The NHK Man and NHK Fee – FAQ

Mar 01, 2023

The NHK Man and NHK Fee – FAQ

NHK, Japan’s national public broadcasting organization, is funded by TV receiving fees paid by households in Japan that have a TV set. Therefore, you must legally pay the NHK TV receiving fees if you live in Japan and have a TV. The NHK TV receiving fees are used to fund NHK’s TV and radio programs and their online and satellite services. The fee amount varies depending on your TV type and whether you live in a house or an apartment.

The NHK fee is an important part of Japan’s media landscape. It helps ensure the continued operation of NHK and the production of high-quality television and radio programming. While the fee is mandatory and non-payment can result in legal action, it’s important to remember that it is a relatively small amount and helps to support a vital public institution.

Millions of households in Japan skirt this law through a variety of ruses, including never answering the door when someone knocks, informing the NHK man you do not own a TV (though increasingly they have started asking for it if you own a phone or computer too…), or other schemes to avoid the monthly fee.

The NHK fee is a law of the nation of Japan, and regardless of how you feel about it, you are bound by that law to pay it. If you need a reason to feel better about this, please note that emergency reporting in English and other languages is available by tuning in to NHK Television during natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

If you decide to follow the law and pay your fee, we recommend foreign residents returning home at some point NOT pay by credit card. There have been cases where the fees have continued long after the resident has left Japan, to no one’s delight.

Further Reading

NHK : Receiving Fees

www.nhk.or.jp/corporateinfo/index.html

Frequently asked questions about NHK:

What is NHK?

“Nihon Housou Kyoukai” – Japanese National Broadcasting provides bilingual news programs daily and a selection of English programs.

What is the NHK receiving fee?

Receiving fees are designed to support NHK operations and are paid equally by every household in Japan with a television set, regardless of whether or not you watch NHK. The receiving fee system is stipulated in Article 32 of Japan’s Broadcast Law, which requires all residents of Japan (regardless of nationality) with a television set to conclude a contract with NHK.

Does the fee also apply to cable or satellite TV subscribers?

Yes. Cable and satellite TV subscribers must also pay the NHK receiving fee. Some cable TV operators collect the receiving fees for NHK and their subscription charges. For more details, please get in touch with your cable TV operator.

Do I need to pay extra for multiple TV sets?

No. The receiving contract covers each household, not the number of television sets owned.

What types of contracts are there?

There are two contract categories; regular and satellite color. Satellite refers to those subscribers who receive BS-1, BS-2, and Hi-Vision channels.

I am leaving Japan. How can I cancel my receiving fees?

If you are leaving Japan, please dial 0570-077-077, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, and inform them that you will be leaving and would like to cancel your contract.

Notes:

1.  NHK offers three payment options: 2-month, 6-month, and 12-month advance payments. The latter two options feature a small discount.
2. Payment of receiving fees must be made directly to NHK using any of the following methods:

• • Bank Transfer – Fees are automatically withdrawn from a designated bank account on a fixed date.
  • Postal Order – A bill for payment at the post office is sent to the subscriber.
  • Credit Card – Fees are automatically deducted from a credit card account on a fixed date. (Do not do this, as mentioned above!)

Photo by: “NHK logo” by Japan Broadcasting Corporation. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.