And 7 00 a. M. On thursday. More heavy rain is on the way as unstable atmospheric conditions are expected to continue through early friday. And for the next 24 hours, up to 300 millimeters is expected to drench the kansai region, 250 millimeters for northern kyushu. Residents elsewhere in japan can expect up to 115 millimeters. Officials are urging people to be on the alert and think about evacuation routes. For more details on the heavy rain, lets bring in our meteorologist tsietsi monare. Tsietsi, we know some parts of japan have already entered its rainy season, but even so the conditions look very unstable. Tell us what people need to watch out for. Yes, that is exactly what is happening. Ththe rainy seasoson has started now frontal system that is quiue stagnant, not going anywhere, its bringing more outer rain bands toward southern parts of japan including central jajapan. You cann see o over the last coe of hours we saw torrential rainfall in large numbers, about 167 millimeters in a very short other period of time and also highly impacted. We are not out of the woods yet. More rain conditions coming through, up to 300 millimeters. Also due to the fact that the temperatures have been so warm and the situation is getting a lot more dire because its still sort of fuelling itself, getting itself much stronger and more stronger and it affects places where the rainy season has not even begun yet. These are the things you need to look out for especially for people in lowlying areas. Make sure you sandbag your homes and stay safe at all times. Road flooding is also a major concern. That is all for now, but stay tuned. Ill bring more details later. Here in tokyo, the metropolitan government is expected to lift its coronavirus alert unless infections surge on thursday. The government issued a tokyo alert on june 2nd after a spike in cases of the disease. The warning urged residents to remain vigilant against the virus. The situationon has improved in the pasast several days. Newly confifirmed cases in the capital stood at 18 on wednesday. That was the fourth straight day that figure was below 20. Translator the infection trend is fairly stable, but we still need to keep an eye on the transition period. Tokyo officials will also take into account experts lifting the alert. The officials are considering when to cancel it. Meanwhile a japanese drug maker is expected to continue Clinical Trials of the antiflu medication avigan to treat covid19 patients. The firm had plans to carry out trials on 96 patients in japan in march to the end of june, but it says the tests are proceeding slowly mainly because the number of people infected with the coronavirus has declined. The government had aimed to speed up the approval process and green light the drug in may. Separately clinical studies on avigan are being conducted at institutes including Fujita Health University hospital. Researchers there say they can determine the drugs effectiveness against covid19 at this point. They plan to complete the testing by the end of august. Now like in many other countries, mask wearing has become common in japan during the coronavirus crisis. But as summer approaches, concerns are rising that masks may increase the risk of heat stroke, and this prompted manufacturers to devise some cooler alternatives. On wednesday, tokyo recorded its highest temperatures of the year so far. Over ten people were taken to hospital with suspected heat stroke. Consumer goods manufacturer is trying to develop a mask thats suitable for the summer months. The fibers in the filter are designed to allow more air in which stops the face from getting too hot. The company says it cuts the temperature increase by half compared to weariring a normal mask. Translator there are definitely customers who would prefer masks that are comfortatable and can be worn fr extended pereriods so were tryg to cater to them. Thiss s Sporting Goods manufacturer has also come up with a mask thats designed to beat the heat. Its made from the same materials used in the companys sportswear. Translator we hope this mask we have created will give people an opportunity to experience our companys technologies. Meanwhile, this retailer is selling a range of masks that aim to offer better ventilation while keeping the wearer sweatfree. The company repurposed some of the techniques it uses for making mens suits. On wednesday, 38 new cases of the virus were reported in japan. That brings the nations total to 17,306. The death toll is 922. Now to the u. S. The brother of george floyd, a black man who died after being pinned down by a white police officer, has called for Law Enforcement reform in congress. Philonise floyd urged lawmakers in a House Judiciary Committee on wednesday. Maybe by speaking with you today i can make sure that his death will not be in vein. Floyd highlighted how his brother was held by police on suspicion of using a fake 20 bill before his death last month and asked congress whether this was the value of a black life today. His death triggered civil rights protests across the globe as well as calls for u. S. Police reform. It has also emerged as a key issue in the campaign for the president ial election in november. George called for help, and he was ignored. Please listen to the call im making to you now, the calls of our family and the calls ringing out in the streets across the world and make the necessary changes that make Law Enforcement the solution and not the problem. Floyd urged congress to honor his brother and hold Police Accountable when they do something wrong. He added that anyone with a heart knew that his death was wrong. A u. S. Aircraft carrier has left its home port in japan for the indopacific. The dispatch of the uss Ronald Reagan is seen as an attempt to keep china in check. The Nuclear Powered carrier left u. S. Naval base in tokyo on monday after undergoing regular mainintenancnce. The