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Newsroom Tokyo 2026 03 23
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00:11¡Gracias!
00:31And NHK World's senior political correspondent analyzes the latest Japan-U.S. summit,
00:36including what Tokyo may or may not do in the Strait of Hormuz.
00:41First, the Middle East.
00:43Iran is vowing to completely close the Strait of Hormuz
00:46if the United States attacks the country's power plants.
00:49U.S. President Donald Trump told Tehran on Saturday
00:52it had 48 hours to fully open the waterway,
00:56or, he said, America would obliterate the energy facilities.
01:00Amid the escalation, a rally was held in the Iranian capital to support the government.
01:11People gathered in Tehran on Sunday.
01:13They held up placards criticizing the U.S. and Israel.
01:18Iran's military issued a statement the same day,
01:21saying the Strait is closed only to the enemy and harmful traffic,
01:25and it remains under smart control.
01:28The statement adds,
01:29if the U.S. carries out Trump's threat,
01:31Iran will close the Strait and not reopen it
01:34until the destroyed power plants have been fully rebuilt.
01:38It also warns power stations in countries neighboring Iran
01:41will become legitimate targets if those nations host U.S. bases.
01:46Attacks between the two sides continue.
01:48The U.S. military released footage of a strike on Iran on Sunday.
01:52The Israeli military also announced it launched airstrikes on targets,
01:57including the headquarters of Iran's intelligence ministry.
02:00Iran's Red Crescent Society says more than 81,000 private facilities have been damaged so far.
02:07A spokesperson for the Israeli military said the fighting will continue for a few weeks.
02:14We're responding with great force, but not on civilians.
02:18We're going after the regime.
02:20We're going after the IRGC.
02:23Iran continues to strike back.
02:25Israeli media reported on Sunday,
02:27cluster bombs caused damage in and around Tel Aviv and injured people.
02:32The U.S. Department of State has issued a security alert on its website,
02:37advising Americans worldwide and especially in the Middle East to exercise increased caution.
02:43The alert says groups supporting Iran may target U.S. interests overseas
02:47or locations associated with the United States and or Americans throughout the world.
02:54hopes for diplomacy remain intact despite three weeks of fighting.
02:59U.S. news website Axios says the Trump administration is
03:03laying the groundwork for possible peace talks with Iran.
03:07The story published Saturday quotes a U.S. official and two other sources.
03:13They say Washington and Tehran have not been in direct contact in recent days,
03:19but Egypt, Qatar and Britain have passed messages between the two sides.
03:25Egypt and Qatar have reportedly informed the U.S. and Israel that Iran is interested in negotiating.
03:33But they say Tehran's conditions are very tough,
03:37including compensation and guarantees to prevent the recurrence of war.
03:43Axios quotes a U.S. official as saying
03:45Washington wants Tehran to make six commitments.
03:50They include no missile program for five years,
03:54zero uranium enrichment and the decommissioning of three nuclear facilities,
03:59Natanz, Isfahan and Fado.
04:02The U.S. and Israel bombed those sites last year.
04:07Axios also quotes U.S. officials as saying
04:10Trump's advisers see Iranian foreign minister Abbas Arachi as, quote, a fax machine.
04:17The advisers are reportedly trying to determine who actually makes the decisions in Tehran
04:23and how to get in touch.
04:27The exchange of threats between Washington and Tehran is hitting stock prices.
04:32That's right.
04:33And Yanaka Marie from our biz team joins us with the details.
04:36Marie.
04:37Shares in Asia fell sharply on Monday,
04:40and Tokyo's Nikkei average was no exception.
04:43Investors are worried that the Iran conflict is set to escalate
04:48and further disrupt oil supplies.
04:50Japan relies heavily on imports of crude from the Middle East.
04:55The Nikkei 225 closed at 51,515 as stocks sold off across the board.
05:02At one point, the index lost 5%.
05:06In the end, the benchmark finished almost 3.5% lower from Thursday.
05:11Friday was a national holiday.
05:13Oil prices once again climbed above a key level
05:17on those worries about escalating tensions.
05:20WTI crude futures briefly went above $100 a barrel.
05:25One analyst said Trump had placed a ticking time bomb over markets
05:30with his threat to expand bombing if Iran fails to open the Strait of Hormuz.
05:36Investors across the Asia-Pacific were concerned
05:39higher oil prices would spur inflation and slow the global economy.
05:44Many major indexes lost over 2% or 3%.
05:49Solskosby was the worst performer, tumbling 6.5%.
05:55Worries about oil also hit other assets.
05:58Japanese government bonds saw heavy selling on inflation fears.
