Feature stories with video and in-depth analysis on the latest news from Japan, Asia and beyond, produced by Japanese public media.
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Make sure to evacuate early. It is dangerous to evacuate on foot or by car in the middle of a flood. Here are some important points that will help keep you safe.
This year's Fourth of July was one for the history books. Across the United States, millions gathered to mark a major milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The nation celebrated with parades, barbecues, and spectacular fireworks. Some of the brightest displays that lit up the night sky featured a little Japanese know-how…and NHK World went behind the scenes to find out more.
The World Cup brought soccer's biggest stars to the United States. Now, one nonprofit organization in New York City is trying to ensure the tournament has a lasting impact, creating opportunities for future talents. NHK World’s Inoue Yuki reports.
Twelve American prisoners of war died when their own country dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. An 8-year-old survivor of the blast would spend more than four decades ensuring they were not forgotten.
The five-division world champion learned to navigate professional boxing by thinking for herself and delivering results. After the historic Hall of Fame induction, Fujioka Naoko is channeling that hard-earned experience into research to make sport safer, and more accessible for all. NHK World's Hattori Naoko explores how one of Japan's greatest boxing pioneers is redefining what it means to leave a legacy.
South Korea is emerging as one of the world's key players in the defense industry. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are driving demand for weapons as Seoul pursues an ambitious goal of becoming one of the world's top four military exporters. NHK Seoul Bureau correspondent Yamashita Ryota examines the weaponry, companies and strategy behind that push.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington has no regrets about taking military action against Iran — and may even have waited too long. In an exclusive interview with NHK, he warned that Tehran faces economic collapse unless it agrees to a deal and pointed to Japan's capabilities as countries seek to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This interview took place in the Philippines on July 23. Comments have been edited for clarity and brevity.
French actor Jean Reno has been touring Japan with a one-man play drawn from his own life. Alone onstage, acting and singing, he revisits his childhood as the son of immigrants, the struggle to balance his work and his children, and how his memories of his parents still shape him. NHK World's Rodrigue Maillard-Belmonte sat down with Reno to learn the story behind his story, and find out why he chose to explore his personal history now.
A new generation of Japanese filmmakers is emerging across a wide range of genres, their work winning critical acclaim at film festivals around the world. The recognition follows the success of directors like Koreeda Hirokazu and Kitano Takeshi, who have been captivating global audiences for decades.
Millions of people across the Philippines rely on the jeepney — a colorful, open-air minibus — to get to and from work. But in recent months, they’ve had a harder time finding the iconic vehicles, with soaring gasoline and diesel prices forcing many jeepney drivers off the road. But where the traditional mode of transit has stalled, a Japanese startup has seen a big opportunity.
The secret to a successful business in New York City might have whiskers and paws. Walk into many of the city's 10,000 corner stores known as bodegas, and you might find a "bodega cat" beckoning customers like a live version of a Japanese lucky "Maneki-neko" figure. From an orange tabby making an extra 400 dollars a day to a feisty feline that took on a health inspector, NHK World's Inoue Yuki went behind the storefronts to meet some of the hardest-working (and cutest) shopkeepers in the Big Apple.
Officials and experts gathered in Singapore at the end of May for one of Asia's most influential security forums. This year's Shangri-La Dialogue unfolded against a backdrop of growing uncertainty. As crises in Europe and the Middle East continue to demand US strategic attention and resources, governments across the Indo-Pacific are increasingly questioning Washington's long-term commitment to the region. NHK spoke with a former senior US official, a Chinese expert and a former Singaporean diplomat who attended the forum. Some of their views differed sharply, but all three agreed on one point:
Seven decades have passed since the devastating effects of Minamata disease — caused by mercury poisoning — were officially recognized in southwestern Japan. The tragedy affected thousands of people and their families with a legacy that continues to cast a long shadow. A similar crisis is developing on the other side of the world, among indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest. Driven by soaring gold prices, illegal mining that uses mercury in the extraction process is spreading rapidly, polluting the waters from where local people source fish as a dietary staple.
