NHK

{{Infobox company

| name = Japan Broadcasting Corporation

| type = Statutory corporation chartered under the Broadcasting Act of 1950

| trade_name = NHK

| logo = NHK logo 2020.svg

| logo_size = 200px

| image = NHK Broadcasting Center 2016.jpg

| image_caption = NHK Broadcasting Center (headquarters)

| industry = Broadcast radio, television and online

| native_name = 日本放送協会

| native_name_lang = ja

| romanized_name = Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai

| area_served = Japan
Worldwide (NHK World-Japan)

| founded = {{Start date and age|1926|8|6|df=y}} (original incarnation)
{{Start date and age|1950|6|1|df=y}} (current incarnation)

| predecessor = Tokyo Broadcasting Station

| hq_location = NHK Broadcasting Center

| hq_location_city = Shibuya, Tokyo

| hq_location_country = Japan

| owner = citizens of Japan

| subsid = {{Plainlist|

NHK Media Holdings
Japan International Broadcasting
NHK Publishing
NHK Technologies
NHK Culture Center

}}

| key_people = {{ubl|Nobuo Inaba (president)|Tatsuhiko Inoue (executive vice president)}}

| former_names = Tokyo/Osaka/Nagoya Broadcasting Station (1925–1926)
Broadcasting Corporation of Japan (English name 1926–1950)

| website = {{URL|https://www.nhk.or.jp|nhk.or.jp}}

| footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/keiei/gyoumu/h17/pdf/gyoumu.pdf |title=日本放送協会平成17年度業務報告書] |trans-title=NHK Business Report 2005 |page=42 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114230652/https://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/keiei/gyoumu/h17/pdf/gyoumu.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2006 |url-status=live }}

}}

{{Nihongo|The Japan Broadcasting Corporation[http://www.nhk.or.jp/info/about/summary.html NHKの概要]|日本放送協会|Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai|lead=yes}}, also known by its romanized initialism NHK,{{efn|Pronounced in Japanese as {{nihongo||エヌエイチケイ|Enueichikei}}}} is a Japanese public broadcaster.{{cite web |title=NHK: Profile |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/profile/pforile.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514035550/http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/profile/pforile.html |archive-date=14 May 2008 |publisher=NHK}}{{cite book |last=Sidensticker |first=Edward |date=1990 |title=Tokyo Rising: The City Since the Great Earthquake |page=67}} It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee.

NHK operates two terrestrial television channels (NHK General TV and NHK Educational TV), three satellite television channels (NHK BS; as well as two ultra-high-definition television channels, NHK BS Premium 4K and NHK BS8K), and three radio networks (NHK Radio 1, NHK Radio 2, and NHK FM).

NHK also provides an international broadcasting service, known as NHK World-Japan. NHK World-Japan is composed of NHK World TV, NHK World Premium, and the shortwave radio service Radio Japan (RJ). World Radio Japan also makes some of its programs available on the Internet.

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.{{cite web |title=The history of Super Hi-Vision {{!}} 8K Super Hi-Vision |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/bs4k8k/eng/history/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413010134/https://www.nhk.or.jp/bs4k8k/eng/history/ |archive-date=13 April 2023 |publisher=NHK}}

History

File:Tokyo broadcasting station in Atagoyama.jpg Broadcasting Station, the birthplace of NHK, in 1930]]

NHK's earliest forerunner was the {{nihongo|Tokyo Broadcasting Station|東京放送局}}, founded in 1924 under the leadership of Count Gotō Shinpei. Tokyo Broadcasting Station, along with separate organizations in Osaka and Nagoya, began radio broadcasts in 1925. The three stations merged under the first incarnation of NHK in August 1926.{{cite web |title=NHK Corporate Information: History |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/history/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118052529/http://www.nhk.or.jp/corporateinfo/english/history/index.html |archive-date=18 November 2022 |access-date=29 July 2014 |publisher=NHK}} NHK was modelled on the BBC of the United Kingdom, and the merger and reorganisation was carried out under the auspices of the pre-war Ministry of Communications.{{cite web |title=Regular Radio Broadcasting Begins |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p04/column/index1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020608213604/http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p04/Column/index1.html |archive-date=8 June 2002 |access-date=27 July 2015 |publisher=NHK}} NHK's second radio network began in 1931, and the third radio network (FM) began in 1937.

