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Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Vietnamese actress Do Phan Gia Han sings at a ceremony held at the Japanese ambassador to Vietnam's official residence in Hanoi on Nov. 14, 2025, to announce the production of Cong nu Anio, a history-based musical starring her and other actors from Japan and Vietnam. A love story based on romance between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant about 400 years ago, the musical will be played at a theater in Yokohama, near Tokyo, in September 2026, as part of efforts to deepen friendship between Japan and Vietnam.

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Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Vietnamese actress Do Phan Gia Han sings at a ceremony held at the Japanese ambassador to Vietnam's official residence in Hanoi on Nov. 14, 2025, to announce the production of Cong nu Anio, a history-based musical starring her and other actors from Japan and Vietnam. A love story based on romance between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant about 400 years ago, the musical will be played at a theater in Yokohama, near Tokyo, in September 2026, as part of efforts to deepen friendship between Japan and Vietnam.

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Japan: Fire Breaks Out at Tokyo Haneda Airport Old Hangar, Flights Unaffected 2

A large fire broke out at an old hangar undergoing demolition on the premises of Tokyo Haneda International Airport on Monday morning, September 29. Authorities have confirmed that the incident has not caused any delays or disruption to flight operations. This is a developing story.

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Japan: Fire Breaks Out at Tokyo Haneda Airport Old Hangar, Flights Unaffected

A large fire broke out at an old hangar undergoing demolition on the premises of Tokyo Haneda International Airport on Monday morning, September 29. Authorities have confirmed that the incident has not caused any delays or disruption to flight operations. This is a developing story.

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Japan: Fire Breaks Out at Tokyo Haneda Airport Old Hangar, Flights Unaffected 3

A large fire broke out at an old hangar undergoing demolition on the premises of Tokyo Haneda International Airport on Monday morning, September 29. Authorities have confirmed that the incident has not caused any delays or disruption to flight operations. This is a developing story.

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Saori Minami

Saori Minami=Date: November 2, 1971, Place: Japan

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Ken Takakura

Ken Takakura on the set of the movie “Abashiri Prison”=Date : December 10, 1971, Place : Sounkyo, Hokkaido

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Tomisaburo Wakayama

Tomisaburo Wakayama=Place: Akasaka, Japan

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Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

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Tokyo Drama Award 2021

TOKYO, Japan, July 18 Kyodo - Photo taken during a ceremony for the Tokyo Drama Award shows Noriko Eguchi posing at a hotel in Tokyo on Oct. 27, 2021, after receiving the award for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for "Story of My Family."(Kyodo)

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Japan: Fire Breaks Out At High-Rise Building In Shibuya, Tokyo

A fire broke out at a high-rise building in Shibuya, central Tokyo, on Monday, October 21, while someone was venting spray cans on the 19th-floor balcony. A male worker in his forties suffered a minor burn, according to reports.

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Ginza Sony Park

Sony Corp. unveils to the media the recently completed Ginza Sony Park building in Tokyo's Ginza area on Aug. 23, 2024. The nine-story building with a total floor space of 4,390 square meters, including four basements, will open to the public in January 2025.

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Ginza Sony Park

Sony Corp. unveils to the media the recently completed Ginza Sony Park building in Tokyo's Ginza area on Aug. 23, 2024. The nine-story building with a total floor space of 4,390 square meters, including four basements, will open to the public in January 2025.

