Broadcasting in Japan

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 33, 28 February 1930, Page 2

Broadcasting in Japan

An. Excellent Service

HOUGH a few years ago the average ~ Japanese listener was not overenthusiastic about wireless, probably . because the programmes transmitted then were rather of the cut-and-dried variety, of late, broadcasting in Japan | has developed by leaps and bound. An official Japanese Broadcasting Bureau was created some time ago, and the grently-increased interest taken in radio in "the land of the Rising Sun" dates from its inception. One of the first plans of this Broadcasting Buréau, ox Chuo Hosokyoku, as it is called, was the rebuilding of the existing station at Tokio on a larger and more organised scale. Buropean methods of broadcasting were introduced, and the whole of the programme placed on a new basis. Some eighteen months ago the newly-erected station at Tokio, JOAK, was opened, and its inception constituted a very definite ' step forward in the progress of Eastern radio. The studios of this station are, as one would expect, situated in the heart of the Japanese capital, Tokio, but the transmitting equipment proper is loeated at Shingo-Mura, a village some ten or eleven miles notth of the city. Here the 200ft. twin lattice masts tower above the countryside, and mark the progress of Japanese radio in no uncertain manner. The station has a powér of 10 kw., and its normal wavejJength is 345 metres (870 k.t.). That the power of this station is ample for ‘supplying Japanese listeners with adequate programmes may be borne out by New Zealand listeners, many of whom regularly receive a large proportion of the. nine stations at present operating in Japan. "TH main studio at the station is by no means an out-sized one as. far as modern" studios. go. It is ecaperle of accommodating comfortably a decent sized orchestra, in adilition to a dozen or so artists or performers. The studio is semi-draped only, in otder that a certain degrée of echo effect may be obtainéd in the transmission. The new transmitter is of the usual type, and is situated in a specially-designed concrete hall, adjoiniyg which are the various power plants used for supplying the current, in addition to several. workshops and experimental rooms. (QUITE apart from the large number of outside broadcasts which are made by the station authorities, the normal working day of the JOAK station is eight hours. On Sundays and special holidays ten or twelve hours of broadcasting are given. It is considered by Japanese broadcasting officials that the popularity of radio in Japan is due mainly to the outside broadcasts of sporting events that are frequently arranged. Broadcast descriptions of wrestling and baseball matches are, in particular much appreciated, and: this is no doubt due to the great love of sport which the Japanese people, as a whole, possesses. The radio play is also being developed, and ftom all accounts it bids fair to rival in popularity our English broadcasting product of that nature.’