Japanese public broadcaster NHK brought home Asia’s only International Emmy win at Monday’s ceremony in New York, picking up the award for Arts Programming for 2024 doc "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days".

The one-hour documentary – featuring private family footage and excerpts from Sakamoto’s personal diaries – follows the iconic musician through his final months before his death in March 2023, capturing his reflections on mortality, legacy and the creative impulse that never left him.

Asia-Pacific representation at the Emmys rose to two wins with Australia’s Ludo Studio, which took home the Kids: Animation award for "Bluey".

NHK’s Emmy triumph continues the programme’s international momentum: "Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days" also won the Rose d’Or in the Arts category last year, and two awards during October’s Prix Italia – for Best TV Performing Arts and  a President’s prize for the most outstanding programme across all categories.

Commenting on the win, NHK executive producer Kenichi Matsumiya talked about the questions the production team asked throughout the making of the programme: “Even when life begins to fade, can the human spirit still shine?”

He also outlined the challenge of portraying art and culture in a modern age and the role of television documentaries in society.