General

Q: I want to place ads and would like to know how much it will cost. 

A: Advertising rates depend on the type of ads, their size, coverage area, and whether they appear in the morning or evening edition.  This site contains the "Ad Rate Simulator" to give you a general idea of how much it will cost.
Click here to go to the Ad Rate Simulator.

Q: Do you offer bulk discounts?

A: Yes.  Bulk discounts are available corresponding to your ad volume over a six-month period.  For details, contact your local agency rep or The Asahi Shimbun rep. 

Q: What is the total circulation of The Asahi Shimbun? Where can I find data on circulation in certain areas?

A: The nationwide paid circulation of The Asahi Shimbun's morning edition is 8,321,934 copies and that of the evening edition is 4,003,570 copies (ABC Report of Jan.-Jun. 2002).  Data on area-specific circulation is available on the page below.
Click here to go to the page with sales statistics.

Q: Do you accept ad placements in languages other than Japanese?

A: Ads in languages other than Japanese are permissible under The Asahi Shimbun's Advertising Acceptability Standards.  For the sake of efficiency and effectiveness, however, it is advisable to communicate your message to the Japanese market in Japanese, except in special cases with special reasons.  The Asahi Shimbun translates Recruitment and Classified Ads into Japanese at no extra charge.

Q: Does The Asahi Shimbun publish an English daily?

A: Six days a week, we publish The International Herald Tribune/The Asahi Shimbun (IHT/Asahi), the world's first English-language newspaper with a double masthead. 
Click here to get more information about the IHT/Asahi.

Arranging Ad Placements

Q: What are the deadlines for booking an ad placement?

A: Two weeks before the publication date for a black-and-white ad; four weeks before the publication date for a color ad.
Click here.

Q: Can I specify the date of publication and the page of insertion?

A: You can specify a date of publication.  In some cases, however, the date may change slightly, depending on the volume of ad bookings, fast-breaking stories, and unexpected changes in articles.  In general, you cannot specify the page. 

Q: How far in advance will the date of publication and page of insertion be finalized?

A: In principle, they will be finalized a few days before the date of publication.  The Asahi Shimbun will notify you of the date of publication and page of insertion via your rep. 

Ad Materials

Q: When is the deadline for sending ad materials to the printer?

A: The ad materials must arrive at The Asahi Shimbun's Tokyo Headquarters at least two working days before the publication date for a black-and-white ad; two weeks before the publication date for a color ad. 
Click here.

Q: What are the formats for ad materials?

A: Formats differ for black-and-white and color ads.  Check the link below for details.
Click here for technical information.

Q: Where and how should ad materials be sent to the printer?

A: Generally, your ad rep will handle the job of sending materials to the printer.  Please be certain that you get the materials to your rep in time and in the proper format.

Q: Does The Asahi Shimbun have acceptability guidelines that apply to advertising content?

A: The Asahi Shimbun will not publish any content that contravenes public decency or engenders discrimination.  Because of its role in serving the public interest, the paper also does not publish personal ads soliciting pen pals or e-mail pals.  Consult the link below for more information about The Asahi Shimbun's Advertising Acceptability Guidelines. 
Click here to go to The Asahi Shimbun's Advertising Acceptability Guidelines.

Q: How can I get a copy of the paper in which my insertion appeared?

A: After publication, The Asahi Shimbun sends a copy to the rep, so just ask your rep.  Please consult with your rep in advance if you need a large number of copies.  Extra copies will be invoiced separately. 

Payment

Q: Can I pay advertising fees directly to The Asahi Shimbun?

A: The Asahi Shimbun does not deal directly with advertisers.  All overseas placements are handled through reps. 

Q: Tell me about payment conditions.  Can I pay in US dollars, Euros, and other currencies?

A: All advertising fees are payable in Japanese yen, and all payments to The Asahi Shimbun are handled by reps.  For these reasons, the dates of payment, the currency exchange rate, and the currencies you can use depend on the rep's policy.  Please consult with your nearest rep for details. 

Q: Can I pay via credit card?

A: All payments to The Asahi Shimbun are handled by reps.  Whether or not you can use a credit card depends on the rep's policy.  Please consult with your nearest rep for details.