Top court finds charging subscription fee for NHK broadcasts constitutional

Top court finds charging subscription fee for NHK broadcasts constitutional

Of course it did. Nobody is surprised, only disappointed.

NHK also said the contract should be perceived as concluded when its written request is delivered to the concerned person and the payment should start from that point.

Utter nonsense! They obviously don't understand the meaning of "request".

if it's a public broadaster then the ldp has no business nominating people to its board of directors. nhk is political and everyone knows it.

Absurd.

I'll just keep telling them I don't have a TV. Not like I watch TV anyway. 90% is online streaming or DVDs for kids. The rest is the wife watching a non-NHK show.

Another reason to not buy a TV.

Total BS, like saying I made a website so I can charge people just on the basis you have a computer.

Screw TV, only old people watch it anyway these days. Even my middle aged wife admits "TV as a concept feels old". All my kids just use the internet and don't know or care who the latest mass-marketed "talentos" are or give a stuff who they are supposed to fawn over. Seriously, TV is dying, and the end can't come soon enough for the idiot box AFAIAC.

What a bizarre ruling, think I might start sending bills to my ward office as receiving it apparently emplies their acceptance of a contract agreement? Ok they don't use my services but they are obligated now to honour the contract sent to them.

Big surprise!.

And none of the scandals of NHK, be it at the top or bottom, were brought up. I don't begrudge the "little people" going around trying to collect fees, although some are genuine arses, but the system itself, which is BS. It is ridiculous how much those at the top are paid when the people doing all the harassing get next to nothing.

Bin taro et. al.: "Another reason to not buy a TV."

Problem is they are trying to charge you even if you have smart phones -- and will, if they have their way. What's more, former NHK head Momii made it clear he wants the government to allow NHK to use the recently implemented My Number system to see who is and is not paying their NHK fees once the government connects the system to your bank accounts (once it's mandatory to do so, which comes into play either next year or the year after). Not only is that NOT Constitutional, it is breaking any and all privacy laws, but the government will support that, too.

As a gaijin, I don’t watch NHK for two reasons...I can’t understand Japanese and I know it is a propaganda machine. Oh, forgot, their weather broadcast is always wrong whenever I watch in the okinomiyaki shop. I only have 6 TVs, but all are monitors or connected to the web.

i wonder about my car tv...

In order for a contract to be legally binding there has to be "consideration" for both parties. Handing somebody a request is not a contract. The only reason the law says we must pay is because somebody passed somebody else a big fat envelope. In any case, since the law does not provide any penalty for not paying them, why the hell would I?

Top court finds charging subscription fee for NHK broadcasts constitutional

Yeah. I wonder how many brown envelopes were passed under the table for that to happen. Utter BS.

NHK is funded through the fee,

Really?? Then WHY do they have commercials?? The BBC is funded by its fee because it doesn't have commercials. If the above statement is actually true they wouldn't have commercials like the BCC.

which it says should be paid by all residents in Japan, regardless of nationality

Why is it that when it comes down to paying something the regardless of nationality crap comes into play, but when it comes to any sort of rights you have to be a national?

and of whether or not its programs are watched.

Well then, how about this- make NHK like cable. If you don't pay you don't get access.

NHK will never go for THAT. They know that they would lose probably half of their subscribers. NHK is pure garbage. LDP propaganda crap. And they want us to pay for it?? Let the LDP pay for it. Its their personal channel anyway.

Doesn't bother us. We haven't had a TV for nearly 20 years!

The answer is simple if this following statement is true. Bury them in litigation. The lawyers would end up spending every single day in court. Anyway, this situation will probably not hurt TV sales. I would predict that foreigners probably won't buy tVs though. NHK would literally have to own major shares and control of the Internet to claim that your PC is a way to receive their broadcast.

In the ruling, the top court's Grand Bench judged that the contract should be seen as concluded after NHK wins a lawsuit against a person who has not yet signed up.

@smithinjapan

I know, having never owned a TV, I got screwed when I got my smartphone.

Fortunately, my friends explained the scam to me, so I stopped paying, and never heard of them again.

