Jon Kabira’s Program Wins the Grand Prix at the 2020 JBA Awards Understanding His Father’s Post-War History

Jon Kabira’s Program Wins the Grand Prix at the 2020 JBA Awards Understanding His Father’s Post-War History

A picture taken while recording the program. (Photograph provided by J-WAVE)


November 10, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

On November 10, the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association (JBA) held the awards ceremony for the 2020 JBA Awards to honor programming that has contributed to the elevation of broadcast culture. The J-WAVE program, J-WAVE SELECTION GENERATION TO GENERATION~STORIES OF OKINAWA~ was selected as the grand prix winner in the radio category.

In this program, Jon Kabira, who was born in Naha, interviews his father, Chosei Kabira, who became the first radio announcer in Okinawa after the war. Through the discussion of a personal history, a light is shown on the post-war history of Okinawa and modern-day issues. 　

Jon Kabira, who watched the awards ceremony online, says “When they announced it, I got goosebumps. I’m thrilled and it’s such an honor.” The simple format of a conversation between father and son has been well-received. Kabira says, “Every family in the country, in the world, has a story, not just the Kabira family. I made this program with the hope that everyone will listen to the stories of the different generations in their household.” Chosei Kabira heard the good news from his son. “It was a wonderful opportunity to share the story of the Battle of Okinawa in which so many people were sacrificed, and to share the history of post-war broadcasting with a large audience,” Chosei says.

Ayako Takachio, the producer, participated in the awards ceremony. She says, “This program touched the hearts of so many people because of the incredible life Chosei has led and the deeply meaningful words he shared.”

In July, the program won the Galaxy Award in the radio category. It has been re-edited and is broadcast every Friday on SPINEAR, an online media distribution service. All 16 episodes will be available from November 13.

Due to efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the JBA Annual Convention was canceled this year and the awards ceremony was streamed online for participants only. The programs in the grand prix were chosen from the winners and runners-up in each of the television and radio categories. The grand prix winner in the television category was Chukyo TV’s Garakuta~ Seigyakutai, Shinjite Kuremasu ka~ (Trash – Sexual Abuse, Will You Believe Me?).

(English translation by T&CT and Ellen Huntley)

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