In brief
Mainichi Shimbun Publishing Inc. confirmed the Sunday Mainichi weekly will stop printing on April 27, 2027, citing a shrinking market and rising material costs. The final issue, expected to sell about 30,000 copies, marks the end of a tradition that began in 1922 and included specialty editions such as the 1959 Crown Prince Akihito wedding. Other stories linked time‑sensitive shifts in print media and high‑profile events in finance and entertainment.
Tokyo, April 27 2027 — Mainichi Shimbun Publishing Inc. announced that the Sunday Mainichi weekly will cease publication, bringing its more‑than‑a‑century run to a close. The decision, made amid a shrinking market and rising material costs, will take effect with the final issue on sale this day.
The Sunday Mainichi, launched in April 1922, has long been known as Japan’s oldest general‑interest weekly. Its circulation in the fiscal year ending April 2025 averaged around 30,000 copies. The magazine’s only exception to that modest figure was a special issue that marked Crown Prince Akihito’s 1959 marriage, which sold 1,567,000 copies.
Mainichi Shimbun said the final issue will feature the magazine’s traditional coverage of university admissions, including rankings of high schools by the number of graduates admitted to the University of Tokyo and lists of all successful applicants. The statement also noted that the magazine had carved a niche for itself by reporting on the educational trajectories of Japan’s future leaders.
Aesih magazine, a competing Haiku‑focused print publication, also announced on October 29 that it would cease publication, ending nearly a hundred years of history. The announcement comes amid similar concerns over the sustainability of print media worldwide.
Other big‑name stories this week were less about print. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, admitted a “security incident” that investigators believe involved the theft of roughly 6.3 billion dollars, allegedly by North Korea‑affiliated hackers. Binance said the stolen assets spanned 10 blockchains and that about 3 billion dollars had already been frozen on‑chain.
In a social‑media statement, Binance described its response: “We have worked with blockchain partners to freeze affected assets. The estimated total impact sits at around $6.3B.” Binance added that users’ funds are safe and that losses would be covered by its emergency fund and company assets.
North Korea’s hack reputation is well‑known. U.S. Treasury officials have estimated cumulative thefts by Pyongyang‑affiliated groups at $6.75 billion through 2025, including the $2.02 billion stolen in 2025 alone. The Binance investigation is still ongoing, and the identity of the attackers remains unconfirmed.
In other national news, South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung issued a public statement over the death of veteran actor Choi Bool‑am. Lee called Choi the “father of our era” and praised his portrayal of paternal characters on television. Choi died on October 29 at the age of 87 while receiving treatment at a hospital.
The president’s post on X read: “You will long remain in the hearts of people as a detective who safeguards justice and a loving father.” He quoted Choi’s own words: “Becoming a good actor starts with becoming a good person,” adding that the actor’s legacy would “engrave in our hearts, his will to look into the shadowy places of society and care for the wounds of neighbors.”
Both the president’s condolence and the earlier party remarks by representatives Kim Min‑seok and Jang Dong‑hyeok highlight the actor’s cross‑party appeal and national recognition.
For Mainichi Shimbun, the decision reflects broader economic pressures on print media, while the Binance crisis underlines persistent security vulnerabilities in the crypto sector. The death of Choi Bool‑am underscores the period's cultural reverence for long‑standing public figures.
The sources note a number of unresolved points: the precise financial impact of the Mainichi closure, the final surface‑donuts of future print ventures; the ultimate attribution of Binance’s theft to North Korea remains unverified; and while President Lee’s comments honor Choi, the full extent of his influence on public sentiment is still intact only through the reactions of his peers and the public. The unanswered questions trace a thread of uncertainty that remains open across these public stories.
