Forty-five years ago, the Ontario Educational Communications Authority (aka "TVOntario," similar to a regional version of PBS affiliates) sent researcher Barbara Morris to Japan to check out the country's advanced technology for a new series called "Fast Forward" (which was eventually carried by PBS). 

Giant flat-screen displays... the internet... immersive AV experiences... all of those were a pipe dream in 1978. But the following article from Ms. Morris for TVOntario's Travel Section gives us a good perspective on not only a westerner's view of Japan's rapid post-war transition into a booming consumer economy, it also provided a preview of the impact the country has had on technology over the past four and half decades:

"In my opinion, sending me to Japan was one of the best decisions you've ever made. By the way, did I tell you I really don't speak Japanese? Anyway, you know it had to be done. How could we have done a show like Fast Forward without looking at Japan? Ridiculous!

But I guess you'd like to know what I did there for three weeks when I wasn't visiting shrines or drinking saki. Well, don't worry, I think I got some great stuff. They've got systems in operation for the public we haven't even dreamed of yet.

I know I'm going to get carried away and ramble off a bunch of items without giving any details, but I just wanted you to get an idea of all the great stuff I found (before we go over my expenses!).

Well, the first day, on the way to the Foreign Press Centre, I heard this electronic music blaring from a speaker on a street corner. I couldn't believe it, but apparently they've been installed for the blind so they can tell when it's safe to cross the street.

We talk about their traffic problems, but, believe me, they're very aware of them. For the past few years they've been testing an incredible traffic control system. I saw it from the back seat of a limo, and it really seems to work. There's a display monitor in every car that is continually updated with information from roadside computers at major intersections. The display shows you which way to turn at the next corner. So, by juggling info about the changing traffic conditions, the computers are able to direct your car along the least congested route to where you want to go.

You were looking for fiber-optics technology? Well, Japan has a whole fiber-optics city, called HI-OVIS. They're experimenting with different applications of the fibers and developing a good interactive communications system. I mean this one's really interactive. They've got more than a terminal to dial up information; they also have a television camera and a microphone in every home. They interact with the local station all the time, and it looks like they're having a lot of fun.

They're working on teleconferencing systems, too. There's a color link between a hotel in Tokyo and a hotel in Osaka for companies to use for business meetings. And, get this, if you're stuck on the bullet train while your meeting's going on, you can join right in by using thee train's public telephone.

One day as I passed a television store (something that's more common in Japan than a Mac's Milk here), I noticed all the televisions tuned to the same channel but half of them had English coming out, and the other half were in Japanese. As of October 1st, two networks have been broadcasting regular multiplex signals, and, of course, all the major manufacturers already have their own converters. One company has suggested a three-channel system, the third being for a hard copy. They have another facsimile system that can reproduce a page from another country in 20 seconds or less.

Oh, and being a teacher at heart, you'll like this one. There's a still-picture broadcasting system that has the capability of reproducing 50 different still-picture programs simultaneously. No kidding!

Jim, you wouldn't believe what the companies are into. I saw at least three different kinds of flat-panel TVs that are small enough to hang on the wall, speech and picture recognition systems—including advanced speech synthesis machines—high-definition video screens with 1,125 lines—beautiful—and home computers that look like they can do just about anything. By the way, one of the high-resolution television I saw had a pan knob. I'm not sure why it's there, but it did unusual things to the picture information. Next time you're in Japan, you'll have to see it!

Honestly, Jim, I think you sent the right person, and, if you insist, I'll go back for you anytime. I fit in well there. I guess you've noticed I'm a little clumsy. Well, Japan was ready for me. All the doors open automatically, so I could walk around in my usual dazzled stupor forever and never bump into anything. Even the taxi doors are automatic.

We're really going to impress them with with stuff—that is, if I can find my detailed notes somewhere! Oh, and one last thing: I think it's a smart idea to send me back for a few months. I'm sure I've missed a couple of things. But, first, I guess, we'd better discuss my expenses!"

Reprinted by permission from the author.

The Kanagawa Institute of Technology (KAIT) will conduct an experiment to edit and distribute 8K uncompressed video in real-time using edge devices supporting 400 Gbps installed in the network at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) booth (#3247) at SC22, Nov. 14-17 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.

KAIT previously conducted the demo at Interop Tokyo 2022 in June 2022, in collaboration with Daido University, University of the Ryukyus, and Michal Communications; the NICT demonstration at SC22 is the first international experiment.

