NHK World English Podcast Scripts (2026/11/2) Ukraine Cyberattack, Iran Tensions & US Business Strategies

• Learn about a reported cyberattack on Ukraine's alert app, rising Iran-related tensions, and how Japanese firms are adapting their US strategies.
• ウクライナの警報アプリへのサイバー攻撃報道、イラン情勢の緊張、そして日本企業の米国戦略見直しについて学べます。
• 今日の語彙：air raid alert / 空襲警報,空襲警戒警報、compromised / (システムなどが）侵害された,不正アクセスを受けた、a possible resumption /  再開の可能性、iron ore /  鉄鉱石、foreseeable / 予見できる,当面の、resilient / 回復力がある,粘り強い
• 今日の英語表現：uncertainty looms / 不透明感が高まる, 先行きへの懸念が広がる
• Shadowing Tips：オーバーラッピングは、好きな曲をその歌手になりきって一緒に歌うように行う練習です。ネイティブらしい発音やリズムを再現するための基礎づくりに役立ちます。

20261102180000_english_1.mp3   player

00:00:11 話者 1/Yamaguchi Hiroaki

Welcome to NHK Newsline. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki in Tokyo.

GMO Chairman Apologizes over Cyberattack

Japan's GMO Internet Group has held its first news conference addressing the cyberattack on its foreign exchange trading platform.

The company's chairman apologized for the attack.

He also admitted that management fails to fix security vulnerabilities it had been warned about two years earlier.

Group CEO Kumagai Masatoshi and other executives detailed the circumstances of the attack.

They explained measures to prevent further damage and arrangements to resolve the situation. 

GMO announced a breach in late October. GMO says the group's cybersecurity subsidiary had warned of system vulnerabilities in April 2024.

00:01:05 話者 12/Kumagai Masatoshi

It is true that there were security issues with the service system.

It is also true that cybersecurity experts had pointed out the issues, but the company failed to make use of the information in providing the service.

00:01:33 話者 1

The company said the hackers entered the system through a customer's remote desktop on August 5 and took control of the administrator's account.

On August 17, the hackers used the administrators' access rights to breach the company's server.

GMO was sent a ransom demand following the breach, but refused to pay.

What but described as the personal information of one customer was posted on a website last Tuesday. The site was later rendered inaccessible.

Ukraine's Air Raid Alert App Reportedly Hacked

Ukraine's air force says an app used to warn people of air raid appears to have been targeted in a cyberattack.

Authorities and local media say the app sent out false warnings of radiation leaks and chemical attacks on Sunday night.

The military says the app may have been compromised by the enemy and is asking people to remain calm.

Another message falsely claimed a nuclear alert had been issued across the nation.

It also said Russia's new intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, was in flight.

But the Air Force said there's no such threat.

The authorities are asking people to check the Air Force's official channel for updates while the app remains unavailable.

Meanwhile, Russia's state-run TAS news agency reported on Monday that an app operated by the country's emergencies ministry had been hit by a cyberattack.

Efforts to restore the act are reportedly underway, but no details have been released.

Iran Conflict
Report: Netanyahu Presses Trump to Strike Iran After Midterms

A US news website says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed US President Donald Trump to strike Iran immediately after US midterm elections.

The report says Netanyahu is concerned about Trump's strategy of letting peace negotiations play out.

Axios quoted one Israeli and one US source.

The sources said Netanyahu called for a return to combat when the two leaders discussed the Iranian situation over the phone on Saturday.

The news outlet reports that Trump is working to restart peace talks with Iran while also preparing for a possible resumption of major combat operations.

US Vice President JD Vance has reportedly sent a letter to the Iranian side through a mediator, proposing to restart negotiations for a truce between Washington and Tehran.

Axios says both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister's office declined to comment.

Shops Looted as German Protests Turn Violent

Nationwide protests over rising prices and education have spread to Germany.

Some demonstrators turned violent and stores were looted in Frankfurt.

Protesters, mainly young people, took to the streets in more than 30 cities in Germany on Saturday. Organizers said the number of participants reached 120,000.

In Frankfurt, some of the demonstrators turned violent.

They smashed storefronts and looted goods.

Local authorities said 17 stores in the city were damaged and five of them, including a gun shop, were looted.

They also said 54 people were detained and more than 100 police officers were injured.

German Interior Minister Alexander Doverint told reporters that rioters and looters would be held accountable and would face severe penalties.

The group which organized the protest says it was not involved in the rioting.

It revealed a plan to halt nationwide protests again.

Large-scale protests also took place in France on Saturday.

Stolen Luxury Watch Returned to Store with Apology

A luxury watch stolen from a store in Tokyo last week has been returned with an apology attached.

A man ran off with the watch valued at over 290,000 dollars from a shop in the Nakano Broadway complex.

Tokyo police say a man visited the store last Thursday and tried on the watch.

Investigative sources told NHK the watch was sent back by courier from Aichi Prefecture on Sunday. The store confirmed it was the stolen watch based on its serial number.

The parcel also contained an apology note.

Police are investigating further, as the package was apparently sent by a person involved in the theft.

Are Young Republicans Losing Their Zeal?

Voters in their teens and 20s helped propel the Republican Party to victory in 2024.

At the center of that movement was Turning Point USA, a nationwide conservative organization that mobilized youth across the country.

But as NHK Rule's Ebizuka Negumi reports, these days, that support may be wavering.

00:06:55 話者 3/Ebizuka Negumi

This was two years ago, during Donald Trump's upsing.

Young conservatives turned out to the 2024 presidential election in droves, with one survey showing, Two-thirds of them were determined to cast a ballot.

The zeal of those young voters helped catapult the Republican Party to victory and landed Trump back in the White House.

Organizations like Training Point USA gave them both a platform and a meeting place.

00:07:26 話者 21/Andrew Kolvet/Turning Point USA spokesperson

Because they're going to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we want them leading us down a path that is American, not un-American.

00:07:36 話者 3

But their father now seems to be fading. At the recent turning point rally, the attitude toward this week's midterms could be described as tepid.

00:07:46 話者 24

A lot of them don't know that it's even happening, or they say, Oh, ask my parents what I'm gonna vote. So I don't think a lot of young people know what's going on right now.

00:07:56 話者 3

Some young voters say they are paying far less attention to the midterms than they did to the presidential race, and some are showing signs of ambivalence.

00:08:09 話者 25

So I think sometimes like voting, it's good, but sometimes it's like it is hard to choose because just like, you're not really choosing something good, you're kind of just choosing like the worst, or like the slightly better options.

00:08:20 話者 3

Republicans are noticing their flagging support.

Turning Point speakers are at this California campus in obituary the troops once again.

00:08:31 話者 26/Tulsi Gabbard/Former US National Intelligence Director

If we don't vote, then how can we hold those who are in elected office accountable?

We are the ones who have the power to hire and fire politicians.

00:08:41 話者 3

The message hasn't been lost completely.

Some young people are listening and say there's no excuse for staying home.

00:08:51 話者 27

You don't have to do much. You can do it online now or by mail.

You don't have to leave your house. And like they're saying today,

You can complain about these policies, who's in power right now, but if you're not voting, then you really, in my opinion, you don't have a right to complain.

00:09:07 話者 3

With hot button issues like the cost of living, immigration, and the conflict in the Middle East flowing up, it remains to be seen whether the young can be persuaded to participate or whether they will set this one out.

Ebizuka Megumi, NHK World.

Analysis: What Impact US Midterms Could Have on Japan, Asia

00:09:28 話者 1

For more on the midterms, I spoke with Professor Izumikawa Yasuhiro.

He's an expert in international politics and his research focuses on US foreign policy in East Asia.

We asked him to give us his thoughts on what's driving the shift among young voters.

Here's what he had to say.

