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00:00Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki.
00:16Here are the headlines.
00:18At a summit in Nara, the leaders of Japan and South Korea agreed to keep communicating closely on issues such as economic security and North Korea.
00:29Opposition parties in Japan are bracing for a possible snap election as speculation grows that Prime Minister Takahichi Sanae may dissolve the lower house.
00:40And that speculation is having an effect on the stock market, sending Tokyo's Nikkei average to an all-time high.
00:49Japanese Prime Minister Takahichi Sanae has wrapped up a summit with South Korean President Lee Jemion.
00:56Both leaders agreed to continue close communication through so-called shuttle diplomacy.
01:03This was Yi's second visit to Japan as president.
01:07They met in Takahichi's home district of Nara before speaking to reporters at a joint news conference.
01:15As the strategic environment surrounding our countries is becoming increasingly severe, the importance of Japan-South Korea relations and coordination between Japan, South Korea and the U.S. is growing.
01:29We shared a view on the strategic importance of Japan-South Korea relations.
01:34We also confirmed that the two countries should work together to stabilize the region and play a role.
01:44Thank you very much.
01:45Takahichi said we agreed to advance discussions among relevant government agencies around economic security.
01:54She added they had in-depth talks about supply chain cooperation.
01:58They also discussed North Korea and its nuclear and missile programs.
02:04Takahichi said they reaffirmed the need for close cooperation towards complete denuclearization of the peninsula.
02:12In addition, she expressed gratitude for Yi's strong support towards immediately resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang decades ago.
02:22Speaking to reporters, Yi referenced the summit location's history as Japan's ancient capital, as well as centuries of relations between the two peoples.
02:37Our two countries have gone beyond simple exchanges.
02:41We share our lives and futures broadly, in areas such as economics, society and culture.
02:47Our history of exchanges stretches back 1,500 years, originating here in Nara, offering an opportunity to remind us that studying the past can teach us new things.
03:05For more, joining us now from Nara is NHK Rural's Takeda Tomonari, who's covering these meetings.
03:11So, Tomonari, what were some of the key takeaways today?
03:14These leaders clearly want to increase the trust between them.
03:22They have a momentum going based on their last meeting in Korea, and they want to build on that.
03:30What today confirmed is that shuttle diplomacy is once again alive and well.
03:37The back-and-forth visits have helped cement the relationship between Japan and South Korea.
03:45And the leaders said they are tighter than ever when it comes to economic ties.
03:53They agreed today to draft a document together that will tackle organized fraud,
04:02which has been a major issue for both countries.
04:07Aside from economics, it seems that the two countries will grow closer because of their shared cultural values.
04:19The two are also banding together as a way to fend up security concerns.
04:27Japan and South Korea both said they are committed to the same goal.
04:33They want to convince North Korea not to pursue nuclear development.
04:40So, Tomonari, these two countries occupy a neighborhood that split along some pretty distinct lines.
04:48Did you get a sense of their plan to deal with regional issues moving forward?
04:53Japan and China have been in a diplomatic standoff now for weeks or weeks over comments,
05:04Takaichi made about Taiwan.
05:06It doesn't seem like that relationship will improve anytime soon.
05:14So, Japan is leading into its other relationship in the region.
05:20In a press conference today, President Lee stressed the importance of strong ties between South Korea, Japan and the U.S.
05:33He said that we will help with regional security in the near future, especially because of how quickly international relations are changing in recent years.
05:47But, Lee also had a friendly meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week in Beijing.
05:57Lee said earlier this afternoon, it was imperative for Japan, South Korea and China to work together and start having a constructive conversation.
06:11So, the three countries can find as much common ground as possible.
06:18That said, while South Korea is being diplomatic, it's also being cautious.
06:28It has to carefully balance these ties against its own national interests.
06:36Looking forward, the summit here in Nara is still crucial.
06:42It may be the spark of greater cooperation across the region in the months to come.
06:49All right, thank you, Tomonari.
06:51That was NHK World's Takeda Tomonari in Nara.
06:55Turning to domestic politics, Japanese opposition parties are bracing for a possible snap election.
07:02Amidst speculation, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanai may dissolve the lower house later this month.
07:09Noda Yoshihiko, president of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, sat down on Monday with Saito Tetsuo, chief representative of Komeito.
07:20The opposition leaders agreed that Takaichi should not create a political vacuum while there are issues such as inflation that require the government's attention.
07:30They also agreed that their parties will consider close cooperation if an election is called.
07:36Noda says he wants to build a political bloc that can stand up to the worlding Liberal Democratic Party.
07:42Saito says the two agreed that Komeito and the CDP will study ways to take their cooperation to a higher level.