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BYD launches 3rd EV model in Japan

STORY: BYD launches 3rd EV model in Japan SHOOTING TIME: June 25, 2024/Earlier footage DATELINE: June 26, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): ATSUKI TOFUKUJI, President of BYD Auto Japan 3. various of BYD SEAL STORYLINE: Chinese automaker BYD on Tuesday unveiled its third electric vehicle (EV), the SEAL, in Japan, as the company marches into the country's sedan market. The SEAL will be available in two versions, both with a battery capacity of 82.56 kWh, according to BYD Auto Japan Inc. at a press conference in Tokyo. The base model, priced at 5.28 million yen (about 33,110 U.S. dollars), offers a driving range of about 640 kilometers, while the all-wheel-drive (AWD) version went on sale at 6.05 million yen with a driving range of 575 kilometers. Deliveries are expected by the end of July for the base model and the end of August for the AWD version. Highlighting safety, sporty performance, and comfort, the newly i

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Japan to respond appropriately, any time to excessive yen moves: currency official

STORY: Japan to respond appropriately, any time to excessive yen moves: currency official SHOOTING TIME: June 20, 2024/Earlier footage DATELINE: June 25, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:39 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of Japan 2. various of banks in Japan 3. various of Tokyo Stock Exchange 4. various of Nikkei stock index STORYLINE: Japan stands ready to take appropriate steps against volatile currency moves at "any time," the country's top currency diplomat said Monday, as the yen neared the 160 line against the U.S. dollar, a level that previously prompted authorities to intervene in the market. Masato Kanda, vice finance minister for international affairs, warned that excessive yen fluctuations negatively affect the economy. "We are ready to take appropriate action at any time," he told reporters. The yen's weakness persists after the Bank of Japan's decision this month to hold off reducing bond-buying stimulus until its July meeting. The yen weakened to 159.94 per U.S. doll

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Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome cases in Japan top 1,000

STORY: Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome cases in Japan top 1,000 SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: June 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo 2. photos of symptoms being infected by streptococcus pyogenes 3. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan has seen cases of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) surpass 1,000 in 2024, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) reported on Tuesday. As of June 9, the preliminary number of cases in the country since the beginning of this year reached 1,019, data from the NIID showed, marking a significant increase in the spread of this severe bacterial infection compared to previous years. STSS, also known as severe invasive streptococcal infection, is a sudden-onset disease primarily caused by "Group A Streptococcus." Initial symptoms typically include sore throat, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues, as well as septic

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World Bank cuts 2024 growth forecast for Japan

STORY: World Bank cuts 2024 growth forecast for Japan SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage DATELINE: June 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:06 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: The World Bank has cut its economic growth forecast for Japan for 2024 to 0.7 percent from 0.9 percent, while lifting the global growth outlook for the year to 2.6 percent from 2.4 percent, local media reported. The Japan growth forecast fell 0.2 percentage point from the previous estimate in January due to sluggish consumption growth and slowing exports, as well as a halt in growth in demand from foreign tourists, Jiji Press said Tuesday, citing the World Bank's latest Global Economic Prospects report. Japan's economic growth is projected to rise to 1.0 percent in 2025, as consumption is expected to improve moderately, it added. Meanwhile, the global economy would avoid a third consecutive drop in real GDP growth since a major post-pandemic jump in 2021, with 2024 growth stabilizin

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Toyota, Mazda halt production of 5 models over certification test fraud

STORY: Toyota, Mazda halt production of 5 models over certification test fraud SHOOTING TIME: June 5, 2024 DATELINE: June 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cars in the street 2. various of Toyota Motor's headquarters STORYLINE: Japanese auto giants Toyota and Mazda suspended production of five car models on Thursday due to fraudulent practices discovered in national certification tests, in the wake of a cheating scandal among five major Japanese automakers. Following the order of Japanese transport ministry to halt shipments of affected models, Toyota Motor Corporation halted production of three models, including Yaris Cross, at its factories in the prefectures of Miyagi and Iwate, with the suspension expected to last until June 28. Meanwhile, Mazda Motors Corporation, ceased its production of two models, including MAZDA2 at its factories in the prefectures of Hiroshima and Yamaguchi. The suspension came after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, T

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Tokyo consumer inflation accelerates in May

