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Electric appliances

[ AC100 volts, 50Hz or 60Hz ]

In Japan, the line voltage is 100V AC. The eastern half of Japan is 50Hz AC and the western half is 60Hz AC for historical reasons. This might cause you a problem when you move across the border from the 60Hz area to the 50Hz area. For those from countries where 115 to 120 volts, 60Hz is the standard, some of your appliances may operate OK in Japan, if the appliance is designed for a wide voltage variation, but you may notice the difference. Coffee makers may take much longer to brew coffee (if it ever works), blender / food processor may not have sufficient power to do the job under 100 volts AC. One possible solution to this problem is to get a transformer to convert 100V to 115/120V . This solution also works for appliances designed for other voltages.

[ TVs ]

Frequency range of the Japanese TV programs are not necessary the same as that of, for example, North America. Some TVs and video tape players can not work in Japan because of this.

Since Japanese video format is NTSC you can not watch video programs with any other format such as PAL and so on.

Radio programs

AM and FM radio frequencies are not in the same range as that in other countries, although some part does overlap. Hence it is not wise to bring your radio from your country. If you get a radio that can receive short wave band, you may be able to listen to programs from your country. There are a few radio stations that provide programs in English. Major one is AFN (American Forces Network ) at 810kHz. Some other FM stations are providing English programs.

Radio programs in English (some of them speaks English part-time only)

AFN (American Forces Network ) : AM 810 kHz (Fully English)

	bayfm	FM 78.0 MHz
	NACK5	FM 79.5MHz
	InterFM	FM 76.1 MHz
	FM Yokohama	FM 84.7MHz

TV programs

Inside the Tsukuba area, there are seven TV channels you can receive with your TV. Channel #1 and #3 are broadcast by the "NHK" or 'en-nu-etch-k' which is a public broadcasting service backed up (and some-what regulated) by the Japanese government. Channel#1 is somewhat smilar to the BBC of UK or the CBC of Canada and so on. Channel #3, the so called the NHK Education Channel, is similar to PBS in the USA in flavour although not quite the same. Funding for the NHK comes from monthly fee collected from any family that has TVs which can receive the NHK channels, although the collection is not strictly enforced. Hence, channels #1 and #3 broadcast no advertisements. Channels #4,#6,#8,#10 and #12 are commercial stations.

There is one cable TV provider, ACCS (Academic-newtown Community Cable Service), which provides wider variety of programs. To receive their program, you must subscribe to the ACCS.

In addition to the basic subscription to the ACCS, movies, music, plays and so forth can be watched for an extra charge. For detail, call them at 852-6111 or contact KEK Users Office.

JTV programs in English

Satelite TV broadcasting channels :

(They call it as BS TV, Satellite Broadcasting TV)

for example : NHK BS1 Program table / http://www.nhk.or.jp/bs/lineup/index.html

NHK Online

NHK have the international broadcasting service :http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/