A large-scale volcanic eruption occurred in the Tongan Archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean on January 15th, 2022. Affected by this, changes in tidal levels were observed over a wide range of Japan’s the Pacific coast area from the night of January 15th to 16th. The highest tidal level reached 1.34 meters in Kominato, Amamishi　City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The tidal changes are deemed to be caused by a mechanism that is different from the mechanism of earthquake-induced tsunami, but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) used the framework of “tsunami warnings and advisories” from a disaster prevention perspective to urgently communicate the information to call on the residents to secure their safety. This is an interim report on how NHK and commercial broadcasters (Tokyo-based key stations) conveyed the JMA information on the unprecedented phenomenon different from tsunami.

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Language programs have been the core of NHK Radio 2, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2021, and long been utilized by the audience, along with NHK ETV’s language programs, websites, and textbooks published by NHK Publishing Inc. In recent years, however, various materials have been emerged such as videos on YouTube and language learning applications. The NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute (Bunken), in collaboration with Unit 1 Youth & Education, Program Production Department of NHK, conducted an online survey and online group interviews of research company’s survey panelists on interest in language learning and media use in a changing media environment as well as on the use of NHK’s language programs, websites, applications, and textbooks. At the same time, in cooperation with NHK Educational Corporation, which operates “Gogakuru” language learning website, and NHK Publishing Inc., which publishes textbooks for NHK’s language programs, we carried out a survey similar to the above online survey of panelists, asking language learners to respond through the Gogakuru website or the textbooks’ bind-in card or QR code. In this article—the first of a two-part series—the author examines people’s interest in language learning, styles of media use, and expectations of the media, based on the results of the online survey and online group interviews of panelists. Those interested in language learning accounted for 40% of the panel respondents. As reasons for the interest, “for overseas travels/sightseeing,” “to be able to understand content and/or articles in the original language,” and “for cultural enrichment” were cited by many in every age group. A considerable number of those not interested in language learning cited “knowing Japanese language is enough for me” and “having no opportunity to communicate with people overseas.” As for language learning materials used in recent three years, “text books/reference books (including both print and electronic media),” “language learning videos on YouTube” and “language learning TV programs (including internet distribution)” were cited by many. Nevertheless, some age differences were found; younger people (aged 15 through 39) had a relatively high percentage of those using “language learning apps,” and elderly people (aged 65 through 79), “language learning radio programs (including internet distribution).” Regarding the factors that learners want for learning materials, many cited “free of charge or inexpensive to start,” “fitting me,” and “continuable” were among the top three, which indicates there is a high need for starting and continuing learning. The intention for keeping using the materials that they currently use in the future was high for all media, showing a tendency to continue using the same materials once they acquired information and actually started using them.

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The Niigata Earthquake occurred on June 16th, 1964—the very year the previous Tokyo Olympic Games was held. The earthquake, which hit Niigata, a major city on the Japan Sea coast, is regarded as the natural disaster that “determined the forms and content of disaster reporting that is used even today.” In the course of studying the history of disaster reporting in Japan, it was confirmed that the NHK Museum of Broadcasting archives the NHK Niigata Broadcasting Station’s broadcast scripts (for two weeks immediately after the earthquake) as well as scripts and notes for safety confirmation broadcasts. It is also found that the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute stores flexi discs containing the Niigata Station’s radio broadcasts of the day. It is extremely rare that both of broadcast scripts and sound sources from a local station at the time of disaster about 60 years ago are preserved. They are surely an invaluable data in the history of disaster reporting. The research also revealed that television and radio played different roles in the 1964 Niigata Earthquake: television provided the information on the damages outside of the affected areas, and radio communicated detailed information for the residents of affected areas. It is also found the “roof-top camera” served as the predecessor of today’s remote-controlled cameras. The Niigata Earthquake was a prototype for disaster broadcasting of today, including safety confirmation broadcasts, which were first used for the 1959 Isewan Typhoon and developed into a larger scale service at the Niigata Earthquake. The resources discovered though this study enabled the author to understand the actual conditions of these broadcasts more specifically. This paper reviews the actual status of disaster reporting of Niigata Earthquake and discusses they are connected to the disaster reporting of today.

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