STORY: Tokyo consumer inflation accelerates in May SHOOTING TIME: recent footage DATELINE: June 3, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:39 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Core inflation in Tokyo continued to rise in May as utility costs expanded, government data showed. The Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel costs, rose 1.9 percent in May from a year earlier, accelerating from a 1.6 percent rise in April, according to the internal affairs ministry. Seen as a leading indicator of nationwide trends in Japan, the Tokyo data released on Friday stood below the Bank of Japan's 2-percent target. The acceleration was largely pushed up by utility costs related to renewable energy promotion, as electricity bills increased for the first time in 16 months by rising 13.1 percent year on year. Meanwhile, prices of food excluding fresh items rose 3.2 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Xinhua News Agency correspondent

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Tokyo stocks close mixed on rising interest rates, positive U.S. futures

STORY: Tokyo stocks close mixed on rising interest rates, positive U.S. futures SHOOTING TIME: May 28, 2024 DATELINE: May 29, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:51 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo 2. various of Tokyo Stock Exchange 3. various of securities company STORYLINE: Tokyo stocks closed mixed on Tuesday amid concerns over rising long-term interest rates in Japan, while the market's downside was buoyed by positive U.S. stock futures. Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 44.65 points, or 0.11 percent, from Monday at 38,855.37. The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 2.14 points, or 0.08 percent, higher at 2,768.50. Market watchers here noted the yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond briefly rose 0.015 percentage point from Monday's close to 1.035 percent, its highest level since April 2012, amid speculation that the Bank of Japan is shifting away from monetary easing measures. The Nikk

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Japan's net external assets hit record 3 tln USD in 2023

STORY: Japan's net external assets hit record 3 tln USD in 2023 SHOOTING TIME: May 28, 2024 DATELINE: May 28, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:52 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's net external assets rose to a record 471.31 trillion yen (3 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 12.2 percent from a year earlier, as a weak yen inflated the value of foreign stocks, bonds, and other holdings in yen terms, government data showed Tuesday. With the figure increasing for a sixth straight year, Japan retained its position as the world's largest creditor for the 33rd straight year in yen terms, followed by Germany and China as of the end of 2023, according to the Ministry of Finance. Gross external assets, held by the Japanese government, companies and individual investors, rose 11.1 percent to 1,488.34 trillion yen, while external debt went up 10.6 percent to 1,017.04 trillion yen, the ministry said. The yen was 7.0 percent weaker against the U.S. dollar in

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Tokyo stocks end lower over higher Japanese interest rates

STORY: Tokyo stocks end lower over higher Japanese interest rates SHOOTING TIME: recent footage DATELINE: May 23, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:13 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo 2. various of Tokyo Stock Exchange STORYLINE: Tokyo stocks closed lower on Wednesday, weighed down by concern over higher borrowing costs after Japan's benchmark bond yield touched the 1 percent threshold for the first time in around 11 years. Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended down 329.83 points, or 0.85 percent, from Tuesday at 38,617.10. The broader Topix index, meanwhile, finished 22.36 points, or 0.81 percent, lower at 2,737.36. The yield on Japan's benchmark 10-year government bond hit 1 percent on Wednesday for the first time since May 2013 amid speculation that the Bank of Japan is moving to normalize its monetary policy, sending stocks lower by fueling concern over higher borrowing costs, analysts said. Market watchers here noted stocks

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"Flying car" draws attention in Tokyo

STORY: "Flying car" draws attention in Tokyo SHOOTING TIME: May 17, 2024 DATELINE: May 18, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:14 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the flying car demonstration in Tokyo STORYLINE: A "flying car" demonstration was held Friday outside the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in Tokyo, Japan, allowing about 500 people to get up close with the cutting-edge air transportation technology. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo. (XHTV)

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How rainy Tokyo tackles floods by building a "city" below the city

