NHK WORLD English News Script for Shadowing｜Russia–Ukraine Ceasefire | Iran Tensions Rise | WHO Tracks Hantavirus | Toyota Hits Record Sales (2026/5/9)

Trump says Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three‑day ceasefire and a 1,000‑prisoner swap.

Iran reviews the US proposal as tensions rise near the Hormuz, while Trump prepares for a China summit.

WHO tracks a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship; Toyota posts record sales but falling profits.

トランプ氏がロシアとウクライナの3日間停戦と1000人規模の捕虜交換合意を発表。

イランは米提案を審査中で、ホルムズ海峡周辺で緊張が続く一方、トランプ氏は来週の米中首脳会談を準備。

WHOがハンタウイルス疑いのクルーズ船を追跡、トヨタは売上過去最高も利益減。

20260509180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 (James Tengan)

It's a Saturday evening here in Japan. I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. 

Welcome to NHK Newsline.

Trump Says Russia and Ukraine Agree to Three-Day Ceasefire

US President Donald Trump says Russia and Ukraine will pause fighting from Saturday through Monday after their leaders agreed to his request for the ceasefire.

Trump made the announcement on social media on Friday.

He wrote that the ceasefire will also suspend all kinetic activity and each country will swap a thousand prisoners.

Trump stressed that he directly requested the ceasefire and expressed his appreciation to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy for their agreement.

Russian presidential aide Yuriy Ushakov issued a statement confirming Russia had agreed to Trump's request.

Zelenskyy responded to Trump's proposal on social media, saying he expects the US to ensure Russia fulfills the agreements.

On May 9, Russia commemorates the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Earlier, it declared a two-day unilateral ceasefire with Ukraine starting Friday.

It also warned it would retaliate with a large-scale missile attack if Ukraine disrupted the events parade.

Zelenskyy signed a presidential decree on Friday that said Ukraine would not strike central Moscow during the parade.

Iran Reviews US Proposal as Tensions Flare Near Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say they're expecting a response from Iran on Friday regarding the latest proposal to end the fighting.

But a senior Iranian official is apparently not concerned about the deadline.

00:01:46 話者 2/Marco Rubio

We're expecting a response from them today at some point.

We have not received that yet in the last hour, but perhaps that will come.

00:01:54 (James Tengan)

Rubio said the hope is that Iran responds with something that can put the US into a serious process of negotiation.

Trump said he expects to receive a letter from the Iranians on Friday.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that a foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said the US proposal is under review and Tehran will definitely announce the final result.

In an interview with a state-run broadcaster, he said Iran is doing its own work and is not concerned with deadlines or ultimatums.

US Central Command has enforced blockade measures against two empty Iranian-flagged oil tankers attempting to enter an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, and has disabled them.

The Tasnim News Agency reported a limited clash occurred with the US military

near the Strait of Hormuz, but the situation was calm now.

Trump to Visit China Next Week for Long-Awaited Summit

Meanwhile, Trump is set to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping next week for a summit that's been long in the works.

Their agenda will likely include trade, Taiwan, and tensions in the Middle East.

Trump is expected to be in China on Thursday and Friday.

He was initially supposed to visit in late March, but postponed the trip in light of the conflict in Iran.

Trump confirmed this week that he has no plans to reschedule again.

Beijing has not announced any dates.

But officials from both sides, including their foreign and trade ministers, held a series of phone talks last week.

It'll be Trump's first visit to China since 2017 during his first term.

The two leaders last met in October on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic cooperation summit in South Korea.

WHO Intensifies Tracking of Suspected Hantavirus Cases on Cruise Ship

The World Health Organization is intensifying contact tracing efforts on passengers from a cruise ship linked to a suspected hantavirus outbreak.

The ship's operator says 32 people from at least 12 countries disembarked on the British island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic on April 24.

That includes the body of a man who died of the virus.

The cruise ship is currently heading for Spain's Canary Islands and is expected to arrive on Sunday.

The WHO is working with governments and health authorities to strengthen contact tracing to prevent further spread of the infection.

The organization says its medical team will conduct tests for all people on board upon arrival and look into their contact status to get the whole picture.

Tests of several cases from the ship have identified the Andes virus, a specific strain of the hantavirus.

As the virus has an incubation period of up to six weeks, the WHO warns the number of confirmed cases could rise, but the risk to public health is low.

Hong Kong Drops Japan from Youth Exchange Subsidy List

Hong Kong's government has reportedly announced a list of international youth exchange projects it plans to subsidize, but for the first time since the program began, none are with Japan.

Local newspaper Ming Bao says funds have been awarded to 95 exchange projects with 45 nations this fiscal year. They include the US and South Korea.

The Hong Kong government launched the program in 2017.

Schools and companies that wish to take part must apply.

But it's unclear if any proposals included exchanges with Japan this time.

