Japanese media

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The communications media of Japan include numerous television and radio networks as well as newspapers and magazines. For the most part, television networks were established based on the capital contribution from existing radio networks at that time. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the capital relationship between the media (such as the relationship between newspaper, radio and TV networks).

Since around 70% of the country's terrain is mountainous, transmitting TV and radio signals proves to be a large challenge. Government regulations for broadcasting are also extremely complicated and strict. Nationwide there are about 89 FM stations and 215 AM stations. The other 855 stations are low power repeaters to reach valleys and secluded areas. With television this is even more so, with 211 stations and 7,341 repeaters. Japanese AM is the same as in many Western nations (530 to 1730 kHz with 9 kHz spacing), but their FM is from 76 to 90 MHz, resulting not only in a very limited number of possible stations, but that most FM radio receivers from outside Japan are all but useless.

For the most part, variety shows, serial dramas, and news constitute a large percentage of Japanese evening shows. Western movies are also shown, many with a subchannel for English.

There are all-English television channels on cable and satellite (with Japanese subtitles). In areas near U.S. military bases there is often the American Forces Network radio which anyone can tune in to.

1 TV networks
- 1.1 See also
2 Radio networks
3 Magazines
- 3.1 Weekly magazines
- 3.2 Monthly magazines
4 Newspapers
5 Advertising agencies
6 Wire service
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] TV networks

There are 6 nationwide television networks, as follows:

NHK (日本放送協会 Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai). NHK is a Japanese public service broadcaster. The company is financed through "viewer fees", similar to the licence fee system used in the UK to fund the BBC. Because NHK is a public broadcast network, the standpoint of NHK is impartial. In reality, NHK deliberately avoids making political comments. NHK has 2 terrestrial TV channels, unlike the other TV networks (in the Tokyo region—channel 1 ("Sōgō" (General)) and channel 3 ("Kyoiku" (Education)).
Nippon Television (日本テレビ放送網/日テレ Nihon-Terebi/Nittere; NTV). Conservative. In the Tokyo region, channel 4. Affiliated with the Yomiuri Shimbun. In recent years, NTV has been plagued by a ratings bribery scandal, in which its Chairman, Seiichiro Ujiie, was forced to step down, and scandals over staging of news broadcasts.
TBS (東京放送 Tōkyō Hōsō, Tokyo Broadcasting System). Liberal. However, the famous news program Chikushi Tetsuya's News 23 is sometimes regarded as a "left-wing" program. The main anchor of this program, Tetsuya Chikushi, is the translator of David Halberstam's The Powers That Be. He is also influenced by the attitude of CBS News (e.g. 60 Minutes and Edward R. Murrow). In the Tokyo region, channel 6.
Fuji Television (フジテレビジョン; Fuji TV). Right-wing or conservative. Affiliated with the Fujisankei Communications conglomerate, which includes the Sankei Shimbun. In the Tokyo region, channel 8.
TV Asahi (テレビ朝日). Left-wing or liberal. Affiliated with the Asahi Shimbun. It had a famous TV news program titled News Station led by main caster Hiroshi Kume for 18 years. It aired last on March 26, 2004. In the Tokyo region, channel 10.
TV Tokyo (テレビ東京; officially: Television Tokyo Channel 12). Focuses on economic news. Also known for its anime programs. Has ties with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper. In the Tokyo region, channel 12.

The political views of the networks can be summarized as follows:

Summary of the Political Standpoint of TV Networks
Left-wing	Liberal	Middle	Conservative	Right-wing
	TBS TV Asahi	NHK TV Tokyo (or conservative)	Fuji Television Nippon Television

N.B.: Opinion could especially be different on the absolute degree in respect to liberal or conservative. In this sense, this chart serves to show relative (political) position of the TV networks. This disclaimer could also apply to the charts for newspapers and magazines mentioned below. Definitions of liberal/conservative have been formed based on U.S. ideologies and may not conform to liberal/conservative – left/right boundaries in other countries.

In Japan, cable TV and multi-channel satellite TV are less popular than in the United States. Therefore, these six TV networks share almost the whole of the viewers in Japan (population 120 million, and 45 million households). As a consequence of this oligopoly, it is not unusual when a specific TV program gets 20% of audience appreciation rating. As well, advertisements and other messages are very effective at reaching citizens. In this sense, TV as a medium has a strong power.

Despite this, Japan does have both cable television (in many communities) and satellite television. The latter includes broadcasts by NHK, WOWOW, and SKY PerfecTV!.

There are local TV stations (most of them are affiliated or owned companies of the above-mentioned nationwide TV networks), but in light of their small presence, they are not of significant note.

It would be difficult (or almost impossible and statistical scholarship would be necessary) to measure the degree of conservatism of Japanese media in general (especially, TV networks), but it would be safe that conservative networks, conservative casters, conservative programs and conservative stances to the political issues are not rare (symbolizing by Yoshiko Sakurai, Ms http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AB%BB%E4%BA%95%E3%82%88%E3%81%97%E3%81%93). In this regard, the people working in mass media are not generally regarded as liberals although the word "journalist" linguistically implies its liberal tendencies (Ms Yoshiko Sakurai considers herself as "journalist" in her webpage http://blog.yoshiko-sakurai.jp/profile/). Perhaps, it stems from (1) that Japanese people respects the government (especially, legislative and executive branches) passively, and lack the concept to check the government by journalists, and (2) that the values of Japanese people are not so much liberal nor progressive at national level taking into the country sides of Japan.

