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.)
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'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.”