06:02The yield on the benchmark 10-year JGB climbed to 2.3% at one stage.
06:08That's a two-month high.
06:10As markets reel from the oil shock,
06:13demand for energy in the United States climbs ever higher
06:17due to artificial intelligence.
06:20In the state of Ohio,
06:21Japan's SoftBank Group has just broken ground
06:24on a $500 billion project to build a natural gas power plant.
06:29It's also announced a massive data center on the same site.
06:34The gas plant will power the data operations.
06:37The energy project is part of Japan's pledge
06:39to invest in the U.S. during CAREF talks last year.
06:44Construction of the data center is scheduled to start later this year.
06:49SoftBank Group chairman and CEO Son Masayoshi
06:52stressed the scale of the endeavor.
06:58This will undoubtedly be the largest investment
07:01for a single project in human history.
07:05Son added that with the U.S. facing an energy shortage
07:08and in need of more data centers,
07:11his company is entering a harvesting phase
07:13for the initiatives it's been introducing.
07:15He also expressed a willingness to continue to invest in the U.S.
07:31safety in the Strait of Hormuz is a major focus
07:34for many countries, including Japan.
07:36The key waterway was high on the agenda
07:39in the latest Japan-U.S. summit,
07:41but Tokyo says no specific promises
07:44have been made so far about what to do.
07:48To secure the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,
07:52Japan will continue to make all necessary diplomatic efforts
07:55in close coordination with the international community,
07:58including relevant countries and international organizations.
08:02Prime Minister Takai Tsanae met President Trump on Thursday in Washington.
08:07She conveyed Japan's views about the situation in Iran
08:10and stressed the need for early de-escalation.
08:13She also said Japan opposes Iran's attacks on countries in the region
08:17and its effective closure of the Strait.
08:20Trump reportedly asked Japan to help ensure
08:23ships can navigate safely in the key waterway.
08:26Takai-chi says she responded by pointing out
08:29there are actions Japan can and cannot take
08:31within the framework of domestic laws.
08:35For more, we are joined by NHK World Senior Political Correspondent
08:40Oyikawa Sojun.
08:42Tokyo's leaders have had a few days after the summit
08:47to digest about what they discussed.
08:49How do they feel about the key points?
08:52Yeah.
08:52I can tell you that a sense of relief is spreading
08:56within the Japanese governments.
08:58So, officials had some weariness going into the meetings
09:02because of the mixed messages President Trump has been giving
09:07in recent weeks, especially regarding the situation in Iran.
09:12So, officials were not sure what to expect from him.
09:16During the meeting, Trump asked Japan to help ensure
09:20that ships can navigate safely through the Strait of Hormuz.
09:25In response, Prime Minister Takai-chi pointed out
09:28that there are constraints to what Japan can legally do.
09:32Because, remember, Article 9 of Japan's constitution
09:37put some pretty significant limits on the self-defense forces
09:41and the types of situations in which they can be deployed.
09:46Ultimately, we didn't get a clear resolution on Iran
09:51out of this summit.
09:52But, overall, the Japanese side sees the summit as a success.
09:58I think one of the reasons was that
10:01Takai-chi and Trump talked about a number of other topics, too.
10:07Government sources have told NHK that
10:10when talking about Iran,
10:12the Japanese side proposed cooperating
10:15to try and lower crude oil prices.
10:18So, Jun, what do we know about what Japan might ultimately
10:21decide to do about the Strait of Hormuz?
10:24Well, Trump has made it pretty clear
10:27that he expects Japan to take some sort of concrete action.
10:32On Friday, he told Fox News that he knows
10:35Japan has constitutional restraints
10:38but would be there for the U.S. when needed.
10:42And he described Japan as a better ally than NATO.
10:48So, it does seem that he understands
10:50the legal limits Japan has to work within.
10:53But there is still some uncertainty.
10:57Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu
11:00was at the summit.
11:02He had said Trump did not make any specific requests
11:06about what Japan should do.
11:07But he indicated that dispatching the self-defense forces
11:13could become a matter for consideration
11:15after a potential future ceasefire.
11:19And there are precedents for Japan
11:21providing this type of support
11:23for U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
11:27After the Gulf War in the early 1990s,
11:30Japan dispatched maritime self-defense force
11:34mine sweepers to the Persian Gulf.
11:36And after the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001,
11:42MSDF provided refueling support in the Indian Ocean
11:46for U.S. and other naval vessels
11:48carrying out the so-called war on terror.
11:52So, previous Japanese governments
11:54have been able to find ways
11:56to work within those constitutional limits of Article 9
12:01while also placing importance
12:03on relations with the United States.