Actually, everyone around me tells me that when an NHK staff comes to them, they just send him packing. I wonder how they intend to make everyone paying. Or do they plan to just sue everybody ?

Forcing anybody is downright wrong. People has rights.

Is japan a democracy?

Paying to consume your prolefeed.

Not much difference than a thief walking into a convenience store, "Hey give me money". and walk away. Paying for services one has not signed up for, next charge us for breathing air, oh I forgot they do, in the form of JCI and toll taxes. What a greedy bunch of old cronies.

The moment I see that NHK offers neutral or at least balanced news coverage with some backbone I'll gladly hand over the money because it's painfully evident the country needs that. Until then I'm Amish.

Another thought, why don't they simply take add it to income tax (because money that people must pay equally to the gov't for services rendered whether they approve of the quality said services is the very definition of "tax" to me and not of "fee") if they are going to make people pay who do not even watch the programming? Works for Canada. Why go through the courts and waste more money?

so now any tv station can send their collectors to your house

When we first moved into our new mansion, they tried a few times. We kept ignoring them, and they gave up. There's no law that says I must open the door for a stranger.

And that "law" also applies to individuals whose mobile phones can be used to watch TV.

Then WHY do they have commercials?? 

NHK doesn't have commercials.

why don't they simply take add it to income tax

Then you'd have the people with no TV sets complaining that they were paying for something they didn't use, while pensioners and others on low/no income were spending all day sitting watching TV without paying anything. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I've never seen any difference between the NHK and BBC license fees, except the NHK one is less likely to get you prosecuted, regardless of this instance. They even cost about the same, allowing for exchange rates.

And CBeebies is better than anything Japanese TV, NHK and commercial, has to offer.

Then you'd have the people with no TV sets complaining that they were paying for something they didn't use, while pensioners and others on low/no income were spending all day sitting watching TV without paying anything. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

In that regard, what’s the difference between having a TV and not watching it and not having a TV because the former still have to pay? One would not need to watch it necessarily to reap the benefits of (balanced and independent mind you) public broadcasting.

@Michael Jackson

And that "law" also applies to individuals whose mobile phones

Indeed. Basically every device that can recieve a TV signal is supposed to pay. And it don't matter if it's black and white.

Yet another tax

If you use Cable TV and NHK is one of the channels being provided, then I wonder if you can "assume" that the NHK fee has been paid ?

Is this why the cellphone companies have been pushing TV capability?

That's not my TV - that's my monitor! lol

Governments should stay away from the 4th Estate anyway

I have a beautiful 60", which is connected to my Mac Mini. I do not and will never watch Japanese TV! It's brain cancer! My TV is not even connected to the network via BS (fitting name) or any other cable service. Yet, I have a running battle with those NHK twits telling me I have to pay. I've argued with them time and time again telling them to go away. However, the last time the joker said I have to pay because I watch DVDs. My reply was, I don't watch Japanese DVDs either, but he persisted that I have to pay because of watching DVDs. Until Japan creates a clear set of rules for who has to pay and makes it mandatory by penalty I will continue to tell the NHK jokers to go and jump in the lake! I don't watch Japanese TV and will not pay for it!

@ smith japan, taking something without the owners permission, with out consent, and not theres, is that not theft? There was a case like this in the UK a few years ago, it revolved the BBC taking a chap to court for non payment of his TV licence, the argument revolves around the word, phrase "to have the ability to receive" in this case his argument was that his TV could NOT receive transitions from the BBC, the court was not happy with this response and asked him why it was impossible for him no to receive XXX. he said its quite simple, I am a TV engineer, and I've removed various components in the tuning circuit so its impossible. case closed!

The way the "law" is written, if you have the capability to watch NHK programming, you must pay. Whether you watch or not is of no consequence.

The top court always sides on the side of the government or agents of the government.

Not a surprising ruling.

