nippon live

Cool Japanese culture, entertainment, and news TV channel dials Houston into the homeland

Some big news for local Japanese expats and fans of international TV: Japanese culture programming, news, and more is now available in Houston.

NHK World-Japan — Japan’s English-language version of its sole public broadcast service, NHK — is now on cable and broadcast. Houstonians can now catch NHK World-Japan on Xfinity channels 304 and 1152 (HD), as well as via broadcast on channel 8.4. It is also streamable on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV; online viewers can catch all the content here.

That means Houstonians can now watch a diverse blend of culturally specific programming, ranging from English-language, hourly live international news from Tokyo and 30 news bureaus around the globe, to curated shows covering Japanese society, politics, scientific advancement, culture, history, food, and of course, lifestyle and entertainment.

Those in the know will especially delight in episodes of Dining with the Chef, one of Japan’s most prolific food programs featuring hosts Yu Hayami alongside master chef Tatsuo Saito, and co-host Patrick Harlan cooking with chef Rika Yukimasa. (A “how much wasabi can you take” segment is our personal fave.)

Dining with the Chef Japan NHK World-Japan

Yu Hayami/Instagram

The popular series Dining with the Chef, starring master chef Tatsuo Saito (left) and Yu Hayami (right) airs NHK World-Japan — now in Houston.

Other shows delve into Japan’s robust culture; Journeys in Japan travels around the island chain, spotlighting trademark traditions and places. (An episode titled Shoyu, for example, centers on shoyu — or soy sauce, the condiment at the heart of Japanese cuisine — its history, and how it varies in creation and flavor across the country’s regions, and even shoyu bars.)

NHK World-Japan Cycle Around Japan NHK World-Japan's Cycle Around Japan rolls viewers through the country. Image via NHK World-Japan

More shows spotlight Japan’s economy via BizLine, while pop culture comes alive in shows like Anime Supernova, which showcases Japan’s global culture of animated entertainment.

The addition of Houston — thanks to a partnership between NHK, Houston Public Media, and Xfinity — now marks NHK’s 14th U.S. market; other cities include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, Seattle, Denver, Baltimore, Salt Lake City, and more. Globally, NHK World-Japan reaches more than 420 million households across 160 countries and regions, according to press materials.

“We are delighted to bring the news and unique cultural perspective of NHK WORLD-JAPAN to audiences across Greater Houston,” said Jun Takao, president and CEO of Japan International Broadcasting, Inc., in a statement. “The Houston community is one of the most diverse in the United States and its people thrive on international culture, so it is a pleasure to bring this content to its English-speaking Asian population and the broader audience that wishes to know more about Japanese news, current events, and culture.”

In Memoriam

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

As with many local legends, it's hard to tease out what specifically made Ely's time in Austin so great; Austin treasures its live music staples, so being around and staying authentic from the early days is often the most important thing an artist can do.

Ely got his local start at One Knight Tavern, which later became Stubb's BBQ — the artist and the famous venue share a hometown of Lubbock. He alternated nights with emerging guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughn. He built his own recording studio in Dripping Springs, and kept close relationships with other Texas musicians. Later in his career, Ely brought fans into the live music experience, publishing excerpts from his journal and musings on the road in Bonfire of Roadmaps (2010), and was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin blues icon Marcia Ball was among Ely's friends who played the induction show.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings. [...]"

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added two paragraphs of context about the Austin portion of Ely's career.

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