（株）新建築社

What （株）新建築社 does

Shinkenchiku-Sha Co., Ltd. (株式会社新建築社) is a privately held Japanese architectural publishing house founded in 1925 and headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with the operational representative being Yoshida Nobuyuki (吉田信之). The company publishes four core periodicals — Shinkenchiku (monthly, established August 1925), Jutaku Tokushu / 住宅特集 (monthly, established May 1985), a+u Architecture and Urbanism (monthly, established January 1971, bilingual Japanese-English), and Japan Architect / JA (quarterly) — along with special issues, supplementary volumes, and books on contemporary architecture. Its readership consists of professional architects and design firms, architecture students and educators, and international architecture enthusiasts served through a+u's bilingual format and a correspondent network spanning over 100 countries.

The business model is subscription-led and direct-to-consumer. Annual subscriptions are priced at ¥31,460 (Shinkenchiku), ¥34,224 (a+u), and ¥29,040 (Jutaku Tokushu), with single-issue special issues ranging from ¥1,400 to ¥5,500. Commerce is executed through subsidiary Shinkenchiku Shoten, which operates the online store at post-architecture-books.com, while physical copies are also distributed through Amazon Japan, authorized bookstore distributors, and digital reading platforms Fujisan and Zinio. Additional revenue streams include advertising placements, photo ordering services, works solicitation, press release handling, and on-demand printing. The company operates with a lean disclosed headcount of seven employees, relying on its subsidiary structure (Shinkenchiku Shoten for commerce, A&U Co., Ltd. historically for a+u, and Shinkenchiku Data for digital services) to execute operations.

Recent strategic activity centers on digital transformation and operational consolidation. The company launched Shinkenchiku Data as an online platform for searching back issues and architectural content, debuted an AI-persona podcast on Spotify in December 2025 to mark the 100th anniversary of Shinkenchiku magazine, and in July 2026 in-sourced a+u publication and sales from subsidiary A&U Co., Ltd. while shifting a+u distribution to a direct bookstore order system. The firm remains family-owned with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or public listing.

Name

（株）新建築社

Legal name

株式会社新建築社

Website

https://japan-architect.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shinkenchiku-Sha is a privately held Japanese architectural publishing house founded in 1925, publishing four core architecture magazines plus special issues and books, serving architects, design firms, students, and international readers via direct-to-consumer subscriptions, bookstore distribution, and digital editions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Architectural magazines
• Architecture publishing
• Architectural design media
• Japanese architecture books
• Architectural data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions for three flagship magazines: 新建築 (monthly, ¥31,460/year), a+u (monthly, ¥34,224/year), and 住宅特集 (monthly, ¥29,040/year). Subscription revenue is the primary recurring revenue stream.
2. Single-issue Magazine and Book Sales: One-time purchases of individual magazine issues, special issues (別冊), and books via the online shop and third-party e-commerce (Amazon). Prices range from ¥1,400 to ¥5,500 per special issue.
3. Advertising: Revenue generated from advertising placements across all published magazines and on the company website. Contact information for ad department ([email protected]) is provided.
4. Photo Services and On-Demand Printing: Additional services including photo ordering, on-demand printing, works solicitation, and press release handling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shinkenchiku-Sha publishes specialist architecture magazines (新建築, 住宅特集, a+u, JA), architecture monographs and special issues, and operates the Shinkenchiku Official Podcast. It serves architecture firms, individual architects, students, educators, and international architecture enthusiasts, with ancillary paid services such as archival photo licensing, on-demand reprint printing, and advertising placement for building-material manufacturers.

Product overview

株式会社新建築社 operates as a Japanese architectural publishing house founded in 1925, offering a portfolio of four core magazines (新建築, 住宅特集, a+u, JA) along with special issues, books, and digital services. The company has recently expanded into digital media with the AI-powered 新建築 公式Podcast and provides data services through 新建築データ. Products are available in print and digital formats via Fujisan and Zinio, with e-commerce handled by subsidiary 新建築書店株式会社.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 新建築書店株式会社: Separate company handling orders and subscriptions for Shinkenchiku publications through online store post-architecture-books.com
• 新建築データ (Shinkenchiku Data)
• 株式会社エー・アンド・ユー (A&U)

