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00:00Welcome to NewZoom Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina.
00:15And I'm Raja Prada.
00:16Here are the headlines.
00:18Above average snow accumulation in Japan has authorities urging residents to take care to avoid snow-related accidents.
00:25U.S.-Iran talks are still expected to take place, even after the U.S. military's downing of an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea.
00:36And multiple models of compact electric vehicles will be appearing on Japan's streets over the coming year.
00:42One expert sees great potential for the global market as well.
00:47Temperatures are rising in wide areas across Japan on Wednesday.
00:51People in snowy regions are advised to watch out for avalanches and snow falling off roofs.
00:59The Japan Meteorological Agency says warm air flowing in from the south could push temperatures up to highs normally observed in early to mid-March in some places.
01:10Several cities have seen higher-than-average snow accumulation, more than double the norm in some places.
01:16As of 5 p.m., Aomori City recorded one-and-a-half meters of snow and Sapporo City nearly one meter.
01:24There have been a growing number of accidents involving snow removal.
01:28Officials are advising people to work in groups of two or more when removing snow from rooftops and other areas.
01:35Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency says at least 35 people have died since January 20th due to the harsh winter conditions and significant snowfall.
01:46The last surviving parent of the still-missing Japanese abducted by North Korea turns 90 on Wednesday.
01:56It has been nearly 50 years since Yokota Sakie's daughter was taken.
02:01But Sakie still holds out hope of seeing her again.
02:05Yokota Megumi was 13 years old when she was abducted in 1977 on her way home from school in Niigata City.
02:17Her mother, Sakie, is the only surviving parent of the abductees identified by the government who are still unaccounted for.
02:26She told NHK that she cannot believe how much time has passed.
02:31My age doesn't matter to me.
02:35What matters is seeing Megumi, just once, even for a moment.
02:39She must be an old woman now too.
02:44She questioned the lack of progress in resolving the abduction issue,
02:49despite repeatedly asking successive Japanese prime ministers to address it and being told that they would.
02:56Unable to speak to her daughter, Sakie has held on to the same ritual for more than two decades.
03:04Every evening, she takes a photo of the sunset from her home.
03:09The government says North Korean agents abducted
03:39the two decades later on.
03:40Five returned to Japan following a bilateral summit in 2002.
03:45But the whereabouts of the remaining 12 remain unknown.
03:51So, Raja, I spoke with Sakie last November.
03:54It has been 48 years since Megumi's abduction.
03:57And for over half her life, she's been fighting to get her own daughter back.
04:03But time makes that struggle harder.
04:07After a health scare a few years ago, she no longer advocates as she used to.
04:14And she told me as she gets older, she feels like she won't be able to see Megumi again.
04:23But that doesn't mean she has given up.
04:26She's the last surviving parent of an abductee.
04:31The rest, including her husband, passed away without ever seeing their children again.
04:38Sakie knows her time is limited.
04:40The hope to see one's own daughter again is a wish any mother can understand.
04:46After 48 years, many are still asking why Sakie has had to wait so long.
04:56Defense lawyers for the man sentenced to life in prison for killing former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo have appealed the ruling.
05:15Yamagami Tetsuya admitted to shooting Abe at a political event,
05:18saying he was motivated by Abe's ties to a controversial religious group widely known as the Unification Church.
05:25The Nara District Court handed down the sentence last month.
05:29Yamagami's lawyers filed the appeal on Wednesday.
05:32Sources say while the 45-year-old did not express strong frustration with the sentence, he agreed to the appeal.
05:39His lawyers are critical of the ruling, saying it upheld arguments by the prosecutors in full.
05:45The defense team had said Yamagami's family was plunged into dire financial straits
05:49after his mother made large donations to the group.
05:53The court determined his upbringing could not be considered a major factor in the case.
05:59This point will again be examined in the appeals trial at the Osaka High Court.
06:04So too will be whether the use of a handmade gun amounts to a violation of Japan's gun control law.
06:10High-level talks between the United States and Iran are expected to go ahead.
06:18Doubts had been raised after the U.S. military shot down an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea on Tuesday.
06:26Donald Trump's administration has sent the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region.
06:34Washington is stepping up pressure on Iran to hold talks on the country's nuclear program.
06:41Trump has refused to clarify where the meeting will be held.
06:45U.S. news website Axios cited a source as saying that the talks are expected to take place in Oman on Friday.
07:04It also reports that negotiations are underway to see if Arab and Muslim countries from the region will join in.
07:13White House Press Secretary Karen Leavitt says the talks are still scheduled,
07:19but she did not rule out the possibility of the U.S. choosing a military operation.
