HBC Hokkaido Broadcasting's "Ainu Discrimination Reporting Team" Wins the 52nd Hoso Bunka Foundation Award for Broadcasting Culture

HBC Hokkaido Broadcasting's "Ainu Discrimination Reporting Team" (News Department - Desk: Yuji Yamazaki, Desk: Noriyuki Ishikuri [affiliated with HBC Flex], Reporter: Tatsuya Nakahara, Reporter: Taku Isogai, Reporter: Yurika Baba) has won the Broadcasting Culture Award at the 52nd Hoso Bunka Foundation Awards for its "10 years of broadcasting activities and proven results in influencing administrative actions regarding discrimination and hate issues against the Ainu people."

This marks the second time HBC has received an award in the Broadcasting Culture category, following the production staff of "Ganbare! Tatta Hitori no Yonen Sei" (Go for it! The Only First Grader) in the 18th session (1992).

Desk Yuji Yamazaki of the News Department is scheduled to attend and speak on behalf of HBC at the award ceremony to be held on Wednesday, July 8th.

[Details of Achievement]

While interest in Ainu culture is growing, discrimination such as "Ainu are no longer here" is spreading. In Sapporo, a public facility hosted an exhibition that denied the existence of indigenous peoples, drawing criticism from Ainu people, researchers, and citizens for being discriminatory.

Hokkaido Broadcasting has been continuously covering issues of discrimination against the Ainu for the past 10 years, producing numerous national broadcasts and documentaries.

When questioned about their views, the City of Sapporo, which permitted the exhibition, was prompted to move towards establishing a third-party body to discuss the issue.

[Selection Rationale]

The issue of Ainu discrimination in Hokkaido Broadcasting's home region. They persistently covered the issue for 10 years, broadcasting repeatedly across various programs. In an era where many stations hesitate to cover discrimination issues due to high risks, such as online slander, Hokkaido Broadcasting continued its reporting without fear, demonstrating a commitment and conviction that "not reporting it diminishes the value of broadcasting."

They pursued the responsibility of the City of Sapporo, which allowed the discriminatory exhibition, and pushed for the creation of its own unique guidelines. By pursuing administrative responsibility, they paved the way for practical solutions. They have demonstrated "the origin of journalism in the current era."

Click here for the Hoso Bunka Foundation website.

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