Why is it related to the constitution? If NHK are so confident about their product simply sell it as does pay for view Chanels. Or have a blanket charge on any device capable of receiving transmission oh 2018 everyone has 1,2,3 devices. I really don't want to watch Inca, Sumo, talentless hordes of idiots giving their expert opinions about things they have absolutely no idea off. Then have some brain dead idiot who couldn't be trusted to operate a meat slicer ring my bell and try to extort money. But the courts feel that we should all contribute towards an unwatched mindless parade of idiots year after year. Says a lot about the law courts.

Bin taro: "Actually, everyone around me tells me that when an NHK staff comes to them, they just send him packing. I wonder how they intend to make everyone paying. Or do they plan to just sue everybody ?"

Like I said, they intend to make you pay in the future by using your My Number to sift through your banking transactions. If they don't find a monthly deduction from NHK and have no record of you paying in cash, but know you have a smartphone and/or TV (or you won't let them verify), they can sue you. And NHK has already won the right to sue those who do not make a contract if they "know" the person is using the service. They won't need to sue everyone because they will be much better equipped to know who actually is and is not paying when they can see all your private transactions. They can sue those who aren't paying. Everyone has a smart phone and/or computer these days, so if you're not paying you'd be hard pressed to get out of all the conditions they have for paying.

Most foreigners who pay are either honestly using the service and don't mind, were duped into paying and have it deducted (if they were silly enough to fill out the automatic deduction info) automatically, or were afraid of the maniacs who come collecting and pay. Once you make a contract they are ten times worse about collecting, and will send bills with the accumulated amount, even if you move away (at least for a year, where the bills are transferred to your new address). I was dumb enough to make a contract long ago because they guy kept coming when he knew my girlfriend was over (or so it seemed) and would bang on the door at rather inopportune times. I signed up just to get him off my back. Big mistake. Got a bill a few years later demanding some 50,000 yen despite having moved twice. They either gave up or couldn't get the info on where I had moved to after that, but I've no doubt they'll try to stick me for the tab from more than a decade ago if they get my details.

Smith condolences, I have faked a French, Spanish, Russian, even Zulu comprehension to avoid paying for NHK. As amusing as it was, the core issue is paying for a TV station that I don't watch, I find it offensive both their methods of collecting and mostly their programs. Really over, a long time ago watching people eat generic curry rice at a train station lost its appeal, Last time I was visited I was so angry my daughter intervened much to the salesmanship relief. But now it's a constitutional issue?

I will pay the fee.

However that does not countenance or excuse the highway robbery, stand and deliver, politically hobbled biased motivations of the NHK board

Any of your excuses about not buying a tv, or not watching NHK on your tv, etc - NHK has never and will never care. And now the courts have backed them up.

It doesn't mean anything though. They ring your bell, ignore them. The normal ones go away. If annoying you, go down and yell in their face. They will leave. Repeat as necessary. If your name is called in a lawsuit, you're time is up and game over for you. You'll be stuck having it ripped from your bank account monthly or they'll end up getting it docked directly from your pre-taxed salary (in future hopes).

The only people I see getting away with this are those who's income comes from outside Japan, and can't be left outside Japan. If you leave a basic account in-country with minimal amounts, there's nothing for them to claim from you. Unless Japan plans on beginning deportations of foreigners on work/spouse/etc visas, pr, etc.

I’m going to build a box that connects between the TV and antenna that blocks the NHK frequency. I’ll sell it for 10,000 yen. You never have to pay the subscription.

Plus you get the satisfaction of not paying NHK, which is priceless.

Like I said, they intend to make you pay in the future by using your My Number to sift through your banking transactions. If they don't find a monthly deduction from NHK and have no record of you paying in cash, but know you have a smartphone and/or TV (or you won't let them verify), they can sue you.

TV's nowadays require some kind of ID card to make them work, right? You can participate in voting/quizzes on tv shows because of your unique ID. I'm honestly surprised they haven't started a program that requires you to register your bank account with the ID card when you buy a TV. If they do that, then they win - unless you really don't have a TV.

