Nationwide expansion of the free-magazine business
First written in FY2016. 18 of 36 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: 2026-11-06.
No other company in this theme has enough history to compare yet.
- FY2026SoftenedAnnual report
「Based on the philosophy of contributing to local communities through the advertising business, our group has set as a medium- to long-term management goal, since launching its free-media business in 1994, the delivery to households nationwide of safe and reliable free media filled with local lifestyle information. Including publications by VC members through the VC business launched in 2012, our core free-media product, "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)", had, as of the end of March 2026, become an unparalleled door-to-door distributed free magazine in Japan, covering 34 prefectures and 170 magazines with monthly circulation of more than 11.75 million copies. Going forward, we will continue expanding the publishing areas of company-operated and VC-member magazines nationwide.」
The nationwide expansion target remains in place, but actual results contracted from 34 prefectures, 180 magazines and monthly circulation of 13.45 million copies at the end of the previous fiscal year to 34 prefectures, 170 magazines and more than 11.75 million copies. - 2026-05-08SoftenedResults
「2026年３月末時点で34都道府県／170誌／月間発行部数1,175万部以上を誇る、国内では比類のないポスティング型フリーマガジンとなっており、今後とも、直営およびＶＣ加盟社における発行エリアの全国展開をすすめてまいります。」
全国展開方針は維持しているが、発行誌数は前回の180誌から170誌、月間発行部数は1,345万部から1,175万部以上へ減少している。 - FY2026-H1RestatedAnnual report
「Together with our VC members, we have set as a medium- to long-term management goal the direct distribution throughout Japan of Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)", a door-to-door distributed free-media product packed with advertising and local information, to 50 million households.」
Together with our VC members, we continue to pursue the medium- to long-term target of direct distribution to 50 million households nationwide. This filing does not present any change to the target or new figures for publishing results. - FY2025AdvancedAnnual report
「At the end of the consolidated fiscal year, the regional free magazines covered 34 prefectures and comprised 180 magazines, with total monthly circulation of 13.45 million copies,」
While maintaining the target of distribution to 50 million households nationwide, the publishing scale expanded to 34 prefectures, 180 magazines and monthly circulation of 13.45 million copies. - FY2025-H1AdvancedAnnual report
「Our group’s corporate philosophy is to contribute to local communities through the advertising business. Together with our VC members, we have set as a medium- to long-term management goal the direct delivery of Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine) to 50 million households nationwide. The regional free magazine, which marked its 30th anniversary since its launch in Kani, Gifu Prefecture, in 1994, launched 5 new company-operated magazines in the first half of this year: "ＡＯ（あお）" in Hokkaido (Chitose and Eniwa, monthly circulation of 61,000 copies), "オレンジクラブ" in Aichi Prefecture (Gamagori and Kota, Nukata District, 35,000 copies), "フリモかわら" in Aichi Prefecture (Hekinan and Takahama, 42,400 copies), "まいとん" in Wakayama Prefecture (Hashimoto and Katsuragi, 23,000 copies), and "はつカラ", the first such magazine in Hiroshima Prefecture (Hatsukaichi, 41,000 copies). In addition, we entered into a VC agreement with CHIIKISHINBUNSHA CO.,LTD. in September this year, adding its weekly "ちいき新聞" (1,736,817 copies) published across 40 areas in Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures. As a result, as of the end of September 2024, the magazines covered 34 prefectures and comprised 181 magazines, with total monthly circulation of 13,304,442 copies, expanding into a free-media business reaching approximately one-quarter of households nationwide.」
While maintaining the target of distribution to 50 million households nationwide, the publishing scale expanded through the launch of 5 new company-operated magazines and CHIIKISHINBUNSHA CO.,LTD. joining the VC network, from 31 prefectures, 133 magazines and monthly circulation of 10.92 million copies to 34 prefectures, 181 magazines and 13,304,442 copies. - FY2024-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「Effective 1 October 2023, we acquired shares through a third-party allotment capital increase by 株式会社関西ぱど, our equity-method affiliate, and made the company a consolidated subsidiary.」
Effective 1 October 2023, after the end of the quarter, 株式会社関西ぱど became a consolidated subsidiary, giving concrete form to the expansion of the media advertising business through bringing the proprietary Happy Media operations under direct group control. Meanwhile, publishing results at the end of September were 31 prefectures, 133 magazines and monthly circulation of 10,929,609 copies, a slight decline from 135 magazines and 10,939,392 copies in the previous quarter. - FY2024-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「Together with our VC members, we have set as a medium- to long-term management goal the direct delivery, through door-to-door distribution, of Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" to 50 million households nationwide. As of the end of June this year, the regional free magazines covered 31 prefectures and comprised 135 magazines, with total monthly circulation of 10,939,392 copies,」
The target of distributing the magazines to 50 million households nationwide remains in place, but actual results declined from 31 prefectures, 140 magazines and 11.43 million copies at the end of the previous fiscal year to 31 prefectures, 135 magazines and 10.93 million copies. - FY2023SoftenedAnnual report
「Together with our VC members, we have set as a medium- to long-term management goal the direct delivery, through door-to-door distribution, of Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" to 50 million households nationwide. … At the end of the consolidated fiscal year, the magazines covered 31 prefectures and comprised 140 magazines, with total monthly circulation of 11.43 million copies,」