=Radio broadcasting=

NHK began shortwave broadcasting on an experimental basis in the 1930s, and began regular English- and Japanese-language shortwave broadcasts in 1935 under the name Radio Japan, initially aimed at ethnic Japanese listeners in Hawaii and the west coast of North America. By the late 1930s, NHK's overseas broadcasts were known as Radio Tokyo, which became an official name in 1941.{{Citation needed|date=July 2023}}

In November 1941, the Imperial Japanese Army nationalised all public news agencies and coordinated their efforts via the Information Liaison Confidential Committee.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} All published and broadcast news reports became official announcements of the Imperial Army General Headquarters in Tokyo for the duration of World War II. The famous Tokyo Rose wartime programs were broadcast by NHK. NHK also recorded and broadcast the Gyokuon-hōsō, the surrender speech made by Emperor Hirohito, in August 1945.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Thomas B. |last2=Polmar |first2=Norman |date=2015-08-07 |title=The 4-Minute Radio Broadcast That Ended World War II |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/08/emperor-hirohito-surrender-japan-hiroshima/400328/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}

Following the war, in September 1945, the Allied occupation administration under General Douglas MacArthur banned all international broadcasting by NHK, and repurposed several NHK facilities and frequencies for use by the Far East Network (now American Forces Network). Japanese-American radio broadcaster Frank Shozo Baba joined NHK during this time and led an early post-war revamp of its programming. Radio Japan resumed overseas broadcasts in 1952.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

A new {{ill|Broadcasting Act (Japan)|ja|放送法|lt=Broadcasting Act}} was enacted in 1950, which made NHK a listener-supported independent corporation and simultaneously opened the market for commercial broadcasting in Japan.{{cite web |title=Broadcast Law: Broadcasting for the Public |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p08/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018085435/http://www.nhk.or.jp/strl/aboutstrl/evolution-of-tv-en/p08/index.html |archive-date=18 October 2015 |access-date=27 July 2015 |publisher=NHK}} NHK started television broadcasting in 1953, followed by its educational TV channel in 1959 and color television broadcasts in 1960.

NHK 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. The previous headquarters adjacent to Hibiya Park was redeveloped as the Hibiya City high-rise complex.

=Satellite broadcasting=

NHK began experimental satellite broadcasting with the NHK BS 1 channel in 1984, followed by NHK BS 2 in 1985.{{cite web |title=History of Broadcasting Technology |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/digital/en/techhistory/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925013913/http://www.nhk.or.jp/digital/en/techhistory/index.html |archive-date=25 September 2012 |publisher=NHK}} Both channels began regular broadcasts in 1989. In April 2011, BS 1 was rebranded while BS 2 channel ceased broadcasting and was replaced by "BS Premium" which broadcasts on the channel formerly used by BShi.

International satellite broadcasts to North America and Europe began in 1995, which led to the launch of NHK World in 1998. It became free-to-air over the Astra 19.2°E (Astra 1L) and Eurobird satellites in Europe in 2008.

=Digital television=

NHK began digital television broadcasting in December 2000 through BS Digital, followed by terrestrial digital TV broadcasts in three major metropolitan areas in 2003. NHK's digital television coverage gradually expanded to cover almost all of Japan by 24 July 2011, when analog transmissions were discontinued & ended (except in three prefectures that were heavily affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami – Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima – where it was discontinued on 31 March 2012).

=''Studies of Broadcasting''=

{{Infobox journal

| title = Studies of Broadcasting

| cover =

| discipline = Broadcasting science

| abbreviation = Stud. Broadcast.

| editor =

| publisher =

| country =

| frequency =

| history = 1963–1999

| impact =

| impact-year =

| website =

| link1 =

| link1-name =

| link2 =

| link2-name =

| ISSN = 0585-7325

| eISSN =

| OCLC = 474034025

| LCCN =

| JSTOR =

| italic title = no

}}

From 1963 to 1999, NHK published the journal Studies of broadcasting: an international annual of broadcasting science.{{cite book |title=Studies of broadcasting: an international annual of broadcasting science |publisher=OCLC |oclc=474034025}}

Organization

NHK is a dependent corporation chartered by the Japanese Broadcasting Act and primarily funded by license fees. NHK World broadcasting (for overseas viewers/listeners) is funded by the Japanese government.{{Citation needed|reason=There are no clear official budget statement that says they are getting money from the government for NHK World|date=March 2017}} The annual budget of NHK is subject to review and approval by the Diet of Japan. The Diet also appoints the twelve-member board of governors (経営委員会 keiei iinkai) that oversees NHK.

NHK is managed on a full-time basis by an {{nihongo|executive board|理事会|rijikai}} consisting of a president, executive vice president and seven to ten managing directors who oversee the areas of NHK operations. The executive board reports to the board of governors.

