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NHK: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Common questions
When was NHK founded and what was its original name?
NHK was founded in August 1926 when the Tokyo Broadcasting Station merged with separate entities in Osaka and Nagoya. The precursor to NHK was established in 1925 under the banner of the Tokyo Broadcasting Station by Count Gotō Shinpei.
What date did NHK discontinue analog television broadcasts in Japan?
NHK discontinued analog transmissions across almost all of Japan on the 24th of July 2011. The final analog broadcasts in the three prefectures affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami ended on the 31st of March 2012.
How much does it cost to pay the NHK license fee for terrestrial reception only?
The reception fee for terrestrial reception only is 12,765 yen per year for viewers making annual payments by credit card without special discounts. Residents of Okinawa prefecture pay a different fee rate under the standardized system.
Who was the NHK Director-General that sparked controversy over wartime history in 2013?
Momii served as the 21st Director-General of NHK and was appointed on the 20th of December 2013. His remarks regarding Japan's actions in World War II led to protests and a public letter calling for his resignation.
When did NHK start broadcasting the Kōhaku Uta Gassen song contest?
NHK has broadcast the Kōhaku Uta Gassen song contest on New Year's Eve since 1953. The program ends shortly before midnight and has become a beloved part of Japanese culture.
In 1925, the first radio waves to ever carry a Japanese voice emerged from a modest station atop Atagoyama, marking the beginning of a public broadcasting empire that would eventually dominate the nation's airwaves. This was not merely a technical achievement but a political maneuver orchestrated by Count Gotō Shinpei, who founded the precursor to NHK under the banner of the Tokyo Broadcasting Station. The station, along with separate entities in Osaka and Nagoya, began their operations in 1925, merging just a year later in August 1926 to form the first incarnation of the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Modeled after the British Broadcasting Corporation, this new entity was designed to be a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments, a system that would become the backbone of its independence and influence. The merger was carried out under the auspices of the pre-war Ministry of Communications, setting a precedent for the close relationship between the state and the broadcaster that would persist for decades. The early years were defined by a rapid expansion of radio networks, with the second network launching in 1931 and the third, an FM network, beginning to air in 1957. These early broadcasts laid the groundwork for a media giant that would eventually become the first in the world to broadcast in high-definition and 8K, a feat that would redefine the global standards of television technology.
War, Silence, and the Voice of Tokyo
By the late 1930s, the station had evolved into Radio Tokyo, a name that would become synonymous with the psychological warfare of World War II. In November 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army nationalized all public news agencies, coordinating their efforts via the Information Liaison Confidential Committee, effectively turning every broadcast into an official announcement of the Imperial Army General Headquarters. The famous Tokyo Rose wartime programs, which targeted American troops, were broadcast by NHK, while the network also recorded and transmitted the Gyokuon-hōsō, the surrender speech made by Emperor Hirohito in August 1945. Following the war, the Allied occupation administration under General Douglas MacArthur banned all international broadcasting by NHK in September 1945, repurposing several facilities and frequencies for use by the Far East Network. Japanese-American radio broadcaster Frank Shozo Baba joined NHK during this time and led an early post-war revamp of its programming, helping to steer the network away from its wartime role. Radio Japan resumed overseas broadcasts in 1952, marking a new chapter in the network's history. A new Broadcasting Act was enacted in 1950, which made NHK a listener-supported independent corporation and simultaneously opened the market for commercial broadcasting in Japan. This period of transition was crucial, as it allowed NHK to rebuild its reputation and prepare for the television age that was just around the corner.
NHK started television broadcasting in 1953, followed by its educational TV channel in 1959 and color television broadcasts in 1960, ushering in a new era of visual storytelling for the Japanese people. The network opened the first stage of its current headquarters in Japan's capital city's special ward Shibuya as an international broadcasting center for the 1964 Summer Olympics, the first widely televised Olympic Games. The complex was gradually expanded through 1973 when it became the headquarters for NHK, replacing the previous headquarters adjacent to Hibiya Park, which was redeveloped as the Hibiya City high-rise complex. The 1964 Olympics were a pivotal moment for NHK, as they showcased the network's ability to handle large-scale, live broadcasts to a global audience. This event also marked the beginning of NHK's dominance in sports broadcasting, with their coverage of the last two days of October 1952's autumn sumo tournament becoming the first ever televised sports broadcast in Japan. The network's commitment to sports continued with broadcasts of sumo wrestling, baseball games, Olympic Games, and association football matches, establishing NHK as a key player in the world of sports media. The transition from radio to television was not just a technological shift but a cultural one, as NHK began to shape the daily lives of millions of Japanese citizens through its diverse programming.
The Digital Frontier and the 8K Horizon
NHK began digital television broadcasting in December 2000 through BS Digital, followed by terrestrial digital TV broadcasts in three major metropolitan areas in 2003, setting the stage for a complete digital transition. The network's digital television coverage gradually expanded to cover almost all of Japan by the 24th of July 2011, when analog transmissions were discontinued and ended, except in three prefectures that were heavily affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima , where it was discontinued on the 31st of March 2012. This transition was a significant milestone, as it marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new digital age for Japanese broadcasting. NHK was the first broadcaster in the world to broadcast in high-definition, using multiple sub-Nyquist sampling encoding, also known as Hi-Vision, and in 8K, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in television technology. The network's commitment to innovation was evident in the launch of NHK BS8K, an 8K programming channel, on the 1st of December 2018, which offered viewers an unprecedented level of detail and clarity. The network's digital transformation was not just about technology but also about accessibility, as all channels could be tuned through the Internet, within the national territory. This shift to digital broadcasting allowed NHK to reach a wider audience and adapt to the changing media landscape, ensuring its relevance in the 21st century.
