Tokyo – Japan’s oldest general-interest weekly, Sunday Mainichi, will cease print operations in April 2027, the publisher Mainichi Shimbun announced on Friday, citing a shrinking marketplace and rising material costs. The final issue will be issued on April 27 2027.
Confirmed facts: Sunday Mainichi, launched in April 1922, has been a staple of Japanese newsprint for more than a century, noted for its coverage of university admissions and rankings of high schools. According to Mainichi Shimbun Publishing Inc., the magazine’s average circulation stood at about 30,000 copies in fiscal 2025, and the final issue is expected to sell roughly that many copies. The final issue will go on sale on April 27 2027.
Unconfirmed: No additional details about the financial outcome of the shutdown, potential digital transition plans, or post‑closure support for staff have been confirmed.