00:09:47 話者 5/Izumikawa Yasuhiro

Young Americans are known to be more isolationist and more concerned about the economic future of the country than the older generations, so these videos that we just watched basically symbolize their frustrations right now.

00:10:03 話者 1

Opinion polls suggest this could be a tight race.

What would the different outcomes mean for US foreign policy, especially when it comes to East Asia?

00:10:14 話者 5

Well, it's pretty well known that President Trump has been somewhat soft on China in the second administration.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats both tend to be more hawkish for China.

And Republicans during this campaign become more willing to split from President Trump, which means that after the election, the new Congress could become more hawkish and tougher on China policy.

That could reverberate and change the balance of power within the White House, and strength in the hands of the China hawks there.

If that happens, the Trump administration policy could be geared more toward a more stronger, tougher approach to China.

But we also know that President Trump has been doing what he simply wants.

So the electional outcome may not have a strong impact on what he does.

00:11:20 話者 1

Interesting.

But if just if Washington starts to take a different stance against China, what would that mean for Japan?

00:11:30 話者 5

Yeah, that would be actually a welcome development for Japan because the Takaichi cabinet has been having trouble with the China policy because China has been very tough towards Tokyo.

And that means that if it becomes easier for Tokyo to coordinate China policy with the more tougher US government and tougher towards China.

That could actually have some impact on China's approach toward Japan and China might rethink how to approach Tokyo when Tokyo and Washington can actually take the similar stand towards Beijing.

00:12:18 話者 1

Trump's foreign policy has been a major issue during the midterms.

He said he may meet with the leaders of Russia and China later this month.

Putin reportedly suggested this meeting. And when Trump was asked about it a few weeks ago, he said, "I would do it if they want to do."

Do you see a link between the domestic situation in the US and these potential talks?

00:12:46 話者 5

Yeah, there are possibly two links.

One, assuming that the Republican will lose somehow in the congressional elections, then that would make it difficult for Mr. Trump to achieve domestic agendas.

in that scenario, he may actually pursue some kind of sort of remarkable achievement on the foreign policy front. So the trilateral summit might be one.

And also, if that meeting happens, the agenda is going to be how to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, right?

And if so, Mr. Trump could claim that he is working hard to resolve the crisis and also to ease the economic difficulties for American people because that could, according to what he has been saying, that would be the major reason why oil prices and energy prices have been really high in the United States.

00:13:58 話者 1

All right, and just very briefly, one last thing. We are less than 48 hours away from the vote.

Where do you think things stand?

00:14:05 話者 5

Yeah, well, a lot of opinion polls shows that the Democrats are winning, but the key question is going to be whether or not the Democrats will take over the Senate.

The House, probably Democrats would easily win, but if the Senate remains in the hands of the Republicans, the damage for the Trump administration will be limited.

So what's going to happen is going to be really interesting to watch.

And also, we need to be careful about what happens after the election, because if the Republican losses are large, then the Trump administration may claim that there is some electoral sort of fraud. And that could lead to the domestic turmoil.

And that's something that we need to be concerned about.

00:15:01 話者 1

All right.

Professor Isumiko Ayasehiro, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us.

00:15:05 話者 5

Thank you very much for having me.

Business

00:15:18 話者 1

Now let's turn to our Yuko Fukushima for what's happening in the world of business.

Yuko.

Japanese Companies Rethink US Strategies

00:15:25 話者 6/Yuko Fukushima

Well, staying on the midterms in the US , Japanese companies operating in the United States have been struggling under the Trump administration's tariff policies.

Soaring costs driven by higher oil prices are another hurdle.

With midterm elections adding to the uncertainty, many of these firms are busy reshaping their strategies for a critical market.

NHK World's Amma Raimu reports.

00:15:50 話者 32/Trump

If you elect a Republican House and a Republican Senate on November 3, we will continue to put America first every single day always.

00:16:04 話者 4/Amma Raimu

President Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on imports from across the globe in an effort to revive domestic manufacturing.

Komatsu is one Japanese company adapting to the shifting terrain in the US.

The construction equipment maker is reshaping key parts of its business strategy to deal with higher tariffs.

This plant in Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo is a key production hub for the company, supplying not just the Japanese market but the US as well.

North America is the company's largest market, accounting for nearly 30 percent of sales.

About half of the products it sells in the US are imported from plants like this one, and the resulting tariffs are expected to cost Komatsu about $510 million this fiscal year.

But shifting more production to the US is not easy.

00:17:01 話者 33/Takahashi Hiroaki/General Manager, Production Controlling Department, Komatsu

Steel prices in the United States are the highest in the world.

They're about 1.5 to 1.6 times higher than in Japan. Labor costs are also much higher. 

Manufacturing in the US is very expensive.

00:17:20 話者 4

Komatsu has restructured its supply chain to reduce tariff costs.

Drawing on its 60 production sites around the world, the company is sourcing products from countries facing lower import duties in the US.

It is also building direct shipping routes to Canada, Mexico, Peru and Colombia that bypass the United States.

At home, Komatsu is working to boost production efficiency.

On this day, managers visited a supplier that makes a critical component.

00:17:54 話者 34/Morizumi Tatsuo/Manufacturing Engineering Department, Komatsu

Material and energy costs have also been rising sharply, so we need to keep finding ways to stay profitable, even with the outside cost pressures.

00:18:08 話者 4

Komatsu presented a new manufacturing process designed to shorten machining steps.

The two companies agreed to put the idea into action.

Back at the office, managers are briefed on another strategy, applying for tariff refunds.

According to the US operation, they paid duties on the value of entire machines rather than just their steel content.

It is now submitting paperwork to get some of their money back.

00:18:39 話者 35/Kamikura Yusuke/Director, Komatsu North America

Our lawyers are helping us to apply to authorities.

We'll keep pushing ahead to recover what we believe was overpaid.

00:18:51 話者 4

Komatsu President Imayoshi Takuya says despite tariff pressures, the company still sees growth opportunities in the US market.

AI-related data centers and mining projects continue to drive demand.

00:19:07 話者 47/Imayoshi Takuya

The US has many mining operations, from coal and copper to iron ore and gold.

We have a lot of customers in those industries.

With the population and economy growing, we believe the market still has room to expand.

00:19:22 話者 4

But more uncertainty looms on the other side of the midterm elections.

Imayoshi stressed the need for a flexible business foundation.

00:19:34 話者 47

We expect trade barriers, including tariffs, to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

And that's not just in the US. Given the current global situation, I don't think we will go back to the kind of free trade environment we saw in the past, at least for a while.

We'll need to adapt to changing conditions.

00:19:53 話者 4

Navigating this shifting environment looks to be a delicate balancing act.

Success will depend on building resilient supply chains without closing the door on vital American opportunities.

Amma Raimu, NHK World.

Toyota Marks 60th Anniversary of Corolla Launch

00:20:10 話者 6

Toyota Motor on Sunday celebrated the 60th anniversary of its iconic Corolla car.

The company launched 12 models of the Corolla over the years.

It had all on display at the anniversary event in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.

The first model hit the market in 1966, while Japan was enjoying rapid economic growth.

It was seen as affordable, user-friendly and helped boost car demand across the country.

Toyota says the vehicle was marketed in more than 150 countries and regions.

As of the end of September this year, it had sold 58-million of the vehicles.

00:20:55 話者 52/Fukushima Toru/Toyota Motor

Cars in demand now differ from those in the past, like in 1966.

We want to create vehicles that can beat consumer expectations even in the current era.

00:21:06 話者 6

Toyota unveiled its next generation Corolla concept vehicle last year.

It is developing gasoline, wagon hybrids and fully electric models.

Tokyo Subway Operator Eyes Fare Increase in 2029

A major subway operator in Japan's capital is planning its first across-the-board fare increase in more than three decades.

Tokyo Metro says move is to cope with inflation and improve its services.

The company says the hike is slated for March 2029.

The margin of increase is to be decided at a later date.