The License Fee and the Burden of Public Trust
NHK is funded by a system analogous to the license fee used in some English-speaking countries, with the Broadcasting Act stipulating that anyone with equipment able to receive NHK must pay. The fee is standardized, with discounts for 6 and 12 monthly payments, as well as a different fee rate for residents of Okinawa prefecture. For viewers making annual payments by credit card with no special discounts, the reception fee is 12,765 yen per year for terrestrial reception only, and 21,765 yen per year for both terrestrial and broadcast satellite reception. However, the Broadcasting Act specifies no punitive actions for nonpayment, leading to a rash of NHK-related scandals, including an accounting one, which resulted in the number of people in 2006 who had not paid the license fee surpassing one million viewers. This incident sparked debate over the fairness of the fee system, and that year, the NHK opted to take legal action against those most flagrantly in violation of the law. By fiscal year 2023, the amount of those refusing to pay had gone up to 1.66 million. This fee and how it is charged is unpopular with some citizens, leading to the formation of the NHK License Fee Refusal Party, also known as the NHK License Fee Refusal Party, a single-issue political party that has protested this fee with representatives in the upper house. In the 2025 fiscal year, NHK will have a projected shortfall of 40 billion yen in license fees, but the network seeks to fill the hole left by non-paying and no-television-watching watchers by collecting fees for a new streaming service planned to start at the beginning of the year. According to NHK, the new "internet-only" fee of 1,100 yen (USD $7) a month, the same as the broadcast fee, could add around 100 million yen (USD $634,000) to its yearly budget.
Scandals, Silence, and the Weight of History
NHK has faced numerous controversies that have tested its reputation and integrity, from insider trading scandals to the handling of wartime history. In 2007, three employees of NHK were fined and fired for insider trading, profiting by trading shares based on exclusive NHK knowledge. On the 11th of July 2008, NHK introduced a ban prohibiting stock trading by employees, numbering around 5,700, who had access to its internal news information management system. The network also faced criticism for its treatment of Japan's wartime history, with the 21st Director-General, Momii, causing controversy by discussing Japan's actions in World War II at his first press conference after being appointed on the 20th of December 2013. Momii's remarks, which some described as playing down the comfort women issue, led to protests and a public letter calling for his resignation. On the 17th of October 2014, The Times claimed to have received internal NHK documents which banned any reference to the Nanjing Massacre, to Japan's use of wartime sex slaves during World War II, and to its territorial dispute with China in its English-language broadcasting. The network also faced criticism for its handling of the Black Lives Matter movement, with an 80-second video about the movement and George Floyd protests being criticized for its "crude" animation and focus on economic inequality rather than police brutality. These controversies have highlighted the challenges NHK faces in maintaining its public trust while navigating complex political and social issues.
The Orchestra, The Drama, and The People
NHK's cultural contributions extend beyond news and sports, with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, financially sponsored by NHK, being a cornerstone of Japan's musical heritage. The orchestra, formerly known as the Japanese Symphony Orchestra until 1951, has been a vital part of the network's programming since 1953. Since 1953, NHK has broadcast the Kōhaku Uta Gassen song contest on New Year's Eve, ending shortly before midnight in PIX System, a tradition that has become a beloved part of Japanese culture. The network also produces a variety of dramas, including a sentimental morning show, a weekly jidaigeki, and a year-long show, the Taiga drama, which spearhead the network's fiction offerings. NHK is also making efforts at broadcasting dramas made in foreign countries, further enriching its programming. The longest running children's show in Japan, started broadcasting in 1959 and still airs to this day Monday to Friday at 17:36, 18:00 JST, Sunday at 17:30, 17:54 JST, with rebroadcasts Tuesday to Sunday at 5:00, 5:24 JST on NHK World Premium. These programs have become integral to the daily lives of Japanese citizens, providing entertainment, education, and a sense of community. The network's commitment to cultural programming has helped to shape the national identity and foster a shared sense of heritage among the Japanese people.
The Future of Public Broadcasting
As NHK looks to the future, it faces the challenge of adapting to a rapidly changing media landscape while maintaining its role as a public broadcaster. The network's commitment to innovation is evident in its recent initiatives, such as the launch of NHK BS8K and the introduction of a new streaming service. The network's digital transformation has allowed it to reach a wider audience and adapt to the changing media landscape, ensuring its relevance in the 21st century. However, the network also faces significant challenges, including the growing number of license fee non-payers and the need to address the concerns of a diverse and increasingly skeptical public. The network's relationship with Johnny & Associates and Starto Entertainment has also been a source of controversy, with NHK suspending new contracts with Johnny's performers until the company has implemented compensation and recurrence prevention measures. The network's handling of the Black Lives Matter movement and its coverage of the Tokyo Olympics have also raised questions about its editorial independence and responsibility. Despite these challenges, NHK remains a vital institution in Japanese society, providing news, entertainment, and cultural programming to millions of viewers. The network's ability to navigate these complex issues will determine its future success and its ability to continue serving the public interest.