How a major Japanese newspaper became a lightning rod for nationalist and conservative ideology

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Sankei Shimbun is one of Japan's top five newspapers, but its influence extends far beyond the newsroom. As a pillar of the Fujisankei Communications Group, it has shifted from liberal roots to a staunchly conservative, nationalist stance, frequently sparking international controversy over its historical revisionism and social commentary.

Originally formed through the merger of Jiji News and Nihon Kogyo Shimbun, the Sankei Shimbun underwent a significant ideological transformation in 1958. Following an acquisition by Shigeo Mizuno and Nobutaka Shikanai, the publication pivoted from a liberal perspective to a conservative one, a shift known as Tenko. This era also saw the founders establish Fuji Television, cementing the paper's place within the powerful Fujisankei Communications Group. Today, the organization remains a major media player, deeply integrated into Japanese broadcasting through entities like Radio Osaka and various regional television stations.

The newspaper is frequently criticized for its nationalist editorial line. It has been accused of minimizing or denying Imperial Japanese war crimes, including the Nanjing Massacre and the comfort women system. In 2015, the paper published History Wars: Japan – False Indictment of the Century, a book questioning the veracity of historical accounts regarding wartime atrocities. This revisionist approach has led to friction, most notably in 2014 when South Korea filed defamation charges against the paper’s Seoul bureau chief, Tatsuya Kato, over an article regarding then-president Park Geun-hye. Kato was eventually acquitted, with the court citing the importance of press freedom.

Beyond political reporting, the Sankei Shimbun maintains a complex public profile. It manages several prestigious cultural and social awards, such as the Praemium Imperiale and the Sankei Children's Book Award, while also supporting welfare initiatives like the Akemi Chan Fund. However, its editorial choices continue to draw scrutiny. In 2015, columnist Ayako Sono sparked outrage by suggesting that Japan should adopt a system of racial separation for immigrants, citing South African apartheid as a model. More recently, in 2025, correspondents alleged that the paper has played a significant role in spreading anti-Kurdish sentiment in Japan, illustrating the ongoing tension between its status as a legacy media institution and its controversial political advocacy.

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