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Newsroom Tokyo 2026 03 24
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00:12Welcome to Newsroom Tokyo. I'm Yamaguchi Hiroaki. Here are the headlines.
00:18Japan's foreign minister speaks with NHK about last week's Japan-U.S. summit
00:23and how his country is responding to the Iran conflict.
00:27Energy experts warn of the effects of a prolonged conflict could have on Japan and other Asian
00:35economies. And as gasoline prices rise, a motor show in Bangkok is focusing on fuel-efficient
00:42hybrid vehicles and electric cars. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's
00:50postponing strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure for a five-day period
00:55to try to settle issues between the countries. He warns that if it doesn't work out, the bombing
01:02will continue. U.S. media, meanwhile, quoted defense ministry officials as saying that
01:07the U.S. is considering sending a leading military unit to support operations in Iran.
01:14We have had very, very strong talks. We'll see where they lead. We have major points of agreement.
01:22I would say almost all points of agreement.
01:25Trump says Iran agreed not to have any nuclear weapons. He had warned earlier that if the country
01:32did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the U.S. would attack its power plants.
01:39Trump says his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff took part in the phone talks.
01:46He says those took place Sunday after a call from the Iranian side.
01:51The president says Kushner and Witkoff have been dealing with someone he describes as a top person
01:57in Iran other than Supreme Leader Mostaba Khamenei. Trump also says that he may control the Strait of
02:04Hormuz with the next Ayatollah. U.S. political website Politico quoted multiple Trump administration
02:11officials as saying at least some in the White House see Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohamed Bagheir
02:17Ghalibov as a workable partner who could negotiate with the U.S. U.S. news site Axios sites an Israeli
02:25official as saying Witkoff and Kushner have been in touch with Ghalibov. But Ghalibov has denied such talks,
02:33saying fake news is manipulating financial and oil markets. Iranian state media citing a foreign
02:40ministry statement also says that no discussions are underway with the U.S. It says Trump's remarks
02:48are aimed at lowering energy prices and buying time to conduct military planning. Regarding the venue for
02:55potential talks, Britain's Financial Times published an article on Monday quoting sources as saying that
03:01Pakistan proposed they be held in the capital Islamabad. The newspaper says Pakistan has good
03:08relations with both Washington and Tehran and is said to be home to the world's second largest number
03:14of Shia Muslims after Iran. The article also says Pakistani army chief Asim Munir spoke by phone with
03:23Trump on Sunday. And Pakistani Prime Minister Shabazzarif held phone talks with Iranian President Masood
03:30Pechashkian on Monday. The New York Times quoted defense officials as saying that senior military
03:36officials are weighing a possible deployment of airborne troops from the army's 82nd Airborne Division to
03:43support U.S. military operations in Iran. It also said the officials are considering deploying some
03:50elements of the division's headquarters staff as well. The U.S. newspaper says the combat brigade
03:57would have about 3,000 immediate response force soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world
04:04within 18 hours. It has been reported that the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Okinawa,
04:11southwestern Japan, is already heading to the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
04:17is one of several leaders who say they recently spoke with Trump.
04:23President Trump believes it's a chance to leverage the significant achievements of the
04:27Israeli and U.S. forces to realize the war objectives in an agreement, one that will safeguard
04:34our vital interests. He also says that they are destroying Iran's missile and nuclear development
04:40programs, stressing his stance of continuing the attacks. Responding to the Iran situation and the surge
04:49in crude oil prices were key topics at last week's Japan-U.S. summit. NHK spoke with Japanese foreign
04:57minister Motegi Toshimitsu, who attended the meeting, about how Japan will conduct its diplomacy going forward.
05:06Motegi described the meeting between Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and President Donald Trump in positive terms.
05:15The atmosphere was extremely good. It showed the relationship of trust between Prime Minister Takaichi
05:21and President Trump. On the economic front, cooperative projects are moving forward based on last year's
05:27Japan-U.S. agreement. We also discussed strengthening and further coordinating supply chains, including for
05:35critical minerals and energy. There was a lot to get through, so time flew by.
05:41Motegi said he picked up on a phrase that Trump used repeatedly concerning the situation in Iran.
05:48Look, I expect Japan to step up. They would step up.
05:52Step up?
05:53President Trump used the words, step up. There was talk of how he wanted various countries,
06:01including Japan, to step up. But there were no concrete requests.
06:07Prime Minister Takaichi responded by explaining in detail that there are things Japan can and cannot do
06:15based on Japanese law.
06:19Do you think you were able to gain President Trump's understanding?
06:24President Trump might want Japan to go the distance and do everything,
06:30but he appreciates that Japan has been working extremely hard and doing various things to help out.
