Newspaper subscription rate in Japan falls below 50% for first time
More people are getting their news from television programs and the internet.
Japan's newspaper subscription rate has dipped below the 50% mark for the first time, according to a recent survey. The Japan Press Research Institute's fiscal 2026 survey revealed that 49.8% of respondents have monthly subscriptions, marking a 0.3 percentage point decrease from the previous year. This survey, which polled 5,000 individuals aged 18 and above across the nation from July 17 to August 16, was the 19th edition conducted by the institute.
The latest findings also showed that 49.7% of respondents receive news from newspapers weekly, the lowest rate in media consumption. Television from commercial broadcasters topped the list with 84.2% of respondents, followed by internet news at 74.4%, and NHK's TV programs at 69.7%. Radio ranked fifth at 27.6%. For the first time, the survey included questions about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet, with a 62.3% approval rating, primarily driven by younger voters.
The Cabinet's diplomatic stance towards the US garnered 50.1% support, while 52.6% disapproved of its inflation measures. Regarding the potential amendment of the Constitution, 65.6% of respondents expressed interest, but only 31.2% favored revision, with 15.3% opposing the change. Among those in favor, 32.6% preferred adding the Self-Defense Forces to the Constitution.
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