Radio Taiwan International (Rti) participated in Kansai’s largest amateur radio festival KANHAM 2026 over the weekend. Rti’s Japanese programs have been voted most-popular overseas Japanese-language broadcast by local radio clubs for two consecutive years, and now they were able to connect directly with new and old listeners alike.

KANHAM 2026 was held Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18, and attracted nearly 10,000 radio enthusiasts from home and abroad. It’s widely known as the most representative amateur radio event in the Kansai region, catering to equipment manufacturers, industry professionals, government and academic organizations, and private groups. 

Rti President Chang Jui-Chang (張瑞昌) led a delegation from the Japanese department to participate for the first time. The group distributed information, limited-edition gifts, and even interviewed attendees.

Using on-site recording equipment set up by the delegation, Rti’s booth invited visitors to record programs and share their impressions of Taiwan. Among the interviewees were the president of the widely-popular Japan Amateur Radio League, well-known electric guitar players, and others exposed to Rti for the first time. A stand-out first-time guest was an elementary school student visiting with parents, who said he’d like to travel to Taiwan following his interview with Rti’s hosts.

Rti’s Japanese department turns 76 in 2026, and has been deeply involved in the Japanese market for years – fostering deep connections with its listeners. In both 2024 and 2025, the Japanese programs won first place in the most popular shortwave radio station and the best regular Japanese-language broadcast service by the Japan Shortwave Radio Club.

Rti’s president cited this connection with listeners as one of shortwave radio’s best qualities. He said that, in the future, Rti hopes to reach out to a wider and younger audience through participating in more international exhibitions and introducing Taiwan to Japan through Rti’s programming.

The KANHAM 2026 was a great demonstration of Rti’s connection with Japan, and the delegation clearly felt the warmth and support of the Japanese participants. Chiang said Rti will continue to communicate with others through its international broadcasts, seeking to deepen non-governmental interactions between Taiwan and Japan, and act as a bridge for diverse forms of international media cooperation.