Products and services

• 新建築 (Shinkenchiku) Monthly architecture magazine covering contemporary Japanese architectural works, published continuously since 1925. Sold by annual subscription (1-year and 2-year terms) and as single issues. Targeted at professional architects and architecture firms.
• 住宅特集 (Jutaku Tokushu) Monthly housing magazine focused on contemporary Japanese residential architecture. Sold by annual subscription and as single issues. Targeted at architects working in housing design and design-conscious readers.
• a+u (Architecture and Urbanism) Monthly bilingual English-Japanese magazine covering architecture and urbanism, targeted at international architecture professionals and enthusiasts who do not read Japanese. Sold by annual subscription and as single issues.
• JA (Japan Architect) Quarterly bilingual English-Japanese architecture journal covering contemporary Japanese architecture for international readers. Sold by annual subscription and as single issues.
• Special issues and architecture monographs Standalone special editions and architecture monographs covering individual architects, themes, or built projects. Sold as individual titles through the Shinkenchiku Shoten bookstore, Amazon, and physical bookstores. Targeted at architects, students, and architecture enthusiasts.
• 新建築公式Podcast (Shinkenchiku Official Podcast) Free official podcast covering contemporary architecture topics, produced with AI-generated avatars. Distributed as digital audio content to architects and architecture enthusiasts.
• Archival photo ordering service Paid licensing service that supplies high-resolution photographs of architectural works published in past issues for use in academic presentations and publications. Priced at approximately 3,000 yen per image. Targeted at architects, students, and educators.
• On-demand reprint printing service Reproduction printing service for past issues of Shinkenchiku-Sha magazines. Allows customers to order reprints of historical issues for reference and archival purposes. Targeted at architects, libraries, and architecture enthusiasts.
• Advertisement placement service Paid advertising placement service that accepts advertisements from architectural product manufacturers and building material suppliers seeking to reach the architecture professional audience across the Shinkenchiku-Sha journal portfolio.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 新建築書店株式会社 (Shinkenchiku Shoten)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor新建築書店株式会社 handles all orders and subscription inquiries for Shinkenchiku-Sha publications. The company operates the primary online store (post-architecture-books.com) where all magazines, special issues, and books are sold. Shinkenchiku-Sha's own website redirects users to Shinkenchiku Shoten for purchases.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RIBA Journal: Official magazine of the Royal Institute of British Architects, covering UK and global architecture for a professional audience. Comparable as a professional-audience architecture periodical with subscription revenue and editorial authority backed by an institutional brand.
• Architectural Record: Long-running US monthly architecture magazine published by BNP Media, covering professional architecture news, projects, and products. Closely comparable to Shinkenchiku as a subscription-based, professional-audience architecture periodical with a 100+ year legacy, serving as the English-speaking world's de facto reference publication.
• Wallpaper*: Global design, architecture, and lifestyle magazine with a print + digital + online subscription model. Comparable to Shinkenchiku's portfolio breadth across architecture and design, and to a+u in serving an international, design-literate audience.
• Frame Publishers: Dutch publisher of Frame, Mark, and other design/interior/architecture periodicals, with print + digital + event formats. Comparable as a multi-title niche design-architecture publisher with international distribution and a similar mix of periodicals, special issues, and digital services.
• El Croquis: Spanish architecture publication focused on in-depth monographic issues on individual architects and their built works, with bilingual content. Closely comparable to the Shinkenchiku special-issue/book program in format and editorial concept, and to a+u in international scope.
• Domus: Italian architecture and design magazine founded in 1928, with global coverage and bilingual (Italian/English) editions. Comparable to Shinkenchiku in heritage, professional audience, and international scope — particularly the a+u title — and similarly transitioning print-to-digital distribution.
• The Architectural Review (AR): UK-based monthly architecture magazine published by RIBA/Emap, with a long history of architectural criticism and project documentation. Direct peer in being a long-established, professional architecture periodical with global project coverage and a strong editorial voice.

Emerging players

• Dezeen: Digital-first global architecture and design media platform with a large online readership. Comparable as a primary source of architecture project news and a competitor for advertising spend, but differentiated by being digital-only rather than the print + digital hybrid model Shinkenchiku operates.
• ArchDaily: Largest online architecture platform globally, with free project news, a products directory, and jobs board. Competes with Shinkenchiku for reader attention and advertising dollars, particularly against the a+u international audience, but operates a fundamentally different digital ad-supported business model.

Regional players

• Azure Magazine: Canadian architecture and design magazine covering contemporary architecture globally. Comparable in editorial format (print magazine covering international architecture projects) but primarily serves North American readers rather than directly competing with Shinkenchiku in the Japanese or Asian market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shinkenchikusha
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Shinkenchiku
• Facebookfacebook.com/Shinkenchikusha
• Instagraminstagram.com/shinkenchikusha
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%EF%BC%88%E6%A0%AA%EF%BC%89%E6%96%B0%E5%BB%BA%E7%AF%89%E7%A4%BE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about （株）新建築社