In-depth News Features | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Efforts to tackle homelessness in the Japanese city of Osaka are having knock-on effects that are resolving a series of other issues facing the metropolis – from illegally parked bicycles to abandoned dwellings.

Win-win solutions are being led by non-profit groups offering employment and shelter to people who have troubled backstories but still want to contribute to society.

For Japan's remote communities, the country's shrinking population is an existential crisis. Towns and villages are losing people along with the precious tax dollars that keep essential services afloat.

But a former mining town that's nestled in Yamagata Prefecture's mountains has harnessed a wave of support through a "digital residency" program that's attracting the attention of other struggling localities.

Japan's fertility rate is shrinking and so is its population. For some children that means the simple pleasure of playing team sports with classmates can no longer be taken for granted. And as one remote high school struggles with that issue, a tech firm is offering a virtual reality solution.

The number of young people in rural areas is declining, hit by falling fertility rates and migration into the big cities, and Japanese agriculture is increasingly relying on workers from abroad to take their place.

Youth unemployment is shaping up as a major obstacle in India’s efforts to maintain one of the world's fastest growing economies. NHK World spoke with former central bank governor Raghuram Rajan on potential solutions.

George Bory is the chief investment strategist for the fixed income team at Allspring Global Investments. He recently visited Tokyo and spoke with NHK World’s Hirata Miyu and Esaki Daisuke about the potential impact of US President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda on the US economy in 2025.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Japanese mountaineers Hiraide Kazuya and Nakajima Kenro have posthumously received 2024's Piolet d'Or for the unprecedented feat of ascending the northern wall of Tirich Mir in Pakistan in 2023.

The Piolet d'Or award is considered the highest honor in the climbing world. It is given to those who achieve imaginative and innovative climbing by scaling a mountain through new routes while using simple techniques.

In July, 2024, Hiraide and Nakajima attempted to climb K2 — the world's second-highest mountain, using a route no one had successfully climbed before — and fell to their deaths.

The two often said taking on a challenge was what drove them to be so bold.

A doctor from Myanmar has been caring for displaced people at her clinic in Thailand for three decades. She says since her native country’s 2021 military coup, the situation has dramatically worsened.

Dr. Cynthia Maung is the founder of the Mae Tao Clinic, which was honored in 2002 with the Ramon Magsaysay Award – known as the Asian Nobel Peace Prize.

A little over a year ago, Japan's Noto Peninsula was shaken by a powerful earthquake. About nine months later, when many people were finding their footing, torrential rains swept through, causing even more destruction. The city of Suzu, perched on the tip of the Noto Peninsula, bore the brunt of both disasters. One man saw his home devastated both times, but instead of succumbing to despair, he became even more determined to help rebuild the community he loves.

The weak yen is luring record numbers of visitors to Japan, and the tourism industry is now turning its attention to travelers who can deliver a bigger economic impact.

In April, Japan began issuing 6-month residency visas to traveling remote workers known as digital nomads who can show they earn at least 10 million yen per year. NHK World visited Shimoda City in Shizuoka Prefecture, a coastal city south of Tokyo, that is banking on these fresh arrivals to breathe new life into its community.