My favorite NHK collector story is where a guy (foreigner) says he'll pay, asks the man if it's okay to pay in installments - to which the collector says yes - and makes him wait 15 minutes or so while having a cuppa, then comes back to the entrance and gives the man 1 yen. Then tells him to come back tomorrow and he'll have another 1 yen ready for him. Apparently, the collector never came again. lolz

Yes Educator I do have a problem with ancient civilisations that require a translation to understand what on earth they are talking about. Shakespeare uses a type of old English that's redundant but still regarded as a gifted genius. In sure inca is the same and both are totally irrelevant in today's world. If you are over 70 it's an amazing revelation each time you hear or see it, if you can understand it, and sit there for hours. Do I have to donate my cash to profligate it. Do I need people at my door asking, demanding my money to air it over and over again. I will say no!

if you like it go for it, just don't expect me to pay for it.

@Andy

Any of your excuses about not buying a tv, or not watching NHK on your tv, etc - NHK has never and will never care. And now the courts have backed them up.

No the first one does since you need a device that can receive broadcast Television that is written within the law.

No TV set then you do not need to sign a contract with NHK.

I only have monitors for PCs without a transceiver so I tell them to get out of my hair.

capable of receiving NHK broadcast

Someone make a TV without picking up NHK please.

Once a household begins to pay this fee, I do not know of any case of where that household was able to suddenly stop making payments. Once they get you, you will NOT be able to quit. Does anyone know anyone who has been successful stopping payments once payment begins.? I also heard of an example where a household was forced to make back payments which might have been what the person in the article had to do as NHK had asked him to pays in previous years. He lost the case and guess paid 200,000 yen. Can you imagine all electronic shops making you sign up for NHK when any one goes to buy a TV. I am surprised that is not being done.

I was recently very upset as an NHK agent came during our evening eating hours. I had food in my mouth and was chomping away at it when I opened my front door. He left a bit flustered.

Just tell them your tv is from overseas, you only have a really big monitor, its homemade, whatever, but it doesn't receive NHK.

@domtoidi

"I’m going to build a box that connects between the TV and antenna that blocks the NHK frequency. I’ll sell it for 10,000 yen. You never have to pay the subscription.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/06/15/national/nhk-filter-gives-viewers-legal-way-avoid-japans-tv-tax/

Love My Apple TV no NHK there, also Chrome, ROKU. Just use the Internet and a Monitor and a surround system DVD deck

Works great!

Then get a DNS/VPN address and you can stream the whole world!

Any person / household with equipment installed capable of receiving / viewing NHK TV now has an obligation to pay them. That obligation / contract is deemed "concluded" once a written request is received by said household / person. Basically NHK can now sue you to pay your bill if you have a TV in your residence that is capable of receiving their signal... it does not even have to be hooked up most likely. Effectively NHK has become a Tax of sorts. Y1200 a month. I think the government, since NHK is considered a "Public" institution, should just print up a few billion more Yen each year and fund this "Public" entity. I mean heck, the Government prints money for every other lost cause as it is.

In that regard, what’s the difference between having a TV and not watching it and not having a TV because the former still have to pay?

Blowed if I know. I was brought up with the BBC, paying the license fee seems normal, logical and fair to me. I'm certainly not going to turn myself into a criminal for the sake of a couple of man a year.

I do not know of any case of where that household was able to suddenly stop making payments. Once they get you, you will NOT be able to quit. Does anyone know anyone who has been successful stopping payments once payment begins.? I also heard of an example where a household was forced to make back payments 

When the country switched over from analog to digital, we had no TV for a few months. I contacted NHK and the lady on the phone was very nice, very understanding, very polite. She sent us the necessary forms, we filled them out, posted them back and in addition to getting your payments stopped we got a rebate for the amount we'd paid covering the time we had no telly. There was no problem at all.

When we first moved into the house we live in now, several of the houses on the new estate were unable to pick up a number of channels, including NHK, because of electrical interference or some such. When the NHK man came around the first time asking for payment, our neighbours asked him to look at the TV set to confirm that reception was extremely poor. He made a note in his book and went away, no more demands for payment until a few years later after they erected a new transmission tower a couple of towns away.

