Shukan Shincho
Cover of the first issue of Shūkan Shinchō (19 February 1956)
CategoriesNews magazine
FrequencyWeekly
Founded1956
First issue19 February 1956
CompanyShincho-sha
CountryJapan
Based inTokyo
LanguageJapanese
WebsiteShukan Shincho

Shukan Shincho (週刊新潮, Shūkan Shinchō) is a Japanese conservative[1][2] weekly news magazine based in Tokyo, Japan. It is considered one of the most influential weekly magazines in the country[2] and is the first Japanese weekly magazine founded by a publishing company which does not own a major newspaper.[3][4]

History and profile

Shukan Shincho was first published on 19 February 1956.[5] The cover of the first issue featured an illustration by Japanese artist Rokuro Taniuchi.[5][6] The magazine is part of Shinchosha, which also founded it, and is published on a weekly basis.[5] Its headquarters is in Tokyo.[7]

Shukan Shincho is a general-news magazine, but it targets men.[2] It claims that "[its] average reader is 41.4 years old, 34.2% are white collar, and 60.9% own their own homes" and that "the majority [of its readers] are upper class, wealthy and intellectually inclined".[2] As of 2017 Mark Schreiber, a contributing author of Japan Times, argued that the readers of the magazine are mostly older and retired Japanese men.[8] The major competitor of the magazine is Shūkan Bunshun.[9]

Content and political stance

Shukan Shincho has a nationalistic and conservative political stance.[2] Shukan Shincho and its rival Shūkan Bunshun are the only major "non-establishment" weekly news-magazines that do not feature pornography. This makes them the magazines of choice for men who want to read so-called alternative news (sources other than the major newspapers and broadcasters) but who don't want to look at, or be seen looking at, pornography.[2] As a result, these two Shūkanshi (weekly magazines) are seen as more socially acceptable to read than theirs rivals.[2] The layouts of these two magazines are also of a better quality than that of their direct competitors.[2] However, these two publications have been described as "especially egregious offenders of journalistic ethics".[2] Shukan Shincho is also described as a tabloid magazine by Mainichi Shimbun, a leading Japanese daily.[9] Shukan Shincho was found guilty of libel in a Tokyo court for publishing an unsubstantiated allegation of murder by a Soka Gakkai member.[10] The magazine was criticized in 2001 for sensationalistic stories regarding a disputed Paleolithic settlement site in Japan.[11] It has also been rebuked for publishing the names and photographs of minors who have been accused of criminal acts, even before their trials began.[7]

Circulation

From October 2014 to September 2015 Shukan Shincho was the ninth-best selling magazine in Japan with a circulation of 537,596 copies.[12]

References

  1. ↑ J. A. Mangan; Sandra Collins; Gwang Ok, eds. (2018). The Triple Asian Olympics - Asia Rising: The Pursuit of National Identity, International Recognition and Global Esteem. London; New York: Routledge. pp. 2309–2322. ISBN 9781135714192.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adam Gamble; Takesato Watanabe (2004). A Public Betrayed: An Inside Look at Japanese Media Atrocities and Their Warnings to the West. Washington, DC: Regnery Pub. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-89526-046-8.
  3. ↑ Sean Mooney (2000). 5,110 Days in Tokyo and Everything's Hunky-dory: The Marketer's Guide to Advertising in Japan. Westport, CT; London: Quorum Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-56720-361-5.
  4. ↑ "History of Magazines in Japan: 1867-1988". Kanzaki. 7 July 1996. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Mark Schreiber (20 February 2016). "Deja vu as Shukan Shincho turns back the clock". The Japan Times. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ↑ "Vintage Cover Illustrations of Shukan Shincho by Rokuro Taniuchi". Spoon and Tamago. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Magazine IDs student suspect in Nagoya slaying, breaking legal taboo". The Japan Times. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  8. ↑ Mark Schreiber (21 October 2017). "Magazines hold their own against TV's 'iron chefs'". Japan Times. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  9. 1 2 "Tabloid magazine Shukan Shincho alleges rival 'stole' scoop from upcoming ad". Mainichi. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "Overview of Case". www.3justice.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2007.
  11. ↑ Charles T. Keally (12 November 2001). "Can the "500,000-Year-Old Site" Really be Believed?". Japanese Archaeology. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "10 Most Printed Magazines in Japan, 2015". Hatena Blog. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
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