STORY: How rainy Tokyo tackles floods by building a "city" below the city SHOOTING TIME: May 15, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:03:25 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHONG YA, Xinhua correspondent 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): SATORU IKEDA, Visitor 3. various of the facility 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHONG YA, Xinhua correspondent 5. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHONG YA, Xinhua correspondent 6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Japanese): NAGANUMA, Visitor 7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ZHONG YA, Xinhua correspondent STORYLINE: STANDUP 1 (English): ZHONG YA, Xinhua correspondent "Located in a temperate maritime climate and being vulnerable to flooding, the Tokyo metropolitan area has always been stepping up its efforts to combat floods. The rainy metropolis is building a 'city' below the city -- beneath its around 2,000-square-kilometer land lie 16,000-kilometer sewage pipes in total. Now I'm right here at RyuQkan museum, which introduces the Metropolitan Outer Area Underground Discharge Channel, o

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Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March

STORY: Japan's economy contracts annualized 2 pct in January-March SHOOTING TIME: April 30 & May 4, 2024 DATELINE: May 16, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:42 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo 2. various of banks in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's economy shrank by an annualized 2.0 percent in the January-March period from the prior quarter, marking the first contraction in two quarters amid sluggish consumer spending, the latest GDP figures showed Thursday. Real gross domestic product (GDP) in this year's first quarter, adjusted for inflation, fell 0.5 percent from the previous quarter, according to preliminary data released by the Cabinet Office. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan's GDP, dropped 0.7 percent. It was the fourth straight quarter of decline, the longest streak since 2009, underscoring sluggish domestic demand. Capital spending fell 0.8 percent, down for the first time in two quarters, as Japanese firms curbed investment in mach

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Bank of Japan cuts purchases of Japanese government bonds

STORY: Bank of Japan cuts purchases of Japanese government bonds SHOOTING TIME: April 30, 2024 DATELINE: May 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of Japan 2. various of banks in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Monday announced a reduction of the amount of Japanese government bonds it offered to buy in a regular purchase operation. The central bank offered to buy 425 billion yen (about 2.73 billion U.S. dollars) in Japanese government bonds with five to 10 years left to maturity, down 50 billion yen from the previous such operation. The benchmark yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond subsequently climbed to a six-month high of 0.935 percent at one point. The reduction was the first since the BOJ in March adjusted its massive monetary easing, including ending its negative interest rate policy. Some market participants saw the move as the BOJ's latest effort to counter the weakening yen. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has said r

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Japan's real wages down for 24th straight month

STORY: Japan's real wages down for 24th straight month SHOOTING TIME: May 4, 2024 DATELINE: May 10, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:35 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's average monthly wages in inflation-adjusted terms logged the 24th straight month of decline in March, marking the longest period of continuous wage decline since comparable statistics began in 1991, official data showed on Thursday. Inflation-adjusted real wages, a barometer of consumer purchasing power, fell 2.5 percent from the same month last year, larger than the 1.8 percent fall in February, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Nominal monthly earnings, including base pay and overtime, rose 0.6 percent from a year ago to reach 301,193 yen (about 1,932.5 U.S. dollars). Regular pay including basic salary in March went up 1.7 percent year on year, while overtime pay, a gauge of business activity, went down 1.5 percent. Special payment including bonuses f

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Toyota logs record net profit in fiscal 2023

STORY: Toyota logs record net profit in fiscal 2023 SHOOTING TIME: May 8, 2024 DATELINE: May 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:56 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a press conference held by Toyota Motor Corp. STORYLINE: Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it saw a record net profit of 4.94 trillion yen (31.82 billion U.S. dollars) for the fiscal year of 2023, citing robust demand and the yen's depreciation. The figure doubled from the previous fiscal year, while the operating profit almost doubled from a year earlier to 5.35 trillion yen during the fiscal period from April 2023 to March 2024, the company said in its latest financial results. According to local media reports, Toyota became the first Japanese company to top the 5-trillion-yen mark in operating profit for fiscal 2023. The Japanese automaker reported a record 45.1 trillion yen in sales, up 21.4 percent from a year ago. Citing the popularity of hybrid cars, the company said its group vehicle sales, including those of its subsidia

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Japan's child population hits record low, down for 43rd straight year