The target of distributing the magazines to 50 million households nationwide remains in place. Meanwhile, the publishing footprint contracted from 31 prefectures, 142 magazines and 11.50 million copies previously to 31 prefectures, 140 magazines and 11.43 million copies. - FY2023-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「Together with our VC members, we have set as a medium- to long-term management goal the direct delivery, through door-to-door distribution, of regional free magazines to 50 million households nationwide. … At period-end, including VC operations, the regional free magazines covered 31 prefectures and comprised 142 magazines (29 prefectures and 135 magazines in the same period of the previous year), with monthly circulation of 11.50 million copies (10.15 million copies in the same period of the previous year).」
The medium- to long-term target of distribution to 50 million households nationwide remains in place. While the publishing area and number of magazines exceeded the same period of the previous year, monthly circulation declined from 11.64 million copies in FY2023-Q2 to 11.50 million copies. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「On 30 June 2022, we acquired shares in the media-business succession subsidiary of 株式会社Success Holders (formerly 株式会社ぱど), now 株式会社中広メディアソリューションズ (hereinafter, CMS), and made it a wholly owned subsidiary. On 1 July 2022, we subscribed to a capital increase by 株式会社ケイ・クリエイト and made that company and its subsidiary 株式会社ケイピーエス consolidated subsidiaries, thereby seeking to expand the publishing and distribution areas of our proprietary Happy Media(R), centered on regional free magazines. Including VC members, the regional free magazines covered 31 prefectures and comprised 142 magazines (29 prefectures and 133 magazines in the same period of the previous year), with monthly circulation of 11.64 million copies (10.09 million copies in the same period of the previous year).」
The acquisition and consolidation of CMS, 株式会社ケイ・クリエイト and 株式会社ケイピーエス expanded the publishing and distribution platform. The regional free magazines grew from 29 prefectures, 133 magazines and 10.09 million copies in the same period of the previous year to 31 prefectures, 142 magazines and 11.64 million copies. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「On 30 June 2022, we acquired 100% of the shares in the media-business succession subsidiary of 株式会社Success Holders (formerly 株式会社ぱど), now 株式会社中広メディアソリューションズ. This was intended to facilitate the nationwide expansion of our proprietary Happy Media(R), centered on regional free magazines, particularly by expanding the publishing and distribution areas in the Tokyo metropolitan area.」
The acquisition of 100% of the shares in the media-business succession subsidiary was completed, giving concrete form to nationwide expansion, particularly the expansion of publishing and distribution areas in the Tokyo metropolitan area. - FY2022RaisedAnnual report
「Having achieved its near-term target of monthly circulation of 10 million copies for the regional free magazines, our group recognizes as medium-term numerical targets relating to business performance and market valuation the delivery of the magazines to 50 million households nationwide and the achievement, as early as practicable, of the numerical listing criteria for the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, which has stringent listing requirements,」
After achieving the short-term target of 10 million copies per month, the company expanded its target from nationwide coverage of all prefectures to a new scale target of distribution to 50 million households nationwide. Actual results at the end of March 2022 were 29 prefectures, 134 magazines and monthly circulation of 10.32 million copies. - FY2022-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「As of the end of December 2021, the regional free magazines, including VC members, covered 29 prefectures (29 prefectures in the same period of the previous year), with monthly circulation of 10.15 million copies (8.82 million copies in the same period of the previous year),」
The publishing area remained at 29 prefectures, unchanged from the same period of the previous year, while monthly circulation increased from 8.82 million to 10.15 million copies and also rose from 10.09 million copies in the previous quarter. - FY2022-Q2AchievedAnnual report
「In July of this year, through 株式会社関西ぱど joining the VC network, the regional free magazine "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" achieved monthly circulation of 10 million copies and established an unparalleled door-to-door distributed free-magazine brand in Japan.」
Through 株式会社関西ぱど joining the VC network, the company explicitly achieved monthly circulation of 10 million copies. It has set out long-term goals of digital transformation aligned with the digital economy, establishing a highly profitable business model, and distributing the magazines throughout all areas of Japan. Actual results at the end of September were 29 prefectures and monthly circulation of 10.09 million copies. - FY2022-Q1AchievedAnnual report
「In addition, on 1 June, we entered into a capital and business alliance with 株式会社関西ぱど, which owns the "ぱど" trademark, putting us on track to achieve our short-term management target of monthly publication of 10 million copies of our proprietary Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine).」
With respect to the short-term target of 10 million copies per month, we entered into a capital and business alliance with 株式会社関西ぱど, and monthly circulation reached 10.15 million copies at the end of June 2021. Actual results exceeded the target level. - FY2021SoftenedAnnual report
「As a short-term target, our group aims to achieve monthly circulation of 10 million copies for the regional free magazines. Over the medium to long term, we aim to publish regional free magazines and various Happy Media(R) products in all prefectures of Japan.」
