Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Mellegard in Tokyo.
Severe Tropical Storm Chan-Hom Set To Hit Eastern Japan
A severe tropical storm could hit Japan's Kanto region, including Tokyo, on Tuesday evening.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning of landslides, flooding in rivers and low-lying areas, gusty winds and high waves.
Agency officials say Chan-hom is situated off the eastern prefecture of Ibaraki.
They say the storm could generate unusual wind patterns along the coasts of the Kanto and Tohoku regions with a possible surge of high waves.
Chan-hom is forecast to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to eastern and northeastern Japan.
The Tohoku and Kanto regions may see 180 millimeters of rainfall in the 24-hour period through Wednesday afternoon. The Tokai region may see 120 millimeters.
The storm is already affecting transportation on Tuesday.
All Nippon Airways has halted 58 flights serving Haneda and Narita airports, while Japan Airlines has stopped six.
Japan railways companies say the storm could cause delays and cancellations.
Air carriers and railway companies are recommending that travelers check for updated information.
And for more on the impacts from Chan-hom and how you should prepare for the storm, we bring in our meteorologist, Jonathan Oh.
00:01:38 話者 2/Jonathan Oh
Hello.
Chan-hom is going to be bringing with it some tropical stormy weather as we go throughout the day on Tuesday, especially along the eastern side of Japan as it progresses through the 11th and then overnight into the 12th, we'll see that influence spreading toward the west.
Now, the Japan Meteorological Agency is concerned about the storm not because it's necessarily going to be the heaviest rainmaker that we see in the area, but because we don't see tropical systems typically making its way along the eastern side of Japan making landfall.
We're looking at storm totals in the 24 hour period from 120 to 150 millimeters of rainfall, but because of that, landslide concerns are particularly high in the Toloko region, and we're looking at low-lying areas possibly dealing with some flooding.
Coastal areas you should not be anywhere near as this storm approaches, and we're looking at the strong winds associated with a tropical system in the Kanto-Koshin region as well as the Tohoku area as well.
So make sure you review your evacuation plans, make sure that you are getting your emergency supplies in place, and make sure you charge your devices so you get the latest weather warning alerts should they be coming in.
Stay safe wherever you are.
Kumamoto Quake: Volunteers Chip In With Recovery Effort
00:02:54 話者 1
Tuesday marks two weeks since a massive earthquake hit Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture.
Nearly 4,000 residents are still in evacuation centers.
Volunteers are pouring into the region to help with recovery, but a long road lies ahead.
Officials in Yatsushiro City say they have received more than 800 requests to help.
They include 79-year-old Sedaka Yukinori, whose own home was relatively unscathed.
00:03:28 話者 12/Sedaka Yukinori
I want to help others as long as I'm physically able, so people can resume their lives with peace of mind.
Kumamoto Quake: Customers Keep Tabs On Beloved Cafe Owner
00:03:41 話者 1
The magnitude 7.1 quake struck on July 28, causing immense damage.
Izumi Akira's cafe was a well-loved part of the community.
00:03:52 話者 23/Izumi Akira
Good books, good art, good music, good tableware, good taste and good hospitality.
No other cafe like it.
00:04:03 話者 1
Izumi and his wife had been in business for almost 60 years.
He was inside the cafe when the quake struck and he became trapped when the ceiling collapsed.
00:04:14 話者 23
Firefighters cut through and finally pulled me up on their third try.
00:04:20 話者 1
The cafe now lies in ruins, but salvaged items offer some comfort.
Izumi says at an evacuation center, some of his customers regularly drop by to see how he's doing.
00:04:34 話者 24
I hope the cafe reopens, otherwise I don't have anywhere to go.
00:04:42 話者 23
I created a space that people cherished.
And I look forward to seeing the next generation build a new hangout.
00:04:54 話者 1
Izumi knows it will be difficult to reopen any time soon.
But he also believes the people of Yatsushitro City will naturally find a way to gather.
M7.4 Quake In Colombia Kills Over 100
Colombia has suffered an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4.
Over 100 people have been confirmed dead as rescue crews race to find survivors.
What appeared to be a four-story building collapsed in Pereira, a city near the epicenter.
The US Geological Survey says the quake hit western Colombia around 7.30 a.m. Monday, and the focus was at a depth of 110 kilometers.
Local media reported that 132 people died and more than 570 people injured.
Damage was also reported in Cali, a city in the southwest of the country that is about 160 kilometers away from the epicenter.
The mayor says at least 20 structures collapsed and rescue operations are ongoing.
The disaster comes just days after Colombia's new pro-US government was formed.
President de la Esprella has pledged a thorough response to the earthquake.
Japan's GPS Satellite Michibiki Put Into Orbit By H3 Rocket
Japan's domestically made GPS satellite, Michibiki, was successfully placed into orbit on Tuesday morning.
An H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki number 7 satellite lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima shortly after 4 a.m.
It placed the satellite into its intended orbit about 29 minutes after liftoff.
00:06:43 話者 31
GPS-7 separation.
00:06:55 話者 32
I was moved by the brightness of the rocket fire.
00:07:01 話者 1
Michibiki satellites transmit positioning signals.
Five of them are currently in operation orbiting over Japan.
They provide improved positioning information for smartphones and help deliver earthquake alerts in areas where the reception is poor.
