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00:12Welcome to New Zealand Tokyo. I'm Yamasawa Rina.
00:15And I'm Raja Prada.
00:16Here are the headlines.
00:18U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered his State of the Union address,
00:22and an expert goes over the key takeaways.
00:2615 Japanese nationals have been detained in Cambodia on suspicion of involvement in fraud.
00:33And an unprecedented matcha boom is sweeping Thailand, creating new business opportunities.
00:40U.S. President Donald Trump has wrapped up his State of the Union address
00:44in front of a joint session of Congress.
00:46He used the opportunity to tout his achievements since taking office.
00:51U.S. President Donald Trump said after just one year,
01:04his administration had achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before.
01:09He went on to list what he sees as his government's successes.
01:19U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized how he's brought
01:26in unprecedented levels of foreign investment.
01:29U.S. President Donald Trump, in 12 months,
01:32I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion pouring in from all over the globe.
01:37U.S. President Donald Trump, in 12 months,
01:42reached on tariffs, of which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Trump had exceeded his authority last week.
01:48I used these tariffs, took in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country,
01:54both economically and on a national security basis. Everything was working well.
02:02Observers say he used the speech to help dispel voter concerns over issues including inflation,
02:07as his approval rating continues to decrease.
02:12Earlier, we were joined by Fujisaki Ichiro for more insight.
02:16He served as the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations.
02:24So first of all, what stood out for you in Trump's epic speech?
02:28As you say, it's an epic speech. It was very President Trump-like. I thought that was very impressive.
02:37In two means. One, he tried to focus more on his achievement than vision or what's going to happen,
02:44his new policy. Secondly, he was trying to impress his constituency, his group of people,
02:51his supporters, rather than trying to focus on others. I think that was very President Trump-like.
03:01Well, Mr. Fujisaki, according to recent polls, over 50% of Americans are showing disapproval of
03:07Trump's key policies. Do you think this is why the President, in his record-long address we saw,
03:12spoke at length on the economy and immigration?
03:15Yes, I think so. Because I think still, there are a lot of differences among American people on
03:24those issues. But I think he wanted to solidify his basis. Because looking at midterm, he really
03:34thinks he has to win it. It's not because of becoming lame duck or anything. But for example,
03:42tomorrow and day of tomorrow, Republican Congress is summoning President and Mrs. Clinton.
03:53And the opposite thing could happen if the Republican loses House or Senate in the midterm. And I think
04:05that's what, in his mind, Epstein file or, I don't know, taxes or whatever. But I think he thinks he
04:13has
04:13to win and he wants to solidify the basis.
04:17Well, Mr. Fujisaki, Trump insists on restoring American security and dominance in the Western
04:23hemisphere. But if we look at the global stage, there was no mention of Japan as well as China.
04:28Could you tell us why? I think he wants to focus on his achievement. So there's not much that he
04:37thinks
04:37that he can say. Like in Venezuela, he can say he did this, but not yet. And also, he's going
04:46to China
04:46soon, next month. And so he wants to not to try to have China get a little upset on what
04:59he says. So he's,
05:00I think, being careful. And with Japan, Mrs. Takaichi is coming to, in three weeks to Washington DC. So
05:11he thinks that he can speak about it then. So I think that's why. But I think he wants, as
05:20I said,
05:20he wanted to solidify his basis. But in the election, what counts is not only his basis, but sort of
05:29middle of the ground people, non-partisan. And if he was very effective in appealing to them, I don't
05:36know, we have to see the polls. So as you said, midterm election is coming up this year. Yes. For
05:42him,
05:42it was more important to convince the public on like issues inside US rather than foreign policy.
05:51Yes, I think you're right. And I think American people are more interested in economy and some of
05:58the immigration policies. And he wanted to address those things. He thinks he had achieved a lot. But
06:05every person always say, we did this and his predecessors didn't do what they should have done. And
06:17in his case, it's a, he's always has been criticizing President Biden for not achieving many things. But in
06:28this speech, I thought he was criticizing more Democrats than Mr. Biden. And I think that shows
06:36that he's really focusing on Republican winning this time. Back to foreign policy. So although he didn't
06:45go into details on foreign policy, Trump did mention about Iran, saying that the US would never allow
06:53Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Can you explain why he mentioned Iran? I think they're going into
07:00negotiations in Geneva. And I think he wants he is sending Iranian leaders, his red line or bottom line
07:10that this is the key that they have to instruct the negotiators. And I think that went through. So I
07:19think
07:19he wanted to not to the details, but he wanted to say this. And also, he said about what he
07:26did in Iran,
07:27as well, the destructing the nuclear facilities as well. So I think that was message was important.
