(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: October 19, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In Myanmar, the former military regime has ushered in tremendous reforms over the past year. Less media censorship, along with the release of more than 700 political prisoners, have led the US to ease economic sanctions against the country. It seems the pro-democracy movement, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is succeeding. But some are still skeptical. Here's NHK with more.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 16, 2012

Reporter:
This is where Aung San Suu Kyi used to live while under house arrest. Back then, walking along this street was prohibited, but now it's become a bit of a tourist attraction.

Tourist:
A Nobel Prize winner lives here, which is interesting. You can also see that people are extremely positive about changes, and that is a really good thing.

Reporter:
Images of Aung San Suu Kyi used to be banned, but her face is everywhere at this souvenir shop at the headquarters of her National League for Democracy Party. From coffee cups to umbrellas, these items earn the party about 500 US Dollars a day, that's about half the amount most ordinary people in Myanmar make in a year. Visitors from overseas seem happy that Myanmar is opening up. But what about Democracy activists inside the country? I visited Min Ko Naing, he was a key member of the '88 Generation, the group that led the anti-military movement of 1988. He spent more than 15 years prison.

Min Ko Naing:
Whether or not people say these changes are real. We must be active and force them to become real. Actions are more important than words. Aung San Suu Kyi chose to enter parliament and is moving forward, and that encourages me too to do what I can in my own way, because I want everyone in Myanmar to join this movement for Democracy. That's my motivation.

(LinkAsia: October 12, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In North Korea, Kim Jong-un is continuing his campaign to bring fun and entertainment to his people. Japan's NHK has this story about Kim' efforts to makeover the capital, Pyongyang.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 3, 2012

Reporter:
We've been visiting the North Korean capital Pyongyang since Saturday. We went to a popular new attraction on Tuesday. Staff at this aquarium say this dolphin show started in the summer. The highlight is a dance sequence involving a woman and dolphins. The performance is the first of its kind in North Korea.

Child Audience Member:
It's a great fun.

Female Audience Member:
It's the first time I've seen the dolphins up close. It was exciting.

Reporter:
Excitement and fun are what the country's new leader seems to be promoting. Kim Jong-un created a government agency responsible for overseeing theme parks. Experts say he's trying to define himself as a caring leader. The idea is simple: children, adults, even uniformed soldiers who flock to popular spots have a good time, then think of Kim.

Theme Park Visitor 1:
It's great!

Theme Park Visitor 2:
Marshall Kim Jong-un cares for us as workers. I can't tell you how thankful that we are. I feel like I can relieve a whole day's stress by enjoying attractions here.

Reporter:
It's not just rides, it's restaurants too. North Korean officials want the world to know their country is changing. This newly opened Italian restaurant offers 11 different types of pizza. It's popular with locals, and it's also attracting tourists.

Female Tourist:
In the Western Media you don't see stuff like this. So, it's really interesting.

Reporter:
People in North Korea are currently enjoying a traditional holiday period. They take time to honor their ancestors and relax. But their leader is never far from their minds.

Parkgoer:
Comrade Kim Jong-un is devoting himself to running the country to better enhance people's lives. We're enjoying the holiday, praising Kim Jong-un and the Worker's Party.

Reporter:
The people we met make up a small percentage of the population. North Korean authorities only allow foreign media to interact with those who are well off. U.N. World Food Program representatives estimate 60 million people, or 70 percent of the population, are not getting enough food. Heavy rains and several typhoons this summer have made the situation worse. And they expect North Koreans, mainly in rural areas, will face a severe food shortage this coming winter. Improving the standard of living across the country is one of Kim Jong-un's many challenges. Although, unlike amusement parks or restaurants, he and his officials aren't keen to show or talk about that side of life inside their nation. Shuhei Ikehata. NHK World, Pyongyang.