In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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?