STORY: Japan's child population hits record low, down for 43rd straight year SHOOTING TIME: May 3, 2024 and archives DATELINE: May 6, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of children in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's estimated child population as of April 1 stood at 14.01 million, marking a fall for the 43rd straight year, government data showed. The number of children aged 14 or younger, including foreigners, dropped 330,000 from a year before to hit its record low since comparable data became available in 1950, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications on Saturday. The ratio of children to the country's total population fell 0.2 percentage point to 11.3 percent, also the lowest level since 1950, declining for 50 years in a row. By gender, the population of boys came to 7.18 million compared with 6.83 million girls. By age, 3.17 million children were in the 12 to 14 age group, while 2.35 million were in the 0 to 2 age group, sug

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Over 30,000 people rally in Tokyo to defend Japan's pacifist constitution

STORY: Over 30,000 people rally in Tokyo to defend Japan's pacifist constitution SHOOTING TIME: May 3, 2024 DATELINE: May 5, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:27 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the rally 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): KANEHISA YAMAUCHI, Protester 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): AKIKO NOGAKI, Protester 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Japanese): SHOICHI ITOH, Protester STORYLINE: More than 30,000 peace-seeking Japanese participated in a massive rally in Tokyo on Friday to defend the country's pacifist constitution, chanting "No constitutional amendments, defend the constitution, protect peace!" Japan marked the 77th memorial day of its pacifist post-war Constitution on May 3. The supreme law's Article 9 renounces war and bans the country from maintaining land, sea and air forces, as well as other war potential. However, nowadays, concerns mount among Japanese people regarding the steadfastness in upholding the principles of the war-renouncing constitution. Kanehisa Yamauchi, who just returned

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Vacant homes in Japan hit record 9 mln

STORY: Vacant homes in Japan hit record 9 mln SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024 DATELINE: May 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:03 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of apartments and houses in Tokyo STORYLINE: The number of vacant homes in Japan has climbed to a fresh record of 9 million as of October 2023, up by 510,000 from the previous survey conducted in 2018, the latest government data showed. The tally also made up a record 13.8 percent of the total number of homes in the country, meaning that one in about seven homes is abandoned, according to the internal affairs ministry survey published Tuesday. The rising number can be attributed to an increase in cases where properties are left unattended because single elderly dwellers die or move to nursery homes, according to the ministry. Of the 9 million unoccupied dwellings, the majority at 4.43 million are available for rent, while 330,000 are for sale and 380,000 are empty second dwellings such as vacation homes. The status of the remainin

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Yen briefly drops past 160 level vs USD in volatile trading

STORY: Yen briefly drops past 160 level vs USD in volatile trading SHOOTING TIME: Archives DATELINE: April 30, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Japanese yen briefly dropped to a new 34-year low in the 160 level against the U.S. dollar on foreign exchange markets on Monday morning. It marked the first time since April 1990 that the U.S. dollar has topped the 160 yen line. Monday is a national holiday in Japan, but trading remained very volatile as the Japanese currency began reversing its trajectory in the afternoon, strengthening to the 155 level. Some market participants suspected that Japanese authorities may have stepped into the currency market to stem the yen's dive. A senior Finance Ministry official declined to comment on the yen's sharp rise, Kyodo News reported on Monday. The Japanese currency also fell to around 171 against the euro at one stage, its lowest level since euro was introduced in 1999. Xinhua News

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China's EV industry has strong competitiveness: researcher

STORY: China's EV industry has strong competitiveness: researcher SHOOTING TIME: April 11, 2024 DATELINE: April 29, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: Economy SHOTLIST: 1. various of EV industry of China 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TANG JIN, Senior research officer, Mizuho Bank STORYLINE: During a recent interview with Xinhua, a senior research officer at Japan's Mizuho Bank spoke highly of China's EV and battery industry. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): TANG JIN, Senior research officer, Mizuho Bank "China's electric vehicle industry and China's battery industry have quite strong competitiveness in the world. One is the industrial chain advantage, as China can produce relatively inexpensive and good-performance cars. The second is that China's battery technology is also advancing by leaps and bounds, and there's also been advancement in the battery research and development technology, the growth of battery companies, battery range, battery safety, and battery performance. China's electric vehicles have adv