commander of cararrier stri group 5 told nhk by Satellite Phone on wednesday the mission is to support u. S. Regional allies and partners. In april, a chinese Aircraft Carrier was confirmed to have navigated from vicinity of japans okinawa to the pacific and the south china sea. The u. S. Government has been on heightened alert against china. Washington says beijing stepped up activities in the region while other nations were struggling to contain the coronavirus. One of the runners for the postponed Tokyo Olympic torch relay is getting back to training. He was supposed to carry the symbol of the games when the flame passed through hiroshima this year. But with the postponement, hes prepared to wait until next year. He sees it as a chance of a lifetime, and for him, that is a long time. E. Repeporter at 103 years ol tomihisa shoji is fulll of energy. Concerned about covid19 keeping him close to home,e, but hes staying g in shape. Translator wn i heardrd the ololympics had been postponed until next year, i felt like i had been droppeded into a d dee abyss. Reporter tomihisa started working out in ernst in march. His training mate made a model of the olympic torch, the same size and weight as the real thing. Tomihisa practiced carrying it while running 200 meters, the distance he expects to cover. Tomihisa started track and field when he was 97. He set the japanese record for the 60meter sprint in the 100 to 104yearold age group. However, hes never run more than 100 meters. The training torch weighs more than a kilogram and tomihisa sometimes has to take a break. Translator i wont give up no matter what. Im determined to see this through. Reporter hes not in it for himself. Rather, he wants to appeal for world peace from hiroshima. 75 years ago, an atomic bomb was dropped d the city. Y. Tomihisa came to do relief work that same day and was exposed to residual radiation. The gruesome memories are imprinted in his mind. Translator we must never allow such a tragedy to happen again. I hope the olympics will allow me to spread my message around the world. Reporter its a message that will be just as timely next year, and tomihisa will be ready. Over more than a century, hes become a pro at patience. He is awesome. Lets go back now to tsietsi for more on world weather. Tsietsi. Hi there. We look at the rainy season that has just kick started, and just like in japan the frontal system is stationary, affecting much of south korea and some parts of southeastern china bringing torrential amounts of rainfall and alsoo leading to severe consequences such as mud slides and also road flooding. So, we need to take care at all times and what is driving the forces of the frontal system and unstable weather conditions is the higher temperatures that are lingering on into the coastal cities and also much of southeast asia. Chongqing will be at 31, hong kong 30, and all those areas will be affected by severe thunderstorms and possibilities of flooding. So, please do take care at all times there. You can see a similar pattern as we move closer towards central asia. In india, temperatures have been high for a long time and also fuelling the rising of warm air and leading to thunder showers. The new data will reach a maximum of 41 degrees and right along the central toward to the coastal parts where theyre suffering from tropical cyclone, theyre still lingered with heavy rainfall. It is most at risk so make sure you are safe at all times. Crossing over to north america, i would like to focus on what has been happening toward the northeast. Theres a bigger story towards the western side. Lets take a look at the video. Well be seeing hot weather, scorching temperatures that have led to the creation of perfect weather conditions for wild fires. Some 200 firefighters foughght e blblaze since wednesdayay. High riskk of wild firire will contntinue intoo thursday becau the high temperatures and strong winds are going to remain persistent along those parts. So, please we need to make sure we are safe at all times. If you notice any fires, just try to report it and stay clear as much as you can. Take a look at these temperatures as well. Quite high up across southern parts of the west. 42 for phoenix, los angeles around 31 degrees and also seeing denver into the upper 3 20s. Thats all for the weather. Take care. All right. That is all for this edition of nhk newsline. Im Yamamoto Miki in tokyo. Thank you for staying with us, and stay safe. Welcome to newsline in depth. Im marie yanaka. Today we feature innovative approaches to support people who are coping with health conditions. Programs that add something extra to conventional medical care are proving effective. Our first story is about easing the anxiety of hospitalized patients. Their stress can, according to some research, even lead to serious physical condition. So, a pioneering hospital in western japan is developing uplifting programs. Reporter who knew medical chic had become a a thing. The gang of 12 including serious illnesses suchh as cancerr plus family membebers. Ththeyre all inpatients in a hospital in western japan. Their make up done by a pro. And for the clothes, i its out with the drab robes and in with the vivid. Clearly this isnt your typical hospital experience, but it worked wonders s on those who tk part. Reporter in fact, the hospital has been finding ways to help inpatients feel more upbeat for a while. Walls have come to life with color. Rooms with no views have been given virtual windows. Its all about stimulating the five senses. Translator when people are hospitalized, they spend a lot of time in bed and they dont eat much. This means they often get weaker. Cognitive function and physical strength decline. We should stop this happening so they can recover effectively. Stimulating the brain boosts immunity. 