Monocle's Tyler Brûlé praises Japanese magazine craftsmanship on Tokyo-Zürich flight
In a column for Monocle, editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé reflects on the superior quality of Japanese magazines compared to Western publications, based on his experience reading them during a flight from Tokyo Narita to Zürich. He highlights five key advantages: exceptional print quality, complex page layouts, deep storytelling, creative freedom versus template-driven Western media, and the ability to remain relevant in a digital age. Brûlé specifically mentions titles such as Premium, Brutus, Popeye, and Uomo, and praises the work of publishers like Magazine House. He also notes that Monocle, approaching its 20th anniversary on 14 February 2027, will introduce fresh changes across print, air, and screen. The column was published on Monocle's website and is part of his 'The Faster Lane' series.
Key facts
- Tyler Brûlé is editor-in-chief of Monocle.
- He flew on Swiss flight LX 161 from Tokyo Narita to Zürich.
- He read Japanese magazines including Premium, Brutus, Popeye, and Uomo.
- He also read Western titles like The Atlantic, The New Yorker, WSJ, Les Echos, The New York Times, and Financial Times.
- He identifies five reasons Japanese magazines are superior: print quality, layout complexity, deep features, creative freedom, and digital relevance.
- He praises Magazine House for its editorial layering.
- Monocle will celebrate its 20th anniversary on 14 February 2027.
- Monocle plans fresh changes across print, air, and screen.
- The column was published on Monocle's website.
- The article is part of Monocle's 'The Faster Lane' series.
Entities
Artists
- Tyler Brûlé
Institutions
- Monocle
- Magazine House
- Premium
- Brutus
- Popeye
- Uomo
- The Atlantic
- The New Yorker
- WSJ
- Les Echos
- The New York Times
- Financial Times
Locations
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Zürich
- Switzerland
- Alaska
- Nome
- Kyoto
- Lisbon
- Portugal
Sources
- Monocle —