=Subsidiaries=

NHK Enterprises, Inc. (NHKエンタープライズ, abbreviated NEP): Established on 1 April 2005.{{Cite web |title=NHK関連団体について |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/kanrenjigyo/ |access-date=2021-08-18 |publisher=NHK |language=ja}}
NHK Educational Corporation (株式会社 NHKエデュケーショナル): Established on 30 May 1989.
NHK ART, Inc. (株式会社NHKアート): Established on 10 July 1961.
NHK Publishing, Inc. (NHK出版): Established on 1 April 1931.
Japan International Broadcasting Inc. (株式会社日本国際放送)/JIB: Established on 4 April 2008.
NHK International, Inc. (一般財団法人NHKインターナショナル): Established on 1 July 1980.
NHK Global Media Services, Inc. (株式会社NHKグローバルメディアサービス): Established on 1 April 2009, by merging NHK Joho Network, Inc. ((株)NHK情報ネットワーク) (established on 1 January 1989) and Japan Teletex Co. Ltd. (日本文字放送) (established in 1985).[http://www.nhk-g.co.jp/english/profile/ Company Profile]
NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.: Created by merging Japan Network Group (Media International Corporation) and NHK Enterprises America, Inc. on 1 April 2010,[http://www.nhk-ep.co.jp/en/ Corporate History] but its licence was granted on 12 November 2008.[http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/UlsSearch/license.jsp?licKey=3056076 ULS License – Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License – WQJN734 – NHK Cosmomedia America Inc.] The company's logo was filed on 23 March 2010 and registered on 13 December 2011.[http://trademarks.justia.com/779/66/nhk-cosmomedia-america-77966148.html NHK COSMOMEDIA AMERICA – Trademark Details]
NHK Cosmomedia (Europe) Limited: Created by merging JSTV (company founded on 8 November 1989)[https://uk.globaldatabase.com/company/nhk-cosmomedia-europe-limited NHK COSMOMEDIA (EUROPE) LIMITED] and NHK Enterprises Europe in April 2010.
NHK Technologies, Inc. (株式会社NHKテクノロジーズ): Established on 1 April 2019, by merging NHK Integrated Technology Inc. (株式会社NHKアイテック) and NHK Media Technology, Inc. (株式会社NHKメディアテクノロジー).[http://www.nhk-tech.co.jp/information/pdf/20190401_2.pdf 株式会社NHKテクノロジーズ発足のおしらせ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030224103/http://www.nhk-tech.co.jp/information/pdf/20190401_2.pdf |date=30 October 2020 }}
Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (株式会社放送衛星システム)/B-SAT: Established on 13 April 1993.
NHK Engineering System, Inc. (一般財団法人NHKエンジニアリングシステム): Established on 22 December 1981.
NHK GAKUEN (学校法人 NHK学園): Established in 1962-10-01 (学校法人日本放送協会学園). It was renamed to its current name on 1 April 2018.[http://www.n-gaku.jp/company/history/ 沿革]
NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo (公益財団法人 NHK交響楽団): Established on 27 April 1942, as Japan Symphony Orchestra (財団法人日本交響楽団). On 1 August 1951, it was renamed to NHK Symphony Orchestra (財団法人NHK交響楽団). It became a public interest-incorporated foundation and was renamed to its current name on 1 April 2010.[http://www.nhkso.or.jp/en/data/outline.jpg 財団概要][http://www.nhkso.or.jp/data/outline_e.jpg NHKSO Outline]
NHK Public Welfare Organization/NHK HEARTS (社会福祉法人NHK厚生文化事業団): Established on 31 August 1960.
NHK Promotions Inc. (株式会社NHKプロモーション)/(株式会社エヌエイチケイプロモーション): Established on 1 October 1977, as NHK Promote Service Inc. (株式会社NHKプロモートサービス). It was renamed to its current name in October 1989.
NHK CULTURE CENTER (株式会社エヌエイチケイ文化センター)/(NHKカルチャー): Established on 1 December 1978.
NHK SERVICE CENTER, INC. (一般財団法人 NHK サービスセンター): Established on 28 February 1951.
NHK BUSINESS SERVICES INC. (NHK営業サービス株式会社): Established on 17 January 1990.
BS Conditional Access Systems Co., Ltd. (株式会社ビーエス・コンディショナルアクセスシステムズ)/B-CAS (ビーキャス): Established on 22 February 2000.
NHK Business Create Inc. (株式会社 NHKビジネスクリエイト): Established on 1 April 2009, by merger (株式会社NHKオフィス企画), (株式会社NHK共同サービス).[http://www.nhk-bc.co.jp/company/enkaku.html 沿革]
NHK-Communications Training Institute (一般財団法人NHK放送研修センター): Established on 8 August 1985.

==Former subsidiaries==

NHK Integrated Technology Inc. (株式会社NHKアイテック): Established on 23 July 1969, as NHK Integrated Technology Inc. (全日本テレビサービス株式会社). It was merged into NHK Technologies, Inc. on 1 April 2019.
NHK Media Technology, Inc. (株式会社NHKメディアテクノロジー): Established in April 2008 by merging NHK Technical Service (株式会社NHKテクニカルサービス) (established 9 October 1984) and NHK Computer Service (株式会社NHKコンピューターサービス). It was merged into NHK Technologies, Inc. on 1 April 2019.

Services

= Radio =

It maintains three radio stations available nationwide:

NHK Radio 1 – Organized mainly on news, information, drama and entertainment programs. It began its broadcasts on July 12, 1925 as the first radio station of Japan. It is similar to BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom is also conducted (24-hour broadcast).
NHK Radio 2 – Organized mainly on educational and liberal arts programs. Weather forecasts, stock market conditions, news in foreign languages, etc. are also broadcast (broadcast from 6:00 a.m. to late at night. Broadcast end times vary by day).
NHK-FM Broadcasting – Organizes various music programs, but mainly classical music. Simultaneous broadcasting with Radio 1 is also conducted (24-hour broadcasting). It is similar to BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 in the United Kingdom.