12:05But it hasn't always been easy for them to do.
12:11As for right now, it is still very unclear what will happen.
12:15The situation in Iran is still very volatile.
12:20The Japanese government will not take a decision
12:23on any deployment lightly.
12:26And finally, Jun, the two leaders had also the economy
12:32on their high agenda for the summit.
12:34Can you tell us more about what they discussed?
12:37Sure.
12:37They also covered economic issues.
12:40Last July, the two sides reached an agreement
12:43that will see Japan invest $550 billion into U.S. industries.
12:49And to accompany last week's summit,
12:52they released a joint announcement
12:55containing more potential projects under the deal.
12:59They include the possible construction
13:01of next-generation small nuclear reactors
13:04in Tennessee and Alabama
13:07and natural gas power plants
13:09in Pennsylvania and Texas.
13:11The joint announcement covered modern economics.
13:15It is also intended to usher in a new golden age
13:20for the Japan-U.S. alliance.
13:23But these are testing times.
13:26Trump's various requests might change
13:30and Takahichi will have to strike
13:33a very delicate balance down the road.
13:35Thank you very much for your insight, Jun.
13:37My pleasure.
13:53Now, let's take a look at the impact
13:55of the ongoing Middle East oil crisis
13:58on the wider Asia-Pacific region.
14:00Tira Tira Kao-san in our Bangkok studio
14:02has the details.
14:05The head of the International Energy Agency
14:08has warned the global economy
14:10faces a major threat.
14:12Fatih Birol indicated he may ask member nations
14:16to release more oil reserves if necessary.
14:19We will see, we will look at the markets.
14:22If it is necessary, of course, we will do it.
14:25But we will look at the conditions,
14:26we will analyze, assess the markets
14:28and discuss with our member countries.
14:30Birol spoke in Canberra on Monday
14:33on the first leg of a world tour.
14:35He said the Asia-Pacific is at the forefront
14:38of the crisis as it largely relies on oil
14:42and other essential products
14:44such as fertilizer and helium
14:46which are transported through the Strait of Hormuz.
14:49He revealed that as of Sunday
14:51at least 40 energy-related facilities
14:54in nine Middle Eastern countries
14:56had suffered serious damage.
14:58He said the conflict has removed
15:0111 million barrels of oil per day
15:04from global supply.
15:06Birol compared the current situation
15:08to a combination of the two oil shocks
15:11in the 1970s and the gas shock
15:13following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
15:16He stressed that no country will be immune
15:19to the effects of the crisis
15:20and called for global efforts to resolve it.
15:23He said opening up the Strait of Hormuz
15:26is the single most important solution.
15:29We're joined now by our Asia correspondent
15:32Takaoka Shikashi for more.
15:35Shikashi, just how serious is
15:37the Middle East situation for Asian nations?
15:40Well, countries are being affected differently
15:43but the region as a whole faces a huge risk.
15:47Asia relies heavily on crude oil imports
15:49from the Middle East
15:50much of it passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
15:54And many countries don't have results
15:56as substantial as those held by Japan and South Korea.
16:00Fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations
16:03are being reported daily across Asia.
16:07Here in Thailand, people in some rural areas
16:09say they are struggling to buy fuel.
16:12The government has repeatedly urged the public
16:15to avoid panic buying.
16:16A major supplier has set a guideline
16:19limiting purchases to about $15 at a time.
16:22A wide range of industries have also been hit.
16:26Some tourist boats in Thailand remain docked
16:30due to high fuel costs.
16:32Fishing and agriculture are feeling the impact
16:34as they rely on vessels and machines for harvesting.
16:39In the Philippines, drivers of the iconic jeepney buses
16:43went on strike nationwide last week amid rising fuel prices.
16:48They called on the government to raise fares
16:50and scrub fuel taxes.
16:52It looks like the fallout from the fuel crisis
16:55is hitting Asia sooner and harder
16:57compared to the rest of the world.
16:59How are governments responding?
17:00Well, they moved quickly to roll out energy-saving measures.
17:05Here in Thailand, authorities have told staff at government offices
17:09and state-run firms to work from home.
17:12They also advised raising air conditioner settings
17:16and having employees wear half-sleeve shirts
17:19instead of formal suits.
17:21Countries including the Philippines, Laos, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
17:25are cutting the work or school week to three or four days.
17:30In Myanmar, the junta is restricting car use
17:33to curb gasoline consumption.
17:36Private and commercial vehicles with even-numbered plates
17:39can be used one day, outnumber the next.
