Newton Press
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJapanese publisher of the science magazine Newton and its book and digital imprints.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
Newton Press (株式会社ニュートンプレス) is a Japanese publishing company best known as the publisher of Newton, a monthly popular-science magazine launched in 1981. The company was originally established on 15 October 1974 as Kyōikusha Shuppan Service Co., Ltd. (教育社出版サービス株式会社), a subsidiary of the educational publisher Kyōikusha. It adopted its current name, Newton Press, on 16 October 1996. In 1997 the publishing rights to Newton were transferred from Kyōikusha to Newton Press, which has since been the magazine's publisher. Newton is characterized by full-page illustrations, vivid photography, and accessible reporting based on interviews with leading researchers. It was founded with Takeuchi Hitoshi, a former University of Tokyo professor, as editor-in-chief, and was inspired by the American magazine National Geographic. The first issue appeared in July 1981 at a cover price of 800 yen; an estimated 400,000 copies were printed, and the magazine helped spark a boom in general-interest science magazines in Japan. It survived the wave of science-magazine closures in the 1990s. International editions have been published in South Korea, China, and Taiwan, and the magazine reached its 400th issue with the November 2014 edition. Beyond the flagship monthly, Newton Press publishes Newton Bessatsu (special issues), mooks, and books, including the Newton Daizukan series, Newton Chōzukai Shinsho, and educational titles such as "Nanmondai no Keitō to Sono Tokikata: Butsuri." It also offers digital editions through Kindle and other platforms, and provides illustration creation and rental services as well as commissioned planning and design of science and technology pamphlets. The company faced a major crisis in 2017 when its then-president was arrested on suspicion of violating the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Control Act (出資法), leading to deterioration of its finances. Newton Press filed for civil rehabilitation (民事再生) with the Tokyo District Court on 20 February 2017, received a preservation order the same day, and a commencement decision on 24 February 2017. A rehabilitation plan was approved on 20 September 2017, and the company completed civil rehabilitation in 2020. On 5 October 2023, Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc., the publishing subsidiary of the Asahi Shimbun Company, acquired all shares of Newton Press, making it a wholly owned subsidiary and a member of the Asahi Shimbun Group. This marked the return of science-magazine publishing to Asahi Shimbun Publications after a 23-year absence, following the closure of its predecessor's rival magazine Kagaku Asahi in 2000. As of the mid-2020s, Newton Press continues to publish Newton monthly (on the 26th of each month, or the 25th if the 26th is a Sunday, priced at 1,190 yen including tax as of March 2024) along with a wide range of special issues, books, and digital products. The company is headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, with capital of 10 million yen. Its executives include Chairman Ryōta Enman, President Yōtarō Matsuda, and directors Hideo Satō, Kiichirō Soeda, and Shinya Nakamura.
History
Newton Press traces its origins to Kyōikusha Shuppan Service Co., Ltd. (教育社出版サービス株式会社), established on 15 October 1974 as a subsidiary of the educational publisher Kyōikusha. On 16 October 1996, the company changed its name to Newton Press Co., Ltd. (株式会社ニュートンプレス). The flagship magazine Newton was launched in 1981 by Kyōikusha, with Takeuchi Hitoshi, who had just retired from the University of Tokyo, as editor-in-chief. Inspired by the American magazine National Geographic, Newton was designed to appeal to a broad readership with clear writing and striking visuals. The first issue was the July 1981 edition, priced at 800 yen; subscribers from the first issue received a non-sale "issue 0." The initial print run was reportedly 400,000 copies, and the magazine helped ignite a general-interest science magazine boom in Japan. In 1997, the publishing rights to Newton were transferred from Kyōikusha to its affiliate Newton Press, which became the magazine's publisher. Takeuchi served as editor-in-chief until his death in April 2004. The following year, Mizutani Hitoshi, a former professor at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of JAXA, became editor-in-chief, serving until March 2016. Newton survived the wave of closures that hit Japanese science magazines in the 1990s. International editions were published in South Korea, China, and Taiwan, and the magazine reached its 400th issue with the November 2014 edition. In February 2017, Newton Press's former president was arrested on suspicion of violating the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Control Act (出資法) for allegedly soliciting investments from 266 Newton subscribers between December 2014 and March 2016, collecting about 700 million yen, much of which was used for Newton Press's operating funds. On 20 February 2017, Newton Press filed for civil rehabilitation with the Tokyo District Court, receiving a preservation order the same day and a commencement decision on 24 February 2017. The company stated that it considered maintaining and continuing the magazine its social mission and would devote itself to rebuilding. On 22 June 2017, the former president was sentenced by the Yamaguchi District Court to two years in prison, suspended for three years, and fined 1 million yen. On 20 September 2017, the Tokyo District Court approved the rehabilitation plan. Newton Press completed civil rehabilitation in 2020. On 5 October 2023, Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc., the publishing subsidiary of the Asahi Shimbun Company, announced it had acquired all shares of Newton Press, making it a wholly owned subsidiary and a member of the Asahi Shimbun Group. Because Asahi Shimbun Publications' predecessor, the Asahi Shimbun Publishing Bureau, had once published the rival science magazine Kagaku Asahi (discontinued in 2000), this marked the return of science magazine publishing to Asahi Shimbun Publications after 23 years. From April 2024, feature pages from the latest issue of Newton began appearing in the Asahi Shimbun morning edition on the last Sunday of each month, with the same content also published on Asahi Shimbun Digital; from April 2026, the publication day was changed to the last Wednesday of the month due to a change in the weekend supplement "be." As of the mid-2020s, Newton Press continues to publish Newton monthly and a wide range of special issues, books, and digital editions, and remains headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.
Kyōikusha Shuppan Service Co., Ltd. established.
First issue of Newton magazine published by Kyōikusha, with Takeuchi Hitoshi as editor-in-chief.
Company renamed Newton Press Co., Ltd.
Publishing rights to Newton transferred from Kyōikusha to Newton Press.
Founding editor-in-chief Takeuchi Hitoshi dies.
Mizutani Hitoshi becomes editor-in-chief.
Newton reaches its 400th issue.
Mizutani Hitoshi retires as editor-in-chief.
Former president of Newton Press arrested on suspicion of violating the Investment Deposit Act.
Newton Press files for civil rehabilitation with the Tokyo District Court.
Products and positioning
Popular science publisher known for visually rich, accessible explanations of science for a broad readership.
科学雑誌Newton
Monthly popular science magazine launched in 1981, known for full-page illustrations and accessible reporting.
Newton別冊・ムック
Special issues and mook editions focusing on single themes with expanded content.
Newton大図鑑シリーズ
Large-format illustrated science reference books.
ニュートン超図解新書
Pocket-sized illustrated science books.
Kindle版Newton
Digital edition of the magazine's main feature articles available through the Kindle Store.
iPad版Newton
Digital edition for iPad, formerly known as Newton International Edition (2012–2019).
Sources5 sources
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