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Japanese Companies by Industry

The Newspapers

Yomiuri Shimbun �ǔ��V��

Founded in 1874, the Yomiuri Shimbun is Japan's leading newspaper, with over 10 million morning copies and 4,3 million evening copies sold daily.

In 1951, the Yomiuri launches its own radio station, then 2 years later Japan's first commercial television station (Nihon Television or "channel 4").

In 1934, the owner of the Yomiuri, Matsutaro Shoriki, founds the Great Japan Tokyo Baseball Club, which changed its name to Tokyo Giants baseball team in 1936, then again to Yomiuri Giants in 1947.

Nowadays the Yomiuri Giants are supported by about 50% of the Japanese and is the only really profitable and influencial team.

The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1962, and the Yomiuri Soccer Club in 1972.

Asahi Shimbun ��V��

The Asahi Newspaper was founded in 1879 in Osaka by Murayama Ryuhei and Ueno Toshikazu.

It is the second largest newspaper, with a circulation of over 8,3 million morning editions copies and 4,3 million evening editions a day.

The Asahi Shimbun has its headquarters in Tsukiji (Tokyo), and has about 200 branches in Japan, as well as offices in London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Mainichi Shimbun ��V��

The Mainichi Shimbun was created from the merger in 1943 of the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun (founded in 1872) and the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun (founded in 1876). It is Japan's oldest newspaper.

Based in Nishi Umeda (Osaka) since 1992, it is now the third largest Japanese newpaper in terms of circulation, with about 4 million copies of the morning papers and nearly 2 million copies of the evening editions sold daily.

The Mainichi Shimbun has 280 offices throughout Japan and 20 overseas.

Nihon Keizai Shimbun ��{�o�ϐV��

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun or Nikkei is Japan's main business newspaper. It was founded in 1876 and enjoys a strong reputation both at home and abroad for its fair and impartial news coverage.

It boasts the world's largest circulation for a daily business newspaper with a daily circulation of 3 million morning editions and 1,9 million evening copies.

THe Nikkei has an office penetration of 72,8%, well above its competitors (25,7% for the Asahi, 24,1% for the Yomiuri, and 15,5% for the Mainichi). The Nikkei also has the most educated and best paid audience of any major Japanese newspapers (see statistics from the Nikkei).

Sankei Shimbun �Y�o�V��

Founded i 1934, The Sankei Shimbun is Japan's second economic newspaper. Its full name Sangyo Keizai Shimbun literally means "Industry and Economy Newspaper".

The Sankei sells about 2 million morning editions and 1 million evening editions daily.

The affiliated Sankei Sports (founded in 1963) is Japan's most widely read sports-oriented daily.

The Sankei Shimbun and Fuji Television formed the Fuji-Sankei Group in 1967.