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00:00A Japanese diplomat is in China for talks amid a growing rift over Prime Minister
00:24Takaichi's Taiwan comments. Japan's economy shrank for the first time in a year and a half.
00:31The Deathlympics, a sports event for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes going on in Tokyo,
00:37bring many worlds together.
00:41A senior Japanese foreign ministry official has arrived in Beijing.
00:45He's set to hold talks there amid a widening rift over comments Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made
00:51about Taiwan. Kanai Masaaki is the Director General of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian
00:57Affairs Bureau. It's believed he'll meet with Liu Jingsong, Beijing's Director General of the
01:03Department of Asian Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry and other officials.
01:08The visit comes after Takaichi's remarks to the Diet earlier this month. She said a military
01:13emergency concerning Taiwan could be regarded as a situation that might threaten Japan's survival.
01:19It triggered a sharp reaction from Beijing. Kanai is expected to explain Takaichi's words did not
01:26deviate from Japan's position regarding Taiwan. He's also expected to urge China not to allow
01:33differences between their countries to affect exchanges of people. Kanai will also likely
01:38lodge a strong protest over a social media post from the Chinese Consul General in Osaka. It said,
01:45the intruding dirty neck must be cut off without a moment's hesitation. Some members of Japan's
01:52ruling and opposition parties have called for measures against the Consul General, including
01:56deporting him as a persona non grata. Kanai is expected to urge Beijing to respond appropriately.
02:04Now, U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass has posted a seemingly sarcastic message to China on social
02:11media. It addresses the ongoing row stemming from Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.
02:17The message posted on Saturday is directed at Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao and the Consul
02:23General in Osaka. Glass wrote, looks like Christmas has come early. Thank you for helping further
02:30strengthen the deep bond between the United States and Japan. Taiwan's President Lai Qingde also commented on
02:38the issue on Monday. He said China is carrying out a multi-faceted attack on Japan and added,
02:44this has seriously affected peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
02:49A call on Beijing to exercise restraint and to demonstrate the dignity befitting a major power
02:54rather than becoming a troublemaker against peace and stability in the region.
02:59Takaichi visited Taiwan in April before she took office and met with Lai.
03:03The president has called Takaichi a steadfast friend of Taiwan.
03:10Four Chinese government ships entered Japan's territorial waters of the Senkaku Islands in the
03:16East China Sea on Sunday. The Japan Coast Guard reported that the vessels started crossing into the
03:24area near the island of Minami Kojima at around 10.15 a.m.
03:29Officials said the ships left Japan's territorial waters by around noon. They note the vessels were
03:37equipped with cannons. Coast Guard personnel are continuing to monitor the area to prevent further
03:44intrusions. This was the first time Chinese government ships had been confirmed entering Japanese waters
03:51of the Senkaku Islands since October 15th. Japan controls the islands, which China and Taiwan claim.
04:01The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory in terms of
04:07history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.
04:21Now we go to Rosalind Devabalia at our bureau in Bangkok for more stories making headlines in the
04:27Asia-Pacific. Rosalind.
04:30A court in Bangladesh has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in absentia.
04:36The ousted leader was charged with crimes against humanity over last year's violent protests in the
04:42country. We have decided to inflict her with only one sentence, that is sentence of death.
04:58Student-led demonstrations over civil service job quotas spread across Bangladesh in July and August.
05:05The UN assesses as many as 1,400 people died during the uprising.
05:11The protests toppled Hasina's 15-year rule and prompted her to flee to India.
05:17Hasina is reportedly living in exile in New Delhi and has refused to attend her trial.
05:24Japan's Prime Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako,
05:29is making her first official visit overseas. She left for Laos on Monday morning.
05:35The princess will spend six days in the Southeast Asian country. She is scheduled to meet President
05:41Tonglun Sisulit on Tuesday. Her visit comes as Japan and Laos mark the 70th anniversary
05:47of diplomatic relations this year. The two nations have long had warm ties.
05:53In 1965, Laos became the first country to receive volunteers
05:57from the predecessor of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JAICA.
06:03Onishi Norio was dispatched to Laos as part of that team. He visited the country last month for
06:09the first time in 58 years. Back in the days when he first arrived, Laotians directly seeded their
06:16patties with rice grains, a method that often saw them washed away in rainstorms. To tackle that problem,
06:22Onishi introduced the Japanese practice of transplanting seedlings after growing them.