This is downright sickening that the courts would find this 'constitutional'. Being trying to contort my mind to understand the logic but, nope! Drawing a blank...

Doesn't bother us. We haven't had a TV for nearly 20 years!

People keep saying that but NHK will also want to charge you if you have phone, internet, navi with a TV or even a fricking radio!

Now that the courts seem to be backing them up (some fat, brown envelopes obviously changed hands), I hope to high hell that they don't get wind in their sails to start demanding their ransoms.

I like the 1 yen installments idea above!

well to play devil's advocate, NHK's website and news has a lot of stuff in English and Japanese learning opportunities.

The website is great, including real time broadcasting of on air programs. I also don't mind taxes going to public broadcasting in the US which supports mostly rural radio and television stations that would be shuttered without it. PBS and NPR rely almost exclusively on corporate sponsorships and merchandising deals but the local stations that play their programming need federal funding to survive.

until they show me a warrant to search my house and have the law behind them in issuing fines for non -compliance, I wont be paying for something I refuse to watch!!

Indeed. Basically every device that can receive a TV signal is supposed to pay. And it don't matter if it's black and white.

You have a black and white TV?

In the UK a colour TV licence is £149 but a black and white licence is £49.

Apparently there are only a few thousand black and white licences around, but I suspect that most of those who choose pay for one are not telling the truth.

Seems like unfair competitive practice for NHK to receive a fee from all households, and the other channels don't.

As all the TV sets are now Digital and have BCAS cards - surely it would be possible to only enable NHK channels for those who pay the fee, just as is done by Satellite broadcast receivers such as SkyPecfectv's.

Haven't watched this LDP nonsense for years.

Is the Nanking-denying crackpot still in charge?

So it looks like they will be obtaining purchase date of TVs and backdating the yearly fee for everyone who hasn't paid.

Presumably next there will be a scam of fake NHK fee collectors making the rounds.

In the UK a colour TV licence is £149 but a black and white licence is £49.

You need a license for a TV? What on earth for?

In the UK a colour TV licence is £149 but a black and white licence is £49. and even with a ridiculous 20% VAT they still want to srew the UK consumer.

At least the BBC makes decent programming unlike NHK's futile attempt.

Sell TVs that permanently lock out NHK. They won’t. Why? Because they need the money whether you watch TV or not.

Think, who are the courts going to protect?

This just reminds me of how hard it is to cancel the subscription, when you work mon-sat 8:00~17:00.

Ive got my subscription almost a decade ago, I didn’t knew Japanese, just knew some random guy barged through my door and kept yelling something “Dame” “NG” and “Komakai”, till I signed, I never had a television while in Japan btw.

So I just abandoned my bank account, seems the only way to deal with it.

NHK is for me the best channel in Japan. Not talking about NHK general, too much Japan oriented but NHK BS which has some very good programs and documentaries on nature culture or sports, broadcasting sometimes some BBC programs very well done

The news on NHK general recently in the evening 21h has been better and the journalist gives more his opinion than it used to be, opinions that can be critical of the government too. It has to be listened in Japanese

And they don't have that brainwashing commercials

Don't mind to pay

I've got my subscription almost a decade ago, I didn’t knew Japanese, just knew some random guy barged through my door

HAH! Happened the exact same to me a year and half ago. The bad part is that now that i don't want to use my bank account i can't open another account since there's no free time monday through friday 10AM-3PM [bank schedule].

Still won't pay...don't watch TV. Only Netflix. Hulu. Torrent. Amazon Prime.

Until the National "Nazi" enforcer show up at my door...NHK will

get a BIG "FA-Q" salute.

Like in many countries, if you own a device capable to receive the NHK signal you need to pay. Thedevice can be a tv-tuner, etc.

Some countries go as far you can't buy a TV new or. 2nd-hand without producing a licence or taking one out on the spot.

Myself don't watch NHK but am excempted from paying, pretty much like pensioners, etc are excempted.

Is NHK using the public airwaves to broadcast their signal or using cable? If the signal is broadcast over the public airwaves and not encrypted, the use of the pubic airwaves is free not private.

