As the February issue of HANADA magazine sold out at record speed, an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Abe drew wide attention and unexpected criticism from a former Asahi Shimbun editor.
The episode highlights shifting dynamics in Japan’s media landscape and the growing influence of alternative publications.

It seems that the February issue of this magazine released at the end of last year, effectively the New Year issue, sold out following the previous issue, making for truly encouraging news at the start of the year.
2018-01-30.
The following is from the opening column of Kaori Arimoto published in this month’s issue of the monthly magazine HANADA.
Asahi Shimbun, welcome to the minor leagues.
The February issue released at the end of last year, effectively the New Year issue, reportedly sold out following the previous issue, making for truly encouraging news at the start of the year.
As one of the contributors, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who purchased it.
Moreover, this February issue apparently sold out faster than any in the past, and although an additional printing—rare for a monthly magazine—was made, that too sold out.
At a time when we hear nothing but stories of books not selling and magazines in particular facing dire conditions everywhere, this is an unbelievable cause for celebration.
In that New Year issue, an exclusive interview with Prime Minister Abe, for which I had the honor of serving as interviewer, was published.
Many readers have sent their impressions after reading it, and I am deeply grateful that the majority of them have been favorable.
So I would like to share one behind-the-scenes story related to this matter.
It concerns the strange manner in which a former editorial writer of the Asahi Shimbun took issue with this interview with the Prime Minister.
The interview took place on the evening of December 11 at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
Although it was a busy year-end period, the Prime Minister remained cheerful throughout the approximately one-hour session, answering our questions clearly, politely, and with touches of humor.
The interview concluded smoothly in a friendly atmosphere, but the “problem” arose afterward.
To be continued.