disposal dilemma. japanese scientists say the government should review its plan for storing highly radioactive waste possibly derailing a decade-old decision. welcome to nhk world "newsline." people in japan have been wrestling with the consequences of using nuclear power ever since last year's accident at fukushima daiichi. they've focused on the safety of the country's 50 reactors. they've also debated the future use of atomic energy. now there are concerns about the biproduct of the nuclear process. highly radioactive waste. nhk has learned top scientists are going to urge the government to rethink its final disposal plan for his waste. we've obtained a draft proposal

by the science council. the government says there are approximately 235,000 containers filled with highly radioactive waste. each one is about a meter long and almost half a meter wide and they weigh half a ton. utilities store them in stainless steel containers. the nuclear waste inside is a glass-like liquid so it's solid. because of its dangerous nature it needs to be stored away from people and the environment. the government decided on its final disposal plan 12 years ago. crews would bury the waste deeper than 300 meters underground for tens of thousands of years. but members of the science council are questioning that idea. their draft proposal says science has its limits and japan's frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes make it difficult to identify areas underground that would stay stable for such a long period of time. they say the government should re-examine its disposal plan, even if it means restarting

discussions from scratch. earlier, i spoke to nhk world's kaho izumatani who is covering this story for us. if we can't bury now the nuclear waste underground, what are these scientists saying the government should do with it? >> the members of the science council insist that utilities keep the waste at or close to ground level for decades or if needed, centuries. during this period, the -- they say the government and industry should develop necessary technologies and gather public opinion on the final plan. they also say japan should reduce its dependence on nuclear power and set a limit on the amount of highly radioactive waste it will create. right now, 94% of the storage containers are kept on site at nuclear facilities across the country. the rest can be found at the rakasho facility in the

northeast. the government requires them to be left at ground level for 30 to 50 years so they release their heat. but ultimately it needs to find a final and safe storage place. >> so what's going to happen to the science council's proposal? >> the science council is expected to submit its propose tool the atomic energy commission of japan. one expert told us this report will help generate a discussion about how to dispose of this waste and also about the future of nuclear energy. >> translator: we should move step by step and decide little by little. for that, we need to review our nuclear energy policy first. i think this proposal has given us material from which the whole country can discuss that path. >> so this is yet another example of how the march 2011

earthquake has changed japan's approach to its nuclear power industry. how are other countries dealing with similar kind of situation? >> only finland and sweden have a concrete plan. they both decided to bury their waste underground in the already designated locations but a "not in my backyard" debate is growing. they had planned to build an underground facility in the state of nevada but president obama put the plan on hold when he took office. political change in germany shelved the underground storage plan there as well. and canada decided to keep this waste at ground level for 60 years and prepare for a final storage plan within that time. so other countries are in the same position as japan. what's different is they haven't been dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear accident. this issue is yet another conundrum facing the government and the public. >> that was nhk world's kah

kaho izumatani. coming up, our rena nakano takes us to a pet lover's paradise. >> more than 250 companies from around the world are here at interpets 2012. you'll find everything about the pet industry from food to couture, even health care. but that's not all. >> here's a hint. things are so advanced, you can now use your smartphone to feed your pets. we'll show you how a little later in the newscast. first, international security forces in afghanistan have been hit by a spate of so-called insider attacks. now the country is facing pressure to screen its security personnel in order to halt the violence. patchari raksawong at our bangkok bureau has the details. >> afghanistan is being called upon to show the efforts they are making to bring an end to a series of insider attacks. the term is used to describe

violence against international coalition forces stationed in the country carried out by their afghan partners or militants dressed in afghan uniform. the rogue shootings on foreign soldiers have taken as many as 40 lives amongst nato-led forces so far this year. u.s. president barack obama said this week that the united states was watching the series of insider attacks with deep concern following the deaths of nine u.s. soldiers in 12 days. the u.s. military's top official, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff martin dempsey, visited afghanistan to discuss the shootings with nato and afghan commanders. in a move to tackle the problem, the afghan government announced on wednesday it will re-examine the files of 350,000 soldiers and police officers. the international community, including the u.s., has supported the training of the afghan forces in the lead-up to the withdrawal of international

forces. but concerns remain over the ability of afghan forces to maintain security. the himalayan kingdom of butan famously measures the sentiment of its people using the concept of gross national happiness instead of the more normal economic indicator of gdp. butan drew worldwide attention when a survey found that 97% of its people say they're happy. but with the arrival of modernization, the meaning of happiness is beginning to change. nhk world's staki akiyoda has more. >> reporter: located at the eastern end of the himalayans, the kingdom of bhutan has a population of 700,000. most of them follow tibetan buddhist. the gross national happiness concept is best on the buddhist belief that people should be content with what they have.

