In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Osaka is the first city in Asia to host the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association's (IGLTA) annual global conference, cementing Japan as a dream destination for a diverse range of travelers. About 600 influencers, travel agents, tourism officials, hoteliers, and other industry figures from around the world took in the sights and sounds of Osaka during October.

Many tourists who arrive in Japan put climbing Mount Fuji high on their list of things to do. This summer they were back in big numbers to tackle the country's most iconic peak. Often they find themselves in the care of mountain guide Passang Lama Bhotia from Nepal, who fell in love with Mount Fuji as a child and moved over to Japan as an adult to pursue his dream.

Intractable divisions at the UN Security Council have drawn criticism from UN chief Antonio Guterres, and deepened a sense of disillusionment about the body's ability to resolve the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, among other urgent matters. NHK heard from two experts about proposals to improve the fairness and functioning of the council and the challenges that stand in the way of change.

Autumn in Japan is a season for mountain climbing, and the number of foreign hikers is rising. Police statistics show that more hikers are becoming lost or stranded. To help them out, a Japanese climber is making unique maps that offer firsthand information in both Japanese and English.

American voters are already casting their ballots in early and absentee voting for the November 5 presidential election. In Japan, the US embassy is providing consular assistance to ensure American residents and travelers get their votes in before it's too late.

Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan boasts a kingdom for the "sport of kings." The Hidaka region has hundreds of ranches, and they produce about 80 percent of the nation's racehorses. The industry has been gripped by a labor shortage, but help is at hand. A growing number of Indians are joining the community, bringing a wealth of equine expertise. Local residents want to ensure their new neighbo...

From Hokkaido's pristine powder-snow peaks to the neon-lit drinking warrens of downtown Osaka, inbound tourists are flocking to Japan in record numbers. Hoteliers nationwide are making a roaring trade, but the boom is not without its problems. Some areas are struggling to cope with all the attention. Others are still waiting for a piece of the pie.

Kanamori Kei found his creative spark in a paper fold, but he is now leaving people breathless with his computer graphic animations. His short film "Origami" is the first Japanese production to win a Student Academy Award. The work is a paean to his first passion — but more than that, it’s a celebration of the human touch in an increasingly digital world.

Four years since a military coup rocked Myanmar, the fighting rages on. Life is tough as the military, pro-democracy forces, and armed ethnic minority groups remain locked in battle. 　 The prolonged conflict is casting a shadow over a once-promising economy and putting pressure on younger people, especially those with higher education qualifications whose career and leadership prospects have been...

South Koreans who secretly loved Japanese pop songs in their youth are reveling in nostalgia amid a revival for Showa-retro tunes from the 1970s and ’80s. Their renewed popularity has sparked an era of Japanese cultural appreciation, driven by middle-aged and older generations of fans who remember the songs’ underground appeal.

As Ukrainian efforts to repel Russian forces divert more men from the workplace to the frontline, short-handed employers are turning to women to pick up the slack, especially in traditionally male-dominated roles.

The overall suicide rate in Japan is falling, to just over 20,000 last year, as a national prevention strategy bears fruit among the adult population. But for one sector of society – children and teenagers – it is a worsening problem, with the loss of 527 lives last year. That figure represents an all-time high among young people. NHK World anchor Morishita Erika spoke with Okaku Terumi, CEO of gr...

South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol remains defiant against the investigation into his martial law declaration last year, even after his indictment. NHK World's Aoki Yoshiyuki explains the unfolding political crisis.

A six-week ceasefire between Israel and Islamic group Hamas has been in place since January 19. NHK World's Sakurai Reiko spoke to the UN Development Programme's Noguchi Chitose on the current situation in Gaza and how the international community can help people rebuild their lives.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake rocked Japan's Hyogo Prefecture and surrounding areas in 1995, killing 6,434 people and causing more than 100,000 houses to collapse. One of those homes belonged to the grandparents of NHK World’s NEWSROOM TOKYO anchor Yoshioka Takuma. He revisited his family’s community in the Iwaya district of Kobe on the 30th anniversary of the disaster to see how people had r...

Over 6,400 people died in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in western Japan three decades ago. NHK World's Ide Mizuha spoke to a mother still grieving her son who died before he could realize his dream of becoming a professional shogi player.

New York's subway stations pulse with the energy of millions on the move. But in this subterranean complex, art installations have been asking people to pause, reflect and share their thoughts.

For almost seven decades, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, Nihon Hidankyo, has been a consistent ― and persistent ― voice for the survivors of the atomic bombs that struck Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The group's education and lobbying efforts have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024. Two of NHK's senior commentators, Kiyonaga Satoshi and Kamoshida Go, e...

Nearly 80 years have passed since the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While the suffering of the survivors, known as hibakusha, is well-documented, the suffering of Korean survivors is often overlooked. A documentary film that follows the life of one such survivor highlights his fight against physical suffering and discrimination.

Wine lovers who hear the words “Japanese wine” are likely to think of Yamanashi’s rolling vineyards, or the high terrain of Nagano. But up north in Hokkaido, in a climate once considered too cold for quality wines, the famously finicky Pinot Noir grape is thriving.

China spent decades struggling to contain explosive population growth, but now it’s grappling with the opposite. The combination of a fast-aging society and a record low birth rate have resulted in two successive years of population decline. Even so, the market for maternity goods and services is flourishing, fueled by perceptions around parenting and the expanding affluence of the middle and uppe...

Vending machines and traditional wooden kokeshi dolls are both icons of Japanese culture, and a hot spring resort in northeastern Fukushima Prefecture has combined the two. The novelty of being able to buy the dolls 24 hours a day has created a buzz and lifted sales – and is also raising awareness about the need to preserve the handicraft.

The idea that digital hobbies spell the end for their analog forebears no longer holds true. Vinyl LPs and film cameras are cases in point. Sales have soared across the world on the back of a newfound appreciation for music and photos you can hold in your hands. In South Korea, there's a similar resurgence in the realm of good old-fashioned books.

The end of World War Two only marked the beginning of another long nightmare for about 600,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians, detained by the Soviet Union and forced to work under brutal conditions in Siberia. One survivor who remained silent for decades is using his later years to ensure this dark chapter of history is never forgotten.

Mise Seiichiro was playing the organ at his home in Nagasaki around 11 a.m. on August 9, 1945. He was pressing the lower notes on the keyboard and imitating the sound of an American B-29 engine. His grandmother approached and told him to stop. As Mise reluctantly closed the organ lid, there was a blinding flash ― and the world changed forever. With each passing year, there are fewer opportunities...