In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

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.

Fake news, including AI-generated videos, flooded social media in the wake of a major earthquake that struck northern Japan on December 8. NHK World's Yabuuchi Junya explains why people post disinformation, and what we should do when we see it.

A Syrian filmmaker whose documentary about the refugee experience in Europe has found an unexpected source of inspiration during a trip to Japan. Ammar al-Beik's work was honored at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in October — and during his stay he ran a workshop for local schoolchildren.

Those children, who al-Beik describes as "angels," helped bolster his confidence and strength as he continues to heal from the trauma that has marked his life.

Manga is a 14 billion-dollar industry for Japan, but it would be even bigger if it weren't for online sites offering stolen versions of the comics. A Tokyo start-up hopes artificial intelligence will ride to the rescue. Its specialized AI system can translate manga into multiple languages in just days, getting the latest volumes into fans' hands quickly and providing a powerful weapon to fight the pirates.

Anime has captured the hearts of fans and critics worldwide. Every year, the Japanese industry racks up billions in profits and countless awards. But the gulf between the polished product on the screen and life at the coalface for the creators couldn't be greater. So tough are the conditions for most young animators that they can barely afford food.

One CG animator who got tired of seeing his fellow workers quit decided to do something about it. Ten years ago, he opened a subsidized dorm for young animators where they can sharpen their skills and bond with fellow strugglers.

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.

A year has passed since South Korea's then-president Yoon Suk-yeol rocked the country with a sudden martial law declaration, but the fallout continues. The nation has since voted in a new leader, yet it remains enveloped in confusion over leadership and governance. 
 
While Yoon and many of his henchmen are in custody facing trial, some conservatives still speak highly of the former president. NHK World editor-in-chief and former Seoul bureau chief Aoki Yoshiyuki examines the current political climate.

Men in Japan are grappling with a problem that has traditionally been one for women alone: The struggle to balance work and childcare. New government data shows a record share of fathers are taking paternity leave, and more men are taking on a greater share of housework, too. But deep-rooted stereotypes mean even though dads are more invested at home, they're not getting any let-up at the office.

For International Men's Day on November 19, NHK World's Katsumata Chieko took a look at the mounting pressures on Japanese fathers in the modern era.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shattered the daily lives of people across the country. Schools have been destroyed, upending the education system. Although schooling has continued online, in underground classrooms and shelters, millions of students and teachers have been displaced. Many people have had to part with their fathers, husbands, and siblings who are fighting in the war. All of this is taking a toll on mental health.

NHK World’s Sekiya Satoshi explains how educators in Japan and Ukraine are working together to overcome the crisis.

Young people from Japan and South Korea are finding new ways to work together ― and talk more openly about the past. At a youth forum in Sapporo this summer, 34 students from the two countries teamed up on economic projects ranging from food to tourism and technology, discovering common ground along the way.

The 20th Japan–Korea Students Future Forum was held in August as the two countries marked 60 years since restoring diplomatic ties. The relationship has had its ups and downs, but the 18 South Koreans and 16 Japanese delegates who joined this year's exchange said they found plenty of shared goals.

One of New York City's most iconic street celebrations features a "Thriller" dance performance — but only a lucky few get chosen to join the choreographed spectacle. NHK World correspondent Inoue Yuki met a Japanese academic who took quite the journey to participate.

Japan celebrated when two of its scientists won Nobel Prizes in October. But their wins came amid growing concerns about the future of scientific research ― and both laureates are among those calling for change, reports NHK World's Ishizaka Sae Christine Hall.

Taiwan has been investing in a new air defense system, as the United States and governments around the world take similar steps. NHK World's Sekiya Satoshi explains why everyone is focused on the skies, and why this is all happening now.

School absences in Japan have hit a record high. An education ministry survey released on October 29 showed that over 350,000 elementary and junior high students were chronically absent during the 2024 academic year. The figure has been increasing for 12 straight years. NHK World's Katsumata Chieko explains why concerned experts are calling for systemic educational changes.

Japan has just named its first female prime minister ― a milestone for a country ranked 118th in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index. At the other end of the scale sits Iceland, which has topped the index for 16 straight years. The country took a leap forward 50 years ago when 90% of its women stopped working, doing housework, or looking after their children for a nationwide protest known as "Women's Day Off." The strike forced the nation to recognize the value of women's labor, and remains a lesson in spurring equality.

A painting in a Japanese corporate collection is at the center of a forgery storm as the latest in a string of uncovered fakes by notorious German scammer Wolfgang Beltracchi. 

For many years, gallery visitors have been admiring "Kiki de Montparnasse" as the work of Polish-French painter Moïse Kisling. Suspicions over its authenticity came to light in April. An NHK investigation has uncovered a wave of forgeries held in Japan, and a possible case in Spain.

A Japanese journalist was killed in Myanmar in 2007 while covering large-scale protests against the military government. Nagai Kenji never let go of his video camera, even after he was shot and fell to the ground. Eighteen years after his death, new allegations have emerged about what later happened to his camera and the tape inside it.

Japan gave a helping hand to Sri Lanka, which is now emerging from its recent period of economic chaos. The leader of the strategically important South Asian island nation visited Tokyo and Osaka last month with the aim of deepening ties and promoting investment opportunities.

