The magazine of The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of

January 2017, Volume 49 No. 1, ¥400

A host of quotables who spoke at the Club last year. Plus, our correspondents’ predictions for the year ahead.

WELCOME TO THE YEAR OF THE COCK

Tube talk: Profile: The broadcast industry Freelancer braces for change Abigail Leonard Vol. 49, Number 1 January 2017 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; John R. Harris, Automobile Magazine Japan’s Olympic Silver Medal- FCCJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Khaldon Azhari, PanOrient News winning 4x100 1st Vice President Anthony Rowley, relay team Singapore Business Times 2nd Vice President Todd Crowell, Freelance Secretary David Satterwhite, Associate Member

Treasurer Robert Whiting, Author, Freelance TSUNO YOSHIKAZU p6 Directors-at-Large Said Karlsson, TT News Agency Milton Isa, Associate Member In this issue Police at Yuichi Otsuka, Associate Member Peter Langan, Freelance protests in Ex-officio Suvendrini Kakuchi, The Front Page Okinawa University World News Kanji Yoshisuke Iinuma From the President by Khaldon Azhari 4 Associate Kanji Makoto Honjo, Associate Member Collections: Club numbers FCCJ COMMITTEE CHAIRS From the archives 5 Associate Members Liaison Milton Isa, Masanobu Tsukagoshi Compliance Kunio Hamada Voices in 2016 6 DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Abby Leonard Entertainment Sandra Mori, Suvendrini Kakuchi Exhibition Bruce Osborn Film Karen Severns 2017: Something to crow about 8 Finance Robert Whiting by Tim Hornyak, Brett Bull, John R. Harris, Said Karsson, Food & Beverage Robert Whiting, Robert Kirschenbaum Richard Lloyd Parry, Abigail Leonard, Ayako Mie, Justin McCurry Freedom of Press Khaldon Azhari and Gavin Blair House & Property Khaldon Azhari Human Resources Khaldon Azhari Information Technology Khaldon Azhari Library, Archives & Workroom Koichi Ishiyama, Profile Suvendrini Kakuchi Abigail Leonard 10 Membership Andrew Horvat, Peter O’Connor Membership Marketing Rie Sakamoto by Tim Hornyak Professional Activities Andrew Sharp, Tetsuo Jimbo Public Relations Khaldon Azhari A change in the air(waves) 12 Publications Gavin Blair Special Projects Haruko Watanabe by Gavin Blair Web Committee Gavin Blair

Foreign Press in Japan Justin McCurry Is the government blind to Japan’s impoverished? 14 by Julian Ryall The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan Yurakucho Denki Building, North Tower 20F, Vaccine battle stakes are high 15 1-7-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, 100-0006. 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, Club News these opinions do not constitute an official position of Number 1 Shimbun, the editor or the Foreign Exhibition: Some Day, Going Back Home Correspondents’ Club of Japan. – Syrian Refugee Children 16 Please pitch and send articles and photographs, or by Natsuki Yasuda address comments to [email protected] Read the Number 1 Shimbun online: fccj.or.jp/number-1-shimbun Special Campaign offer/Join the Film Committee. . ./ 17 Cover illustration: Andrew Pothecary Media visit to Yamato Holdings “Haneda Chronogate”/ New Members/New in the library

FCCJ JAN 2017 3 FRONT PAGE

COLLECTIONS WEBSITE NUMBERS (Jan.-Nov.) FROM THE ARCHIVES CLUB NUMBERS TRUMP MAKES A TOKYO VISIT From the 105,200 President Total users

