NHK WORLD Monthly Focus: China targets seabed supremacy

In its ‘Monthly Focus’ for September NHK WORLD reports on the following:

Tracking China’s Mystery Ships: The Race for Seabed Supremacy

The international competition for resources has reached the depths of the seas. China is looking to earth’s “last frontier”—the deep ocean floor—for oil and natural gas, and for minerals used in smartphones and electric vehicles. In this documentary, NHK analyzes China’s activities using both maritime and satellite data. 

The crisis in Ukraine has sharpened the need for countries to find stable energy supplies. The ocean floor may ultimately determine the future of security and the global economy.

September 10 Sat. 15:10/22:10

September 11 Sun. 5:10/10:10

September 12 Mon. 19:00 (UTC)

Momo and the Seven Papagenos 

Momo gets on well enough with her parents, and finds her boyfriend acceptable and her job only mildly annoying. This is not enough to prevent her from having thoughts of death, however. Momo thus begins a series of encounters with people she has connected with on social media who have found reasons to go on living despite suicidal thoughts. These Papagenos, named after the character in the opera “The Magic Flute,” provide her with ideas on what makes life worthwhile.

September 10 Sat.

1:00/7:00/13:00/18:00 (UTC)

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon First-Time Title Winners

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon delves deep into Japan’s traditional sport using newly acquired data. In this episode we look at first-time title winners. Which of the six annual tournaments is most likely to have a newly minted title winner? How many tournaments does it take a wrestler new to the top division to win his first title, typically? What changes do wrestlers make after they take their first title? We go behind the scenes to answer these questions and more!

September 3 Sat. 

0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC)

Japanology Plus

Fresh insights into Japan. Stories behind Japanese life and culture through the eyes of Peter Barakan, a 45-year resident and watcher of Japan.

Thursdays

2:30/7:30/13:30/19:30 (UTC)

[Source: NHK WORLD press release]