In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The Southeast Asian island nation of Timor-Leste, formerly known as East Timor, will celebrate 20 years of independence in May. The former leader who led the country in its early years spoke with NHK World about those difficult first steps, and his hopes for the future.

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 bombing of Hiroshima.

Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party swept the popular vote in a general election earlier this month, pulling off an upset victory that some saw as a sign of disillusionment with years of military-backed rule. For party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, however, the path to power remains beset with hurdles. Pita recently sat down with NHK for his first interview with foreign media since negotiating a fragile coalition that's vying for control of Thailand's lower house.

His remarks have been edited for brevity and clarity.

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.

In a Chinese town on the border with North Korea, a cosmetic enhancement item plays a key role in the dramatic revival of trade between the two countries.

Chances are, you're reading this on a smartphone or PC. These gadgets are an essential part of daily life — but not without immense pain for some people. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a major source of rare minerals used in all manner of modern devices. The industry is rife with human rights abuses, and many companies simply turn a blind eye in the name of profit. At least two in Japan are finding innovative ways to end the suffering.

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.

North Korea's first congress of the ruling Workers' Party in five years was an opportunity for the leadership to assess its achievements, install new officials, and chart policy for the coming half-decade. Leader Kim Jong Un projected a conspicuous air of confidence at the February gathering as he touted successes across all sectors — including the economy, defense, and diplomacy. NHK World's Takeda Tomonari takes a closer look at the newfound air of self-assurance in Pyongyang — and whether it's warranted.

More than 80 years have passed since Japan occupied Singapore during World War Two, and historian Lim Shao Bin continues to search for answers buried in documents and war memorabilia — from a chapter of history that still shapes his country today. His work is deeply personal, driven by a conviction that confronting painful truths is essential to building lasting peace. At its core is a question: how can societies pursue peace without forgetting the past?

Award-winning Myanmar writer Ma Thida says reading and critical thinking are essential tools of resistance — and the foundation of any future democracy. Speaking during a three-city tour of Japan, the former political prisoner, now living in exile in Germany, reflected on post-coup Myanmar, where the military continues to entrench its power despite claiming a return to civilian rule.

South Korea's former president Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of insurrection. The punishment was handed down on February 19 by the Seoul Central District Court and comes 443 days after his declaration of martial law plunged the country into political turmoil. NHK World editor-in-chief and former Seoul bureau chief Aoki Yoshiyuki examines what it means for South Korea's political landscape.

The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are often taught as history. But for some young people in Japan, they are just as relevant today, and have become a reason to act. Touched by the stories of survivors known as hibakusha, they are choosing to step forward with new ways of keeping their messages alive.

It's been a year since dozens of countries got together to enforce a landmark ban on nuclear weapons, yet the goal of eradication seems as distant as ever. For the states that refused to sign the treaty—countries with nuclear arms and others under their protection—discussions to prevent further spread of nuclear arms are not progressing. That stalemate has prompted some to ask: If the world's most powerful countries can't even agree to slim their nuclear arsenal, what hope is there of abolishing the weapons altogether?

Over the 12-year period that followed World War Two, the United States tested dozens of nuclear bombs in the Marshall Islands. Residents of the Pacific nation are still grappling with the consequences. Now, however, they face a potentially greater threat.

An elementary school student in Japan has created a picture book about being assigned female at birth but identifying as a boy. The experience has instilled Ayano with a new sense of courage, and helped other people understand the struggle many similar children face in a society slow to support the LGBTQ community.

Nuclear disarmament is one of the key issues at the G7 Summit this week. It has become even more pressing in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as emerging threats from China and North Korea.

A Japanese filmmaker has taken up the story of an atomic bomb survivor whose memory she is determined to honor. Director Kawase Mika wants her documentary "The Postman from Nagasaki" to remind the world that the nuclear horrors inflicted on Japan must never be repeated.