Hong Kong authorities have recently been aligning more closely with mainland China.

Beijing has been at odds with Tokyo over comments Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made last year about Taiwan.

♫～

Toyota Group Sales Top 50 Trillion Yen for First Time

Toyota Motors group sales have exceeded 50 trillion yen for the first time.

The record results are for the business year that ended in March.

The Japanese auto giant says group revenues in fiscal 2025 rose 5.5 percent from the previous year to just under 50.7 trillion yen, or about $323 billion.

But operating profit plunged by more than 21 percent and net income by over 19 percent.

The automaker cites Donald Trump's tariffs as a factor.

Toyota projects a 0.6 percent increase in sales to 51 trillion yen in fiscal 2026, but operating profits are expected to plunge by more than 20 percent and net profit by 22 percent.

The automaker expects to sell 10.5 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles globally this fiscal year. That's about the same as last year.

But the conflict in the Middle East and surging material prices are likely to affect sales and drag down operating profits by 670 billion yen, or about $4.3 billion.

Pentagon Releases New UFO and UAP Materials

The US Department of Defense has released materials related to unidentified flying objects, or UFOs.

The files made public on Friday include a video purportedly filmed around Japan.

The footage was reportedly taken by the department in January 2023.

It shows three circular objects clustered together. 

The video was apparently taken from the air.

Another image from the Apollo 17 moon landing in 1972 shows three small dots that become visible when the photo is enlarged.

Also included is a transcript of a conversation by the mission's crew members.

One refers to a few very bright particles or fragments, or something that go drifting by as we maneuver.

Another says about one of the objects, It's obviously rotating because it's flashing.

The around 160 files cover what the Pentagon calls unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP, which include UFOs.

They contain data recorded by the US military, the US space agency NASA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies since the 1940s.

The Defense Department has not offered any concrete assessments of what the files show.

Donald Trump ordered the release of materials related to UFOs and extraterrestrials earlier this year, citing tremendous public interest.

The Pentagon says it plans to disclose more materials in stages.

WEATHER

And those were this hour's main stories.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

Hope the weather's looking good in your neck of the woods.

More to come here on NHK World Japan, so stay with us.

checked.

NHK World frequency notice

00:10:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service Here's a frequency notice 

The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz Once again, 

The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj. nhk.jp/rj.

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

NHK WORLD English News Script｜ White House Shooting, Project Freedom Tensions, Russia’s Victory Day Ceasefire (2026/5/5)

A shooting near the White House injured a juvenile as Secret Service agents exchanged fire.

Tensions rose over the US “Project Freedom” operation in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran denied ship transits.

Russia declared a two‑day Victory Day ceasefire, while Japan faced holiday congestion.

ホワイトハウス近くで銃撃が発生.。米国の「プロジェクト・フリーダム」で緊張。ロシア戦勝記念日で停戦を発表

20260505180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Yuko Fukushima

Glad to have you with us on NHK Newsline. I'm Yuko Fukushima.

Shooting Near White House Injures Juvenile

The US Secret Service says an armed man opened fire near a tourist landmark in the vicinity of the White House on Monday, hitting a bystander.

Agents spotted a suspicious individual near the Washington Monument.

The man reportedly fled when confronted, then started firing a weapon.

A person described as a juvenile was hit, but reportedly did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The suspect was also shot by the agents, whose condition is not known.

00:00:44 話者 11

And, I can tell you that every time, one, we're patrolling this area and every site we do, 24/7, part four.

Whether or not it was directed to the president or not, I don't know, but we will find out.

00:00:58 話者 12

Weapon recovered?

00:00:59 話者 11

Yes.

00:01:01 話者 1

President Donald Trump was at the time participating in an event at the White House about one kilometer from the shooting scene.

Last month, a man fired shots as he tried to enter a dinner party attended by the president at a hotel in the Capitol.

Hormuz Tensions Rise Over Project Freedom

The US president has been trying to ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said this week will mark the beginning of an operation called Project Freedom.

And the military says two ships have already gone through, but the Iranian side is deriding the claim as pure lies.

The US Central Command posted on social media that two merchant vessels transited the strait. It says guided missile destroyers are in the Persian Gulf to assist.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the project on Fox News Channel's America's Newsroom as an international humanitarian operation.

He says the ships carry not only energy, but also food and fertilizer.

And he says US forces will respond only if fired upon.

00:02:02 話者 21/Scott Bessent 

We are not the provocateurs here, but if the Iranians want to escalate here, we are willing to escalate.

00:02:09 話者 1

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied that any ships have passed.

It released a statement saying that all vessels violating its rules will be stopped by force.

In Iran, state-run media says naval forces fired warning shots at US destroyers near the strait.

Officials in the United Arab Emirates say one of their tankers sailing through the strait was attacked. They put the blame on an Iranian drone strike.

And they say another drone attack on an oil facility injured three people.