06:30When I was dispatched, I actually knew very little about Laos, and I imagine most Japanese people are
06:37probably the same. I think Princess Aiko's visit this time will be tremendously helpful in deepening the
06:45public's understanding of this country. Princess Aiko will also visit a children's hospital
06:53established 10 years ago by a Japanese NPO. It provides free medical care to more than 30,000
06:59children annually. The head of the NPO, Akao Kazumi, also works as a nurse. She hopes the princess's visit
07:07will help spread awareness about medical care in Laos. For various reasons, some people don't seek
07:16medical care and others can't access it. I'd like to convey to Princess Aiko that we aim to foster
07:23human resources and contribute to raising the nation's overall level of medical care.
07:30It's been six months since India and Pakistan nuclear-armed neighbors escalated tit-for-tat exchanges
07:39in disputed Kashmir. Fears that the crisis would spiral into nuclear war flared when Pakistan
07:46reportedly called an emergency meeting of the National Command Authority, the body that oversees
07:52its nuclear arsenal. Some in Pakistan continue to voice their hopes for a world free of nuclear weapons.
07:59NHK World's Ota Yusuke reports. An artist's work in an exhibition in Islamabad interprets the horror
08:08of the 1945 atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It features the sculpture of a screaming face
08:20as well as a painting of the sky at the moment an atomic bomb explodes.
08:25Knotted painter and sculptor Basir Ahmar spent seven years working on this series.
08:37His inspiration was the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001, which led him to research the global
08:45history of war and the atomic bombings in Japan. My message to the world is to
08:56get together and live peacefully. While others in Pakistan are also calling for the abolition of
09:05nuclear weapons. The overwhelming majority support their position. Behind this is the ongoing tension with India.
09:16India preceded Pakistan in conducting nuclear tests of advanced weapon designs. Pakistan soon responded with
09:25its own tests. Now the country pride itself on becoming the first nuclear armed states among Islamic majority countries.
09:36It even celebrated those first tests as a national holiday.
09:40And this motivates nuclear physicist and activist Pelvis Hutboy to keep speaking of their risks.
09:51His views started forming around 1969 while studying physics in the U.S. and the scientists involved in
10:00developing the atomic bomb. He was struck by their emotional struggles.
10:06He has raised his voice over the nuclear threat to media around the world.
10:33Even while the internet is rife with criticism of his views, calling him a traitor.
10:42To mark the day the atomic bomb devastated Hiroshima, he organized an event highlighting the nuclear weapon threat.
10:53I believe nuclear weapons are a huge curse because they have the potential to destroy humanity.
10:58If they were to be used today, it would be nothing compared with Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
11:06While many participants clowned to their country's nuclear policy,
11:10Hutboy had his supporters too.
11:16Countries need to find a diplomatic solution and ensure that the tragedies
11:21that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not repeated.
11:28People like Hutboy have made it their mission to continue reminding Pakistanis,
11:34Indians and the world of the urgency to oppose nuclear weapons.
11:40Ota Yusuke, NHK World, Islamabad.
11:43The latest government data show Japan's economy shrunk this past summer for the first time in a while.
12:07For the details, we bring in Yenaka Marie from our business team.
12:10So Marie, why the contraction?
12:12Was it U.S. tariffs hitting exports or weak spending due to inflation?
12:16Right the first time, Raja, tariffs were the main culprit.
12:20Conception actually held up relatively well.
12:22Let's dive right into the numbers.
12:25The economy contracted in the July to September period for the first time in six quarters.
12:32That's according to figures released by the Cabinet Office on Monday.
12:35Preliminary data show gross domestic product shrank 0.4% from the previous quarter in price-adjusted real terms.
12:45Annualized, that's a contraction of 1.8%.
12:50One major factor was a slump in overseas trade.
12:54Exports dropped 1.2% as the U.S. tariffs stamped shipments of cars and other products.
13:02Another drag was private residential investment, which plunged 9.4%.
13:09That was mainly a reaction to new rules requiring buildings to be eco-friendly.
13:15Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP, inched up 0.1%.
13:22Beverages sold well amid the record heat wave.
13:25But demand was down for sweets and other items hit by inflation.
13:31Next, Ukraine has secured supplies of U.S. liquefied natural gas to be shipped through Greece.
13:38Energy is a major concern for Kyiv as winter approaches and Russian attacks hinder production.
13:45Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the agreement at a joint news conference with Greek
13:51Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsukitakis in Athens on Sunday.
