The National Film Board and Japanese pubcaster NHK came closer on Monday, signing an agreement that will see them work more closely on coproductions.

A new memorandum of understanding, signed by NFB chairperson Tom Perlmutter and NHK president Shigeo Fukuchi, in the presence of Canada’s ambassador to Japan Jonathan Fried, brings Japan’s sole public broadcaster into a closer collaboration with the board.

Previously, the NFB and NHK, which holds a network of 54 stations across Japan and 28 other locations worldwide, had coproduced the Gemini-nominated Four Wings and a Prayer, War Hospital and Miracle Planet.

Now, the two will be ‘moving away from a traditional coproduction model to one where we come together to establish a creative laboratory that can take… programming risks,’ said Perlmutter.

One of the five current prime mandates for the NFB is the pursuit of a far-ranging digital strategy. NHK is renowned for its expertise in HD. The Japanese broadcaster produces 90% of its programs in high-def, which reach 47 million households in the country alone.

With NHK celebrating its 55th anniversary as a TV broadcaster this year and the NFB reaching its 70th birthday in 2009, the two distinguished institutions will produce work on classic themes — social issues and the environment — but with the latest of multi-platform technologies.

‘NHK and NFB both share common values as public organizations with a goal to better the world,’ said Fukuchi. ‘We look forward to see what will come from our new collaboration.’