Mass media in Japan

The communications media of Japan include numerous television and radio networks as well as newspapers and magazines. For the most part, television networks were established based on the capital contribution from existing radio networks at that time. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the capital relationship between the media (such as the relationship between newspaper, radio and TV networks).

For the most part, variety shows, serial dramas, and news constitute a large percentage of Japanese evening shows. Western movies are also shown, many with a subchannel for English.

There are all-English television channels on cable and satellite (with Japanese subtitles). In areas near U.S. military bases there is often the American Forces Network radio which anyone can tune in to.

TV networks

Main article: Television in Japan

In Japan, there are six nationwide television networks, as follows:

• NHK is a Japanese public service broadcaster, with two national TV channels:
  • NHK General TV: General programming.
  • NHK Educational TV: Educational programming.
• Nippon News Network (NNN) headed by Nippon Television.
• Japan News Network (JNN) headed by TBS.
• Fuji News Network (FNN) headed by Fuji Television.
• All-Nippon News Network (ANN) headed by TV Asahi.
• TV Tokyo Network (TXN) headed by TV Tokyo.

In addition to networks above, commercial stations not affiliated with above forms non-strict network called Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations (JAITS). Apart from them, Open University of Japan broadcast to the whole Kanto region with programmes mostly in-house productions.

Radio networks

Main article: List of radio stations in Japan

AM radio

1. NHK Radio 1, NHK Radio 2
2. Japan Radio Network (JRN)—Flagship Station: TBS radio (TBSラジオ)
3. National Radio Network (NRN)—Flagship Stations: Nippon Cultural Broadcasting (文化放送) and Nippon Broadcasting System (ニッポン放送)
4. Radio Nikkei is an independent shortwave station broadcasts nationwide in two content channels.

FM radio

1. NHK-FM
2. Japan FM Network (JFN)—Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.,ltd.
3. Japan FM League—J-Wave Inc.
4. MegaNet—FM Interwave (InterFM)

Internet Radio

1. Bible Broadcasting in Japanese [1]

See also

• Lists of radio stations in Asia

Magazines

Weekly magazines

1. Metropolis Magazine Japan's number 1 English magazine Metropolis (メトロポリス).
2. Aera (アエラ).
3. Friday (フライデー). Photo magazine.
4. Josei Jishin (女性自身). For women.
5. Nikkei Business (日経ビジネス). Economic magazine.
6. Shuukan Asahi (週刊朝日). Liberal.
7. Shuukan Economist (週刊エコノミスト). Economic magazine.
8. Shuukan Kinyoubi (週刊金曜日). Strong liberal.
9. Shuukan Bunshun (週刊文春). Conservative.
10. Shuukan Diamond (週刊ダイヤモンド). Economic magazine.
11. Shuukan Gendai (週刊現代).
12. Shuukan Josei (週刊女性). For women.
13. Shuukan Post (週刊ポスト).
14. Shuukan Shinchou (週刊新潮). Conservative.
15. Shuukan Toyo Keizai (週刊東洋経済). Economic magazine.
16. Spa! (スパ!).
17. Sunday Mainichi (サンデー毎日).　Liberal.
18. Yomiuri Weekly (読売ウィークリー).

Monthly magazines

1. J@pan Inc Japan's leading English Business publication www.japaninc.com
2. Bungei Shunjuu (文藝春秋). Conservative, although some say this magazine is middle.
3. Chuuou Kouron (中央公論). Affiliated with the Yomiuri Shimbun. Conservative.
4. Gendai (現代). Middle.
5. Ronza (論座). Published by the Asahi Shimbun Company. Liberal.
6. Seiron (正論). Published by the Sankei Shimbun Company. Right-wing.
7. Sekai (世界). Strong Liberal.
8. Shokun! (諸君!, Gentleman!). Strong Conservative.
9. Ushio (潮). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
10. pumpkin. It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
11. Dai San Bunmei (第三文明). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
12. Todai (灯台). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
13. Graph SGI (グラフSGI). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.

See also

• List of manga magazines#Japanese magazines

Newspapers

Main article: Japanese newspapers

See also: List of newspapers in Japan

1. Yomiuri Shimbun (読売新聞). Conservative. 1st ranked in daily circulation—around 10 million per day. The Yomiuri Shimbun, being very widely circulated, takes the most popular stance. The Yomiuri exchanged a special contract with British The Times. Affiliated with Nippon TV.
2. Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞). Left of center or liberal. 2nd ranked in daily circulation—around 8 million per day. Known for its preeminent writers as well as the frequency with which its articles are used for university admission examinations. Affiliated with TV Asahi.
3. Mainichi Shimbun (毎日新聞). Liberal. 3rd ranked in daily circulation—around 4 million per day. Affiliated with TBS.
4. Nikkei Shimbun (日本経済新聞). Economic paper similar to the Wall Street Journal. 4th ranked in daily circulation - around 3 million per day. Affiliated with TV TOKYO.
5. Sankei Shimbun (産経新聞). Right-wing or conservative, pro-American and anti-Chinese newspaper. 6th ranked in daily circulation—around 2 million per day. Known as the nationalist's newspaper and upheld formidably by the right. Affiliated with Fuji TV.

There are also regional newspapers like the quasi-national Tokyo Shimbun (東京新聞) in Kanto and Chunichi Shimbun (中日新聞) in Chūbu (both owned by the Chunichi company and with a cumulative circulation that places them 4th, nationally), Nishinippon Shimbun (西日本新聞) in Kyūshū, Hokkaido Shimbun(北海道新聞) in Hokkaidō, Kahoku Shimpo (河北新報) in Tohoku, and English versions of the 5 major newspapers. Business newspapers like Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (The Business & Technology Daily News) are also widely read. The Japan Times is the only newspaper exclusively for English speakers, although other dailies, including the Yomiuri Shimbun and the Asahi Shimbun, produce English newspapers and/or provide English content on their websites. Seikyo Shimbun (聖教新聞) is the daily newspaper issued as a bulletin for Soka Gakkai International, a newly risen religion in Japan. As with other countries, surveys tend to show that the number of newspaper subscribers is declining, a trend which is expected to continue.

Advertising agencies

These play an important role in the Japanese mass media. There are two big advertisement agencies in Japan.

1. Dentsu (電通). Largest Japanese advertising agency (4th worldwide). It has an enormous presence, especially in TV media. This company went public in November 2001. This company also has a strong connection to the legislative branch of Japan. Website: Dentsu
2. Hakuhodo (博報堂). 2nd largest Japanese advertising agency.
3. Asatsu-DK (アサツー ディ・ケイ). 3rd largest Japanese advertising agency.

Wire service

1. Jiji Press (時事通信).
2. Kyodo News (共同通信).

See also

• Cinema of Japan
• Odenbo

External links

• Unofficial Guide to Japanese mass-media
• Companion website to the book A Public Betrayed: An Inside Look at Japanese Media Atrocities and Their Warnings to the West (ISBN 0-89526-046-8)
• Media Intimidation in Japan, discussion paper by David McNeill in the electronic journal of contemporary japanese studies, 27 March 2001.
• Media and Communication in Japan, discussion paper by Barbara Gatzen in the electronic journal of contemporary japanese studies, 17 April 2001.
• Brief history of TV Technology in Japan by NHK