All of them can also be tuned through the Internet, within the national territory.

= Television =

It manages two open signal channels through digital terrestrial television. Since Japan has a television network system, it schedules territorial disconnections in each of its centers. However, the NHK brand is common for the whole country.

NHK General TV (NHK-G) – Pioneer of television in Japan, it began its broadcasts on 1 February 1953. Its offer is general and public service.
NHK Educational TV (NHK-E) – Educational and cultural channel, designed especially for children. It has been broadcasting since 10 January 1959.

All of them can also be tuned through the Internet, within the national territory. It also has one exclusive satellite channel, as well as two in ultra-high definition.

NHK BS (previously as NHK BS 1 and NHK BS Premium) – Specialized in information, international documentaries, sports broadcasts, cultural and entertainment programming. It was founded on 12 May 1984. Renamed as NHK BS on 1 December 2023.
NHK BS Premium 4K (previously as NHK BS Premium and NHK BS4K) – Cultural and entertainment programming in 4K. It was founded on 1 April 2011 and relaunched on 1 December 2023 (merger with NHK BS4K).
NHK BS8K – 8K programming, launched on 1 December 2018.

License fee

NHK is funded by {{nihongo|reception fees|受信料|jushinryō}}, a system analogous to the license fee used in some English-speaking countries. The Broadcasting Act which governs NHK's funding stipulates anyone with equipment able to receive NHK must pay. The fee is standardized,{{cite web |title=NHK受信料の窓口-英語 |trans-title=NHK reception fee window-English |url=http://pid.nhk.or.jp/jushinryo/multilingual/english/index.html |access-date=27 July 2015 |publisher=NHK |language=en}} with discounts for 6 and 12 monthly payments, as well 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.{{cite web |title=The Receiving Fee System |url=https://www.nhk-cs.jp/jushinryo/multilingual/english/index.html |website=NHK Receiving Fees |publisher=Japan Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=January 14, 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241213084458/https://www.nhk-cs.jp/jushinryo/multilingual/english/index.html |archive-date=December 13, 2024}}

However, the Broadcasting Act specifies no punitive actions for nonpayment; as a result, after a rash of NHK-related scandals including an accounting one, the number of people in 2006 who had not paid the license fee surpassed one million watchers.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2006 |title=Japan cracking down on NHK license fee nonpayment |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/japan-cracking-down-nhk-license-143223/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119035923/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/japan-cracking-down-nhk-license-143223/ |archive-date=19 January 2025 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Hollywood Reporter}} This incident sparked debate over the fairness of the fee system.{{cite web |url=http://www.asahi.com/english/opinion/TKY200502240170.html |title=Turned off: Fee falling: Viewers are not only boycotting their NHK payments, they are now also seeking a complete overhaul of the system at the public broadcaster. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218004624/http://www.asahi.com/english/opinion/TKY200502240170.html |archive-date=2014-02-18 |website=IHT/Asahi |date=24 February 2005 }} That year, the NHK opted to take legal action against those most flagrantly in violation of the law.{{cite web |title=Summary of Press Conference (November 2006): On the demanding of fee payment through legal proceedings |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/toptalk/kaichou_e/k_e0611.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411195311/http://www.nhk.or.jp/pr/english/toptalk/kaichou_e/k_e0611.htm |archive-date=11 April 2013 |publisher=Japan Broadcasting Corporation}} By fiscal year 2023, the amount of those refusing to pay had gone up to 1.66 million.{{Cite web |date=29 June 2024 |title=ＮＨＫ受信契約が４年で１００万件減、不払いは倍増「テレビ離れがどう影響しているか答えるのが難しい」 |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/tv/20240627-OYT1T50088/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727182121/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/culture/tv/20240627-OYT1T50088/ |archive-date=27 July 2024 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Yomiuri |language=Japanese}}

This fee and how it is charged is unpopular with some citizens. This led to the formation of the {{Nihongo|NHK Party|NHK党|NHK tō}},{{Cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/07/29/national/politics-diplomacy/japan-lawmaker-sparked-scandal-russia-war-remarks-join-anti-nhk-party/ |title=Japan lawmaker who sparked scandal with Russia war remarks to join anti-NHK party |date=2019-07-29 |work=The Japan Times |access-date=2019-07-30 |language=en-US |issn=0447-5763}} also known as {{Nihongo|N-Koku|N国}},{{Cite web |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907250055.html |title=After stunning election win, anti-NHK party sets higher goal |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=en |access-date=2019-07-30 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728233457/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907250055.html |url-status=dead }} a single-issue political party, which 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.{{cite news |last1=Forrester |first1=Chris |title=NHK suffers major licence fee deficit |url=https://advanced-television.com/2025/01/10/nhk-suffers-major-licence-fee-deficit/ |work=Advanced Television |date=January 10, 2025}} 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.{{Cite web |date=11 January 2025 |title=Bleeding Cash, NHK to Collect “Internet Only” License Fee |url=https://unseen-japan.com/nhk-fee-no-tv/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119010924/https://unseen-japan.com/nhk-fee-no-tv/ |archive-date=19 January 2025 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Unseen Japan}}{{Cite web |date=16 September 2024 |title=Q&A;: How will Japan public broadcaster NHK's new streaming service affect viewers? |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240916/p2a/00m/0et/008000c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119014120/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240916/p2a/00m/0et/008000c |archive-date=19 January 2025 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Mainichi English}}

TV programming

NHK broadcasts a variety of programming.

