Circulation is dropping. Trust is fading. And Japan’s major newspapers are struggling to connect with younger readers who now get their headlines from platforms like Line, YouTube and even TikTok.
In this edition of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how Japan’s once-powerful dailies — including the Yomiuri, Asahi and Mainichi — are facing a slow decline. From outdated digital strategies to an aging subscriber base, the print giants are falling behind in a media world that now runs on swipes and scrolls.
We also revisit past Spotlight episodes that exposed deeper problems in the industry, including the Fuji TV–Masahiro Nakai scandal and how major outlets ignored Shiori Ito’s story until it gained global attention.
What do you think — is there still a place for Japan’s legacy media, or has the news already moved on?
Chapters:
- 0:00 Topic overview
- 0:49 The fall
- 3:16 Old habits, aging audience
- 5:34 The trust gap
- 6:58 So, what now?
- 7:58 Outro
Japan Today sources:
- Japan’s media giants falling behind in the digital age
- The slow fade of Japan’s once-powerful daily newspapers
- Scrolling for truth: News for the swipe generation
See the Japan Today Spotlight series:
Join the conversation!
- Japan’s newspapers are losing readers fast — but the appetite for information hasn’t disappeared. Where are you getting your headlines in 2025? Let us know in the comments.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an update on Japan’s biggest news stories on our YouTube channel:
- YouTube: @JapanTodayOfficial
If you found this episode thought-provoking, check out our other deep dives into Japan’s media landscape and our past coverage of:
- Is Japan's media stuck in the past?
- Why won't Japan screen Shiori Ito's 'Black Box Diaries'?
- Fuji TV scandal: Ex-SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, sex allegations & advertiser exodus
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The views and opinions expressed in this video are those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of GPlusMedia, Inc.
© Japan Today
5 Comments
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Yubaru
Who can blame people for not wanting to pay for news that sounds like it was written by an LDP politician!
People are sick and tired of the party line.
Ryokai
Especially since the ‘SNS Kisei-hou’ (media control law) was introduced recently, people in Japan have stopped trusting the Japanese government to fairly assess and regulate the news. In any event, mainstream media in Japan has been heavily regulated for years, to the extent that the Japanese people, being discerning consumers, are looking for more reliable and independent news sources.
garymalmgren
Again, an example of too little, too late.
I have three daughter that probably have not read a newspaper in 15 years.
They pick up a little from Internet news, but to be honest they have no interest and no knowledge of what is happening in the world.
Ukraine war? What war?
1glenn
It isn't that newspapers do a bad job, but that the internet is so convenient.
John-San
Loosing Relevance ??? Since I can remember Japan new agencies have only repeated government press releases and they still work that way today. If you want claim lossing relevance by news agencies let look at the WMD report by USA news agencies back in 2001 where if they interviewed the UN weapons inspectors who actually had access, state No WMD in Iraq talk about loosing relevance just Compare Japan reporting the the lies push by the USA major New agencies