noun
print culture; book culture
Refers to the cultural environment and values centered on printed materials such as books, newspapers, and magazines.
インターネットの普及で活字文化が衰退していると言われる。
It is said that print culture is declining with the spread of the internet.
読書文化 specifically emphasizes the culture of reading books, while 活字文化 is broader, encompassing all printed-word media.
Compound of 活字 (movable type, printed letters) and 文化 (culture). The term emerged as a way to describe the cultural significance of printed media.