=News=

NHK offers local, national, and world news reports. NHK News 7 airs daily and is broadcast bilingually with both Japanese and English audio tracks on NHK General TV and NHK's international channels TV Japan and NHK World Premium. The flagship news program News Watch 9 is also bilingual and airs on NHK General TV and the international channels and NHK World Premium. World News, a program which airs bulletins from international broadcasters interpreted in Japanese, is aired on NHK BS1 with Catch! Sekai no Top News in the morning and International News Report at night, with the latter also airing on NHK World Premium. News on NHK BS1 is aired at 50 minutes past the hour except during live sports events.

NHK also offers news for the deaf (which airs on NHK Educational TV), regional news (which airs on NHK General TV) and children's news. Newsline is an English-language newscast designed for foreign viewers and airs on NHK World.

In his book Broadcasting Politics in Japan: NHK and Television News, Ellis S. Krauss states: 'In the 1960s and 1970s, external critics of NHK news were complaining about the strict neutrality, the lack of criticism of the government, and the 'self-regulation in covering events'. Krauss claims that little had changed by the 1980s and 1990s.{{cite book |first=Ellis S. |last=Krauss |title=Broadcasting Politics in Japan: NHK and Television News |publisher=Cornell University Press |date=2000 |pages=39–40}} After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, NHK was criticised for underplaying the dangers from radioactive contamination.{{Failed verification|date=September 2023}}

=Emergency reporting=

Under the Broadcasting Act, NHK is under the obligation to broadcast early warning emergency reporting in times of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis. Their national network of seismometers in cooperation with the Japan Meteorological Agency makes NHK capable of delivering earthquake early warnings seconds after detection, as well as a more detailed report with Shindo intensity measurements within two-to-three minutes after the quake. They also broadcast air attack warnings in the event of war, using the J-Alert system.{{cite news |last=Corkill |first=Edan |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20110320a1.html |title=Planning pays off as NHK takes its quake news global |work=The Japan Times |date=20 March 2011 |page=9}}

All warnings are broadcast in Japanese, with tsunami warnings also delivered in four foreign languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Portuguese (Japan has small Chinese, Korean and Brazilian populations). The warnings were broadcast in these languages during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.{{Cite web |title=Japan earthquake & Tsunami warning systems - 11 Mar 2011 on TV (part2of2) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYLh6AroU20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804025208/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYLh6AroU20 |archive-date=4 August 2011 |via=YouTube}}

=Sports=

NHK broadcasts sumo wrestling, baseball games, Olympic Games, soccer games, and a range of other sports. Their broadcast of the last two days of October 1952's autumn sumo tournament became the first ever televised sports broadcast in Japan.{{cite web |title=50 Years of NHK Television: Competing with the Best |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/digitalmuseum/nhk50years_en/categories/p40/index.html |access-date=11 February 2022 |publisher=NHK}}

=Music=

The NHK Symphony Orchestra, financially sponsored by NHK, was formerly (until 1951) the Japanese Symphony Orchestra. Its website details the orchestra's history and ongoing concert programme.{{cite web |title=NHK Symphony Orchestra |url=http://www.nhkso.or.jp/en/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826013102/http://www.nhkso.or.jp/en/index.html |archive-date=26 August 2010 |access-date=24 November 2010 |publisher=NHK}} Since 1953, NHK has broadcast the Kōhaku Uta Gassen song contest on New Year's Eve, ending shortly before midnight in PIX System.

=Drama=

A sentimental morning show, a weekly jidaigeki and a year-long show, the Taiga drama, spearhead the network's fiction offerings.

NHK is also making efforts at broadcasting dramas made in foreign countries as {{Nihongo|overseas drama|海外ドラマ|Kaigai Dorama}}.

