Founded in 1991, the Japan Media Communication Center (JAMCO) promotes international exchange through television content, aiming to foster mutual understanding between Japan and other countries while contributing to the advancement of television broadcasting in developing countries around the world.

One of JAMCO’s main activities is to produce international editions of Japanese television programs for free distribution to broadcasting stations in developing countries. As of March 31, 2017, JAMCO has supplied 12,028 programs to 96 countries in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, the Middle and Near East, and Central and South America. In addition to supplying programs to broadcasting stations, JAMCO supports education in developing countries by providing international television programs at no cost to their universities.

The international editions produced by JAMCO are international versions of Japanese television programs selected for their relevance to overseas audiences, particularly viewers in developing countries. These programs are available in various languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Arabic, as well as in music and effects (ME) versions. As of March 31, 2017, JAMCO’s library holds a collection of 1,696 titles, with genres ranging from documentaries to children’s and educational programs to dramas.

The international editions are either aired in their original form – in the English or Spanish versions, for example, or translated into local languages before broadcast, depending on the country. And the broadcast of these programs is helping to drive improvements in such fields as education, disaster preparedness, hygiene, technology, and the environment, and to foster greater understanding of Japan and its culture in the recipient countries.

Another of JAMCO’s important work is its annual online forum, held on its website as part of the effort to foster cross-cultural dialogue through television programs. The theme of the 26th edition of the JAMCO Online Symposium is “ Internet Utilization of TV-Stations: Situations and Issues Faced by Individual Countries.”

The advancement of internet technology is dramatically transforming the world’s media. How are television stations, which have traditionally transmitted signals over the airwaves, adapting, or seeing themselves adapting, to technological innovations? JAMCO will take a holistic approach to this theme, focusing on countries and areas that prepared early for the arrival of the internet era, namely, Europe, and the United States. We are certain the discussions will prove useful in considering the position of Japanese television today and its outlook for the future.

The symposium will feature reports on the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, and etc. We believe these reports will provide valuable insights into the history and prospects of the convergence of television and the internet. Given the profound impact television continues to have on politics, economy, culture, and everyday life worldwide, discussions on the theme “The Internet Use of Television: Situations and Issues Faced by Individual Countries” will help us increase our mutual understanding internationally.

The symposium welcomes the participation of all interested persons, and is open to comments and questions on the articles and online discussions. We look forward to hearing from you by means of the email form on JAMCO’s website.

In closing, allow me to express my sincere wish that the symposium will promote international goodwill and friendship as well as a deeper understanding of the relationship between television and the internet, and contribute, in some small measure, to the development of the media in many countries.