The targets of 10 million copies and expansion into all prefectures remain in place, but year-end actual results were 28 prefectures, 131 magazines and monthly circulation of 8.73 million copies, down from 29 prefectures and 8.82 million copies in the previous quarter. - FY2021-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「As of the end of December 2020, the regional free magazines covered 29 prefectures, with monthly circulation of 8.82 million copies,」
While the company continues to target 10 million copies per month and nationwide expansion, the publishing area contracted from 30 prefectures to 29 prefectures and monthly circulation from 8.90 million to 8.82 million copies compared with the previous quarter. - FY2021-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「As of the end of September 2020, the regional free magazines covered 30 prefectures, with monthly circulation of 8.90 million copies,」
The publishing area remained at 30 prefectures, while monthly circulation increased from 8.86 million copies in FY2021-Q1 to 8.90 million copies. The gap to the 10 million-copy target remains. - FY2021-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「For the regional free magazines published by us, our consolidated subsidiary アド通信社西部本社 and our VC contract partners, as described above, we suspended publication of certain company-operated regional free magazines by issuing combined editions. As of the end of June 2020, the magazines covered 30 prefectures, with monthly circulation of 8.86 million copies,」
In addition to suspending certain publications through combined editions, the operating footprint fell to 30 prefectures and monthly circulation of 8.86 million copies. Compared with 32 prefectures and 9.20 million copies at FY2020 year-end, both the publishing area and circulation have contracted, weakening the company's nationwide expansion in terms of actual results. - FY2020AdvancedAnnual report
「As an immediate target, we aim to achieve monthly circulation of 10 million copies, including VC members, for Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine), our media advertising business's core product. Over the medium to long term, we aim to publish regional free magazines in all prefectures of Japan. Our primary strategy for expanding circulation and publishing areas is to increase household penetration within each prefecture by increasing print runs in existing areas and expanding into adjacent areas, known as the dominant strategy. In certain key areas, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, we will pursue strategic expansion regardless of whether operations are company-operated or handled by VC partners.」
While maintaining the targets of 10 million copies per month and expansion into all prefectures, the company has specified an expansion approach combining the dominant strategy, increased print runs in existing areas, expansion into adjacent areas, and company-operated and VC operations. Actual results at the end of March 2020 were 32 prefectures and monthly circulation of 9.20 million copies. - FY2020-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「For the regional free magazines published by us and our VC contract partners, we continued to consolidate and discontinue existing magazines by reviewing distribution areas and circulation to improve profitability. As of the end of December, the magazines covered 31 prefectures (32 prefectures at the end of the same period of the previous year), with total monthly circulation of 9.05 million copies (down 3.4% year on year),」
The targets of 10 million copies per month and expansion into all prefectures remain in place, but actual results fell to 31 prefectures and 9.05 million copies following the consolidation and discontinuation of existing magazines, down from 9.19 million copies in the previous quarter. - FY2020-Q2SoftenedAnnual report
「As an immediate target, we aim to achieve monthly circulation of 10 million copies, including VC members, for the door-to-door distributed free magazine Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine), our core product. Over the medium to long term, we aim to publish regional free magazines in all prefectures of Japan.」
The targets of 10 million copies per month and expansion into all prefectures remain in place, but actual results at the end of September were 31 prefectures and monthly circulation of 9.19 million copies, further down from 9.30 million copies in the previous quarter. - FY2020-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「As an immediate target, we aim to achieve monthly circulation of 10 million copies, including VC members, for the door-to-door distributed free magazine Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine), our core product. Over the medium to long term, we aim to publish regional free magazines in all prefectures of Japan.」
The targets of 10 million copies per month and expansion into all prefectures remain in place, but actual results at the end of June were 31 prefectures and monthly circulation of 9.30 million copies, down from 33 prefectures and 9.35 million copies at the end of the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. - FY2019SoftenedAnnual report
「As an immediate target, we aim to achieve monthly circulation of 10 million copies, including VC members, for Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine), our media business's core product. Over the medium to long term, we aim to publish regional free magazines in all prefectures of Japan.」
While the targets of 10 million copies per month and medium- to long-term expansion into all prefectures remain in place, the previously stated deadline of the end of March 2019 is not indicated in this filing. Actual results were 30 prefectures, 142 magazines and monthly circulation of 9,289,485 copies, down from the end of the previous quarter. - FY2019-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Meanwhile, in addition to the limited launch of new company-operated regional free magazines and increases in distribution areas and circulation, VC contract partners expanded steadily. As a result, at the end of December, the regional free magazines covered 32 prefectures and comprised 149 magazines, with total monthly circulation of 9,369,240 copies,」
