Overview
The Japan Broadcasting Corporation (日本放送協会, 'Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai'), also known as NHK is a Japanese public broadcaster. It is the only public broadcaster in Japan and operates television and radio broadcasting and other businesses throughout Japan and the world.
It is not a government-owned broadcaster, but a statutory corporation, which is funded by viewers' payments for television licenses.
NHK is considered a public organization, and its budget is approved by National Diet, so it is mistaken for a state-run broadcaster, but it is a public broadcasting organization that is funded by subscription fees, not taxes.
History
Founded in 1924 as the Tokyo Broadcasting Station (東京放送局) as an incorporated association, the first radio broadcasts in Japan began in 1925. At the same time, broadcasting stations were established in Osaka and Nagoya, which were later combined to form the incorporated association Japan Broadcasting Corporation (社団法人 日本放送協会) in 1926, laying the foundations for the present-day NHK.
In 1946, the corporation began to use NHK as an abbreviation, and in 1950 it was reorganized as a special independent corporation (特殊法人 日本放送協会).
In 1951, the first program of the Kohaku Uta Gassen was broadcast.
In 1952, Radio Japan, an international broadcasting service for overseas audiences, resumed.
Analogue television broadcasting began in 1953; in 1959, educational television began broadcasting.
For more than a decade, it was the only broadcaster in mainland Japan until the 1950s, when Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co. and New Japan Broadcasting System (both radio stations) and Nippon Television (TV station) opened.
Related Articles
Nintama Rantarou Cardcaptor Sakura Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water Soar High! Isami Moshidora Love Live! Superstar!!
Taiga drama Serial TV Novel (Renzoku Terebi Shōsetsu)
Sumo NHK Trophy (Figure Skating) Shogi Go Radio calisthenics (Radio taisō)
Kōhaku Uta Gassen (singing program broadcast on New Year's Eve. A year-end tradition on Japanese television.)
Domo-kun - one of NHK's mascot characters
External Links
English
NHK WORLD-JAPAN (International Broadcasting)
Japanese
NHK | 日本放送協会 (Official Webpage)
NHKとは (エヌエイチケイとは) [単語記事] - ニコニコ大百科 (NicoNico Encyclopedia)