It would be Tokyo Metro's first hike since 1995, excluding changes in line with increases in Japan's consumption tax.

The company cites soaring labor costs as a reason for the plan.

It also aims to invest in facilities and equipment to enhance the convenience and safety of its services.

New Year's Postcard Sales Start in Japan

Post offices across Japan have started selling greeting cards for the coming new year.

Many feature images of sheep the Chinese zodiac signed for 2027.

Sales began on Monday morning.

Japan Post is initially issuing about 555 million cards, down 25 percent from last year.

It's also significantly fewer than the over 4.4 billion cards printed for 2004 when comparable records became available.

Wider use of social media is making the practice of sending greetings by mail less popular, but some still prefer it.

A man in his 60s says he hopes to continue sending his greetings on paper despite the changing times.

This year, people will get two extra days until December 27 to post their cards so they can be delivered on New Year's Day.

Japan Post hopes the move will encourage more to express their New Year's wishes by mail. Post offices start accepting the cards from December 20.

Markets

And now to the latest on the markets.

♪

And that's the best for this hour.

♫～

00:24:41 話者 1

Please do access the NHK World Japan website for more details on those stories.

World Weather

Let's move on to the weather.

People in the southwestern United States encountered flash flooding due to heavy rain over the weekend. Our meteorologist Jonathan Oh has the details in world weather.

00:25:06 話者 8/Jonathan Oh

Hello, we have been seeing a plume of moisture that has been moving across the western portion of the United States, especially over the Rockies.

But as it did so, it also brought a lot of rainfall into the desert southwest and that's caused some problems on the ground.

Here's a look at some video to give you an idea on the situation.

As heavy rain in parts of the southwest Sunday forced people to evacuate in Flagstaff, Arizona, local roads were flooded and stormwater drains were overwhelmed so the water was pouring out of the ...

Meanwhile, in the tourist destination of Sedona, floodwaters also rose rapidly and emergency workers from the city and surrounding areas responded to residents trapped in their homes.

Now that moisture is pushing toward the east and it's got a bit of a history of producing some strong storms.

That's the case also as we look into the southern plains as we go through the day on Monday.

So be on the lookout for that.

Now, as we look forward into Tuesday, that frontal boundary then pushed toward the east brings some rain into the Ohio River Valley and the Great Lakes.

And it is a general election day in the United States.

And so rain is always something that's talked about when it comes to people trying to get out to the polls.

Look at the forecast for Monday, rain from Denver into Oklahoma City, again thunderstorms possible down toward south rain also to Chicago as we go through the day on Monday then we look into Tuesday and we'll see that rain spreading across toward the east the western portion of the United States and the east coast however remain relatively dry for Tuesday.

Looking across Japan we have a frontal boundary a couple of them rolling on through bringing some clouds and some rain as we go into the day on Tuesday which is a national holiday in Japan.

Northern portions of Japan looking at some wet weather like Saporo with some possibly of some flurries as well Tokyo points westward looking at some dry weather.

Then some more rain will be coming to the picture on Wednesday, and spring toward the central portion of the country as we go throughout the rest of the week.

So you'll need to keep the umbrellas handy as we go through this week

Hope you have a good day wherever you are.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

00:27:45 話者 1

And that's all for this edition of NHK Newsline. Thanks for watching.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 話者 99

This is NHK World Japan English radio service.

Here's a frequency notice.

The broadcast at 1400 hours UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 MHz.

Once again,

00 UTC for Southeast Asia is on 11.920 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 Podcast Scripts (2026/10/18) Trump's Election Pledge, Southeast Asia Haze & Japan's Martian Moon Mission

Trump's campaign promise, Southeast Asia's worsening haze crisis, 

and Japan's ambitious Martian moon mission highlight today's key global stories.

トランプ氏の選挙公約、東南アジアの深刻な煙害問題、

そして日本の火星衛星探査計画が今日の注目ニュースです。

今日の語彙：pharmaceutical = 医薬品の,製薬の、haze = もや、煙霧（えんむ）、revitalization / 活性化、再生

今日の英語表現：in the vicinity of / ～の近くで、～の周辺で

Shadowing Tips：内容の約7割を理解できる教材を選びましょう。難しすぎず、内容を推測しながら聞ける

                                     レベルがリスニング力とスピーキング力を効果的に伸ばします。

20261018180000_english_1.mp3   player

 00:00:11 (Maria Sato)

Hello, welcome back to NHK Newsline. I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo with today's headlines.

Trump Vows to Invest if His Party Wins

US President Donald Trump has pledged at a rally in Kentucky that the defense environment would invest in a pharmaceutical facility in the southern state if his Republican Party wins in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump has been traveling across the country ahead of the midterms, now about two weeks away. Kentucky has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.

00:00:45 話者 2/Donald Trump

That's a big one. That's a big revitalization project.

00:00:53 (Maria Sato)

Trump also repeated his earlier promise to send every adult citizen $5,000, what he calls a Trump dividend.

Kentucky's Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, criticized Trump on social media.

He called the speech a complete disservice to our people, our commonwealth, and our country.

Beshear said hardworking families are struggling with rising prices, while Trump makes false promises and says life is better than ever.

Indonesian Fires Send Haze Across Southeast Asia

Wildfires in Indonesia are sending haze into Malaysia and other neighboring countries, forcing some schools to close.

Fire crews continue working in Indonesia, which has seen a spate of forest and peat fires this year.

Weather officials say El Nino and the dry season have left forests extremely flammable.

The haze has also reached Singapore and beyond, shutting schools and disrupting transport.

A regional meteorological center warns severe transboundary haze could continue and urges people to stay alert.

Indonesian officials say more than 280,000 people have reported respiratory problems,

as health concerns rise across the region.

Huge Protests in France over Education, Rising Prices

Huge demonstrations have been held in France to demand measures against rising prices and other problems.

The protests coincided with those by high school students who have been calling for an improvement of their educational environment.

The demonstrations on Saturday backed by labor unions and others, called on the government to deal with surging costs of fuel and other goods.

France's interior ministry said 110 marches were held in the country and they drew about 550,000 people.

00:02:57 話者 13

There's a sense of social discontent. 

Right now, gas is at 2.6 euros per liter.  It's too expensive.

00:03:06 (Maria Sato)

The weekend demonstrations were joined by high school students who have been protesting since last month, as well as university students who support their movement.

00:03:17 話者 14

A massive number of people are protesting about school problems.

00:03:23 (Maria Sato)

Meanwhile, shops in a Paris square were set alight and the town hall in the central city of Limoges was set ablaze.

Public facilities and stores have been damaged by arson and looting across the country.

Local media were reporting on chaos in various parts of the country sparked by clashes between demonstrators and police.

Interior Minister Loran Nunez said authorities have detained about 400 people on suspicion of acts of violence and causing other disturbances.

Zelenskyy Slams Trump over Sanctions Freeze

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has slammed US President Trump for blocking most of the planned sanctions against Russia.

Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving measures including 100 percent tariffs on countries importing Russian crude or natural gas.

Sanctions were also planned against nations supporting Moscow's shadow fleet of vessels that evade existing embargoes.

Zelenskyy told NHK and other media the waiver is wrong, saying it brings joy to Russians and helps them continue killing. He says the move does nothing to stop the conflict.

He also says efforts are underway to arrange a meeting with the US and Washington has proposed a three-way summit, including Russia.

According to Zelensky, the US suggested holding the talks in the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia.

Another option is meeting during December's Group of 20 summit in the US.

But he says neither Washington nor Moscow has confirmed any meeting.

Japan Set to Launch Martian Moon Mission

A Japanese mission to bring samples from a Martian moon back to Earth is set to launch into space from Kagoshima prefecture.

The Martian moon's exploration mission will lift off on an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at about 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday.

It's designed to become the first ever to land on the Martian moon Phobos, collect surface samples and deliver them to Earth.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, led the project to develop the three-module mission. The cost of its development was roughly 350 million dollars.