The terms "adult diapers" and "fashion show" are concepts that at first glance do not seem to belong together. But an unconventional event at the World Expo in Osaka brought together seven diaper manufacturers and an underwear company to showcase innovative diaper designs. The initiative was aimed at alleviating the apprehensions some individuals have about wearing the products.

South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee was in the dock this week as her showstopper criminal trial got underway in the Seoul Central District Court. While her husband Yoon Suk-yeol faces his own legal troubles over a martial law move during his failed presidency, 53-year-old Kim faces a raft of charges, including stock manipulation and corruption.

She has been in custody since August and her case ― involving diamonds and designer handbags alleged to have been received as bribes ― is linked to the controversial group formerly known as the Unification Church.

The leader of what is now called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), Han Hak-ja, was arrested on September 23 on charges of improper solicitation, graft and embezzlement.

NHK World editor-in-chief and former Seoul bureau chief Aoki Yoshiyuki looks at the case so far and its impact beyond the headlines.

For the past 21 months, Palestinian artist Maysaa Youssef has been hosting workshops for traumatized Gaza children to help them process the horrors they experience on an almost daily basis. I first spoke with her in June, and since then I've been in regular contact with her through text messages and video calls.

South Korea's conservative ruling party is lurching from one crisis to another. It lost its president to impeachment following a months-long scandal over an ill-fated martial law declaration, and is now beset by infighting over who should replace him. With campaigning underway for a snap June election, the party finds itself in disarray against an increasingly emboldened opposition.

NHK World's Aoki Yoshiyuki, a former Seoul bureau chief, explains.

It's not just former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol who finds himself in hot water now that a new administration has been voted in. His enigmatic wife, Kim Keon-hee, is also under fire over a series of allegations involving stock manipulation, political interference and bribery.

The country's National Assembly has passed bills allowing for three special counsels to investigate the couple ― and as they turn their attention to Kim, she has become a hot topic. Kim faced her first round of formal interrogation at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul on August 6.

NHK World editor-in-chief Aoki Yoshiyuki, a former Seoul bureau chief, delves into the scandal.

The Burma campaign is remembered as one of the fiercest series of battles of World War Two. It claimed the lives of 190,000 Japanese soldiers as well as a large number of civilians. Over six decades, an annual Buddhist service has been held during July in western Japan's Wakayama Prefecture to pay tribute to those who died. 

This year, as the service marked its 60th anniversary, attendees included a university student with roots in Myanmar — the country formerly known as Burma — as well as a historian from Singapore.

Apple is one of America's most recognizable brands. A tech juggernaut known for its innovations in consumer electronics, it is also one of the country's most successful cultural exports. But as one of the company's most famous designers once said, "Apple's soul is half Japanese." The company's connection with Japan dates back to its early years, when Jobs turned to Sony Chairman Morita Akio for inspiration.

Tech icon Steve Jobs was fascinated by Japanese culture, and was particularly passionate about shin-hanga woodblock prints. Interviews with former colleagues and friends reveal that his lifelong love of the art form had its origins in a childhood friendship.

Thousands of people have died in recent years trying to reach Europe via the Canary Islands. Young people from Senegal are seeking more than what their country can give them – even though the nation’s economy is expected to grow, and it offers relative peace and stability compared with its West African neighbors. Three-quarters of Senegal’s 18 million residents are under age 35.

NHK World’s former Johannesburg Bureau Chief Kobayashi Yu visited Senegal to find out why so many young Senegalese try to leave.

The list of atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima includes students from overseas who were staying in the city at the time. Their stories are little-known, but their actions in the bombing’s aftermath left a lasting impact.

One man who feels a connection with them is sharing their stories and their legacy eight decades since the devastating attack.

South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung has made his first foray into global diplomacy with trips to Japan and the United States. Meetings with the leaders of those two countries both took place in a positive atmosphere and are being regarded as a success.

NHK World editor-in-chief and former Seoul bureau chief Aoki Yoshiyuki looks at how the visits played out ― and considers critical issues that were left out of the talks and need to be addressed in the future.

Each of the planet's highest 14 mountains stand more than 8,000 meters tall. Located in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges across Nepal and Pakistan, the top of the peaks are called "death zones", where oxygen is one third of what it is on the ground.

Now that the United States has reached a trade deal with Japan, NHK World's Inoue Yuki looks at what's next for Asia, especially as China continues to negotiate. He speaks with experts from two US thinktanks to gain special insight.

South Korea reached a trade agreement with the United States just ahead of the August 1 deadline. US tariffs will be set at 15 percent, the same rate as those levied on Japan and the EU. NHK World's Kitai Genki spoke with an expert about the background and implications of the deal.

Tomino Yoshiyuki's traumatic childhood experience of World War Two left an indelible impression on his young mind. The raging conflict, which ended 80 years ago this year, eventually inspired him to create the globally renown anime franchise 'Mobile Suit Gundam,' one of the most celebrated depictions of the tragedy of war. The 83-year-old recently spoke with NHK about his most famous work, and why the themes it explores resonate more forcefully now than ever.

A piano tuner in Hiroshima has been travelling across Japan and beyond for decades, sharing the stories of his pianos that survived one of the most destructive events in human history. Nearly eight decades after the U.S. atomic bombing of his city, he has joined together with an unlikely ally on a journey he calls "planting the seeds of peace."