07:36And Mr. Fisaki, we would like to ask you about two major diplomatic events coming up.
07:42One is Japan-U.S. summit and another is U.S.-China summit. What do you think these summits might achieve?
07:50I think
07:53Mrs. Takai-chi will be going to Washington to solidify Japan-U.S. Alliance. And I think she will
08:05say what Mr. Trump wants to hear as well. In the economic field, Minister Al-Kazawa was laying the
08:15ground for the investment of 5.5 trillion yen as a starter. And on defense issues, Minister Koizumi
08:27went in January and discussed with Mr. Hegseth, the secretary, with how to solidify U.S.-Japan
08:35Security Alliance. And so they have sort of been playing, preparing the ground. And I think
08:43Prime Minister will be sort of using those preparation and try to say that how
08:51Japan is a trustworthy ally to the United States. But he wants to hear before he's going to China.
09:00And as for China, I think his main concern is, I think, the economy.
09:06The economy that, because last APEC, he was able to sell soybeans and get the commitment. And
09:21he said afterwards, he got 12 points out of the score 10. And so he got more than a satisfactory
09:32answer
09:34from the Mr. Xi Jinping. And I think this time as well, he's going to try to get economic results
09:42rather than sort of confronting in some of the security issues.
09:47So that is also, what can I say? That is also focusing on the national
09:58Yes, mid-term and mid-term election. I think that's the one of the key.
10:06That's my thinking. But I think he, in his mind, that's the big thing. And I think the Xi Jinping
10:14is coming in the fall to the United States. And that will be the ground. So that's the first step.
10:23And the second step will be the Xi Jinping visit.
10:25Thank you very much for your insights.
10:28Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
10:30Thank you very much for having me.
10:39Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has approved a draft proposal to abolish
10:43restrictions on defense equipment exports. The LDP met with its junior coalition partner,
10:50the Japan Innovation Party, and confirmed its support on the issue.
10:55The LDP's Research Commission on Security approved the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday.
11:00The current restrictions serve as guidelines for implementing the country's three principles
11:05on the transfer of defense equipment and technology abroad.
11:14The proposal calls for expanding this to include some types with lethal capabilities.
11:21It says shipments should be made only to countries that have signed defense equipment
11:25and technology transfer agreements with Japan. It adds countries engaged in fighting will be excluded
11:31unless there are special circumstances.
11:34I want the draft submitted to the government after the LDP completes internal procedures next week.
11:44Prime Minister Takaito Sanae said in the upper house on Wednesday,
11:48the country's export policy on defense equipment needs to be updated.
11:53She cited accelerating changes in the security environment surrounding Japan.
12:00The government will speed up discussions on the procedure for approving transfers
12:05and review guidelines for implementing the three principles as soon as possible.
12:13Meanwhile, Takaito said in a social media post she had sent gift catalogs to all lower house
12:19LDP lawmakers following the general election earlier this month.
12:24Tanabu Masayo of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan questioned Takaito on
12:30the issue at Wednesday's session. She asked how much the catalogs were worth,
12:34how they were paid for, and why they were given.
12:38I believe there is no legal issue because these were donations purchased with funds from an LDP branch in Nara.
12:47Takaito said the catalogs were worth about $190 each.
12:51She said she sent them as congratulations to the lawmakers after an extremely tough election,
12:56and hoped they used them for their jobs.
13:00European leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark our summer milestone, the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion.
13:08They also held a summit to discuss how to boost support for Ukraine.
13:12In a ceremony at Independence Square, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission
13:20placed candles at a memorial to honor those lost in the conflict.
13:25During the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the leaders for the latest air defense package.
13:33And he said Ukraine needs a European Union loan package worth 90 billion euros or about 106 billion dollars.
13:43We count on not to have too much challenges with 90 billions. The decision was great,
13:50but we need this money here in Ukraine to help our warriors and to help our civilians.
13:59Some leaders participated online. Germany's Chancellor says the European Union must ramp up pressure
14:06on Russian President Volodymyr Putin by using sanctions.
14:11We must be very clear. This war will only end when Putin realizes that he cannot win.
14:20That is why we must increase pressure on Russia. We must dry up Moscow's war funding.
14:27We are tangled for the last.
14:28Zelensky also expressed hopes for European leadership at upcoming high-level talks with Russia.
