Former NHK President Inaba Nobuo (稲葉 延雄) died of aspiration pneumonia on the 6th at the age of 75. A former Bank of Japan official, he served as NHK president and pursued cuts to reception fees and organizational reforms during his tenure.
NHK announced on the 6th that its former president, Inaba Nobuo (稲葉 延雄), had died of aspiration pneumonia. The funeral was attended by close relatives, with his wife, Masako, serving as chief mourner.
Inaba Nobuo (稲葉 延雄) was from Shizuoka Prefecture and joined the Bank of Japan in 1974. He held positions including director of the Planning Division, director-general of the Systems and Information Bureau, and executive director, and was involved in monetary policy for many years. In January 2023, he became the first person from the Bank of Japan to serve as NHK president.
During his tenure, he pursued a streamlining of the organization, reviewed personnel-system reforms, and announced that NHK would stop hiring talent following the sexual abuse scandal involving the founder of the former Johnny & Associates. In October 2023, he decided to cut reception fees by 10%, and in May 2025 he disclosed that he had early-stage lung cancer.
Family members and associates mourned Inaba Nobuo's (稲葉 延雄) commitment to “doing what was right,” while NHK's chair of the Board of Governors and president issued tributes. Other related news dated the same day was also reported.