Shobunsha

Shobunsha is a Japanese publishing and information-services company whose core identity was built around maps, road atlases, travel guides, and related location information. Founded in Osaka in 1960 by Toshio Kuroda, the company was established with the aim of making practical maps for ordinary users rather than producing only specialist cartographic materials. Its early city maps gained recognition, and the business expanded into prefectural maps, road maps, mountain maps, travel publications, and eventually digital mapping services. The company’s best-known commercial franchise is Mapple, a family of map and travel-guide products that includes the Super Mapple road-map series and Mappuru travel guides. These publications helped Shobunsha secure a strong position in Japan’s consumer road-map and travel-guide markets. The company also developed specialized and adjacent products, including mountain and highland maps, disaster-evacuation support maps, travel magazines, destination information, hotel-reservation services, and electronic mapping software. In 2008 it introduced Kotorippu, a travel-guide series aimed particularly at younger women and lifestyle-oriented travelers; the line later expanded into a quarterly magazine. Shobunsha’s development reflects the broader transformation of cartography from printed publishing into digital information services. In the 1990s, it introduced electronic mapping software and began operating SiMAP, its proprietary map-database and map-production system. The company used these capabilities to revise its map designs and support the production of information for multiple formats. It also launched Mappuru Link in 2010 as a free application for readers of its travel magazine, linking printed editorial content with mobile services. The spread of smartphone navigation and map applications placed sustained pressure on Shobunsha’s traditional publishing model. In fiscal 2018, the company anticipated a net loss and sought voluntary early retirement from approximately 80 employees, representing about one-fifth of its workforce at the time. This period encouraged a more explicit shift toward information services and digital map-related operations while the company continued to maintain established print brands. Shobunsha became a public company through an over-the-counter listing in 1996, joined the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1999, and moved to the First Section in 2000. On April 1, 2020, it reorganized as a holding-company group. The former operating company changed its name to Shobunsha Holdings Co., Ltd., while business activities were transferred to Shobunsha Co., Ltd., Mapuru Co., Ltd., and MEGURU Co., Ltd. The restructuring separated the group’s holding, publishing, and operating functions while preserving the Mapple-related businesses and the broader map-information heritage. Shobunsha is therefore best understood not simply as a traditional map publisher but as a Japanese location-information brand house combining cartographic publishing, travel editorial products, digital map databases, and related services. Its principal market remains Japan, where printed road maps and travel guides continue to carry strong brand recognition even as navigation and destination discovery increasingly move to smartphones and online platforms.

Shobunsha was founded in 1960 in Higashi-ku, Osaka, by Toshio Kuroda, who had previously worked as an outside sales representative for Jinbunsha. Kuroda’s stated business concept was to produce maps for the general public rather than focus exclusively on specialized cartography. The company’s first commercial publications included a map of Osaka City sections and a detailed map of Kawachi City. These early products were well received and established the foundation for a broader consumer-map business. In 1963, Shobunsha opened a Tokyo sales office, launched the Newest publication, and began producing prefectural maps, prefectural road maps, and mountain maps. The company was incorporated as Shobunsha Co., Ltd. in 1964. Its headquarters moved to Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, in 1968, and the publisher produced an aerial map connected with Expo ’70 in Osaka in 1970. In 1972, it issued the Grand Prix Road Atlas, its first book-format road atlas. The headquarters moved again in 1977, this time to Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The company entered travel publishing in 1978. It later expanded into magazines, launching the Mappuru travel-information magazine in 1989. In 1991, it introduced the Super Mapple road-map series, reinforcing its position in the Japanese consumer road-map market. Shobunsha began its transition toward digital cartography in 1995, when it released Mapple Life electronic mapping software and started operating SiMAP, its proprietary map-database and production system. This period also involved changes to the company’s map design and production processes. Shobunsha’s capital-market profile developed during the same period. Its shares were listed on the Japanese over-the-counter market in 1996. Eiji Aoyagi became president in 1998. The company joined the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section in March 1999 and was promoted to the First Section in March 2000. In 2003, it published its first weekly part-work, Nihon no Meiyu, focused on Japan’s famous hot springs. Shigeo Kuroda became president in 2005. During the 2000s, Shobunsha pursued adjacent travel and information businesses. It entered hotel reservations in 2007 and launched the Kotorippu guidebook series in 2008. Kotorippu was positioned toward younger women and combined destination information with a more lifestyle-oriented presentation. In 2010, Shobunsha introduced Mappuru Link, a free application intended to supplement the print Mappuru magazine. The company continued this editorial expansion with Kotorippu Magazine, a quarterly travel-lifestyle publication launched in 2014. The rapid adoption of smartphone navigation and digital map applications created a structural challenge for printed road maps and guidebooks. In 2018, Shobunsha projected a net loss for the fiscal year and solicited voluntary early retirement from approximately 80 employees, or about 20 percent of its workforce. At the same time, the company emphasized the development of information services and map production through SiMAP, seeking to apply its cartographic assets in a digital environment. On April 1, 2020, Shobunsha implemented a holding-company reorganization. The original Shobunsha Co., Ltd. changed its name to Shobunsha Holdings Co., Ltd. Its operating businesses were transferred through an absorption-type company split to three entities: Shobunsha Co., Ltd., Mapuru Co., Ltd., and MEGURU Co., Ltd. The restructuring separated the group’s holding role from its operating businesses while preserving its principal map, travel-guide, and location-information activities. Across its history, Shobunsha has moved from city and road-map publishing toward a mixed model encompassing travel editorial products, digital cartography, mobile services, and broader location information. Its Mapple and related brands remain central to its public identity, while its strategic challenge has been adapting the practical value of printed maps and guidebooks to a market increasingly shaped by smartphones, online discovery, and digital navigation.

