From the Editors

摘要

After 58 years of continuous broadcasting since 1953, analog terrestrial television broadcasting in Japan came to end on July 24, 2011, and all analog services have been replaced with digital terrestrial services (except in three prefectures in the Tohoku region). Analog Broadcast Satellite (BS) services were also terminated, after 22 years of broadcasting, in favor of digital satellite service. Viewers in Japan are able to enjoy the various services that digital broadcasting provides and are anticipating the expansion of new services as well. We are advancing with our research on new broadcasting service that fuses broadcasting and broadband communications networks as well as other new services such as Super Hi-Vision and integral 3D TV and human-friendly broadcasting services. I believe our work will bring the world of digital broadcasting to maturity.