If the signal is encrypted and over cable and people are using black boxes to illegally capture the signal, it would be considered theft.

@Uehara - the behavior of that person barging into your property sounds troubling, can they legally do that ?

I'd probably have floored the chap if he had tried and if anyone argues with that logic, how else would you protect your Family if some nutter comes shouting and screaming at you in a foreign language that you don't fully comprehend.

People use TVs in different ways these days. I use mine as a 'smart TV' and only watch streamed content from overseas. I don't use or watch NHK's decidedly below-average programming , don't even have an antenna or TV hook up. Therefore I refuse for pay for something I never asked for, need or use.

Nippon Harassment Klan - The other Japanese 'mafia' that operates in plain view of the government and public. How is Japan not embarrassed by these thug like tactics and logic? It is just shameful and pathetic.

At issue is the Broadcasting Law that says any person who has installed equipment capable of receiving NHK broadcasts shall conclude a contract with NHK.

that's ridiculous

Still not paying for it.

Then you'd have the people with no TV sets complaining that they were paying for something they didn't use,

as opposed to people who don't watch NHK complaining that they were paying for something they didn't use?

 I was brought up with the BBC,

I was brought up in the middle east where elections were unheard of- where democracy is illegal. doesn't mean I have to support it.

 paying the license fee seems normal, logical and fair to me.

If so then let's have NHK as a cable station- You have to pay in order to see it. Same with the BBC. The UK and Japan's idea of taxing you for owning a TV is crap. Why not just have both the BBC and NHK as a cable network?

The Supreme Court said Wednesday television owners in Japan are legally required to sign up with public broadcaster NHK and pay a subscription fee, dismissing a claim that the fee-charging system violates the freedom of contract guaranteed by the Constitution.

How can they force this? If you buy a TV, nobody tells you that you will have to pay money to NHK. And why ONLY NHK? This whole ruling smells like a big fraud. The people should be up in arms about this and fight this.

MMWKDW I think it would be a bit difficult in court if you punched out an NHK rep because he spoke (or yelled) in Japanese. I mean you can hardly expect him to start speaking English to you.

Big difference between BBC and Abe-Channel. BBC isn't forced to say what the prime minister orders to them say. And the BBC produces some really good shows, which are also sold abroad, even to Japan. In fact, some of the better shows on NHK come from the BBC or some American channel.

Advice to NHK:

When your rep comes knocking on someone's door, tell them to ask the residents whether they have a TV before starting to write up a bill or contract. Absolutely rude and unprofessional. Sold my TV years ago - crap programmes not worth watching and can't be bothered to deal with these NHK reps who just don't seem to work together and share data.

It wouldn't surprise me if NHK were to make owners of PC (with or without access to TV channels) pay a fee. I wouldn't put it pass them.

I'd have a bit more sympathy if they produced better programmes and weren't acting as the LDP mouthpiece.

Just about the only domestically programme I like on NHK is Darwin, Sunday 7:30pm. No stupid tarentos, just real animals. And this I watch at someone else's home.

It's no surprise that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of NHK, but although they claim people are "legally required" to sign a contract with NHK there is no punishment for not doing so, nor is there any way for a court to compel someone to sign a contract. And in the absence of a contract it's hard to see how NHK can recover any money they claim is owed.

I think the whole mess would be better solved by changing the "contract" to a tax, like the car tax. Another way to solve it, now that the TV is digital, would be to use the same system as Wowow, but I suppose NHK doesn't want to give people the choice of opting out. You can be sure the nonsense will start again once NHK starts streaming live on the internet: they will go after everyone with an internet connection.

I have an American made TV and for whatever reason can't pick up Japanese TV. Not that I am interested in watching that garbage anyway. So, as I can't pick up a signal and can prove it...am I obliged to pay the fee?

as I can't pick up a signal and can prove it...am I obliged to pay the fee?

No.

Of course, we are all going to avoid this tax, and should, as long as we can.

But it's the law now.

Those of you questioning the constitutional legality, or the whether this place is a democracy, I remind you: This is Japan.

