In brief
The long‑running Sunday Mainichi, a publisher of university admissions rankings, will cease publication next month after a 105‑year run. The decision follows a shrinking market and rising paper costs, according to the publisher. Final circulation numbers average 30,000 copies, but a 1959 special issue sold 1.57 million copies.
Japan’s oldest general‑interest weekly, Sunday Mainichi, will stop printing after 105 years. The final issue will hit stands on April 27, 2027, according to a Kyodo News report.
Mainichi Shimbun Publishing Inc., the magazine’s owner, said the decision comes from a shrinking market for print and rising costs of materials. The publisher explained that advertising revenue has fallen and the cost of paper and ink has risen sharply.
Sunday Mainichi launched in April 1922, making it Japan’s longest‑running weekly. Its reputation grew through detailed university admissions coverage, especially rankings of high schools by the number of graduates accepted to the prestigious University of Tokyo and lists naming all successful applicants.
In fiscal 2025, the magazine’s average circulation was about 30,000 copies. That is a steep drop from its 1959 special issue that marked Crown Prince Akihito’s marriage, which sold 1,567,000 copies.
With its final issue, Sunday Mainichi will close a chapter in Japanese print journalism. Fans of its in‑depth educational reporting say the loss will leave a gap in the information source most students and parents rely on.