07:51Democratic Party for the People leader Tamaki Yuichiro has also spoken out against dissolving the lower house at this time.
07:59He says it would mean putting the economy on the back burner as a budget for the next fiscal year still hasn't been passed.
08:08Some LDP members say if a snap election does happen, they should aim for a single party majority to ensure a stable administration.
08:18Experts say Takaichi is expected to take her diplomatic schedule into account when making a final decision.
08:27Investors are also watching for what Prime Minister Takaichi will do next.
08:32For the details, we bring in Yanaka Muri from our business desk.
08:36The Tokyo markets had quite the reaction to the speculation over a snap election, didn't they?
08:42Yes, we saw big moves in stocks, currencies and government bonds. Let's take a look.
08:47Tokyo's stock benchmark surged to an all-time high on anticipation an election may mean continued stimulus spending.
08:56The Nikkei 225 jumped over 3%, closing at 53,549.
09:04Investors bought up a wide range of shares on views that expansionary fiscal policy would support Japan's economy.
09:12Tuesday marked the first time ever that the Nikkei average topped 53,000.
09:18Bond investors priced in the idea of an election, too.
09:22The yield on the benchmark 10-year JGB hit 2.17%, a 27-year high.
09:29That's as fiscal stimulus typically means more bond issuance.
09:33Anticipating more supply, investors sold JGBs, driving their yields up.
09:39More money in the economy also decreases the value of that country's currency.
09:44And so the yen hit its weakest in a year and a half against the dollar.
09:48The greenback climbed above the 159-yen level in Tokyo on Tuesday.
09:54Now, even before this most recent slide, the yen's weakness was causing some unease.
10:01It was the topic of conversation between the top finance officials from Japan and the U.S. in Washington on Monday.
10:08Finance Minister Katayama Satsuki shared her concern with Treasury Secretary Scott Besant.
10:15The two met after the Japanese currency on Friday moved in the lower 158 range to the dollar,
10:22the weakest level in about a year at that point.
10:25Speculation that Japan may hold a snap winter vote is seen as accelerating the yen's slide.
10:32Currency traders view an election call as a signal for further public spending that would increase Japan's debt burden.
10:39Katayama spoke to reporters after the meeting in Washington.
10:44I conveyed my deep concern over the one-sided depreciation of the yen seen also on Friday,
10:54and Secretary Besant shared this view.
10:57Katayama indicated she and Besant will work together as needed to respond to trends in the currency market.
11:05Next, the U.S. Justice Department is facing a backlash for threatening to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
11:13Three former Fed chiefs have condemned the move in a statement.
11:18This unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.
11:25Powell says the Justice Department has served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas.
11:32They relate to his congressional testimony last June on renovations of the Fed's headquarters.
11:38The statement criticizing the probe was released on Monday.
11:41Signatories included former Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, and Janet Yellen.
11:48It notes the Fed's independence is at the foundation of America's economic success.
11:53This includes maintaining stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.
12:00The statement calls the criminal inquiry into Powell an unprecedented attempt to undermine the Fed's independence.
12:08Let's finish with a check on stock markets throughout the Asia-Pacific.
12:12Like the UK, Seoul's Kospi marked a record high, too.
12:16That's after Hyundai Motor jumped 10% to a fresh record high.
12:21The stock has been surging since the firm unveiled a range of AI and robotics products last week.
12:27The rest of the region was mostly up, too.
12:30But the benchmarks in China and India buck the trend.
12:34Both countries are trading partners of Iran, which potentially puts them in the line of fire regarding U.S. President Trump.
12:41He's threatening a 25% tariff on countries that do business with Iran.
12:46Taiwan, on the other hand, had good news on the U.S. trade front.
12:51Reports that Taiwan will reach a deal with Washington soon pushed the Tayyiks to an all-time high.
12:57And that's the biz for this Tuesday.
13:00All right, thanks, Marie.
13:03Moving on, U.S. authorities have shed light on the scale of President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
13:09They claim to have revoked more than 100,000 visas since he took office a year ago.
13:16The figure is reportedly a record.
13:19The State Department says the total includes about 8,000 student visas and 2,500 specialized occupation visas revoked for individuals who had encounters with the law.
13:31Listed crimes include assault, theft and driving under the influence.
13:36Fox News says the majority of cases were tourists and people on business who overstayed their visas.
13:43State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Piggott says the Trump administration will continue putting America first and protecting the U.S. from foreigners who pose a risk to public safety or national security.
13:58In Iran, the death toll continues to rise as massive protests sweep the country.
14:04Attention is now turning to negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
14:09An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson says communication between the two sides remains open.
14:16The Iranian government held a large funeral procession on Monday for citizens and security personnel it said had died in the clashes.
