Shimbun

Shimbun is the Japanese word for newspaper. It is written with the kanji 新聞, where 新 means “new” and 聞 means “to hear” or “to learn of.” In Japanese usage, shimbun refers to daily news publications and the broader news media industry.

In modern Japanese, shimbun appears in the names of many major newspapers, such as Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and Chunichi Shimbun. These outlets cover national and international news, as well as business, culture, and sports, and many operate extensive online platforms in addition to their print editions.

The term also denotes the press as a whole within Japanese media. Newspapers typically publish daily editions, often available in morning formats, with content centered on national and global events, economic reporting, and feature articles. The industry includes national, regional, and local titles, each serving distinct communities while contributing to public information, watchdog role, and public discourse.

Historically, the word shimbun entered Japanese through Chinese-influenced writing and became established during the modernization of Japan’s press in the Meiji era. Since then, it has remained the standard term for newspapers in Japan and is commonly used in both formal reference and everyday language to designate print and digital news publications.