UNCLASSIFIED 18 August 2009 OpenSourceCenter Media Aid Japan -- Media Environment Open; State Looms Large Guide to Traditional and Interactive Digital Media 2009: A Resource for Strategic Communication This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components. UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED Table of Contents 1. Overview ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.1. How Open is Japan's Media Environment? ................................................................... 6 1.2. Press Clubs Create Cozy Ties With Official Sources..................................................... 7 1.3. Media Conglomerates Become Last Bastion of Japan, Inc............................................ 8 2. Major Dailies, NHK, Kyodo Form Journalism's Inner Circle.................................... 10 2.1. NHK Emblematic of Non-Adversarial Media Establishment....................................... 10 2.1.1. Audience for Daily Papers..................................................................................... 11 2.2. National Dailies............................................................................................................12 2.2.1. Yomiuri Shimbun.................................................................................................... 12 2.2.2. Asahi Shimbun ....................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3. Mainichi Shimbun .................................................................................................. 16 2.2.4. Nihon Keizai Shimbun ........................................................................................... 17 2.2.5. Sankei Shimbun...................................................................................................... 19 2.3. Press Agencies..............................................................................................................21 2.3.1. Kyodo News ........................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2. Jiji Press Ltd. ......................................................................................................... 22 2.4. Provincial Dailies......................................................................................................... 23 2.4.1. Chunichi, Tokyo Shimbun ...................................................................................... 24 2.4.2. Hokkaido Shimbun................................................................................................. 24 2.4.3. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun........................................................................................... 24 2.4.4. Okinawan Dailies .................................................................................................. 24 2.5. Special Interest Dailies................................................................................................. 25 2.5.1. Akahata .................................................................................................................. 25 2.5.2. Seikyo Shimbun ...................................................................................................... 25 2.6. Print Media for Minority Ethnic, Linguistic Groups ................................................... 25 3. Commercial Television, Magazines Influence Public Opinion.................................... 27 3.1. Commercial Broadcasters Challenge NHK Dominance in Nightly News ................... 27 3.2. Magazine-Format Talk Shows, Soft News.................................................................... 29 3.2.1. TV Asahi's 'Sunday Project'................................................................................... 29 3.2.2. NHK's 'Nichiyo Toron'........................................................................................... 29 3.2.3. Fuji TV's 'News 2001' ............................................................................................ 30 3.2.4. TBS's 'Jiji Hodan'................................................................................................... 30 3.2.5. TV Asahi's 'Takeshi's TV Takkuru (Tackle)' .......................................................... 30 3.2.6. TV Asahi's 'Asa Made Nama Terebi' ..................................................................... 30 3.2.7. Waido-Sho.............................................................................................................. 30 3.3. Commercial Broadcasters............................................................................................ 31 3.3.1. TV Asahi Corporation............................................................................................ 31 3.3.2. Fuji Television ....................................................................................................... 31 3.3.3. Nippon Television .................................................................................................. 31 3.3.4. TBS......................................................................................................................... 31 3.3.5. TV Tokyo ................................................................................................................ 32 4. Radio ................................................................................................................................. 32 5. Magazines Combine Journalism's Best, Worst............................................................. 33 5.1. General Interest Weeklies............................................................................................. 34 5.1.1. AERA......................................................................................................................34 This OSC product is based exclusively on the content and behavior of selected media and has not been coordinated with other US Government components. UNCLASSIFIED 2 UNCLASSIFIED 5.1.2. Sande Mainichi ...................................................................................................... 34 5.1.3. Shukan Asahi.......................................................................................................... 35 5.1.4. Shukan Bunshun..................................................................................................... 35 5.1.5. Shukan Shincho...................................................................................................... 35 5.2. General Interest Monthlies........................................................................................... 35 5.2.1. Bungei Shunju ........................................................................................................ 35 5.2.2. Chuo Koron............................................................................................................ 36 5.2.3. Seiron ..................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.4. Sekai....................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.5. Sentaku...................................................................................................................36 5.2.6. Toa ......................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.7. Ushio...................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.8. Voice ...................................................................................................................... 37 5.2.9. WiLL....................................................................................................................... 37 6. IDM, Traditional Media: An Evolving Dynamic......................................................... 37 6.1. Magazines Face Prospect of Reduced Role as Forums for Public Debate.................. 38 6.1.1. Impact of IDM on Public Discussion of Key Issues, on Political Action, on Elite Decisonmaking...................................................................................................................39 6.2. Cell Phones Play Key Role in Accessing News, Information in Japan........................ 40 6.3. Digital Media By Source, Vehicle ................................................................................ 43 6.3.1. Blogs (Web logs).................................................................................................... 43 6.3.2. Bulletin Boards ...................................................................................................... 44 6.3.3. E-Magazines .......................................................................................................... 45 6.3.4. Mobile Browsing.................................................................................................... 46 6.3.5. Moblogging............................................................................................................ 46 6.3.6. Mobile Wallets ....................................................................................................... 47 6.3.7. Podcasting ............................................................................................................. 48 6.3.8. QR Code................................................................................................................. 49 6.3.9.