While looking for Japan news sources, I noticed that NHK (Nippon HÅsÅ KyÅkai – Japan Broadcasting Corporation) began providing an english language podcast starting today (March 13, 2011). You can find it here on iTunes.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nw-english-news-nhk-world/id141016660
NHK also has a free iPhone app (NHK World TV Live) that provides streaming video of their english language TV news broadcasts. You can find this app here:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nhk-world-tv-live/id350732480?mt=8