Bunshun Online
The online site of Shukan Bunshun, known for celebrity, political and social scoops.
Bunshun Online at a glance
Bunshun Online is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #114 in the country. It was founded in 1923 by Kan Kikuchi and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Bunshun Online is owned by Bungeishunju Ltd.. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 90 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through subscriptions, magazine sales, digital advertising. Its closest rivals include toyokeizai.net, president.jp, diamond.jp.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 84.6 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 87.3 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 90 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 95.4 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct37%
- Organic search34%
- Social18%
- News aggregators8%
- Email3%
Audience & demographics
- Men55%
- Women45%
- Age 35-4426%
- Age 45-5423%
- Age 25-3422%
The audience is concentrated in Japan, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- Japan86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 27 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- Japan
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| bunshun online | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| breaking news | Top 10 | High | — |
| today's headlines | Top 10 | High | — |
| live coverage | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the Japan web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 79% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading news & media apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- bunshun.jp
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Bungeishunju Ltd.
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Kan Kikuchi
- Founded
- 1923
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 400+
- Ownership
- Bungeishunju Ltd. controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Bunshun Online operates a news and media publisher focused on Japan. The online site of Shukan Bunshun, known for celebrity, political and social scoops. Revenue comes mainly from subscriptions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Subscriptions
- Magazine sales
- Digital advertising
Products & services
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #114 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in Japan
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| toyokeizai.net | ≈ 54 million / month | #115 class competitor | — |
| president.jp | ≈ 40.5 million / month | #116 class competitor | — |
| diamond.jp | ≈ 27 million / month | #117 class competitor | — |
What is Bunshun Online?
Bunshun Online (bunshun.jp) is a news and media publisher serving users in Japan. The online site of Shukan Bunshun, known for celebrity, political and social scoops. It ranks #114 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns Bunshun Online?
The site is operated by Bungeishunju Ltd., founded by Kan Kikuchi. The company was established in 1923 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 400+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Bunshun Online at roughly 90 million visits per month, about 3 million per day. Around 79% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 3.1 pages per visit with an average session of 3 min.
How Bunshun Online makes money
Revenue comes primarily from subscriptions, alongside magazine sales, digital advertising.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include toyokeizai.net, president.jp, diamond.jp.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1923
Bunshun Online is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #114 among the most visited websites in Japan.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Broad daily news coverage with national reach
- Fast breaking-news publishing
- Free access to most articles
- Strong presence in search and social
Cons
- Heavy advertising load on article pages
- Editorial line criticised by parts of the audience
- Clickbait headlines on high-traffic sections
- Paywall limits on premium content
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Bunshun Online?
Bunshun Online is operated by Bungeishunju Ltd.. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Bunshun Online headquartered?
Bunshun Online is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Bunshun Online founded?
Bunshun Online was founded in 1923 by Kan Kikuchi.
How many employees does Bunshun Online have?
Bunshun Online employs approximately 400+ people.
What is Bunshun Online's revenue?
Bunshun Online's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Bunshun Online's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include toyokeizai.net, president.jp, diamond.jp.
How does Bunshun Online make money?
Mainly subscriptions, magazine sales, digital advertising.
Is Bunshun Online publicly traded?
No — Bunshun Online is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Bungeishunju Ltd..
How many visitors does Bunshun Online get?
Third-party estimates place Bunshun Online at roughly 90 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is Bunshun Online safe?
Bunshun Online is an established news & media site founded in 1923 and ranked #114 in Japan; use the official domain bunshun.jp and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsbunshun.jp
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageJapan and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos