Tokyo, August 12, 2025 – NHK and NHK Enterprise are happy to annonce that the BBC and Asharq Documentary, the Arabic language free-to-air factual channel, has acquired NHK's doc "KAMIKAZ : A Untold History." Every summer, NHK creates an airs a strand of special programs featuring Japan’s postwar history. This program was newly distributed by HK Enterprise earlier this year commemorating 80 years after WWII. The doc has already been aired by th BBC at the end of last month while the air date of Asharq is still to be determined.
 

KAMIKAZE: An Untold History
(45 min + 46 min, 2025)

On the Pacific front towards the end of World War II, Japan's imperial armed forces launched "kamikaze" attacks, or suicide missions by aircrafts laden with bombs. It was a mad operation with no hope of returning alive. But the nation went wild, and the attacks continued for ten months, literally until the very last day of war. About 4,000 crew lost their lives. How could this happen? Utilizing 15 years-worth of extensive interviews with both US and Japanese former military personnel as well as experts, combined with a detailed "hometown map" created from the data of each and every life lost, and the latest analysis of archival footage and documents, the program delves into the mechanism of how a crazed madness swept through an entire nation.

Takayuki Oshima, the director of the doc, has spent the past 15 years investigating and reporting on the question of what the kamikaze missions truly were and why the lives pf over 4,000 young men were sacrificed. Oshima shared the following comment: "Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet conflicts continue to erupt, political tensions between nations persist, and events that seem almost 'insane' keep unfolding around the world. However, behind these 'insane' acts lies the same species —Homo sapiens. By exploring the kamikaze missions in depth, I hope that this documentary offers a lens through which we can examine universal truths that resonate today. I would be truly grateful if we could reflect on these truths together with people around the world."

About NHK
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) is Japan's sole public service media organization. Funded by receiving fees from Japanese households, it has a reputation for impartial, high-quality programs. The broadcaster is also a content power house that creates programs in almost all genres, including news, documentaries, children's and educational programs, music, entertainment, culture, animation, and drama. Known as the pioneer of HD broadcast, NHK now actively produces programs in 4K and 8K.
www.nhk.or.ip/corporateinfo/

About NEP
NHK Enterprises, Inc. (NEP) is the international distribution/production affiliate of NHK.
We represent innovative, high-quality content that range from animation/anime, drama, documentaries, children's & education, factual entertainment to non-scripted/scripted formats, and are committed to bring compelling storytelling as NHK spearheads technological advancements in 4K/8K and beyond.
https://pf.nhk-ep.co.jp/

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For further information, please contact:
Fumina Koike
koike.f-ge@nhk.or.jp
International Media Relations, PR Department
NHK