Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-12
Newspapers Of japan.

Although japan is advancing by
leaps and bounds toward a state of
civilization comparable with that of
the western nations, she has not
reach ed in the matter of newspaper
production the standard of excellence
which prevails in America.
In the matter of circulation the
newspapers Of Japan can not compare
with those of New York. There are.
however. quite a number of daily
journals published in Toxic and Osa-
ka which boast of daily issues run
ming well into six figures. The jour-
1.al with the best circulation in ia
pan is the Osaka Mainichi. which
sells to the extent of 100000 copies
a day. The Asahi, published in the
same town. has nearly as large a cir
culation.
In Toxic the newspaper most widely
read is the Hochi Shimbun (The Bull
letin News), which sells 100000 cop.
les daily. The Hochi is the greatest
opposition journal, the organ of the
Count Okuma, eX-premier, and the
most influential of the elder states.
men. Then there is the Jill Shimpo.
the Nichi Nichi the Koklimin and the
OF between 10000 and 10000. The
kOkumin is the government paper or
gan, and it will be remembered when
peace was signed the angry inhabi
tants of Toxic, enragel at it's attitude
anc acquiescence with the peace
treaty, attacked the offices and near
ly caused a serious outbreak
When | say that the Hochi is an OBJ
-
stood that my paper showed any OPP
position to the government during the
war with Russia. In point Of fact.
from the time when our relations with
Russia were broken off the newspapers
in Japan. without any exception, sup
ported the government and the ma
ton.
The Jill Shimpo is owned and edited
by the son-in-law of Viscount Haya-
shi the Japanese minister in London.
while the Mich Nichi is now the prop.
erty of Mr.. Kato. formerly minister in
London, and its editor is Christian,
Mr.. YOkOi, who is member of the
japanese parliament.
The daily papers of Japan are much
cheaper than those of American cit
les. Most subscribers pay for their
favorite newspaper monthly. This
notwithstanding that advertisement
rates in our papers are considerably
lower than they are here For small
advertisements, the highest rate have
ever heard Of is % cents per line,
while for large advertisements | have
never heard of more than $125 page
being paid for one insertion.
On occasion when we receive news
of very great importance it is custom
airy to issue special editions, but these
are not Gas they are here) complete
copies of the paper. They are on the
contrary. merely leaflets containing
nothing but the particular item of i'm
portant news. They are sold in the
streets by newsboys at prices varying
from l to 2 cents.
In one respect the newspapers OF
Japan have forged ahead of the jour
nails. 1t is frequent thing to find
colored illustrated supplements in
them. and the Hoch publishes a color.
ed page every day. The introduction
of the serial story into daily papers
has been a feature of the japanese
press for 30 years past.
! 1t will doubtless amuse Americans
to know that the serial system is in
our press of leading articles and i'm
portant political subjects. For in
stance, we may publish a column OF
statesman's speech today, mark il
''to be continued give another col
umn tomorrow and keep this up unit
ii is finished a week later. Similarly
with leading articles the same prac
tee is frequently adopted.
The publication of newspaper
|
ed States, it is much more so in ia
pan. We can not use the linotype
machines for setting up" articles
This must all be done by hand ant
when | tell you that in the japanese
language there are some $4,000 char
acters, Of which $4,000 are in common
use, you will understand that the com
position has to be a man of no small
skill and ability.
The composing room of a japanese
newspaper is a large compartment
with shelves all around the four walls
and in Setting" copy the composite
has to run round and round the room
picking out from the thousands of iii
tie receptacles the type he requires
II is at one and the same time boil
mental and physical exercise Of pref
ty strenuous description.
AS an instance of the manner il
which Japanese newspaper is con
Quoted. I may say that the stan O
the Hochi consists of 63 editors, sui
editors and reporters. The staff /
divided into some seven or eight de
partments-viz.. army, navy. political
financial. economical. city, artistic AM
translating. Work begins much cal
lier than it does On the American pa
pers. We cannot print news within
a few minutes of its arrival in tn
office. From the time of an item o
news being written to its appearance
in print We require one or two hours
The war has brought about grea
increase of enterprise on the part o
the Japanese press. The leading pa
pers, whose names have quoted. hav'
now appointed correspondents in Pc
kin, Seoul, Shanghai, Chefoo, Tientsin
Hongkong. Singapore, San Francisco
New York. Washington, Berlin, Pari
and London, and have largely increas
ed their supply of news from all part
of the world. look forward to tn
time when they will be as well SUP
piled with all the news of the worl,
as are their contemporaries in Eu
rope and Aerica.-Yasujiro Ishibawa
editor Of the Hochi Shimbun.
Montana Bar Association.
Helena. Jan. IA. c. Gormley. o