Today's Close-Up

"Regretting Motherhood: A Study" by Israeli sociologist Orna Donath has sparked a global conversation about the pitfalls of motherhood. The book was published in Japan last year and provoked both praise and criticism. An NHK program director, who is eight months pregnant herself, interviewed mothers about their regrets as she sought to find out why the topic seemed to have struck such a chord in Japanese society. Along with a studio guest, we think about how women can become mothers while still being true to themselves.

Guest:
Yamazaki Nao-cola (Writer)

Tokyo is in the midst of a major transformation that will see the skyline filled with more than 200 new high-rise buildings with cutting-edge equipment from robots to contact-free holographic devices and more. The government and developers are trying to attract international clients who can contribute to boosting the economy, but there are downsides to the rapid change. Vacant space in older buildings may harm local businesses. Some experts also point out the possible environmental impact, such as high-rises blocking sea breezes, making the city and inland areas hotter than ever. We look at how to make Tokyo a better metropolis for the future, both economically and environmentally.

Guest:
Masuda Yukihiro (Professor, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology)

2023 may end up being remembered as the first year of the lunar space race. Companies from around the world are working on technologies to sustain life on the Moon. One Japanese start-up plans to build a community on the lunar surface by 2040, with a special landing spacecraft capable of transporting goods from Earth at a low cost. Another firm is trying to send a super-lightweight probe to look for water on the Moon later this year. Over 50 years since the Apollo program, humankind is once again looking to reach the stars. We report on the latest efforts to settle the Moon.

Guest:
Yamazaki Naoko (Astronaut)

Unlike other G7 countries, wages in Japan have been stagnant for more than twenty years. In addition, the country has lately seen a rapid decline in the value of the yen. "I can't earn enough however hard I work" ― a growing number of young people who feel that way are now giving up "cheap Japan" to work overseas. Some pick blueberries in Australia, making more than double the average starting salary in Japan. One Japanese woman who works at a care facility there is able to save up 3,700 US dollars a month to realize her future dream. Is Japan no longer an attractive place to work? We take a look at the latest trend.

Guests:
Watanabe Tsutomu (Professor, Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo)
Menju Toshihiro (Executive Director, Japan Center for International Exchange)

The world is seeing some amazing developments in Japanese trading cards normally used in games. Prices are soaring and in 2021, one card hit a record-high of 5,275,000 dollars. Trading via online marketplaces is accelerating the rocketing prices, while specialty shops keep popping up in vacant properties in Akihabara. The cards made to be played with have now become attractive investments as well. We visit the frontline of this fascinating boom in trading cards.

Guests:
Mizuno Kazuo (Professor, Hosei University)
Fukui Kensaku (Lawyer)

What is life like in a warzone? How do sexual minorities navigate lack of understanding in daily life? More and more video games are providing windows into these sorts of real-life situations. As improving software lowers the technical hurdles for making games and distribution platforms become easily accessible, more creators are able to take risks and put their personal experiences into their work. We take a look at some unique games that have recently achieved global acclaim and popularity.

Guests:
Yui (Actor / TV personality)
Inoue Akito (Lecturer, Ritsumeikan University)

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and a senior official in March. It cited the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia as acts constituting war crimes. NHK was able to make contact with some children who have miraculously been returned. What they told us was shocking. What are Russia's intentions? We bring you the latest from the front lines.

Guest:
Ikeda Yoshiro (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Generative AI ChatGPT is sending shockwaves around the world. Simply enter a question and you will get an answer like one by a real human being. From a heart-touching love letter to complicated programming codes, ChatGPT can perform almost anything related to language. While use by individuals and companies has taken off, concerns are being raised about potential risks involved, such as copyright and data privacy among others. We take a look at how ChatGPT is being used, and together with an expert, consider the future of the technology.

Guest:
Matsuo Yutaka (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

On the morning of April 15 when Prime Minister Kishida Fumio was about to make a speech, an explosive device was thrown at the venue. Police arrested a 24-year-old suspect on the spot on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business. The explosive appears to have been a homemade bomb. Following the attack in which former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo died last year, there has been another incident targeting a high-ranking politician. With the G7 summit just around the corner, we will thoroughly examine how the protection of dignitaries should be handled.

Guest:
Itabashi Isao (Head of the research center, Council for Public Policy)

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Putin and a senior official in March. It suspects that the unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia constitutes war crimes. NHK was able to make contact with some children who have somehow or other been returned. What they told us was disturbing. What are Russia's intentions? We bring you details from the front lines.

Guest: 
Ikeda Yoshiro (Professor, The University of Tokyo)

Cars that freely navigate the skies. We've seen them in movies, but test flights are actually being conducted around the world right now. In Japan, the first commercial flight will take place at Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai. Some companies are even starting to consider how they can use flying cars in their business. A leading real estate developer is weighing the use of helipads in central Tokyo for takeoff and landing. Are flying cars really going to be a part of our daily lives? How will they change society? We bring you the latest in the "air mobility revolution."