76yearold fumio tack naka said it had a profound effect on the way he views his illness. Last year his entire body mysteriously lost mobility. He was bedridden and couldnt breathe on his own. He was hospitalized for five months. At first my muscles weakened and i couldnt move. I couldnt even lift my hand. I just stared at the ceiling. After a long period of rehabilitation, fumio was making progress. Finally he was able to get around in a wheelchair. But then a bolt from the blue. He neededed surgery for a tumor near his armpit. Worried about fumio losing momentum, his doctor suggested the photo shoot. Translator my doctor said it would be good to leave something of myself as commemoration, of sorts. So, i decided to at least do the shoot. Fumios wife, hiroko couldnt believe it. Simply put, hes always hated having his photo taken. The last time he allowed it to happen was 12 years ago. Translator when they showed us the application form, i thought he would take one look d cast i it aside. But h he actually applied. I was stunned. The day of the shoot finally arrives. Fumio wants his picture taken together with hiroko. Hiroko has never had her make up done by a pro. Its definitely a first for fumio. Translator your skin tone looks much better. Translator yeah, it has really improved. Translator can you tell . Translator are you nervous . At first, fumio appears a little hesitant, but as the shoot progresses, he looks more at ease. Translator shall i stand up . You know i can if its for a little bit. Fumio even gets out of his wheelchair so that he and his wife can be side by side. Translator i feel really good. Translator his expression is totally different. Afterward, fumio lets us in on a little secret. The couple got dressed up together, and fumio had his photo taken for the first time in 12 years as a thank you gift to his loving wife. Later, the photos were put on display. The aim was to offer a fun conversation starter and provide the patients with a little pi pickmeup. Fumio takes a long look at his photos before going under the knife. Its given him all the courage he needs. Translator every day is a battle. I finally made some progress, and if the surgery goes well, ill be able to go home. Ill be happy to have the photo to commemorate this whole experience. Its been a month since the shoot and fumios surgery was a success. Finally hes homewardbound. Translator thank you so much for your care. Translator we are very glad, be well. Fumio has now recovered enough to walk with a cane. Of course treatments are crucial to a speedy recovery, but as this hospital has shown, staying upbeat and in fashion can play just as big a role, especially if you have a precious photo to show for it just like fumio and hiroko. Now, in our second story we look at animals helping patients. For people with diabetes, blood sugar can be a matter of life or death. And when their levels become dangerous, special alert dogs can tell by smelling their breath. We feature japans pioneer pooch in training. The hero pup is helping a girl with a rare type of chronic diabetes which is not caused by lifestyle and usually develops at a young age. Shell probably have to live with type one diabetes for the rest of her life. That means she has to get injections at least four times a day. Her body cannot produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Translator im so used to it that i almost dont notice im being stuck with a needle. Reporter the injections can cause serious side effects including periods of dangerously low blood sugar. If the patient doesnt eat Something Sweet right away, they can lose consciousness and even die. The disease can be particularly hard for children. Family members have to keep a close eye on their blood sugar, especially at night. Translator most of the time my daughter sleeps right through without knowing whether she h h low blolo sugar, and that ter identifies me. Service dogss are now h he in eururope andnd nororth ameri. Ananimals can detectt whetherer someone has low blood sugar by the smell of their breath and alert them to avoid danger. While there arent any in japan yet, that is about to change. An npo started training the service dogs here two years this man also suffers from the disease and launched the project after suffefering discriminatio. Translator people used to tell my family i was cursed or doomed. Alalert dogs understand patient need injections every day to control their blood sugar. This is their most successful student. His name is animo. Hes undergone extensive coaching with the help of an expert from sweden to detect the right scent. After finishing his basic training, the next step begins in the real world. He sent to live with her for more than a week. She shows him her room, his workplace. The conditions are tougher because there are so many new smells. For an animal to be able to detect low blood sugar on her breath . Hes training in his new surroundings. And just two nights later, animo successfully alerts her. Translator hes like a hero whos protecting my life. He feels like family. Translator i feel much better having one more ally to watch over rian. Reporter animo is set to become japans first diabetes alert dog. Its a small step but could lead to big changes for patients across the country. Nhk world. Animo cannot only save rians life but also provide tremendous emotional support. As we saw today, japans Health Care Industry is evolving. Its emphasis has long been on physical care. Now its looking to integrate its personalized programs that help on the air to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain. Floyds brother urges congress to pass reforms to stop bullies brutality, so his death is not in vain. This, as the Minneapolis Police chief takes on the powerful police union, saying he is breaking off talks. Barbara hello. You are watching al jazeera live from london. Also coming up, a leading British Health expert says bringing in the lockdown earlier would have