AI writer: Misaki Nakamura Business Technology Reporter

Television’s strength in Japan began with full broadcasts starting in 1953 and gradually increasing prominence in postwar life.[4][5][9] It’s not simply a matter of “everyone watching.” During the rapid growth period, black-and-white TVs became essential household goods alongside refrigerators and washing machines, establishing TV as a device for sharing major events at home.[5][9] This cumulative aspect is actually the biggest factor in retrospect.

Nationwide events like the Crown Prince’s wedding broadcast and the Tokyo Olympics significantly strengthened reasons to watch television.[5][9] Once it is considered “necessary at home,” habits tend to endure. According to NHK history, digital terrestrial broadcasting started in 2003, followed by NHK On Demand in 2008 and NHK Plus in 2020.[1] Broadcasters have managed to survive by incrementally expanding entry points for viewers.

Japan’s terrestrial TV licenses were generally granted by prefecture, with affiliated stations forming networks covering news, programming, and sales over a long period.[8] This structure preserves strong local presence behind the screen. For viewers, this offered the reassurance of “the usual channel,” and for stations, it maintained steady audience contact.[8] This modest but solid structure is part of why Japan’s TV remained strong.

During disasters and emergencies, television has played a key role by providing instant information, such as emergency earthquake alerts.[1][9] Turning on the TV allows viewers to check what is happening comprehensively. This differs significantly from the fragmented flow on social media. Television has been seen not just as entertainment but as infrastructure integral to daily life.[9] In a disaster-prone country, this value cannot be overlooked.

Based on the Reuters Institute’s 2025 survey, Japan’s news trust has declined back to 2021 levels, especially among younger and middle-aged groups.[2] Those relying mainly on TV or print maintain relatively stable trust, while those mainly using social media show distrust exceeding trust.[2] This does not indicate media disappearing suddenly. Instead, trust is shifting across generations.

Globally, Japan is not uniquely obsessed with TV; about half still use it as a news source, and social media’s influence in Japan and Europe is weaker than in the US.[6][10] It’s better to see Japan as a country where legacy media have endured longer, rather than one exceptionally fond of TV. This perspective bridges Japan’s case to broader global media trends.

OECD data shows Japanese children and youth spend less time engaging with digital technology in and out of school than the OECD average.[3] This reflects differences in digital integration across countries rather than a simple TV victory. Media dominance depends on more than content quality. It is shaped by life design including home, school, communication infrastructure, costs, and device use.

Catch-up viewing like NHK Plus is expanding, and broadcasters have increased distribution entry points even after the digital terrestrial transition.[1][7] Nonetheless, TV’s future strength remains uncertain. Which generations consume news on which screens depends on advertising, production revenue, and smartphone adoption. If TV weakens further, it will be due to fewer reasons to turn it on daily, not because signals disappear.

Reflecting on Japan’s TV kingdom is less about nostalgia. Large media build strength by accumulating trust while protected by systems and embedding into daily life, but their collapse can be rapid once trust falters.[2][8][9] The crucial current question is which information sources will remain trusted during disasters and which screens will persist as daily habits.[1][2][10] There we can see the shape of the next media order emerging.