TV Kumamoto
Japanese local TV station
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kumamoto Telecasting Co., Ltd., commonly known as TV Kumamoto or TKU, is a regional Japanese commercial television broadcaster headquartered in Kumamoto, Japan. It was established in 1968 after the Japanese government opened additional UHF television allocations and sought to create a second commercial broadcaster in Kumamoto Prefecture. The company’s formation followed the consolidation of multiple competing license applicants into a unified bid. Its broadcasting license was issued in November 1967, the founding general meeting was held in March 1968, and the company adopted the TV Kumamoto name in May of that year. Regular television broadcasting began on April 1, 1969, following test transmissions in March. TKU became Kumamoto’s second commercial television station and initially assembled a schedule centered on Fuji Television programming, while also carrying selected material from other Japanese commercial networks. Its early service was notable for the rapid adoption of color broadcasting and for the expansion of UHF reception across the prefecture. Although the station initially operated with advertising rates below those of the established broadcaster RKK, it had eliminated accumulated operating losses by 1972 and reached comparable advertising-rate levels by the middle of the decade. TKU’s business is centered on terrestrial television broadcasting, including local news, information programming, current affairs, entertainment, documentaries, and network programming. Local journalism has been part of its service since launch. Early coverage included events and public-health issues relevant to Kumamoto, including reporting on Minamata disease, which had been officially recognized by the Japanese government. The station developed recurring local programs such as TKU News Eye, later renamed TKU Live News, and youth-oriented and music programming including Wakatto Land and Saturday Music Special. It also produces documentary and regional culture programming focused on Kumamoto and the wider Higo area. The broadcaster expanded its facilities during the early 1980s, opening a new studio in 1983. The arrival of Kumamoto Kenmin Television in 1982 changed the local commercial broadcasting environment and allowed TKU to end its previous carriage of NNN and NNS programming. The launch of Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting in 1989 subsequently led TKU to withdraw TV Asahi programming, leaving Kumamoto as one of Japan’s prefectures with four commercial television stations despite its relatively small population. During the 1980s and 1990s, strong Fuji Television network performance helped TKU achieve a leading local ratings position. It won a local ratings Triple Crown in 1983 and repeated the achievement for eight consecutive years from 1985 through 1992; it overtook RKK as Kumamoto’s leading station in 1986 and retained that position until 1998. TKU has also developed supporting activities and subsidiaries, including a living-news agency, and established an international exchange relationship with Jinju MBC in South Korea in 1990. The station introduced its Terekumakun mascot for its thirtieth anniversary in 1999. Digital terrestrial broadcasting began on December 1, 2006, while analog transmissions ended on July 24, 2011, in line with Japan’s nationwide digital migration. TKU marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2019 with a new logo and continued to operate as a regional FNN and FNS affiliate, combining national network content with locally produced programming for viewers in Kumamoto Prefecture.
History
The origins of TV Kumamoto lie in Japan’s expansion of commercial television into the UHF band during the late 1960s. In 1967, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications designated Kumamoto Prefecture for a second commercial television allocation. Several groups submitted competing applications, including organizations connected with newspapers and political interests. The government encouraged the applicants to consolidate, and most ultimately joined a unified bid based on Kumamoto Central Television. The station received its license on November 14, 1967. The company held its founding general meeting on March 12, 1968, with Kawazu Torao appointed as its first president. It changed its name to TV Kumamoto in May, selected a logo later that year, and acquired land for a headquarters in the Kita district of Kumamoto. Before launch, its management negotiated programming relationships with national networks in Tokyo. The resulting schedule was primarily associated with Fuji Television, although programming from NTV and NET was also carried during the station’s early period. Test broadcasting took place on March 15, 1969, and regular service began on April 1. Reception of UHF signals expanded quickly: the station reported substantial antenna penetration within its first year. Color programming was introduced at launch and expanded until network programming was entirely in color by 1970. Local news converted to color in 1971, and the remaining local output followed after 1973. TKU’s initial advertising rates were approximately half those of the established RKK station, but the gap narrowed during the 1970s. By 1972, the company had eliminated the operating losses accumulated after its launch. TKU’s programming and reporting operation grew alongside its technical infrastructure. News was produced from the beginning, with early coverage including the opening of a maritime-animal section at Kumamoto Zoo and reporting on Minamata disease. In 1975, the station introduced an early current-affairs format, and in 1978 it