Kyodo News
The site of Japan's leading cooperative news agency supplying wire reports to media nationwide.
Kyodo News at a glance
Kyodo News is a news & media website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #110 in the country. It was founded in 1945 by Japanese newspaper companies and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Kyodo News is owned by Kyodo News (member-owned). Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 50 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through content licensing, member fees. Its closest rivals include jiji.com, nikkei.com, asahi.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 47 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 48.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 50 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 53 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
- ≈ 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| kyodo news | 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
- kyodonews.jp
- Sector
- News & Media
- Owner
- Kyodo News (member-owned)
- Owner type
- Private cooperative
- Founders
- Japanese newspaper companies
- Founded
- 1945
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 2,000+
- Ownership
- Kyodo News (member-owned) controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese, English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private cooperative
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Kyodo News operates a news and media publisher focused on Japan. The site of Japan's leading cooperative news agency supplying wire reports to media nationwide. Revenue comes mainly from content licensing, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Content licensing
- Member fees
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)
- #110 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading news & media site in Japan
- Global rank
- 2000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| jiji.com | ≈ 30 million / month | #111 class competitor | — |
| nikkei.com | ≈ 22.5 million / month | #112 class competitor | — |
| asahi.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #113 class competitor | — |
What is Kyodo News?
Kyodo News (kyodonews.jp) is a news and media publisher serving users in Japan. The site of Japan's leading cooperative news agency supplying wire reports to media nationwide. It ranks #110 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the news & media category.
Who owns Kyodo News?
The site is operated by Kyodo News (member-owned), founded by Japanese newspaper companies. The company was established in 1945 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 2,000+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Kyodo News at roughly 50 million visits per month, about 1.7 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 Kyodo News makes money
Revenue comes primarily from content licensing, alongside member fees.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include jiji.com, nikkei.com, asahi.com.
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
- 1945
Kyodo News is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its news & media offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #110 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 Kyodo News?
Kyodo News is operated by Kyodo News (member-owned). Private cooperative structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Kyodo News headquartered?
Kyodo News is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Kyodo News founded?
Kyodo News was founded in 1945 by Japanese newspaper companies.
How many employees does Kyodo News have?
Kyodo News employs approximately 2,000+ people.
What is Kyodo News's revenue?
Kyodo News's revenue: ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Kyodo News's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include jiji.com, nikkei.com, asahi.com.
How does Kyodo News make money?
Mainly content licensing, member fees.
Is Kyodo News publicly traded?
No — Kyodo News is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Kyodo News (member-owned).
How many visitors does Kyodo News get?
Third-party estimates place Kyodo News at roughly 50 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 79% mobile traffic.
Is Kyodo News safe?
Kyodo News is an established news & media site founded in 1945 and ranked #110 in Japan; use the official domain kyodonews.jp and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementskyodonews.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