Yuko Fukuyama Discusses NHK’s Commitment to High-End Docs

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’s commitment to factual programs that cover a wide variety of topics.

TV REAL: Why have documentaries been so important to NHK and its viewers?
FUKUYAMA: Documentaries and factual programming have always been central to NHK’s mission as Japan’s 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.

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—particularly in the fields of cutting-edge science, history, wildlife and nature and in-depth social reporting—contributing 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’s lives.

In today’s 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—such as through the innovative use of CGI, VR and other advanced visual technologies—to make our programs more engaging and easier to understand for younger audiences.

TV REAL: Which of NHK’s factual genres have been most in demand recently?
FUKUYAMA: As mentioned above, science, wildlife and history have long been among NHK’s strongest and most consistently in-demand factual genres. In recent years, however, programs that highlight Japan’s creative power—from behind-the-scenes looks at globally popular manga and anime to intimate portrayals of master artisans—have also attracted significant international attention. Recent standout titles include Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron,
a two-hour documentary chronicling the making of the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron, filmed with exclusive access to Studio Ghibli over seven years; Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan, a rare look into the creative process of Gosho Aoyama, the globally beloved author of Detective Conan, offering unprecedented access to his studio and working style; Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days, 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 The Unknown Master of Restoration, 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.

These titles illustrate the breadth of NHK’s recent factual output and the growing global appetite for stories that showcase both Japan’s creativity and its deep cultural heritage.

TV REAL: Are NHK’s factual programs being sold to both linear channels and streaming services?
FUKUYAMA: Yes, NHK’s factual programs are widely distributed to both linear broadcasters and streaming platforms.

On the linear side, NHK co-produces with and licenses a large number of titles to major public broadcasters around the world, including Taiwan’s PTS, the BBC in the U.K., ZDF in Germany and France Télévisions. These partnerships have been long-standing and have helped bring our science, history, wildlife and cultural programs to broad international audiences.

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 Nature’s Hidden Miracles, Amazing Dinoworld 1 and 2 and Radioactive Forest 10 Years After, which have later won various international awards. They are also a strong acquirer of NHK’s catalog, including many of our factual series, such as Master of Time: Independent Watchmakers, the Deep Ocean series and the WILDLIFE series.

Another example of a streamer, China’s major streaming platform Bilibili has also acquired a wide range of NHK factual programs over the years, including recent titles like Document 72 Hours, Behind the Scenes: Detective Conan and 10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki.

TV REAL: What are some of NHK’s recent factual titles?
FUKUYAMA: Coming up on our offerings are Japanese castles.
Just last fall, we announced our partnership with GEDEON Programmes on our project The Lost Castle of Azuchi, which blends history and science to uncover the mysteries surrounding one of Japan’s 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—giving them the opportunity to discover Japanese history and culture—not only in France (through France Télévisions) and Germany (through ZDF) but also in Australia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, with additional territories expected to follow.

Coming up soon is Shuri Castle Resurrection (w.t.), a one-off documentary that follows the reconstruction of Shuri Castle’s main hall—destroyed by fire five times—through 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’s 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.

Although each broadcast is a stand-alone program, NHK has been documenting Shuri Castle’s 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.

A key example of NHK’s push into innovative storytelling—while remaining firmly grounded in historical facts—is Samurai’s Dream: The Ghosts of Osaka Castle. 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’s 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.

According to executive producer Taro Kunimi, the project was inspired by the idea of transforming NHK’s extensive archive of historical CG assets into a new form of factual edutainment. Built over decades of producing taiga dramas and history programs—under the supervision of historians and subject-matter experts—this 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.

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.

TV REAL: Are there any upcoming projects you would like to mention?
FUKUYAMA: One upcoming project we are very excited to introduce is The Completion of The Tower of Jesus (w.t.).The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s death, and the Sagrada Família—under construction since 1882—is expected to complete its final and central structure, the Tower of Jesus Christ.

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’s production team, the church and the project’s principal sculptor, Etsuro Sotoo, through years of sincere reporting and careful program-making.

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 Família—not only with audiences in Japan but with viewers around the world.

In addition to the broadcast program, we are also developing special content that will give audiences an immersive experience of the Sagrada Família—allowing them to witness the miraculous work of master artisans up close and to explore Gaudí’s architectural vision in ways that are impossible through traditional filming.