The Yomiuri Research Institute is a think tank established in 1982 by The Yomiuri Shimbun for research in a wide variety of fields, including politics, economics and international issues. Its senior research fellows and research fellows are veteran reporters from each news department of The Yomiuri Shimbun, and the institute also commissions outside experts as guest fellows, so it is always poised to conduct research on any subject.

The institute makes proposals regarding various problems confronting Japan, and has even drafted revision proposals for Japan's Constitution. The current Constitution has not been revised even once since it was enacted in 1947. As a result, it has become increasingly deviated from the realities of today. The Yomiuri Shimbun's three published proposals－in 1994, 2000 and 2004－have helped revitalize the debate over constitutional revision in the Diet.

There have been profound repercussions from an institute project to probe the history of Japan up through its defeat in World War II, and the degree of responsibility of its leaders. The findings of the study were printed in The Yomiuri Shimbun in 2005 and 2006, and have also been published as a book. There is an English edition, titled "From Marco Polo Bridge to Pearl Harbor: Who was responsible?"

Other activities include the presentation of awards, such as Japan's premier award for journalism. The Yomiuri Yoshino Sakuzo Prize is given to writers of outstanding essays or books on the subjects of politics, economics, society, history and culture. The Yomiuri International Cooperation Prize is granted to individuals, groups or companies who make outstanding achievements in the field of international cooperation.

The Yomiuri International Forum is a symposium cohosted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and the Yomiuri International Economic Society (YIES), a nonprofit organization with its executive offices in the Yomiuri Research Institute. Experts from Japan and elsewhere gather to debate the best course for Japan's politics, economy, society and diplomacy.