but the weeds of globalization are reaching the country. consumerism is spreading rapidly, especially among young people after the internet and television were allowed 13 years ago. 90% of the goods on sale at this supermarket are imported. the new store opened this year and is popular for its high quality foods. >> every time you come here, you want to buy something. >> reporter: imports of cars and construction materials from neighboring india have nearly tripled over the past five years. in march, bhutan ran out of indian rupys to settle its trade bills. concerned about overrun consumerism, the prime minister in april made a televised

warning to the nation. >> reporter: university sophomore says she prefers western style outfits to traditional dress. she spends as much as $400 on a shopping spree. that's about a monthly salary of a civil servant. she also likes shopping online. >> i like to go for garment shopping. if i get something i like, i buy it, and i become happy. >> reporter: she lives apart from her grandmother. she's a rice farmer who lives a simple, self-sufficient

lifestyle. she prays every day. >> translator: when i pray, i feel buddha just beside me. i feel happiness from the heart. >> reporter: haruma visited during the holidays. she is wearing the traditional clothes she was told to treasure. >> they didn't get their facilities when they were young like us, so we can see the gap. we can see the difference, too. >> reporter: she wants all her grandchildren to reflect on whether material possessions really make them happy. >> translator: my grandchildren lead a different lifestyle. i want them to learn the

traditions i've preserved. >> reporter: no longer immune from the tide of globalization, bhutan is changing rapidly. and for younger generations, happiness has a very different meaning. takeaki yoda, nhk world. >> and that will wrap up our bulletin for today. i'm patchari raksawong in bangkok. japanese electronics maker sony announced streamlining measures at its mobile business subsidiary. it will knut 1,000 workers. that's 15% of the subsidiary's global workforce.

the number of workers at sony mobile communications will be slashed by march 2014. they'll be mainly in sweden. company executives say they will move some functions of sony mobile from sweden to tokyo. this willtransform its global development system. sony aims to make the operation more efficient. back in february, the firm bought all the stocks in the global joint venture with erickson and took full role of it. tokyo, the third biggest stock market in the world, will soon become larger. the tokyo stock exchange made a successful takeover bid for the osaka securities exchange. tokyo exchange officials say two-thirds of the shares in the osaka bors have been acquired. the osaka bors has become a subsidiary of the tokyo stock exchange. the tokyo borst launched the tender offer on july 11th at 840,000 yen.n. that's about $6100 a share. the bidding period ended on wednesday. they plan to integrate their

operations in january next year. the new merged entity will be called the japan exchange group and would account for 90% of the trading galilee for domested listed shares. the two companies say a larger borst could attract more foreign investors. people who love to pamper their pets are heading to an exhibit outside tokyo this weekend. if you think they'll just be looking for leashes or collars, think again. smartphone controlled feeders and cutting-edge diapers are the hot items these days in japan's pet industry which is worth about $20 billion a year. nhk world's rina nakano reports. >> reporter: this is the pet lover's paradise. from high-end food to stylish leashes to the latest technology for dogs, cats, fish and more. it's all here at interpets 2012. >> translator: i don't any think other industry has as much market potential as ours.

>> reporter: more than 250 companies from 13 different countries are here selling products they say pet owners can't live without. much of the focus is on domesticated animals that live in the city. spokespersons for the pet food manufacturers association of japan saying more than 40% of pets in the country are kept indoors. that's pushed interior design companies such as this one to expand their business to provide pet-related products. it makes removal and washable carpet squares for dogs that just can't hold it. >> translator: for regular large carpet, owners might have to pay up to $120 for cleaning. but with this, you can just brush it like this. it's much more hygienic. >> reporter: they also make this, a solution for people with pets that like to paw at the

walls. this material is scratch resistant. really smooth. technology is now as much a part of owning a pet as leashes and food bowls. this product combines smartphones with robotic monitors. the camera and snack feeders are connected to the internet. owners can monitor and remotely feed their pets in realtime from their smartphones. manufacturers say this is especially useful for people who live alone or are away for a day. recently more businesses are becoming pet friendly. so for those who want to travel with their pets it just got a little easier. car companies are focusing on making road trips comfortable, both for owners and pets. these cushioned carry cases can be secured by a seat belt. the firm also makes waterproof seat cover for certain models. this business designed a product specifically for male dogs who

often like to mark their territory. places such as hotels and resorts want owners to prevent their pets from doing that. this easy to put on wrap is the answer to that problem. the company also sells the latest doggy diapers for puppies who aren't potty trained. it says these have a snug fit and are leak-proof. experts say all of these unique products enhance the connection between people and their furry friends. >> translator: having a pet really improves our quality of life. we hope more people will come to realize that. >> reporter: innovation for a niche market and adapting to changes to human behavior are what make the pet industry recession proof. rina nakano, nhk world, chiba, japan. here are the latest market figures.

people in tokyo are accustomed to overcrowding. in one of the world's biggest cities, it's just a part of life. it's also part of the after life, the traditional japanese burial is in a crowded graveyard under a heavy stone. but as space is getting squeezed and society changes, ideas about burial are also evolving. one of the newest approaches

comes from the tokyo government. nhk world's chie yamagishi has more. >> reporter: 20 kilometers out of central tokyo, this 800-square-meter patch of lawn could be a neatly landscaped plot in the well-to-do suburb. a closer look reveals this hole. it is 1.5 meters in diameter and two meters deep. we are at the public burial ground called the forest cemetery. the tokyo metropolitan government planned to inter the remains of about 400 people in this hole. about 10,000 will find their final rest in 27 holes. bones and ashes will be placed in biodegradable containers so they return to the soil over the years. the situation for conventional burials has changed along with japanese society.

