
The Asahi Shimbun is Japan's second-largest newspaper, with a rich history dating back to 1879. It was founded by Shūzō Ōkuma, a Japanese politician and entrepreneur.
The paper's name, Asahi Shimbun, translates to "Rising Sun Newspaper" in English. This name reflects the paper's commitment to illuminating the truth and guiding its readers towards a brighter future.
The Asahi Shimbun is known for its high-quality journalism, with a strong focus on investigative reporting and in-depth analysis. Its reporters and editors work tirelessly to uncover the stories that shape Japan's society and politics.
With a circulation of over 2 million copies per day, the Asahi Shimbun is a trusted source of news and information for millions of people in Japan and around the world.
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Features and Services
The Asahi Shimbun offers a range of features and services that cater to diverse reader needs. Its online edition is available 24/7, allowing readers to access news and information at their convenience.
The Asahi Shimbun also provides various digital services, including the ability to customize news feeds and receive breaking news alerts. This ensures that readers stay informed about the latest developments.
The newspaper's website features a mobile-friendly design, making it easy to access and navigate on-the-go. This is particularly useful for readers who prefer to read news on their mobile devices.
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Full Text Database 1985-Present
The Full Text Database 1985-Present is a treasure trove of information, covering all 46 prefectures of Japan (excluding Okinawa). You can search local news by prefecture with ease.
The database includes the latest news, as well as a menu for searching current events. You can search in each edition of the Asahi Shimbun with the search criteria you require.
Most of the Tokyo headquarters morning edition is searchable by 6:00 AM of that day, with the evening edition added by 7:00 PM of that day. This means you can get the latest news as it happens.
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The search menu is designed for those wishing to retrace past news and do historical searches. You can categorize searches based on names, places, and topical keywords.
An image of the actual page from the time is viewable via a PDF file, allowing you to see the original layout and design of the newspaper.
Sports Sponsorships
Asahi Shimbun has a strong presence in the sports sponsorship scene. They were an official supporter for several Asian Football Confederation competitions, including the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Their support for the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup continued until 2018.
They were official sponsors of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a significant international event.
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International Presence
The Asahi Shimbun has a significant international presence, making its wealth of historical information accessible to a global audience.
One of the ways it achieves this is through its Overseas Editions, which focus on the events and history of Taiwan, Korea, China, and former Manchuria during the war.
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A key aspect of these editions is that they allow users to search and view Regional news pages from 1935 to 1945, with actual page images viewable as PDF files.
This is particularly useful for researchers and historians looking to delve into the history of these regions during this time period.
The Asahi Shimbun also publishes several other international-focused publications, including Asahi Shimbun from 1985 to present, Shukan Asahi, and AERA.
These publications provide a more contemporary perspective on international news and events.
In addition to these publications, the Asahi Shimbun has also digitized its Reduced-size Facsimile Edition, covering the post-war Showa period (1945-1989) and Heisei period (1989-1999).
This digitization effort makes it easier for users to access and search through historical content.
Here's a list of some of the international-focused publications available through the Asahi Shimbun:
- Asahi Shimbun from 1985 to present
- Shukan Asahi
- AERA
- Asahi Shimbun Reduced-size Facsimile Edition (post-war Showa period 1945 to 1989 and Heisei period 1989 to 1999)
Content and Reproductions
The Asahi Shimbun offers a range of content and reproductions that make it an invaluable resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.
Reproductions of past issues are available in three major forms: CD-ROMs, microfilm, and shukusatsuban, a technology popularized by Asahi Shimbun in the 1930s that compresses and archives newspapers by reducing print size.
Shukusatsuban are geared towards libraries and archives, and are usually organized and released by month. They are available at many leading research universities throughout the world.
Microfilm versions of the Asahi Shimbun are available from 1888, while shukusatsuban versions are available from 1931. Issues printed since August 1984 are also available through Lexis-Nexis Academic.
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Contemporary Words Chiezo
The database of The Asahi Shimbun newspaper contains 123,000 pages of content. This extensive collection spans from 1879 to 1926, covering the newspaper's early years and the end of the Taisho period.
You can search the database for advertisements, making it a valuable resource for researchers and historians.
Reproductions of Past Issues
The Asahi Shimbun has made its past issues available in various formats. Reproductions of past issues are available as CD-ROMs, microfilm, and shukusatsuban, a technology popularized by Asahi Shimbun in the 1930s that compresses and archives newspapers by reducing the size of the print.
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These resources are geared towards libraries and archives, and are usually organized and released by month. They can be found at many leading research universities throughout the world, particularly those with reputable Japanese studies programs.
CD-ROM versions of the Asahi Shimbun are available from 1945-1999, with a database consisting of an index of headlines and sub-headlines. A full-text searchable database is available at the Harvard-Yenching Library, but it's only accessible on-site.
Microfilm versions are available from 1888, while shukusatsuban versions are available from 1931. Issues printed since August 1984 can be accessed through Lexis-Nexis Academic.
Here's a breakdown of the different types of reproductions available:
These resources are a valuable tool for researchers and historians looking to access the Asahi Shimbun's archives.
Business and Partnerships
The Asahi Shimbun has a significant presence in the media industry through its various business and partnership ventures. It owns several companies, including Nikkan Sports, Kanagawa Shimbun, and Asahi Sonorama.
The Asahi Shimbun also has a stake in TV Asahi Holdings, which operates TV Asahi, a major Japanese television network. Additionally, it has a partnership with the International Herald Tribune/The Asahi Shimbun, known as Herald-Asahi.
The Asahi Shimbun has a diverse range of media outlets, including newspapers, television channels, and radio stations. Its subsidiaries include All-Nippon News Network and FM OSAKA.
The company also operates pay TV channels through TV Asahi Channel, which is available on cable and satellite television.
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Politics and Stance
The Asahi Shimbun is generally seen as a newspaper with progressive or social-liberal views.
It often reports on big political scandals, which can be a major source of information for those interested in staying up-to-date on current events.
The paper is considered a very important source of news in Japan, and its views are widely regarded as a key part of the country's media landscape.
The Asahi Shimbun is critical of extreme Japanese nationalism, which suggests that it values diversity and inclusivity.
It supports cultural and diplomatic issues that are more open and modern, indicating a desire for Japan to engage with the world in a more progressive way.
However, it has some neoliberal economic ideas, which may be a point of contention for those who prefer more socialist or interventionist economic policies.
The Asahi strongly supports Japan's postwar Constitution, particularly Article 9, which renounces war as a means of settling international disputes.
This suggests that the newspaper values peace and diplomacy over military action.
A 2018 study showed that Asahi had the lowest trust among the five largest newspapers in Japan, which may be due to criticism from conservative groups.
The Asahi newspaper supports the pacifist nature of Japan's post-war Constitution, which is a key aspect of its progressive views.
It is opposed to the acceptance of the right of collective self-defense exercise in Japan, indicating a commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The paper has also reported on the efforts of politicians affiliated with the openly revisionist lobby Nippon Kaigi to eliminate the "peace clause" from the Constitution.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Asahi Shimbun mean in English?
The Asahi Shimbun translates to "morning sun newspaper" in English, reflecting its name's literal meaning.
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