Takarajimasha

Takarajimasha, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社宝島社, Hepburn: Kabushiki Gaisha Takarajimasha) is a Japanese publishing company based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is known for publishing subculture-oriented fashion magazines aimed at teens,^[4][5] fashion magazines in general, as well as guide books.

Takarajimasha, Inc.

Takarajimasha headquarters
Predecessor	Takarajima Photo Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Founded	September 22, 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09-22)
Country of origin	Japan
Headquarters location	Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Makoto Sekigawa[1][2] (President)
Fiction genres	Fashion magazines
Revenue	¥300.9 million[3]
No. of employees	212 (as of September 2013)[3]
Official website	tkj.jp

History

The company was founded on September 22, 1971 as a consulting business of local government titled JICC, Inc. (株式会社ジェー・アイ・シー・シー) and a successor of the former Takarajima Photo Chemicals Co., Ltd. that was founded in 1918.^[6] Established by some Waseda University former revolutionary students, in May 1974 it started to publish its first magazine, Takarajima, a Japanese subculture focused magazine,^[4][7] which was followed by Bessatsu Takarajima in March 1976.^[6] Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!, a guide book magazine, was first published in December 1989,^[6] while fashion magazine Cutie^[5] was first published in September 1989.^[6] On April 1, 1993, its name changed to Takarajimasha.^[6] Smart, Spring, and Sweet, all young-targeted fashion magazines,^[5][8] are published since October 1995, February 1996, and March 1999 respectively.^[6] Takarajimasha is also known for creating in 2005 the concept of "brand mook", a mook^{[note 1]} featuring a catalogue of new items of a brand and limited edition product of this brand.^[8]

Publications

Fashion

Targeted to teen girls

• Cutie
• Spring
• Mini
• Steady

Targeted to women in their 20s and 30s

• Sweet
• InRed
• Mori Girl Lesson ^[9]

Targeted to women in their 40s

• Glow
• Linen (リンネル, Rinneru)

Targeted to men

• Smart
• Men's Roses

Other

Currently

• Takarajima (宝島)
• Bessatsu Takarajima (別冊宝島)
• Kono Mystery ga Sugoi!
• Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!
• Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (このマンガがすごい!)
• Kono Anime ga Sugoi! (このアニメがすごい!)
• Kono Eiga ga Sugoi! (この映画がすごい!)
• Inakagurashi no Hon (田舎暮らしの本)

Former

• Weekly Shōnen Takarajima (週刊少年宝島, Shūkan Shōnen Takarajima)
• CUTiE Comic
• Takarajima 30 (宝島30)
• Famicom Hisshō Hon (ファミコン必勝本)
• UltraOne (ウルトラONE, Urutora Wan)
• Boom
• Band Yarouze (バンドやろうぜ, Bando Yarouze)

Notes

1. A mook is a book that has the content and format of magazine, but is designed to be for sale for a longer period than a magazine, like a book is.^[8]