• 2020

  Holding-company restructuring completed

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha became part of a holding-company structure involving Shobunsha Holdings, Shobunsha, Mapuru, and MEGURU.

• 2014

  Kotorippu Magazine launched

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  A quarterly travel-lifestyle magazine was added to the Kotorippu brand.

• 2008

  Kotorippu launched

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced a travel-guide series aimed at younger women.

• 2000

  Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section listing

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha moved up to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

• 1999

  Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section listing

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  The company listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

• 1996

  Over-the-counter listing

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha shares were listed on Japan’s over-the-counter market.

• 1995

  Digital mapping initiatives begin

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha released Mapple Life software and began operating the SiMAP map database.

• 1991

  Super Mapple introduced

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched its Super Mapple road-map series.

• 1989

  Mappuru magazine launched

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha entered travel magazines with Mappuru.

• 1978

  Travel-guide publishing begins

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered the travel-guidebook market.

• 1972

  Grand Prix Road Atlas published

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Shobunsha released its first book-format road atlas.

• 1964

  Shobunsha incorporated

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  The business was formally incorporated as Shobunsha Co., Ltd.

• 1960

  Company founded in Osaka

  [1]Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org

  Toshio Kuroda founded Shobunsha in Osaka with a focus on practical maps for general users.

A Japanese consumer-oriented cartography and travel-information specialist that combines established print map and guidebook brands with digital mapping and location-information services.

• Road maps and travel guides

  Mapple

  Mapple is Shobunsha’s principal map and travel-information brand. It encompasses consumer road maps, guidebooks, and related travel products designed to help users plan journeys and navigate destinations in Japan. The brand represents the company’s historical strength in combining cartographic information with editorial recommendations and practical travel content.

• Road-map series · 1991

  Super Mapple

  Super Mapple is a major road-map series launched in 1991. It extended Shobunsha’s established prefectural and regional mapping activities into a recognizable book-format product line for motorists and other travelers. The series is associated with detailed Japanese road and location information presented for practical consumer use.

• Travel guides and magazine · 1989

  Mappuru

  Mappuru is Shobunsha’s travel-guide and travel-magazine franchise. It broadened the company’s map-publishing identity by combining destination information, travel planning, and editorial content. Mappuru also served as the basis for digital extensions such as the Mappuru Link supplementary application.

• Travel guidebooks · 2008

  Kotorippu

  Kotorippu is a travel-guide series introduced in 2008 and oriented toward younger women and lifestyle-focused travelers. Its positioning complements conventional road atlases with a more curated and editorial approach to destinations, leisure, and travel planning. The brand was later extended through Kotorippu Magazine.

• Travel lifestyle magazine · 2014

  Kotorippu Magazine

  Kotorippu Magazine is a quarterly travel-lifestyle publication associated with the Kotorippu guidebook franchise. It extends the series into recurring editorial content and reinforces its focus on lifestyle-oriented travel rather than solely on route finding or conventional map reference.

• Mobile travel-information service · 2010

  Mappuru Link

  Mappuru Link was introduced in 2010 as a free supplementary application for readers of the Mappuru travel magazine. It represented an early effort to connect Shobunsha’s print travel publishing with mobile information services as consumers increasingly used digital devices for travel research.

• Map database and production system · 1995

  SiMAP

  SiMAP is Shobunsha’s proprietary map-database and map-production system. Introduced during the company’s 1990s move into electronic mapping, it supported revisions to map design and helped provide a technical foundation for the company’s transition from printed cartography toward broader digital information services.

• 2020

  Holding-company restructuringStrategy

  Background

  Shobunsha sought to reorganize its corporate structure and separate holding functions from operating businesses.

  Action taken

  On April 1, 2020, the original Shobunsha Co., Ltd. became Shobunsha Holdings Co., Ltd. Operating activities were transferred to Shobunsha Co., Ltd., Mapuru Co., Ltd., and MEGURU Co., Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization created a holding-company group while maintaining the company’s map, travel-publication, and location-information activities.

  Source

• 2018

  Workforce adjustment amid smartphone-map disruptionStrategy

  Background

  The widespread adoption of smartphone map applications put pressure on printed road maps and contributed to a projected net loss for fiscal 2018.

  Action taken

  Shobunsha solicited voluntary early retirement from approximately 80 employees, described as about 20 percent of its workforce.

  Aftermath

  The company continued emphasizing digital mapping, SiMAP, and information services while retaining its established map and travel-guide brands.

  Projected net loss. (Fiscal year 2018)

  Source

• 1995

  Move into electronic mapping and database-led productionStrategy

  Background

  The company’s traditional map-publishing operations were entering a period in which electronic mapping could support new products and more efficient content revision.

  Action taken

  Shobunsha released Mapple Life electronic mapping software and began operating the SiMAP proprietary map database.

  Aftermath

  The initiative marked an early step in the company’s longer transition from print cartography toward digital map and information services.

  Source

1. 1Shobunshaen.wikipedia.org