17:43These are just some of the steps being taken in Asia
17:46reflecting the sense of crisis among the authorities.
17:49These efforts may curb energy use in the short term,
17:53but what about longer-term fuel shortages?
17:56Well, most of these measures will be difficult to sustain,
18:00so governments are rushing to expand
18:02and diversify their supply chains.
18:05Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines
18:07are considering importing crude from Russia
18:10after the U.S. East sanctions on Russian oil.
18:13Thailand says it is also in contact with Nigeria and Brazil.
18:18Vietnam has asked Japan and South Korea to provide oil.
18:22But these talks could hit obstacles
18:24if the conflict drags on
18:27and global supplies come under even greater strain.
18:31So Asia faces an uncertain energy outlook.
18:34Thank you, Shikashi.
18:36We now wrap up our bulletin.
18:38I'm Tra Chirakau-san in Bangkok.
18:40Thank you very much, Shikashi and Tra.
18:43Next, a Japanese high court has upheld
18:45a not-guilty ruling for a 30-year-old woman
18:48accused of killing her wealthy older husband.
18:51The man had famously styled himself
18:53as the Japanese Don Juan.
18:56Sudosaki was charged with killing
18:5877-year-old Nozaki Kosuke
19:00at his home in Wakayama Prefecture in May 2018.
19:04She was alleged to have forced him
19:06to ingest a lethal amount of stimulants.
19:08Nozaki claimed to have had thousands of lovers
19:11and likened himself to the fictional Spanish womanizer.
19:14The Wakayama District Court decided in December 2024
19:18the possibility of an accidental overdose
19:21could not be ruled out.
19:22And on Monday, the Osaka high court
19:25dismissed an appeal filed by prosecutors.
19:28Sudos lawyers maintained the district court
19:30had handed down a fair judgment
19:32and the high court should respect
19:34the decision of lay judges.
19:37North Korea has reappointed Kim Jong-un
19:41as president of state affairs.
19:43The role is equivalent to head of state.
19:47State-run Korean Central Television
19:50says the Supreme People's Assembly
19:52made the decision during a session
19:54in Pyongyang on Sunday.
19:56During the session,
19:58it was announced that Kim's close aide,
20:01Cho Yong-won,
20:01had replaced Che Ri Ong-hye
20:04as the chair of the Assembly's standing committee.
20:07About 40 percent of cabinet members
20:10were newly appointed.
20:12This reflects a generational shift
20:14following the ruling Workers' Party Congress
20:16last month.
20:18The session was expected to continue on Monday.
20:21Attention is focused on whether
20:23Kim will deliver a speech
20:25and refer to relations with the United States.
20:29Another focal point
20:30is whether the North's policy
20:32of regarding South Korea
20:34as a hostile state
20:35will be reflected in the constitution.
20:39Humanitarian concerns are rising in Sudan
20:42after years of conflict.
20:44The World Health Organization
20:45says a hospital has come under attack,
20:47leaving at least 64 people dead.
20:50The WHO said on Saturday,
20:53the victims include 13 children,
20:55two nurses,
20:56one doctor and multiple patients.
20:58Sudan's military
21:00and the paramilitary
21:01rapid support forces
21:03have been fighting since 2023.
21:05WHO Director General
21:07Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
21:09says the hospital
21:10is no longer functioning
21:11after damage to the pediatric,
21:14maternity and emergency departments.
21:16The military reportedly
21:17denies conducting the attack.
21:20The WHO chief says
21:21there have been more than 200 attacks
21:23on health facilities
21:24since the conflict began,
21:26killing over 2,000 people.
21:28He's calling for de-escalation
21:30and the protection of civilians,
21:32health workers and humanitarians.
21:36Economic downturns often force people
21:38to tighten their purse strings.
21:40And in China,
21:41some tourist businesses
21:42have found opportunity in frugality.
21:44They are targeting holidaymakers
21:47who aren't seeking the real thing,
21:49but the next best thing.
21:53The ski resort in Jilin province
21:55in northeastern China
21:56was developed with help
21:58from a Japanese company.
22:01Chinese travelers
22:02are coming to experience
22:03the atmosphere of a ski area
22:05in Japan without traveling abroad.
22:09Visitors have risen 13% this season
22:12to 950,000.
22:14The Chinese government's
22:15call on citizens
22:16to refrain from traveling to Japan
22:18may have helped drive demand.
22:22This hotel interior features
22:24abundant wood
22:25in the style of a Japanese resort.
22:29The facility also has
22:31a Japanese-style outdoor bath.
22:35Visitors include Chinese tourists
22:37who decided to cancel trips to Japan.
