The Anime Man Joins NHK World Japan's 'Anime Journal' with Hiro Shimono

NHK World Japan has confirmed that The Anime Man will appear on its special program Anime Journal, set to air on October 14, 2026. The content creator, whose real name is Joey Bizinger, will share the stage with voice actor Hiro Shimono and NHK presenter Haruna Asada, according to an announcement from GeeXPlus, the Dwango subsidiary that represents the YouTuber.

The program will be available in 160 countries and regions. In Japan, it will be accessible through the official NHK World Japan website and app, as well as on some cable television providers. The international broadcast times are 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM on October 14, and 1:30 AM and 8:30 AM on October 15, all in Japan Standard Time.

The Anime Man's involvement is no small addition. His YouTube channel has over 3.27 million subscribers and he is one of the most recognizable voices in English-language anime commentary. Bilingual in Japanese and English, he is also part of the Trash Taste podcast and has worked as a narrator and voice actor. In 2022, he launched his own clothing brand, NØИSENSE.

"Being able to talk about anime culture, which we both love and are so passionate about, alongside someone I've been a fan of for a long time was a truly valuable experience," the creator said about his meeting with Shimono.

What 'Anime Journal' Will Cover

Anime Journal is presented as a special focused on Japanese animation and its international reception. The program will review the titles that have generated the most attention abroad during the first half of the year and will tackle a topic that rarely leaves the forums: viewer preferences between subtitles and dubs.

The conversation will draw on the experience of all three participants. Shimono brings a career spanning more than two decades in the industry, with roles in long-running series. Asada, for her part, serves as a presenter for the public broadcaster. The Anime Man will offer the perspective of the international audience—the very audience the broadcast targets.

The program will air in English and Japanese. After the initial broadcast, NHK World Japan will keep episodes available for seven days on its website and app, after which they will move to its video-on-demand service.

The choice of The Anime Man reflects a clear strategy by the broadcaster to reach an audience that already consumes anime outside traditional channels. His community, built over years on YouTube, represents precisely the kind of international viewer that Anime Journal aims to portray.

GeeXPlus's Role

GeeXPlus, based in Tokyo, manages foreign creators who produce content about manga, anime, video games, travel, and food. The company describes itself as a bridge between Japan and English-speaking audiences, offering production and distribution services for companies looking to promote themselves abroad.

The Anime Man's presence on an NHK World Japan program reinforces that position. It is not common for a Japanese public broadcaster to bring in a foreign YouTuber as a panelist on an anime special, and the move signals just how much international consumption has changed the industry's discourse.

For The Anime Man's followers, this appearance is also an opportunity to see him in a format different from his channel. Far from reaction videos and solo analysis, here he shares a table with industry professionals in a space designed for television.

The program will air at a time when anime continues to solidify its global presence. Streaming platforms have multiplied simultaneous releases, and international events are drawing larger crowds than ever. Anime Journal aims to cut through that noise and explain what is happening with Japanese animation from the inside.

Will you be watching NHK World Japan's special? Let us know in the comments if you're interested in The Anime Man's perspective on anime consumed outside Japan.