BUBKA

BUBKA is a Japanese monthly magazine published by Byakuya Shobo. It first appeared in January 1996 as a special issue of the pachislot magazine 'Pachislot Hisshou Guide'. In March 1997, publication was moved to Core Magazine, a company affiliated with Byakuya Shobo, and the first official issue was published bimonthly, becoming monthly from the July 1997 issue. Initially a subculture general information magazine following the style of 'GON!', it later shifted to entertainment gossip and scandal-oriented articles. It frequently published scandalous articles and private photos obtained from readers, causing repeated controversy. Many talent agencies had conflicts with the magazine, and some cases led to lawsuits. Some agencies even disciplined their talents after the magazine reported scandals without verifying the truth, and many agencies avoided mentioning the magazine. As a print idol magazine, it has featured articles on idols popular at various times, such as Morning Musume, Sphere League, Perfume, AKB48, and SKE48. From the June 2012 issue (released April 28, 2012), the magazine underwent a major renewal, featuring interviews and gravure of AKB48 group members, and the scandal-oriented tendency receded. From the November 2012 issue (released September 29, 2012), the publisher changed to Byakuya Shobo. The current magazine mainly consists of articles about idols centered on AKB48 and Sakamichi series, entertainment scoops, ramen and B-grade gourmet, subculture, and column serials. BUBKA also had a web broadcast 'Toys Heart Presents: Who Ate Yesterday?' (2011-2016) on Nico Nico Live, and has several sibling magazines and special issues, many of which have ceased publication. The magazine has been involved in numerous legal cases, including a lawsuit by actress Nakamura Ayami over privacy infringement, a group lawsuit by 28 celebrities including Fujiwara Norika and Morning Musume over childhood photos, and a case involving Nakatani Hideaki and Miyazawa Rie. In 2006, a former editor was arrested for child pornography related to 'Ura BUBKA'. In 2007, the magazine published a composite obscene image of ABC announcer Takano Naoko, leading to a criminal complaint and a published apology. Despite these controversies, BUBKA remains an active magazine with a dedicated web presence and social media accounts.