14:34The negotiations are being brokered by the U.S. He says Ukraine needs Europe to be at the table.
14:42Now, Russia is reportedly losing more soldiers in Ukraine than it's recruiting. That's according
14:48to a Western official who will be watching how the shortage of military personnel impacts the Kremlin.
14:54The official says while Russia has been recruiting about 30,000 to 35,000 soldiers a month,
15:00it's been suffering higher casualties than that over the past three months.
15:04The official says those losses could affect Russia's ability to undertake a summer offensive.
15:10Meanwhile, a high-ranking member of Britain's defense ministry told reporters Monday it's believed
15:16Russia's total casualties have exceeded one and a quarter million. They said the cost on Russia has been
15:22unimaginable, adding the figure is higher than all U.S. casualties in World War II.
15:27They added Russia has been at war longer in Ukraine than the former Soviet Union was involved in World War
15:34II.
15:44There has been an intense bidding war to take over the U.S. entertainment giant Warner Brothers.
15:51Yenaka Marie from our business team is here with the latest details.
15:55So franchises like Harry Potter, Batman and Game of Thrones make Warner Brothers quite the prize, right?
16:00So Marie, what's the latest on the battle for control?
16:03Well, it was looking like streaming giant Netflix was going to win out.
16:06But traditional media powerhouse Paramount's guidance has just raised the stakes.
16:13Paramount has increased its offer to buy all of Warner Brothers' discovery.
16:18It's trying to outdo the Netflix bid worth $72 billion.
16:23Warner said in a statement on Tuesday, the new proposal could be superior to the agreement it has with Netflix.
16:30The statement says Paramount raised its per-share offer from $30 to $31.
16:36It will also cover the $2.8 billion termination fee Warner would have to pay if it walks away from
16:44Netflix.
16:45A deal was reached in December for Warner's video streaming business as well as its TV and movie studio assets.
16:53Warner stresses that its board has yet to determine whether Paramount's offer is superior.
16:59It adds that if the board does back the offer, Netflix will have four business days to present revisions to
17:06its proposal.
17:08Despite the huge sums at play for putting shows on screens, the actual TV business is facing headwinds.
17:16The Japanese maker Panasonic Holdings says it's transferring its television operations in the U.S. and Europe to a Chinese
17:24company.
17:26The partnership agreement with home appliance maker Skyworth Group comes into effect in April.
17:31It maintains the Panasonic brand.
17:33The television business was a Panasonic mainstay for decades, but its global market share has been declining.
17:42The firm had already outsourced some production to the Chinese maker TCL.
17:49These moves come as Panasonic restructures its operations.
17:53That includes laying off about 10,000 workers and offloading unprofitable businesses.
18:00Next, it's out with the old, at least for cell phone services.
18:05Japan will no longer have a 3G network, as the major provider NTT Docomo shuts off its service at the
18:13end of March.
18:15The carrier started third-generation service in 2001.
18:19It offered voice communication and photo and video transmission to users of old-style flip phones.
18:25The decision to end it was made due to declining numbers of users since the rollout of high-speed 4G
18:32and 5G networks.
18:34The company is urging its 3G users to upgrade their phones at discount prices or change plans.
18:40There are still around 400,000 of them, mainly elderly people.
18:46NTT Docomo is the last of the carriers to end 3G.
18:51KDDI, known for its AU brand, did so in 2022.
18:56SoftBank followed suit in 2024.
19:00Last to check on the markets.
19:02Chowchow's Nikkei average surged 2.2% to close above 58,000 for the first time.
19:09The benchmark gained right from the start following a check rally on Wall Street.
19:13It continued its climb in the afternoon after investors learned about the government's picks for new board members at the
19:20Bank of Japan.
19:21Both are academics seen as advocating fiscal spending and easy monetary policy.
19:27Traders bought on the view that interest rates likely won't rise as soon as had been expected.
19:33The New York rally also boosted the index in Taiwan.
19:37The chip-heavy benchmark finished above 35,000 for the first time ever.
19:43And that was only a day after it crossed the 34,000 threshold.
19:47Seoul's Kospi also hit a fresh peak for the second straight day.
19:52Most other benchmarks in the Asia-Pacific climbed as well.
19:56And that's the biz for this Wednesday.
19:58Thank you very much for that, Marie.
20:00Now let's go to Rosalind Devavalia in our Bangkok studio for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
20:09The Japanese embassy in Cambodia says 15 Japanese nationals were detained in the capital Phnom Penh on Friday.
