Japanese public broadcaster NHK has a long history of producing a range of premium documentaries and factual programs. These shows have not only been viewed and enjoyed by Japanese viewers but have also been sold to international linear channels and streaming platforms. Additionally, NHK has become a trusted co-production partner for many high-end projects. Yuko Fukuyama, the senior producer of international co-productions, discusses the broadcaster\u2019s commitment to factual programs that cover a wide variety of topics.<\/p>\n
TV REAL:<\/strong>\u00a0Why have documentaries been so important to NHK and its viewers? For decades, NHK has consistently invested in producing compelling documentaries across a wide range of genres. Many of these works have been shared with international audiences\u2014particularly in the fields of cutting-edge science, history, wildlife and nature and in-depth social reporting\u2014contributing to deeper understanding of what is happening in Japan and around the world, whether it involves natural disasters, international affairs, scientific advancements or social issues that directly affect people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n In today\u2019s media environment, where information is abundant, fragmented and at times misleading, our responsibility has only grown. We believe it is essential for NHK to analyze complex information, provide the context audiences need to make sense of it and communicate it in a way that is both accessible and meaningful. At the same time, we are always exploring new ways of storytelling\u2014such as through the innovative use of CGI, VR and other advanced visual technologies\u2014to make our programs more engaging and easier to understand for younger audiences.<\/p>\n TV REAL:<\/strong>\u00a0Which of NHK\u2019s factual genres have been most in demand recently? These titles illustrate the breadth of NHK\u2019s recent factual output and the growing global appetite for stories that showcase both Japan\u2019s creativity and its deep cultural heritage.<\/p>\n TV REAL:<\/strong>\u00a0Are NHK\u2019s factual programs being sold to both linear channels and streaming services? On the linear side, NHK co-produces with and licenses a large number of titles to major public broadcasters around the world, including Taiwan\u2019s PTS, the BBC in the U.K., ZDF in Germany and France T\u00e9l\u00e9visions. These partnerships have been long-standing and have helped bring our science, history, wildlife and cultural programs to broad international audiences.<\/p>\n On the streaming side, demand has also been strong. Curiosity, a global factual-focused platform, has been one of our most consistent partners in international production and acquisition. We have co-produced with them in creating the international versions of our major projects like\u00a0Nature\u2019s Hidden Miracles<\/em>,\u00a0Amazing Dinoworld<\/em>\u00a01<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a02<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Radioactive Forest 10 Years After<\/em>, which have later won various international awards. They are also a strong acquirer of NHK\u2019s catalog, including many of our factual series, such as\u00a0Master of Time: Independent Watchmakers<\/em>, the\u00a0Deep Ocean<\/em>\u00a0series and the\u00a0WILDLIFE<\/em>\u00a0series.<\/p>\n Another example of a streamer, China\u2019s major streaming platform Bilibili has also acquired a wide range of NHK factual programs over the years, including recent titles like\u00a0Document 72 Hours<\/em>,\u00a0Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a010 Years with Hayao Miyazaki<\/em>.<\/p>\n TV REAL:<\/strong>\u00a0What are some of NHK\u2019s recent factual titles? Coming up soon is\u00a0Shuri Castle Resurrection<\/em>\u00a0(w.t.), a one-off documentary that follows the reconstruction of Shuri Castle\u2019s main hall\u2014destroyed by fire five times\u2014through breathtaking 8K footage. Once the iconic vermilion-lacquered symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom, the castle has repeatedly risen from devastation like a phoenix, most recently after the 2019 fire that struck just after a 30-year restoration. Through exclusive access, the film captures carpenters, craftsmen and researchers as they revive the castle\u2019s original form using traditional materials and centuries-old techniques. Offering a rare front-row view of the process, it highlights the remarkable skill, passion and cultural heritage embedded in every detail of the rebuild.<\/p>\n Although each broadcast is a stand-alone program, NHK has been documenting Shuri Castle\u2019s restoration efforts for many years and will continue to follow the ongoing reconstruction in future productions. We are pleased to be co-producing with Windfall Films on this project.<\/p>\n A key example of NHK\u2019s push into innovative storytelling\u2014while remaining firmly grounded in historical facts\u2014is\u00a0Samurai\u2019s Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle<\/em>. This is an international co-production between Japan and HTC, a company that specializes in VR. The project transports visitors into the world of the samurai during the Siege of Osaka, the largest conflict of Japan\u2019s Warring States era, by reconstructing the long-lost Toyotomi Osaka Castle in immersive VR. When audiences put on a headset, the castle and battlefield reappear with striking realism, creating a powerful sense of presence.<\/p>\n According to executive producer Taro Kunimi, the project was inspired by the idea of transforming NHK\u2019s extensive archive of historical CG assets into a new form of factual edutainment. Built over decades of producing taiga dramas and history programs\u2014under the supervision of historians and subject-matter experts\u2014this archive includes everything from highly detailed 3D models of castles and battlefields to precise motion-capture data, such as the movements of foot soldiers maintaining their weapons inside camp huts.