Today's Close-Up

A Japan Airlines passenger jet hit a Japan Coast Guard plane on a runway at Haneda Airport on January 2. Five personnel on the JCG aircraft died, but all 379 people on board the passenger jet survived in an evacuation some have called a "miracle." NHK looks into the circumstances surrounding the two aircraft and the flight controllers. Together with aviation experts, we analyze why the fail-safe system didn't work and how the successful evacuation was made.

Guest:
Inoue Shinichi (Aviation analyst, Former All Nippon Airways captain)

How do we face a turbulent world in 2024? We asked Nishi Kanako, an award-winning author whose books have been resonating with readers for 20 years. One of the main themes of her work is "reclaiming your body and mind from society." This became much more relevant to her after she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. In her latest work, "Watashi ni Aitai," she depicts people struggling with life in the modern world who nonetheless find reasons for hope. She talks to us about the different shapes happiness can take.

Guest:
Nishi Kanako (Author)

Generative Artificial Intelligence has begun impacting many aspects of our lives today. We can see content created by AI in advertising on the street, TV commercials, movies and more. While AI can create high-quality content that would pass for real, there are growing concerns about copyright. Voice actors, for example, are alarmed by videos on social media featuring their voices on songs they have never sung. How can we tackle such challenges, and will society be able to keep up with the technology as it grows and evolves?

Guests:
Anno Takahiro (Sci-fi writer / creator)
Fukui Kensaku (Lawyer, Japan / New York State, USA)

The Asaichi morning market in Ishikawa Prefecture's Wajima City was a bustling social and economic hub where roughly 200 businesses sold fresh seafood and locally produced crafts. Now the street lies in ruins, decimated by an inferno triggered by the New Year's Day earthquake. For locals and business owners, the loss has been incalculable. Although some have vowed to stay put in Wajima, many have been forced to evacuate to other parts of the prefecture, or even further afield. NHK spent a month with some of these residents, chronicling their struggles, and capturing their fears and hopes for the future of their home.

Guest: 
Tamba Fuminori (Professor, Ritsumeikan University)

Five-star luxury hotels have long been somewhat of a rarity in Japan. But more are popping up around the country as foreign-based operators look to cash in on a tourism boom. Japan's government is fully on board and aims to more than double the number of foreign visitors to 60 million by 2030. But the surge in tourism is causing side effects for domestic travelers and local communities. We speak to an expert about what can be done to ensure the hotel gold rush doesn't just benefit the affluent but also contributes to a brighter future in Japan.

Guest:
Sawayanagi Tomohiko (Specially Appointed Professor, Rikkyo University)

The Japanese stock market is enjoying a historical surge. On February 20, the Nikkei Stock Average edged up to just 92 points short of the all-time high, recorded on the last trading day of 1989. Is this a bubble or a valuation correction? We look at a range of factors with expert analysis to see what's really going on and why ordinary people are not necessarily feeling the benefit.

Guests:
Itami Hiroyuki (Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University)
Kumagai Mitsumaru (Deputy Chairman, Daiwa Institute of Research)

More than three months after the powerful New Year's Day earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula and surrounding region, many of the survivors who lost their homes and businesses are struggling to put their lives back together. We spent time with some of the vendors who used to ply their trade on the famous Wajima morning market street. Some described being unable to meet the onerous criteria for home repairs payments. Others said they can't afford the hefty up-front payments required to get business support subsidies. Despite these formidable barriers, the vendors have found a way to work together to help each other through a trying time. We asked an expert what needs to change so that desperately-needed financial help can get to the people who need it most. 

Guest: 
Okamoto Tadashi (Attorney at Law)