Thrilling Find: NHK Sticker

Or ... Why I was happy to see and NHK Sticker in the Wild.

An NHK Sticker in the wild.

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If you've read Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 (and if you haven’t you should), then you know about NHK stickers.

NHK is Japan's public broadcasting network, and the NHK sticker is placed above the door (or elsewhere near the door, maybe) of a residence to prove that the household has paid its NHK fee, saving them from the ire of NHK fee collectors, which, at least in 1Q84, can be quite relentless.

I'd been glancing at the plaque above our Tokyo apartment for two days before I realized that we, in fact, had an NHK sticker. This made me terribly excited.


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Tom Fassbender

Tom Fassbender

Travel Writer • Explorer

Tom Fassbender is a writer of things with a hearty adventurous streak. When not undertaking an adventure, he’s been known to enjoy a cup of coffee or two. You can find him at Facebook, Instagram, and the links below.


Header Image: An NHK sticker at a Tokyo apartment. Image from the author's collection.