NHK World-Japan: News, Asia And Culture

NHK World-Japan is the English international channel of Japan's public broadcaster, and it offers something a little broader than a straight news feed. You get reliable coverage of Japan and the Asia-Pacific alongside a rich vein of cultural, travel and lifestyle programming, so the schedule moves between the day's headlines and unhurried looks at Japanese life.

On the news side, the channel keeps you current on developments in Japan and across the region, from politics and the economy to disasters and their aftermath, an area where NHK's public-service roots show in its careful, calm reporting. For American viewers, it is a dependable way to keep an eye on East Asia and the Pacific from a local vantage point rather than a distant one.

What many viewers come to enjoy, though, is everything around the news. Documentary and feature strands explore Japanese food, craft, nature, technology and tradition, giving the channel a warmth and curiosity that set it apart. It is as much a window on a culture as it is a news source.

NHK World-Japan streams live and free on NewsPlay, with no cable, subscription, or signup. If you would like news and a little discovery in the same place, it is a gentle, rewarding channel to settle into.