The exploration module features four landing legs designed to touch down on Phobos.

It also carries sampling equipment, observation instruments, and two super high vision cameras jointly developed by NHK and JAXA.

The Martian moon Phobos only has about one two thousandths of Earth's gravity.

The mission is expected to reach the vicinity of Mars approximately one year after the launch. It will then spend three years conducting observations.

The exploration module is scheduled to collect at least 10 grams of sample material from the moon's surface layer after landing on it.

The return module will likely deliver the samples to Earth during the fiscal year ending in March of 2032.

JAXA hopes the mission will help the institution develop the technology necessary to explore the Martian sphere.

The agency also hopes it will shed more light on the origin of Phobos.

Part of Crashed Japan ASDF Aircraft Recovered

The Japan Air self-defense Force says it has recovered wreckage of a crashed, uncrewed reconnaissance aircraft from the floor of the Japan Sea.

The ASDF says it raised part of the fuselage of the Global Hawk on Saturday.

It was lying at the depth of roughly 200 to 300 meters, about 50 kilometers off the coast of Tottori City.

Contact with the aircraft was lost on September 15 when it was flying over the high seas.

The ASDF has been working with a private sector salvage company to recover the aircraft, which belonged to Misawa Base in the northern prefecture of Aomori.

It plans to transport the recovered part to Misawa Base for analysis to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The ASDF intends to continue its search for other parts of the aircraft from Sunday.

The cost of one global hawk reportedly is some 17 billion yen or around 107 million dollars.

World Weather

Now for a look at our three-day weather forecast around the globe.

♫～　3-Day Forecast　～♫

And that's the latest we have for you at this hour on NHK Newsline.

I'm Maria Sato in Tokyo. Thank you for joining.

checked.

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 PodcastScript for Shadowing｜US House Moves to Pull Troops From Iran Conflict (2026/6/4)

The US House passed a resolution urging the withdrawal of American forces from the Iran conflict.

The measure reflects shifting political sentiment within Congress.

It remains largely symbolic but signals weakening support for the war.

米下院がイラン紛争からの米軍撤退を求める決議を可決。

議会内の政治的な変化を示す動き。

法的拘束力は弱いが、戦争支持の後退を象徴している。

20260604180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/James Tengan

Here in Japan, it's a Thursday evening. 

I'm James Tengan in Tokyo. Welcome to NHK Newsline.

US House Passes Measure to Remove Troops in Iran Conflict

The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution directing the president to withdraw US forces from the conflict with Iran unless there is congressional approval.

The resolution was approved in the Republican-led House on Wednesday after four Republicans joined Democrats to vote in favor.

It would still need approval from the Republican-led Senate.

However, the measure is seen as largely symbolic, as it does not require the signature of the president and does not have the force of law.

Nonetheless, media outlets like the Wall Street Journal see the vote as the latest sign that Republican lawmakers' support for the war is eroding.

Rubio: Trump to Attend NATO Summit Next Month

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Trump will attend next month's NATO summit in Turkey.

This comes after the president expressed his anger at some member nations for not allowing US forces to use their bases for military operations against Iran.

Rubio spoke at a hearing of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

He conveyed Washington's strong dissatisfaction with NATO.

00:01:22 話者 2/Marco Rubio

I think the next meeting of NATO and Turkey in July is probably the most important meeting in NATO's history, because there are some things here that need to be cleared up and fixed.

00:01:32 話者 1

Meanwhile, the US European Command announced on Wednesday that Washington will review its contributions to NATO.

It said the initiative is aimed at ensuring Europe takes primary responsibility for its own conventional defense.

Germany Loses Vote for Non‑Permanent UNSC Seat

Germany has failed to win a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

It's the country's first loss in the Council's non-permanent membership elections.

The UN General Assembly held the elections on Wednesday.

The Security Council is made-up of five permanent members and ten non-permanent members. Half of the non-permanent seats are replaced each year.

Portugal and Austria beat Germany to secure the two seats for the Western European and Others group.

Germany is the fourth largest financial contributor to the UN and has served on the council for a total of six terms.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters in New York it's a bitter defeat.

00:02:39 話者 3/Johann Wadephul

It also may have cost us votes that Germany must always assume a special responsibility for Israel with regard to the Middle East conflict.

00:02:51 話者 1

In other regions, Kyrgyzstan beat the Philippines to win the seat assigned to the Asia Pacific. Kyrgyzstan has never served on the Security Council before.

Zimbabwe was elected from the African group and Trinidad and Tobago from the Latin American and Caribbean group. Both ran unopposed.

The five elected countries will take their seats next January and serve for two years.

Raul Castro Marks 95th Birthday as Crisis Deepens in Cuba

Cuba has marked the 95th birthday of former leader Raul Castro on Wednesday.

Castro was indicted by the United States Justice Department last month.

It comes as the country experiences severe fuel shortages amid mounting US pressure.

Cuba's presidential office said on social media that Raul has always bet on peace and that he has repeatedly affirmed the war was won by avoiding it.

He has not appeared in public. He remains an influential figure in the country.

Following a government appeal, Cubans uploaded a flurry of videos on social media celebrating his birthday.

It comes amid growing pressure from the US on Cuba's socialist regime to carry out political and economic reforms. In May, Washington announced Raul Castro's indictment.

He's accused of being involved in the fatal downing of two civilian planes in the 1990s.

Cuba has been grappling with worsening fuel shortages.

An NHK staffer reports that electricity is available for only a few hours a day in the capital, Havana.

The impact on the economy has been widespread since the Trump administration stepped up sanctions in May.

Cuba's central bank said on Wednesday that major credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard, will become unusable.

A Spanish hotel group has also announced plans to cease operations in 15 of its locations in Cuba.

Breaking Down S. Korea's Local Election Results 

Local elections were held across South Korea Wednesday.

While voters were only casting municipal ballots, it's also widely considered a referendum on President Lee Jae-myung's first year in power.

For more on this, earlier I spoke with LHK World's Kim Chan-ju in Seoul.

00:05:15 話者 4/Kim Chan-ju

The National Election Commission says 61 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot.

To give you context, local media say that's the highest turnout in years.

Many were waiting to see how the two main political parties fared.

Again, these were local elections for mayors and regional governors.

16 seats were up for grabs. The ruling Democratic Party took 12 of them, compared to four for the conservative People Power Party.

00:05:47 話者 1

Chanjoo, let's break some of those down.

The Seoul mayoral election was a really tight race, right?

00:05:53 話者 4

Yes, to the point that actually we only learned the official results midday Thursday.

Both DP candidate Jung Oh-ho and PPP candidate Oh Se-hoon pitched themselves to voters with campaigns focused on real estate.

Concerns over redevelopment, rising rental costs and the shortage of available units had made housing a major issue. Now we know PPP candidate Oh came out on top.

He was the incumbent going into the race and this will be his fifth term in office.

But some in Seoul are dissatisfied with the vote itself.

Several polling stations actually ran out of ballot papers.

It meant some had to wait hours to vote, while others may have given up entirely.

The local election commission said it wasn't prepared for the turnout, which was 10 points higher than the last, and apologized.

00:06:57 話者 1

Moving on to the second largest city, Busan. What happened there?

00:07:01 話者 4

Busan has also become a major battleground in recent years.

Ultimately, DP's Chun Jae-soo won the race after a hard-fought contest.

But that wasn't the only election taking place in Busan.

Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon won a parliamentary by-election, but as an independent. It goes to show some people still have not forgiven the party.

Remember the PPP was in power when former President Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to impose martial law. It's something some voters still can't move past.

00:07:40 話者 1

And Chan-ju, that translated to a great night for the DP.

00:07:44 話者 4

Exactly. And it's a major vote of confidence for President Lee after his first year in office.