07:26Next, Spain has become the latest European country to plan a social media ban for children.
07:31Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the move in a speech on Tuesday in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
07:40He said his government will require social media platforms to keep the sites off-limits to children under the age of 16.
07:46Today, our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone.
07:54A space of addiction, abuse, pornography, manipulation, violence.
08:02We will no longer accept that.
08:05France's parliament is deliberating a bill to prohibit social media use by those under 15.
08:11And Denmark announced in November it's planning a similar ban.
08:15Australia prohibited social media use by children under 16 in December.
08:20It's the first country to introduce a blanket ban based on age.
08:24But enforcing such restrictions still involves challenges such as ensuring platforms can verify user ages.
08:39Now, the next in our series on the key issues facing voters ahead of Japan's general election.
08:46Prime Minister Takahichi Sanae dissolved the law house last month and the people will head to the polls this Sunday.
08:53So, we're focusing this time on national security and diplomacy.
08:58Earlier, we spoke with NHK's senior commentator, Kajiwara Takamoto,
09:01to explore these topics and the different approaches by political parties.
09:08So, Takamoto, we've heard from the government for years that Japan is in a severe security environment.
09:15Can you give us some context for that?
09:18China, North Korea and Russia have been stepping up military activities around Japan.
09:23China's rapid military build-up is especially shaking the security balance in the region.
09:29And the country appears to be widening its scope.
09:32Right.
09:33Takamoto, Japan-China relations soured after Takahichi answered a question in the Diet last year.
09:38She said a possible Taiwan emergency involving the use of force could be considered a situation threatening Japan's survival.
09:45How did Beijing respond?
09:47Yes.
09:48It has stepped up pressure on Japan militarily.
09:52And we've seen economic pressure, too.
09:54That includes Beijing's announcement last month that it will tighten restrictions on exports of items
10:00for both military and civilian use to Japan.
10:03And rare earth elements could also be subject to the measure.
10:08That adds to the growing view among the ruling and opposition parties
10:11that ties will continue to be strained for a long time.
10:16They say that Japan should firmly respond to China
10:19and seek a way to open dialogue to build a strategic and mutually beneficial relationship.
10:25And how does Japan's ally, the U.S., fit into this?
10:29There is a sentiment spreading within the Japanese government
10:33that it's necessary to coordinate views with Washington on how to deal with China.
10:38But that's not always easy.
10:41Government sources say that Japan asked the U.S. to send a message supporting Japan
10:46as China stepped up those pressures we're talking about.
10:50But President Trump and his cabinet members remained silent.
10:56So, they left Tokyo disappointed.
11:00And the U.S.-China summit will be held as early as April.
11:04And there is a possibility that a shattered diplomacy between the leaders will start.
11:10So, it's believed that Japanese officials want to visit the U.S. as early as next month
11:15to coordinate views with Trump on China's strategy.
11:19But, remember, the rise of the America first policy adds another layer of complexity.
11:27Japan has to balance that relationship with it also addresses China's rapid military buildup.
11:35Right.
11:36Takamoto, if we can shift back to the election,
11:38what are the political parties pitching in light of these security issues?
11:42Yeah.
11:42There are three major policies.
11:44Let's go over them.
11:45The ruling parties are calling to revise strategic documents such as the national security strategy
11:52and further strengthen defense capabilities.
11:55They say it's so that Japan can respond to activities on the Pacific side.
12:00And this is considered to be in line with the U.S. administration,
12:04which has told allies to increase defense spending.
12:08Some opposition parties are also pitching the strength and deterrence within the scope of Japan's constitution,
12:16which is exclusively defense focused.
12:20That code is seen as being based on maintaining a restrained security policy.
12:27And the pitches from other position parties, meanwhile, are focused on reducing defense spending.
12:35The idea is to create a peaceful international order by working on diplomacy.
12:40Thank you very much for your insight, Takamoto.
12:42Thank you very much.
13:12Thank you very much.
13:42Thank you very much.
14:12We believe rolling out mini-electric vehicles for commercial use is the best way that we can contribute to carbon neutrality.
14:24The e-hyjet cargo and the e-attray were developed jointly with Toyota motor and Suzuki motor.
14:33And Daihatsu is not the only maker coming out with compact EVs.
14:37Nissan and Honda have already started selling their models.
14:41Suzuki is planning to get started later this year.
14:43And one of the big Chinese makers is also set to get into the market.
14:48BYD is expected to start selling its first EV compact this summer.
14:53All of this comes as global demand for EVs is slowing industry groups say only about 60,000 units were sold in Japan last year.