06:38He definitely didn't seem to be dissatisfied.
06:43Trump also asked Japan to send ships to help ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
06:50Motegi had this to say.
06:53The current situation does not present an existential crisis for Japan.
06:59That means there are things Japan can and cannot do.
07:05Could Japan get involved after the fighting ends?
07:11The first thing is to restore calm at an early stage.
07:15I think diplomatic efforts to achieve that are extremely important.
07:20I hope the fighting will end soon, but I think it's too early to talk about what will happen after
07:25that.
07:26For now, Motegi said Japan's government is working to address soaring crude oil prices and ensure a stable energy supply.
07:38Gasoline prices are already rising and looks set to go up further.
07:44The government is taking measures to keep prices down to around 170 yen per litre.
07:50We want to be prepared for any eventuality, doing what we can to minimize the impacts of the current situation.
07:59Motegi also emphasized that Japan is continuing to call on Iran to pull back from the brink.
08:08I have been talking with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi,
08:12and I told him there are many vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf, not just Japanese ones.
08:19Japan has emphasized that it is extremely important to ensure their safe passage,
08:24and strongly communicated that Iran should stop attacks on its neighbors,
08:28as doing so only makes it more isolated.
08:34What role can Japan play in the international community?
08:40Japan has built long-standing relationships with Israel and Iran.
08:45We can speak frankly with both of them.
08:49They are old acquaintances, so Japan will tell them what needs to be said.
08:54That's the kind of diplomacy that Japan will pursue.
09:08One of the world's leading energy conferences is taking place this week,
09:13and Iran is high on the agenda.
09:16Inaka Marie from our business team is here to fill us in.
09:19Marie, we just heard Japan's foreign minister voice concerns over higher oil prices.
09:25What are key players in the industry saying?
09:27Well, it appears the minister has good reasons to be worried.
09:32Energy experts are warning that a prolonged conflict in Iran
09:36would have a particularly strong impact on Japan and other Asian economies.
09:43Government officials and business leaders from around the world
09:46are attending the industry get-together in Houston.
09:50Oil remains the most important source of energy in the world.
09:55It continues to slowly lose market share to a less expensive and more abundant natural gas.
10:02But nothing matches the energy density and flexibility of oil.
10:09The U.S. delegate highlighted recent efforts by member nations of the International Energy Agency.
10:15The countries joined hands to release a record amount of emergency reserves
10:20from their petroleum stockpiles.
10:23But the conference's host told NHK the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key worry.
10:31The concern here is if it goes on longer, the effects have felt very strongly,
10:36and of course they've felt particularly strongly in Asia, and it's a very big problem for Japan.
10:41He adds that solving the problem quickly is essential for the economic well-being of Japan and the world.
10:49Now, in China, consumers and businesses are already bracing for higher energy prices.
10:56Government officials announced a hike in the retail price of gasoline starting on Tuesday.
11:02The benchmark figure will go up about 13 percent to just above 9,900 yuan per metric ton.
11:10That's more than $1,400.
11:13China adjusts the price every 10 business days based on movements in global crude markets.
11:19This is the fifth straight increase.
11:22It's also the largest since July 2022, when the price jumped after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
11:28Pump prices in Beijing climbed to around $1.20 per liter.
11:34Authorities say they actually capped the hike at roughly half what would normally be applied.
11:40That's in a bid to soften the impact on consumers.
11:51More than 40 percent of China's crude imports come from six countries in the Middle East.
11:57Analysts warn that continued energy price increases could squeeze household spending
12:03and strain businesses in the world's second largest economy.
12:08Next, a check on the stock markets.
12:10They've been swinging wildly on developments in the Middle East.
12:14And Tuesday turned out to be an up day.
12:16That's after Trump's decision to pause attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure amid talks with Tehran.
12:24Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped in the morning by 2.3 percent.
12:28In the end, the benchmark closed 1.4 percent higher at 52,252.
12:34That followed Monday's 3.5 percent loss amid fears bombing of Iran's power plants would escalate the conflict and further
12:43choke off oil supply.
12:45Trump's comments to postpone those attacks caused oil prices to plunge.
12:50WTI futures fell to around $84 a barrel at one point.
12:54That's a 14 percent drop since last week's close.
12:59However, traders remained cautious as Tehran denied any ongoing talks with Washington.
13:06Analysts say investors are skeptical that the hostilities will end anytime soon.
13:12The mood of cautious hope was apparent in the rest of the Asia-Pacific too.
13:16Stock benchmarks gained, but not enough to make back Monday's sharp declines.
13:21Seoul's Kospi was strong of two and three quarters of a percent.
