Sales of books and magazines in Japan this year posted a record decline, taking in ¥84 billion less in revenue compared with 2014 as more people turned to smartphones to get their information, according to figures released by a research institute on the publishing industry.
The Research Institute for Publications said Friday in its monthly report that sales of books and magazines between January and November this year dropped 5.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, taking in just ¥1.52 trillion, a trend that has continued over the past 11 years.
"We believe a sharp drop in sales of magazines has largely contributed to the overall figure," said Hideki Wakabayashi, a researcher at the institute. "This can be attributed to widespread use of smartphones and better access to the Internet and digital services offering news and information."