=Children=

The longest running children's show in Japan, {{Nihongo3|With Mother|おかあさんといっしょ|Okaasan to Issho}}, started broadcasting in 1959{{cite web |title=50 Years of NHK Television |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/digitalmuseum/nhk50years_en/categories/p45/index.html |access-date=13 September 2009 |publisher=NHK |page=45}} 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.{{cite web |title=NHKワールド・プレミアム |trans-title=NHK World Premium |url=https://nhkworldpremium.com/ |publisher=NHK |language=ja}}

Employee and internal issues

=Insider trading ban=

In 2007, three employees of NHK were fined and fired for insider trading. They had profited by trading shares based on exclusive NHK knowledge.{{cite web |date=11 July 2008 |title=NHK Bans Stock Trading for Many Employees |url=http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=19038 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020163449/http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=19038 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014 |website=JCN Newswire |agency=Jiji Press}}

On 11 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 employees were required to pledge in writing that they would not trade in stocks, and were required to gain approval from senior staff to sell shares they already held. NHK banned short-term stock trading completed in periods of six months or less for all other employees.{{cite web |date=12 July 2008 |title=NHK bans stock trades by reporters |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/07/12/national/nhk-bans-stock-trades-by-reporters/ |access-date=20 October 2014 |website=The Japan Times |agency=Kyodo News}}

The ban did not extend to employees' families, nor did NHK request any reports on their transactions.

=Overwork death=

On 24 July 2013, a reporter at NHK Metropolitan Broadcasting Center died of congestive heart failure. In May 2014, the Shibuya Labor Standards Inspection Office of the Tokyo Labor Bureau certified it as a karōshi (overwork death). Although NHK did not report on this matter, it was announced in October 2017. Ryōichi Ueda, the chairman of NHK, visited the reporter's parents' home and apologized to them.{{cite web |date=6 October 2017 |title=NHK会長、過労死記者の両親に直接謝罪 |trans-title=NHK chairman directly apologizes to parents of deceased reporter |url=http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASKB644RTKB6ULFA00W.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006070243/http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASKB644RTKB6ULFA00W.html |archive-date=6 October 2017 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=ja}}{{Cite news |date=6 October 2017 |title=NHK会長が両親に謝罪女性記者の過労死で |language=ja |work=The Nikkei |agency=Kyodo News |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO21979080W7A001C1CC1000/}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sankei.com/entertainments/news/171006/ent1710060017-n1.html |title=【NHK記者過労死】NHK会長、両親に謝罪 31歳女性記者の過労死で働き方改革の決意伝える |trans-title=NHK reporter's death due to overwork: NHK president apologizes to his parents |publisher=Sankei Digital Inc. |date=6 October 2017 |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=7 October 2017 |title=過労死: NHK会長、記者の遺族に謝罪 |trans-title=Death from overwork: NHK apologizes to reporter's family |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171007/ddm/041/040/040000c |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127144112/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20171007/ddm/041/040/040000c |archive-date=27 January 2021 |website=Mainichi Shimbun |language=ja}}

= Relationship with Johnny & Associates and Starto Entertainment =

In regards to NHK's relationship with Johnny & Associates, they have stated that NHK acknowledges that sexual abuse allegations related to Johnny & Associates had repeatedly been reported for many years, but NHK also stated that they lacked awareness of the issue at that time and chose not to follow up or cover the issue entirely. In addition, they stated that they failed in their role as a news media organization, and simply sat idle as many minors became sexual abuse victims. On 8 September 2023, NHK said in a statement that they took the matter seriously, and that they would "work harder to ensure that human rights are more respected in the broadcasting industry" when it comes to using performers who best fit program content and production. The public broadcaster added that it did not fully acknowledge the sexual abuse matter despite various weekly magazine articles about the allegations and a Tokyo High Court ruling in 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230907_33/|title=NHK issues statement following Johnny & Associates news conference|date=7 September 2023|publisher=NHK|access-date=8 September 2023|archive-date=8 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908160132/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230907_33/|url-status=live}} A few weeks later, NHK announced that it would suspend new contracts with Johnny's performers–including for their annual New Year's Eve television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen–until the company has implemented compensation and recurrence prevention measures.{{cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2023092700964/nhk-suspends-new-contracts-with-johnny%27s-talents.html|title=NHK Suspends New Contracts with Johnny's Talents|date=27 September 2023|website=nippon.com|publisher=Jiji Press|access-date=27 September 2023|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927212926/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2023092700964/nhk-suspends-new-contracts-with-johnny%27s-talents.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=NHK ditches Johnny's acts for year-end musical bonanza |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/11/13/entertainment-news/kohaku-johnnys-smile-up/ |website=Japan Times |access-date=11 June 2024|language=English |date=13 November 2023}} In February 2024, the company announced a strict policy of terminating the appearance of talents formerly affiliated with Johnny & Associates on its programs and not allowing them to appear on new programs after FY2024.{{cite web |title=旧ジャニーズ、新年度NHK出演当面なしレギュラー8番組も終了へ |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASS2G6FR4S2GUCVL026.html |website=asahi.com |access-date=6 June 2024|language=Japanese |date=14 February 2024}} In October 2024, NHK Chairman Nobuo Inaba announced at a regular press conference that, he had confirmed efforts of Smile-Up to compensate victims and prevent recurrence and the separation of management from Starto Entertainment is steadily progressing, and that requests to perform–including Kōhaku Uta Gassen for current Starto celebrities would resume. Commercial broadcasters had already announced on the resumption of new appointments to celebrities belonging to Starto.{{cite web |title=NHK、旧ジャニーズのタレント起用再開紅白出演可能に |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC166CH0W4A011C2000000/ |website=nikkei |access-date=2 November 2024|language=Japanese |date=16 October 2024}}