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Bank of Japan keeps interest rate unchanged, yen sinks below 156

STORY: Bank of Japan keeps interest rate unchanged, yen sinks below 156 SHOOTING TIME: file DATELINE: April 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:37 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of Japan 2. various of city view in Tokyo 3. various of fresh food in supermarkets 4. various of city view in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Japanese central bank on Friday maintained its policy rate unchanged after wrapping up its two-day policy meeting, which sent the Japanese yen to its fresh 34-year low past the 156 line. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) decided to guide short-term interest rates in a range of zero and 0.1 percent, a month after it ended the negative interest rate policy in its first rate hike in 17 years. The announcement weakened the country's currency against the U.S. dollar to the lowest level since May 1990, raising the risk of forex intervention by Japanese authorities. The BOJ, which also maintained its policy regarding government bond buying, said the country's core inflation, which excludes volatile

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Japanese citizens petition against ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-tainted wastewater

STORY: Japanese citizens petition against ocean discharge of Fukushima nuclear-tainted wastewater SHOOTING TIME: April 24, 2024 DATELINE: April 25, 2024 LENGTH: 0:01:16 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of over 180,000 signatures from local citizens 2. various of the petitioning campaign 3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): MASASHI TANI, Secretary general of Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs STORYLINE: Representatives from Japanese civic groups on Wednesday submitted over 180,000 signatures from local citizens to the Japanese government, urging both the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to immediately halt the ocean discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Hajime Matsukubo, secretary general of the Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, a Japanese non-profit organization, presented 184,712 citizen signatures to the representative from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry at the Second Members' Office

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Spectacular fireworks display near Japan's Mount Fuji

STORY: Spectacular fireworks display near Japan's Mount Fuji SHOOTING TIME: April 20, 2024 DATELINE: April 21, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:25 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ENTERTAINMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists at the foot of Japan's Mount Fuji 2. various of fireworks display near Mount Fuji STORYLINE: A spectacular fireworks show was held Saturday in Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture, attracting hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Various forms of fireworks lighted up the night sky near Mount Fuji, bringing a feast for the eyes. Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Tokyo. (XHTV)

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Australia reveals opening ceremony uniforms for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

STORY: Australia reveals opening ceremony uniforms for Paris 2024 Olympic Games SHOOTING TIME: recent footage DATELINE: April 20, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:04 LOCATION: SYDNEY, Australia CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Australian Olympians displaying their uniforms STORYLINE: Australia's opening ceremony uniforms were officially unveiled at Sydney's Clovelly Bay on Wednesday, with 100 days to go before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games kicks off. Adorned with Australia's iconic green and gold, the designs were showcased by nine athletes, from reigning Olympic champions to those striving to make their first Games in Paris. The models included men's water polo co-captain Blake Edwards, artistic gymnast Georgia Godwin, Tokyo Olympic beach volleyball silver medalist Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Matildas midfielder Michelle Heyman, Tokyo Olympic K-2 1000m sprint canoeing champion Thomas Green, rugby sevens captain Nick Malouf, 100m Australian record holder Torrie Lewis, Australia's inaugural Olympic breaker Jeff D

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Japan logs trade deficit of 38 bln USD in fiscal 2023

STORY: Japan logs trade deficit of 38 bln USD in fiscal 2023 SHOOTING TIME: file DATELINE: April 17, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:55 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's trade deficit in fiscal 2023 shrank around 70 percent from a year earlier to 5.89 trillion yen (about 38 billion U.S. dollars), government data showed Wednesday. In the fiscal year ended March, exports expanded 3.7 percent to 102.90 trillion yen, topping 100 trillion yen for the first time and marking a record high for the third straight year, according to a preliminary Finance Ministry report. Automobile exports, which account for about 17 percent of Japan's total, grew 30.2 percent to 17.88 trillion yen, eclipsing the previous record of 14.67 trillion yen in fiscal 2007. In contrast, imports dived 10.3 percent to 108.79 trillion yen, falling for the first time in three years, chiefly reflecting falls in imports of coal and liquefied natural gas. With a weaker yen inflati

