Shinhyoron Publishing

Shinhyoron Publishing (株式会社新評論, Shinhyoron) is a mid-sized Japanese academic and specialist publisher headquartered in Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. It was founded in 1952 by Mimasaka Tarō, who took the name from Nihon Hyōronsha, the publisher where he had previously worked; the company was initially called Shinhyōronsha and later shortened to Shinhyoron. The house is known for publishing serious, research-oriented books in the humanities, social sciences, and environmental studies, and it has long maintained a particular strength in titles related to Sweden and the Nordic countries, as well as translations of European literature and social thought. Over the decades Shinhyoron has built a catalogue that mixes academic monographs, translated works, and practical books for educators and professionals. Its list includes works such as 『第三世界の経済構造』 (The Economic Structure of the Third World), 『新・受験技法』 (New Exam Techniques), the collected writings of Fujiwara Yasunobu, and the Arts Management series, which includes Miyoshi Naoki's book on concert-hall acoustics. It also publishes the Regional Brand series and has issued travel writings by Stendhal. In recent years the publisher has developed a strong education list, including titles on "Building Thinking Classrooms," "classrooms without answers," and school reform, often tied to events and talks with authors and educators. Shinhyoron remains an independent, privately held company rather than part of a large media group. It operates from its Tokyo office and sells primarily through Japanese bookstores and online channels. The publisher also runs author events and maintains a public presence through its website, where it announces new titles, talks, and reading-related guidance. Its picture-book line consists mainly of translated foreign works, and the company has published detailed guidance on copyright and permission for picture-book storytelling sessions, reflecting its role as a small but conscientious rights holder. As a specialist publisher, Shinhyoron occupies a niche between academic presses and trade publishers, serving readers with a strong intellectual curiosity. Its output is modest in scale but consistent in focus, and it continues to release new titles each year across education, social theory, area studies, and the arts.

Shinhyoron Publishing was founded in 1952 by Mimasaka Tarō. The name was derived from Nihon Hyōronsha, the publisher where Mimasaka had worked, and the company was first called Shinhyōronsha before later changing its name to Shinhyoron. From its early years the house positioned itself as a publisher of serious, specialist books, focusing on the humanities, social sciences, and environmental topics. A significant turning point came in 1990, when Fujiwara Yoshio, one of Shinhyoron's leading editors, left to establish Fujiwara Shoten. At the same time, the rights to many of the books Fujiwara had edited at Shinhyoron were transferred to Fujiwara Shoten. This split shaped the subsequent direction of both publishers and marked a notable moment in the Japanese publishing world. Despite such changes, Shinhyoron continued to publish a steady stream of academic and specialist titles. Its catalogue came to include works such as 『第三世界の経済構造』 (The Economic Structure of the Third World), 『新・受験技法』 (New Exam Techniques), the collected writings of Fujiwara Yasunobu, and the Arts Management series, which features Miyoshi Naoki's book on concert-hall acoustics. The publisher also developed the Regional Brand series and issued travel writings by Stendhal. A particular strength in books about Sweden and the Nordic region became a recognizable feature of its list. In the 2010s and 2020s, Shinhyoron expanded its education list, publishing titles on "classrooms without answers," "Building Thinking Classrooms," and school reform, often accompanied by author events and talks. The company also publishes translated picture books and provides detailed guidance on copyright and permissions for picture-book storytelling, reflecting its role as a small but careful rights holder. It remains an independent, privately held publisher based in Tokyo, releasing new titles each year across its core fields.

• 2026

  Scheduled talk event with Peter Liljedahl and Wakako Arisawa at Kinokuniya Shinjuku for the Japanese edition of Building Thinking Classrooms.

• 1990

  Editor Fujiwara Yoshio left to found Fujiwara Shoten; rights to many books he edited at Shinhyoron were transferred to the new company.

• 1952

  Founded by Mimasaka Tarō; initially named Shinhyōronsha, later changed to Shinhyoron.

Independent specialist publisher of humanities, social science, and environmental books for intellectually curious readers.

Product categories. Academic monographs · Humanities and social science books · Environmental studies titles · Translated foreign literature · Education and teaching books · Picture books (translated)

1. 1新評論 公式サイトshinhyoron.co.jp
2. 2絵本の読み聞かせについて | 新評論shinhyoron.co.jp
3. 3Shinhyoron Publishing - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4新評論 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org