BUBKA was first published in January 1996 as a special issue of the pachislot magazine 'Pachislot Hisshou Guide' by Byakuya Shobo. It continued as a special issue until Volume 6 in January 1997. In March 1997, the publishing rights were transferred to Core Magazine, an affiliate of Byakuya Shobo, and the first official issue (Volume 1, Number 1) was published bimonthly. From the July 1997 issue (Volume 1, Number 3), it became a monthly publication. Initially, it was a subculture general information magazine modeled after 'GON!' (published by Million Publishing), but it gradually shifted to focus on entertainment gossip and scandal articles. The magazine became known for buying scandalous photos and private pictures from readers and publishing them, which repeatedly caused controversy. Many talent agencies had conflicts with BUBKA, and some cases led to lawsuits. Some agencies even disciplined their talents after the magazine reported scandals without verifying the truth, and many agencies avoided mentioning the magazine. As a print idol magazine, BUBKA featured articles on idols popular at various times, such as Morning Musume, Sphere League, Perfume, AKB48, and SKE48. In the June 2012 issue (released April 28, 2012), the magazine underwent a major renewal, featuring interviews and gravure of AKB48 group members, and the scandal-oriented tendency receded. In the November 2012 issue (released September 29, 2012), the publisher changed back to Byakuya Shobo. The current magazine mainly consists of articles about idols centered on AKB48 and Sakamichi series, entertainment scoops, ramen and B-grade gourmet, subculture, and column serials. BUBKA also had a web broadcast 'Toys Heart Presents: Who Ate Yesterday?' (August 9, 2011 – April 5, 2016, 56 episodes) on Nico Nico Live, which was a BUBKA magazine tie-in program. The magazine has spawned several sibling magazines and special issues, including 'Ura BUBKA', 'BUBKA EXciting', 'Bessatsu BUBKA', 'BUBKA Jidai', '@BUNTA (formerly @BUBKA)', '@BUNTA DX (formerly @BUBKA DX)', 'Jitsuwa Mad Max' (later 'Jitsuwa Rage'), 'Gekiga Mad Max', 'Gekiga TV Mad Max', 'Bessatsu Gekiga Mad Max', 'BREAK MAX', 'Bessatsu BRAVO Exciting', and 'Jitsuwa BUNKA Taboo (formerly Jitsuwa BUBKA Taboo)'. Many of these have ceased publication. BUBKA and its sibling magazines have been involved in numerous incidents. In the September 2001, December 2001, and January–March 2002 issues, the magazine published articles and photos of actress Nakamura Ayami allegedly selling her used underwear at a burusera shop without her consent. Nakamura sued for defamation and invasion of privacy, seeking about 30 million yen in damages. In June 2002, the Tokyo District Court ordered Core Magazine to pay 2.2 million yen, ruling that the photos were taken when she was 13–15 years old and that 'what she did before debut is merely a subject of interest and curiosity' and thus not of public interest. In the July 2002 issue of 'Bubuka Special', childhood photos and photos of commuting to school of 28 celebrities including Fujiwara Norika and Morning Musume were published, leading to a group lawsuit organized by the Japan Music Performers Association. The first instance awarded 5.16 million yen, the second instance on April 26, 2006 awarded 8.96 million yen, and the Supreme Court finalized the judgment on October 15, 2008, upholding the Tokyo High Court decision. After this ruling, the magazine began adding eye lines to photos of the plaintiff celebrities. In the March 2003 issue, the magazine published photos of Nakatani Hideaki and Miyazawa Rie dating, leading Nakatani to sue, and both the first and second instances ordered Core Magazine to pay 1.1 million yen. In the May 2005 issue of 'Bessatsu BUBKA', content and expressions were deemed discriminatory, and the magazine was demanded to publish an apology. In October 2006, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Juvenile Development Division arrested the former editor-in-chief of 'Ura BUBKA' on suspicion of violating the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prohibition Act (production) for reprinting child pornography footage with partial modification in a DVD supplement, and Core Magazine was also sent to prosecutors on the same suspicion. In the June 2007 issue, an obscene image of ABC Asahi Broadcasting announcer Takano Naoko was published. The image was a composite of Takano's face photo taken from the station's website and an obscene photo of a completely different person, making it a false image. Takano and Asahi Broadcasting filed a criminal complaint with the Osaka Prefectural Police against Core Magazine for defamation and copyright infringement in September 2007. Core Magazine admitted that the published photo was unrelated to Takano and factually incorrect, and published an apology and correction in the January 2008 issue released on November 30, 2007.

• 2012

  Major renewal with AKB48 group features; publisher changed back to Byakuya Shobo.

• 2008

  Supreme Court finalized judgment in group lawsuit, upholding 8.96 million yen award.

• 2007

  Published composite obscene image of announcer Takano Naoko; apology published in January 2008 issue.

• 2006

  Former editor of 'Ura BUBKA' arrested for child pornography; Core Magazine sent to prosecutors.

• 2002

  Tokyo District Court ordered Core Magazine to pay 2.2 million yen to Nakamura Ayami.

• 2002

  Group lawsuit by 28 celebrities over childhood photos published in 'Bubuka Special'.

• 2001

  Published controversial articles about actress Nakamura Ayami, leading to lawsuit.

• 1997

  Moved to Core Magazine; first official issue published bimonthly; became monthly from July issue.

• 1996

  First published as a special issue of 'Pachislot Hisshou Guide'.

Entertainment and idol magazine with a history of scandal reporting, now focusing on idol culture and subculture.

• BUBKA (monthly magazine)

• Ura BUBKA

• BUBKA EXciting

• Bessatsu BUBKA

• BUBKA Jidai

• @BUNTA (formerly @BUBKA)

• @BUNTA DX (formerly @BUBKA DX)

• Jitsuwa Mad Max (later Jitsuwa Rage)

• Gekiga Mad Max

• Gekiga TV Mad Max

• Bessatsu Gekiga Mad Max

• BREAK MAX

• Bessatsu BRAVO Exciting

• Jitsuwa BUNKA Taboo (formerly Jitsuwa BUBKA Taboo)

1. 1BUBKA - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2BUBKA - Wikidatawikidata.org