SOME SHARE THE VIEW that Japan is TOP 10 PAC EVENTS finished as an international news hub – and believe that the age of foreign 532,830 Total page views correspondents is part of the past as well. 1. (Former PM) 181 I disagree. This country remains a major democratic 2. (Candidate for Tokyo Gov) 160 TOP 5 FILM nation and a key country in world affairs and 3. Shigetada Kishii, Soichiro Tahara, Shuntaro Torigoe, COMMITTEE global power games. It has an East Asian Akihiro Otani, Satoshi Aoki (Journalists) 143 EVENTS neighbor that seems intent on becoming a nuclear power. For journalists living in Japan, 4. Kengo Kuma (Architect/Olympic stadium) 121 it’s enough to keep us working extensively – and luckily in a free environment. 5. & (Former Tokyo From a media perspective, Japan is the Gov & Member of house of Representative) 110 source of much of the news from Asia. The 5. Pikotaro (Singer/songwriter) 110 Japanese economy is still the third largest in 1. While the Women are Sleeping, with producer the world, with a giant financial market that 7. Tadae Takubo (President of ) 107 Yukie Kito; stars, Shioli Kutsuna, Sayuri keeps the newsrooms busy 24/7. 7. Renho (Candidate for DP president) 107 Oyamada and Makiko Watanabe Real Estate Developer – and as of Jan. 20, President of the U.S. In terms of technology, this country is (130 attendees) – Donald Trump presents his views at a professional luncheon far out in front in many areas of expertise, 9. Rachel McAdams (Hollywood actress) 102 on Aug. 18, 1993. FCCJ President Lew Simons (Knight-Ridder) is and Japanese products continue to dazzle 2. Nikkatsu Roman Porno reboot kickoff with seated next to him, smiling at the speaker’s remarks. Trump was 10. Gerald Curtis (Burgess Professor Emeritus of and amaze. Hideo Nakata, Sion Sono, Isao Yukisada, on a swing through Asia to thank investors who had helped him Political Science, Columbia University) 97 Because of Japan’s position as a diplomatic Akihiko Shiota, Kazuya Shiraishi; and special during his financial crisis and to discuss potential retail projects. leader leveraging her unique position both His comments were quoted in a New York Times article of the as the only nation to have experienced a screening of The World of Geisha (Tatsumi same date by Andrew Pollack, and included urging the U.S. to get nuclear bomb attack and as a major provider TOP 10 FCCJ YOUTUBE-CHANNEL VIDEO VIEWS Kumashiro) (120) “tougher” with Japan in its trade negotiations and calling past of development assistance, those of us in 3. A Bride for Rip Van Winkle with director U.S. negotiators “morons” and “idiots.” The article also quoted Tokyo often see the flags of another country 113,485 James Rickards: Author of Currency Wars, Shunji Iwai (110) him as saying that in trade negotiations America should be gracing the streets of downtown Tokyo when lawyer and economist (March 21) represented by a top businessman. world leaders come to visit. 29,343 Masaaki Hatsumi: 34th grand master of 4. Red Turtle with director Michael Dudok de Wit (110) Ministers, CEOs and VIPs from all over Donald J. Trump needs no introduction, but here’s a the world come to Tokyo year-round, in all the Togakure-ryu Ninjustsu (May 30) 5. Desperate Sunflowers with director thumbnail sketch. He was born on June 14, 1946, in New seasons. International conferences regularly 19,398 Yuriko Koike: Candidate in the Tokyo Hitomi Kuroki (110) York City and raised in a family entrenched in the real invite world-class speakers, and celebrities and Gubernatorial Election (July 7) estate/construction business. From the early 1970s, when he sport stars are often gold mines of quotes took over the family’s business and renamed it the Trump for journalists stationed in Japan, especially 11,103 Dan Wang and Billy Fung Jing-en: Tensions TWITTER FOLLOWERS Organization, he successfully expanded the company until when they come to talk at the FCCJ. between China and Hong Kong (Oct. 16) becoming financially over-extended in the late 1980s after A number of unfortunate natural disasters building resort casinos. have also attracted the world’s attention, and 8,112 Manny Pacquiao: Deepening the Trump’s dire financial situation was further aggravated required some extensive reporting. relationship between Japan and the (as of Dec. 19) when his wife, Ivana, discovered an affair and divorced him At the heart of all of that, the Foreign through boxing! (Nov. 24) 3,248 in 1992. (She reportedly received a $20 million settlement.) Correspondents’ Club of Japan retains its “The Donald,” as Trump had come to be known, however, place as the international press club in Japan, 5,740 David Kaye: Freedom of Expression in made a successful comeback by the end of the 1990s, and a location where news is still made and Japan (Apr. 18) TOP 5 BOOKS MOST INQUIRED ABOUT AND went on to become a celebrity entrepreneur as the host of reported. 4,287 Mashu Baker, Shohei Ono and Haruka BORROWED FROM THE LIBRARY NBC’s hit show, “The Apprentice.” After 71 years of operation, the long 1. Tensai by Shintaro Ishihara Trump, too, had long been active in politics, supporting tradition is being proudly upheld, and the Tachimoto: Judo gold medalists at Rio candidates from both major parties over the years. He Club – and our foreign correspondent Olympics (Aug. 29) 2. Islam in Indonesia: The Contest for Society, considered running for the presidency in 2000 as a members – is still alive and kicking, 4,273 Nomi Prins: How will a Donald Trump America Ideas and Values by Carool Kersten candidate from Ross Perot’s Reform Party and in 2012 as a determined to help get the news out. impact Japan and global markets? (Nov. 16) GOP candidate, but bowed out of the race. I believe our best days are ahead of us, 3. The Company and the Shogun: The Dutch Little can be added to all that’s been said about Donald and with pride and confidence, I would 3,883 Kengo Kuma: New Olympic Stadium Tokyo Encounter With Tokugawa Japan by Adam Clulow J. Trump over these many years and especially the last few like to extend my New Years’ greetings by months. His utterances have been sliced and diced by both 2020 (Jan. 14) 4. saying, “When you come to the FCCJ, you Japan, and their Territorial Dispute: opponents and supporters, with appropriate spin given by will feel the buzz of news-making at work and 3,874 Ryugo Hayano and Haruka Onodera: The 5th The Northern Delusion by James D. J. Brown each side. at play.” Anniversary Series of the 3/11 Disaster (Feb. 7) 5. Japan Restored: How Japan Can Reinvent There is little doubt, however, that his inauguration Happy New Year! this month will also bring major changes, domestically 2,493 Itself and Why This Is Important for America Pikotaro: Why PPAP took over the internet and internationally. – Khaldon Azhari (Oct.27) and the World by Clyde Prestowitz – Charles Pomeroy

