The (short for ) is a daily national newspaper in Japan published by the Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd, ranking amongst the top 5 most circulated newspapers in Japan.
Corporate profile
The Sankei Shimbun is part of the Fujisankei Communications Group and is 40% owned by Fuji Media Holdings. The company is also the owner of Osaka Broadcasting Corporation (OBC, Radio Osaka).
History
The Sankei Shimbun was created by the merger of two older newspapers: Jiji News and Nihon Kogyō Shimbun. Jiji News was founded in 1882 by author, translator, and journalist Fukuzawa Yukichi, who also founded Keio University. Nihon Kogyō Shimbun, founded in 1933 by Hisakichi Maeda, specialized in business and was published by the Minami-Osaka Shimbun (the South Osaka Evening newspaper). In 1941, the Osaka Shimbun (renamed from Minami-Osaka Shimbun) merged with Osaka Jiji Shimpō (Jiji-Shimpō Osaka edition). The following year, Nihon Kogyō Shimbun merged with other business newspapers in Western Japan, and changed its name to the Sangyō Keizai Shimbun (or the Sankei). In 1955, the Sankei merged with Jiji Shimpō. In 1959, the Sankei and Jiji Shimpō were placed under the Sankei Shimbun masthead.
In 1958, the Sankei was acquired by Shigeo Mizuno and Nobutaka Shikanai. After financial difficulties, it changed direction from being liberal to being conservative (Tenkō). Both Mizuno and Shikanai would go on to found Fuji Television a year later.
The Sankei Shimbun started two online newspapers in 1996: Sankei Web, in website style, and E-NEWS, in personal digital assistant style. In 2001, the Sankei Shimbun started a new electronic newspaper delivery edition, NEWSVUE. In 2002, the Sankei Shimbun merged with Osaka Shimbun. Both editions were placed under the Sankei Shimbun masthead. In 2005, the Sankei Shimbun added video to its digital edition, suitable for smartphone, and renamed it as Sankei NetView. In 2007, the Sankei Shimbun started a new online newspaper, , in collaboration with Microsoft. In 2014 the Sankei Shimbun rebranded its online news as Sankei News.
In 2017, Sankei Shimbun launched the English language online website Japan Forward.
Ownership
, a national newspaper. , an industry & business & economy newspaper that renamed Nihon Kogyo Shimbun (Japan Industry Newspaper) in March 2004, which ended publication in July 2021. , a Japanese daily sports newspaper since 1955. , a Japanese daily evening tabloid newspaper since 1969. , a horse racing newspaper since 1971. , a Kansai regional evening newspaper that suspended publication in 2002. , a targeted at young people newspaper founded in 2006.
Political stance
The Sankei Shimbun is a nationalist and conservative newspaper. Some book and media outlets have called the Sankei Shimbun a far-right newspaper; the Sankei Shimbun has previously published books denying the atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The Sankei has expressed skepticism that the Kantō Massacre occurred.
Sankei Award, Sankei Prize
– An international art prize founded in 1989 awarded by the Imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art Association in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre and film. – An award founded in 1952. – An award commendating founded in 2002. – The oldest children's literature award in Japan. – Major traditional culture award for the arts of (comedic Japanese verbal entertainment), (Japanese dance), modern dance, classical music and jazz, awarded since 1964. – A major kanji (Japanese calligraphy) award founded in 1984.
Philanthropy
– a medical fund set up in Japan for impoverished children with heart defects. – a nonprofit organization for societal welfare.
Offices
Tokyo Head Office (registered headquarters): Tokyo Sankei Building, 1(Itchome)-7-2, Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo Osaka Head Office: Namba Sankei Building, 2(Nichome)-1-57, Minatomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka Umeda Office: Breeze Tower, 2(Nichome)-4-9, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka Western Office (Fukuoka): Sunlight Building, 5-23-8, Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka