welcome to "newsline." i'm michio kijima in tokyo. nuclear industry officials from around the world have gathered in seoul to discuss atomic energy safety. global leaders are also scheduled to meet next week at the nuclear security summit in south korea. nhk world's kim dae-young has more. >> reporter: some 203 representatives took part in the nuclear industry summit on friday. they exchanged views on how to make nuclear energy safer based on lessons from last year's accident at the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant in

japan. one participant said public trust in nuclear energy can be restored if they share lessons learned from the accident and learn from them. another said sharing information on nuclear technology is difficult. because it often contains confidential data. but he argued that cooperation between private companies as well as governments needs to be sanctioned. the participants issued a joint statement that said the nuclear industry will get more actively involved in global information share and discussions through organizations such as the international atomic energy agency. several countries have scrapped

nuclear energy since the fukushima disaster and others are debating it to use. the summit meeting has become a great opportunity for businesses wanting to boost their expose to showcase their things. kim dae-young, nhk world, seoul. japanese leaders are facing one of the toughest decisions of the year, whether to not restart the idle nuclear plants. last year's fukushima daiichi accident prompted the government to impose new checks on reactors that go offline for regular maintenance. now the nuclear safety commission has endorsed the results of stress tests on two nuclear reactors in central japan. authorities introduced the stress test to check how reactors can withstand earthquake and tsunamis beyond predicted levels. the nuclear and industrial safety agency approved the tests last month on the two reactors at the ohi nuclear plant in fukui prefecture.

now the nuclear safety commission says the tests have demonstrated the effectiveness of the emergency measures taken after the accident at the fukushima daiichi plant. the nsc calls the test a significant step, but it says it's not in a position to judge whether reactors should be allowed to restart. the nuclear safety commission's endorsement of the test received mixed reactions, some even before the decision was announced. protesters gathered near the building where the commission met on friday. they objected to the restart of reactors by the causes of the fukushima accident remain unclear. some observers at meeting demanded the session be called off. later two men stormed the conference area, they shouted any restarts would be unacceptable and demanded to speak with commission members. meanwhile, business representatives welcomed the test. they say the government should work hard to allow idle reactors to go back online.

>> translator: japanese society and economy cannot exist without nuclear power. >> the business sector has been calling for restarts by this summer to ensure a stable energy supply. prime minister yoshihiko noda will meet next week with three senior cabinet ministers. they'll talk about whether the endorsement of stress tests is sufficient to obtain local approval to restart the two ohi reactors. the government believes the reart will be necessary to ensure electricity supply throughout the summer. officials also argue reactors should come back online because of a possible rise in prices of crude oil and natural gas. industry minister yukio edano and other ministers will brief local officials in early april and explain the government's position on restarts, but serious obstacles remain. authorities in fukui and neighboring prefectures continue to express concerns over the safety of the ohi plant.

plus the governor of fukui is opposed to an immediate restart. he says safe standards should take into account lessons from the fukushima accident. japan has 54 nuclear reactors, 52 of them are currently offline, including the four crippled units at fukushima daiichi. no reactors will be operating by may if the government does not approve the restarts. of the two reactors still running, engineers will halt one in niigata prefecture on monday for regular inspection. the second reactor is on the northern island of hokkaido scheduled to go offline in late april or may. 37 of japan's reactors were operating before the accent at fukushima daiichi, but the suspensions have not resulted in serious power shortages over the past year, but japan is importing more fossil fuels to run thermal plants to make up for its energy shortfall. next, we go to patchari raksawong in bangkok to find out

what's going on in the region. >> hello, michio. we begin with the news that the u.n. human rights council has adopted a resolution urging the sri lankan government to investigate allegations of mass murder. sri lanka's civil war ded three years ago after decades of fighting. a huge number of civilians are said to have been killed in the final stage of the conflict. we have a report from colombo. >> reporter: sri lanka's civil war came to an end after nearly 30 years of combat. tens of thousands of civilians were reportedly killed in the final phase of the struggle as government troops took control of areas held by ethnic tamarin insurgents. on thursday, they adopted a resolution urging the sri lankan government to implement the recommendations of an official domestic inquiry that called for

the prosecution of soldiers guilty of misconduct. china and russia opposed the move, calling it interference in the country's domestic affairs. but the resolution was approved by a majority vote with backing from the u.s. and european nations as well as india, which has a large tamil population. the issue has sparked demonstrations in sri lanka by protesters who include supporters of president rajapaksa. the government strongly opposes the resolution saying it hinders national reconciliation. there is growing international pressure on the government to conduct a fair investigation. nhk world, colombo. and we go to singapore for our next story. artworks made from light are adding an extra dimension of

beauty to the city's nightscape, and its towering skyscrapers. nhk world's yuko funazaki reports. >> reporter: the exhibition is being held in a crowded district of hotels and skyscrapers. 16 countries have contributed to the art show in a public space. singapore residents say this is the most architecturally beautiful part of their city. the square-like art is made of recycled electric parts and l.e.d. lighting systems. if you touch the button it changes the color. the works share the theme of environmental preservation. a philippine artist made this coral reef from energy saving l.e.d.s and discarded materials.

