In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Rice is in short supply at supermarkets in Japan. During late August, an NHK crew visited a store in Tokyo that usually sells about 10 varieties. But all it had in stock were 16 bags of a single type, with a purchase limit of one bag per customer. As of the end of July, rice stocks were down 32 percent from the same month of last year. Not just extreme weather, but some unexpected factors have imp...

One of the most tragic human stories that emerged from the United States' atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 is that of Sasaki Sadako. She died aged 12 from leukemia ― believed to be linked to radiation exposure ― after folding more than 1,000 paper cranes that she hoped would save her. Her story has been immortalized in literature and the arts ― and its message of peace is carried on by her surv...

Recorded interviews and testimonies are invaluable resources for learning about history. But nothing conveys firsthand experience quite like one-on-one conversation. With the number of World War Two survivors dwindling, a Japanese software company is developing an AI system that ensures their memories never lose the power and urgency of direct appeal.

Teaching children about the atomic bombings can be challenging, given the harrowing subject matter. One man in Nagasaki is using an upbeat performance style, typically used in street advertising, to tackle the topic without leaving his young audience terrified.

A report by human rights watchdog Myanmar Witness says more than 130 schools and universities have come under attack in the three years since the military coup. It says teachers and students are increasingly victims of the drawn-out battle between the junta and resistance forces.

When the atomic blast ripped through Hiroshima, few objects near the epicenter survived. These relics―permanent reminders of the horror that nuclear weapons inflict―include a piano that belonged to a teenage girl who died in the attack.

A senior Red Cross official has paid tribute to Japan for its support during a visit to Tokyo that included an interview with NHK World. Martin Schüepp, Director of Operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), spoke about the organization's work in conflict zones, including the unfolding crisis in the Middle East.

In an intersection of activism and art, an Israeli playwright's works about Palestinian prisoners were brought to life in Tokyo last year. Now, recordings of these poignant shows are touring community spaces across Japan, shedding light on the often invisible lives.

Senior officials of Myanmar's ethnic minority and pro-democracy groups visited Tokyo in May to request support for their struggle against the ruling junta. The rebel alliance has escalated its resistance since October, prompting brutal reprisals that have worsened Myanmar's humanitarian crisis. NHK spoke to the head of the Karen National Union (KNU) and a minister of the shadow National Unity Gove...

Throughout modern history, innovation has consistently outpaced regulation. The latest technological vanguard, artificial intelligence, is no exception. Progress in this runaway industry has occurred at such speed that authorities have struggled to keep up. The European Union has taken the first stab at regulatory action, however, introducing tighter regulations in a revised AI Act. EU Commissione...

The UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar has called for coordinated sanctions against the military junta that has run the Southeast Asian nation for the past two years. Despite this, Japan is yet to impose punitive measures. One expert suggests that if Tokyo were to roll out sanctions, it might actually impede the prospect of democracy in Myanmar. With violence continuing, the questi...

Almost a year after catastrophic floods left one-third of Pakistan underwater, the country remains mired in crisis. While international aid is essential for the rebuilding process, one expert is urging a rethink to support vulnerable countries in their efforts to get ahead of the next potential disaster.

As temperatures plummet in Japan, experts are warning of the potentially deadly dangers of heat shock — a condition triggered by sudden temperature changes that can strain the body, including a hot bath.

It has been 79 years since an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and the number of people able to recount the events from first-hand experience is shrinking fast. Determined to keep the stories alive, a graduate student in Tokyo hopes one survivor's poetry can capture and preserve the experiences for future generations.

Raymond Greene is Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, which makes him the de facto US ambassador to Taiwan. Before his appointment in July, he put in nearly 30 years as a career diplomat in the Indo-Pacific region, working in Japan, Taiwan, China and the Philippines. NEWSROOM TOKYO anchor Yoshioka Takuma sat down with him on October 23 for the first exclusive interview Greene has given t...

Indian Americans believe they can be a force for change, especially in closely contested battleground states that can decide who moves into the White House. Many of these voters have been reenergized by the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has Indian heritage.

People learning Japanese often struggle to find native speakers to practice with. One company is bridging that gap by enlisting older Japanese volunteers to help with online sessions.

Use of drone technology rose to a whole new level after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year's Day, when damaged roads and landslides in remote areas hampered relief efforts. While drones have been used in disasters to take aerial photos of inaccessible areas, an unprecedented operation showed the unmanned aircrafts' potential to help perform a wide range of survivor aid efforts, surveillance...

Japanese cinema stole the spotlight at the 76th Cannes Film Festival as two industry icons took home two of the biggest prizes. Yakusho Koji won the Best Actor award for his performance in Perfect Days, while scriptwriter Sakamoto Yuji claimed the Best Screenplay prize for the thought-provoking Monster.

When Russian president Vladimir Putin landed in neighboring Mongolia on Monday to help celebrate 85 years since a military victory over the Imperial Japanese army, his hosts were supposed to arrest him. Putin has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for suspected war crimes in Ukraine, and Mongolia is a member of the court. But the arrest never happened and the visit w...

New technologies like artificial intelligence are raising electricity demand, thwarting global efforts to combat climate change even as much of the world suffers from deadly summer heat. Experts say quick action is needed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal and other fossil fuels, but doing so will not be easy.

Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz was introduced in broad strokes to Americans at the party's national convention in late August. His folksy framing as "Coach Walz" resonated with the crowd, but what many might not know about is his long history with China. From his life in the United States’ Midwest to the crossroads he faced in Beijing, NHK WORLD-JAPAN takes a deeper look into the in...

The alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party maintained a majority in India's general election. But the BJP lost a considerable number of seats, falling short of winning a single-party majority. One of the contentious issues was religious divisions. The ruling party's policies have focused heavily on Hindus, who account for about 80 percent of the population. NEWSROOM...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, one of the worst mass killings in recorded history. A young artist from the central African country traveled to exhibit his work in northeastern Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, one of the areas devastated by the 2011 disaster, to show how art can help people heal from traumatic events.

Dangerous heatwaves are a mainstay of the Japanese summer. It used to be the case that workers were simply expected to endure the sweltering conditions, but now, employee wellbeing is a growing consideration.