Activists calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons have long relied on the powerful testimonies of atomic bomb survivors, or hibakusha, to grow their movement. But with ever fewer people to offer that testimony, both the hibakusha and activists know those days are running out. NHK World's Yoshida Mayu speaks to different generations who have a common goal: a world without nuclear weapons.

Almost everyone is familiar with Pac-Man, the little yellow character that chomps its way around a maze with its signature "waka-waka" sound. This classic arcade game helped launch Japanese video games onto the global stage, blazing a trail for Mario and Pokémon. The iconic orb is celebrating its 45th anniversary, and it remains as instantly recognizable and beloved as ever.

NHK World's Inoue Yuki explores a New York exhibition highlighting its lasting impact on gaming, design, and pop culture.

Young people in Thailand have grown up against a backdrop of political chaos and drama. They will have their say in shaping their country's future on February 8 at the House of Representatives election ― but as NHK World discovers, many are torn between security issues and hopes for reform.

It has been over a month since Australia introduced a sweeping social media ban, cutting anyone under the age of 16 from major social media platforms. While the government says millions of accounts have been deactivated, many teens in the country say they have found ways to get around the ban, rendering it ineffective.

Ernest Satoru Arai was 10 years old when the world entered the nuclear age. It was August 6, 1945 ― the young Japanese-American was in Hiroshima for schooling when US forces dropped the atomic bomb that devastated the city. Arai suffered severe burns and radiation exposure that have defined his life ever since. 

Now 91, he serves as a peace volunteer at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, sharing his harrowing experience with visitors from every corner of the globe.

Esports has transformed from a niche hobby into a global phenomenon. Players can log on and compete with rivals anywhere in the world, with major tournaments drawing massive audiences to a market already worth billions of dollars. While gaming has long been seen as the preserve of the young, a recent event in Tokyo challenged that stereotype.

Myanmar's military junta is pressing ahead with a disputed election, the first since the 2021 coup. The voting is being conducted in three regional phases, the first of which took place on December 28. The process is scheduled to conclude by the end of January. While the junta is aiming to use the ballot to legitimize its rule, intense fighting continues to prevent voting across large swaths of the country. From Japan, members of Myanmar's diaspora say voters face pressure and intimidation where polls remain open.

Rosalina Harada Mondragon has been waiting her whole life to be recognized as Japanese. She was born in the Philippines in 1940 to a Japanese father killed during the Pacific War. 

Rosalina is one of thousands of children to Japanese fathers left behind at the end of the conflict. Many became stateless. Eight decades later, 50 survivors are still fighting to be acknowledged by Japan.

Japan's economy is facing mixed signals as 2026 gets underway. Stock market optimism, persistent inflationary pressure, and widening economic gaps will shape the year ahead. NHK Deputy Chief Commentator Iida Kaori breaks down the key forces likely to influence the economic outlook — from wages and prices to interest rates and global risks.

*This piece originally aired on NHK NEWSLINE on January 7. It has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Scientists from around the world gathered in Hiroshima in November with the aim of charting a path toward a world free of nuclear weapons. Chairing the conference was Iraqi nuclear chemist Hussain Al-Shahristani, a man whose own life has been defined by the moral boundaries of science — and by the price he once paid for refusing to cross them.

New Yorkers are preparing to bid farewell to a familiar companion: the MetroCard. Sales of the ubiquitous farecard are set to end by late 2025. For more than three decades, the card could be found in almost every wallet or pocket, swiped daily by the millions who navigated the city's subway. Few of them knew that a Japanese designer's work quietly shaped the way generations of riders moved through the city.

Composer and musician Shibuya Keiichiro continues to challenge audiences with multimedia productions that marry cutting-edge technology with difficult questions about life and death. His latest work, an android opera, was born out of his own experience of loss.

Across Asia, Generation Z ― born between 1997 and 2012 ― is no longer fighting alone. Driven by anger over corruption and inequality, young protesters are finding allies far beyond their borders. Through social media and shared pop-culture symbols ― including the Japanese manga "One Piece" flag ― their local struggles are increasingly linked with movements in Africa and South America.