In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Tomino Yoshiyuki's traumatic childhood experience of World War Two left an indelible impression on his young mind. The raging conflict, which ended 80 years ago this year, eventually inspired him to create the globally renown anime franchise 'Mobile Suit Gundam,' one of the most celebrated depictions of the tragedy of war. The 83-year-old recently spoke with NHK about his most famous work, and why...

A piano tuner in Hiroshima has been travelling across Japan and beyond for decades, sharing the stories of his pianos that survived one of the most destructive events in human history. Nearly eight decades after the U.S. atomic bombing of his city, he has joined together with an unlikely ally on a journey he calls "planting the seeds of peace."

Armed clashes between Myanmar's junta and resistance forces have continued despite a ceasefire that was agreed by the sides following a devastating earthquake in late March. Attacks by the junta appear to be impacting civilians at an increasing rate, with airstrikes taking a particularly heavy toll. During the United Nations Human Rights Council session in June-July, the High Commissioner for Huma...

The Kyiv Express is a night train connecting Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and Poland's capital city of Warsaw. Most of the Ukrainian passengers are women and children, because men of conscription age are banned from leaving the country. Some are fleeing conflict, while others are returning home to Ukraine, even just for a brief time. An NHK World crew boarded the Kyiv Express in March 2025 and fo...

Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro attended the Cannes Film Festival in May for the premiere of the film adaptation of his debut novel, A Pale View of Hills. After the screening, the British author spoke with NHK about the fragility of memory and the power of art to build connections.

Fencing is engaging people across Japan, and a glove from the nation's mitt-making heartland is playing its part.

It has been one month since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office after six months of political turmoil in the country – and so far, he is taking a cautious approach as he works to rebuild public trust and bring about economic stability. NHK World's Aoki Yoshiyuki, a former Seoul bureau chief, checks in on public sentiment and examines the challenges Lee must meet to usher in a new era...

Matcha can do it all: Fixture of the Japanese tea ceremony, beverage of choice for social media's hip young things, and a mainstay in cafes the world over. But the boom is not without its challenges. Japan's farmers are struggling to meet demand while maintaining the standards and traditions that give the green powder it’s unquestionable allure.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says global instability is rising. And few people are better placed to read the warning signs, or see a way forward. Not only did the 99-year-old navigate a host of crises during 24 years and two tenures in power, he also put his country on the path to prosperity—most notably through his "Look East" policy that sought to emulate Japan’s work ethic a...

More than three years of war between Russia and Ukraine have destroyed many friendships. But the gift of music can transcend borders and hostilities, as shown by a Russian pianist who continues to perform pieces by a Ukrainian composer with whom he has worked for decades.

The cost of putting a bowl of rice on the table in Japan continues to soar, despite the release of more than 200,000 tons from the national stockpile. Imported rice is playing an important role to meet demand as Japan looks for a long-term solution to the current shortage.

As the international community grapples with how to prepare for the next pandemic, the World Health Organization has adopted a new accord. The Pandemic Agreement addresses prevention, preparedness and response.

What happens if antibiotics stop working? The scientific world describes this threat to global health as antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. One study warns more than 39 million people could die by 2050 unless further measures are taken. 　 Scientists from Japan and the United Kingdom have teamed up in the race to find a solution.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Japan in April ― six months after he took office ― seeking stronger ties with the country. NHK World's Sugita Sachiyo had an exclusive interview with the political heavyweight who shared his insights on issues ranging from Japan's technological prowess to concerns about China. Rutte also revealed his own personal connection with Japan. Sugita offers a firs...

Washington-based news outlet Radio Free Asia is an empty shell these days. The journalists are gone, their laptops and cameras jettisoned on desks stripped of all purpose. For decades, they've delivered uncensored information to millions of people living under oppressive regimes in Asia. But in March, US President Donald Trump cut funding to all broadcasters operated by the Agency for Global Media...

Pope Leo XIV was elected by 133 cardinals from all over the world – including the Archbishop of Tokyo, Cardinal Kikuchi Isao. The 66-year-old spoke exclusively with NHK on May 12, offering a rare glimpse inside the secretive conclave. *The interview, translated from Japanese, has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Japanese people who once connected with British-French actor, model and singer Jane Birkin say they continue to rely on the strength and compassion she offered in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

"I'm finally getting on a boat tonight." These were the last words of a 24-year-old migrant who lost his life on the Mediterranean. He was speaking to his cousin in Kabul, some 3,500 kilometers away.

Vietnamese workers in Japan have been sending out SOS calls. All of them came to Japan under a visa category for skilled workers, and many now face serious problems under the current system.

A possible ceasefire may be on the negotiating table, but many ordinary Ukrainians will still maintain a deep mistrust of Russia. "My biggest worry is that if they resume their aggression after a truce, the sacrifices we make every day will be in vain," says Tetiana Vatsenko-Bondareva who lost her husband in the invasion. She's among many women and children who must live with the severe emotional...

Gaza schoolgirl Roaa was fostering her passion for Japan and its language ― and then the conflict between Israel and Islamic group Hamas broke out.

The comic book "Myanmar, the last stand" is rekindling international interest in how people there are struggling with military rule. It has been four years since the junta seized control in a coup that limits artistic expression ― but thanks to the efforts of a French author and Hong Kong illustrator, it is connecting readers around the world who share democratic values, particularly in Asian coun...

An increasing number of male and female victims of sex crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine are coming forward to share their harrowing experiences. Their stories paint a horrible picture of life in occupied territory ― and as US-Russia ceasefire talks get underway, survivors fear their abusers may never be brought to justice. *This report contains references to sexual violence and trauma...

Singer, actor, and global style icon Jane Birkin's death at 76 on July 16 was a particularly sad passing for many in Japan. She was most widely known for her personal and artistic relationship with late songwriter Serge Gainsbourg and the iconic Hermès Birkin handbag, but her work to support survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami earned her a special place in the hearts of J...

The long decline of China’s once-booming property development industry is being felt nationwide, especially among workers who provide labor-for-hire. People who have left poor farming villages for jobs in urban areas are being hit hard.