[edit] See also

[edit] Radio networks

[edit] AM radio

NHK Radio 1, NHK Radio 2
Japan Radio Network (JRN)—Flagship Station: TBS radio (TBSラジオ)
National Radio Network (NRN)—Flagship Stations: Nippon Cultural Broadcasting (文化放送) and Nippon Broadcasting System (ニッポン放送)

[edit] FM radio

NHK-FM
Japan FM Network (JFN)—Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.,ltd.
Japan FM League—J-Wave Inc.
Mega net—FM Interwave (Inter-FM)

[edit] Internet Radio

Bible Broadcasting in Japanese [1]

[edit] See also

Lists of radio stations in Asia

[edit] Magazines

[edit] Weekly magazines

Aera (アエラ).
Friday (フライデー). Photo magazine.
Josei Jishin (女性自身). For women.
Nikkei Business (日経ビジネス). Economic magazine.
Shuukan Asahi (週刊朝日).
Shuukan Economist (週刊エコノミスト). Economic magazine.
Shuukan Kinyoubi (週刊金曜日). Strong liberal.
Shuukan Bunshun (週刊文春). Conservative.
Shuukan Diamond (週刊ダイヤモンド). Economic magazine.
Shuukan Gendai (週刊現代).
Shuukan Josei (週刊女性). For women.
Shuukan Post (週刊ポスト).
Shuukan Shinchou (週刊新潮). Strong conservative.
Shuukan Toyo Keizai (週刊東洋経済). Economic magazine.
Spa! (スパ!).
Sunday Mainichi (サンデー毎日).　Liberal.
Yomiuri Weekly (読売ウィークリー).

[edit] Monthly magazines

Bungei Shunjuu (文藝春秋). Conservative, although some say this magazine is middle.
Chuuou Kouron (中央公論). Affiliated with the Yomiuri Shimbun. Conservative.
Gendai (現代). Middle.
Ronza (論座). Published by the Asahi Shimbun Company. Liberal.
Seiron (正論). Published by the Sankei Shimbun Company. Right-wing.
Sekai (世界). Strong Liberal.
Shokun! (諸君!, Gentleman!). Strong Conservative.
Ushio (潮). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
pumpkin. It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
Dai San Bunmei (第三文明). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
Todai (灯台). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.
Graph SGI (グラフSGI). It has a strong connection with Soka Gakkai International.

[edit] Newspapers

Summary of the Political Standpoint of Newspapers
Left-wing	Liberal	Middle	Conservative	Right-wing
Asahi Shimbun Hokkaido Shimbun Tokyo Shimbun Chunichi Shimbun	Mainichi Shimbun	Nihon Keizai Shimbun (The editorial writers and leading writers tend to convey a more conservative sense of values.)	Yomiuri Shimbun	Sankei Shimbun

Yomiuri Shimbun (読売新聞). Conservative. 1st ranked in daily circulation—around 10 million per day. The Yomiuri Shimbun, being very widely circulated, takes the most popular stance. The Yomiuri exchanged a special contract with British The Times. Affiliated with Nippon Television.
Asahi Shimbun (朝日新聞). Left-wing. 2nd ranked in daily circulation—around 8 million per day. Known for its preeminent writers as well as the frequency with which its articles are used for university admission examinations. Affiliated with TV Asahi.
Mainichi Shimbun (毎日新聞). Left-wing or Liberal. 3rd ranked in daily circulation—around 4 million per day. Affiliated with TBS.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (日本経済新聞). Economic paper similar to the Wall Street Journal. 4th ranked in daily circulation—around 3 million per day. Affiliated with TV Tokyo.
Sankei Shimbun (産経新聞). Right-wing or conservative. 6th ranked in daily circulation—around 2 million per day. Known as the nationalist's newspaper and upheld formidably by the right. Affiliated with Fuji TV.
Seikyo Shimbun (聖教新聞). Daily newspaper issued as a bulletin for Soka Gakkai International, a newly risen religion having at least 4 million members in Japan.

There are also regional newspapers like the Tokyo Shimbun (東京新聞) in Kanto, Chunichi Shimbun (中日新聞) in Chūbu, Nishinippon Shimbun (西日本新聞) in Kyūshū, Hokkaido Shimbun(北海道新聞) in Hokkaidō, Kahoku Shimpo (河北新報) in Tōhoku, and English versions of the 5 major newspapers. Business newspapers like Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun (The Business & Technology Daily News) are also widely read. The Japan Times is the only newspaper exclusively for English speakers. As with other countries, surveys tend to show that the number of newspaper subscribers is declining. This trend will probably continue for some time.

[edit] Advertising agencies

These play an important role in the Japanese mass media. There are two big advertisement agencies in Japan.

Dentsu (電通). Largest Japanese advertising agency (4th worldwide). It has an enormous presence, especially in TV media. This company went public in November 2001. This company also has a strong connection to the legislative branch of Japan. Website: Dentsu
Hakuhodo (博報堂). 2nd largest Japanese advertising agency.