an architect from japan created an installation that embraces visitors with light. the artist says he was inspired by the experience of volunteers after an earthquake in japan. he wanted to create a kind of temporary shelter that can be easily removed without harming the environment. >> you don't usually get to you know, like color you know like famous landmarks and things like that, so yeah, i against it's different. >> reporter: the landmark statue has also been lit up in an array of colors. yuko funazaki, nhk world, singapore. >> the light art festival will continue through april 1st. and finally, the dancing prisoners from the philippines are one of the biggest youtube

sensations of recent years. videos of their synchronized moves have notched up millions of internet hits from all over the world, but what's less well-known is the remarkable impact this jailhouse rocking has had on the lives of the inmate. nhk world's sharmane deogracias received rare access to the dancers and filed this report. ♪ >> reporter: their bright orange outfits and well rehearsed moves have drawn fans from around the world. that fame isn't so important for these web celebrities, as the "p" on their uniform indicates, they're prisoners. they perform in front of local residents and tourists once a month. >> yes, it was wonderful, i enjoyed this very much.

>> it's really amazing. i can imagine it takes a long time to rehearse everything. >> reporter: the island of cebu in the central philippines attracts tourists from across the globe but the island also suffers a high crime rate. the detention center is trying to cope. this 8 by 20 feet cell houses a maximum of 15 prisoners of different case backgrounds. as many as 1,600 inmates are housed at the detention center, the overcrowded conditions creates stress for the inmates. they challenge orders from the guards, confrontation between prisoners is common. as a solution, the center introduced dancing into the prisoner's regime. an instructor comes into the prison three times a week. dancing teaches the inmates teamwork and discipline.

it also relieves stress. >> translator: the prison's conditions almost drove me crazy but the dances have helped me calm down. >> reporter: dancing has helped some prisoners turn their lives around. 29-year-old armand gamayon used to be the lead dancer. he left the detention cent three years ago. when he started rehabilitation, he was troubled and insecure. but applause from the audience helped him build confidence. he later married a former member of of the audience. the couple had a baby girl two years ago. >> translator: i'm proud that i performed world famous dances at the detention center. but i'm determined to live for my family. i will never commit a crime

again. >> reporter: gamayon visited the detention center to meet his old prison mates. his story gives them encouragement. dancing started as a way of enforcing discipline at the detention center that then became an internet phenomenon, but the real stories of success are those of the inmates whose lives have been turned around. charmaine deogracias, nhk world, cebu, philippines. >> that's going to wrap up our bulletin. i'm patchari raksawong in bangkok. china may be the world's second large economy, but it continues to receive official development aid from japan. in recent years japan's aid has increasingly focused on environmental assistance. our story focuses on japanese

advisor with long experience in this field. his expertise is water pollution, but much of his job involves bridging the perception gap of what kind of aid is needed. nhk world's kengo okamoto in beijing has more. >> reporter: environmental expert hideaki koyanagi mingling with chinese officials. as a former official himself working for japan's environmental ministry, koyanagi knows that effective aid starts at the top. his efforts are focused on on the source of pollution, often overlooked by policymakers, waste water from villages. >> translator: water pollution is a deep-rooted, serious problem for china but has not been given due consideration in japan's environmental support. i hoped i could make a breakthrough by taking on this challenge.

>> reporter: many rural villages in china have no sewage treatment facili raw affluence from kitchens and toilets flows directly into nearby lakes and rivers. those same lakes and rivers supply drinking water to local residents, a clear health risk. japan oda is being used to build water treatment plants. nine plants have been set up over the past four years. japan's funding contribution totals over $6 million so far. this plant at dari in unam province treats sewage from about 700 households. the sewage is treated in these tanks. bacteria in the tanks break down

the waste and the leftover sludge can be used as fertilizer. officials at the opening ceremony said the facility is already improving lives and the environment. >> translator: the plant has improved the water quality of the lake, a water source for local residents. it has also contributed to deepening friendship and cooperation between china and japan. >> this year marks 40 years since the two countries normalized diplomatic relations. an event to commemorate the anniversary took place in february. koyanagi hosted a seminar on water contamination. when proposing a new project, he needs to allow time to listen to the concerns of the chinese side. >> translator: the proposed site is close to a residential area. foul odors from the treatment

plant could offend the people living there. >> translator: it will be possible to keep the odor from reaching the residential area. >> reporter: koyanagi says japan designed the aid project to ensure easy maintenance and management. but he says chinese officials often have another priority, acquiring advanced technology. he explains the advantage of building a low-cost plant. >> translator: what's best in japan may not be suitable for china. it wouldn't be affordable for many chinese. the project will only be a

success if we can build a plant that is welcomed and useful for chinese people. >> translator: mr. koyanagi is a huge contributor to this project. it's obvious to me that what needs to be done to save energy is to reduce waste and stamp out water pollution. >> reporter: koyanagi seems to have succeeded in narrowing the differences, but pollution is a huge problem in china. japanese experts will need to convince many more if their efforts are to have a meaningful impact. kengo okamoto, nhk world, beijing. people in japan are taking time this week to remember lost loved ones. every spring and fall they celebrate and pray for the souls

of the deceased. on this week's "road ahead" we are looking at how one sake brewer is marking this occasion. daisuke suzuki had to rebuild his business after the march 11th disaster, but his belief in the power of sake, a sacred drink in japan, is helping him and others move forward. nhk world's chikako tanaka explains. >> reporter: this may look like a typical bottle of sake but it comes with an incredible story. it was made by master brewer daisuke suzuki. for nearly 200 years his family brewed rice in the coastal town of namie, fukushima prefecture. but when the tsunami destroyed everything he owned, it looked like the end of his career. but suzuki held on and this winter he's been doing what he does best.

>> translator: there isn't a better time for me to brew sake. >> reporter: the march 11th tsunami washed away his home and his brewery in namie. then the accident at the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant prompted the government to designate part of his town a no-entry zone. >> translator: i felt the explosions at the plant ruined everything i owned, even my identity. >> reporter: suzuki thought of giving up, but months after the disaster, workers at a lab in fukushima prefecture gave him a call. they reminded him they had a sake sample from his brewery. the yeast helps give the drink an original taste. getting that call made suzuki's decision to restart his business easier. he also received letters of

encouragement. fans wrote saying they missed his sake. some called it a taste of home. >> translator: i made up my mind to continue brewing sake. >> reporter: suzuki took a financial risk and bought a vacant brewery last november, about 100 kilometers away from from namie. eaier this month he brewed sake with rice harvested in fukushima. he made 650 bottles and sold them all to shops in the prefecture. >> translator: many evacuees don't feel like they can move forward. i want them to have fond memories of the deceased when drinking my sake. >> reporter: tamiko oshimizu is

one of many who's happy suzuki is still brewing sake. she used to run a bar in namie but was forced to leave. she reopened her business in the city of nihonmatsu. >> translator: i have missed the sake so much. >> reporter: oshimizu's customers feel the same way. some of them are also evacuees from namie. >> translator: i'm so happy. i'm enjoying this taste of home. >> translator: i love this sake. i can't stop crying. it's so amazing i can drink it again. >> reporter: suzuki is determined to keep his fans happy. he doesn't know when or even if he'll be able to go back to

namie to rebuild his family's 200-year-old brewery. >> translator: i will continue to make sake that has the power to unite people from namie, even though we're living in different places. >> reporter: a lofty goal, but one he's confident he can achieve, bottle by bottle. chikako tanaka, nhk world, nagai. let's get a check of the weather from mai shoji. what's the weather going to be like over the weekend? >> well, yuko, seems like we're having bad luck with the unfavorable weather conditions over the weekend.

we're talking 30 to 50 millimeters of short time span rainfall, 50 millimeters just in the span of one hour, so very heavy rain that could accumulate as much as 120 mill meeters in the next 24 hours. and that will be rapidly diminishing towards saturday morning. things will be clearing out, but precipitation will be remaining in the western half as i mentioned and that could be associated with very cold air. so maybe this precipitation could turn to snow and in tohoku region it could accumulate as much as 50 centimeters. this is wet snow piling up very quickly. so avalanche risk is very high. in hokkaido, even 30 centimeters could pile up in the next 24 hours. now, elsewhere here in eastern continental asia things are looking very clear and dry. mongolia, eastern china, and this is very good news for the area where the land is very saturated.

that high pressure system will be drying things there. but actually inviting yellow sand as well. already affecting in and around shanghai overnight tonight and moving through kyushu by saturday affecting the air here. temperaturewise, looking at tokyo 17 degrees for saturday's high. not bad at all. dipping down at 6 in seoul. we're looking at some chances of thunderstorms in manila and in bangkok, both in the 30s temperaturewise. all right, heading over to the americas, you can clearly see this spiral. we have been talking about this storm for a while now and it is moving ever so slowly towards mid-atlantic. and underneath it, numerous showers, plus severe thunderstorms are going to be seen. we're still talking about chances of tornadic activity, georgia all the way towards the carolinas, and spotty hail, damaging wind also could be associated with some more storms. this will be moving towards new england affecting the area, but

exiting landmasses in the next few days. so clearing out things there, but another incoming system will be targeting pacific northwest, especially northern california and dumping some heavy snow in the mountainous areas and coastally heavy rain could target the area as well. things are very cool in the pacific northwest, below average temperatures. but out towards the east, still looking very warm in washington, d.c., 26 degrees. and oklahoma city, 23. as well as denver reaching up to 23 as well. and you'll be seeing a lot of sunny spells there. all right, heading over to europe now. things are very calm and settled here. so you'll be having a nice weekend for you out here in the vicinities. but a few showers may linger here in italy and then towards western balkans. coastally heavy rain and snow showers which could be heavy at times will be targeting the scandinavian peninsula and then thunderstorm risk could be possible around morocco and portugal in the next couple of

days. temperatures are looking very fine. so please do enjoy your weekend. it is going to be warm for you out there, except for moscow, minus 1 degrees for the high. here is the extended forecast. that's our broadcast for this hour on "newsline."

i'm michio kijima in tokyo. thank you for watching. bye-bye.