Newspapers and magazines have large circulations and serve as a vital channel for the dissemination of information throughout the country. As of 1994, the nation had 121 daily newspapers with a total daily circulation of about 53 million copies. This means that on the average every household reads 1.20 newspapers a day. The major newspapers print both morning and evening editions, which often are delivered as a set to subscribers. If the evening editions are counted separately, total daily circulation reaches 72 million copies.
Newspapers have a large circulation in Japan.
A unique characteristic of Japan's newspaper world is the existence of nationwide papers with circulation extending across the country. These account for about half of the total daily circulation. There are two major private general news agencies, Kyodo News Service and Jiji Press. Both maintain extensive news-gathering facilities around the world. Kyodo has correspondents and writers in 50 major cities overseas and contracts with 71 foreign news agencies, and Jiji maintains news bureaus in 30 principal cities and contracts with 11 agencies.