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In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

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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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Goodbye, NYC MetroCard

Goodbye, NYC MetroCard

2025-12-2306:23

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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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