In Japan, once called a “publishing powerhouse,” sales of paper books and magazines fell below 1 trillion yen in half a century last year.
The Japanese Institute of Publishing Science announced on the 26th that estimated sales of paper books and magazines last year were 964.7 billion yen, down 4.1% from the previous year.
It is the first time since 1975 that paper book sales have been below 1 trillion yen. Last year’s estimated sales were less than 40 percent compared to 2.65 trillion yen in 1996, when paper books were sold the most.
Among paper books, there was no significant difference in book sales compared to 2024, but magazine sales reportedly decreased by 10.0%.
Some long-published Japanese magazines were closed last year or increased the interval between publications.
The Institute of Publishing Science analyzed that the paper magazine recession continues due to the spread of the Internet, a decrease in bookstores, and a reduction in convenience store sales.
Electronic publishing sales rose 2.7% year-on-year to 581.5 billion yen due to the growth of the webtoon market.
Sales of paper books, magazines, and electronic publishing were 1.5462 trillion yen, down 1.6% from the previous year.
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