Defense ministry officials say they spotted four Iranian cruise missiles and were able to intercept three.

Foreign ministry officials in South Korea have reported damage to a vessel operated by a Korean company.

They say an explosion and fire took place while anchored off the UAE coast.

They say no casualties have been confirmed and that they're investigating the cause.

Trump posted on social media that Iran has attacked so-called unrelated nations in response to Project Freedom. He says they include a South Korean cargo ship.

He says it's time for the Koreans to come and join the mission.

Russia Announces Victory Day Ceasefire

Russia has declared a unilateral two-day ceasefire with Ukraine to mark the May 9 anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

The ceasefire is set for May 8 and 9. Russia's defense ministry said on Monday it follows a directive from President Vladimir Putin. The ministry says it expects Kyiv to follow suit.

With preparations underway for a ceremony in Moscow, the pause may be intended to protect the event from Ukrainian attacks.

The Kremlin said Putin told US President Trump in a phone call last month he was ready to declare a Victory Day ceasefire. Trump reportedly supported the idea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday there had been no official appeal for a ceasefire from Moscow as claimed on Russian social media.

But he added that Ukraine will announce its own pause in the fighting starting at midnight on Tuesday.

Drone Hits Moscow High‑Rise Before Victory Day

As Russia prepares for its Victory Day celebration, the defense ministry says Ukraine has launched drone attacks into its territory, including Moscow.

The ministry says 117 drones were intercepted from Sunday night into Monday morning.

The mayor of Moscow says one drone hit a high-rise apartment building in the capital.

He said two others were intercepted and no injuries were reported.

Suspected Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Kills 3

The World Health Organization says a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has a possible hantavirus outbreak.

It says six people have developed symptoms and that three of them have died.

The Netherlands-based cruise line says the three fatalities were all passengers.

Another passenger is in intensive care in South Africa and two crew members require urgent medical care.

The ship departed Argentina in March and is now anchored off the coast of Cabo Verde, an island nation near West Africa.

The WHO says humans become infected with hantavirus mainly through contact with rodent urine or droppings and can develop severe respiratory illness.

But the organization says there is low risk to the wider public.

Japan to Support Developing Nations Amid Mideast Tensions

Japan has pledged to work with the Asian Development Bank to support developing nations whose economies have been affected by tensions in the Middle East.

Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki joined the ADB's board meeting in the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan on Monday.

There are concerns in the region about how the crisis will impact energy supply and food security.

00:06:01 話者 3/Katayama Satsuki

Amid increasing global uncertainty, strengthening resilience has become an urgent challenge in the Asia and Pacific region.

00:06:13 話者 1

She said Japan will work with the ADB to provide financial aid to small and medium-sized companies as they cope with fuel shortages.

Investment in loans will also be offered to countries seeking to transform their energy infrastructure.

Katayama noted after the meeting that supply chains stretched through Asia, so helping the region benefits Japan significantly.

Japan Faces Heavy Holiday Travel Congestion

Returning vacationers are packing roads, railways and airports in Japan as the end of the country's spring holiday break approaches.

Traffic peaked on Tuesday, one day before the end of a string of national holidays.

00:06:52 話者 31

I visited my husband's parents' home in Nara. I could relax.

00:06:57 話者 32

It was fun.

00:06:59 話者 1

Shinkansen bullet train operators say Tokyo-bound Tokaido Shinkansen trains are almost fully baked for the day.

Some inbound services on the Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines are also fully reserved.

At Tokyo's Haneda Airport, the arrival lobby was buzzing with travelers returning from abroad.

00:07:20 話者 33

It was fun to visit various places. The Korean cold noodles were delicious.

00:07:27 話者 1

Expressways are also congested, with traffic likely to be at peak levels through early Tuesday evening.

Expressway operators are advising drivers to check their websites for updates to avoid traffic jams.

Traditional Bullfighting Draws Crowds in Niigata

Spectators have gathered in Niigata Prefecture to watch the first traditional bullfights of the season. It's a tradition dating back centuries.

Two bulls face off, lock horns, and press against each other while their handlers shout encouragement.

36 animals took part in the tournament in Ojiya City on Sunday, with about 1,000 people watching. The city will hold tournaments every month through November.

To prevent the animals from getting hurt, a rebound finishes in a tie.

00:08:28 話者 41

This is my first time, and I'm enjoying it. They're so powerful. It's impressive to watch.

00:08:35 話者 42

The fights are amazing.

00:08:22 話者 1

Traditional bullfighting events are also held in the nearby city of Nagaoka and are designated an important and tangible full cultural property.

Those were the main stories for this hour. This is NHK Newsline.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

And that is the news for this hour.

I'm Yuko Fukushima. Thanks for joining us and do stay with us on NHK World Japan.

checked.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Easy Japanese

00:10:09 話者 4

Hi there! Welcome to Easy Japanese from NHK World Japan.

I'm Eriko Kojima.

00:10:15 話者 5

And I'm Michael Reese.

Let's have fun studying Japanese together.

00:10:19 話者 4

Today we bring you lesson 10 on asking how much something costs.

00:10:30 話者 5

The main character of our skit is Tam, a student from Vietnam.

She's come to an electronics store with her friend Ayaka.

Tam wants to get a hair dryer.

00:10:39 話者 2

Listen to the skit for lesson 10.

Let's go over the skit line by line.

00:11:17 話者 5

Tam is overwhelmed by the wide range of hair dryers on the shelf.

00:11:24 話者 4

So many hair dryers.

00:11:26 話者 5

Ayaka says.

00:11:29 話者 4

Amazing, don't you think?

00:11:32 話者 5

And she shows Tam different types of hair dryers.

00:11:37 話者 4

This one makes your hair silky smooth.

And this one makes your hair shine.

00:11:44 話者 2

Tam asks, How much is it?

00:11:51 話者 5

Ayaka looks at the price tag, but it only says that the dryer is on sale.

00:11:58 話者 4

The sign says it's on sale.

Let's ask the clerk.

00:12:04 話者 5

Tam gets the attention of a salesperson.

00:12:08 話者 4

Excuse me.

How much is this hair dryer?

The clerk replies, 9,900 yen.

00:12:19 話者 5

Tam is surprised and says.

00:12:24 話者 4

My, that's too expensive.

00:12:28 話者 5

Tam was able to ask about the price of the hair dryer, but unfortunately, it wasn't within her budget.

00:12:40 話者 4

Today's key phrase is, how much is this hair dryer?

Once you've learned this pattern, you'll be able to ask the price of anything.

Here's the meaning of the key phrase.

Kono means this.

Doraiya is hair dryer.

The wa that follows is a particle that shows the topic of the sentence.

Ikura is an interrogative meaning how much.

Today's point.

To ask the price of something, use the phrase How much.

00:13:22 話者 5

So all you have to do is indicate the item and ask

ikura desu ka.

00:13:26 話者 4

That's right.

And you can use one of the words that we previously learned for this, that, or that over there, kore, sore, are, to ask, for example, kore wa ikura desu ka?

How much is this?

When you know the name of the thing you're talking about, replace kore, sore, are with kono, sono, ano, and put the noun after it.

00:13:52 話者 5

Then the key phrase becomes how much is this hairdryer?

Listen and repeat out loud.

00:14:21 話者 4

Okay, now listen to another conversation in a shop.

A customer is asking the clerk about the price of an item.

Here's what the conversation means.

00:14:51 話者 5

Excuse me?

00:14:53 話者 4

How much is this rice cooker?

Sui hanki is a rice cooker.

00:15:02 話者 5

8,700 yen.

00:15:05 話者 4

En or yen is the unit of the Japanese currency.

00:15:10 話者 5

Listen and repeat.

00:15:14 話者 4

Ikura desu konosui hankiwa ikura desu konosui hankiwa ikura desu

How would you ask the price of earphones displayed on a high shelf?

If an item is far from both you and the sales clerk, use ano before the noun.

Earphones are pronounced as .

Go ahead.

Time to step up.

A price was part of the conversation in today's skit.

Previously, we learned how to count up to 10, or ju.

This time, we'll learn some bigger numbers.

First off, double digits.

To count in tens, like 20 and 30, just add 10 after each number from 2 to 9.

00:16:36 話者 5

So for 20, say 2 followed by 10 to make niju.

00:16:43 話者 4

That's right.

Counting in tens from 10 to 90 in Japanese, it's ju, niju, sanju, yonju, goju, rokuju, nanaju, hachiju, kyuju.

Now next, three-digit numbers.

One hundred is hyaku.

Just like before, add one hundred, hyaku, after each number from two to nine.

00:17:08 話者 5

So two hundred in Japanese is ni followed by hyaku.

That gets you ni-hyaku.

00:17:15 話者 4

That's right.

But the pronunciation can be a bit tricky.

Three hundred is pronounced san-byaku.

Six hundred becomes lo-pyaku.

and 800 is pronounced hapyaku.

On to thousands.

One thousand is sen.

Here, too, the pronunciation changes.

Three thousand becomes sanzen.

Eight thousand becomes hassem.

To express numbers, go from the largest to smallest denomination.

For example, 1,234 is pronounced sen-ni-haku-san-ju-yong.

Now, take a listen to today's skit once again.

00:18:01 話者 2

Taksan arimasune.

Sugoi desuo.

Korewa sarasara haiya.

Korewa tsiyangaderu taipu.

Ikura desu ka?

Seirutu kaitaru.

Kiitemiyo?

Sumimasen.

Kono doraiyawa ikura desu ka.

00:18:23 話者 4

Kyusen kyushakuen desu.