Video format conversion, which requires high-speed processing, is achieved by chaining software for video processing functions within the edge device. When the producer requests video switching by pushing the button, the system instantly switches to the format-converted video, and by operating the color adjustment knob, it is possible to adjust the color and create and distribute video with natural connections.

Kanagawa Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Daido University, University of the Ryukyus, and Miharu Communications Inc., is developing a practical technology for high-speed network computing, which includes a terminal, edge device, and cloud computing. This enables real-time editing and distribution of 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD) videos without having to use a compression tool and at the same time sacrificing UHD streaming video quality.

When the academic network operated by the National Institute of Informatics (NII) migrated to SINET6 in April 2022, it  built an edge device connected to a high-speed network of 400 Gbps in a rack at the Sagamihara DC in Kanagawa for its research project.

In June at Interop Tokyo 2022, a network technology exhibition held in Makuhari, Japan, KAIT demonstrated its virtualized video-handling function (VVF) technology by processing uncompressed 8K real-time videos using an edge device configured in the Sagamihara DC mentioned above. The VVF enables the edge computer to execute a single real-time video process, such as video transcoding, without degradation. To adopt multiple video processes, multiple VVFs can be chained.

The test proved the successful switching of several 8K video sources freely via a network using the edge device, and color conversion was performed and distributed. Specifically, it instantly switches between 8K uncompressed videos in different formats (8K dual green: 8K-DG 24Gbps, 8K full resolution 48Gbps, etc.) from multiple locations, including cameras in the booth, an 8K camera at KAIT, an 8K camera at Ginoza, Okinawa, and two 8K stored video materials in StarBED in Hokuriku. At the same time, the system provides format conversion of the switched 8K video without degradation and performs color correction (color correction) in real-time.

VVFs have been developed using the data plane development kit (DPDK) in a software-based framework for edge devices that require high-speed processing. In addition, AVX-512, Intel's single instruction, multiple data parallel processing model, can be used for transcoding and color conversion. 

By chaining multiple VVFs located at the edge of the network and by performing video processing at high speeds, the local video editing base that was previously essentially becomes unnecessary. We aim to enable 8K video editing and distribution by connecting a computer directly to the network.

In the SC22 venue, KAIT will show an uncompressed 8K live video stream from an edge device in Japan, configured in the SINET6 Sagamihara data center of the NII. The video is processed by chained VVFs in the edge system in Japan before KAIT shows it in the venue.

Japanese researchers have set a new data transmission speed record, sending 1.02 petabits of data per second over fiber over a distance of 51.7 km. (32 miles). The feat doubles the most recent record, set a year ago when the same researchers sent 319 terabits per second over fiber using  wavelength division multiplexing technology.

Although the recent record was set in the lab of Japan’s National Institute of Information and Technology, the difference this time around is that the new record was achieved with technology compatible with existing cable infrastructure. NICT said the amount of data is equivalent to sending 127,500 GB of data every second, or as they characterized it, enough capacity for more than “10 million channels of 8K broadcasting per second," and 100,000 times faster than what is promised to be the next generation of high-speed GB connections to the home.

Researchers used wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology that allowed a record optical bandwidth exceeding 20 THz over a multi-core fiber (MCF) with a standard diameter of 0.125 mm. It incorporates the commercially adopted optical fiber transmission windows known as C and L-bands and extends the transmission bandwidth to include also the recently explored S-band. 

“Two kinds of doped fiber amplifiers along with Raman amplification with pumps added in a novel multi-core pump combiner, enabled transmission of 801 wavelength channels over the 20 THz optical bandwidth,” NICT said in its announcement. “The large number of wavelength channels were transmitted in each core of a 4-core MCF that is notable for having the same cladding diameter as a standard optical fiber. 

“Such fibers are compatible with current cabling technologies and do not require the complex signal processing needed for unscrambling signals in multi-mode fibers, meaning conventional transceiver hardware may be used. 4-core MCFs are thought to be the most likely of the new advanced optical fibers for early commercial adoption,” NICT added. “This demonstration shows their information carrying potential and is a significant step toward the realization of backbone communication systems that supports the evolution of Beyond 5G information services. 

More information is available in NICT's press release. 

Tokyo, Japan — June 15, 2018 - Blackmagic Design announced today that Japanese post production company Upside rebuilt their studio around Blackmagic Design 12G-SDI technology. As part of their upgrade from HD to 4K60p support, the company installed DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel, DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel, Teranex Express, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G, Smart Videohub 12G 40x40 and Videohub Smart Control.

