The magazine of The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan April 2016, Volume 48 No. 4, ¥400 Journalism and TWITTER . For better or worse Are journalists Middle East to Far East: The Essential losing their jobs the Washington Post’s Cinema Club: and you’re for not being Anna Fifi eld profi led already a member pro-government? Vol. 48, Number 4 April 2016 contact the editors [email protected] Publisher FCCJ Editor Gregory Starr Art Director Andrew Pothecary www.forbiddencolour.com Editorial Assistants Naomichi Iwamura, Tyler Rothmar Photo Coordinator Akiko Miyake Publications committee members Gavin Blair, Freelance (Chair); Geoffrey Tudor, Orient Aviation; Monzurul Huq, Prothom Alo; Julian Ryall, Daily Telegraph; Patrick Zoll, Neue Zürcher Zeitung; Sonja Blaschke, Freelance; John R. Harris, Freelance FCCJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Suvendrini Kakuchi, University World News, UK 1st Vice President Peter Langan, Freelance Seeing the 2nd Vice President Imad Ajami, IRIS Media back of Secretary Mary Corbett, Cresner Media Treasurer Robert Whiting, Freelance Hiroko Kuniya Directors at Large Masaaki Fukunaga, the Sanmarg Milton Isa, Associate Member Yuichi Otsuka, Associate Member p8 James Simms, Forbes Contributor, Freelance In this issue Ex-officio Lucy Birmingham Kanji William Sposato, Freelance FCCJ COMMITTEE CHAIRS Associate Members Liaison Milton Isa Compliance Kunio Hamada The Front Page DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Masaaki Fukunaga From the President by Suvendrini Kakuchi 4 Entertainment Sandra Mori, Suvendrini Kakuchi Exhibition Bruce Osborn Collections: Tourism by the numbers 4 Film Karen Severns From the archives by Charles Pomeroy 5 Finance Robert Whiting Food & Beverage Robert Whiting Freedom of Press Pio d’Emilia, Khaldon Azhari House & Property Peter Langan Is Twitter for the birds? 6 Human Resources Imad Ajami by Richard Smart Information Technology Roger Williams Library, Archives & Workroom Koichi Ishiyama, Suvendrini Kakuchi Membership Peter O’Connor, Monzurul Huq Face-off 8 Membership Marketing Bill Shin, Rie Sakamoto by David McNeill Professional Activities David McNeill, Tetsuo Jimbo Publications Gavin Blair Special Projects Haruko Watanabe Profile Web Committee Gavin Blair Anna Fifield 10 by Lucy Alexander Foreign Press in Japan Justin McCurry Rewind: 12 Looking back with our favorite local cinema by Karen Severns The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan Yurakucho Denki Building, North Tower 20F, 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006. Journalism in flux: the global view 14 Tel: (03) 3211-3161 Fax: (03) 3211-3168 fccj.or.jp by Justin McCurry Published by the FCCJ All opinions contained within Number 1 Shimbun are those of the authors. As such, these opinions do not constitute an official position Exhibition of Number 1 Shimbun, the editor or the Foreign Color harmony: Kataezome art 16 Correspondents’ Club of Japan. by Fusa Sakamoto Please pitch and send articles and photographs, or address comments to [email protected] Read the Number 1 Shimbun online: Club News 17 fccj.or.jp/number-1-shimbun/ Join the Film Committee . /Club Tour to the Cover design by Andrew Pothecary Setouchi Triennale/New Members/New in the Library FCCJ APRIL 2016 3 FRONT PAGE COLLECTIONS Comparison of hotel FROM THE ARCHIVES TOURISM BY occupancy rates in THE EAGLE HAS LANDED Osaka Prefecture and Tokyo From the THE NUMBERS President “That's one small step for [a] man, one giant THE MONTH OF APRIL heralds spring and a new The number of international visitors leap for mankind,” fiscal year in Japan. The positive sentiment of this to Japan in 2015 were the unforgettable season represents the mood in the FCCJ following words uttered by ➔ the March General Membership Meeting, when 47.3% Neil Armstrong as Members overwhelmingly voted to approve the Board’s he stepped onto the settlement ending the four-year-long lawsuit by union moon’s surface on July staff members. In addition to this good news, the Board 21, 1969. He recounted also received GMM approval for the fiscal 2016 budget, 19.73m that moment at our the continued services from Meihio, a company that Club on Aug. 9, 1971, will direct our scheduled Club move to new premises in and no doubt faced 2018, and a new set of regulations on accepting donations Estimated number of international questions about the under our koeki status that has paved the way for financial visitors to Japan in January 2016 inaudible article “a” contributions under tax-free conditions for the donor. before “man,” which ➔ I would also like to take this opportunity to mention, 52% NASA's transcript with some pride, the unprecedented response of the continues to show almost 200 votes and proxies from Members collected in brackets. Then el Os el Tok at this GMM. Perhaps this was the result of my last Hot aka Hot yo president