Also Cleo, i believe whether you can actually receive the signal would appear to be irrelevant. The obligation comes from owning any device 'capable' of receiving.

It's silly, it is theft, but they went ahead and did it.

Run your smart phone off a credit card in your home country and there won't be proof that you have a device..,,

 i believe whether you can actually receive the signal would appear to be irrelevant. The obligation comes from owning any device 'capable' of receiving.

Nope. My neighbours had a perfectly normal TV set that was capable of receiving the signal, were it not for the fact that the signal didn't reach their house. The NHK man came in, looked at the buzzing snowstorm on the screen, and agreed that it was not reasonable to expect them to pay.

I have an American made TV ...

Seriously? Like one of those big old Zenith's in the wooden cabinet?

The last time TV's were still made in America was decades ago.

TV broadcasting is a dying beast. If they truly want NHK to be supported, then have it government sponsored and take it out of everyone's taxes. It seems like a huge waste of money and resources to have bill collectors bothering everyone.

I was going to sell my TV as I only use it for streaming anyway, but I was told that if I take out the receiver part of the TV, I can claim it's a monitor. I think I'll look into that!

This shouldn't be under National news, it should be under Crime news.

I have a camera that shows who is buzzing me in my apartment. Usually I can tell if it's a delivery guy for Amazon or the Post Office (that I WELCOME!!!) However sometimes they fail to show they are holding a package for me and some don't have a uniform. Then it becomes sketchy, are they delivery, or are they NHK?

If I can't make the proper call, I just let them leave a missed delivery slip in my mailbox.

A long time ago when I first came to Japan, I had no luxury such as an entrance camera and made the mistake of opening the door. Never again.

cleoToday 10:44 am JST

as I can't pick up a signal and can prove it...am I obliged to pay the fee?

No.

Sorry Cleo, love your stuff but I think you may have just been fortunate to have a nice collector come to your door.

In my experience, a collector told me straight, in very pushy terms, that even having internet, a navi with a TV or even a radio would require that I subscribe to their fee. That was the first time I ever told anyone to 'go away' in Japanese and shut my door in their face.

I was brought up with the BBC, paying the license fee seems normal, logical and fair to me. I'm certainly not going to turn myself into a criminal for the sake of a couple of man a year.

Please bare in mind that this non-solicited payment model may only be limited to The UK and Japan (perhaps a small list of other countries). It is not normal (to put it lightly) where I come from.

That said, I'm a big fan of the BBC and may also have no gripe in paying, too. NHK notwithstanding. However, I think that because its the national broadcaster, it's only fair that it is funded at government level.

Sidenote - so many taxes are collected here, but I honestly see so very little in terms of government and council services here. Where does all the money actually go?

I live in Australian and have NHK in English through Foxtel. I dont mind a few of the show they are pretty good, every time I watch it makes me miss being in Japan. I dont pay for a license in Australia either.

Sorry Cleo, love your stuff

Aww, that's nice :-)

but I think you may have just been fortunate to have a nice collector come to your door.

T'wasn't just our door, it was the whole neighbourhood. It seems there was some weird electrical stuff going on that scrambled the signal in random ways; we were unable to pick up a couple of the commercial channels, other families couldn't get NHK and/or one or two commercial channels.

And it wasn't just one 'nice collector'; we had vans circling the neighbourhood for days with antennas twirling on top, trying to fathom out where the interference was coming from, neighbourhood meetings demanding that 'something be done' in time for Kohaku Utagassen, people applying for cable in the hopes of getting reception.... Those who couldn't get NHK ended up not paying the licence fee for quite a while, until they put up the new transmission tower. And then it all went digital anyway.

even having internet, a navi with a TV or even a radio would require that I subscribe to their fee

If your navi with a TV can pick up NHK, then yes, you're liable. Not liable for just a radio, or for the Internet.

NHKの放送を受信できるテレビ（チューナー内蔵パソコン、ワンセグ対応端末などを含みます）(A TV set capable of receiving NHK transmissions (includes PC with built-in tuner, one-seg-compatible terminal, etc.)

