Japan newspaper distributors face rising bankruptcies

Japanese newspaper distributors are facing a significant rise in bankruptcies. According to Tokyo Shoko Research, 31 distributors went bankrupt between January and July, a 29.1% increase compared to the same period last year. This trend is driven by a “quadruple hardship” consisting of declining sales, labor shortages due to an aging workforce, rising raw material costs for paper and ink, and increased transportation expenses.

The industry is seeing a massive decline in circulation. Data from the Japan Newspaper Association shows that circulation fell to 24.86 million copies as of October 2025, down from approximately 53.70 million in 2000. Major publishers are already reacting; Sankei Shimbun announced it will suspend publication of its newspaper and Sankei Sports in six Tohoku prefectures starting November 30.