I spoke to an analyst who says people are receptive to Lee's pragmatism.

00:07:58 話者 13/Park Chang-hwan/Professor, Jangan University

Rather than just meeting general expectations over the past year, we should look at these results as people responding to Lee's practical approach.

That includes his handling of things like trade issues, crude oil prices, and the revitalization of financial markets.

00:08:19 話者 4

The professor also says whether Lee will gain more support depends on whether he can turn that pragmatism into concrete policies.

The president is scheduled to meet reporters Monday to mark his first year in office.

We will see then what he takes away from these results and what his priorities will be going forward.

Hiroshima Starts Annual Update of Atomic Bomb Victims List

00:08:51 話者 1

The city of Hiroshima has begun the annual task of adding names to its register of victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.

The revised list will be placed in the cenotaph for the victims during the city's August 6 peace memorial ceremony.

The city started the annual update on Thursday to include the names of bomb survivors whose deaths were confirmed over the past year.

Hiroshima officials said the names of 3,035 victims are expected to be added this time.

Among them is Mori Shigeaki, known for his research on American prisoners of war who were killed by the blast. Mori died in March at the age of 88.

For many years, atomic bomb survivors have updated the register.

But due to their advanced age, the city this year selected 14 new registrars from among general public applicants.

00:09:49 話者 25/Nakamoto Nobuko/Atomic bomb survivor

Before long, there will be no survivors left.

For the sake of world peace, I hope this record will be carried on with the tragedy of  Hiroshima kept in mind.

00:10:03 話者 1

The newcomers will join the effort on Sunday. The review will continue through August 5.

Japanese PM Takaichi Plans to Visit India in July

NHK has learned Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanai is planning to visit India as early as next month to meet with her counterpart Narendra Modi.

It's part of her efforts to strengthen ties with the country by building a routine of mutual visits.

Government sources say arrangements are underway for Takaichi to visit the northeastern state of Assam for her second in-person meeting with Modi.

The trip is likely to take place in early July.

Then Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was scheduled to visit Assam for a summit with Modi in 2019, but the trip was postponed at the last minute due to local unrest.

Takaichi and Modi are expected to discuss cooperation in a range of fields, including security and the economy.

Specific measures will be based on the Japan-India joint vision for the next decade, announced during Modi's visit to Japan last year.

The two are also expected to exchange views on issues related to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

These include ensuring the stability of energy supplies and protecting critical mineral supply chains.

37 Years Since Tiananmen Square Crackdown

Thursday marks 37 years since a student-led pro-democracy protest in Beijing's Tiananmen Square was violently put down.

The government continues to stifle calls to bring the truth of the incident to light, leaving many young people unaware of what happened.

On June 4, 1989, soldiers opened fire on crowds, including students who had gathered at the square and in surrounding areas.

The Chinese government puts the death toll at 319, but many believe the real figure is much higher.

Tiananmen Mothers, a group formed by victims' relatives, issued a statement last month.

It urges the government to reveal the truth about the crackdown, compensate the victims and their families, and hold those responsible to account.

The government maintains that the incident was turmoil, and it made the right decision.

Public discussion of the incident is forbidden.

The US government-backed Radio Free Asia says police banned members of the mother's group from visiting the graves of their loved ones in Beijing on June 4 for the first time.

The crackdown on Tiananmen commemorations appears to be hardening.

Meanwhile, here in Tokyo, about 200 people offered prayers for the victims, including attendees from mainland China and Hong Kong, who live in Japan.

Participants arranged candles in the shape of the numbers 8, 9, 6, and 4, the dates of the Tiananmen's suppression.

Former student leader Wu Kaixi was one of those taking part. He lives in Taiwan.

00:13:12 話者 33/Wu'er Kaixi/Former student leader

Let us remember our comrades who gave their lives, some willingly, others out of necessity, for the sake of hope. Let us never forget their bravery.

00:13:27 話者 1

Amnesty International Japan was among the organizers.

A member said many Japanese youth and Chinese students visiting Japan don't know about the incident, and he hoped the event will help change that.

World Bank President Warns of Iran Crisis Impacts

The rising prices of fuel and fertilizers due to the Iran conflict and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to job losses in developing countries.

That's according to the president of the World Bank.

00:14:06 話者 6/Narrator: Yoshino Mika/Reporter: Mitsunari Sou

Ajay Banga was in Tokyo for meetings with representatives of the Japanese government, including Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki.

In an interview with NHK, he said that if things continue on their present course, the situation in the Middle East could have significant impacts across the region and beyond.

00:14:30 話者 7/Ajay Banga

You could have a situation of food insecurity, and eventually that would lead to job losses as well and fragility. 

That is a downstream consequence if this continues without alleviation.

00:14:42 話者 6

He urged countries to coordinate on actions to reduce those impacts. One suggestion was establishing a framework for the export of gas-based fertilizer from the Middle East.

00:14:56 話者 7

Fertilizer prices went up much more during the first Ukraine crisis.

And then we were able to work out the UN and others were able to work a humanitarian corridor for fertilizer to move.

I think we have to find similar solutions to help alleviate the immediate problem.

00:15:14 話者 6

Banga also spoke about Japan's new Power Asia initiative.

The program provides financial support to other countries in the region to help them secure their supply chains for energy and other oil-related products.

00:15:28 話者 7

I think it's a great gesture by the government to step up to help them not only to manage through the crisis, but to actually focus on building more resilient supply chains in the future, better diversification of energy sources.

00:15:45 話者 6

Looking to the future, Banga raised concerns about worldwide economic trends.

He said 1.2 billion young people will enter the labor market in the next 10 to 15 years.

But in that time, only 400 million jobs are expected to be created.

00:16:03 話者 7

Now if we are able to do the right thing in helping these young people have a job, then we create great markets, great opportunities for firms in the developed world.

If we don't get it right, then you have the negative consequence of people who are left out and have no hope.

And that leads to social problems, fragility, conflict, violence, irregular migration, those kinds of things.

00:16:28 話者 6

He said it's important to deal with the issue proactively rather than wait for it to become a crisis.

Business  

00:16:37 話者 1

Now here to crunch the numbers for us in business and financial news is Yuko Fukushima.

00:16:43 話者 8/Yuko Fukushima

Yeah, thanks, James.

Tokyo Stocks Retreat From Record Highs on Profit‑Taking

Well, Japan's main stock indices fell on Thursday as investors took profits in the wake of record highs for the benchmarks.

The Nikkei 225 finished nearly 1.4% lower to 67,470. The broader topics also fell 1.1%.

This followed declines in New York stemming from uncertainty over the Iran situation.

The Nikkei saw record closes three times in the past week.

On Monday, the index marked an all-time high finish for the second straight session, led by AI and chip-related shares.

And on Wednesday, it gained 2.5% to end above the 68,000 mark for the first time.

SpaceX Set to Launch Record $75 Bil. IPO

Elon Musk's SpaceX is looking to raise 75 billion dollars in an initial public offering reportedly as early as next week.

That would make it the largest IPO of all time, surpassing oil giant Saudi Aramco's 2019 offering.

The rocket and satellite communications firm revealed the plan in a filing submitted with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

The firm aims to sell about 555.5 million shares at $135 each.

That would put SpaceX's market value at about $1.77 trillion.

The money from the listing will be used for AI development and rocket launches.

Several local media outlets say SpaceX will start a series of presentations for prospective investors on Thursday.

The firm reportedly aims to make its Nasdaq debut as early as June 12.

UN Institute: Data Center Power Use to Double by 2030 on AI

Consumption of power and water by global data centers will double over the five years to 2030 to meet the needs of artificial intelligence.

That's the findings of a report by a UN research body.

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health says electricity use by the centers, if treated as a country, would rank sixth globally.

Data centers also need water. The report says such demand in 2030 would be roughly equal to the minimum needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub-Saharan Africa.

The institute also notes possible environmental impacts.