15:01That's less than 2 percent of the total.
15:04But one expert is optimistic.
15:06Kao Sanchiro of Ito Chu Research Institute says it's mainly about price.
15:11There are countries and regions where the shift to EVs has been fast, but there are also places where EV adaptation has been a little slow, like the United States and Japan.
15:25What is happening right now in the industry is that people want affordable cars, cars that are not costly.
15:32This is especially the trend in Europe.
15:35Car makers are rolling out more and more subcompact models, known as the B segment of the market, as well as other smaller types to cater to consumer needs.
15:47This is fueling the EV market and propelling the industry toward a shift to EVs.
15:52Foucao says Japanese K cars will likely be a great fit for Europe.
16:00Many of the roads in both Europe and Japan are narrow, and some are very steep.
16:06The authorities in Europe want to increase production of small EVs that use fewer resources compared to production of big cars.
16:14That's because they are uncertain about the future of the relationship with China and how dependent they can be on China's dominance of EV supply chains.
16:25Foucao adds that Japanese K car brands like Daihatsu and Suzuki already have a small presence in Europe.
16:31In the 1990s, Daihatsu tied up with the Italian manufacturer of the Vespa scooter, Piaggio.
16:39A Daihatsu K car under the Piaggio brand became a big hit in Italy.
16:44Daihatsu has since pulled out of the market, but many people in Europe still remember the Daihatsu brand.
16:51And it's also the case with Suzuki.
16:54Suzuki also has experience selling K cars in Britain.
16:58I think the past experience of Japanese compact makers will be the basis for selling EVK cars in Europe.
17:06And I think there is real potential for them to get back into the market.
17:10There could also be support from official channels.
17:14The European Commission presented a plan last year to help the auto sector transition to cleaner mobility.
17:19It says it will provide incentives to companies that produce small, affordable EVs in the region.
17:25Although the plan is not yet finalized, Foucao says this could be a big opportunity for Japanese K car brands to get into the global market.
17:35The K car is a standard only used in Japan, but we are seeing the European authorities planning a new standard for small EVs.
17:43So this is an opportunity for Japan's K cars to become the international standard.
17:49Japanese car makers will have the opportunity to be involved in making the global rules for the standard, along with the European authorities.
17:59Experts have noted that Japanese car makers lag behind their U.S. and Chinese rivals in the electric market.
18:05But Foucao says that Japanese brands could get a big tailwind from the trend toward EVs with an affordable price tag.
18:13And now to the markets.
18:14Well, in Tokyo investors turned to selling after the main index had a record high on Tuesday.
18:19The Nikkei closed about three quarters of a percent lower software companies' way.
18:25That was when reports AI developer Anthropic came out with a new tool that could replace business software.
18:32And to the rest of the region, the shiny composite added more than a tenth of a percent after a survey showed service activity in January had its best momentum in three months.
18:43In South Korea, the Kospi scaled new heights for the second straight day, climbing almost 1.6 percent.
18:49Nuclear energy stocks were bought after a report suggested a nuclear plant project may be part of South Korea's package of investments in the U.S.
18:58And that's the biz for this Wednesday.
19:01Thank you very much for that, Yuko.
19:03Now let's go to Chorapan Sanaruna in our Bangkok studio for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
19:09Top diplomats from India and the U.S. have met in Washington a day after their countries reached a trade deal.
19:18A focus of the talks was cooperation on energy security and exploration for critical minerals.
19:24The meeting between India's External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also covered trade and defense matters.
19:33The pair agreed to deepen ties between their countries and also through the Quad framework of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia.
19:42A day earlier, President Donald Trump said the U.S. would slash extra tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18.
19:49Ties soured last year when the U.S. imposed the levies on India as punishment for buying Russian crude oil.
19:55Trump says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop the purchases.
20:00Top officials in Myanmar have hosted a delegation from Russia for talks aimed at cultivating closer ties.
20:07The visit follows a contentious election in Myanmar where the military-backed party swept both legislative chambers.
20:14Myanmar state media says military leader Min Ong Line met with Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Tuesday.
20:23The pair discussed closer cooperation on cyber security, economic matters, space technology and education.
20:31Shoigu reportedly complimented Myanmar for overcoming a range of hurdles to stage a successful election.
20:37The junta promised the ballot would serve as a transition to civilian rule, but it banned pro-democracy parties from taking part.
20:44Russia and China are among only a handful of countries that have recognized the result.
20:49Five years after the military seized power in a coup, Myanmar remains mired in civil war.
20:55Observers say the military is trying to bolster its position through its ties with Russia, one of the few countries it still counts as a friend.
