Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun - Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun

Tokyo's first daily newspaper was launched on February 21, 1872 (Meiji 5). It was originally published by Jono Saigiku (a comic writer), Ochiai Yoshiiku (an ukiyo-e artist), and Nishida Densuke (a bookshop manager), but in the following year, Hokiyama Kageo and Kishida Ginko joined the company, and Kishida's first military service was in Taiwan in May 1874, bringing a lively story to the paper. Fukuchi Ochi joined the company next, and began publishing editorials on December 2 and increased the paper's authority by promoting itself as a "publication service for the Dajokan," solidifying the paper's character and status as a major representative newspaper. From then on, Fukuchi's editorials had an impact on the government and various sectors of society, and played the role of the government's official gazette.

However, as the Freedom and People's Rights Movement gained momentum, Fukuchi's views on sovereignty of the Emperor and gradualism led to him being increasingly criticized as a "government-friendly journalist," and the influence of the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun began to decline around the time Fukuchi organized the pro-government Imperial Party in 1882. In an attempt to regain influence, the newspaper tried to publish morning and evening editions for a year, the first such attempt in Japan, but the situation did not change, and in July 1888 Fukuchi left the company. Thereafter, the newspaper was presided over by Seki Naohiko, Ito Miyoji, and Asahina Chisen, and became a newspaper affiliated with the Choshu faction of Ito Hirobumi, Inoue Kaoru, and Yamagata Aritomo. When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the newspaper supported Ito's policies and advocated diplomatic negotiations with Russia until the end. In 1904 (Meiji 37), it came into the hands of Mitsubishi, but continued to suffer losses, and in March 1918, it came under the management of the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun, developing into a national newspaper (though the title remained the same), and in January 1943 (Showa 18), the title was unified as the Mainichi Shimbun.

[Akihiko Sunohara]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1872年（明治5）2月21日に創刊された東京初の日刊紙。条野採菊(じょうのさいぎく)（戯作(げさく)者）、落合芳幾(よしいく)（浮世絵師）、西田伝助（本屋の番頭）が発刊した新聞だが、翌73年甫喜山(ほきやま)景雄、岸田吟香(ぎんこう)が入社、岸田は74年5月台湾出兵に初めて従軍、紙上をにぎわわせた。ついで福地桜痴(おうち)が入社、12月2日から社説を掲載するとともに「太政官(だじょうかん)記事印行御用」を掲げて権威を高め、代表的大(おお)新聞としての性格と地位を固めた。以後、福地の論説は政府ならびに各界に影響を及ぼすとともに、政府の官報の役割を果たした。

　しかし、自由民権運動が盛んになるとともに、福地の主権在君論や漸進主義は、しだいに「御用記者」との批判を強め、82年、福地が政府支持の帝政党を組織したころから『東京日日新聞』の勢力は失墜し始めた。85年には勢力挽回(ばんかい)のため、わが国で初めて朝夕刊発行を1年間試みたりしたが形勢は変わらず、88年7月福地は退社、以後、関直彦(せきなおひこ)、伊東巳代治(みよじ)、朝比奈知泉(ちせん)が主宰し、伊藤博文(ひろぶみ)、井上馨(かおる)、山県有朋(やまがたありとも)らの長州閥系紙となる。日露開戦のときは、伊藤の政策を支持、最後まで対露外交交渉を説いた。1904年（明治37）三菱(みつびし)の手に渡るが欠損が続き、11年3月『大阪毎日新聞』の経営下に入り、全国紙へと発展（題号はそのまま）、43年（昭和18）1月『毎日新聞』に題号を統一した。

［春原昭彦］

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