Criticism and controversies

=Criticism over comments about Japanese wartime history=

NHK has occasionally faced various criticisms for its treatment of Japan's wartime history.{{cite journal |url=http://www.jpri.org/publications/critiques/critique_XII_3.html |title=Censorship at NHK and PBS |publisher=Japan Policy Research Institute |author=Henry Laurence |journal=JPRI Critique |volume=XII |number=3 |date=April 2005}}

{{Nihongo|Katsuto Momii|籾井勝人}}, the 21st Director-General of NHK, caused controversy{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25901572 |work=BBC News |title=Japan NHK boss Momii sparks WWII 'comfort women' row |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=29 July 2014}}[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/01/japan-tv-chief-dismisses-wartime-sex-slavery-201412652738860639.html Japan TV chief dismisses wartime sex slavery - Asia-Pacific]. Al Jazeera English. Retrieved on 29 July 2014. by discussing Japan's actions in World War II at his first press conference after being appointed on 20 December 2013. It was reported that Momii said NHK should support the Japanese government in its territorial dispute with China and South Korea.{{cite news |date=2014-01-25 |title=New NHK chief: 'comfort women' only wrong per 'today's morality'; programming must push Japan's territorial stances |newspaper=The Japan Times |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/25/national/new-nhk-chief-comfort-women-only-wrong-per-todays-morality-programming-must-push-japans-territorial-stances/ |url-status=deviated |access-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125192910/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/25/national/new-nhk-chief-comfort-women-only-wrong-per-todays-morality-programming-must-push-japans-territorial-stances/ |archive-date=2014-01-25}} He also caused controversy by what some describe as the playing down of the comfort women issue in World War II, according to the Taipei Times, stating, "[South] Korea's statements that Japan is the only nation that forced this are puzzling. 'Give us money, compensate us', they say, but since all of this was resolved by the Japan–Korea peace treaty, why are they reviving this issue? It's strange."{{cite news |date=27 January 2014 |title=NHK chairman says fuss over 'comfort women' perplexing |work=Taipei Times |agency=Reuters |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/01/27/2003582237 |access-date=21 November 2014}} It was subsequently reported by The Japan Times that on his first day at NHK Momii asked members of the executive team to hand in their resignation on the grounds they had all been appointed by his predecessor.{{cite news |date=22 February 2014 |title=NHK chief 'asked senior management to quit' on first day in office |work=The Japan Times |agency=Kyodo News |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/22/national/nhk-chief-asked-senior-management-to-quit-on-first-day-in-office/ |url-status=deviated |access-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226053342/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/22/national/nhk-chief-asked-senior-management-to-quit-on-first-day-in-office/ |archive-date=2014-02-26}}

A number of civil society groups protested against Momii's continued tenure as Director-General of NHK.{{cite news |last=Nagata |first=Kazuki |date=2014-05-02 |title=Viewers target NHK chief Momii |newspaper=The Japan Times |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/02/national/viewers-target-nhk-chief-momii/ |url-status=deviated |access-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503043847/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/05/02/national/viewers-target-nhk-chief-momii/ |archive-date=2014-05-03}} On 27 January 2014,{{Cite web |date=2014-01-27 |title=NHK籾井会長に辞任要求/放送法に反すると市民団体 |url=https://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/culture_entertainment/20140127000378 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927213516/https://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/national/culture_entertainment/20140127000378 |archive-date=2023-09-27 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=The Shikoku Shimbun |language=ja}} the {{Nihongo|Viewers' Community to Observe and Encourage NHK|NHKを監視・激励する視聴者コミュニティ}} issued a public letter calling for Momii's resignation on the grounds that the remarks he made at his inaugural press conference were explosive. The letter stated that if Momii did not resign by the end of April, its members would freeze their licence fee payments for half a year. While Momii did not resign, he was not reappointed and retired after serving only one term of three years.{{Cite journal |last=Sato |first=Junji |date=2019 |title=公共放送のあり方と財源: NHK受信料訴訟最高裁判決を受けて |journal=Journal of Mass Communication Studies |language=ja |volume=95 |pages=99–100 |doi=10.24460/mscom.95.0_87 |issn=1341-1306}}

On 17 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.{{cite news |last=Parry |first=Richard Lloyd |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/japans-bbc-bans-any-reference-to-wartime-sex-slaves-s7qtbxr0kc0 |title=Japan's 'BBC' bans any reference to wartime 'sex slaves' |work=The Times |date=17 October 2014 |access-date=20 October 2014}}