21:04An Australian boy is being hailed as a hero after swimming for four hours to get help for family members who had been swept out to sea.
21:12A 13-year-old made the marathon swim after drifting offshore with his mother and two siblings in their kayak and paddle boards.
21:20The incident occurred off Quandelope in Western Australia on Friday.
21:25Austin Appleby initially tried to paddle back to shore in the kayak before it capsized.
21:30He then swam four kilometres to raise the alarm and spark a search effort.
21:35Austin told local media he tried to stay positive during the exhausting journey.
21:39I think at one point I was thinking of Thomas the Tank Engine, you know, trying to get the happiest things in my head, trying to make it through.
21:53Like, not the bad things that would distract me and bring me out further.
21:57I just keep swimming, just keep swimming.
22:00And then finally I just made it to shore.
22:08A search and rescue helicopter located his mother and two siblings two and a half hours later.
22:13They had drifted 14 kilometres out to sea.
22:16Police praised the boy's efforts and said his courage had ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.
22:23I'm Narap Sabha Bulletin.
22:24I'm Chola Pansanarula in Bangkok.
22:26I'm Chola Pansanarula in Bangkok.
22:56Torrential downpours have wreaked havoc in some areas of Colombia.
23:03Our meteorologist Jonathan O explains the situation in our World Weather Report.
23:09Hello.
23:09We typically talk about some of the heavier rain taking place along the intercontinental convergence zone, further down toward the south.
23:16But we still had some rain associated with that up toward the north into Colombia.
23:21And that has led to some real problems on the ground.
23:24Here's some video.
23:24It will give you an idea of the situation and the aftermath.
23:27At least three people are dead after heavy rain in a Colombian city triggered a landslide Monday.
23:33Reuters reporting that at least 50 homes were hit by an avalanche of mud, rocks and trees in Santa Marta.
23:40And down over in Cordoba, thousands of residents jumped into canoes to evacuate streets flooded by an overflowing river.
23:46The nation's disaster agency said almost 10,000 families nationwide haven't affected by heavy rain.
23:51The country's Institute of Meteorology says that Colombia has been dealing with an unusually intense rainy season with precipitation amounts increasing by more than 60 percent compared to normal levels.
24:01It looks like that we'll be seeing a little bit of rain backing off toward the north.
24:06And hopefully that will be a bit more helpful.
24:08But down toward the south of Brazil and over into places like Bolivia and Peru, you'll be seeing more of the rain coming up as we go into Wednesday.
24:15La Paz with rain, Brasilia with thunderstorms.
24:18But in Bogota, we're looking at partly cloudy skies, the high of 20.
24:22And it's a bit on the drier side coming out toward the north.
24:25Meanwhile, we're talking about some rain into the southern United States.
24:27People still trying to get over what happened over the past weekend.
24:32Rain moving through, milder temperatures, though, as a part of the story for the region.
24:36And it looks like that as we go forward into the day on Wednesday, it's teens into Atlanta and Oklahoma City.
24:42But still chilly up toward Winnipeg, Toronto, and Chicago.
24:44You're not getting out of the freezing mark during the day as we go through Wednesday.
24:49Looking at what's happening across East Asia, a relatively mild story right now across this part of the continent.
24:54As we're seeing not much in terms of activity, even the snow story over to the northern portions of Japan, really backing off here.
25:02It will come back as we go later on this week.
25:04But mild temperatures here, Tokyo at 14, partly cloudy skies on Thursday.
25:08Hope you have a good day wherever you are.
25:10Hope you have a good day.
26:05And here's one more story before we go. Smoldering embers, prayer, and bare feet converged in western Japan on Tuesday.
26:13Worshippers followed ascetic monks in a fire-walking ritual at a Buddhist temple in Shikoku.
26:19They prayed for good health during the annual Setsubun Festival, which marks the end of winter according to the old calendar.
26:27Monks at the大日寺 temple dressed as yamabushi mountain ascetics initiated the rite by lighting an altar made of pinewood and cypress leaves.
26:45Worshippers then tossed in wooden sticks inscribed with good health and safety wishes.
26:50As the flames died down, the monks walked barefoot over the hot embers.
27:00Worshippers then got their turn, carefully treading while carrying prayers in their hearts.
27:11It's my first time. I was overwhelmed by how strong the flames were. It was a great experience.
27:23I prayed for good health. At my age, that's the most important.
27:32All right, and that's it for this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:35You can always catch our program on our website as well.
27:38I'm Raja Pradhan.
27:38And I'm Yamasawa Rina. Thank you very much for watching.
27:42Please join us again tomorrow.
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