Japanese TV crew films at Hank’s boyhood home

Published 2:59 pm Thursday, April 30, 2015

Nippon Hoso Kyokai, Japan’s largest public television network, was in Georgiana Sunday working on an upcoming episode of “Meikyoku Album,” which features music from around the globe. Footage from the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum is expected to be used in an episode about Hank Williams, Sr.’s “I Saw the Light.” (File Photo)

Nippon Hoso Kyokai, Japan’s largest public television network, was in Georgiana Sunday working on an upcoming episode of “Meikyoku Album,” which features music from around the globe. Footage from the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum is expected to be used in an episode about Hank Williams, Sr.’s “I Saw the Light.” (File Photo)

The City of Georgiana will soon be coming to television screens in Japan thanks to its favorite son.

Nippon Hoso Kyokai, Japan’s largest public television network, was in Georgiana Sunday working on an upcoming episode of “Meikyoku Album,” which features music from around the globe.

“We feature one (song) a day and play it along with visuals from the country where the music was composed and examine the history and background stories behind the world’s most famous musical compositions, looking at the life and career of the composers and the inspiration behind its creation,” Kazuko Shingyoku said.

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In its more than 25 years on the air, the show has featured 900 pieces of music.

The show plans to feature Hank Williams, Sr.’s “I Saw the Light” on an upcoming episode, which was the reason for the visit to Georgiana and the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum.

The crew shot footage at the museum to use as part of the episode.

“While the camera operator was filming on the wraparound porch a freight train came barreling through, adding much to the visual effect of the film director’s expertise,” said Margaret Gaston, the curator of the Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum. “Novice that I am, I looked at Kazuko and asked, “He can capture that sound on film, can’t he?’ She smiled and said, ‘Of course.’”

The crew, which also made a stop in Montgomery, visited the GA-ANA Theatre.