Number is the leading Japanese sports magazine published on every Thursday by Bungeishunju. The official name is Sports Graphic Number. Though the circulation once hit 47 million, it is now around 10 million. Many celeberties enjoy reading this.
The first issue, released in April, 1980, drew attention by the piece Enatsu's 21 balls (江夏の21球 Enatsu no 21 kyu). Yet the magazine had failed to be profitable for the next 10 years. Today, however, the magazine is one of the most profitable publications of Bungeishunju. The success of the magazine also led other rival publishers to launch sports magazines, though they tend to be less successful.