14:26A U.S.-based human rights group says more than 570 people have been killed.
14:33But due to a communication blackout since the government shut down Internet access, the total figure is unclear.
14:42Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi suggested on Monday the government has suppressed the protests.
14:50From January 10th until today, we are in the next phase in which the situation has come under control.
15:01In a social media post on Monday, President Trump said he's looking at some very strong options to deal with Iran.
15:09He said any nation doing business with the country will pay a 25 percent tariff in the U.S. effective immediately.
15:18Trump said he is also considering military options in an apparent attempt to dial up the pressure on Tehran.
15:27And he suggested he'll call on Elon Musk to help restore Internet access in Iran.
15:33Musk's SpaceX company operates the satellite Internet service Starlink.
15:39China has weighed in on the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran.
15:45When asked to comment, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
15:56Finance ministers of a group of seven countries and other nations have agreed to take prompt steps to diversify supply chains for critical minerals.
16:07That includes rare earth elements.
16:11The United States convened the meeting of finance chiefs with Katayama Satsuki representing Japan.
16:17Ministers from Australia, Mexico, India and South Korea joined their G7 counterparts.
16:24The talks comes as China increasingly asserts its dominance of the market for key minerals.
16:30U.S. officials said their country is pushing a joint public-private sector effort to expand production of critical minerals.
16:37They called for further cooperation from other participants at the meeting.
16:42Katayama highlighted China's new restrictions on exports to Japan.
16:47Beijing announced last week tighter controls on dual-use goods with potential military applications.
16:54There are concerns that the restrictions may include rare earth minerals.
16:59The participants agreed they need to act quickly to reduce their reliance on China.
17:06They feel this is the only way forward.
17:09Countries that previously had no keen sense of urgency have now shared a view that they could also face restrictions similar to those imposed on Japan.
17:20Concerns are mounting at the United Nations over what diplomats describe as a dangerous escalation
17:28of the war in Ukraine with Russia's use of a new ballistic missile among its latest attacks.
17:35U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Tammy Bruce spoke Monday at an Emergency Security Council meeting.
17:43She said Russia had used an Oreshnik missile just as peace talks are gaining momentum.
17:50We are closer to a deal now than at any point since the war began.
17:55Despite this, Russia launched more attacks on Ukraine.
18:00This constitutes another dangerous and inexplicable escalation of this war.
18:06Ukraine's permanent representative warned that the weapon can carry a nuclear payload and said it represents a new escalation.
18:16Russia's U.N. representative said recent strikes were in response to an attack by Ukraine on the Russian president's official residence and civilian infrastructure.
18:28Russia's large-scale attacks on infrastructure and other facilities have left people in Ukraine without heat, electricity or water in the middle of winter.
18:39And now let's go to Cholapan Sanarula in our Bangkok studio for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
18:50The International Court of Justice has started its long-awaited public hearings on the alleged genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.
18:58The U.N. Court in The Hague opened hearings on Monday after years of preliminary legal arguments.
19:04The case accuses Myanmar of violating the genocide convention.
19:08It was filed by the West African nation of Gambia in 2019 on behalf of a group of Islamic countries.
19:15It is not about exotic issues of international law.
19:20It is about real people, real stories and real group of human beings.
19:27The Rohingya of Myanmar.
19:30They have been targeted for destruction.
19:35Myanmar's armed forces conducted a large-scale operation in the western state of Rakhine in 2017.
19:41Many people were reportedly killed.
19:44More than 700,000 fled to neighboring Bangladesh.
19:47Myanmar denies the allegations of genocide.
19:50The former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi had represented the country in the case, but she was ousted in a military coup in 2021.
19:58A former military officer replaced her in court when proceedings resumed in 2022.
20:04Rohingya witnesses are set to speak in the trial.
20:07We want to return home.
20:13We hope the court will deliver justice.
20:20We don't want genocide to ever happen again to the Rohingya.
20:26That should be ensured during this hearing.
20:32The court will hear from both the Gambia and Myanmar sides over the next three weeks, as well as testimony from witnesses and experts.
20:42Turning to Vietnam, Japanese automaker Honda Motor has unveiled a new electric motorcycle as the country prepares to introduce stricter environmental rules.
20:51The government will limit the use of gasoline bikes in central Hanoi starting in July as part of measures to tackle worsening air pollution.
21:00The model was showcased at an event on Saturday in Hanoi.
21:08The bike has a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour and can run up to 120 kilometers on a single charge.
21:16The company plans to begin sales in June.
21:19Honda has more than 80 percent share of the Vietnamese motorbike market.
21:23But the company faces increasing competition as domestic makers with low-priced models are attracting consumers looking to transition to electric bikes.