created the music program Saturday Music Special, which became popular with younger viewers. The station later developed youth and regional-information programming, including Wakatto Land, as well as documentary production such as Walking on Higo Road. The competitive environment changed in the early 1980s. Kumamoto Kenmin Television began broadcasting in 1982, and TKU ended its previous cooperation with NNN and NNS. A new studio was completed and officially opened in April 1983. By that year, TKU operated approximately 80 transmitters and had achieved prefecture-wide coverage comparable with the other major broadcasters serving Kumamoto. Strong Fuji Television network ratings helped TKU win a local ratings Triple Crown in 1983 and again for eight consecutive years from 1985 to 1992. The station overtook RKK as the local ratings leader in 1986 and held that position through 1998. During this period it also established related businesses, including a living-news agency. The addition of Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting in October 1989 led TKU to remove TV Asahi programs from its schedule. The change contributed to Kumamoto becoming the first Japanese prefecture with four commercial television stations serving a population below two million. In the same period, TKU refreshed its logo for its twentieth anniversary. It began an international exchange with Jinju MBC in 1990, and for its thirtieth anniversary in 1999 it introduced the Terekumakun mascot while making minor logo adjustments. TKU entered the digital era on December 1, 2006, when it started digital terrestrial television broadcasting. Analog signals were discontinued on July 24, 2011. The station marked its fiftieth anniversary in 2019 with another logo redesign. It continues to operate as a Kumamoto-based commercial broadcaster affiliated with the Fuji News Network and Fuji Network System, balancing network programming with locally produced journalism, information, culture, entertainment, and documentary content.
- 2019
Fiftieth anniversary identity refresh
[1]TKU celebrated its fiftieth anniversary and introduced a new logo.
- 2011
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]Analog transmissions were switched off on July 24 as part of Japan’s digital television transition.
- 2006
Digital terrestrial broadcasting begins
[1]TKU launched digital terrestrial television service on December 1.
- 1990
International exchange with Jinju MBC
[1]The station established its first international exchange relationship with Jinju MBC in South Korea.
- 1986
Becomes local ratings leader
[1]TKU surpassed RKK as Kumamoto’s leading commercial station, a position it retained until 1998.
- 1983
New studio opens
[1]TKU inaugurated an expanded studio and reached broad transmitter coverage across Kumamoto Prefecture.
- 1972
Launch-period losses eliminated
[1]The company had cleared the net losses accumulated since the start of broadcasting.
- 1969
Regular broadcasts begin
[1]After test transmissions in March, regular broadcasting started on April 1.
- 1968
Company founded and named TV Kumamoto
[1]The founding meeting took place in March, Kawazu Torao became the first president, and the company adopted the TV Kumamoto name in May.
- 1967
Broadcasting license issued
[1]The station received a license on November 14 after competing applicants consolidated their proposals for a second commercial television service in Kumamoto.
Products and positioning
A regional commercial broadcaster combining Fuji network programming with locally produced news, information, entertainment, and documentary content for Kumamoto Prefecture.
Local news · 2019
TKU Live News
TKU’s local news service, known earlier as TKU News Eye, reflects the station’s long-running role in reporting events, public issues, and community affairs in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Youth information program · 1987
Wakatto Land
A youth-oriented information and entertainment program that has been broadcast since 1987. It is one of TKU’s notable locally produced formats.
Music program · 1978
Saturday Music Special
An in-house music program created in 1978. It attracted a reported 15.6 percent audience share at one point and was particularly well received by younger viewers.
Documentary
Walking on Higo Road
A documentary program centered on Higo, the historic region corresponding broadly to modern Kumamoto, and its routes, people, and regional culture.
Brand decisions
2006
Launches digital terrestrial televisionGeneration changeBackground
Japan was transitioning commercial television from analog transmission to digital terrestrial broadcasting.
Action taken
TKU began digital terrestrial television broadcasting on December 1.
Aftermath
The station later discontinued analog transmissions in July 2011.
1989
Withdraws TV Asahi programmingStrategyBackground
Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting began operating in October 1989, adding a dedicated TV Asahi-affiliated broadcaster to the prefecture.
Action taken
TKU removed TV Asahi programming from its schedule.
Aftermath
Kumamoto became a four-commercial-station prefecture, while TKU’s schedule became more clearly aligned with its Fuji network relationships.
1982
Ends NNN and NNS programming relationshipStrategyBackground
The launch of Kumamoto Kenmin Television created a third commercial television station in the prefecture and changed the local network-affiliation structure.
Action taken
TKU ended its collaboration with the Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System.
Aftermath
TKU continued to focus primarily on Fuji Television programming and its FNN/FNS affiliation.
Sources2 sources
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