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The Yomiuri Shimbun

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The Yomiuri Shimbun is a major Japanese newspaper based in Tokyo.

First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November-2-1874
First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November-2-1874

It is one of the five largest newspapers in Japan. Other major papers include The Asahi Shimbun and the Chunichi Shimbun. The Yomiuri is known for having a conservative political orientation. It is also recognized for its pro-American stance within Japanese media. The newspaper serves many major cities, including Osaka and Fukuoka. It is managed through regional bureaus that act as subsidiaries. These bureaus belong to The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings. This holding company is the largest media conglomerate in Japan by revenue.

The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office
The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office

The newspaper operates through a complex organizational structure. It is a privately held company by law. The ownership belongs to present and former employees. The Matsutarō Shōriki family also holds a significant stake. This family has owned part of the company since 1924. Currently, they own 45.26% of the stock. However, the family does not manage the daily executive operations. The paper is printed twice every day. It also produces several different local editions for various regions. In 2009, the paper formed a tie-up with The Wall Street Journal. They work together on editing, printing, and distribution. This partnership allows the Yomiuri to summarize Asian news headlines from the Journal.

Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka headquarters in 201909 002
Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka headquarters in 201909 002

Historically, the Yomiuri began as a small daily publication. It was launched in 1874 by the Nisshusha newspaper company.

First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November-2-1874
First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November-2-1874

During the 1880s and 1890s, it focused on literary arts. It regularly published works by writers like Ozaki Kōyō. Matsutarō Shōriki took over management in 1924. He introduced several important innovations to the business. He added a full-page radio program guide to the paper. He also established Japan's first professional baseball team. This team is now known as the Yomiuri Giants. By 1941, it had the largest circulation in the Tokyo area. In 1942, it merged with the Hochi Shimbun during wartime. This temporary entity was called the Yomiuri-Hochi.

The postwar period brought significant challenges and changes. In 1945 and 1946, the paper faced a labor scandal. A group called the "democratization group" wanted Shōriki removed from power. They disagreed with his support for Imperial Japan during World War II. Shōriki responded by firing five members of this group. This led to the first "production control" strike on October 27, 1945. This specific strike method later became a common tactic for unions. Shōriki was arrested in December 1945 as a Class-A war criminal. He was sent to Sugamo Prison. Employees continued to produce the paper despite executive orders. This lasted until a police raid occurred on June 21, 1946. The charges against Shōriki were eventually dropped in 1948.

The Yomiuri Shimbun has achieved massive scale in the modern era. In 1994, its daily circulation exceeded 10 million copies. By 2010, Guinness World Records recognized it for its scale. It held the record for the highest daily newspaper circulation globally. It was also the only paper with a morning circulation over 10 million. As of December 2024, its morning circulation was 5.7 million. Under editor-in-chief Tsuneo Watanabe, the paper gained international prominence. Watanabe served from 1991 until his death in 2024. He was noted for his influence over Japanese politics. The paper also established the Yomiuri Prize in 1949. Famous authors like Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami have won it.

The Yomiuri Group is a massive conglomerate with many different branches. It owns the Nippon Television network. It also owns the Chuokoron-Shinsha publishing company. The group includes the Yomiuri Giants baseball team. It even owns an amusement park called Yomiuriland. The group also publishes The Japan News, an English-language daily. This paper was originally established in 1955 as The Daily Yomiuri. The company also publishes the Hochi Shimbun, which focuses on sports.

The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office
The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office

These various entities allow the group to reach many different audiences. They cover news, entertainment, sports, and even theme parks.

Digital technology has also changed how the company manages its history. In 1999, the company released a series of CD-ROMs. These archives included news from the Meiji Era. They used digitalized images from microfilm to show original print versions. This allowed users to search for specific articles and pictures. Other collections covered the Taishō Era and the pre-war Shōwa Era. These digital resources are used in many major academic libraries in the United States. This helps researchers study how news was presented in the past. The company continues to manage its news through digital platforms today.

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File:Yomiuri-Shimbun-Logo.svg
Yomiuri-Shimbun-Logo.svg
File:First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November-2-1874.png
First-Issue-Yomiuri-Shimbun-Front-November...
File:The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office.JPG
The Yomiuri Shimbun Holdings new head office.JPG
File:Yomiuri shimbun head office.jpg
Yomiuri shimbun head office.jpg
File:Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka headquarters in 201909 002.jpg
Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka headquarters in...
File:Yomiuriseibu.JPG
Yomiuriseibu.JPG
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