21:33Head of Honda Vietnam, Arai Sayaka, says the company remains confident about the quality of its products.
21:40She says Honda is working on plans to develop charging infrastructure for electric bikes in the country.
21:47In the Philippines, it's estimated that people aged 65 and over will account for 7 percent of the population as early as 2030.
21:57It's quickly becoming an aging society.
21:59Japan has some experience in this area.
22:02An elderly care firm from the country has opened a new facility in the Philippines that offers a Japanese style of care.
22:09Good morning, Pa.
22:12The center was open last March near the capital, Manila.
22:20It provides daycare services for 18 people.
22:23This woman used to watch over her husband at home, but now she can drop him off at the new facility.
22:30My husband sees everyone else having a good time.
22:35This makes him happy and he has a good time too.
22:39He's also enjoying it.
22:43Elderly people in the Philippines tend to stay at home once they start losing their physical abilities.
22:49The new center provides a Japanese standard of care which aims to help people maintain active lives
22:55so they can live on their own for as long as possible.
22:58This woman had been using a wheelchair.
23:01At the facility, she was taught how to walk again using two canes.
23:06The power of Japanese style nursing care is that even people who are bedridden can regain the ability to stand up or walk.
23:16I want to expand it across the Philippines and help spread smiles.
23:20Demand for elderly facilities in the Philippines will only grow in the coming years as the population continues to age.
23:28The same municipality is already considering launching another care center.
23:33And that wraps up our bulletin. I'm Cholap and Sanarula in Bangkok.
23:37It's time for a look at world weather with our meteorologist Jonathan Oh.
23:52Hello. We have been keeping an eye out on that winter pattern where plenty of snow and even stronger winds have been impacting the northern portions of Japan.
24:03Here's a look at some video that's coming out of Sapporo where the city got smacked with another dose of heavy, wet snow and winds Tuesday afternoon as a developing low-pressure system passed nearby.
24:14Transportation officials said that at least 58 flights were canceled at New Chitose Airport due to the winter storm.
24:21The snow depth in the center of the city reached 50 centimeters and we have more snow on the way for the area.
24:28We have a more traditional winter pressure pattern with the northwesterly winds coming in.
24:33So plenty of snow from Hokkaido and the northeastern portions of the country as we go into Wednesday.
24:39Now, for those of you who are in Tokyo, you're probably saying it doesn't feel like winter is a little bit warmer.
24:44And what's happening is we have plenty of the drier air that's falling out from the mountains with this flow.
24:49And so because of that, we saw a sunny day with temperatures on the rise.
24:54It looks like we'll be seeing highs in the low teens coming up on Wednesday and Thursday in Tokyo, mid-teens by the end of the week.
25:00So yeah, I think we're kind of forgetting that it's actually still supposed to be winter.
25:04Sapporo though, seeing plenty of snowfall with temperatures below freezing even for daytime highs as we go through the rest of the week.
25:11Meanwhile, we're seeing a bitter blast taking place or will be taking place as we go through the day on Tuesday into Wednesday.
25:19Low pressure up toward Canada helping to usher in a very sharp northwesterly flow.
25:24And that's going to help sink some of those temperatures as we go forward in time.
25:28Three in Winnipeg, four in Toronto, nine in Chicago.
25:31Down to the south is where we see some of that warmer air.
25:34And back toward the west, Los Angeles topping off at 27 as we go through Tuesday.
25:39We have some issues with warm air into the western portions of Europe where avalanche concerns are into the mountains near Spain into France.
25:48You want to be on the lookout for that as we go through the day on Tuesday.
25:51Paris topping off at 12 with partly cloudy skies.
25:53Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
26:09And one more news before we go.
26:23Monday marked coming of age day here in Japan.
26:26And young people across the country celebrated their entry into adulthood in a variety of ways.
26:33And for some, it was a chance to take a shot at warding off evil spirits.
26:38The annual ritual in Yamaguchi Prefecture commemorates Sugawara Michizane, a 9th century historical figure said to be an accomplished archer.
26:54Twelve men and women experienced with Japanese bows took aim at a target featuring the kanji character for evil.
27:06Becoming an adult, I am determined to grow step by step.
27:10I want to spend this year showing my appreciation to my family and friends for supporting me for 20 years.
27:18Participants were 20 year olds or about to turn 20.
27:23Japan lowered its legal age of majority to 18 in 2022.
27:29Still, many young people choose to celebrate their milestone of becoming an adult at the traditional age.
27:37Yes, and that wraps up this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:41You can catch this program on our website.
27:43I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki.
27:44And I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki.
27:46Thank you very much for watching.
27:48Please join us again tomorrow.
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