Metropolis welcomes news-, lifestyle- and entertainment-related submissions concerning Tokyo and Japan, and which are consistent with our mission statement:

Metropolis aims to inform, entertain and engage Tokyo’s international community with the city’s most vibrant and up-to-the-minute mix of English-language news, interviews, opinion, features, event listings, nightlife and dining information, and much more.

1. Enquiries, pitches and submissions

• All queries should be made via email to the Editor-in-Chief or directly to the editor of the section you are pitching.
• Prior to making any pitches or submissions, please familiarize yourself with Metropolis’ various sections, editorial voice, readership and past coverage.
• When you make a submission, please specify the section you think it would be appropriate for. It is also important to explain to the editors why your idea is relevant to our readers.
• Pitches should include a short description of possible angles, sources you plan to use and background research you’ve already done.
• We also accept unsolicited submissions on spec (preferably as a Word attachment or in the body of the email) and will contact you if we are interested in publishing them. Please include your full name, a brief bio, writing samples and contact information.
• We will not accept submissions that have already been published by other English-language media in Tokyo.
• Because of the large number of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee a response to enquiries that are not clear, concise and appropriate.

2. Format

• Submit all copy as a Word attachment using Times New Roman font, point size 12, and justified left
• Word count should follow guidelines set by the editor. In the case of unsolicited submissions, consult the website for most recent examples from the section concerned
• Always use one space between sentences (no double space after a full stop, please)
• Request the Metropolis Style Guide or consult the AP Stylebook for specific spelling, punctuation and style issues
• Articles submitted with a headline and blurb (lead and standfirst) with a byline as it would appear in the magazine will be considered favorably. For example:

Playing the field
Japan’s athletes are gearing up for an autumn of nonstop sports action
By John Smith

• Include captions and photo credits for any images submitted with the article

3. Approximate word counts

Q&A… 350
Body & Soul… 750
Close-ups… 250-300 (2 items)
The Goods 700… (3 items)
Travel (main article w/ Trip Tips)… 850
Global Village… 700
Feature… 1800
Books… 650
Dining feature… 750
Bar Review… 600
Restaurant Review… 600
The Last Word… 800

Word counts are at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

4. Payment
All contributors must submit an invoice upon publication of their article and/or photo(s). Invoices must be signed or stamped with a hanko, and submitted by post to the following address:

Metropolis
8F Nishi-Azabu Sonic Bldg
3-2-12 Nishi-Azabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo
106-0031 Japan
ATTN: Editor-in-Chief

Please note that Metropolis does NOT accept invoices submitted electronically or by fax.

If you prefer, Metropolis can provide a blank invoice form; contact the Managing Editor to request one.

Payment is posted on or around the 25th of the second month following publication, i.e. for an article published on January 16, your payment will be made directly to the stipulated bank account on or around March 25.

(Note that reimbursement for meals for restaurant reviews is handled separately: Send in a copy of your receipt and a completed claim form to the attention of the Editor-in-Chief. Reimbursement will be made by direct deposit on the same date as the article payment.)

5. Photography
Metropolis is a free publication with a limited art budget; therefore our rates are lower than many paid-for publications. However, with a readership of approximately 67, 500 per week, photographers do get a fair amount of exposure. We also work with celebrities that most photographers would not have access to in the West.
Any commissioned work is considered work for hire and becomes the property of Metropolis in order to prevent our works and covers to be used by other publications with overlapping distribution. If other publications are interested in buying photos from our library, we give the credit to the photographer and a share of the profits depending on the cost of the original photo shoot and negotiated price.
Metropolis prefers digital images, submitted by email to the editor of the section. Resolution must be sufficient for publication in the magazine—i.e., 300dpi at print size. Photographers must be able to schedule shoots with bars and restaurants on their own. This requires some Japanese. To submit a CD of photos please include applicable credits and captions, and address the package to:

Metropolis
8F Nishi-Azabu Sonic Bldg
3-2-12 Nishi-Azabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo
106-0031 Japan

6. Reproduction
Unless a specific agreement is made with the Managing Editor prior to the commissioning of an article, Metropolis reserves the right to modify and reproduce material in future issues and other mediums, including but not limited to Metropolis’ website, advertising specials and visitors guides, as well as Japan Today. We also reserve the right to syndicate content in other publications. Please be aware that all published articles are kept on the Metropolis website indefinitely.

7. Terms (note)
The terms of payment and reproduction will not be renegotiated once an article has been commissioned. Please be sure to raise any queries with the Managing Editor before you start work on your article.