After years of lobbying for a formal Canada-Japan Co-production Treaty, perhaps the saddest revelation is how little is being done with the one we secured. Signed in July 1994, only one legitimate coproduction has been completed under the pact. That lone project is the docu-drama Hiroshima by Robin Spry of Telescene Communications in Montreal, to be aired on Radio-Canada.

Other ventures are under discussion, however. Niv Fichman of Rhombus Media, Toronto, has a multimillion dollar series with celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma that may ‘open’ in Tokyo. And rumors abound of other Canadian producers pursuing such varied topics as the Amateur Olympics and Anne of Green Gables.

One of the enduring problems for Canada-Japan team play is the reluctance of Japanese partners to pay, or contribute towards, world prices.

Secondly, the Japanese film and television industry is in a crisis of identity. One resident expert described it as ‘the problem of having more managers than creators, and the inability to attract new-blood directors.’

Thirdly, the u.s. Hollywood and New York machine is omnipresent in Japan. A quick review of local newspapers’ tv listings betrays a heavy dose of American series throughout Tokyo’s network schedules, ironically sprinkled with an increasing volume of French fare. The Japanese stations themselves seem to be most preoccupied with cheap and saucy talk shows.

A bright light in this scene though is Asahi National Broadcasting Corporation (TV Asahi). This private broadcaster, which began as an educational broadcaster in 1959, is looking to do two or three major international coproductions a year.

Since 1990, the year TV Asahi began such joint efforts, it has had some notable successes with Turner’s cnn, the bbc and Boston’s pbs station wgbh (a winner of our Banff Television Festival’s significant achievement award for 1996). Its specialty has been the documentary format, and space or science projects in particular. New ventures by TV Asahi include major investments with the Philippines’ Republic Broadcasting System.

Overall, TV Asahi is a forward-thinking corporation and was the first Japanese station to employ satellite news gathering (sng); it was also the first to introduce ‘morning tv’ to the country. The essential contact at Asahi is Fujio Nakamura, director, international department, 1-1-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, tel. 3587-5416. A very capable backup is his deputy, Mr. Hata.

Although nhk, Japan’s huge public broadcaster, appears to be doing less of an international flavor these past years, its willingness to assist and advise Canadians remains a tremendous asset, especially if one is seeking counsel on large projects or markets relevant to the Asia-Pacific arena.

nhk has major investments throughout the region. For example, it built the impressive cctv broadcast facilities in Beijing, and continues to train technical and creative talent in such countries as Singapore and Malaysia. And its studio influence at home is very credible.

The best one-stop shop at nhk is Kunio Irisawa, head of international relations. He can be contacted at 2-2-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; tel. 3481-1576. His able right-hand is Masaaki Itakura of the same address. Both individuals have access to nhk’s key subsidiary organizations like NHK International, which has a large Cultural Aid Fund, mico, which is a big investor in software of any kind, and of course, the NHK International Programming Division.

Without doubt, the best friend a Canadian producer or broadcaster ever had in Tokyo is Louis Hamel, the cultural consul at our Tokyo embassy. This guy knows his stuff. If he is absent, contact his assistant, Akiko Nawata. The Canadian Embassy is to be found at 3-38 Akasaka, 7-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo; tel. 3408-2101.

One of the many connections Hamel has in Tokyo is an excellent relationship with the giant SONY Corporation. A ‘must’ visit is the futuristic SONY Media Centre at 3-23-17 Takanawa, Minato-ku, and arrangements are usually made through Hiroe Ishii, tel. 5448-2125. Hamel can facilitate this tour of tomorrow’s converged broadcast and computer technologies.

For Canadian broadcasters in particular, we should be aware that the Japanese are ardent participants in a biennial gathering of industry managers known as the Japan-Canada Broadcast Executives Meeting. This summit of industry leaders alternates between Canada and Japan – the last one was in Ottawa last year. The Canadian contact for more information on the agenda, participation, dates and venues is Bob O’Reilly, executive director of cbc’s foreign bureaus and international affairs. O’Reilly can be contacted at 613-724-1200.

Now the big tip! For producers and broadcasters, Toronto harbors two terrific boosters. The first is the Japan Foundation and its director, Masamichi Sugihara. He offers incredible research assistance on projects and has a sizable library of well-indexed Japanese video and program offerings.

The foundation is keen to put Canadian producers in touch with likely Japanese counterparts. And trust me, they have the resources to do it. Sugihara can be reached at 416-966-1600, fax 416-966-9773.

The second is the Consulate-General of Japan at the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Kazuo Tanaka, the consul responsible for cultural matters, has a standing offer to underwrite and sponsor Canadian crews to shoot in Japan. Certain ‘flexible’ criteria apply, but this is a real boon for anyone contemplating projects in the region, especially if your budget is stressed. Contact Tanaka at 416-363-7038, fax 416-367-9392.

In the next ‘Eye on Asia’ we’ll look at recent changes and prospects in China.

bill roberts is currently responsible for international affairs at tvontario. He will be assuming the role of secretary general for the North American National Broadcasters Association [nanba] in April.