22:44We wanted to go to Hokkaido,
22:46but we canceled the reservation
22:47because of the heightened tension
22:49between the two countries.
22:50It's really unfortunate,
22:51but I'm sure there will be chances again.
22:56A domestic destination like this
22:58is closer and convenient.
22:59It's perfect for a short trip.
23:04The idea of saving money
23:05by traveling to mimic sites
23:07is catching on in farming areas, too.
23:11A village outside Xi'an
23:13in the inland province of Shaanxi
23:15has allowed people
23:16to pretend they're visiting
23:17Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
23:20Visitors would take photos
23:21that make it look like
23:22they are standing
23:23in front of the square's gate.
23:37The feature has appealed
23:38to the many people
23:39who post pictures
23:40of their travels
23:41on social media.
23:45The Tiananmen-on-a-wall concept
23:48has gone viral.
23:50Tourists are posting photos
23:51from at least 40 other
23:53life-size paintings
23:54of the famous gate.
23:57This mural depicting
23:59the Great Wall of China
24:00is completed in January
24:02in a farming village
24:03in the central province
24:04of Funan.
24:09A village lane
24:10is lined with stalls
24:11to accommodate
24:12the many visitors
24:13that have begun
24:14flocking there.
24:15The site has become
24:16a new source of revenue.
24:21With so many visitors,
24:23I can make money
24:23selling just about anything.
24:25The economy has been revitalized
24:27and it's all good.
24:30Make-believe trips like these
24:32may help pry open
24:33people's wallets
24:34and spark domestic demand
24:36in China.
24:49It's time for a look
24:50at world weather
24:51with our meteorologist
24:52Jonathan Oh.
24:54Hello.
24:55We're seeing spring-like conditions
24:57starting to pick up
24:57around Japan
24:58with warmer temperatures
25:00and even sunny skies
25:01in a place like Tokyo
25:02as we went through Monday.
25:03But those warmer temperatures
25:04are leading to some problems
25:06in other parts of Japan.
25:07I want to share some video
25:08coming out of Shizuoka prefecture
25:11where at least 79 people
25:13found themselves stranded
25:15after a slope collapsed
25:16over the weekend
25:17in Shizuoka City.
25:19Now, the city says
25:20rising temperatures
25:20may have caused
25:21frozen soil to thaw
25:23leading to the landslide
25:25that blocked the pathway out.
25:27Now, as the debris was cleared,
25:29many of those who were stranded
25:30were able to make
25:31their descent Monday.
25:32So far,
25:33no injuries or illnesses
25:34have been reported.
25:36And yes,
25:36as we continue to see
25:37the temperatures picking up,
25:39areas that are seeing things adjust,
25:42that can lead to some concerns
25:44on the ground.
25:45And we are looking at temperatures
25:46to still be on the warm side
25:48as we go into the day on Tuesday.
25:49High pressure moves into Japan
25:51and really takes control
25:53of the weather pattern.
25:54Even places like Hokkaido
25:56seeing temperatures moving up
25:57into the teens
25:57as we go into Wednesday.
25:59Now, rain will be a part of the story
26:00from Tokyo into Fukuoka
26:02starting on Wednesday.
26:03So you need your umbrellas there.
26:04And then we'll still see
26:05the clouds hanging around,
26:06but at least the warm weather
26:08will also be a part of the story
26:09where overnight lows
26:11will also be on the rise as well.
26:13So not as chilly
26:15as you wake up
26:16in the morning hours.
26:18Meanwhile,
26:18we're looking at a bit
26:19of an unstable pattern
26:20across portions of Europe.
26:21We have a low pressure system
26:22moving its way over
26:23to the northwestern portion
26:24of the continent.
26:25High pressure dominating
26:26most of Europe though,
26:27and that's keeping things
26:28on the drier side
26:29from the center
26:30and northern portions of Europe.
26:31But down toward the south,
26:33rain to places like Rome
26:34with a high of 17
26:34coming up on Monday.
26:36Looking at what's happening
26:37across North America,
26:39a cold front pushing off
26:40toward the north and east.
26:41High pressure moving
26:42and behind it,
26:43but behind that cold front
26:43really chilly.
26:44Places like Chicago
26:45at a high of 2,
26:46snowing to Toronto,
26:47but way down toward the south
26:48ahead of that front,
26:49high of 26 in Atlanta
26:51coming up on Monday.
26:52Hope you have a good day
26:53wherever you are.
26:54and we'll be right back to the north.
27:24We'll be right back to the north.
27:41¡Gracias por ver el video!
27:58¡Gracias por ver el video!
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