4 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 5 FEATURE YEAR IN REVIEW

Jan. 14: June 3: Aug. 28: Voices in “At projects I have done overseas, I’ve felt a “HIS SPIRITUAL FATHER “While we were only able to achieve our very welcoming environment for architects IS MAO TSE-TUNG. . . . 2016 from other countries. However, considering I DON’T THINK HE CAN BE medal in the relay this time, at the next English communication issues and the very ANOTHER MAO, BUT HE Olympics I believe that all of us will be Over the past year, the dais of particular ways of proceeding with meetings HAS THIS AMBITION and conferences, I think that there are still the FCCJ hosted a wide variety of TO BE THE able to achieve a medal in the individual many aspects in which Japan could make more SECOND MAO.” newsmakers – speakers who offered efforts to open its doors and make it a more • Wang Dan, leader of Tiananmen races as well.” their views and opinions and welcoming environment for people from other democracy movement • Aksa Cambridge, Anchor, Japan’s Olympic Silver Medal-winning 4x100 relay team answered probing questions about a countries to work in.” On Chinese President Xi Jinping On aspirations for the 2020 Olympics to be held in Tokyo wide variety of issues . . . • Kengo Kuma, Architect On the conditions facing architects Aug. 31: working in foreign countries “Creating a transparent Tokyo Metropolitan Government is

Feb. 8: Feb. 17: my main goal. Public information disclosure is the first step toward improving its transparency. I want to create two-way “Prior to the nuclear “The effect of internal exposure communication where we talk openly with Tokyo citizens power plant disaster, to radiation in Fukushima is very about city government and city government affairs and invite the population of the frank feedback from third-party observers. I believe this is much less than town was more than the way to run a city government that puts its citizens first.” we initially 70,000. As a result of • Yukio Koike, of Tokyo: On her goals following her recent election victory feared, and right the disaster, however, now is almost it fell below 10,000. It Oct. 27: Nov. 22: has now recovered to no problem . . . the point where we have 57,000 residents “My knee was hurting so I went to “Putin is which was not in the town of Minami-Soma, but a the hospital. I went to the restroom and probably the the case after the lingering problem is that many young when I was coming out, a woman was only leader Russia has people have left – the working and child- exiting the women’s room. Our eyes met. Chernobyl accident.” rearing generation.” had or will • Ryugo Hayano, Professor of Physics, University of Tokyo We kissed. It was have, for On the radiation from the 3/11 meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi • Katsunobu Sakurai, Mayor of Minami Soma Nuclear Power Plant On the devastation suffered by his town from the 3/11 disaster instant love. She’s as far as we can see, March 22: cute. She’s pretty. She looks like a who’s capable of giving up territory and “The structural lack of data is something we hope to fill by getting away with it in terms of domestic piranha. She’s so Russian opinion. And Abe is the only prime using the power of ourselves. . . . From there we can have more charming with her minister that one can imagine in Japan informed dialogues and make more informed decisions. HOSHIKO AP PHOTO/EUGENE teeth sticking out. who’s capable of settling for less than the Her name is Tami. Her hobby is peeling return of all four islands. So you put these We strongly believe that data is the starting point, not opinion.” two together and you have the possibility • Peter Franken, Safecast volunteer citizen monitoring project: On data activism around Fukushima bananas, arranging the peels and taking of a deal.” March 24: April 4: photographs of them. She’s 78 years old.” • Gerald Curtis, Professor of Political Science, • Pikotaro, Comedian/media phenomenon Columbia University “It is clear that what she said is against the “If I were Japanese, I would feel On his wife of two years On Japan/Russia relation Constitution and against the Broadcasting Law. If exposed, because so much is riding on Nov. 24: she doesn’t know them, then as a minister, she is the assumption that the U.S. will always disqualified. If she knew them and distorted the be there. You can see from [Trump’s] “I’m not thinking about becoming president. My main election campaign that there is a current focus is to change our country and help the president. interpretation, then it is taking us a step closer to of thought in the U.S. that is asking, ‘Why speech control.” should we always be there and what real The president and I are very close, and I honor him • Shigetada Kishii interest do we really have? Why should because he’s the only president who fights illegal drugs News 23 commentator and special we be facing off against China all the and this is an opportunity to bring back harmony and senior writer at the On communications minister time.’ The fact that these questions are peace in our country.” ’s comments about being asked suggests the possibility that • Manny Pacquiao, World-champion boxer: On his political aspirations suspending the licenses of TV America might not always be there.” stations that didn’t follow the rules • Clyde Prestowitz, Author of Japan Restored of fairness in covering politics. On Japan-U.S. relations All videos of these press conferences are available to watch on the Club’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/FCCJchannel

