Takarajimasha

Takarajimasha, Inc.
Founded September 22, 1971
Country of origin Japan
Headquarters location Chiyoda, Tokyo
Fiction genres Fashion magazines
Revenue ¥ 300.9 million[1]
Number of employees 212 (as of September 2013)[1]
Official website tkj.jp

Takarajimasha, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社宝島社 Hepburn: Kabushiki Gaisha Takarajimasha) is a Japanese publishing company based on Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is known for publishing subculture-oriented fashion magazines aimed at teens,[2][3] fashion magazines in general, as well as guide books.

History

Takarajimasha headquarters.

The company was founded on September 22, 1971 as a consulting business of local government titled JICC, Inc. (株式会社ジェー・アイ・シー・シー).[4] Established by Waseda University ex-revolutionary and students, it started to publish its first magazine in May 1974, Takarajima, a Japanese subculture focused magazine,[2][5] which was followed by Bessatsu Takarajima in March 1976.[4] Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!, a guide book magazine, was first published in December 1989,[4] while fashion magazine Cutie[3] was first published in September 1989.[4] On April 1, 1993, its name changed to Takarajimasha.[4] Smart, Spring, and Sweet, all young-targeted fashion magazines,[3][6] are published since October 1995, February 1996, and March 1999 respectively.[4] Takarajimasha is also known for creating in 2005 the concept of "brand mook", a mook[note 1] featuring a catalogue of new items of a brand and limited edition product of this brand.[6]

Publications

Fashion

Targeted to teen girls
Targeted to women in their 20s and 30s
Targeted to women in their 40s
Targeted to men

Other

Currently
  • Takarajima (宝島)
  • Bessatsu Takarajima (別冊宝島)
  • Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!
  • Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!
  • Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (このマンガがすごい!)
  • Kono Anime ga Sugoi! (このアニメがすごい!)
  • Kono Eiga ga Sugoi! (この映画がすごい!)
  • Inakagurashi no Hon (田舎暮らしの本)
Former
  • Weekly Shōnen Takarajima (週刊少年宝島 Shūkan Shōnen Takarajima)
  • CUTiE Comic
  • Takarajima 30 (宝島30)
  • Famicon Hisshō Hon (ファミコン必勝本)
  • UltraOne (ウルトラONE Urutora Wan)
  • Boom
  • Band Yarouze (バンドやろうぜ Bando Yarouze)

Notes

  1. ↑ A mook is a book that has the content and format of magazine, but is designed to be for sale for a longer period than a magazine, like a book is.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 会社概要 (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Moeran, Brian; Skov, Lise (2013). Women, Media and Consumption in Japan. Routledge. pp. 229–230. ISBN 9781136782732.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fitzpatrick, Michael (May 11, 2008). "Manga mania grips schoolgirls". Times Educational Supplement. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 沿革 (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ Bonami, Francesco; Simons, Raf; Frisa, Maria Luisa (2003). The fourth sex: adolescent extremes. Charta. p. 265. ISBN 9781136782732.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Osawa, Juro (October 20, 2010). "Meet Japan's 'Brand Mooks': Half-magazine, Half-book, All Hit". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 19, 2014.

External links