(LinkAsia: October 19, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Japan and China have a big economic stake in each other. Their trading relationship is worth over $300 billion every year. But now, anti-Japan sentiment in China has driven down the sales of Japanese cars to the point that some Japanese brand names are disappearing from Chinese roads. For more on this story, here's Japanese broadcaster NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 16, 2012

Reporter:
Nissan Motors unveiled a new passenger car last month, developed especially for the Chinese market. Nissan is a top seller of Japanese cars in China. The price of the 1600 c.c. Runabout starts from about $11,000 - almost the same as Chinese models. Nissan kept costs down by using more locally-made parts. Nissan executives hoped the new car launch would jump-start sales in the country. But the timing couldn't have been worse. Anti-Japanese sentiment is running high. Company managers say the impact on sales has been larger than expected.

Carlos Ghosn:
This is the kind of crisis we really that we really don't like because it is completely outside the reach of the companies. You know, political situation is very emotional between the two countries, and you're caught in the middle.

Reporter:
Japanese automakers have been forced to keep a lower profile since the Senkaku issue erupted. That means less, sometimes no product promotion. This motor show held in Tianjin last month is a key event on the industry calendar. But Honda, Mitsubishi and Fuji all pulled out at the last moment. The situation is made worse by a spreading consumer boycott targeting Japanese products.

Anonymous:
Because of the Senkaku issue, I'm going to buy a German car.

Anonymous:
Given the political problems I don't think it's a good idea to buy a Japanese car now.

Reporter:
One dealer of European cars is offering what they call "a patriotic service." It's a discount offer. Customers who replace their Japanese vehicles get more than $700 off the sticker price.

Anonymous:
We offer the patriotic service to peoplereplacing Japanese cars, no matter what brand they are.

Reporter:
Declining sales are now affecting output. Toyota and Nissan scaled back local production from September through October. Some plants cut operating days or shortened operating hours. More assembly lines could follow suit. Managers of Japanese automakers say they hope the sale slump is just a 'bump in the road' for their Chinese operations. But that could all depend on an improvement in Japan-China relations and there's no sign of that happening anytime soon. Akirhiro Mikoda, NHK World, Tianjin.

Yul Kwon:
Due to poor sales, Toyota is closing its Tianjin production plant for five days next week. Toyota's sales in China fell by almost 50 percent in September.

(LinkAsia: September 28, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
You would think that when the Chinese uses phrases like the "anti-fascist war" and accuse a "defeated country" of not recognizing the territorial rights of "a victorious nation", this would pretty much signal that relations between China and Japan are going into a deep freeze. But NHK talked to one Japanese expert who doesn't think that's the case.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 27, 2012

Akio Takahara:
Japan and China have never been closer before. We have thousands of years of a relationship, but now is the best in a way in the sense that economic exchange, cultural exchange, people to people exchange- the level of these things is higher than ever. So, we have to - don't just focus on the negative aspects of things, we have this great resilience in the relationship.

Reporter:
He said internal changes in China have helped inflame tensions.

Akio Takahara:
China is rising. And there's been an increase in the budgets of these law enforcement agencies, particularly in the sea. The people in China would expect them to be more assertive, particularly regarding issues of sovereignty.

Reporter:
Takahara says people on both sides have to understand the complexity of their ties.

Akio Takahara:
Everyone should pay more attention to this situation, and try to strengthen the resilience in the relationship. And try the weaken the fragility in the relationship. I think the forty year protest has taught us this.

(LinkAsia: September 14, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Japan is likely to face a general election toward the end of the year. The unpopular Noda government can't afford to be seen as weak. Its tough stance on the island dispute may be helping it in the polls. Here's more from Japan's public broadcaster, NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 10, 2012

Reporter:
The approval rating for Noda's cabinet is 31 percent. That's three percentage points higher than August. It's the first time in five months that that approval rating has gone above 30 percent. The disapproval rating is 53 percent, three percentage points lower than last month. Our poll also asked voters about a local group that's expected to become Japan's newest political party. Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto will lead Nippon Ishin-no-kai. He wants to challenge the established parties- the DPJ and LDP in the next general election. The poll suggests 54 percent of voters have some or high expectations for Hashimoto's party. And, of those with expectations, 40 percent say it's because Nippon Ishin-no-kai seems better than other parties.

(LinkAsia: August 24, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Meanwhile, the Japanese government has announced that it will move ahead with its plans to purchase at least some of the islands, which it calls the Senkaku, to make them national Japanese territory. To add insult to injury, the government is also trumpeting the start of a large military exercise with the United States. This will be the first time that Japanese ground forces will participate. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the story.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: August 21, 2012

Reporter:
Forty self-defense force personnel in Kyushu and Okinawa. Forty-two Navy vessels at the US White Beach naval facility in Uruma City, Okinawa. The Navy will use its amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard and the landing ship, the USS Tortuga. 

Vehicles and containers were loaded onto the decks. A military hovercraft was loaded in to the well deck of the assault ship. 

Members of Japan's self-defense forces have been training with marines based in California, but this is the first time they will take part in landing drills with those based in Okinawa. US military and SCS personnel are scheduled to depart in a few days for Tinian and Guam Island. They're located some 2,000 kilometers from Okinawa in the Western Pacific. 

The drill will employ marine vessels and helicopters. The exercise is viewed as a demonstration of bilateral cooperation at a time when China is increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan and the United States want to stage this first joint landing drill so that Japan can learn from the US how to beef up the defense of its Southwestern islands. For its part, the US wants to secure the Japan's cooperation in stressing Guam's strategic importance as it faces cuts in its defense budget.

Takao Nabeshima, NHK World, Okinawa.

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Yul Kwon:
While the US government has publicly stated that it will remain neutral in this territorial dispute, analysts quoted by China Daily say that the drill is a clear signal that the US is throwing its weight behind Japan.

(LinkAsia: July 13, 2012)
Yul Kwon:                                                                      
In addition to its dispute with South Korea, Japan is locked in a territorial struggle over another set of islands that it calls the Senkaku. Japan currently controls the uninhabited islands, but China and Taiwan are disputing its claim. Now the Japanese government is upping the ante. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the story.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: July 9, 2012

Reporter:
The five, uninhabited islets lie off Okinawa. The state owns one of them. It's been renting the others from a Japanese family since 2002. Now the Noda administration is considering buying them.

Osamu Fujimura, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary:
The purpose is to ensure peaceful and stable management of the islands and surrounding waters. Buying them instead of continuing the present one-year lease would help do that.

Reporter:
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura denies the existence of a dispute over the Senkakus. He says history and international law back up Japan's claim. Fujimura adds the government will maintain tight security on the islands. He says officials are involved in a number of different negotiations.