00:18:35 話者 5

Time now for Haru-san's bag full of advice.

Today we'll talk about bills and coins used in Japan.

00:18:44 話者 4

Japan has four kinds of paper money: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen bills.

00:18:53 話者 5

And what's interesting is you don't see old and crumpled banknotes.

00:18:57 話者 4

That's because the Bank of Japan collects worn bills early on to be destroyed and replaced with fresh ones.

1,000 and 5,000 yen bills are taken out of circulation and replaced every year or two.

00:19:10 話者 5

Brand new bills have a role of their own, too, yes.

00:19:13 話者 4

Yes.

The proper etiquette when giving cash gifts for marriages and other celebrations is to insert crisp new bills in envelopes specifically used for that occasion.

00:19:24 話者 5

So they look and feel fresh.

00:19:25 話者 4

That's right.

As for coins, Japan has six types-- 1 yen, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 500.

Vending machines don't take 1 yen or 5 yen coins, so they stay in your pocket until you shop at a store.

Did you enjoy today's Easy Japanese?

00:19:52 話者 5

We hope so.

Join us again next time.

Tokyo Skytree

00:20:18 話者 6

Japan has various kinds of landmarks that fascinate visitors.

They range from cultural and historic locations to modern buildings created with cutting-edge technologies.

What led to their creation and what were the challenges involved?

The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks brings you the stories behind these amazing places.

In this episode of The Backstory of Japanese Landmarks,

We feature the world's tallest broadcast tower, Tokyo Skytree.

Tokyo Skytree is 634 meters tall.

Other landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower and Paris's Eiffel Tower have wide bases.

But Tokyo Skytree is slim and more like a spire.

Its color, named Skytree White, is based on the lightest shade of Japanese indigo blue.

The tower can be seen from a great distance, but when people first see it, some think its form is rather simple.

Tokyo Skytree was built using state-of-the-art Japanese technology.

But that's not all.

Traditional skills, respected and handed down over generations of craftspeople, also played a vital role in its construction.

The base of Tokyo Skytree is triangular in shape when seen from above.

This was designed to let people enter from the three sides of the surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the two observation decks at the heights of 350 meters and 450 meters are round and offer a 360-degree panoramic view.

This means the cross-section of the tower's base is a triangle but becomes round toward the top.

Looking more carefully, Tokyo Skytree's outline is not made of straight lines.

The lines are actually slightly curved.

Depending where the tower is viewed from, some parts of the tower warp inwards, while other parts bulge outwards.

This comes from traditional Japanese architecture.

The inward warp is called sori, while the outward curve is called mukuri.

Tokyo Skytree's towering outline is a combination of sori and mukuri.

A particularly important feature of Tokyo Skytree is its earthquake resistance.

The tower's construction began in 2008.

Three years later, in 2011, a massive earthquake struck eastern Japan.

After overcoming a number of challenges posed by the disaster, the tower was completed in 2012.

Tokyo Skytree has an outer frame and an inner column.

The two are structurally detached.

During an earthquake, the column acts as a weight and moves in the opposite direction as the outer frame.

This reduces the impact of tremors.

This anti-seismic structure was inspired by a traditional Japanese structure, the five-story pagoda.

Five-story pagodas of Buddhist temples have a column at the center, similar to Tokyo Skytree.

Due to their excellent quake resistance, there are no records of any wooden pagodas collapsing in an earthquake in Japan's history.

Japan's oldest five-story pagoda is in Horyuji Temple in Nara, built more than 1,400 years ago.

The wisdom of ancient people lives on in today's advanced technologies.

Thank you for tuning in to the backstory 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.

The broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

Once again, the broadcast at 14 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.800 MHz.

For more details of our programs, please check our website at nhk.jp/rj. nhk.jp/rj 

We're always pleased to receive your comments and suggestions through our website.

NHK WORLD English News Script｜Putin Proposes Victory Day Ceasefire | Ukraine Expands Long‑Range Strikes | China–Japan Nuclear Tensions (2026/4/30)

          Russia proposes a Victory Day ceasefire in its conflict with Ukraine, with Trump expressing support.

          Ukraine plans to expand long‑range strikes as Russia accuses it of terrorism.

          China criticizes Japan at the NPT conference, while Japan reaffirms its non‑nuclear principles.

ロシアが戦勝記念日停戦を提案。ウクライナは長距離攻撃の拡大を計画。中国はNPT会議で日本を批判。

20260430180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Morishita Erika

Welcome to NHK NewsLine. I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo.

PUTIN READY TO DECLARE VICTORY DAY CEASEFIRE WITH UKRAINE

Russia is ready to declare a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine during its Victory Day celebrations next week.

The Kremlin says President Vladimir Putin relayed the idea to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in a phone conversation.

Russia commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9.

A Russian presidential aide said on Wednesday Trump actively supported Putin's idea of a pause in fighting.

