For years, China has been building military facilities on artificial islands in the South China Sea to strengthen territorial claims in the region. Satellite images show that Vietnam is now taking a similar approach.
Cagayan Province in the northern Philippines has become the object of attention from both the United States and China. Some residents are excited about the economic opportunities, but others fear being caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war.
"It's our duty to be ready and to have a force that's capable of prevailing, but our focus is on deterring that conflict from ever happening." The United States Navy chief shares an update on the increasingly tense situations in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea in an interview with NHK World's Washington Bureau Chief Takagi Masaru.
Toda Natsuko is a name widely recognized among Japanese movie enthusiasts. Her work has been integral to their enjoyment of some of the biggest cinematic hits of the past half century. In that time, the 88-year-old subtitler has written Japanese translations for more than 1,500 English-language films, including classics such as "E.T." and "Titanic," and more recently the latest installment of the "Mission: Impossible" series. NEWSLINE anchor Kawasaki Rika asked Toda how she stays motivated.
Japan is far from the frontlines of Ukraine's ongoing war, but a project is underway to bring over injured former soldiers for specialized medical treatment. Japanese hospitals are giving them care and rehabilitation unavailable in their home country.
Abe Shizuko was permanently disfigured in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Decades later, a trip to the country that carried out the attack helped her begin the process of inner healing.
Oyakawa Masaaki had inner demons to slay. What better way than to punch other business executives in the head? An up-and-coming event on the martial arts scene gave him the opening he was waiting for.
Japanese schools are adopting a heatstroke risk index to protect their students as temperatures soar across the country.
Every spring, more than a million people visit Washington DC to marvel at the canopy of pink and white cherry blossoms framing the city skyline. The Potomac cherry trees are in the limelight again, as Japan prepares to send 250 new saplings to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Many people might be aware that the original trees were a gift given more than a century ago, but few likely know that the idea originated with a pioneering female journalist.
A promising niche in Japan's tech industry is struggling to overcome social stigmas ― and a mess of red tape. An event held in Tokyo earlier this year was aimed at jumpstarting solutions.
Japan launched its first ride-hailing services this month. Uber and other apps are gearing up to take on the market, but taxi companies remain in the driver's seat thanks to strict regulations.
Japan's Noto Peninsula was a vital economic hub centuries ago. Residents of the Kuroshima district are now drawing upon its rich history and legacy of resilience as they try to rebuild from the massive earthquake that struck on New Year's Day. Six months after the disaster, NEWSROOM TOKYO anchor Yoshioka Takuma visited Wajima City's Kuroshima in central Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture.
Myanmar's junta is facing increased resistance from pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups in a shift that has coincided with the introduction of conscription. Since February, the military began a lottery system to sign up men aged 18 and older. According to the Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS) watchdog, almost 6,000 people have been recruited, many of them forcibly, during that period. The move has Myanmar youths facing a quandary: give in to the junta, flee, or fight back?
Six months after an earthquake wreaked destruction on Japan's Noto Peninsula, one man is hoping to boost spirits during the summer festival season. Many communities remain unable to celebrate, but in one part of Suzu City, book merchant Yagi Atsunari is ensuring that some elements of the seasonal festivities can bring people together.
Baseball is one of Japan's most beloved sports and as such, many figures of speech derive from it, especially in a business environment.
Thirteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The disaster triggered a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and ever since, the operator has been trying to decommission the facility. NHK World's Yoshikawa Ayano got a rare look at the state of the reactors.
In the aftermath of the 2011 accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the 16,000 residents of nearby Tomioka Town were ordered to evacuate. Most have never returned. But one former resident is back with a new product he hopes will help revive his disaster-hit hometown.
An extension to Japan's bullet train network is laying the groundwork for a surge in tourism in one of the country's least visited areas.
A college student who turned down a highly-prized job with a leading manufacturer to join an eco-startup is typical of a new type of Japanese jobseeker, who prioritizes environmental, social, and other ethical causes over traditional career paths.
Soy sauce, or shoyu, is a staple of Japanese cuisine. Different localities have their own unique flavors. Western Japan's Kyushu region is known for its distinctly sweet soy sauce, which has a surprisingly recent history.
For Japan's remote communities, the country's shrinking population is an existential crisis. Towns and villages are losing people along with the precious tax dollars that keep essential services afloat. But a former mining town that's nestled in Yamagata Prefecture's mountains has harnessed a wave of support through a "digital residency" program that's attracting the attention of other struggling localities.
The honest people of Japan handed in a record 22.8 billion yen ― roughly 146 million dollars ― in misplaced cash in 2023, as the amount of all lost property turned over to police climbed to a fresh high of almost 30 million items, the National Police Agency says. Among the items most frequently dropped off at police stations were small electronic devices, umbrellas, and pets.
Japan's fertility rate is shrinking and so is its population. For some children that means the simple pleasure of playing team sports with classmates can no longer be taken for granted. And as one remote high school struggles with that issue, a tech firm is offering a virtual reality solution.
"The yakuza used to have their own code of rules called 'suji'," explains lawyer Morohashi Yoshitomo, who was once himself a member of a yakuza crime syndicate. "But they've started to turn to activities that deviate from suji. And their crimes have become more heinous." Morohashi says the change is highlighted by a recent case involving the deportation of an alleged gang member from the Philippines.
The operator of a long-standing public bathhouse in rural Japan is looking to find someone to take over the business that his family has run for four generations.
The Bank of Japan implemented a seismic policy shift this month by raising rates for the first time in 17 years. Policymakers lifted the key rate out of negative territory ― from minus 0.1 percent to a range of zero to 0.1 percent ― in their first tentative move away from a long-standing ultra-easy monetary policy. The change ended Japan's outlier status as the world's only economy with negative interest rates.
Take a stroll through any Japanese city—you'll be hard-pressed to go a few blocks without passing a convenience store. The one-stop shops dot streetscapes everywhere. So ubiquitous are konbini, as they are known to locals, that it's difficult to imagine life in Japan without them.
When disaster strikes, spreading information in multiple languages is vital. But sometimes people lack confidence in their proficiency. An associate professor at a Japanese university is now training volunteers about how to effectively communicate in English during emergencies. She says beyond language competency, speaking from the heart is most important when it comes to helping others.
Youth unemployment is shaping up as a major obstacle in India’s efforts to maintain one of the world's fastest growing economies. NHK World spoke with former central bank governor Raghuram Rajan on potential solutions.
Yamada Yoji has directed many of Japan's most beloved films, including the long-running series "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" ("It's Tough Being a Man"). His career spans decades, but he's not resting on his laurels. At the age of 92, he's helping coastal communities in Fukushima Prefecture recover from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
