Founded in 1879, by Murayama Ryōhei and Ueno Riichi, The Asahi Shimbun began as a small, four-page illustrated newspaper in Osaka, Japan. The founders started the company with a staff of only twenty people, selling copies for just one sen each to provide the public with daily news and illustrations. Over nearly 150 years, it has grown from these humble beginnings into one of the oldest and largest daily newspapers in the world. Today, the company remains a private business primarily owned by the founding Murayama and Ueno families, along with other stakeholders like TV Asahi. Today, The Asahi Shimbun is headquartered in Osaka and Tokyo, but it operates a massive reporting network with over 150 news bureaus across Japan and 27 locations worldwide. Through its website, asahi.com, it covers a wide range of topics including national and international politics, business, and major sports events. They also provide extensive coverage of entertainment, culture, and lifestyle stories, such as features on global music stars and traditional Japanese recipes. One interesting fact: A unique fact about The Asahi Shimbun is that the company actually owns and operates its own fleet of aircraft, including one jet and four helicopters. This allows their journalists to quickly reach the scene of major news events across Japan to provide real-time reporting and aerial photography.