Kiyoko Nagashiro (OG 1992–1996)

Mrs McCallum (Head 1987–1999), once asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I said that I wanted to work at a TV station. I vividly remember that moment. That dream came true after 10 years.

I started working as a news programme director at NHK, the largest broadcaster in Japan. The job required me to choose topics, shoot the scenes with our camera crew, edit the footage and air the programmes. NHK does not require any specific qualifications to work there, instead, they place us in the branch offices around the country where we learn how to produce TV programmes. I was sent to the Osaka bureau, where I stayed for four years before coming back to Tokyo’s Head Office.

I met all kinds of people within the job, from Nobel prize winner, Yoshinori Ohsumi, to local farmers and even Brad Pitt on one occasion! I flew to the US to report on the presidential election, to China to report on the food safety issue, industrial transitions as well as the Olympics in 2008. Thanks to the teachers and my friends at Prior’s Field, people in the US seemed to be excited to meet an Asian girl speaking with a British accent!

NHK is the only public broadcaster in Japan. We constantly asked ourselves, what messages do we want to deliver through the programme? Are we really unbiased? Have we got enough facts to support our message?

In this integrated and yet divided world we live in, there is no absolute right or wrong, or black or white, but rather, it’s grey. I hope to continue to deliver the important messages and contribute to make our lives better.

I produce a three minute expert interview segment where we ask experts’ insights on various hot topics in the news. Please tune in: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/radio/ asianview

I have recently been having English lessons with Mrs Gay (Staff 1974-2009) since 2021, on Zoom. It’s nice that I’m still in touch with her and the lessons have been great.