On the first of this month, the tabloid hosted an unconventional funeral that effectively buried its non-smut, or clean, mandate, with its new intent being to bring back “a paper that is a pleasure to read.”
Real estate firm Arms International purchased Naigai Times in November. The goal of the new ownership was to create a media outlet “like the Nikkei newspaper.” It subsequently pulled all of the paper’s adult coverage — which might have included articles pertaining to gentlemen’s clubs and adult video news — starting from April 6. This coincided with the appointment of new management from the beginning of the fiscal year.
However, readers opposed the decision and expressed their displeasure on the paper’s Web site: “I am disappointed with the paper’s direction,” wrote one reader. “To expect business news in an evening paper is irrational from a management point of view.” Another commented, “As to the removal of strip club ads, I won’t continue to purchase the paper.”
Whether these criticisms contributed to the decision or not is not known, but circulation did not improve following the change in format and management was under severe pressure, believes J-cast. An employee in the advertising department said that sales were down and expressed hope that the “revised path would bring back sponsors.”
A shareholder’s meeting was held on May 8, when it was was announced that the tabloid would return to its old format (i.e. a paper with pleasure in mind). Adult content was “reborn” on May 22. On the same day of the funeral proceedings, which took place on Naigai Times’ 60th anniversary, the front page of the tabloid read: “From death to birth.”
The name of the new management company was not revealed, but it was mentioned indicating that the firm is engaged “in various business lines.” The paper is now in the process of selecting a different name.
For confirmatory purposes, a check of the June 17 edition revealed a bikini spread across the back page and, on page 8, a photograph of a G-cup-sized young lady administering the paizuri technique, which involves wrapping a man’s manhood between a pair of breasts.
A representative from Naigai Times tells J-cast: “No one is interested in reading conservative articles in these types of papers. Moreover, we will also provide articles, in addition to those that are adult-oriented, that make for quality reading for commuters returning home from work.” (K.N.)