The Japanese government initially aimed to place a total of seven Michibiki satellites into orbit to achieve a more self-reliant domestic geolocation system.
But the Mitsubiki No.5 satellite was lost in last year's H3 rocket launch failure.
The government plans to operate the system with six satellites, one fewer than the initial plan.
And those were the top stories for this hour.
Japan Sketch
00:08:11 話者 42
It's like a picture that always changes. A pond is a living picture.
World Weather
♫～ 3-DAY FORECAST ～♫
00:09:40 話者 1
And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK Newsline. I'm Ramin Malagard.
Thank you very much for joining us.
checked.
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Easy Japanese
00:10:09 話者 3
Hi there, it's time for NHK World Japan's Easy Japanese.
I'm Erico Kojima.
00:10:15 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 Harusan House.
Today, her housemate, Kaito, has made a typical Japanese breakfast.
Kaito loves to cook.
00:10:41 話者 3
Listen to the skit for lesson 24.
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 3
Let's eat.
00:11:35 話者 4
The robot landlady, Haru-san, on the dining table says.
00:11:42 話者 3
Japanese food is very healthy.
00:11:45 話者 4
Tam asks Haru-san.
00:11:50 話者 3
Is this raw egg?
00:11:52 話者 4
Haru-san replies.
00:11:55 話者 3
Yes, it is.
00:11:57 話者 4
Tam apologizes.
00:12:01 話者 3
I'm sorry.
I can't eat raw eggs.
00:12:08 話者 4
Kaito says.
00:12:11 話者 3
I see.
So you don't like natto either?
00:12:17 話者 4
Tam happily answers.
00:12:22 話者 3
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 3
Let's break down the phrase.
Namatamago 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
OK, so can't eat is taberaremasen.
00:13:37 話者 3
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 3
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.
00:14:30 話者 3
Sumimasen watashi sashimi wa taberaremasen.
Now let's examine what was said.
Dozo takusan tabetekudasai.
00:14:44 話者 4
Please eat a lot.
00:14:46 話者 3
Dozo means please, and it's used when you want to invite someone to do something.
Takusan means a lot.
Tabetekudasai 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 3
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 3
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 3
Ebi.
00:16:04 話者 4
Try explaining yourself by starting with sumimasen.
00:16:13 話者 3
Sumimasen watashi ebi wataberaremasen.
Sumimasen watashi ebi wataberaremasen.
Now change the food to pork.
Pork is
Botaniku.
Botaniku.
Go ahead.
00:16:42 話者 2
Semimasen.
Watashi.
Botaniku wa taberaremasen.
Semimasen.
Watashi.
Botaniku wa 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 3
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 gochisousama deshita to finish.
00:17:35 話者 4
Now you say them.
Listen and repeat.
00:17:41 話者 3
Itadakimasu.
Gochisousama deshita.
Listen to the skit one more time.
Itadakimasu.
Nihon Shokua Kenko ni-in desu, yo?
Kuishinbo Kaito-nyu Makafe.
00:18:26 話者 4
Now onto Kaito is your food guide.
Today the subject is Japanese breakfast.
00:18:35 話者 3
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 3
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 3
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 3
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 3
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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Great Buddha of Kamakura
00:20:18 話者 2
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 Great Buddha of Kamakura.
Kamakura is a popular tourist destination located near Tokyo.
It's about a one-hour train ride from the capital.
One of Kamakura's landmarks is the Great Buddha.
As its name suggests, the Great Buddha is a colossal copper statue of Amitabha Buddha.
It was built as the principal deity of Jodo Sect Temple Kotokuin.
The Buddha is nicknamed Rozano Daibutsu, meaning the Great Buddha sitting out in the open.
It's a national treasure of Japan.
From central Kamakura, the train ride and walk to Kotoku-in Temple takes about 15 minutes.
After passing through the temple's gate, the grand statue of Buddha comes into view.
The Buddha sits in a Zen meditation posture and is over 11 meters tall.
Kamakura was the seat of Japan's feudal government from the end of the 12th century to the early 14th century.
The construction of the Great Buddha began during this period in 1252, almost 800 years ago.
Today, the statue is covered with verde gris, a bright green substance that forms on oxidized copper.
A closer look reveals slight traces of gold leaf, indicating that the statue was originally gilded.
The Great Buddha was made by copper casting.
It's a manufacturing method of melting copper and pouring it into a mold.
But creating a statue that's over 11 meters high wasn't easy at the time.
And it wasn't possible to melt over 120 tons of copper in one go.
So the metal was cast in 40 sections.
This is why joints can be seen on the statue's surface.
The Buddha is hollow.
The statue has two windows on its back.
After the statue was completed, the inner mold was removed through these openings.
Today, the windows let in light and air.
The Buddha was enshrined when it was first built, but over time the hall was damaged by earthquakes and typhoons.
A tsunami at the end of the 15th century swept it away, leaving the Buddha exposed to the open air.
The temple was also abandoned for a certain period, but was restored in the early 18th century.
After a period in which Japan secluded itself from the rest of the world, the Yokohama Port near Kamakura was opened for foreign trade in 1859.
Following this, many foreigners are said to have visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura.
Built nearly eight centuries ago, the Great Buddha of Kamakura has a magnificence
that continues to captivate people 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
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