ラジオだけ設置されている場合、放送受信契約は必要ありません (If you have only a radio, you do not need a broadcast reception contract)

https://pid.nhk.or.jp/jushinryo/about_1.html

Some new LCD TVs don't even come with the TV tuner anymore

One of mine is like that - ya could look at the back, and there's no TV tuner connection there (ya have to buy a tuner adapter if ya wanna connect an antenna) lol

You get phones which are locked and must pay to unlock them. Why not sell TVs which lock out NHK? Not everyone is interested in watching their stations.

You get phones which are locked and must pay to unlock them. Why not sell TVs which lock out NHK? Not everyone is interested in watching their stations.

Because it's very easy and cheap to unlock phones, it'll be just as easy and cheap to unlock tellies.

As for NHK, it's the only channel that has anything watchable outside satellite and cable. Can we get tellies that lock out the rubbish on J TV.

If your navi with a TV can pick up NHK, then yes, you're liable. Not liable for just a radio, or for the Internet.

NHKの放送を受信できるテレビ（チューナー内蔵パソコン、ワンセグ対応端末などを含みます）(A TV set capable of receiving NHK transmissions (includes PC with built-in tuner, one-seg-compatible terminal, etc.)

ラジオだけ設置されている場合、放送受信契約は必要ありません (If you have only a radio, you do not need a broadcast reception contract)

https://pid.nhk.or.jp/jushinryo/about_1.html

That's good to know! I might print this off and leave it near the front door.

Forcing anybody is downright wrong. People has rights.

Is japan a democracy?

On paper, yes. In reality, not that much.

My mate has a great way to get rid of the NHK man if he's every duped into answering his door.

He simply wave his hand and say's Nihon no terebi tabemasen...tabemasen!

He say's the trick is to look serious and believe your Japanese is perfect.

Then close the door.

Haven't met any in over 10yrs, but got my letter from NHK handy that states why I don't need to pay.

Pensioners and a whole lot of people are also excempted from paying, check with your ward office.

The way the "law" is written, if you have the capability to watch NHK programming, you must pay. Whether you watch or not is of no consequence.

Okay, so how do I disable this capability? I use my TV exclusively as a computer screen.

Not surprising that those old conservative judges ruled in the governent's favor. They talked about independence in their ruling, but Abe's right-wing ilk influence NHK from behind the scenes.

Could you imagine in the USA an agent coming to the door saying that because you have a TV antenna you have to pay a fee? That agent might be met with a shotgun and a demand to "get off my property."

Alas, this is Japan, a land of complacent sheep. I am not so much against the fee as I am the system they use to collect it.

I’m embarrassed to say that I once answered the door, knowing it was the NHK guy, wearing sunglasses and holding a cane while doing my best Stevie Wonder impression.

He never came back, and even was bowing as he left.

Luckily, I am somewhat fluent in Spanish. So when they come a knocking and I have looked through the camera and thought it to be my Amazon orders coming in and did not see the NHK badge thing they have. I go right in to Spanish mode. Once they hear No gracias! No gracias! or yo no hablo japonés over and over. They give up with a dumbfounded look on face. Wondering what language he or she just heard. You might get a reply like Spang-go desk ka? And again I reply no hablo japonés. Then the NHK rep will promptly go away. Works every time so far. Send them packing I say. I do not feel a bit guilty about it either. Paying for public broadcasting should be a choice. Ruling or not. I want a choice to pay or not to pay. I do not watch NHK anyways. Nor do I recommend my actions nor endorse them. I am cheapskate I guess. Sorry.

@domtoidi

I’m embarrassed to say that I once answered the door, knowing it was the NHK guy, wearing sunglasses and holding a cane while doing my best Stevie Wonder impression.

He never came back, and even was bowing as he left. Nice!

LMAO!!! Hahaha! I love it. I do not feel so bad now for the Spanish thing I do.

For what it's worth, here are some more details for those who can read Japanese on the court's reasoning:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/maedatsunehiko/20171207-00078964/