13:27SK Hynix performed well after reports that the chipmaker is thinking about a stock listing in the U.S.
13:33Australia's index was the underperformer despite the country reaching a trade deal with the EU.
13:38Investors are dumping stocks in the benchmark's heavyweight mining sector as it's vulnerable to energy shortages.
13:46Now, a story on a new business trend.
13:50Long lines are a familiar sight outside popular restaurants.
13:54That gives people arriving at the scene two choices.
13:57Join the wait or look elsewhere.
14:00But a third option is catching on.
14:02Hungry customers can pay extra to skip the queue.
14:08This is a popular ramen shop in Katsushiko Ward, Tokyo, that has introduced a line-skipping pass for a fee.
14:21The outlet has just 11 counter seats, yet it sells an average of 250 bowls of ramen a day.
14:27Because of its popularity, long lines formed during lunchtime at weekends.
14:32Some customers waited as long as 90 minutes for a seat, and neighbors grumbled about the crowds.
14:41We're happy to have customers visit, but we received constant complaints from local residents, so we wanted to find a
14:49solution.
14:52The shop tried handing out numbered tickets to customers, asking them to return at a given time slot.
14:59However, they often didn't come back.
15:04We were reserving seats counting on customers returning, but when they didn't show up, it caused us losses.
15:12So the restaurant turned to a paid reservation service.
15:15This allows customers to buy a ticket in advance that reserves them a seat at a chosen time.
15:21It costs 390 yen a person, or about $2.50.
15:28I want to make the most of my time.
15:32I didn't have to wait in line, so I decided to come.
15:38Revenue from sales of the reservation tickets is split between the restaurant and the reservation service provider.
15:46Since starting the system, the restaurant says the number of customers failing to return has dropped significantly.
15:52And at peak periods, it rings up about $750 in additional monthly revenue.
16:01Since this translates directly into profit, we're able to avoid raising prices and use it as an incentive for staff.
16:13The skip-the-line idea can be applied in different ways.
16:17This is a restaurant serving the local specialty, Misokatsu, in the underground shopping arcade of Nagoya Station, a hub for
16:25bullet train passengers.
16:27This restaurant introduced a system that allows customers with a train deadline to pay a fee to jump the queue.
16:34However, the price is on a sliding scale.
16:37The first person signing up pays 500 yen, or about $3.
16:42The second, 750 yen, and the cost goes up from there.
16:46This is to discourage too many people from using it, and allow those waiting in line to get a table.
16:56I have plans later, so I don't want to waste time.
17:02Many customers tell us they used to give up on eating because they didn't have time, but now they're able
17:08to eat using this service.
17:21Of course, people waiting in line need to be informed before the queue jumping begins.
17:27The restaurant staff say they take particular care to explain the system to customers.
17:32And that's The Biz for this Tuesday.
17:47Investigative sources say that a man broke into the premises of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo Tuesday morning.
17:54The man was caught on the spot by embassy staff.
17:57A knife was found at the scene, but no one was injured.
18:01The man is believed to be a member of Japan's ground self-defense force.
18:05The Tokyo Metropolitan Police is questioning him as they investigate the circumstances.
18:11A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry reacted to the incident.
18:16He called on Japan to immediately investigate the matter,
18:19strictly punish those involved, and provide a detailed explanation to the Chinese side.
18:27Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement, or ICE, have been deployed at major airports around the United States
18:36to help make up for a lack of security personnel.
18:40Airports have been short-staffed due to a budget standoff in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security,
18:47driven by concerns over ICE's aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
18:54ICE agents were seen at Atlanta airport on Monday.
18:58The city's mayor says federal officials told him they have been tasked with assisting with airport operations and crowd control,
19:07and not for immigration enforcement activities.
19:12My first reaction was, who are they going to throw to the ground?
19:16You know, who are they going to throw around, you know, if you do or say something wrong, or even
19:21look suspicious?
19:22I mean, just that unknown fear there.
19:26The head of the American Federation of Government Employees says airport security staff need to be professionally trained
19:34and cannot be replaced by untrained armed agents.
19:39Trump says the deployment was his idea.
19:44We will also bring out, if we don't have enough, we will bring out the National Guard where we need
19:50it to help out at the airports.
19:53He blames the Democrats for opposing a funding bill for the DHS.
20:00New York's LaGuardia Airport has reopened following a fatal crash on Sunday night between a passenger plane and a fire
20:07truck.
20:08The pilot and co-pilot were killed and several people were injured.
20:14The Air Canada jet was arriving from Montreal when it crashed into the truck on landing.
20:20Fear. I mean, it was pretty shocking. I didn't know what to expect.
