a good balance between the US and China.
President Donald Trump's administration has been increasing its commitments in Latin America, while China is Peru's largest trade partner.
In Focus
Radio Host Works to Unite Divided Iranian Diaspora
The situation in Iran is casting a shadow over relations among Iranians in America.
The largest Iranian community in the US is located in and around Los Angeles with some 230,000 residents.
We follow a radio host who has been listening to the divided voices inside the diaspora.
00:14:46 話者 6/Narrator: Bill Sullivan/Reporter: Komiya Lisa
This radio station in Los Angeles broadcasts Persian-language shows covering a range of topics. A regular host is clinical psychologist Jaleh Benshian.
Born in Iran, she has lived in the United States for more than 20 years.
On her show, she welcomes live callers every Friday.
She's popular for her empathetic engagement that brings out callers' unfiltered voices.
...
The Iran-US conflict has been a major topic on the show.
Right after military operations by the US began,
Iranians in Los Angeles took to the streets to celebrate, in anticipation that the strikes would lead to a regime change.
And Benshian was on the ground too.
However, as devastation spread in Iran, calls for a cease-fire intensified.
A line formed between those who continued to support the war and those who no longer did.
...
Benchian sought to bridge the widening rift within the community.
She intentionally raised a question designed to elicit strong views.
...
She wants to keep the conversation going among people with opposing political views.
...
...
...
Benshian encourages Iranian communities to tolerate their disagreements and reminds them they share a common concern for Iran.
...
As a psychologist and radio host, Benshian helps people understand underlying emotions and find common ground.
00:19:02 話者 48/Jaleh Benshian/Clinical psychologist, radio host
We don't have control over political events, but what we do have control on is the response that we give.
I create a space that people can call in and they share their thoughts and at the same time they can become familiar with other people's point of view.
Then at the end we get into a conclusion altogether.
00:19:30 話者 1
Benshian says some of our listeners feel survivors guilt as they are safe in the US.
They want a better future for Iran while afraid of the further suffering of the people.
How Repairing Film Cameras Heals Hearts
In our increasingly digital world, film cameras might seem outdated and slow.
But inside a Tokyo repair workshop, fixing these broken devices reveals something much deeper, including the power to heal.
00:20:14 話者 5/Azuma Tetsuya/Limye camera repair shop
That click sounds great, not heard on modern cameras.
00:20:19 話者 10/Narrator: Christiane Brew/Reporters: Amakasu Ami / Nagoya Junko
The clicks are coming from a small workshop in Tokyo.
People come here to learn how to repair film cameras.
Some have a lifetime attachment to their cameras.
Others are fixing up secondhand ones to sell. And some just want a new hobby.
00:20:46 話者 5
That's perfect.
00:20:49 話者 4
I can work with complete focus and a clear mind. It's really fun.
00:20:57 話者 10
Azuma Tetsuya organizes the workshop. He has repaired more than 1,000 cameras.
00:21:09 話者 5/Azuma Tetsuya
The greatest reward is seeing people happy after their camera is repaired.
It feels amazing when I diagnose what the problem is, like this part must be broken.
And fixing that part solves the problem just as I predicted.
00:21:25 話者 10
This man hopes that someday he can prepare a camera built by his late grandfather, who once ran a company that made them.
00:21:38 話者 4/Tanaka Yoshihiro
It might sound a bit dramatic to say that my grandfather and his generation staked their lives on this, but I want to honor that.
When I'm finished, I want to take photos of people smiling.
I want to let the camera live out a good life.
00:22:00 話者 5
Cameras have captured the history of people who are very close to us, like our fathers, mothers, children and grandchildren.
So I feel like we can't just throw these cameras away so easily.
00:22:17 話者 10
Modern society focuses on efficiency and convenience.
Repairing things by hand requires slowing down. which brings meaning into focus.
Nakano Nozomi has been coming here for more than two years.
00:22:41 話者 2/Nakano Nozomi
I was bullied quite a lot as a child, and my home life was difficult.
I think I spent more time than most people reflecting on my own feelings and considering my relationships with others.
00:23:02 話者 10
At some point, she began to see her own heart reflected in the mechanism she was repairing.
00:23:13 話者 2
It got me thinking If there's a common thread between repairing a broken camera and trying to mend a heart that's gradually worn down or on the verge of breaking in society, I wonder if the very act of taking the time to face it head on leads to healing.
00:23:36 話者 10
Workshop owner Azuma wonders too.
He says something special happens when people tinker with analog technology.
00:23:50 話者 5
When we treat our belongings with care, it can sometimes make us feel as if we're taking care of ourselves.
I believe this mindset can be put to good use in our lives when things aren't going well or when we're facing difficulties.
00:24:12 話者 10
Film cameras have survived the test of time.
Time spent repairing them brings frozen moments back to life.
World Weather
00:24:24 話者 1
People across most of Japan will need to be on the lookout for heat stroke concerns, especially those in Kyushu in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.
Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has a look at the situation in world weather.
00:24:39 話者 11/Jonathan Oh
Hello. We continue to monitor the heat that's been impacting not just areas like Tokyo, but even into western portions of Japan.
In the aftermath of the major quick that took place the other day, Kumamoto is dealing with continued hot weather.
Yes, we talk about the high reaching 35 degrees, but the overnight low is not getting much lower. 27 degrees was an overnight low on Wednesday morning, and with the of power outages and with the infrastructure impacts, when you have temperatures like these and you don't have air conditioning to cool down your body, that could increase the concern for heat stroke.
And we have to look at what's happening next.
A high pressure system is moving in, and once that system pushes eastward and brings in a southerly flow, those temperatures are going to be going even higher.
And so that's the reason why it's really, really critical to try to get folks into the safe locations in terms of bringing down the tempreture.
Different story to the northeastern portion of Japan.
We have waves of low pressure system running on through and rain will be the story in places like Sapporo coming out over the next couple of days.
But check out the temperatures here.
Kumamoto moving up to 39 for the high on Saturday and Sunday.
And again, overnight temperatures not cooling off much.
So, we need to repeat the heat stroke prevention tips, staying hydrated at all costs, try to get into some air conditioned areas, make sure that you get the shading, make sure that you are trying to use light colored and loose clothing to help you stay cool as much as possible.
Switching gears and looking at what's happening.
Quick note on Dolphin, a powerful typhoon continue to make switch to north and west for the moment, not impacting any major island chains, but we'll have to watch for this over the next several days.
Foster north of Hawaii will be bringing continued rough surf for the north side of the area with rain, strong winds possible over the next few days.
Stay safe wherever you are.
00:27:35 話者 1
And that's it for now on NHK Newsline. I'm Yoko Nishimura in Tokyo. Thanks for joining us.
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