Upside is a post production company founded in 2012, specializing in editing and color grading for dramas and short films. It also has departments for shooting and lighting, and supports the complete workflow from shooting to post production. To meet the demand for more 4K60p content, Upside decided to upgrade their existing HD studio to support 4K60p in September last year. There are three audio engineering rooms, seven editing rooms and one grading room. Many Blackmagic 12G-SDI products were installed in the machine rooms, as well as in the editing and grading rooms.

“We already had DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel in the grading room. Online editors can apply color correction, now that we installed DaVinci Resolve Studio and Mini Panels in every online editing room. It eliminated the necessity to go to the grading room and has made the workflow more efficient. We sometimes produce a project simultaneously with DaVinci Resolve Studio, grading the material in a grading room and applying effects in an editing room. It makes the workflow enormously more smooth since you can work on a project at the same time. We also installed DaVinci Resolve Micro Panels and because you can carry around DaVinci Resolve Micro Panels, we sometimes use them for color correction on location,” said Kazunari Kurusu, a director of the post production department.

By building the machine room with Blackmagic 12G-SDI products, they were able to reduce cables and make connections simpler. There are 4K and HD monitors in the grading and online editing rooms, where Teranex Express is used to convert 4K signals to HD and which are also used in the online editing rooms.

In the company’s machine room, they have installed two units of Smart Videohub 12G 40x40 routers, one for HD and the other for 4K. These are at the center of the whole post production system, with signals switched on Videohub Smart Controls installed in each editing and grading room. Multiple units of DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G are used for inputs and outputs on every machine in the editing and grading rooms.

“There were no other possible choices for us when we planned to build this machine room other than using Blackmagic products, many of which support 12G-SDI. We had been using Blackmagic products for five years with no problem so we find them reliable and trustworthy. Not only are they affordable, the performance of every product is wonderful,” he concluded.

Press Photography

Product photos of DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel, DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel, Teranex Express, DeckLink 4K Extreme 12G, Smart Videohub 12G 40x40, Videohub Smart Control and all other Blackmagic Design products are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

Press Contact

Nick Govoni
Zazil Media Group
(e) nick@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) +1 (978) 866 7354

Fremont, CA — June 12, 2018 - Blackmagic Design announced today that URSA Mini 4.6K was used by Kei Takahashi on the shooting of a promotion movie for TROJAN men’s suits private brand by the Japanese major department store Daimaru Matsuzakaya. DaVinci Resolve Studio, DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel, UltraStudio 4K and MultiDock were used for editing and color grading, with HyperDeck Studio 12G used for backup recording.

Kei Takahashi, the founder of a Tokyo-based production company KID, specializes in shooting, directing and editing music videos and commercials. For the TROJAN spots, KID provided everything from shooting to editing and color grading.

TROJAN is a men’s suit brand known for a slim silhouette for physically fit Japanese men. This new promotion movie features Masakiyo Maezono, a former national football player and famous football commentator and TV personality, who is shown playing keepie-uppie in TROJAN suit.

“The main reasons I chose URSA Mini 4.6K for this Promotion movie is that I wanted soft looks and high speed recording. High speed recording made it possible to show the dynamic movements of keepie-uppie and details of the stretched suit. I kept in mind the flexibility and functionality of the suit when I was shooting. I planned to grade the footage after shooting so I used RAW 3:1 for recording,” Takahashi said.

He continued: “I used a zoom lens by Sigma. URSA Mini 4.6K’s great merit lies in the fact that you can easily change the lens mount, which widens the scope of lens you can use. I can cope with any project with this single camera, whether the project’s budget is low or high. Even if you are restricted to reasonably priced lenses, you will get high quality images because of the 4.6K image sensor and 15 stops of dynamic range. On top of that, I like the URSA Viewfinder very much because it is sharp and clear.”

He also edited and graded the material using DaVinci Resolve Studio. DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel was used for grading. In the post production workflow, UltraStudio 4K served as an I/O device for video outputs with the MultiDock as a data storage system.

“I regularly use DaVinci Resolve not only for grading but also for editing. By using DaVinci Resolve as an editor, I can spare myself the trouble of conforming — or making a mistake in conforming — timelines from another NLE by EDL or XML. Moreover, you don’t need to produce a huge amount of extra proxy material that would take up disk space. Even if you’re required to make editorial changes on a timeline in the middle of grading, you can just switch to the editing page and modify the timeline easily, without going to another NLE and starting the conform process all over again. I also like the feature to customize the keyboard shortcuts in any way you would feel comfortable, as well as the data burn feature to visually put timecode for reference. I find it amazing that you can even put audio plugins on the Fairlight page if needed,” he said.