Guest:
Iwamoto Manabu (Vice President, Economic & Industrial Research Department, Development Bank of Japan)

Popular tourist spots in Japan saw many visitors, both domestic and international, during the spring holidays due to the easing of various COVID-related regulations. While people in tourist industries welcomed the rebound, others are concerned about traffic congestion, littering and other related problems. Over-tourism is a worldwide issue, but what can we do to make travel more sustainable? NHK crews visited destinations in Kyoto and Okinawa to unearth some ideas.

Guest: 
Nakai Jiro (Instructor, Bunkyo University)

The G7 Hiroshima Summit was held in May. Amid the growing threat of the use of nuclear weapons, world leaders gathered at the site of the first atomic bombing in wartime. The agenda included nuclear disarmament. But when the 'Hiroshima Vision' was publicized, voices of anger and disappointment spread among the people of Hiroshima including Hibakusha, the atomic bomb survivors. NHK followed these people who had been trying to convey their messages to the leaders at Hiroshima.

Guest:
Fujiwara Kiichi (Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo / Chair, Hiroshima Round Table)

Buildings of high cultural and historical value are being demolished across Japan. The high cost of inheritance tax, as well as issues such as maintenance and seismic reinforcement, is making it difficult to preserve such precious properties. Actor Kyoka Suzuki recently bought Villa Coucou, a 66-year-old detached house designed by a renowned architect. What was her motivation? We also look at some regional efforts to save historical buildings from being scrapped and, together with our guest, think about how architectural legacies can best be handed over to the future.

Guest: 
Goto Osamu (Board Chair, Kogakuin University)

One hundred thousand tons of clothes dumped illegally in a Chilean desert. The tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh... People are increasingly turning to a concept called "circular fashion" that may help end situations like that. Beyond Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, it encourages innovative designs and values that attract both young and old. We catch up with some of the new business models, as well as the people buying into these novel products and services.

Guest:
Yasui Akihiro (Circular-economy researcher)

In Japan, about 20,000 children are said to have been born through artificial insemination by donor. Since sperm donation in the country is carried out on the condition of donor anonymity, many people do not have access to any information about their biological fathers. Recently, a non-partisan group of lawmakers announced a rough draft of a bill to address the issue, but it caused controversy. Children who want to know who they are and donors who want privacy―respecting both sides is not easy. We speak to experts and people born through donor insemination.

Guest:
Tsuge Azumi (Professor, Meiji Gakuin University)

We live in a busy world and people want to use their time as efficiently as possible. "Time performance" is a buzzword in Japan, especially among younger generations. It refers to the level of satisfaction or efficiency in return for time spent. Speed watching videos, apps that provide summaries of books, gyms where you can start working out within seconds. These are just some examples of "time performance" in practice. And the recent introduction of the pitch clock in Major League baseball shows it's a global trend. How should we manage our limited time? We look at ways to improve our "time performance."

Guest:
Ichikawa Makoto (Professor, Chiba University Graduate School)

A year has passed since former prime minister Abe Shinzo was fatally shot in western Japan by a man who reportedly had a grudge against a religious group previously known as the Unification Church. We interviewed an executive from the group's Japan headquarters who is in charge of promoting reform to see what changes it's making, especially over the issue of excessive financial donations. We also covered politicians who have had connections with the group to see if Liberal Democratic Party's policy to sever ties with it is being adequately implemented.

Guest:
Sakurai Yoshihide (Professor, Hokkaido University)

North Korea continues to launch missiles despite economic sanctions from the United Nations. Where does it get the funds for this costly project? In March 2022, about 620 million dollars' worth of crypto-assets were stolen from a blockchain-based gaming company in Vietnam. International investigations suggest a mysterious hacker group linked to North Korea was behind the heist. What tactics enabled the group to steal such an enormous amount? We take a closer look at North Korea's underground source of financing.

Guest:
Furukawa Katsuhisa (Former Member of UN Panel of Experts on DPRK)

The release of treated and diluted water from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the ocean started on August 24. Japan's government and Tokyo Electric Power Company say the treated water meets safety standards for all radioactive materials other than tritium. To reduce the tritium concentration, the water has been diluted with seawater so that it meets national standards. The IAEA has backed the release process, saying it will have a negligible radioactive impact on people and the environment. But China is fiercely protesting and has suspended all imports of Japanese seafood. How should Japan address the issue? We also report on the mixed feelings of local fishers in Fukushima. Eight years ago, the government pledged there would be "no disposal without gaining understanding of concerned parties" — has it kept this promise?

Guest:
Kainuma Hiroshi (Associate Professor, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo)

What would happen if nuclear weapons were actually used today? Earlier this year, a group of international experts released a report featuring thirty different simulations of nuclear attack in Northeast Asia. In these scenarios, the scale of destruction far outstripped traditional estimates. We speak to experts on what needs to be done to avoid such calamity.

