ABOUT HBF

President Junichi Hamada

Professor Emeritus, the University of Tokyo
Specialization: Media Law, Information Law, Information Policy
1950 Born in Hyogo prefecture
2019 ~ Current position
2015 ~ Board Director, Hoso Bunka Foundation
2009 ~ 2015 The 29th President, the University of Tokyo
Main publications: “Media Law” (1990), “Information Law” (1993), etc.

The Hoso Bunka Foundation was founded in 1974 with Ichiro Nakayama, an economist and then honorary professor at Hitotsubashi University as President. Then making the transition to a public interest incorporated foundation in April 2011, the foundation celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment in 2024.

The total amount of the “broadcast-related grant funding” has reached approximately 12.8 billion yen that exceeds the foundation’s basic fund amount. We remain committed to continuing our broad-based support for the development and improvement of broadcasting culture.

The “HBF Prize” has been highly regarded as an award with a history and tradition that opens the door not only to broadcasters but also to production houses throughout Japan. In addition, since 2023, we have expanded the scope of awards to include digital media content. It is quite characteristic that the prize is awarded not for outstanding content creation alone, but for various broadcast-related efforts and technological improvement.

The “Creators’ Forum” have been held in five districts in Japan, aiming at offering an opportunity for creators to interact with each other beyond the organizational boundaries between NHK and commercial broadcasters. I hope they inspire one another by competing in short program contests and exchanging views, and will grow as superb broadcasters.

Television has made various changes with times, but over the past years, the circumstances have changed even more drastically. The radical transformation of the media environment resulting from internet services such as simultaneous broadcast distribution and video streaming is about to change our TV viewing habit in life. Even in the midst of such changes, it is indisputable that broadcasting requires quality and reliable content.

Amidst the rapid progression of the convergence between broadcasting and telecommunications, we would make determined efforts to contribute more to the development and improvement of the broadcast-centered media culture. I deeply appreciate your continued understanding and support.

(May 26, 2025)

General Managing Director Hiroshi Umeoka

Born in 1962
Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law
Mr. Umeoka joined NHK in 1985. Starting his career at Fukuoka Broadcasting Station, he has created a number of “NHK Special” and “Closeup Gendai” programs at the news bureau and Hiroshima Broadcasting Station. Before taking up current post in 2023, he held various senior positions including Editor-in-chief of “Closeup Gendai” and “News Watch 9,” Bureau Chief of “NHK Special,” Head of the NHK Large-Scale Project Development Center and Head of NHK Sapporo Broadcasting Station.

When the Hoso Bunka Foundation was established in 1974, the television set sat at the heart of our family living room. I was a sixth grader at the time, and I remember I was deeply moved seeing the silhouette of Shigeo Nagashima, a legendary baseball player in Japan, on the TV screen, saying “Our Giants are immortal forever!”.

Also, when watching a family drama series, “Terauchi Kantaro Ikka (Kantaro Terauchi and his family), my whole family held our breath every week to see a scene where the father of the stonemasonry shop played by Asei Kobayashi roughly throw his son played by Hideki Saijo. This drama garnered an average viewership rating of 31.3%, which seems like a different era from now. The Hoso Bunka Foundation was founded during this golden age of television and has since developed a range of programs such as the “HBF Prize,” “Grants for broadcast-related research and technological development” and “Support for human resource development”.

After 50 years since its inception, the days when the whole family would watch TV in the living room, as when we enjoyed “Terauchi Kantaro Ikka,” are long gone and the way people watch TV has changed drastically. Fewer people are watching TV, and producers are struggling when creating programs with how to reach out to a generation who doesn’t watch TV. What can be called “broadcasting culture” has become ambiguous as well.

Meanwhile, the rapid growth of video streaming services is significantly expanding the possibilities for video content. The barriers between broadcast programs and streaming content are rapidly becoming lower, and crossover between creators is also progressing. We are in an age where the video content production capabilities cultivated by the broadcasting industry are needed more than ever. Regardless of the transmission channel, high-quality and reliable content that can reach out to a large number of people is necessary to contribute to the development of healthy democracy.

As the media environment undergoes major changes, we would like to provide support and encouragement to creators, so that they can create high-quality content more freely, and to contribute to the development and improvement of media culture centered on broadcasting. We would appreciate your understanding and support.

(May 26, 2025)