Pokemon cards, Purikura photo booths and capsule toys all began as trends before becoming fixtures of everyday life in Japan. Now, businesses are wondering whether 3D bubble stickers could be next. The puffy stickers are surging in popularity among children and adults alike. Retailers struggle to keep them in stock as shoppers embark on "sticker patrols" to hunt for inventory and companies cash in.
Cancer patients in Thailand are finding comfort ― and confidence ― through an unusual network of support: donated hair, prison workshops, and free handmade wigs. Human-hair wigs can cost hundreds of dollars in Thailand, putting them out of reach for many patients already struggling with medical bills. A former nurse is trying to change that.
As Japan heads into another busy tourist season, bus companies across the country are struggling to keep the wheels turning with driver shortages forcing route cuts and service reductions. Increasingly, they are turning to foreign recruits who can come to Japan on skilled worker visas. The new arrivals undergo comprehensive training to eventually qualify as full-fledged drivers capable of operating safely and communicating with passengers.
As gold prices have quadrupled over the past decade, miners across the globe are scrambling to cash in. But the boom has cast a dark shadow across South America's Amazon rainforest. Illegal mining has spiraled out of control in Peru, where more than 40 percent of exported gold is sourced unlawfully, according to an official government survey. Methods used to extract the precious metal are inflicting severe damage on the environment ― including mercury contamination ― and harming local communities. An NHK World crew traveled to the front lines where authorities are trying to crack down on illeg
A senior United Nations monitor who has authored multiple reports on Myanmar since a 2021 military coup upended its fragile democracy is warning the country is sinking deeper into crisis. Tom Andrews served as Special Rapporteur on Myanmar for six years and finished up in the post in April. He now holds the same position covering Cambodia but says he wishes he could have done more for the people of Myanmar. In a frank interview with NHK World, Andrews details a nation in despair as attacks on civilians increase and the international community turns its attention to other global conflicts.
Japan has tightened the requirements for its business manager residence status, which allows foreign nationals to start businesses in the country. The move was driven by multiple concerns, including misuse of the visa. While the crackdown aims to restore trust in the system, experts say it also risks pushing legitimate foreign entrepreneurs away from Japan. NHK World's Ekuan Koji listens to voices of those involved to explore this unfolding dilemma.
As US President Donald Trump's administration floods the public sphere with updates on its offensive against Iran, information is being circulated on an unprecedented scale — with much of it stirring controversy. NHK has examined the deluge of images, videos, and statements, searching for a coherent message.
Every year on March 11, Suzuki Miho prepares food for two children who left for school and never came home. The Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that struck northeastern Japan left 15,901 people dead and 2,519 missing — including Miho’s young son and daughter.
Visitors to Japan can put a popular tourist attraction back on their sightseeing lists with the re-opening of the Edo-Tokyo Museum. The facility has been closed for four years of renovations to improve exhibits, upgrade accessibility and offer interactive experiences.
The symbolic Doomsday Clock is ticking closer than ever to midnight, driven in part by concerns about the resurgent specter of nuclear weapons. In New York City, an exhibition invited visitors to reflect on those dangers in an unexpected way — through art. The show, titled "Nuclear Injustice," brought together photographs, installations and sound pieces that invite reflection on the human and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons. One installation by Japanese American artist Alan Nakagawa drew particular attention, using sound to connect two places inextricably linked by the atomic bom
Growing up in a conservative family in southern Thailand, Ann Chumaporn spent years convinced the problem was her. It took time to understand that it wasn't ― and longer to do something about it. On January 23, 2026, she held a wedding ceremony with the woman she loves, in a country whose laws she helped change.
Japanese wines are picking up international awards — but global traction is another story. In a climate defined by humidity and rain, producers are getting creative, taking cues from sake and whisky to carve out a distinct identity.