=Black Lives Matter video=

On 10 June 2020, NHK apologized and took down an 80-second video about the Black Lives Matter movement and George Floyd protests that was criticized for its "crude" animation of protesters and its focus on economic inequality rather than police brutality.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/nhk-takes-down-video-black-lives-matter-protests-after-backlash-1202954388/ |title=Japan's NHK Apologizes & Deletes Animation On Black Lives Matter Protests After Backlash |work=Deadline |last=Kanter |first=Jake |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Watatsuki |first1=Yoko |last2=Cheung |first2=Eric |last3=Guy |first3=Jack |title=Japanese broadcaster takes down controversial Black Lives Matter anime |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/09/asia/japan-anime-black-lives-matter-scli-intl/index.html |work=CNN |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=16 June 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Denyer |first1=Simon |last2=Kashiwagi |first2=Akiko |title=U.S. slams Japanese broadcaster for 'offensive' cartoon about Black Lives Matter protests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-cartoon-about-black-lives-matter-protests-racist-offensive/2020/06/09/32d4226c-a9f7-11ea-a43b-be9f6494a87d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=9 June 2020 |access-date=16 June 2020}} An official statement signed by Yuichi Tabata, head of NHK's International News Division, was released through NHK's official website.{{cite web |date=2010-06-24 |title=6月7日の放送についておわび |trans-title=Apologies over the 7 June broadcast |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/program/sekaima/sekainoima0607.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615102551/https://www.nhk.or.jp/program/sekaima/sekainoima0607.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021 |publisher=NHK}}

=Olympics documentary claims=

On 9 January 2022, NHK issued an apology over false allegations made in Director Naomi Kawase's Tokyo Olympics documentary. Kawase was selected by the IOC in 2018 to cover Japanese reactions to the event and later during the COVID-19 pandemic. Footage and captions in the documentary alleged that protesters were being paid money to attend anti-Olympics rallies. One of the men interviewed later stated he was "unsure" if he had actually attended any anti-Olympics rallies. NHK Osaka cited "editorial oversights" and "deficiencies in research", issuing an apology. Some anti-Olympic activists demanded that the documentary should be removed. Some activists were concerned that the misinformation was spread by NHK to silence those who opposed the Tokyo Olympics during the pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.arabnews.jp/en/japan/article_63238/ |title=NHK apologizes after airing report on the official film of Tokyo Olympics |date=12 Jan 2022 |author= |publisher=Arab News Japan |access-date=12 Jan 2022}} NHK denied that the footage was deliberately fabricated to mislead the public.{{Cite web |date=9 January 2022 |title=NHKの河瀬直美さんの五輪番組、字幕に不確かな内容 21年放送 |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220109/k00/00m/040/127000c |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 January 2022 |website=Mainichi Shimbun |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=9 January 2022 |title=NHK、事実確認せず不適切字幕「金もらって」「五輪反対デモ参加」 |url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ196WCCQ19PTFC004.html |access-date=10 January 2022 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=ja}} On 13 January 2022, the NHK Osaka director Terunobu Maeda apologized during a press conference, admitting that the captions "should not have been included". Once again, he denied that the incident was a fabrication.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2022 |title=NHK字幕問題大阪放送局長陳謝「入れるべきではなかった」 |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20220113/k00/00m/040/149000c |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=Mainichi Shimbun |language=ja}} On 10 February 2022 NHK Osaka announced an internal review and fired 6 production staff members.{{Cite news|script-title=ja:五輪反対デモ「金で動員」の字幕、「誤り」と判断　NHK、職員処分|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASQ2B5QG5Q2BUCVL00X.html|access-date=21 October 2024|website=The Asahi Shimbun|date=10 February 2022 |language=ja}}

=COVID-19=

In December 2023, Japan's Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO) concluded that NHK had breached broadcasting ethics in its "News Watch 9" program, where people believed to have died from COVID-19 vaccine injury were treated as if they had died from COVID-19. Regarding the incident as an inappropriate way of reporting, NHK stated that it would take measures to avoid the repetition of the misconduct.

{{Cite news

|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/06/japan/media/nhk-program-broadcasting-ethics-breach/

|title=NHK found to have breached ethics with COVID vaccine news segment

|date= 6 December 2023

|agency=Jiji Press

|newspaper=The Japan Times}}

Logo history

File:NHK Logo (Pre World War 2).png|1925-1945

File:NHK 1953.svg|1945-1962

File:NHK logo (pre-1995).svg|1962–1995

File:NHK logo.svg|1995–2020 (original)

File:NHK Logo 2.svg|1995–2020 (alternate)

File:NHK logo 2020.svg|2020–present (original)

File:Flag of NHK.svg|2020–present (alternate)

File:NHK 100th anniversary.svg|NHK's 100th anniversary (2025)

References

= Explanatory notes =

= Citations =

= General sources =

Johnston, Eric (7 July 2009). [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/07/07/reference/nhk-a-fount-of-info-a-lot-of-it-from-the-government/ "NHK a fount of info, a lot of it from the government"]. The Japan Times, p. 3.
Seidensticker, Edward (1990). [https://books.google.com/books?id=5wsOAQAAMAAJ Tokyo Rising: The City Since the Great Earthquake]. New York: Knopf. {{ISBN|0-394-54360-2}}.