13:55Zelensky said Ukrainian and Greek firms had signed a deal for the U.S. LNG.
14:04Our agreement with Greece is an important part of a large energy package that we have prepared for this
14:10winter to provide Ukraine with gas and compensate for the destruction of our production by the Russians.
14:17Zelensky explained that the country already has agreements to finance gas imports worth nearly
14:262 billion euros or 2.3 billion dollars. The funding will come from the Ukrainian government
14:32with assistance from European nations and others.
14:37Let's switch to something nostalgic for many Japanese. Photo sticker booths. These machines have
14:43lost much of their appeal in the era of smartphones, but makers are now trying to rebuild it and expand
14:50the market beyond teenagers. Some of the latest models were on display at a trade show in Tokyo.
14:58About 50 companies from Japan and abroad took part in the two-day event ending on Saturday.
15:05The newest booth by Japanese game maker Sega comes with an interesting feature.
15:10Users can have their pictures taken as if their favorite stars are right next to them.
15:17Another leading player in the field is a company called Furyu. Its device lets users choose functions
15:23and filters from machines dating back decades.
15:28Such photo booths have been around in Japan since the mid-1990s.
15:33The business waned as the population aged and smartphones took off.
15:37Industry officials say in fiscal 1997, the market was worth about 100 billion yen,
15:45or nearly 9 billion dollars at the time. By fiscal 2023, it was less than a fifth of that.
15:52They're mainly used by teenagers, but manufacturers plan to target the many
15:57foreign visitors to the country as well.
16:01Let's finish with a check on the markets. Tokyo's Nikkei average lost a tenth of a percent.
16:07Investors refrain from making big moves as they expect a deluge of economic data out of the U.S.
16:13now that the government shutdown is over. They'll be closely watching to see how the numbers might
16:18guide the Fed's decision on rate cuts. Meanwhile, heightened tensions between Japan and China
16:25hit travel-related stocks. Japan Airlines and rival A&A both fell over three percent.
16:32Cosmetics giant Shiseido, which relies heavily on Chinese demand, jumbled nine percent.
16:39For the rest of the Asia-Pacific, it was a mixed picture.
16:43Seoul's Kospi was the best performer following its plunge on Friday.
16:47The benchmark jumped nearly two percent after major manufacturers unveiled ambitious plans
16:53for domestic investment. And that's the Viz for this Monday.
17:07The Deaflympics, an international sporting event for athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing,
17:19opened in Tokyo on Saturday. It's being held in Japan for the first time.
17:24A record 3,081 athletes from 81 countries and regions have registered for this year's games,
17:32which will be held mainly in Tokyo through the 26th. There are 21 sports.
17:38The games highlight not only athletic performances, but also aim to raise awareness of deaf culture.
17:46I explore the range of ideas and initiatives for a more inclusive society.
17:54One is the Deaflympics Square.
17:58It's a venue open to the public for free and offers a variety of exhibits and activities during the games.
18:05It also features a hands-on area where people can try deaf sports themselves.
18:14Even playing table tennis without sound can be challenging.
18:20They taught me numbers in sign language. I was happy that I could manage it a bit in the end.
18:25This area is called Mirutech, which means let's look at technology in Japanese.
18:33Here, you can touch and experience all sorts of universal communication tools made by 25 Japanese companies.
18:42Mirutech showcases installations using the latest technologies.
18:46In this booth, you can identify the sound created by your partner by the light and the vibrations.
18:58In this way, you can share the rhythm.
19:04This is really fun because I can enjoy her sound through vibration and light,
19:08and it feels like I'm having a great session here.
19:11This device allows sign language to be converted into words.
19:17It will help to communicate with anybody, even those who don't understand sign language.
19:34The developer hopes this device will further enhance communication opportunities in the future.
19:41We want people around the world to know that communication tools using IT are gradually becoming available.
19:49We want to ensure that people who are deaf and people who can hear are able to communicate smoothly with one another.
19:56A wearable device using fingertip vibrations is a Japanese invention that helps with communication for deaf-blind people.
20:05The device converts those taps into electric signals and sends them wirelessly.
20:12Deaf-blind people feel the signals on their fingers and understand what the person tries to say.
20:19Yoneyama Chikashi, the developer, says what caught his attention was a communication method developed in Japan called finger braille.
20:28They tap on the partner's fingers as if typing on a braille typewriter to convey their messages, but this requires physical contact.