It says critical minerals used in servers and other AI hardware are extracted mainly in what's known as the global South and places with weak oversight.

The report adds that weight of electronic waste generated annually could be about equal to 250 Eiffel Towers.

The institute points out the benefits and burdens of the global expansion of AI are not shared equitably.

It says some regions will bear a large share of the environmental impact.

Sky's the Limit for Growing Space Industry

The space industry is rapidly entering a new era. It's shifting from large-scale government-led programs to projects driven by private enterprise.

Japanese firms are moving to seize new opportunities, particularly in the field of Earth observation.

00:19:50 話者 5/Narrator: Carolyn Miller/Reporter: Kasahara Nobuhiro

This Tokyo-based company develops and operates small satellites.

It manages 5 craft, each roughly about 60 square centimeters.

They observe the same locations on Earth once every two to three days.

The satellites currently capture high-resolution images of farmland.

The startup offers these images and analysis to agricultural firms, helping to monitor crop conditions and predict yields. Business has been booming.

The company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange last year, raising roughly 8 billion yen, or about $50 million. It plans to launch an additional seven satellites this year.

The firm aims to boost observation frequency to once a day across wider areas.

It says it has received a growing number of inquiries from new industries and is looking to expand its offerings.

00:20:54 話者 49/Yokoi Kento/Sales & Marketing Group Leader, Axelspace

More and more companies are working to create new value and provide solutions by using earth observation data.

00:21:06 話者 5

Insurance firms are among those interested.

They can use imagery to quickly assess damage after disasters and calculate payouts.

Construction companies are also looking into using the technology to track the progress of large-scale projects.

00:21:26 話者 49

Our satellites can capture data frequently across extensive areas.

The more we can see, the more we can analyze. That creates business opportunities.

00:21:38 話者 5

The growing demand for Earth observation data has seen an increasing number of satellites launched worldwide. But managing them requires significant resources.

Now, one satellite communications firm has begun selling monitoring and control services.

The firm last year completed construction of a large ground antenna that powers its offerings. It can communicate with satellites developed by Japan's space agency.

It's also capable of operating and managing satellites launched by private firms.

This map shows the simulated orbital paths of satellites.

With so many now in use, precise management has become even more important.

But the expense of monitoring orbits around the clock can be tough for smaller startups to swallow. The firm plans to offer these services and it expects business to grow.

00:22:44 話者 48/Yamashita Teruo/President of Space Business Unit, Sky Perfect JSAT

It can be difficult for smaller firms to build and operate their own ground stations.

We believe that customers needing these services as well as providers will increase rapidly.

00:22:59 話者 5

Demand for satellite data is increasing, bringing with it growing business opportunities.

For firms in the space industry, the sky is the limit.

MARKETS

00:23:13 話者 8

Markets.

♪

And that was the markets and that wraps it up for biz.

♪

Weather

00:24:10 話者 1

Now for a look at the weather.

Still reeling from a tropical storm, people in parts of Japan now need to prepare for even more heavy rain. Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano tells us why.

00:24:22 話者 9/Yumi Hirano

Officials announced the start of the rainy season in northern Kyushu, Chugoku and Kinki on Thursday. A frontal system is approaching western Japan, bringing downpours.

Intense rain is possible from Thursday night to Friday morning.

The Pacific side already received heavy rain this week, so people should watch out for more flooding and landslides.

The same system is also expected to affect southern China. About 150 millimeters rain is possible from Hunan to Yunnan provinces by Friday afternoon.

Further south, a tropical depression is intensifying rainfall in parts of the Philippines.

Thunder showers are possible in Manila and Taipei, but sunny skies are expected in Hong Kong with a high of 35. The highest level of heat warning is in effect.

Finally in Europe, a cold front brought severe weather to Rome.

A severe storm hit Rome on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to property and infrastructure.

Strong winds and a tornado uprooted trees and hurled them toward cars on the street.

Local media reported that five tornadoes and water spots occurred in western Italy.

Fortunately, there were no casualties from the extreme weather.

Now the system is moving across the Balkans, bringing isolated thundershowers and gusty winds.

A northern storm is affecting the western parts of the continent, so thundershowers expected in London and Paris with highs around 20, but sunny skies are likely in Lisbon and Madrid.

That's it for now. Have a nice day.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

And with that, we conclude this edition of NHK Newsline for all of us here on the program.

I'm James Tengote in Tokyo. Thanks for watching.

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 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.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 PodcastScript for Shadowing｜US–Iran Talks Strain as Hormuz Tensions Intensify (2026/5/28)

US–Iran peace talks face setbacks as both sides dispute progress.

A leaked draft outlines possible steps on ship traffic and troop withdrawal.

Tensions rise after reports of drone shootdowns near the Strait of Hormuz.

米・イランの和平交渉は進展を巡り食い違いが続いている。

船舶通行や米軍撤退に関する草案も報じられた。

ホルムズ海峡周辺でのドローン撃墜報告で緊張がさらに高まっている。

20260528180000_english_1.mp3

 00:00:09 話者 1/Morishita Erika

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

IRAN CONFLICT
TRUMP 'NOT SATISFIED' WITH TALKS

US President Donald Trump says he's not satisfied with the peace talks with Iran.

He says they have yet to reach a deal, and he adds that Tehran is now negotiating on fumes. Trump spoke about the matter at a cabinet meeting.

00:00:29 話者 2/Donald Trump

I think we're doing very well.

They are starting to give us the things that they have to give us. And if they do, that's great.

And if they won't, then the man on my left is going to finish him off.

00:00:39 話者 1

He also insisted that Iran will not control the Strait of Hormuz.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says diplomacy is always the first option.

00:00:50 話者 3/Marco Rubio

I think there's been some progress and some interest and we'll see over the next few hours and days whether progress could be made.

I just want to remind everybody, Mr. President, you know this well.

You have other options available to you if that doesn't work.

00:01:02 話者 1

Iran's state-run TV reported earlier on a draft of a memorandum of understanding with the US.

The broadcaster says it obtained an initial unofficial document that outlines the framework.

The draft says Iran will restore commercial ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz within a month and it will return the number of vessels to pre-conflict levels.

The draft also says the US will stop its interference with ships at Iranian ports and lift its naval blockade. The deal excludes military vessels.

The draft says Iran will keep control over the strait. 

Tehran will inspect ships and collect fees.

And Iranian officials will coordinate these measures with Oman.

The draft also addresses US troop withdrawal.

It says Washington has agreed to leave the region surrounding Iran.

But it's still unclear which forces will depart. The White House pushed back on the report.

It dismissed it as a complete fabrication.

Meanwhile, a US official told NHK on Wednesday that US forces shot down four Iranian drones around the Strait of Hormuz. They also struck an Iranian ground control station.

The official says these actions were purely defensive and intended to maintain the ceasefire.

TAIWAN URGES US TO CONTINUE WEAPON SALES

The President of Taiwan is once again urging the United States to continue arms sales.

Lai Ching-te spoke about strong ties between the two sides despite pressure from China.

Lai spoke at an event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US.

He referred to the legal framework that governs the country's arms sales to Taiwan.

00:02:56 話者 11/Lai Ching-te

I sincerely hope that the rock-solid relationship that Taiwan and the United States have built over decades.

Founded upon the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances will continue to deepen and strengthen through enhanced cooperation.

00:03:08 話者 1

Lai says Taiwan won't tolerate any change to the peaceful status of the Taiwan Strait.

US President Trump earlier this month held a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

He said that potential arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip, and he said he'd be willing to talk to Lai before making a decision.

Chinese leaders have adamantly opposed the sales.

They've urged the US to stop what they've described as sending the wrong signal about Taiwan independence.

NORWAY TO JOIN TALKS ON FRENCH NUCLEAR DETERRENCE INITIATIVE

French President Emmanuel Macron says Norway has agreed to join talks on France's plan to extend its nuclear deterrence initiative to Europe.