20:23We were honestly sleeping and then landing and all of a sudden, boom, woke up in shock, just didn't know
20:29what to do.
20:30U.S. media say the fire truck was responding to a separate incident.
20:3572 passengers and four crew members were on board.
20:38Officials issued a complete ground stop at the busy regional airport after the emergency.
20:44The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is investigating on the ground.
20:49Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the accident deeply saddening
20:54and said Canadian officials are working closely with their U.S. counterparts as the investigation continues.
21:02Turning to another aviation accident, this time in South America.
21:08More than 60 people are dead after a military transport plane crashed just after a takeoff in southern Colombia.
21:17Colombia's military says the C-130 plane was carrying 128 soldiers and crew members
21:25when it went down near the border with Peru and Ecuador.
21:29It says 66 people have been confirmed dead, while dozens of others are being treated in hospital.
21:38Four people are missing.
21:40U.S. media report that troops have been moved into the area to tackle the country's drug cartels.
21:48Colombian authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.
22:17And now let's go to Chalaphan Sanalura in our Bangkok studio
22:21for stories making headlines across the Asia-Pacific.
22:26Australia and the European Union say they have concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement.
22:32Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
22:38held a news conference in Canberra on Tuesday.
22:40They announced the conclusion of the talks that were launched in 2018.
22:45The Australian European Free Trade Agreement will lower trade and investment barriers
22:50between Australia and the EU, a market of around 450 million people.
22:58This agreement is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy on an annual basis.
23:05Today we are telling an important story to a world that is deeply changing.
23:11A world where great powers are using tariffs as a leverage and supply chains as vulnerabilities
23:18to be exploited.
23:20In our story, open, rules-based trade delivers positive-sum outcomes.
23:29The European Commission says under the free trade deal, Australia has agreed to remove
23:34over 99% of tariffs on EU goods.
23:37It also says Australia will gradually remove duties on EU dairy and instantly on wine and chocolate.
23:43On the other hand, Australia says the EU will abolish all tariffs on energy and resource exports,
23:50including critical minerals.
23:53Vietnam has reached a deal with Russia to build a nuclear power plant as domestic demand for electricity surges.
23:59The agreement was signed following talks between Vietnam's Prime Minister Far Min Chin
24:05and his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Mishustin.
24:09The creation of this plant will provide a powerful push to further cooperation in related fields,
24:15high technology, as well as fundamental and applied scientific research.
24:19I am confident that this project will become a new symbol of Russian-Vietnamese friendship.
24:26The two sides also agreed to cooperate in other energy sectors, as well as oil and gas.
24:32These are expected to help Vietnam strengthen energy security.
24:36The country needs to secure more power as it has faced major blackouts
24:40due to demand from its industrial sector and expanding middle class.
24:44More frequent extreme weather, like droughts and typhoons, is also straining its power supply.
24:50Vietnam once had an agreement with Japan to build a nuclear power plant,
24:54but its parliament cancelled the deal in 2016 due to concerns over high costs.
25:01The Bangkok International Motor Show opens on Wednesday
25:04with a strong focus on fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles and electric cars.
25:08This comes as car makers respond to rising fuel prices, driven by tensions in Iran.
25:15Thailand is a key production hub for many Japanese automakers,
25:19and 45 brands from Japan, China and other countries are taking part in the event.
25:25Japanese automaker Nissan is highlighting its expanded lineup of hybrid SUVs and minivans,
25:31emphasizing improved fuel economy.
25:33Mazda is unveiling a new electric vehicle for the Thai market
25:37and says it plans to step up sales of electrified models, including hybrids.
25:42A local Mazda executive expressed concern about the situation in Iran has affected the industry.
25:50I think it's our concern to see the supply, impact of this oil supply and also logistics.
25:57We really hope that it's not going to end soon, but it's still uncertain.
26:03Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Great Warm Water
26:07are also showcasing compact EVs and plug-in hybrids designed to cut electricity and fuel costs.
26:14The show reflects how rising fuel prices are increasingly shaping sales strategies across the industry.
26:21That's our bulletin. I'm Chola Pansanarula in Bangkok.
26:35So, Rina, we've enjoyed a day of spring here today.
26:39It was a really nice day to go out.
26:41Right. The daytime high here in Tokyo was around like 18 degrees Celsius.
26:46Now, let's see what we can expect for the rest of the week here and elsewhere in our three-day
26:50weather forecast.
27:20Let's see what we can expect.
27:35and that's it for this edition of newsroom tokyo you can catch this program on our website i'm
27:40yamakuchi hiraki and i'm yamasawa arena thank you very much for watching please join us again tomorrow
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