Radio Osaka (Headquarters: Benten, Minato-ku, Osaka; President: Keiko Ueno) launched the new podcast 'Daily Radio Osaka' on June 4, 2026, distributed simultaneously in Japanese, English, and Chinese. The program condenses the topics from 8 hours of daytime live broadcasts into a 20-minute digest. The hosts are the station's official mascot 'Benten Obi-shi' and AI assistant 'Haru.' Giving voice to an official mascot with AI and using it as a program host is a first for a Japanese radio station.
Radio Osaka broadcasts live wide programs from its Benten-cho studio every weekday from 9:00 to 16:55. 'Daily Radio Osaka' digests these 8 hours of programming into roughly 20 minutes. Following a pilot version in May, full distribution began on June 4.
Topics are selected by AI under the supervision of Radio Osaka's professional program creators, focusing on the day's events in Osaka and Kansai. The station has built a system that allows for quick delivery of 'Daily Radio Osaka' after the live broadcast using a 'Human x Technology' approach.
The program features 'Benten Obi-shi' as Japan's first 'AI personality.' Together with assistant 'Haru,' they host the show in Osaka dialect. While previous AI announcers primarily read scripts, using an AI-voiced mascot with character personality is a first for a Japanese radio station.
'Benten Obi-shi' was born in July 2024 from a radio station t-shirt design. The name combines 'Benten' from the location and 'Obi-shi' from the station's abbreviation (OBC).
'Daily Radio Osaka' is delivered in Osaka dialect, English, and Chinese. All three languages are hosted by Benten Obi-shi and Haru. The topics are arranged by AI to suit the preferences of speakers in each language, aiming to deliver real-time information about Osaka to international listeners.
Program Overview: - Name: Daily Radio Osaka - Operator: Radio Osaka (OBC) - Launch Date: June 4, 2026 - Languages: Osaka dialect, English, Chinese - Platforms: YouTube, Spotify, radiko
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- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: New Product