Matsutarō Shōriki
Japanese journalist and media mogul (1885-1969)
正力 松太郎 · 正力松太郎 · 쇼리키 마쓰타로
- Born
- 11 April 1885, Imizu district
- Died
- 9 October 1969, Atami
- Citizenship
- Japan, Empire of Japan
- Sport
- baseball, judo
- Occupation
- politician, judoka, businessperson, publisher
Matsutarō Shōriki (正力 松太郎, Shōriki Matsutarō; 11 April 1885 – 9 October 1969) was a Japanese media proprietor and politician. He was the owner of the Yomiuri Shimbun, founder of the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Television Network Corporation.
After a career as a police officer, Shoriki acquired the bankrupt Yomiuri Shimbun in 1924. Under his management it would become one of the major newspapers in Japan. Shoriki also popularised professional baseball in Japan during this time and founded the Yomiuri Giants. After the war Shoriki was arrested as a war criminal, but the charges were dropped in 1947. He founded Japan's first commercial television station, Nippon Television Network Corporation in 1952.
Shoriki also became a prominent supporter of nuclear power in Japan. In 1955 he was elected to the House of Representatives. Shoriki became the first chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission under Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission under Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.
Awards and honours
- Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers, 1st class
- Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q710704 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.