RETROSPECTIVE: Hot-Dog PRESS 1981

Hot-Dog PRESS was a magazine launched in direct competition to Popeye back in 1979. Focused on culture, fashion and products, the publication was particularly aimed at male college students.

front cover - Hot Dog Press, July 1981

The publication became a staple of the Bubble Era as expendable income skyrocketed and young Japanese men were looking for new ways to enjoy the rampant capitalism of the 1980s. Hot-Dog PRESS became particularly famous for its “dating guides” and is often seen as a major factor in influencing the popularity of dates on Christmas in Japan.

We take a look at this issue from July 1981 including advertisements for the recently released Sony CFS-88 boombox & Canon VR-100 camcorder. This issue also features articles on the quality of Japanese electric guitars & the “Box Method” - unique ways to decorate a tiny Japanese room. Check out the images below for some scans from our original July 1981 copy.

Hot-Dog PRESS was ultimately overtaken by its competitors and the magazine largely died off. There has been some attempts to relaunch publication in recent years with none really taking off. The team behind Hot Dog are trying to reinvent themselves for the modern era though and have been irregularly broadcasting a monthly tv segment on BS NTV since April 2015.

back cover - jeans advertisement “for the average person”

segment on Japanese-made electric guitars

segment on ways to decorate tiny Japanese ‘box’ apartments

advertisement for the Canon VR-100 camcorder

advertisement for a Sony boombox