In 1985, under Eiso Kawamoto’s ambitious spirit, IRM (USA) Inc. established U.S. Nippon Communications Network (USN-TV) a television subsidiary based in New York bringing to US audiences Japanese business news and cultural programming. For 26 years USN-TV, as the sole bilingual broadcaster (in the New York area), played an important role in developing communications between Japanese and American communities.
- Initially, USN-TV broadcasts were seen exclusively on WNYC television Channel 31 (then owned by New York City’s WNYC Foundation). A few years later USN-TV expanded its broadcast reach to include the Washington DC Metropolitan Area via WNVC Channel 56.
- USN-TV’s early programs included Business Nippon the popular dramas of Toshiba Sunday Theater, Mito Komon (Samurai Drama)” and a fashion report. Later, came the acclaimed Japanese language instruction series, Let’s Learn Japanese which was seen across America, sponsored by Japan Foundation’s Language Center.
- More recently, USN-TV broadcasts were carried over WNYE/NYC-TV, (also managed by the City of New York) with featured segments Today’s Closeup (produced by NHK), Visit My Homeland (signtseeing stories provided by the local governments in Japan), “USN Report” (covering local business and arts produced in-house in our New York studio), and Wuta – Song from Tokyo (latest Japanese music showcase presented by Sony Music International).
- Over the past 26 years, letters from viewers to the producers of USN-TV were numerous and with rare exception both appreciative and congratulatory: USN-TV programming was clearly valued by New Yorkers across a wide demographic.
- With some regret on March 26, 2011 US Nippon Television aired its final broadcast.