Bungei Shunjū (magazine) explained

Frequency:Monthly
Category:Political
Literary
Publisher:Bungeishunjū
Founder:Kan Kikuchi
Country:Japan
Based:Tokyo
Language:Japanese
Website:Bungeishunjū

is a Japanese monthly magazine based in Tokyo, Japan.

History and profile

Bungei Shunjū was started by writer Kikuchi Kan (1888–1948) in 1923.[1] [2] The name of the magazine and publishing house came from the title of the literary review column in the magazine Shinchō by Kan. Bungei Shunjū is published on a monthly basis. The magazine's stance is described as conservative,[3] [4] with strong support for the emperor. The headquarters of the magazine is in Tokyo.

Bungei Shunjū covers a wide range of topics from politics to sports. Each issue usually contains about 30 articles by politicians, researchers, journalists or non-fiction writers. It is claimed that the magazine never features articles by members of the Japanese Communist Party or the Social Democratic Party but this is actually false as there are some exceptions. It has published writing by Takako Doi, former leader of the Japan Socialist Party, in September 2005, and by Tetsuzo Fuwa, the chairman of the secretariat of the JCP, when the Soviet Union collapsed.

In 1974 Bungei Shunjū published an article concerning bribery allegations regarding the then Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka.[5] Following the event he was arrested in 1976.[5]

The magazine grants literary awards every year. The February issues announces recipients of . In the March and September issues the Akutagawa Prize, established in 1935,[6] recipients are announced; in June issues the Ohya non-fiction prize; in July issues the recipients of the Matsumoto Seichō prize; and the December issues announce recipients of the Kikuchi Kan prize which was started by the magazine in 1939.[7] The prize is named for Kikuchi Kan who is the founder of the magazine.[7]

In 2006 Bungei Shunjū sold 620,850 copies.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Magazines in Japan: 1867-1988. Kanzaki. 7 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Bungeishunju Ltd.. J'lit. 27 October 2013.
  3. Book: Tetsuya Kataoka. The Price of a Constitution: The Origin of Japan's Postwar Politics. 1991. Crane Russak. 9780844817149. New York.
  4. News: Labeled the reporter who "fabricated" the comfort woman issue: A Rebuttal. The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus. 13 April 2016.
  5. News: Mariko Oi. The Japanese magazine shaking up the cosy media club. 15 September 2016. BBC. 21 April 2016.
  6. News: Rudiger Wischenbart. The Top Seven Japanese Publishing Companies from PW's Global Ranking 2009. 1 May 2016. Publishers Weekly. 21 June 2010.
  7. Book: Jane Clapp. International Dictionary of Literary Awards. 1963. Scarecrow Press. New York. 192. 327723.
  8. Web site: Manga Anthology Circulations 2004-2006. ComiPress. 6 February 2017. 27 December 2007.