“As for grading, I aimed for high contrast looks. I focused on sharpening the face with the midtone detail parameter, in order to create masculine looks with subtle details on the model’s face. After grading, the image looked more masculine and powerful. The wheels and rings on DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel are fantastic. I like its tactile feel and delicate sensitivity. DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel facilitates and shortens the whole grading process from primary to secondary, leaving out the necessity to use a mouse or keyboard. The less I touch a mouse or keyboard, the more I can keep myself focused on creativity,” he concluded.

Press Photography

Product photos of URSA Mini 4.6K, DaVinci Resolve Studio, DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel, UltraStudio 4K, MultiDock, HyperDeck Studio 12G and all other Blackmagic Design products are available at www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/images.

About Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic Design creates the world’s highest quality video editing products, digital film cameras, color correctors, video converters, video monitoring, routers, live production switchers, disk recorders, waveform monitors and real time film scanners for the feature film, post production and television broadcast industries. Blackmagic Design’s DeckLink capture cards launched a revolution in quality and affordability in post production, while the company’s Emmy™ award winning DaVinci color correction products have dominated the television and film industry since 1984. Blackmagic Design continues ground breaking innovations including 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI products and stereoscopic 3D and Ultra HD workflows. Founded by world leading post production editors and engineers, Blackmagic Design has offices in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia. For more information, please go to www.blackmagicdesign.com.

Press Contact

Nick Govoni
Zazil Media Group
(e) nick@zazilmediagroup.com
(p) +1 (978) 866 7354

BOTHELL, WASH.—AIMS is spreading its reach to Japan, announcing the launch of a Japan subgroup that will focus on conducting AIMS marketing activities in Japan. One of the first activities that this new subgroup will take part in is Inter BEE 2016, which runs this week, where it will look to spread AIMS’ message and objectives.

At Inter BEE 2016, AIMS members will conduct interviews with local publications, host webinars, and converse with customers and users on IP. Some AIMS member companies will also be on hand to host interoperability demonstration in their own booths.

On Friday, Nov. 18, AIMS Board Chair Michael Cronk and Panasonic’s Ted Miyazawa, who is chair of the AIMS Japan subgroup, will participate in a panel discussion on the proposed methods of live IP transmission. The duo plans to discuss the purpose and goals of AIMS, its role in standards adoption, the AIMS roadmap, and interoperability.

AIMS will be located at booth 8131 during Inter BEE 2016.

TOKYO—School might be out here in the U.S., but Japanese broadcaster NHK is getting ready to test both 4K and 8K high-definition broadcasts on its BS satellite channels, according to a report from The Japan Times. The goal of these tests is to reportedly verify and popularize the technology ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, which will take place in Tokyo.

Currently, viewers are not able to watch 4K or 8K broadcasting with conventional TV sets or tuners. To offer a preview, NHK says it will place 8K TVs at its broadcasting centers across Japan for visitors. The broadcaster will offer 8K coverage of the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as well as swimming and track events. Public viewing events of 8K are also being planned at six venues in Tokyo and Osaka.

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to start broadcasting in 4K and 8K in 2018.

A Timeline of NHK’s 8K Super Hi Vision Development

1995: Research on ultra high-definition video system begins.
March 2002: Ultra high-definition video system with 4000 scanning lines and 3D sound reproduction system displayed at the inaugural ceremony at NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories.
2004: Ultra high-definition video system with 4000 scanning lines and 22.2 multichannel sound system named “Super Hi-Vision.”
March 2005: Super Hi-Vision shown on a 6OO-inch screen at the Expo 2005 Aichi Japan.
April 2006: UHD debuts at 2006 NAB Show
December 2006: NHK’s program “Kouhaku Utagassen” (The Red and White Year-end Song Festival) successfully transmitted with bit-rate compression over IP networks from Tokyo to Osaka, in cooperation with NTT and NTT Communications.
October 2007: Video format standardized by SMPTE.
July 2008: Audio system format (22.2 multichannel sound system) standardized by SMPTE.
May 2010: Full resolution color camera displayed at NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories open house.
May 2011: 85-inch liquid crystal display and display with built-in 22.2 multichannel sound reproduction system exhibited at NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories open house.
May 2012: Compact camera (same size as HDTV camera) is developed.
July 2012: Public viewings of the 2012 London Olympic Games in Super Hi-Vision held.
September 2014: Video shot using an 8K Super Hi-Vision camera with a frame frequency of 120Hz was shown for the first time at the IBC Show.
November 2014: NHK announces plans to deploy 8K transmissions in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Source: NHK