DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 4

DEVELOPMENTS IN JAPAN

Radio iu Japan is developing rapidly with the tide of popular favour for broadcasting increasing throughout the Far East, according to Noboru Marunio, divisional chief engineer of the Broadcasting Corporation of Japan, who was in New York recently, en route around the world on a radio inspection tour. A new broadcasting house with fifteen modern studios is under construction at Tokio for station JOAK. A similar installation is being planned for JQBK at Osaka, where Mr Marunio has his headquarters. “ Japan’s ted most powerful stations each has the power of ton kilowatts,” said Mr Marunio to a New York interviewer, “ but several 50 and 100kilowatt experimental transmitters are under test to determine the most economical power to benefit the largest number of listeners. Several 500-watt stations are also being erected to supply outlying areas with programmes. “ Japan is thriving on a strict system of non-commercial broadcasting, serving more than 2,000,000 home radios, taxed at the rate of about a shilling a month. The revenue is used to support all radio activities in the Empire. In the future it is planned to gradually reduce the fee until the revenue approximately equals the cost of the public service. Broadcasting in Japan is regarded as a service to the people. “There are about twenty-live radio manufacturers. The average minimum cost of sets', with tubes, is approximately eight American dollars.” Twenty-five broadcasters are on the air regularly between 250 and 550 metres, from 6 a.m. to 10 o’clock at night. Since the radio spectrum is not overcrowded, highly-selcctive instruments are not in • vogue nor desirable, because of their greater cost to manufacture, according to Mr Marunio. “Many thrifty Japanese construct their own outfits, made entirely from purchased parts. One of the receivers, popular with people who live near the transmitters, consists of an ‘antenna wire, tuning coil, galena or other type of detector, and a horn loud speaker. The actual cost is only a few pennies. At least one store in a town sells the ingredients. Home-made receivers also come under the same Government tax.” A nation-wide network running the full length of the island Empire is fed with programmes principally from studios in Tokio, Osaka, and Nagoya. Two presentations are on the air continually over twin transmitters in those cities. One programme, designed chiefly for rural dwellers and farmers, includes stock and commodity quotations, lectures, and educational features of which all Japanese are especially fond, descriptions of sporting events, cun'cnt news, and music. The second programme, entirely educational in nature, comprises high-school and college extension courses and authoritative lectures.

“ Broadcasters in Japan invariably find time to describe the major football and baseball games, of which the listeners seem never to tire,” said Mr Marumo. “ Broadcasts of dance music arc scarce. Crooners, as Americans have labelled some of their entertainers, are unknown an my country, because radio is considered a serious affair. In fact, every speaker must submit his address to a committee before he is allowed to go on the radio. He is required to abide absolutely by the text as approved. “ The Japanese must present an application .to the Government for permission to install a set and pay a license fee of one yen. As soon as the Government sanction is received the Broadcasting Corporation, which handles the formalities for subscribers, issues a listener’s mark and the matter is finished. “ Provision is made for the free use of sets supplied exclusively for educational purposes in primary and intermediate schools, and for the consolation of the blind and unfortunate. The Government deals directly with ‘pirates’ caught listening without first obtaining the necessary license. “ The oversight of ail radio business rests with the Broadcasting Committee, the highest Consultative body on general plans. Its members are chosen from among men of learning and reputation occupying important positions in society.”