''An An'' (stylized as ''an an'') is a weekly Japanese women's lifestyle magazine. It is one of the earliest and popular women's magazines in Japan. In 2009 it was described by ''
Japan Today
''Japan Today'' is a website that publishes wire articles, press releases, and photographs, as well as opinion and contract pieces, such as company profiles, in English.
References
External links
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2000 establishments in Japan
English- ...
'' as a mega-popular women's magazine. It is also one of the best-selling women's magazines in the country.
History and profile
The magazine was started as a sister publication of French magazine ''
Elle
''Elle'' (stylized ''ELLE'') is a worldwide women's magazine of French origin that offers a mix of fashion and beauty content, together with culture, society and lifestyle. The title means "she" or "her" in French. ''Elle'' is considered the w ...
'' and was named as ''Elle Japon''. The first issue of the magazine was published on 20 March 1970. The magazine was renamed as ''an an'' in 1982, which was the name of a
panda bear
The giant panda (''Ailuropoda melanoleuca''), also known as the panda bear (or simply the panda), is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its bold black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes ...
. Its content was also changed to reflect the trends affecting
Japanese women
Although women in Japan were recognized as having equal legal rights to men after World War II, economic conditions for women remain unbalanced. Modern policy initiatives to encourage motherhood and workplace participation have had mixed results ...
and their
self-identity
In the psychology of self, one's self-concept (also called self-construction, self-identity, self-perspective or self-structure) is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Generally, self-concept embodies the answer to the question ''"Who am I? ...
.
At the end of the 1990s ''an an'' was published biweekly. The magazine has its headquarters in Tokyo and is published on a weekly basis on Tuesdays. The publisher is Magazine House Ltd., a Tokyo based publishing company. The company, which was also the founder of the magazine, was formerly named Heibun Shuppan. The magazine has two versions, a regular one and a cheaper one.
Like other young women's magazines in Japan ''an an'' frequently features articles on
fashion
Fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture. The term implies a look defined by the fashion i ...
,
cosmetics
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
and relationships. On the other hand, it emphasizes the visual aspect and
advertisements
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...
rather than text. However, instead of focusing on gossip, ''an an'' and another women's magazine ''
Non-no
is a Japanese women's fashion and lifestyle magazine published by Shueisha. The magazine is headquartered in Tokyo.
'' Men's Non-no'', targeted for a male demographic, was first published in 1987.
History
The magazine was established as a fort ...
'' provide their readers with self-help materials. In addition, since its inception ''an an'' has been instrumental in changing attitudes of young Japanese women as well as in reinforcing new and subversive identities. In 1984 it began to publish an annual sex special issue. Its April 1989 cover read "Become Beautiful through Sex" (sekkusu de kirei ni naru).
In 1976 the male version of ''an an'', ''
Popeye
Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.Tokyo Metro Omotesando station between 11 April and 17 April 2016.
Circulation
The circulation of ''an an'' was between 540,000 copies and 720,000 copies in the period of 1970 and 2009. In the mid 1990s the magazine sold 650,000 copies. In 2006 its circulation was 280,683 copies.