Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-12-23
JOURNALISM IN JAPAN.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIVE
LEADING NEWSPAPERS.

1ne E1rSt japanese OalIy 6rouBnt Ouh
in Yokohama in Is7I-Sman CirculA-
tion of the Newspapers-Ths "Con-
tinued Story Business.
On June IS, 1871, the first daily in Japan
was launched in Yokohama under the title of
The Yokohama and Tokyo Mainici Shimbun
(The Yokohama and Tokyo Journal, and it
is still one of the leading papers in the
country. 1t is now simply called The Man.
ichi Shimbun Tor The Daily Journal, and its
headquarters are in Tokyo; nevertheless it
contains more local news of Yokohama than
any other of the great dailies. 1t is progress
sive in politics, and the editorial columns are
under the charge of three able writers, while
the news columns are taken care of by six
editors. The total number of men connected
with this paper is given al about seventy,
exclusive OF the type and printing depart
ments. Its daily circulation is at present
5000, one-half of which is circulated
in Tokyo and Yokohama, and the rest
throughout the country. There is no issue
on Sundays 1t is a four page paper OF
twenty by fifteen inches, to which are added
occasional supplements. The subscription
rate is S6.10 per annum. including postage
for three cents
The leading paper ths came next into ex-
istence was The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun
(The Tokyo Daily Newa), and was started on
Feb 81, 1872. This is conservative
paper, and is with the government in its
political views. Its staff is as follows: Five
managers, editors, 10 news writers, proof
readers, 90 clerks, so carriers for Tokyo, 60
typesetters, 80 printers, 8 engineers and l
smith. The machinery with which this paper
is printed consists OF u steam engine of eight
horse power, and the following machines,
viz, one of thirty-two pages and three Of
sixteen pages, four foot presses and two hand
presses. 1t is an eight page paper, twenty
by fifteen inches. Its daily circulation is
quoted at 1880 copies, 5000 Of which are
distributed In the interior of the country and
in foreign countries; the remaining 8 500 are
sold in Tokyo. 1t is issued every day except
Monday, when there is no issue. A single copy
costs four cents, and the yearly subscription
is $3.50, with postage extra Mr.. Fukuchi,
the proprietor and the editor-in-chief, Is one
of the best living writers in Japan Mr..
Fukuchi was the president Of the local par
lament of Tokyo since its organization, but
is now retired.
The Choya Shimbun The Government and
the People, comes next in. the order of
seniority among the leading papers. 1t was
launched Sept l, 1872; it is now managed by
three editors and five news writer's On Mon
days there is no issue Its daily circulation
is 5000 in Tokyo and 4, 500 in other parts of
the country and in foreign countries, making
a total of 1850 copies. The printing is done
by the following rolling machines: One of
forty-eight pages, two Of thirty-two pages
and one of sixteen pages, besides five similar
machines 1t is liberal in politics and is sup
posed to be the most literary Of the leading
dailies. Single copies of it cost three cents,
and the yearly subscription is S6.1o, with
postage extra, except in cities of large
population, where it is delivered free. Mr..
Narushimo, who started it, is now dead, and
the effect of his loss is plainly TO be seen.
Almost simultaneously with the issue of
the last paper there came into existence The
Yubin Hochi Shimbun (The Mail. This is
one of the great dailies, and is progressive IN
politics. 1t is a four page paper of double
the size of the other dailies. 1t sells for four
cents, or S8.35 for the year, with postage e1-
ira, except in few special districts, where
no postage is charged. The circulation of
this paper is probably between 5000 and
paper made an extraordinary change; its
size was cut down to almost half of what it
used to be, and the price was reduced in
nearly equal proportion. 1t is now selling
for one and one-half cents a copy, and the
subscription rate was reduced to S. 90 per
annum from SSS5. This change is said to
be the result of the editors tour in Europe
sThe latest yet the most widely circulated
paper among the leading journals in Japanis
the Jill Shimpoo (The Tines. 1t was started
in March, 1882. Its editorial columns are
under the personal supervision of Mr.. Fukus-
ava, the originator and owner, with the CO.
operation of two competent writers. Mr..
Fukusawa is the man who brought into Ja-
pan from the United States the first copy of
Webster's unabridged dictionary ever i'm
ported He had published a vast number of
translated works from the English at time
when Japan's intercourse with the western
world was in its infancy. He has thus diff
fused among the japanese an immense
amount of knowledge on the arts and sci
ences and western civilization in general.
His later publications are from his own pen,
but am inclined to think that his transla-
tions have won him the greater fame. Mr..
Fukusawa is, besides, the founder of the
largest privatecollege in Japan. The Times
has five new writers and eleven reporters for
Tokyo There are other officers who take
charge of other departments am informed
by gentleman friend of mine who is well
posted in the matter that The Times has
more correspondents in the different parts Of
the country as well as in foreign countries,
than any other japanese paper, and this
agrees with my own impression. 1t is indie
i H. l.,l-- -. Ia.
is 13,4OO copies, 300 of which are sold in
Tokyo, and the remaining 7,70o are distrib-
uted to subscribers in other parts Of the
country and foreign countries Sundays are
set apart as holidays for the employees, but it
is issued every other morning of the week
The annual subscription is $3.50; single copies
three cents. Itis four page paper Of twenty
three by seventeen inches, with two page
supplement on Mondays.
these five are called the leading dailies, and
there are now some seventy other daily pa
pers distributed all over the country. They
are all published in the morning except two
or three, which are circulated in the after
noon. Among them there are about doze1
of illustrated papers. They are written in
an easy style, and contain usually couple
of illustrations They stop at point where
people are interested to know the sequel. It
is oftentimes stated at the termination of the
article that, sowing to the want Of space, the
most interesting part of the story is carried
to the next issue.n Before one story is COM
pleted another is begun, and this impels peo-
pie to continue their subscription. These
publications find their way among the lower
class of people because of their easy style Of
writing, their illustrations and their low
prices. A single copy of this sort Of paper
sells at one and one-half cents, and the monthly
subscription is from twenty-five to thirty
cents, with postage extra Their circulation
1a---o,. thor, khn otl,nr clarr Of daiiinr md