Japan

Newspapers

During the late feudal period in the nineteenth century, community newsletters were published, but the government restricted publications that offended social values derived from traditional Asiatic doctrines; therefore availability of information, especially about the West, was limited. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Meiji Restoration initiated the modernization of Japan, and new knowledge and technology from the West came to influence the growth of the country. Publications similar to contemporary newspapers soon became available. In 1871, Yokohama Nikkan Sbinbun (Yokohama Daily Newspaper) was published near Tokyo, followed by Tokyo Nicbinic bi Sbinbun (Tokyo Daily Newspaper) in 1872, Yomiuri Sbinbun (Yomiuri Newspaper) in 1874, and Asahi Sbinbun (Asahi Newspaper) in 1879. Under the Meiji Constitution, which did not allow freedom of either speech or the press, a Newspaper Ordinance was issued in 1875 to restrict antigovernment speech and activities. The ordinance was revised in 1909 as the Newspaper Law, which imposed prior restraint on newspaper content until 1945.

Although Japan's current population is less than half that of the United States, Japanese newspaper circulation is much larger. In 2005, total daily circulation of Japanese newspapers was nearly 53 million. of this, 47 million were general daily newspapers, and 5 million were sports and entertainment newspapers. The total average circulation of daily newspapers per 1,000 inhabitants in 2004 was 551.2, which is second only to Iceland (551.6).

By 2006, there were 120 daily newspapers, including the five national papers: Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Nihon Keizai, and Sankei. Among these, Asahi, Yomiuri and Mainichi are considered the “Big Three,” composing the world's top three largest circulations of daily newspapers. Among the “Big Three,” Yomiuri publishes 10 million copies per month, considered to be the largest in the world, followed by 8 million of Asahi, and 4 million of Mainichi as of 2006. In addition to the national papers, there are regional newspapers called burokku-shi. These include such titles as Hokkaido, Chu'nichi, and Nishi-nihon, distributed throughout several prefectures (districts). Another type of regional paper is chihou-shi, which is circulated in only one or two prefectures. Tokushima, and San'in -chuo Shinpo are examples, providing vicinity-specific information. Some newspapers publish both morning and evening editions in large cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, while regional newspapers often publish only in the morning.

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