Got a Letter from NHK? What the Receiving Fee Is and What to Do
What an NHK letter means, who legally has to sign a receiving contract (受信契約), the current fees, the surcharge for signing up late, exemptions, and how to cancel when you move or leave Japan.
Sooner or later, many people in Japan find an envelope from NHK in the mailbox. NHK (日本放送協会) is Japan's public broadcaster. The letter might ask you to sign a receiving contract, remind you about unpaid fees, or include payment slips. Online you will find a lot of strong opinions about it. This post sticks to what NHK and the law actually say, so you can decide what applies to you.
Why NHK writes to you
NHK is funded almost entirely by receiving fees. On its English page about the fee system, NHK says fees make up about 96% of its income. The obligation comes from Article 64 of the Broadcasting Act (放送法第64条), which NHK publishes in English. It says a person who "has installed specified receiving equipment," or who "has begun to receive" NHK's online distribution, "must conclude a receiving contract with NHK."
NHK's English page states that this applies "regardless of nationality."
So a letter from NHK usually means one of these:
- NHK has no contract on file for your address and is asking you to sign one. There is usually a contract form (放送受信契約書) and a return envelope.
- You have a contract and this is a payment slip, or a reminder that a payment was missed.
- You moved, and NHK is asking you to update your address on an existing contract.
Do you actually need a contract?
According to NHK's English page, you need a receiving contract if you have a device that can receive NHK's domestic broadcasts. Its examples:
- a TV;
- a PC with a TV tuner;
- a smartphone with a One Seg (ワンセグ) TV function "and the like";
- a car navigation system with a TV tuner.
Under the current Broadcasting Act you also need one if you start using NHK ONE, NHK's domestic streaming service on the web and in apps. Before you can use it, NHK has you confirm whether a receiving contract is needed. If your household already has a contract, no separate one is needed.
What does not require a contract, per the same page:
- having only a radio;
- owning a smartphone or PC by itself ("Ownership of a smartphone or PC alone does not require a receiving contract");
- watching NHK WORLD-JAPAN, the international English service.
The contract is per household. Article 64(2) exempts you from a second contract if someone you share a residence and a livelihood with already has one.
If you have none of the equipment above and don't use NHK ONE, you have no obligation to sign. If you do have a TV, the law says you need a contract whether or not you watch NHK.
How much it costs
NHK's English page lists these fees (consumption tax included; Okinawa has different rates):
| Contract | Monthly | Every 2 months | Every 6 months | Every 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial (地上契約) | ¥1,100 | ¥2,200 | ¥6,309 | ¥12,276 |
| Satellite (衛星契約) | ¥1,950 | ¥3,900 | ¥11,186 | ¥21,765 |
A terrestrial contract covers TVs that only receive terrestrial broadcasts, and people who only use NHK ONE. If your TV can receive satellite broadcasts (BS), NHK requires a satellite contract, which also covers terrestrial.
You can pay by credit card, by bank transfer from a Japanese account, or with payment slips at banks, post offices and convenience stores. The 6- and 12-month options are discounted.
The surcharge for signing up late
Since April 2023, following an amendment to the Broadcasting Act, NHK can charge a surcharge (割増金). NHK's surcharge page (in Japanese) says it applies in two cases:
- Avoiding fees by fraudulent means, such as a false statement when cancelling a contract or applying for an exemption.
- Not applying for a contract by the deadline without a justifiable reason. The deadline is the end of the second month after you install a TV (or start using NHK ONE). If you set up a TV in October, for example, the deadline is the end of December.
In either case you owe the unpaid fees plus a surcharge of twice that amount. Only fees for periods from April 2023 onward count toward the surcharge.
In practice: if you have a TV and have not signed up, dealing with the contract promptly is cheaper than dealing with it later.
Exemptions and discounts
NHK has official exemption standards (in Japanese). The main ones:
- Households receiving public assistance and certain households with members who have disabilities. The criteria depend on the type and grade of disability and, in some cases, on the household being exempt from resident tax.
- Students, on NHK's student exemption page, can get a full exemption if they meet one of several conditions. For example: a previous-year income of ¥1.87 million or less; being on the National Pension Student Payment Special System; being a dependent on a family member's employee health insurance; receiving a need-based scholarship or a tuition waiver; or having a family home that is exempt from resident tax or on public assistance. Each condition needs specific documents, such as a student ID plus a tax certificate.
- A family discount (家族割引) halves the fee for a second residence of the same household. That includes a student living away from home who doesn't qualify for the exemption.
Exemptions are not automatic. You apply, with documents.
Moving, or leaving Japan
- Moving within Japan: update the address on your contract, online or by phone. Otherwise the old address stays on file and letters keep chasing it.
- Getting rid of your TV, or leaving Japan: NHK's English page says to contact NHK to cancel the contract, and that "the receiving fee will not be charged from the month after the contract has been cancelled." Cancelling is not automatic when you move out or leave the country.
NHK's contract line is 0120-151515 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Many procedures are online, but some pages are in Japanese only.
Reading the letter itself
NHK letters are written in formal Japanese, and they are built to prompt action. Before responding, check what kind of letter it is: a new contract request, an address confirmation, a payment slip or a reminder. Then check whether it matches your situation. Look for words such as 受信契約 (receiving contract), 支払い (payment), 住所変更 (change of address) and 期限 (deadline).
If you would like help, Jozu can read a photo of the letter, explain in plain English what it is asking for, and track any payment deadline. For questions about your own contract, NHK's contact center is the authoritative source.