Nikkan Sports
A major Japanese sports and entertainment daily covering baseball, soccer and celebrity news.
Nikkan Sports at a glance
Nikkan Sports is a sports website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #105 in the country. It was founded in 1946 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Nikkan Sports is owned by Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group). Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 110 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, print sales. Its closest rivals include sponichi.co.jp, sanspo.com, hochi.co.jp.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 103 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 107 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 110 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 117 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct45%
- Organic search30%
- Social16%
- Referral6%
- Paid3%
Audience & demographics
- Men74%
- Women26%
- Age 18-2427%
- Age 25-3431%
- Age 35-4422%
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
- ≈ 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| nikkan sports | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| live scores | Top 10 | High | — |
| match results | Top 10 | High | — |
| league table | 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
- ≈ 83% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading sports apps in Japan
Company information
- Website
- nikkansports.com
- Sector
- Sports
- Owner
- Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group)
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1946
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 700+
- Ownership
- Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group) controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $250 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Japanese
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, social
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $250 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Nikkan Sports operates a sports media platform focused on Japan. A major Japanese sports and entertainment daily covering baseball, soccer and celebrity news. Revenue comes mainly from digital advertising, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Digital advertising
- Print sales
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- Japan
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (Japan)
- #105 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading sports site in Japan
- Global rank
- 900
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| sponichi.co.jp | ≈ 66 million / month | #106 class competitor | — |
| sanspo.com | ≈ 49.5 million / month | #107 class competitor | — |
| hochi.co.jp | ≈ 33 million / month | #108 class competitor | — |
What is Nikkan Sports?
Nikkan Sports (nikkansports.com) is a sports media platform serving users in Japan. A major Japanese sports and entertainment daily covering baseball, soccer and celebrity news. It ranks #105 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the sports category.
Who owns Nikkan Sports?
The site is operated by Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group), founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 700+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Nikkan Sports at roughly 110 million visits per month, about 3.7 million per day. Around 83% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 4.8 pages per visit with an average session of 5 min.
How Nikkan Sports makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside print sales.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include sponichi.co.jp, sanspo.com, hochi.co.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
- 1946
Nikkan Sports is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its sports offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #105 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
- Live scores and fast match reporting
- Deep coverage of national leagues
- Free access to most content
- Strong mobile and app experience
Cons
- Ad-heavy match pages
- Betting advertising throughout
- Rumour-driven transfer coverage
- Video rights limit highlights
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Nikkan Sports?
Nikkan Sports is operated by Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group). Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Nikkan Sports headquartered?
Nikkan Sports is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Nikkan Sports founded?
Nikkan Sports was founded in 1946 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does Nikkan Sports have?
Nikkan Sports employs approximately 700+ people.
What is Nikkan Sports's revenue?
Nikkan Sports's revenue: ≈ $250 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Nikkan Sports's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include sponichi.co.jp, sanspo.com, hochi.co.jp.
How does Nikkan Sports make money?
Mainly digital advertising, print sales.
Is Nikkan Sports publicly traded?
No — Nikkan Sports is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Nikkan Sports Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Asahi Shimbun group).
How many visitors does Nikkan Sports get?
Third-party estimates place Nikkan Sports at roughly 110 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 83% mobile traffic.
Is Nikkan Sports safe?
Nikkan Sports is an established sports site founded in 1946 and ranked #105 in Japan; use the official domain nikkansports.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsnikkansports.com
- 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