The Braille Mainichi (1922): A Century of Journalism for Blind Readers

This article examines The Braille Mainichi (点字毎日), founded in 1922 by Hikoichi Motoyama of Mainichi Newspapers, as a case study in the history of blind journalism. Drawing on a site visit and a semi-structured interview with assistant editor Ayato Saki (October 3, 2025), it documents the publication’s creation, independent editorial model, and production facilities, including a printing room on the sixth basement floor of Mainichi’s Osaka headquarters. Unlike Braille editions that merely translate print newspapers, The Braille Mainichi produces original reporting on disability welfare, assistive technology, and other topics relevant to visually impaired readers, and it employs blind and sighted journalists side by side. With roughly 2,000–3,000 subscribers, it operates at a loss but is sustained by Mainichi’s public service mission and by donations. The findings show that disability media can be institutionally durable, and that Braille retains affordances in spelling, punctuation, and layout that audio does not replicate. The article situates the case within the global history of Braille periodicals and calls for comparative and cross-border research.