Macron made the remark after a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the two sides signed a comprehensive defense agreement, which includes Norway participating in talks regarding French nuclear deterrence.

00:04:13 話者 23/Emmanuel Macron

This is a very important step in our partnership and will drive very ambitious cooperation.

00:04:18 話者 25/Jonas Gahr Stoere

Together with nine European countries, Norway will also participate in the further process related to your initiative called Forward Deterrence on how French nuclear weapons can contribute to security and deterrence in Europe.

00:04:32 話者 1

Macron announced in March that he was discussing the plan to extend France's nuclear deterrence initiative to eight other European countries.

Those were Germany, Poland and Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, as well as the United Kingdom, which has nuclear weapons of its own.

Macron's initiative came amid repeated criticism of the NATO alliance from US President Donald Trump.

Trump has also suggested that he may seek to reduce US involvement in European security.

JAPAN ROLLS OUT NEW DISASTER ALERT SYSTEM

Japanese authorities rolled out a new version of the disaster alert system on Thursday.

The aim is to better communicate degrees of risks to the public.

The revised system has an alert scale of 1 to 5 for four types of disaster: river overflows, flooding caused by heavy rain, landslides, and storm surges.

The highest level 5 is an emergency warning.

In this case, people need to take immediate action for their survival.

Level 4 is a new category indicating an urgent warning.

It means people should evacuate from areas considered dangerous.

Level 3 is aimed at people who may need more time to escape, including the elderly.

Level 2 is an advisory urging people to review evacuation plans.

The lowest level one advises the public to pay attention to the latest information.

The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Land Ministry made revisions to make it easier for people to assess the level of danger.

Experts are also calling on people to check hazard maps for their local areas in advance.

NEW INTELLIGENCE BUREAU TO TACKLE INFORMATION WARFARE

Japanese politicians have agreed to establish a national intelligence bureau to ward off threats to Japan's security.

Lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday amid increasing concerns over misinformation spreading online.

00:06:46 話者 6

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae wanted this from the start, a brand new agency to lead the country's security and intelligence departments. This week, it was voted in.

00:07:00 話者 34/Takaichi Sanae

I myself placed importance on this as a campaign pledge in two Liberal Democratic Party leadership races.

This law will protect the public safety and give people peace of mind and also defend the national interest.

00:07:17 話者 6

With the new law now in place, the government will form a National Intelligence Council chaired by the Prime Minister and composed of relevant cabinet ministers.

And under this council, they'll set up a national intelligence bureau staffed by several hundred officials.

It will have the authority to compile and analyze information that government ministries and agencies have been gathering separately.

One of the major issues the government hopes to tackle is happening on the Internet, state-sponsored information warfare, also known as influence operations.

Some examples include these posts on a China-based social media platform.

They falsely claim that Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa is not part of Japan.

The posts have stolen a Japanese influencer's dance content and contain political messaging about Okinawa. This one says We also hate Japan.

The woman appearing in the clip is Japan-based entertainer Natsukawa Megan.

She denies any involvement in the clips.

00:08:34 話者 35/Natsukawa Megan

This account has 130,000 followers? 

It's scary that people in China might believe those are my ideas.

00:08:48 話者 6

And she has every right to that anxiety.

One expert says images like these are known to mislead people in other countries.

00:08:59 話者 36/Osawa Jun/Senior Fellow, Nakasone Peace Institute

I think it plays a role in forming public opinion in China that Okinawa is or should become an independent country.

00:09:07 話者 6

An image of Prime Minister Takaichi also spread on social media.

00:09:13 話者 36

This picture claims that people should watch out for the revival of militarism.

I believe this is an influence operation by China.

00:09:22 話者 6

Takeichi and her party say the new agency will allow the government to respond to misinformation in a unified way.

00:09:31 話者 37/Kobayashi Takayuki/LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson

The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office and the Cabinet Secretariat have been responding to the situation.

However, the system has been relatively weak to date, so it'll be reinforced.

00:09:47 話者 6

But the move is raising concerns over privacy, and some politicians say more safeguards are needed.

00:09:56 話者38/Ogawa Junya/Centrist Reform Alliance President

We should be rolling this out cautiously so that we don't place excessive limits on people's rights and freedoms.

00:10:06 話者 39/Koike Akira/Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head

This is the first step toward other laws that would increase public surveillance.

We plan to inform people about how dangerous this is and fight it.

00:10:16 話者 6

Takechi's party says there needs to be a system of checks and balances so that the government doesn't go too far when collecting personal information.

The government aims to launch the new bureau as early as this summer.

It hopes to draw up its first national intelligence strategies by the end of the year.

JAPAN TRANSPORT MINISTRY INSPECTS JAL OVER UNLAWFUL DRINKIN

00:10:38 話者 1

Next, Japanese transport ministry officials are carrying out on-site inspections of Japan Airlines over alleged unlawful drinking by its cabin crew.

JAL officials say the incident involved two cabin attendants last Saturday.

They were scheduled to be on duty for a flight from Hiroshima to Tokyo's Haneda Airport but consumed alcohol within 12 hours before departure.

One of them was the chief attendant.

The flight left more than 40 minutes late as a result of the incident.

The Civil Aeronautics Act prohibits aircrew members from engaging in navigation services under the influence of alcohol.

In 2025, the captain of an international flight reportedly consumed alcohol in violation of in-house rules, leading to a delay in the scheduled departure.

Ministry officials plan to interview those concerned and examine documents related to the latest case.

00:11:45 話者 41/Nakagawa Yukio/Japan Airlines

We'll swiftly strengthen measures to prevent a recurrence and will make sure they are thoroughly implemented.

00:11:52 話者 1

JAL says that as an immediate measure, it will ban drinking by cabin crew members at the accommodation ahead of their flights.

US OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING FIFA WORLD CUP TICKET PRICES

US authorities are investigating FIFA over the price of World Cup tickets.

They claim the soccer body is artificially driving up costs for funds.

The attorneys general of both New York and New Jersey subpoenaed FIFA Wednesday.

Eight World Cup matches are scheduled to take place in the area.

But officials say locals have been shut out by high prices, and they are demanding information about the ticketing process.

FIFA is using dynamic pricing for the first time.

It means the ticket cost fluctuates depending on demand.

As a result, top tickets are reportedly going for thousands of dollars.

Prices on the official retail site have also skyrocketed.

Authorities also raised concerns about the location of those seats.

Recent media reports suggest funds may have been misled about where their seats actually were.

It has fans flocking to a ticket lottery announced by New York Mayor Zora Mamdani.

It's offering 1,000 tickets to lucky New Yorkers for just $50 a piece.

BUSINESS

Now let's see what's happening in the world of business.

Here's Ramin Mellegard from The Biz Desk.

00:13:25 話者 7/Ramin Mellegard

Thank you very much indeed.

BOJ'S UNREALIZED LOSSES ON GOVT. BONDS HIT RECORD

Now the Bank of Japan says its unrealized losses on government bonds have reached a record level.

The securities have plummeted in price while long-term interest rates have climbed.

The central bank has released its financial statements for fiscal 2025.

At the end of March, its holdings of government bonds totaled about 530 trillion yen or $3.3 trillion. 

That marked unrealized losses of more than 45 trillion yen or over $280 billion.

When the BOJ was promoting its massive monetary easing policy, it snapped up huge amounts of government bonds.

It is now shifting away from that approach and scaling back its purchases.

With its holdings declining by a little over 10 percent, the bank says current market valuations have no effect on its financial position, despite its large holdings of bonds, as it intends to keep those securities until maturity.

JAPANESE CAR SALES IN MIDDLE EAST PLUNGE AMID HORMUZ CLOSURE

The worsening situation in the is taking a heavy toll on Japanese car makers.

