tools for researching the circulation of magazines and newspapers in the post-war period.

1. source of data

Circulation figures for magazines and newspapers include ‘nominal circulation’ as declared by the publisher, ‘ABC circulation’ as officially inspected (audited) and authorised by the Japan ABC Association, and ‘circulation with print certification’ by the Japan Magazine Publishers Association. If there is no statement about the source of the data, it is likely to be the official circulation number.

The ABC Association of Japan publishes the Publisher’s Report, commonly known as the ABC Report, which contains nominal circulation figures, and the Public Assessment Report, which contains ABC circulation figures. Of these, the Public Assessment Report has already moved from print publication to providing data in a paid database (not yet subscribed to by the Library); a list of ABC Reports can be found at ABC Reports (Japan ABC Association).

2. circulation per title

2–1. general

• Monthly Media Data (Media Research Centre Monthly [Z21–243])
• The month of publication differs depending on the media type as follows: — General newspapers and radio editions: April
• General newspaper and radio editions: April and September.
• General magazine editions: June, November
• Trade and specialist magazine editions: Jan.
• Trade and specialist newspaper editions: February.
• ABC report Specialist newspaper publishers’ reports (Japan ABC Association semi-annual publication [Z21–2413]).
• Contains official circulation figures.
• Zasshi Shinbun So Katarogu (Media Research Centre 1978–1985).
• Zasshi Shinbun So Katarogu (Media Research Centre, annual publication [Z45–10]) * Ceased publication with the 2019 edition.
• The Journal of the ABC Association of Japan (JSAJ), Yearbook [Z21–2482] *Continued publication after the Jan/Dec 2007 edition.
• Contains ABC circulation figures.
• Japan Newspaper and Magazine Handbook (Japan Newspaper and Magazine Research Association, etc., annual publication), discontinued after the 2003 edition.

2–2. magazines

• Japan Magazine Publishers Association Data on various types of magazines
• Data on circulation with proof of printing are published.
• Data from April 2008 onwards can be searched quarterly by magazine or publisher name.
• ABC report Hobby Magazine Publishers Report (Japan ABC Association, semi-annual publication [Z21–2282])
• Contains official circulation figures.
• Magazine Data (Japan Magazine Publishers Association, annual publication [Z21-B203]) * Discontinued after 2021 (2020 edition).
• Contains circulation figures with proof of printing.
• Magazine Public Assessment Report (Japan ABC Association, annual publication [Z21–2375]) * Discontinued with the Jan/Dec 2007 issue.
• Contains ABC circulation figures.
• ‘ Publishing Data Book : 1945–2000’ (Revised edition, Publishing News, 2002 [UE17-H1])
• Contains ABC circulation figures from 1986 to 2000.
• The source of the data is the Magazine Public Inquiry Report.
• Publicity handbook : journalist’s directory, etc. (Japan Press Association et al. 1979–1985 [UC4–8])
• Publicity handbook: Hajimagazines ( Dibu, 1986 [Z45–257]) (*Magazine handbooks in our collection are 1986–1996 editions).

2–3. newspapers

• ABC report Newspaper. Half-yearly’ (Japan ABC Association, semi-annual [Z21–2401]).
• Contains official circulation figures.
• Japan Newspaper Yearbook (Nihon Shinbun Nenkan, Japan Newspaper Publishers Association et al.)
• Nihon Mass Media Soran (Japan Mass Media Directory) (published biannually by Bunka Tsushinsha).
• Newspaper Public Assessment Report (Japan ABC Association [Z21–2400]) *Continued to be published after the October 2008 issue.
• Contains ABC circulation figures.
• National Newspaper Guide (Nihon Shinbun Kyokai Annual) * Ceased publication with the 2005 edition. 3.

3. total circulation

3–1. general

Magazines

• Shuppan Getsuppo (Shuppan Getsuppo) (National Institute of Publication Science, Japan Publishers Association, monthly [Z21–172])
• Estimated circulation by genre for the previous month is included in each issue in the ‘From new issue data for the month of XX’ section.
• The total number of copies published in the previous year is included in the ‘Year XX Publication Issuance and Sales Overview’ in the January issue of each year.
• Publication Index Annual Report (Institute of Publication Science, Japan Association of National Publishers).
• Contains estimated circulation figures for the past 55 years (with genre-specific data for the latest five years).
• Shuppan Nenkan (Publishing Yearbook ) (Shuppan Newssha) *Comes to an end with the 2018 edition.
• Contains total circulation figures for the past 40 years, ABC circulation figures for the past three years, etc.

Newspapers

• Japan Newspaper Publishers Association Survey data
• The survey data includes ‘Newspaper circulation and households’ and ‘Newspaper circulation and penetration’ since 2000, as well as the latest ‘Daily newspaper circulation and penetration by prefecture’.
• Includes “Circulation and Penetration of Daily Newspapers by Prefecture”, Newspaper Research (Japan Newspaper Publishers Association, monthly [Z21–88]), etc.
• Data from an annual survey.
• ‘ Data book Japanese newspapers’ (Nihon Shinbun Kyokai, annual publication [Z21-B358]).
• Contains data such as “Circulation and Penetration of Daily Newspapers by Prefecture”.

3–2. long-term statistics

• Website of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications > Statistical Data > Long-term statistical series of Japan > Contents > Chapter 26 Culture and leisure *WARP (Internet Archive and Archiving Project of the National Diet Library)
• The total circulation of magazines from 1952 to 2005 is listed under ‘Circulation and actual sales of books and magazines’, and the total circulation of newspapers from 1941 to 2006 is listed under ‘Newspaper circulation’.
• The source of the data for magazines is Shuppan Nenkan (Yearbook of Publication) and the source of the data for newspapers is Nihon Shinbun Nenkan (Japan Newspaper Yearbook).
• Website of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications > Statistical Data > Japan Statistical Yearbook
• Total newspaper circulation for several years is listed under ‘Newspaper circulation’ in the ‘Culture’ chapter (chapter numbers vary by edition).
• The source of the data is ‘Circulation and diffusion of daily newspapers by prefecture’.
• Publishing Databook : 1945–2000" (Revised edition, Publishing News, 2002 [UE17-H1]).
• Contains total magazine circulation figures from 1952 to 2000.
• The source of the data is the Publishing Yearbook.