Hirosaki's community FM radio station "Apple Wave" is currently developing an Internet video distribution service "Apple Stream".

The service started in November 2010, and in the case of the Great East Japan Earthquake, it made great results by relaying information on power outages and traffic congestion in the city. Currently, we are delivering live streaming utilizing Youstream and streaming archived video on demand.

Junichi Nagao, the person in charge, changed jobs from different fields from the media and fields. He learned from scratch how to operate the camera and how to distribute online. Weather forecasters and disaster prevention officers, who have studied with a high degree of liking, have acquired qualifications and have even started transmitting weather information on radio programs. "I want to deliver more information that is familiar to citizens," he said.

"We take up what isn't TV or news as video news," says Nagao. The video covers the energetic appearance of kindergarten children and the brass band practiced for the graduation ceremony. "My child was out," sometimes heard the voice of a delighted parent, squinting the reaction from such viewers above all else.

A popular content of the service is the delivery of Sakura Festival and Neputa Festival. There are users who watch live broadcasts of the Neputa Festival from outside the prefecture, and "I'm happy that people who couldn't come home or who are looking forward to Neputa are happy," said Mr. Nagao. It is said that if people outside the prefecture get to know Hirosaki today by watching a video.

On December 31, we plan to broadcast the year-end situation in various parts of the city live all year round. You need to register as a free member in order to view videos distributed on demand.