In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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 illegal operations.

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 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 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 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 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.