The aide blamed Ukraine for prolonging the conflict, encouraged by European countries and with their support.

He said that Putin and Trump expressed similar assessments of the government in Kyiv.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iran.

00:01:04 話者 10/Trump 

He told me he'd like to be involved with the enrichment if he can help us get it.

I said I'd much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.

00:01:15 話者 1

The Kremlin said Russia put forward proposals aimed at resolving the differences surrounding the Iranian nuclear program.

ZELENSKYY: UKRAINE TO INCREASE LONG-RANGE STRIKES ON RUSSIA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country will step up long-range attacks on Russia. This comes amid the spate of strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian forces are increasing attacks on such facilities in an effort to disrupt energy sales that fund the invasion. They hit an oil refinery in southern Russia earlier this week.

Zelenskyy said in a social media post his country is in a new stage in the use of Ukrainian weapons to limit the potential of Russia's war.

He added that Ukraine will extend the range of its attacks and that long-range strikes are justified.

Russian President Vadma Putin said on Tuesday Ukraine is resorting to openly terrorist methods.

He said Ukraine is losing territory every day and is now relying on terror both against military personnel and against civilians.

CHINA SAYS JAPAN MUST NOT POSSESS NUCLEAR WEAPONS

China has called for Japan to be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The comments were made at the Nuclear Disarmament Conference in New York.

A review conference of the parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons began on Monday at the United Nations Headquarters.

The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Armed Control Department, Sun Xiaobo, claimed Japan is pushing to revise its pacifist constitution.

He added that country is trying to reveal its three non-nuclear principles and said the acquisition of nuclear weapons must be prevented.

Japanese ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, Ichikawa Tomiko, rejected the claim. She said Japan's government remains committed to these three principles.

00:03:24 話者 11/Ichikawa Tomiko

Japan, as the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings in war, will continue to work closely with the international community to realize a world without nuclear weapons.

00:03:39 話者 1

China countered by saying Japan has long stockpiled quantities of plutonium that far exceed civilian needs.

Ichikawa denied this, saying there are no issues related to nuclear non-proliferation.

TRUMP WON'T ACCEPT OFFER WITHOUT NUCLEAR DEAL

US President Donald Trump and his team have been discussing Iran's latest offer this week.

Tehran has reportedly proposed to first open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade while postponing the nuclear talks.

But US media outlets are reporting that Trump has no intention of accepting it.

US news site Axios says Trump will maintain a naval blockade until Tehran agrees to a nuclear deal.

It says Trump views the blockade as somewhat more effective than the bombing.

Axios also cites sources as saying the US Central Command is preparing a short and powerful wave of strikes against Iran.

The move is aimed at breaking the deadlocked negotiations.

But the sources say Trump had not ordered any attacks as of Tuesday night.

Trump posted another warning on social media.

He says that Iran can't get their act together and they don't know how to sign a non-nuclear deal.

He later told reporters that Iran needs to give up. When asked if the US needs to launch more strikes, Trump wouldn't give a clear answer.

00:05:26 話者 10/Trump 

I don't know, it depends. We have talks, we're having talks with them now, and we're not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper.

We're doing it telephonically, and it's very nice.

00:05:39 話者 1

Iran's state TV quotes a security source as calling the blockade maritime piracy and banditry. The source warns that it will be met with practical and unprecedented action.

And says Iranian forces have been showing restraint so far to give diplomacy a chance.

JAPAN BOND YIELD HIGHEST SINCE 1999 AS CRUDE OIL SURGES

The yield on Japan's benchmark government bond reached levels not seen in about 27 years in trading on Thursday.

This comes as uncertainty surrounding talks between the US and Iran affected a broad range of markets in Tokyo.

The 10-year bond yield topped 2.5%. That's the highest since February 1999.

Analysts say bond investors are selling out of concern that soaring crude oil prices due to the Iran conflict may further fuel inflation in Japan.

WTI crude oil futures spiked in New York overnight, briefly topping $110 per barrel.

That's the highest in about three weeks. Sentiment is said to be shifting among investors.

Many had expected negotiations to fully reopen the Strait of Home moves would advance, but their outlook is becoming increasingly pessimistic as the stalemate continues between the two sides.

Investors are also selling the yen and buying the dollar as a safe-haven asset.

On Thursday in Tokyo, the Japanese currency weakened to the mid-160 range against the dollar, the lowest level in about a year and nine months.

Stocks are also seeing a broad sell-off.

The Nikkei 225 fell just over 1% to close at 59,284 on Thursday.

Market sources say that with oil futures climbing again, investors are becoming increasingly concerned about the outlook for the bond, stock and currency markets.

JAPAN AIMS TO BOOST FOOD EXPORTS TO BANGLADESH

Japan's agriculture minister has met with his Bangladesh counterpart as part of efforts to increase Japanese food exports to the South Asian nation.

