Sponichi Annex
The online edition of Sports Nippon, covering pro baseball, entertainment and general sports.
Sponichi Annex at a glance
Sponichi Annex is a sports website and one of the most visited sites in Japan, currently ranked #106 in the country. It was founded in 1949 by Not publicly disclosed and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Today Sponichi Annex is owned by Sports Nippon Newspapers. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 80 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through digital advertising, print sales. Its closest rivals include nikkansports.com, sanspo.com, hochi.co.jp.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 75.2 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 77.6 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 80 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 84.8 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
- ≈ 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| sponichi annex | 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
- sponichi.co.jp
- Sector
- Sports
- Owner
- Sports Nippon Newspapers
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Not publicly disclosed
- Founded
- 1949
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan
- Employees
- 600+
- Ownership
- Sports Nippon Newspapers 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
Sponichi Annex operates a sports media platform focused on Japan. The online edition of Sports Nippon, covering pro baseball, entertainment and general sports. 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)
- #106 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading sports site in Japan
- Global rank
- 1200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| nikkansports.com | ≈ 48 million / month | #107 class competitor | — |
| sanspo.com | ≈ 36 million / month | #108 class competitor | — |
| hochi.co.jp | ≈ 24 million / month | #109 class competitor | — |
What is Sponichi Annex?
Sponichi Annex (sponichi.co.jp) is a sports media platform serving users in Japan. The online edition of Sports Nippon, covering pro baseball, entertainment and general sports. It ranks #106 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the sports category.
Who owns Sponichi Annex?
The site is operated by Sports Nippon Newspapers, founded by Not publicly disclosed. The company was established in 1949 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It employs around 600+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Sponichi Annex at roughly 80 million visits per month, about 2.7 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 Sponichi Annex makes money
Revenue comes primarily from digital advertising, alongside print sales.
Competitors in Japan
Its closest rivals include nikkansports.com, 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
- 1949
Sponichi Annex is founded in Tokyo, Japan.
- Growth phase
Expands its sports offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #106 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 Sponichi Annex?
Sponichi Annex is operated by Sports Nippon Newspapers. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Sponichi Annex headquartered?
Sponichi Annex is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
When was Sponichi Annex founded?
Sponichi Annex was founded in 1949 by Not publicly disclosed.
How many employees does Sponichi Annex have?
Sponichi Annex employs approximately 600+ people.
What is Sponichi Annex's revenue?
Sponichi Annex's revenue: ≈ $200 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Sponichi Annex's competitors?
Main competitors in Japan include nikkansports.com, sanspo.com, hochi.co.jp.
How does Sponichi Annex make money?
Mainly digital advertising, print sales.
Is Sponichi Annex publicly traded?
No — Sponichi Annex is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Sports Nippon Newspapers.
How many visitors does Sponichi Annex get?
Third-party estimates place Sponichi Annex at roughly 80 million visits per month, mostly from Japan, with 83% mobile traffic.
Is Sponichi Annex safe?
Sponichi Annex is an established sports site founded in 1949 and ranked #106 in Japan; use the official domain sponichi.co.jp and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementssponichi.co.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