Tokyo's first newspaper

Today, and February 21st annually, marks the anniversary of the first daily newspaper published in Tokyo. On this day in 1872, the Tokyo Nichi‑nichi Shimbun—the predecessor of today’s Mainichi Shimbun—released its first issue. (Shimbun is the Japanese for newspaper).

However, it was not the very first newspaper in Japan. That is believed to have been the Yokohama Mainichi Shimbun which was released a year earlier in 1871. But its lineage has not survived, so for that reason, the Tokyo Nichi Nichi shimbun is often described as the oldest surviving lineage of a daily newspaper in Japan.

The founders of Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun included the writer Jōno Saigiku and the ukiyo‑e artist Ochiai Yoshiiku, with political support from figures like Etō Shinpei. The very first issue was a single sheet printed on one side, sold for 140 mon, with a monthly subscription of 20 momme of silver.