August 27, 2026 Approval of Exemption from Reception Fees due to 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) today approved the application filed on August 24, 2026, by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, also known as NHK (headed by President INOUE Tatsuhiko), for exemption from reception fees following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.

1　 Scope of reception contracts subject to exemption

　In the event that any of the following conditions are met within the area where the Disaster Relief Act (Act No. 118 of 1947) applies.

• (1) Reception contracts concluded on broadcast reception receivers installed in a building that has been damaged to the extent that it is half destroyed, half burned down, or flooded above floor level or above.
• (2) Reception contracts for households entered into when a resident of such a building begins receiving NHK broadcasts.
• (3) Reception contracts entered into for locations other than households—such as business premises—where the building is used as the installation site for communication terminal equipment used to receive NHK broadcasts.

2　 Exemption period

　July through December 2026 (a four-month extension of the exemption period)

3　 Expected number of reception fee exemptions

　Approximately 5,000 cases

4　 Expected amount of reception fee exemptions

　Approximately 50 million yen