20:17The embassy says Cambodian authorities notified it that the individuals had been taken into custody on suspicion of fraud.
20:25Embassy officials have met all 15 detainees and confirmed their Japanese nationality.
20:32Further details about the case remain unclear.
20:35The embassy says it will continue working with local authorities.
20:39Foreign nationals, including Japanese citizens, have been detained in Cambodia in recent years
20:44in connection with suspected online scam operations.
20:48The Cambodian government says it's strengthening enforcement efforts as it aims to eliminate such operations by April.
20:57People in the Philippines are marking 40 years since the popular uprising that toppled then-president Ferdinand Marcos,
21:05the father of the country's current leader.
21:08Thousands joined rallies along Manila's Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, or ETSA,
21:13to commemorate the 1986 People Power Revolution.
21:17Participants included members of civil society and youth groups, many of whom called for an end to corruption.
21:25No high-ranking government officials attended the event, unlike under previous administrations.
21:31Forty years ago, millions of Filipinos gathered along ETSA to force Marcos from power.
21:38He fled to Hawaii after about two decades of rule.
21:41Historians say his administration was marked by widespread corruption and serious human rights abuses.
21:49This year's rallies were held amid allegations of corruption linked to government flood control projects.
21:56Francis Joseph Aquino D. spoke to NHK.
21:59His grandmother was a leading figure in the 1986 movement and later became president.
22:07There was a time, not just in 1986, but throughout our history since then,
22:11where we've been able to make strong stands against corruption.
22:14It is very much within our grasp to reawaken that spirit.
22:18One participant expressed hope that the 40th anniversary would mark a turning point in the fight against corruption.
22:26The value of Japan's green tea exports hit a record high last year, nearly doubling to about $470 million.
22:35Leading the way is the drink's largest importer in Asia, Thailand.
22:40Matcha, or powdered green tea, is now experiencing a full-blown boom in the country, creating new business opportunities.
22:48NHK World's Ari Pumtuan has the story.
22:56The party goers at this weekend event in Bangkok aren't tosing with alcohol.
23:03Instead, they are raising cups of matcha, which has caught on with Thailand's health-conscious young people.
23:12It really fits our lifestyle now.
23:16It's healthier. We're enjoying it more at the moment.
23:22Specialty matcha shops are rapidly popping up across the city.
23:27At this cafe, imported Japanese matcha is stirred with a traditional bamboo whisk,
23:35offering customers an authentic experience.
23:39Driving the boom is social media.
23:43Tea lovers snap photos of the bright green drinks from every angle before taking a sip.
23:52My feed often shows matcha shops that I follow, so what I usually do is share and follow.
23:59If I find a shop, I'll go try it.
24:01This cafe is now focusing on developing new menu items tailored to Thai taste.
24:10Inspired by the classic matcha latte, some drinks are branded with coconut juice,
24:17while others are mixed with fresh squid orange juice.
24:24The shop is moving beyond tradition, serving original seasonal drinks with a fresh, modern twist.
24:32Thai people like fusion flavors.
24:35They need menu items like mixing this and that, and don't stay within strict boundaries.
24:40So it must have a new creative menu, and it's a way of competition.
24:43Meanwhile, changes are also underway on the supply side.
24:49A major local beer manufacturer has spent the past decade working with a company
24:57from Japan's tea region, Chizuoka, to cultivate Japanese-style green tea.
25:06Despite Thailand's intense sunrise,
25:10Glovers have refined their techniques to ensure the tea plants thrive.
25:17This is our new planting area.
25:20Over the next three years, the company plans to expand its cultivation area by 60 percent.
25:28With import prices rising, Thailand is moving to produce more of its own green tea
25:35to distribute, rather than relying solely on shipment from Japan.
25:44If we can develop better quality tea at an affordable price,
25:49it can only lead to more people drinking green tea.
25:53Japan's matcha journey has been remarkable.
25:57The country, where it all started, was once on its own as a producer.
26:04But now, what was a local specialty has turned into a global phenomenon.
26:11Ari Pumjand in HK World, Bangkok.
26:15And that wraps up our bulletin.
26:18I'm Rosalind De Bovalia in Bangkok.
26:54I'm Rosalind De Bovalia in Bangkok.
26:56for cities around the world.
27:35And that wraps up this edition of Newsroom Tokyo.
27:38Don't forget, you can always catch our program on our website as well.
27:41I'm Rajapadhan.
27:42And I'm Yamasawa Rina.
27:43Thank you very much for watching.
27:45Please join us again tomorrow.
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