20:40Yoneyama was inspired when a deaf-blind runner asked him to be a guide runner.
20:46He wondered if there was a way to communicate while running, which led to his invention.
20:51I also want people to know that some individuals communicate through tactile signing in their daily lives.
21:02In the future, I hope that the tool can be incorporated so deaf-blind people can enjoy sports together with others and even compete with energy and excitement.
21:13The Deaflympics has also prompted a growing movement to introduce other types of universal communication technologies.
21:27How do we get to the observation deck upstairs?
21:32These devices convert audio information into multilingual text,
21:37helping not only people with hearing impairments, but also international visitors communicate more smoothly.
21:46An expert says universal communication technologies will become essential tools for removing barriers in a wide range of situations.
21:58Universal communication technology isn't just for people with disabilities.
22:02I believe it will be a tool that benefits many different groups.
22:08And when more people use it, it becomes commercially viable, which helps bring down costs.
22:16That's why developing technology that is usable and valuable for everyone is essential.
22:22I think it's important to be able to develop technology that is useful.
22:31Rina, I really felt having the competition here in Japan is a perfect opportunity for people to increase their interactive skills as a whole, right?
22:39In fact, the school, my kids go to and many here in Tokyo have a class dedicated to learning about a more inclusive society from a young age.
22:46So, Rina, hopefully the games will provide a boost.
22:48Right. That's what Deaflympics are all about.
22:51You know, it's not about just bringing athletes together, but it's about highlighting great steps in improving our ability to communicate with each other,
23:02whether deaf or hearing, Japanese or visitors, and even we ourselves as we age.
23:09So these tools can help us all live better, more connected lives.
23:16Shizamakaazone
23:39Shizamakaazone
23:41The wind is strong, but the wind is strong.
23:46I'm going to make a good wind.
23:52I'm going to make a wind.
23:56So, Rina, we kicked off the work
24:26week under relatively warm conditions, but people up north in Japan's northeast are now braving
24:32the cold. Our meteorologist Jonathan Noh has the outlook for here and elsewhere in our World
24:36Weather Report. Hello, we saw temperatures moving into the 20s in Tokyo as we went through Monday
24:43with plenty of sunshine to talk about that, but it's a little different story up toward the north.
24:48We're talking about snow, 10 centimeters of it falling in Tsukiyu, and also seeing gusts up to
24:55122 kilometers per hour, so that's a bit of a bitter blast, isn't it? Here's a look at some
25:00video coming out of Akita, where we also saw some messy weathers. People across the Toluca region
25:05got slapped with some strong winds and rain Monday. A rapidly developing low-pressure system brought
25:10gusts of 70 kilometers per hour in Akita City, and yeah, there's a lot of water with that too.
25:16Unstable conditions also led weather officials to issue a tornado advisory across Akita Prefecture.
25:21That bitter blast behind the passing cold front may cause the first snow to come to Akita City
25:26overnight into Tuesday. So yeah, we had this low-pressure system up toward the north,
25:30really gathering energy, and so pushing all that warm air down toward the south, which means
25:35get your jackets back out. It's going to be on the cooler side. 16 for the high in Tokyo coming up on
25:41Tuesday. 14 by Wednesday, which means overnight low, single digits, so it will feel quite chilly
25:47outdoors. Naha getting a break from the rain here by Wednesday with highs in the low 20s.
25:52Broadening out the view, it's not just Japan getting out of the colder air. High pressure back over
25:57China bringing that northly flow. High of only nine in Beijing, so we're at six. And Ulaanbaatar down to
26:03four below freezing as we go through the day on Tuesday. Looking at what's happening across North
26:08America. Eastern areas of the United States under the influence of high pressure, keeping things
26:12relatively dry. Though up toward the north and east, we're still seeing some snow in the forecast.
26:18Now, back toward the west, atmospheric rivers set up, bringing lots of wet weather across the
26:22Pacific coast, which means on Monday from Vancouver down toward Los Angeles, looking at some wet weather
26:28here. Down toward the southern plains, though, highs in the upper 20s, so quite warm as we go through
26:33today on Monday. That's a look at your forecast. Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
27:07MUSIC
27:35And that wraps up this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:38Make sure you catch our program on our website as well.
27:41I'm Raja Prada.
27:41And I'm Yamasawa Rina.
27:43Thank you very much for watching.
27:45Please join us again tomorrow.
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