Metropolis (free magazine) explained

Metropolis
Frequency:Monthly
Circulation:30,000 (2006, unverified)
Category:News magazine
Company:Japan Partnership Inc.
Firstdate:February 1994
Country:Japan
Based:Tokyo
Language:English

Metropolis is a 32-to-48-page free monthly city guide, news and classified ads glossy magazine published by Japan Partnership Inc. targeting the English-speaking community in Tokyo, Japan. As of April 2011, its circulation was claimed to be 30,000.[1]

History

The magazine was first published in 1994 as the Tokyo Classified. Early editions, in the broadsheet style, consisted of classified advertisements sourced from shop notice boards.[2] Initially distributed with the Daily Yomiuri, the free magazine is now distributed across Tokyo and beyond to companies, embassies, hotels, bars and restaurants.[3] The magazine was originally owned and operated by Mark and Mary Devlin, renamed Metropolis in 2001, and sold to Japan Inc. Holdings in 2007.[1]

Since 1999 the magazine hosted an annual Halloween party "Glitterball" at Roppongi's Velfarre club at other notable clubs around Tokyo. Between 2003 and 2010, Metropolis donated some of the profits each year to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Japan and the YMCA.[4]

Metropolis is now owned by Japan Partnership Holdings Inc.[5] From 2020, Metropolis became a quarterly magazine, mainly publishing its content online via its website and social media platforms.

Notes and References

  1. Simone, Gianni, "English mags approach milestone, crossroads", The Japan Times, 26 April 2011, p. 12.
  2. Web site: Billy Adams. Big in Japan. https://archive.today/20120919011347/http://www.markdevlin.com/Articles/businessam/businessam.htm. dead. 19 September 2012. 28 April 2007. Business A.M. 11 December 2002.
  3. Web site: Jonathon Walsh. Life in the Metropolis: Mark Devlin, CEO & Publisher, Crisscross K.K.. Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo. 7 September 2004. 23 February 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080314003058/http://www.ea-tokyo.com/seminars/seminarsummaries/20040907.php. 14 March 2008.
  4. Web site: Karen Foster. A Good Cause. The Japan Times. 23 February 2008.
  5. Web site: Report for Publisher of Free Paper: Metropolis. Metropolis. 2006. 23 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20071016092628/http://metropolis.co.jp/Aboutus/abc/abc.html . 16 October 2007.