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Japan's population falls below 125 million

STORY: Japan's population falls below 125 million SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: April 13, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:46 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's population, including non-Japanese residents, fell by 595,000, or 0.48 percent, from a year earlier to 124,352,000 as of Oct. 1, 2023, down for the 13th consecutive year, government data showed Friday. The population of Japanese nationals dropped by 837,000, or 0.69 percent, to 121,193,000, marking the steepest fall since comparable data became available in 1950, according to a demographic survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The number of people aged 75 or above rose 713,000 to about 20.08 million, topping the 20 million mark for the first time, while those aged from zero to 14 fell 329,000 to about 14.17 million, or 11.4 percent of the total population, the lowest ever, data showed. Meanwhile, the foreign national population gained by 243,000 to about 3.16 mi

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Support rate for Japan's Kishida cabinet hits fresh low: poll

STORY: Support rate for Japan's Kishida cabinet hits fresh low: poll SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: April 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:04 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kishida cabinet and prime minister's office of Japan (source: Prime minister's office of Japan) 2. various of the prime minister's office STORYLINE: The support rate for the cabinet led by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dropped to 16.6 pct in April, marking a new low for the administration, according to the latest Jiji Press opinion poll. The approval rate dropped by 1.4 percentage points from the previous month, a fresh low for the administration since its launch in October 2021, while the disapproval rate climbed 2.0 percentage points to 59.4 percent, the survey showed Thursday. The reading breached the previous low of 16.9 percent marked in February, sinking to the worst level since the return of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to power in December 2012, Jiji Press said. Punish

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Japan's real wages shrink for 23rd straight month

STORY: Japan's real wages shrink for 23rd straight month SHOOTING TIME: file DATELINE: April 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:00:41 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo 2. various of supermarkets in Tokyo 3. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's average monthly wages in inflation-adjusted terms logged the 23rd straight month of decline in February as price increases continued to outpace nominal earnings growth, official data showed on Monday. Inflation-adjusted real wages, a barometer of consumer purchasing power, fell 1.3 percent from the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Nominal monthly earnings, including base pay and overtime, rose 1.8 percent from a year ago to reach 282,265 yen (about 1,859.8 U.S. dollars). Regular pay including basic salary in February went up 2.0 percent year on year, while overtime pay, a gauge of business activity, went down 1.0 percent. Meanwhile, the consumer price index exclu

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Japan's Kobayashi Pharma factory inspected amid supplement health scare

STORY: Japan's Kobayashi Pharma factory inspected amid supplement health scare SHOOTING TIME: March 29, 2024 DATELINE: March 31, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:28 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's headquarters in the city of Osaka 2. various of the recalled three products containing Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's beni-koji 3. various of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's products in Japan's drugstores STORYLINE: Japan's health ministry and local authorities on Saturday inspected the Osaka factory of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical following reports of deaths and hospitalizations possibly linked to its dietary supplements containing red yeast rice, known as "beni-koji." The factory in western Japan, which was making the ingredients of the product named Beni-koji Choleste Help, a type of granules advertised with the effect of lowering LDL cholesterol levels, shut down in December. However, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Osaka city government decided to carry out

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Japanese rally outside PM residence to protest relaxed arms export control

STORY: Japanese rally outside PM residence to protest relaxed arms export control SHOOTING TIME: March 26, 2024 DATELINE: March 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:032:48 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Japanese citizens protesting in front of the Japanese prime minister's residence 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Japanese): MIZUHO FUKUSHIMA, Head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Japanese): KOJI SUGIHARA, Representative of a local citizen's group named Network Against Japan Arms Trade STORYLINE: Many Japanese protesters, amid heavy rainfall, gathered on Tuesday in front of the prime minister's residence to rally against the government's eased defense equipment transfer rules and further relaxation of arms export control. Seen as a significant defense policy shift and another step contrary to the country's pacifist constitution, the Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to lift the ban on exporting the next-generation fighter jets set to be jointly developed with

