{"id":58621,"date":"2024-01-03T08:17:55","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T12:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=58621"},"modified":"2024-01-03T08:17:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T12:17:55","slug":"shiokaze-shortwave-radio-service-faces-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/01\/shiokaze-shortwave-radio-service-faces-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Shiokaze Shortwave Radio Service Faces Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news from The Japan News<\/em><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shortwave Radio for Japanese Abductees Faces Crisis<\/a><\/h1>\n

Tokyo, Dec. 31 (Jiji Press)\u2014The Shiokaze shortwave radio service for Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea faces a crisis because it will be unable to counter jamming by Pyongyang during facility renewal work in fiscal 2024.<\/p>\n

The situation \u201ccontradicts the government\u2019s policy of giving top priority to the abduction issue,\u201d said the group playing the leading role in the radio broadcasts.<\/p>\n

Shiokaze, which means sea breeze, began broadcasting in 2005, operated mainly by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea. It conveys messages from family members of abductees and news from Japan and abroad.<\/p>\n

The radio is constantly hit by jamming signals from North Korea. Since 2019, Shiokaze has been conducting double broadcasting using two frequencies as a countermeasure.<\/p>\n

Shiokaze\u2019s transmission base is within KDDI Corp.\u2019s Yamata transmitting station in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, eastern Japan.<\/p>\n

The number of transmitters at the station will be reduced by two from the current seven partly due to the aging facility. There will be a period when double broadcasting is not possible during the work.<\/p>\n

Japanese public broadcaster NHK, which uses the KDDI station as a base for its overseas radio services, said that work related to the transmitters will last up to 10 months from the second half of fiscal 2024.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a while during the work, Shiokaze is expected to broadcast on one frequency,\u201d said an official of NHK, formally called Japan Broadcasting Corp.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize that the work is necessary in order to continue the two frequency system although (Shiokaze) will be a single frequency service temporarily,\u201d then Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a meeting of a parliamentary special panel on the abduction issue Dec. 4, 2023.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a Cabinet Secretariat official expressed concern, saying that \u201cthe risk of obstruction will increase more than ever,\u201d albeit temporarily. [Continue reading…<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news from The Japan News: Shortwave Radio for Japanese Abductees Faces Crisis Tokyo, Dec. 31 (Jiji Press)\u2014The Shiokaze shortwave radio service for Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea faces a crisis because it will be unable to counter jamming by Pyongyang during facility […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,43],"tags":[4895,4274,474,10411],"class_list":["post-58621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-david-iurescia-lw4daf","tag-japan","tag-north-korea","tag-shiokaze-shortwave-radio-service"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-ffv","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":65198,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/rtis-spanish-japanese-programs-ranking-among-shortwave-broadcasters\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":0},"title":"RTI\u2019s Spanish & Japanese programs ranking among shortwave broadcasters","author":"Thomas","date":"January 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this article from Radio Taiwan International highlighting how RTI\u2019s Spanish and Japanese shortwave programs have placed in global listener polls, with the Spanish service especially popular across dozens of countries and the Japanese service recognized at Japan\u2019s largest amateur radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2025-08-08_RTI-DE_QSL_r.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31217,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/nhk-world-expands-and-rebrands-as-nhk-world-japan\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":1},"title":"NHK WORLD expands and rebrands as NHK WORLD-JAPAN","author":"Thomas","date":"March 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following announcement from NHK WORLD: Expansion under a new brand - NHK WORLD-JAPAN Launches in April - NHK WORLD, the international broadcasting service of NHK, makes a fresh start as NHK WORLD-JAPAN in April. The new name is intended\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/NHK-World-Japan-Logo-300x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":59385,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/04\/taiwan-breaking-through-censorship-via-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":2},"title":"Taiwan: Breaking through censorship via shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"April 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following story: How Taiwan breaches censors' barriers (VOA News) Breaking the barriers of censorship in China, Myanmar and North Korea is a daunting task, as these countries have built almost impenetrable firewalls against outside news and information. But Radio\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/XHDATA-D109-WB-002-001-scaled-e1706022455779.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/XHDATA-D109-WB-002-001-scaled-e1706022455779.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/XHDATA-D109-WB-002-001-scaled-e1706022455779.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/XHDATA-D109-WB-002-001-scaled-e1706022455779.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/XHDATA-D109-WB-002-001-scaled-e1706022455779.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46873,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/rtis-new-korean-language-service-on-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":3},"title":"RTI’s New Korean Language Service on Shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"December 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who writes: Generally, the news about shortwave is bad (stations that close, stations that leave the short wave and go to the Internet), but this time the news is good: After 15 years, Radio Taiwan International is broadcasting again in Korean\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Digitech-AR-1780-keypad-closeup-radio-dial-e1515698199697.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Digitech-AR-1780-keypad-closeup-radio-dial-e1515698199697.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Digitech-AR-1780-keypad-closeup-radio-dial-e1515698199697.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Digitech-AR-1780-keypad-closeup-radio-dial-e1515698199697.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32113,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/kbs-worlds-latest-qsl-card-honors-the-2018-inter-korean-summit\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":4},"title":"KBS World’s latest QSL card honors the 2018 Inter-Korean summit","author":"Thomas","date":"May 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0David Iurescia (LW4DAF) who writes: [Here's a] picture of the new QSL Card from KBS World Radio dedicated to the Inter-Korean Summit that took place last April 27th. Whoever sends a reception report to KBS will be answered with this QSL Card. Thank you, David!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/QSL-2018.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/QSL-2018.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/QSL-2018.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/QSL-2018.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58317,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/radio-exterior-de-espana-suspends-shortwave-service-dec-4-5-due-to-power-cuts\/","url_meta":{"origin":58621,"position":5},"title":"Radio Exterior de Espa\u00f1a suspends shortwave service Dec 4-5 due to power cuts","author":"Thomas","date":"November 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following announcement from Radio Exterior de Espa\u00f1a (originally in Spanish): Temporary suspension of shortwave emission We inform you that the next few days December 4-5 Radio Exterior de Espa\u00f1a will be forced to suspend its shortwave broadcasts. The reason:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Broadcasting"","block_context":{"text":"International Broadcasting","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/international-broadcasting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/REE-Radio-Exterior-de-Espana-Noblejas-Toledo.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58621"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58622,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58621\/revisions\/58622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}