Overview
This report presents research achievements in the broadcasting history research field conducted by NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute.
Published on August 1, 2025, this research report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Broadcasting History Research Department at NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute. Broadcasting history research is conducted from a broad perspective, including the discovery, organization, and analysis of important historical materials in Japanese broadcasting history, the development process of broadcasting technology, changes in program production, and the historical development of broadcasting policy.
## Significance and Methodology of Broadcasting History Research
Broadcasting history research is an important academic field that objectively examines the social role that broadcasting media has played in Japan's modern and contemporary history, providing historical insights to modern broadcasting business and policy formulation. This research conducts comprehensive historical material surveys that utilize NHK's vast collection of historical materials while also including materials from other broadcasting operators and related organizations.
Research methods combine the collection and organization of primary historical materials with oral history surveys of relevant parties, analysis of technical materials, and qualitative analysis of program content, enabling multi-faceted elucidation of historical facts.
## Major Research Themes and Achievements
Research subjects span widely from the establishment process of Japan's broadcasting system to wartime broadcasting control, post-war broadcasting reconstruction, broadcasting technology innovation during the high economic growth period, and responses to the multi-media era. Particularly detailed analysis has been conducted on the interrelationships between broadcasting and politics, economics, and society, the impact of technological innovation on program production and viewer experience, and the development of international broadcasting exchanges.
Furthermore, empirical research is being advanced through collaboration with broadcasting stations nationwide on themes such as the development history of regional broadcasting, changes in educational broadcasting, and the historical development of disaster coverage, contributing to elucidating the overall picture of Japan's broadcasting history.
## Historical Material Preservation and Digitization Efforts
This research actively engages in the preservation and utilization of valuable broadcasting historical materials at risk of dispersal. Digitization of old program recordings, technical materials, and production-related documents is being advanced, while the construction of historical material databases aims to improve access for researchers and the general public.
Particularly for pre-war and wartime broadcasting-related materials, efforts are being made to discover and preserve historically valuable materials, and the disclosure and utilization of important historical material collections for Japan's modern and contemporary history research is being promoted.
The article concludes that broadcasting history research is not merely a record of the past, but serves as important foundational research for understanding the relationship between modern broadcasting business and society, and for considering the future direction of broadcasting media.
This summary was automatically generated by AI. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.
This report presents research achievements in the broadcasting history research field conducted by NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute.
Published on August 1, 2025, this research report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Broadcasting History Research Department at NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute. Broadcasting history research is conducted from a broad perspective, including the discovery, organization, and analysis of important historical materials in Japanese broadcasting history, the development process of broadcasting technology, changes in program production, and the historical development of broadcasting policy.
Significance and Methodology of Broadcasting History Research
Broadcasting history research is an important academic field that objectively examines the social role that broadcasting media has played in Japan's modern and contemporary history, providing historical insights to modern broadcasting business and policy formulation. This research conducts comprehensive historical material surveys that utilize NHK's vast collection of historical materials while also including materials from other broadcasting operators and related organizations.
Research methods combine the collection and organization of primary historical materials with oral history surveys of relevant parties, analysis of technical materials, and qualitative analysis of program content, enabling multi-faceted elucidation of historical facts.
Major Research Themes and Achievements
Research subjects span widely from the establishment process of Japan's broadcasting system to wartime broadcasting control, post-war broadcasting reconstruction, broadcasting technology innovation during the high economic growth period, and responses to the multi-media era. Particularly detailed analysis has been conducted on the interrelationships between broadcasting and politics, economics, and society, the impact of technological innovation on program production and viewer experience, and the development of international broadcasting exchanges.
Furthermore, empirical research is being advanced through collaboration with broadcasting stations nationwide on themes such as the development history of regional broadcasting, changes in educational broadcasting, and the historical development of disaster coverage, contributing to elucidating the overall picture of Japan's broadcasting history.
Historical Material Preservation and Digitization Efforts
This research actively engages in the preservation and utilization of valuable broadcasting historical materials at risk of dispersal. Digitization of old program recordings, technical materials, and production-related documents is being advanced, while the construction of historical material databases aims to improve access for researchers and the general public.
Particularly for pre-war and wartime broadcasting-related materials, efforts are being made to discover and preserve historically valuable materials, and the disclosure and utilization of important historical material collections for Japan's modern and contemporary history research is being promoted.
The article concludes that broadcasting history research is not merely a record of the past, but serves as important foundational research for understanding the relationship between modern broadcasting business and society, and for considering the future direction of broadcasting media.