the ancestral grave visit is a traditional ritual. but it has become less common as society ages. the family unit is smaller these days, and the birth rate is falling. there's also the issue of cost. headstones are expensive, and it costs a lot to buy and maintain grave space. as a result, more graves now lie abandoned because there's no one to take care of them. in short, many people find traditional burials too complicated. many wish simply to return to nature after they die. the tokyo metropolitan government advertised burial rights in the forest cemetery in july. 500 places were offered. over just two weeks, more than 8,000 people applied.

on thursday, officials of the metropolitan government held a draw for the winners. >> translator: i don't want my children to still tr v to take care of me after my death. >> translator: i hear that people buried here will return to the soil after 30 years. that's all right with me. >> translator: we don't have any children so we'll have no worries about the future if we can only arrange our graves. >> reporter: many tokyo residents are showing a lot of interest in this new type of cemetery. more people than expected have come here to find out the results of the lottery. this room is packed. government officials made the first announcement of the forest cemetery in april. they had so many inquiries, they ran out of pamphlets. they are praising for more

interest in future. one factor behind the forest burial is a low cost. it's only a one-time fee of around $1,500. that's about one-tenth the price of a traditional plot. >> translator: people's burial needs are different, depending on whether they have children, or if they want to return to nature after they die and so on. we hope we'll be able to fulfill all sorts of demands. the market for final resting places is opening up as people demand more choices over their departures. chie yamagishi, nhk world. for an update on the weather forecast, here's mai shoji. mai? >> the two twin systems that we are following are the typhoons

almost at the same strength. however, this one is a little bit more smaller and concise. it's very well organized. this one looks like it's twice as big. they are both moving towards the similar directions. let's take a look at typhoon tembin first which is moving ever so slowly at a snail's pace toward the southern tip of taiwan. looks like it will be making landfall friday daytime over the southern coast of taiwan. and due to this lingering activity, it's almost immobile. it will be just bringing accumulation of rain as well as storm surges, stormy conditions for the next few days. it could just turn and veer towards the south after it makes landfall moving away from the other typhoon system. but we'll be taking a look at those accumulations a little later on. this is the typhoon bolavin i'm talking about. it's the similar status right now from the aforementioned system. it's going to be moving towards

the okinawa islands, and it will be possibly making landfall as a very strong typhoon status. it will be intensifying in the few hours or by friday at least. and looks like this one is going to be bringing hefty amounts of rainfall and intense stormy conditions towards all the islands of okinawa. the southwestern islands of japan region will be seeing destructive winds. also we're talking about the storm surges, rising water levels. and also the high waves which could be as much as six meters high. all these combined, great recipe for coastal flooding, mud slides and land slides. we'll take a close look on this. the accumulations could be staggering amounts. about 300 to 350 millimeters in total in the next 72 hours. now temperaturewise, due to the pacific high dominant over japan, we have another hot and

sultry day. tokyo, 34 degrees. let's move over to another tropical system. this is isaac which is aiming towards the dominican republic as a hurricane status. it will be intensifying by friday. looks like it will be decreasing its intensity over land. however, it looks like it will be reinvigorating as it moves closer to the florida peninsula. possibly making landfall overnight or just approaching this region. you'll be feeling these stormy conditions in toward the weekend. however, hurricane warnings are going to be posted up against dominican republic and haiti. we know that still some of the residents in haiti are in temporary shelters due to the 2010 earthquake so could bring some disastrous conditions due to the flooding rain that this system will be bringing. it could be about 500 millimeters in total rainfall accumulation from this storm system. we'll keep a very close eye on that, too. moving over to the european

continent, things are still -- the jet stream has descended down the south but still heat precise here and wet and cooler temperatures across much of the northern region. stoke stockholm at 18. london just at 19. but nothing is cool down here. athens, 38 degrees. still, madrid, 33. here's our extended forecast.

hundreds of thousands of japanese were detained in labor camps in siberia after world war ii. many were unable to endure the harsh conditions. survivors have attended a ceremony in tokyo to remember the dead. on august 23rd, 67 years ago, the soviet union ordered japanese soldiers and civilians in china to be sent to the camps. about 100 people attended the

memorial at chidori national cemetery. formy detainee koichi ikura is 91 years old. the average age is 89 years old and he said they don't have much time left. >> translator: we want the government to find out who was responsible for taking people to labor camps and forcing them to work. we want to know why so many people were taken away and how they died. >> the welfare ministry estimates about 575,000 japanese were interned inside siberia and mongolia. 55,000 died as a result of forced labor or from the severe cold. we'll be back with more updates in 30 minutes. i'm gene otani in tokyo.