Suzuki Norikazu and Mohammed Amin al-Rashid sat down in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Suzuki's visit follows the signing of an economic partnership agreement between the two countries in February.

He said Japan aims to boost shipments of food items like Wagyu beef, as well as forestry and fisheries products.

Rashid said Bangladesh is seeking technological support in the areas of agriculture and food safety. Suzuki toured a supermarket in Dhaka after the meeting.

He learned about the varieties of rice and other food items sold there.

00:08:51 話者 21/Suzuki Norikazu

We will work to develop markets in countries like Bangladesh that have traditionally had friendly relations with Japan and where the appreciation of Japanese food is deepening.

00:09:04 話者 1

Bangladesh has a population of more than 170 million and is expected to experience further economic growth.

Japan is keen to see its food products gain a larger share of the market especially as rice is a staple food in the country.

WOMAN ATTACKED BY BEAR IN TOYAMA, CENTRAL JAPAN

A woman was attacked by a bear in a residential area in the central prefecture of Toyama when she was out walking her dog. Authorities later put down a bear near the scene.

Toyama city officials say the incident occurred on Wednesday night.

The woman in her 40s was taken to a hospital and is conscious.

Possible bear sightings were reported in the area after the incident.

City officials, local hunters and police began searching for the bear that attacked the woman on Thursday morning.

The city says it put down a bear Thursday afternoon in an emergency operation which allows hunting guns to be used that was authorized by the local government.

00:10:19 話者 33

SURVIVING A BEAR ATTACK Urban areas

Japan had a spike in bear attacks last fall. Now bears are heading into urban areas again.

This bear doesn't run even in car lights. More bear attacks could be possible in the months ahead as their food supply drops in the summer. What can we do to protect ourselves?

If you inadvertently encounter a bear, do not turn your back and run away.

That could make the bear aggressive. Slowly step backwards while facing the bear.

If an attack is imminent, lie face down on the ground and cover your head.

Be particularly cautious in the early morning hours, as bears are active around that time.

Stay safe.

TOKYO POLICE PUT HAMMER ATTACK SUSPECT ON WANTED LIST

00:11:18 話者 1

Tokyo police have placed a suspect on a nationwide wanted list in connection with attacks that left five people injured.

The man allegedly struck two students with a hammer-like object in western Tokyo on Wednesday.

The suspect, wanted on suspicion of attempted murder, is 44-year-old Takabayashi Teruyuki of Fusa City.

Investigators say he allegedly struck a male high school student in the face multiple times in Fusa. Another male student was also attacked.

Investigators say seven young people, including the two boys, had gathered near a restaurant at the time.

Police officers rushed to the scene and the suspect sprayed liquid at them using an agricultural sprayer. Three officers reportedly suffered injuries.

Police initially said the man had barricaded himself inside his home nearby after the incident. But when officers entered the house several hours later, he had already fled.

Police are searching for the suspect and are calling on the public for information.

PRODUCTION OF CHILDREN'S DAY FLAGS IN FULL SWING

Workshops in western Japan are stepping up production of large flags traditionally hosted in Kochi Prefecture for Children's Day.

In the city of Kami, Mitani Yasukiyo's workshop is busy ahead of the May 5 national holiday.

On one prospective flag, the craftsman is carefully painting over a sketch of a lucky treasure ship.

Another features a client's pet dog alongside Momotaro, a heroic boy born from a peach in Japanese folklore. The flags are called Hurahu.

The term is said to be derived from the English or Dutch word for flag.

They represent wishes for the healthy development of children.

00:13:32 話者 44/Mitani Yasukiyo

Each brushstroke reflects my great hope that every child will grow up in good health.

00:13:41 話者 1

Mitani knows the furafus are intended to last a lifetime.

He says he hopes the children will come to appreciate the gift from their families.

Those were the main stories for this hour.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. 

I'm Morishita Erika in Tokyo. Thank you for joining us.

checked.

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Easy Japanese

00:15:09 話者 2

Hi there.

Welcome to Easy Japanese from NHK World Japan.

I'm Erico Kojima.

00:15:15 話者 3

And I'm Michael Reese.

Let's have fun learning Japanese together.

00:15:19 話者 2

Today we bring you lesson nine on expressions for asking the names of things you don't know.

00:15:30 話者 3

The main character of our skit is Tam, a student from Vietnam who lives in Harusan House.

Tam has come to the basement deli of a department store with her housemate Kaito and his American friend, Mike.

00:15:42 話者 2

Such places are called depachika in Japanese.

Let's listen to the skit for lesson 9.

Kokoga, depachika daiyo?

I don't know...

I don't know.

Itadakimasu! Oh, I see this! Let's review the skit line by line.

00:16:24 話者 3

Kaito says to Tam.

00:16:28 話者 2

This is the department store's basement deli.

00:16:31 話者 3

Kaito's friend Mike says.