<\/p>\n For this project, VR was chosen as the ideal medium to bring these assets to life and offer audiences a location-based experience that feels both authentic and deeply immersive. In addition to the VR experience itself, we are producing a closely connected broadcast program that will air ahead of the VR rollout, incorporating select immersive footage adapted for television and allowing viewers at home to engage with this historical world in new and exciting ways.<\/p>\n TV REAL:<\/strong>\u00a0Are there any upcoming projects you would like to mention? NHK is the only broadcaster in the world granted long-term, exclusive access to film the final stages of this historic construction. This extraordinary opportunity was made possible through decades of trust built between NHK\u2019s production team, the church and the project\u2019s principal sculptor, Etsuro Sotoo, through years of sincere reporting and careful program-making.<\/p>\n We are also delighted to see many international partners willing to collaborate with us on this remarkable journey. It is a privilege to be able to document and share the miraculous artistry embodied in the Sagrada Fam\u00edlia\u2014not only with audiences in Japan but with viewers around the world.<\/p>\n In addition to the broadcast program, we are also developing special content that will give audiences an immersive experience of the Sagrada Fam\u00edlia\u2014allowing them to witness the miraculous work of master artisans up close and to explore Gaud\u00ed\u2019s architectural vision in ways that are impossible through traditional filming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yuko Fukuyama, senior producer of international co-productions at NHK, discusses the public broadcaster\u2019s commitment to high-end factual programs that cover a wide variety of topics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":289,"featured_media":24727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,69],"tags":[851,11752],"class_list":["post-24726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-interviews","category-top-stories","tag-nhk","tag-yuko-fukuyama","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nFUKUYAMA:<\/strong>\u00a0Documentaries and factual programming have always been central to NHK\u2019s mission as Japan\u2019s public service media, funded by the receiving fees from households across the country. Our viewers expect two things from NHK: first, accurate and trustworthy information that supports their daily lives, and second, high-quality, enriching content that deepens their understanding of the world around them. And factual programming is one important way we fulfill this mission.<\/p>\n
\nFUKUYAMA:<\/strong>\u00a0As mentioned above, science, wildlife and history have long been among NHK\u2019s strongest and most consistently in-demand factual genres. In recent years, however, programs that highlight Japan\u2019s creative power\u2014from behind-the-scenes looks at globally popular manga and anime to intimate portrayals of master artisans\u2014have also attracted significant international attention. Recent standout titles include\u00a0Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron<\/em>,
\na two-hour documentary chronicling the making of the Oscar-winning\u00a0The Boy and the Heron<\/em>, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli over seven years;\u00a0Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan<\/em>, a rare look into the creative process of Gosho Aoyama, the globally beloved author of\u00a0Detective Conan<\/em>, offering unprecedented access to his studio and working style;\u00a0Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days<\/em>, an intimate portrayal of one of the most influential musicians of our time as he confronted mortality, based on extraordinary access to his diaries and private footage; and\u00a0The Unknown Master of Restoration<\/em>, a remarkable series revealing the hidden techniques and extraordinary craftsmanship of a master restorer dedicated to preserving cultural treasures for future generations. The program provides a first-ever glimpse into his work, access granted exclusively to NHK.<\/p>\n
\nFUKUYAMA:\u00a0<\/strong>Yes, NHK\u2019s factual programs are widely distributed to both linear broadcasters and streaming platforms.<\/p>\n
\nFUKUYAMA:<\/strong>\u00a0Coming up on our offerings are Japanese castles.
\nJust last fall, we announced our partnership with GEDEON Programmes on our project\u00a0The Lost Castle of Azuchi<\/em>, which blends history and science to uncover the mysteries surrounding one of Japan\u2019s most enigmatic architectural wonders built by 16th-century visionary warlord Oda Nobunaga. The co-production with GEDEON has enabled us to reach audiences in a wide range of countries\u2014giving them the opportunity to discover Japanese history and culture\u2014not only in France (through France T\u00e9l\u00e9visions) and Germany (through ZDF) but also in Australia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, with additional territories expected to follow.<\/p>\n
\nFUKUYAMA:<\/strong>\u00a0One upcoming project we are very excited to introduce is\u00a0The<\/em>\u00a0Completion of The Tower of Jesus<\/em>\u00a0(w.t.).The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaud\u00ed\u2019s death, and the Sagrada Fam\u00edlia\u2014under construction since 1882\u2014is expected to complete its final and central structure, the Tower of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n