The publishing area remained at 32 prefectures, while the number of magazines increased to 149 and total monthly circulation expanded to 9,369,240 copies. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Our management strategy is to establish an unparalleled position throughout Japan in the free-media sector, including by setting a target of 10 million total copies per month by the end of March 2019 for our core product, the door-to-door distributed free magazine Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine).」
The company has reaffirmed its target of 10 million copies per month by the end of March 2019 and its policy of establishing a nationwide position. - FY2019-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Our management strategy is to establish an unparalleled position throughout Japan in the free-media sector, including by setting a target of 10 million total copies per month by the end of March 2019 for our core product, the door-to-door distributed free magazine Happy Media(R) "地域みっちゃく生活情報誌(R)" (hereinafter, the regional free magazine). As of the end of June, the regional free magazines published by us and our VC contract partners covered 33 prefectures (30 prefectures at the end of the same period of the previous year), with total monthly circulation of 9.35 million copies (up 29.6% year on year).」
The target of 10 million copies per month by the end of March 2019 was maintained, while the publishing area expanded to 33 prefectures and total monthly circulation increased to 9.35 million copies. - FY2018AdvancedAnnual report
「We aim to publish 10 million copies per month of our core product, Happy Media(R)'s Community-Close Lifestyle Information Magazine(R) (the "local free magazine"), including VC* agreement publications, by the end of March 2019. At the end of the fiscal year (31 March 2018), the local free magazine had expanded its publication area and circulation to 33 prefectures, compared with 28 prefectures at the end of the previous fiscal year, 153 magazines, compared with 123, and total monthly circulation of 9,307,544 copies, compared with 7,045,340 copies.」
While maintaining the target of 10 million copies per month by the end of March 2019, the publishing area expanded from 28 to 33 prefectures, the number of magazines from 123 to 153, and monthly circulation from approximately 7.04 million to approximately 9.31 million copies. - FY2018-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「We aim to publish 10 million copies per month of our core product, Happy Media(R)'s Community-Close Lifestyle Information Magazine(R) (the "local free magazine"), including publications issued by VC* agreement partners, by the end of March 2019. During the third quarter, as in the first half, we actively established new bases and launched new magazines. Through the expansion of bases and new launches described above, together with new VC agreement partners, the local free magazine was published in 32 prefectures at the end of December, compared with 26 prefectures at the end of the same period of the previous year, with total monthly circulation of 8.98 million copies, up 37.8% year on year.」
For nationwide expansion, the Company specified a deadline and numerical target of 10 million copies per month by the end of March 2019, reaching 32 prefectures and monthly circulation of 8.98 million copies at the end of December. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「During the fiscal year, Happy Media(R)'s Community-Close Lifestyle Information Magazine(R), which we are expanding nationwide, was published in 28 prefectures, compared with 23 prefectures in the previous fiscal year, with a total circulation of 7.04 million copies, up 19.1% year on year. We will also pursue nationwide expansion of the free-magazine business through publications issued by VC agreement partners.」
The publication area expanded from 23 to 28 prefectures and total circulation reached 7.04 million copies, marking tangible progress in nationwide expansion. - FY2017-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「To expand the free-magazine business, we launched 1 magazine in Aichi Prefecture in the first quarter, 1 magazine in Nagano Prefecture in the second quarter and 2 magazines in Shiga Prefecture in the third quarter.」
The Company launched 2 additional magazines in Shiga Prefecture, concretely expanding the publication base for nationwide expansion. - FY2017-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「The number of free magazines published was 63 for directly operated magazines, with a circulation of 3.72 million copies. Including VC publications, the totals were 109 magazines and a combined circulation of 6.40 million copies.」
Directly operated magazines increased from 62 magazines with a circulation of 3.62 million copies to 63 magazines with a circulation of 3.72 million copies, while total circulation including VC publications increased from 6.28 million to 6.40 million copies. Nationwide expansion has made tangible progress. - FY2017-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「As part of the nationwide expansion of the free-magazine business, the number of magazines published under VC* agreements increased by 6 to 47 during the first quarter.」
The number of magazines published under VC agreements increased by 6 during the first quarter, bringing tangible progress in nationwide expansion. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「We will also pursue nationwide expansion of the free-magazine business through publications issued by VC agreement partners.」
The Company aims to expand nationwide by combining expansion of its directly operated publication areas with publications issued by VC agreement partners.