00:16:35 話者 2

They have all kinds of food.

It's great.

00:16:39 話者 3

Tam is astounded by the variety.

00:16:44 話者 2

Wow, this is amazing.

00:16:46 話者 3

Something catches her eye.

00:16:50 話者 2

What is this?

00:16:52 話者 3

Kaito answers.

00:16:56 話者 2

Pickled daikon radish.

00:16:58 話者 3

Mike encourages Tam to try a sample.

00:17:03 話者 2

Do you want to try it?

00:17:05 話者 3

Tam takes a piece and says, Itadakimasu.

00:17:08 話者 2

Yes, thank you.

00:17:10 話者 3

After taking a bite.

00:17:12 話者 2

Oh, I see this.

It's good.

00:17:15 話者 3

Kaito has another recommendation.

00:17:19 話者 2

Do you want to try this one too?

00:17:22 話者 3

Tam really took a liking to the basement deli.

By the way, Eriko, could you explain where the name Debachika comes from?

00:17:30 話者 2

Sure.

In department stores, the deli is usually in the basement floor.

DEPA is short for department store or depato.

By adding basement, chika, after it, you've got DEPA CHIKA.

Today's key phrase is, what is this?

Remember it, and you'll be able to ask the names of things you don't know.

Here it is word by word.

Kore is this.

It's used to point to something near you.

The wa that follows is a particle that shows the topic of the sentence.

Nan is an interrogative meaning what.

Today we have two points to talk about.

The first is demonstratives.

They're used to indicate something.

When singling out something close to you, say kore or this.

If it's something close to the person you're talking to, use sore or that.

When you want to talk about something that's far from you or the person you're speaking to, you use are or that over there.

As for the second point, when asking the name of something you don't know,

Finish the sentence with nan desu ka or what is.

Point to the thing, use one of the following demonstratives, kore, sore, are, add wa, and complete the sentence with nan desu ka to ask.

00:19:14 話者 3

So, if you want to ask about something that's close to you, you'd say kore wa nan desu ka.

00:19:21 話者 2

Exactly.

00:19:22 話者 3

Give it a try.

Listen and repeat.

Were you able to say it well?

00:19:45 話者 2

Now, listen to a customer asking a question to the clerk at the depachika.

Here's what it means.

00:20:10 話者 3

Excuse me, what is this?

00:20:13 話者 2

We learned that when you want to inquire about something to someone you don't know, you start off with sumimasen.

Excuse me?

00:20:23 話者 3

It's tea.

Listen and repeat.

00:20:35 話者 2

Let's try asking about other things.

A friend is eating something.

Ask what it is.

When referring to something near the person you're talking to, you use that.

Remember?

Give it a try.

This time, the friend will answer, so ask again.

This, it's taiyaki.

00:21:32 話者 3

Taiyaki is a Japanese pastry shaped like a sea bream fish.

00:21:36 話者 2

Next, you see something being grilled in a store somewhat away from you.

Ask a friend what that is.

When you're referring to something far away, you use that over there.

Now, go ahead.

The friend will answer the question, so ask again.

That is takoyaki.

Takoyaki is a kind of food shaped like a ping pong ball.

It's a grilled, flour-based batter with a piece of octopus inside.

Today's bonus phrase is this line by Tam.

Try to memorize it.

Oishii desu.

Oishii desu means it's good or it's delicious.

Sometimes we just say Oishii for short.

00:22:48 話者 3

This time, listen and repeat.

00:22:53 話者 2

Oishii desu.

00:22:59 話者 3

Try saying this when you've eaten something delicious.

00:23:03 話者 2

Listen to today's skit once again.

Kokoga de bachika daiyo?

I don't know what to do.

Itadakimasu.

Oh, I see this.

00:23:40 話者 3

Next up, Kaito is your food guide, talking about department store basement delis.

00:23:49 話者 2

So Michael, have you ever been to the basement deli of a department store, Depachika?

00:23:53 話者 3

Yes I have, many times in fact.

00:23:56 話者 2

Depachika sell a wide variety of foods such as ready-made dishes, bento box lunches, desserts, and bread, and not just Japanese food.

Look around and you're likely to find Western, Chinese, and much more.

00:24:09 話者 3

They're very convenient.

And you can buy your favorite dishes and then eat them at home or in your hotel room.

00:24:16 話者 2

Even just looking around is fun.

You'll come across food from famous restaurants, luxury items, and rare delicacies.

00:24:23 話者 3

And you can taste some of the food, right?

00:24:25 話者 2

Yes.

It depends on the store, but many places offer samples.

You might get pickled vegetables or cheese or ready-made dishes or dessert.

Keep your eyes open and shop around in Depachica, the treasure troves of food.

We hope you enjoyed today's Easy Japanese.

00:24:49 話者 3

Be sure to tune in again.

This is NHK World Japan English Radio Service.

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