Guests:
Suzuki Tatsujiro (Professor, Nagasaki University)
Hikawa Kazuko (Professor, Graduate School of Osaka Jogakuin University)

"We don't want our son to suffer like us," one Japanese farmer said, with tears in her eyes. The price of chemical fertilizer has increased by 1.7 times in just three years, with the country now relying on imports for almost all the ingredients. Fuel and livestock feed prices are also shooting up, putting more Japanese farmers in difficult situations. According to a survey, nearly half of Japanese agricultural corporations are now in the red. Against this backdrop, organic farming is gaining renewed attention. We take a look at efforts to save Japanese farming and help ensure the country's food security.

Guests:
Suzuki Nobuhiro (Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Sekine Kae (Professor, Aichi Gakuin University)

Tourists have been returning to Japan in increasing numbers. But in a marked difference to the boom of the pre-pandemic era, a growing number of visitors are now venturing away from the big cities to enjoy the charms of quieter, less busy destinations. According to one survey comparing a 3-month period this year with the same period in 2019, the 10 locations that enjoyed the sharpest increase in arrivals are all in regional Japan. We visited some of these hidden gems to see what it is that appeals to international visitors and spoke with tourism experts about the growing desire for a more authentic experience of Japan's local communities.

Guest:
Frank Walter (Editor, japan-guide.com)

With energy costs rising sharply, one Japanese family we caught up with has successfully halved their electricity bill thanks to solar panels and a storage battery. In Japan, the number of new installations of home solar panels peaked in 2012. But it has been increasing again in recent years in what's being called a "second phase." We look at the benefits being enjoyed in several real-world scenarios. We also report on a community effort where a private company remotely controls the solar panels and batteries of hundreds of households to stabilize the energy supply and create local autonomy.

Guest:
Iida Tetsunari (Founder & Chairperson, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies)

One in every three people in Japan develops shingles by the age of 80. The virus can cause constant pain and severe itching, and sometimes leads to even more severe symptoms. An unprecedented large-scale study done in Miyazaki Prefecture shows that the incidence rate has been rising in almost all age groups. We focus on the increase in cases for people between the ages of 20 and 50. We also report on painful aftereffects that can last for years, and talk to an expert about 10 keys for the early detection of the virus.

Guest:
Matsuo Koma, M.D., Ph.D. (Lecturer, The Jikei University School of Medicine)

Japanese chess, or shogi, has a history dating back centuries. But in October, Fujii Sota accomplished something that's never been done before. A miraculous come-from-behind victory in an Oza title match made him the first holder of all eight major shogi titles. In the final stage of the match, an AI projection gave him just a one-percent chance of winning. How did he beat the odds? And what did defending champion Nagase Takuya do to let him back in the game? We're joined in studio by a former champion shogi player and Fujii's mentor to discuss the historic showdown between the "genius" and the "hardest working player in shogi."

Guests:
Watanabe Akira (Professional shogi player)
Sugimoto Masataka (Professional shogi player / Fujii's Mentor)

Cutting-edge technology is creating a range of plant-based food from omelets made with an almond-based egg substitute to pork-broth ramen without meat. These food tech products could hold the key to solving food shortages and may help reduce food loss. But are they really safe? How close are the taste and texture to the originals? Alongside experts in the field, we take a closer look at what we might be eating in the future.

Guests:
Ujiie Kiyokazu (Associate Professor, Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba)
Ikegami Saori (Representative Director, Japan Soyfood Meister Association)

Gendered innovations have the potential to help change society for the better by scientifically analyzing gender differences and what they mean at the deepest level. With heart disease, for example, research found that women are at higher risk of having its onset go unnoticed, so the number of female-specific heart facilities is increasing. In the automobile industry, completely different crash test dummies for men and women are used in accident simulations to accurately assess injury risks. We take a look at these and other innovations brought about through studying gender differences.

Guest:
Sasaki Narie (Project Professor, Institute for Gendered Innovations, Ochanomizu University)

Japan exported about 380 billion yen of marine products in 2022. The figure has more than doubled in a decade. Growth is being driven by an expanding global market. While wild-caught fish shipments have remained steady for the last 30 years, the quantity of farmed marine food has grown seven-fold. However, there is a big rival to Japanese ambitions in the field. Norway holds a dominant position in the world market when it comes to salmon and is looking to other species through collaborative efforts between private firms and the government. What does Japan need to do to become more accepted globally? We bring you the latest on those efforts.

Guest: 
Ariji Masahiko (Professor, World Economy Research Institute, Kindai University)

The global average temperature hit a record high this year. As the effects of extreme weather due to climate change spread around the world, the number of people forced to flee their homes is growing sharply. Experts say the rise in climate migrants, or "climate refugees," could destabilize the world, but the international community has yet to set a legal framework to help these people. What should developed nations, which bear a greater responsibility for causing climate change, do to tackle the problem? In the first half of a two-part series, our anchor Kuwako Maho reports from Africa on the devastating effects of "the global boiling era."

The world's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate as human consumption spurs ever-greater demand for new farmland. Climate change is also causing deforestation, resulting in more carbon dioxide in the air. In order to break this vicious cycle, developed nations including Japan are under pressure to take on more responsibility. In the second half of a two-part series, our anchor Kuwako Maho visits Europe and Africa to report on the latest efforts to revitalize forests and slow climate change.