TV | Wide Angle Jan 17, 2020
NHK's taiga drama hopes to shake off its curse
by Kaori Shoji
Amid celebrity scandals and low ratings, NHK launches the latest installment of its long-running Sunday evening drama series.
National Jan 16, 2020
NHK to simultaneously broadcast online 18 hours a day from April
NHK said Wednesday that it will simulcast its television programs online for 17 hours a day starting in March before rolling out 18-hours-per-day coverage in April. NHK had hoped to launch around-the-clock simulcasts in April, but it shortened the time to 18 hours after the ...
National / Politics Jan 12, 2020
Japan's Abe says he's 'not thinking' of staying on beyond 2021
Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, said he's "not thinking" of staying on as ruling party leader beyond the end of his current term in September 2021. Some in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have called for Abe to continue for a fourth straight term ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jan 11, 2020
Japan Post Holdings drags its heels on insurance sales scandal
by Philip Brasor
On Dec. 27, the top three executives of Japan Post Holdings Co. announced they would be resigning on Jan. 5 over the insurance sales scandal that first came to light more than a year and a half ago. The announcement comes on the heels ...
Film | Wide Angle Jan 10, 2020
NHK raises the dead for 'Kohaku' to mixed reviews
by Patrick St. Michel
After NHK brought deceased enka singer Hibari Misora back to the 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' stage, reaction from viewers was mixed.
Entertainment News Jan 3, 2020
NHK's annual 'Kohaku' music show sees ratings fall to record low
NHK's "Kohaku" song festival on New Year's Eve saw its viewer share fall to a record low despite special appearances by stars including comedian Takeshi Kitano and American rock band Kiss, a survey by a TV research firm showed Thursday. The average rating for the ...
National Dec 27, 2019
False alarm: NHK reports nonexistent North Korean missile off Hokkaido
NHK published an erroneous report saying a missile from North Korea appeared to have fallen into the Pacific Ocean east of Hokkaido early Friday but quickly corrected it, saying the message was posted on its website by accident. Shortly after midnight Thursday, NHK posted an ...
National Dec 27, 2019
NHK and Japan sportswear firm Mizuno apologize over phony program guest
NHK apologized Thursday for failing to check the identity of a program guest it had introduced as a customer of a shoe rental service at a hotel. The guest was actually an employee of sportswear firm Mizuno Corp., which provided the shoes to the ...
TV | Wide Angle Dec 27, 2019
Pucker up for this year's 'Kohaku,' and brace yourself for a kiss to remember
by Jordan Allen
NHK's 'Kohaku Uta Gassen' New Year's Eve television song contest is embracing something a little different this year, with an international metal crossover act.
TV | 2019 in Review Dec 19, 2019
Japanese television relied heavily on tried and tested formulas in 2019
by Patrick St. Michel
While the Rugby World Cup and the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito brought the viewers flocking, television networks did little to offer anything else new in 2019.
Music Dec 13, 2019
Sending Japan's 'Paprika' out to the world
by Patrick St. Michel
The biggest Japanese children's song of recent years gets an official English translation, in the hope of boosting diversity and interest in the language.
Paralympics Dec 11, 2019
International Paralympic Committee to make official 2020 Paralympic film with NHK
The International Paralympic Committee and Japan's public broadcaster NHK will team up to produce an official documentary film of the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, the organizers said Wednesday. NHK, formally called Japan Broadcasting Corp., will first broadcast the documentary before the IPC releases it in ...