NHK World-Japan has begun broadcasting a 24-hour shortwave radio service in Japanese to provide continuous news and safety information to Japanese citizens in the Middle East in response to the deteriorating security situation in Iran. NHK World-Japan is the international broadcasting arm of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, providing television, radio and digital news services aimed at overseas audiences.
The temporary service started March 1 and is designed to ensure that nationals living in or traveling through the Middle East can receive updates even if internet or local media access becomes restricted.
According to a report by Arab News Japan, the move follows recent military developments involving Iran. It reflects concerns that reliable information may be difficult for Japanese nationals in the region to access through conventional channels.
NHK normally provides around six hours of shortwave programming per day for audiences in the Middle East. The new arrangement expands that output to continuous broadcasting, allowing listeners to tune in at any time for updates. The service includes simultaneous broadcasts of domestic programming from NHK Radio 1, alongside international news from NHK World-Japan and segments such as “Overseas Safety Information,” which relay travel advisories issued by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
NHK says broadcast frequencies may change depending on propagation conditions, with updates published on the Japanese-language website of NHK World-Japan.
The move is a reminder that shortwave remains a strategic platform for international public-service communication, particularly during geopolitical crises when internet access or local media availability may be disrupted.
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