Leading manufacturers reported plunging regional sales in April, largely due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Toyota says its unit sales in the Gulf region fell 34% from a year earlier to about 31,000.

Mitsubishi sales dropped 22% and Suzuki saw a decline of 54%.

Mazda was down 69% and Honda 54%.

Nissan and Subaru don't release their sales figures for the Middle East.

Now, amid the shipment disruptions, Toyota's exports from Japan to the region nosedived 92% about 2,400 vehicles.

Surging material costs are another concern for the automakers.

They're bracing for a fall in their operating profits for the current fiscal year through next March.

JAPANESE AND CHINESE TEAM UP FOR NEW MINI EVs

Japanese and Chinese companies have teamed up to launch a mini EV in the Japanese market next year.

The five firms involved include China's Chedi Automobile and Japanese auto parts retailer Autobacs Seven.

The first model is expected to feature driver assistance functions using Chedi's technology.

The joint venture plans to import the vehicles from China, then use Autobacs's nationwide store network to sell them in Japan and provide after-sales maintenance.

After the first model debuts next year, the partners plan to roll out three additional models by 2029.

Autobacs officials see the demand for EVs in Japan is likely to grow in the medium to long term, and they hope the joint venture will help boost earnings.

WIDER IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT HITTING GLOBAL FARM INDUSTRY

One of the side effects of the ongoing Iran conflict has been higher fertilizer prices globally, and that's affecting both farmers in the US and Japan's livestock industry.

00:16:38 話者 6/Narrator: Yoshino Mika/Reporters: Komiya Lisa, Kobune Yusuke

America's corn belt is known for its prodigious, reliable output of the essential crop.

But the industry there is now struggling in the face of soaring costs.

This farmer grows corn. Some of the crop is used for livestock feed.

The current season has been a constant challenge to get the fertilizer he needs.

The price of phosphate, a key ingredient for boosting the crop, has remained high since it jumped by about 10% in March. That makes it too costly for him.

But without enough of the fertilizer, crop yields tend to suffer.

It's an issue hitting farmers across the board.

00:17:26 話者 53/Lance Lillibridge/Corn farmer

If we don't grow as much corn and we get the price to come up, it will certainly affect, you know, animal feeders and, you know, their costs,  which, you know, in reality eventually that will affect every consumer.

00:17:45 話者 6

A local fertilizer distributor says some 40% of its customers who grow corn can't afford their products. That's after prices jumped due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

00:17:58 話者 52/Brandy Borchers/Borchers Supply

I mean, they get it opened up and I think it'll drop some because it leaves the pressure off, but it's not going to normalize to what we've been used to that quick.

00:18:13 話者 6

Here in Japan, livestock farmers who use feed mixed with American corn are worried about prices. This dairy farm in Hokkaido has about 1,400 cows.

The weak yen along with rising international corn prices drove up the cost of their feed by about 20% in April.

The farm's owner says if the current situation continues, he may have to start passing on the higher costs to his customers.

00:18:57 話者 58/Suzuki Masateru/Farm owner

If it comes down to that, we may have to raise the cost of our milk in the future.

We just don't know how much feed prices will go up or whether supplies will be sufficient.

00:19:11 話者 6

While the Middle East crisis continues to directly affect the region, it's also having a wider influence on livelihoods in other parts of the world.

MARKETS

00:19:23 話者 7

Okay, let's get a check on the markets.

♪

And that is it for business news.

S.KOREAN TEMPLE CUISINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

00:19:58 話者 1

Korean food is known around the world for its bold and unique flavors, but a different type of culinary experience is quickly gaining popularity.

It's referred to as temple cuisine, and it's rooted in ancient Buddhist philosophy.

And HKO's Kim Chan-ju tells us what's behind its recent rise to the modern stage.

00:20:23 話者 9/Kim Chan-ju

This cooking class in Busan looks like a regular lesson.

An array of fresh ingredients laid out in a kitchen with students eagerly following instructions.

But what's unique about this particular setting is that this teacher is a Buddhist monk.

The participants are learning the principles of temple cuisine, an ancient vegetarian cooking philosophy that excludes meat, fish, and ingredients such as garlic.

00:21:01 話者 64

At home, we usually use artificial seasonings, but here I'm grateful to learn that you can still create rich flavors using only natural ingredients.

00:21:11 話者 9

Last year, Korean temple food was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage.

And a rise in interest was on full display at a recent Buddhism exhibition in Seoul.

One event allowed attendees to learn about the tradition while also tasting the food.

00:21:32 話者 61

With so many overly stimulating foods everywhere these days,

I think people are starting to look for food that's less intense and a bit more gentle and comforting.

00:21:46 話者 9

The cuisine's rising popularity can be attributed to the efforts of one person in particular.

Venerable Dae An is the head monk of Kumsuam Temple, located in the southern part of the country.

For over 30 years she has been studying and mastering the art of temple cuisine.

She focuses on compassion and avoiding harm to other living beings.

She does this by using simple, all-natural ingredients, often coming from the temple's own gardens.

00:22:24 話者 64/Venerable Dae An/Head Monk, Geumsuam Temple

The essence of Korean Buddhist temple cuisine is eating and cooking what nature provides in season, gaining strength from it, and continuing one's practice.

00:22:37 話者 9

So what's the key to making the simple, fresh dishes taste good?

Gently fermented sauces. They are the base of Korean temple cuisine.

But Venerable Dae An wants to take it a step further.

She says temple food can preserve tradition by also staying relatable to modern tastes.

By adding culinary twists, Venerable Dae An has developed a wide range of recipes that she offers at a restaurant next to the temple.

They include pasta filled with wild herbs and pizza topped with soy-based meat.

00:23:25 話者 65

It's not every day you get to eat pasta at a temple, is it?

It was delicious and absolutely fantastic.

00:23:33 話者 64

I can prepare a meal in the most traditional way, but if it doesn't taste good and doesn't win people's hearts, then it's a dead dish whatever the dish may be, people should feel happy when they eat it.

But if we insist only on tradition and remain stuck there, there can be no progress.

00:23:54 話者 9

Temple food is gradually becoming a part of everyday food culture for South Koreans.

It offers a chance to reflect on one's physical well-being, while also being mindful of how we can live in harmony with nature.

Kim Chan-ju NHK World.

WEATHER

00:24:14 話者 1

It's time for a check on the weather. Parts of Japan may need to brace for a typhoon.

Our meteorologist Yumi Hirano has the details.

00:24:24 話者 10/Yumi Hirano

A tropical storm has formed over the Pacific. The system is expected to intensify into a typhoon over the weekend and move northward east of the Philippines and Taiwan.

It will eventually approach Japan's Okinawa by Monday, bringing strong winds and high waves. That could be the first typhoon affecting the region this year.

Meanwhile, in the west of the country, a low pressure system is expected to develop and move over northern Japan into Friday morning.

Stormy conditions are likely in Tohoku with gusts of more than 100 kilometers per hour.

Transportation and traffic could be affected.

But eastern and western Japan may stay on the dry side on Friday, so sunny skies are likely in Tokyo with a high of 30, so heat may be a concern.

Speaking about scorching conditions, warmer than usual air is also covering Southeast Asia this week. People in Vietnam have been facing severe heat.

Extremely high temperatures have been reported in parts of northern Vietnam this week.

The severe heat wave has pushed the mercury above 40 Celsius for multiple days.

Some residents said that it's so hot, it feels even worse when you sit down and take a break during your work.

Officials claim that the weather has put immense pressure on the country's power supply.

Thunderstorms may ease the heat in Hanoi, but the high will still remain 33.

Hong Kong is expected to see 35. The highest level of heat warning is in effect in the city, so please stay cool and hydrated.

That's it for now. Have a nice day.

♫～　3-DAY FORECAST　～♫

00:27:40 話者 1

That's all for this edition of NHK Newsline.

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

checked.

NHK World

00:28:01 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.