publishing house (esp. state-run)
Refers to a publishing organization, often with a nuance of being state-run or institutional. Less common than 出版社 for commercial publishers.
その出版所は政府の機関として設立された。
That publishing house was established as a government agency.
Compound of 出版 (shuppan, 'publishing') and 所 (sho, 'place' or 'office'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for naming institutions.