of the FCCJ, column that whined about the lack of interest about 1.85m Pierre Brisard (AFP) is Club affairs among Regular Members or maybe it was seated to his left; to the hard work of our staff and Board Members who Estimated number of Chinese his right is Bill Shinn resorted to calling to alert voting Members about their 85.2% 82.3% (Sisa News Agency), participation. Regardless, the outcome was indeed very visitors to Japan in January 2016 Figures for 2015 who was a key impressive and, obviously, journalist Members do care negotiator in our move to the Yurakucho Denki Building in 1976 and about the FCCJ. ➔ Club president in 1976-77. I strongly believe this season also marks a decisive 110% turn towards a positive future. As this Board’s term 475,000 Neil Armstrong was born in Ohio on Aug. 5, 1930. As a U.S. Navy pilot, winds down over the next few months, I can say this he flew 78 missions during the Korean War, and went on to become a year has been a roller coaster ride that we have faced test pilot, aerospace engineer and astronaut. with gusto. During the last few months in office, as ¥3,480, It was on Armstrong’s second and last space flight, as commander president, I would like to target a few other important of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the moon in July 1969, that he goals, with my priority being to find realistic solutions. and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. They spent two-and-a-half hours Key committees led by the Board Members will continue Spending outside the spacecraft while colleague Michael Collins remained in to devote much of their time in these directions: tackling 000, lunar orbit. All three were highly honored with numerous awards after by foreign the organization’s shaky financial health by embarking their safe return to Earth. visitors to on finding solutions; participating in an ongoing 66.37 Armstrong retired from NASA in 1971, after which he became an membership debate to protect our traditional journalist Japan in 2015 educator and business spokesman. His visit to Japan and to the FCCJ character based on accountability and transparency; 000, came a bit more than two years after his walk on the moon and soon and – high on our agenda – looking more closely at the after his retirement. ➔ conditions of the scheduled Club move. 71% Unlike several other former astronauts who went into politics, with I have made a special promise to meet more of the 505.45 John Glenn being the best known, Armstrong spurned overtures from Figures for 2015 in millions 000 Associate Members who play an important role in this the major political parties. However, he reportedly favored states’ organization. As their numbers increase, I would like The number of nights spent in Japan rights and frowned upon the U.S. becoming the “world’s policeman.” to ask these Members to make their voices heard. by foreign tourists He died on Aug. 25, 2012 at the age of 82, as a result of complications Requests for change, especially on issues such as following coronary artery bypass surgery. A quote from his family increasing the amount of information in Japanese, for as a fraction of sums up the man: “For those who may ask what they can do to example, would be most welcome for consideration by the number of nights spent in hotels honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, the FCCJ management. ¥32,100, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside In closing, I would like to invite all our Members to and inns by all tourists on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil attend some of the many international events at the 2014 duty-free Armstrong and give him a wink.” Club – plans for the calendar now include library book revenue of the [On a personal note, an overseas trip prevented me from attending the breaks featuring foreign authors writing in Japanese. In 000, professional luncheon for Armstrong, something I truly regret. I felt a 27 airports run addition, in keeping with the spirit of bringing a more certain kinship, since I had flown with pilots like him during my years Asian atmosphere to the FCCJ, please keep May 27 open by the central as an aircrew member in the U.S. Navy (1947-1956). My Korean War for an upcoming South Asia entertainment event. Later 17.7 000 government experiences, although not comparable with Armstrong’s as a fighter pilot, this fall we will also hold a much-awaited Taiwan Night. Figure for 2015 in millions had us flying over much the same terrain during my 79 missions as a Enjoy the heady days of spring! radioman, radar operator, and aerial gunner.] The number of nights spent in Tokyo Sources: Nikkei Asian Review, Asahi Shimbun, – Suvendrini Kakuchi by foreign tourists Japan Tourism Marketing Co., the Japan Times — Charles Pomeroy 4 APRIL 2016 FCCJ FCCJ APRIL 2016 5 FEATURE SOCIAL MEDIA leading up to graduation as she waits her turn.