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Bank of Japan ends negative interest rates in historic policy overhaul

STORY: Bank of Japan ends negative interest rates in historic policy overhaul SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: March 19, 2024 LENGTH: 0:00:41 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Bank of Japan 2. various of city views in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Tuesday decided to end its negative interest rate policy in its first rate hike in 17 years, marking a major shift away from the long-running monetary easing that Japan has seen over the past decade to put an end to deflation. After a two-day policy meeting, the central bank's policy board decided to guide short-term rate to a range of 0 to 0.1 percent, up a fraction from minus 0.1 to 0 percent, judging that its goal of attaining a stable 2 percent inflation is "in sight." "It came into sight that the price stability target of 2 percent would be achieved in a sustainable and stable manner," the BOJ said in a post-meeting statement. On top of returning to positive rates, the BOJ also decided to scrap it

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World's largest projection mapping displays begin in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 25 Kyodo - Nightly projection mapping displays begin on one of the two towers that host the headquarters of the Tokyo metropolitan government on Feb. 25, 2024. Images projected on the eastern facade of the complex's 48-story main building No. 1, covering an area measuring some 127 meters in height and 110 m in width from the building's fourth to 32nd floors, have been certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records. (Kyodo)

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World's largest projection mapping displays begin in Tokyo

Nightly projection mapping displays begin on one of the two towers that host the headquarters of the Tokyo metropolitan government on Feb. 25, 2024. Images projected on the eastern facade of the complex's 48-story main building No. 1, covering an area measuring some 127 meters in height and 110 m in width from the building's fourth to 32nd floors, have been certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records.

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World's largest projection mapping displays begin in Tokyo

Nightly projection mapping displays begin on one of the two towers that host the headquarters of the Tokyo metropolitan government on Feb. 25, 2024. Images projected on the eastern facade of the complex's 48-story main building No. 1, covering an area measuring some 127 meters in height and 110 m in width from the building's fourth to 32nd floors, have been certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records.

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World's largest projection mapping displays begin in Tokyo

Nightly projection mapping displays begin on one of the two towers that host the headquarters of the Tokyo metropolitan government on Feb. 25, 2024. Images projected on the eastern facade of the complex's 48-story main building No. 1, covering an area measuring some 127 meters in height and 110 m in width from the building's fourth to 32nd floors, have been certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records.

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World's largest projection mapping displays begin in Tokyo

Nightly projection mapping displays begin on one of the two towers that host the headquarters of the Tokyo metropolitan government on Feb. 25, 2024. Images projected on the eastern facade of the complex's 48-story main building No. 1, covering an area measuring some 127 meters in height and 110 m in width from the building's fourth to 32nd floors, have been certified as the world's largest by Guinness World Records.

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New teamLab Borderless museum opens in central Tokyo

STORY: New teamLab Borderless museum opens in central Tokyo SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 1, 2024 DATELINE: Feb. 9, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:14 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: CULTURE/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the museum 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TAKASHI KUDO, Communications director at teamLab 3. various of the museum STORYLINE: A museum showcasing the works of the Japanese digital art collective teamLab opened Friday in Tokyo's new landmark Azabudai Hills complex. TeamLab Borderless: Mori Building Digital Art Museum, located in Japan's newly-opened Azabudai Hills, houses around 50 works that make full use of projectors and various lights, featuring a "world of artworks without boundaries." At a recent sneak peek event showcasing the new works, Takashi Kudo, communications director at teamLab, told Xinhua that teamLab tried to make this new home even more borderless and interactive where visitors will become part of the exhibition as their presence will affect the artworks. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): TAKASHI KUDO, Communi