6 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 7 FEATURE THE YEAR IN PREVIEW 2017: Something to crow about?

There were many sighs of relief heard around the world as the year 2016 came to FORWARD TO A IF I HAD KNOWN I WAS WHEN A WOMENOMICS PROGRAM DISAPPEARS a close, yet there is little evidence pointing toward a quieter 2017. The political VERY BLEAK FUTURE GOING TO LIVE THIS LONG, IN A BUREAUCRATIC FOG, DOES IT MAKE ANY SOUND? upheavals from populist movements that shook the stability of such nations as the I WOULD HAVE TAKEN U.S. and Britain seem to be just the tip of the iceberg. And while a negotiated peace This year, Japan’s auto industry will BETTER CARE OF MYSELF Prime Minister Abe will meet his goals for women in management halted the long civil war that killed thousands and thousands of Colombians, the pass a momentous tipping point positions by first revising the target from 15 to 1.5 percent, then by Middle East seems stuck in its cycle of warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. that could fracture the bedrock of In a further including male managers who promote women and finally by including Japan, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet, and we wonder if this year national prosperity – the $150 per sign of the men who were born to women. will be the same. Will 2017 see a song sillier than PPAP? Will Tokyo Governor Yuriko kilowatt/hour (kWh) cost of electric “silver tsunami” The Labor Ministry, which last year convinced exactly zero companies Koike’s strong stance against the runaway Olympic costs and toxic landfill be vehicle batteries. engulfing Japan, to apply for a subsidy that rewards firms for promoting women, will rewarded? Will baseball wunderkind Shohei Otani flee the professional fields of Japan This is widely seen as the level new research double that with an offer to cover the salaries of three female, non-regular for the major leagues? Will some mediocre celebrity be pulled from a commercial where EVs start becoming cheaper reveals that by workers plus a round of drinks for the HR bucho at a hostess club. after a sleazy affair goes public? (The answer to that one is just too easy.) to build than conventional cars. the middle of the Finally, American Ambassador Ivanka Trump will serve as a shining To get some hint of what’s to come, we asked a few of our brave Once it’s crossed, internal- century 98.6 per cent of articles written example of women who fuel the Japanese economy when she inks a deal correspondents to peer into their crystal computer screens and make some combustion engines may disappear by foreign correspondents based in with Sanei International and then holds bilateral talks on behalf of her bold predictions for the year ahead: with head-spinning speed. Tokyo will be about the ageing society. father, who will be busy filming the The balance point is battery The remaining 1.4 per cent will be about latest season of “The Apprentice” cost vs. a long list of components cute robots. in the Oval Office, this one REALITY? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKIN’ REALITY EVs don’t need: engine block, • Richard Lloyd Parry, The Times featuring Miss USA contestants. transmission, exhaust system, • Abigail Leonard This year will start seeing people wearing VR headsets in unexpected places, gas tank and more. All those get as virtual reality will become even more mainstream, pushed by major brands replaced by simple, durable electric like and Microsoft. Augmented reality applications motors that have few moving parts THE MAN WHO WILL (STILL) BE KING will continue to proliferate in the consumer and B2B fields. and need no lubricants. Tipping the AI assistants and AI reporters will take over the writing of scale further is the lower cost of EV Shinzo Abe will remain as the king of global politics in 2017, for better or worse. sports events, stock reports and other news. The few human ownership – especially for homes The conservative prime minister is the only global leader, aside from German reporters still on contract will be found sitting at their with solar panels. Chancellor Angela Merkel, who enjoys a stable government. Of course, he has newsroom desks, dejectedly mulling over the debris from the Although a godsend for the challenges. U.S. election while sipping Family Mart coffee and chewing planet, Japan may suffer – given The biggest international one is how he’ll deal with President-elect Donald 7-11 doughnuts delivered by drones. how much of its economy is Trump. But he also is unlikely to make progress in peace treaty negotiations • Tim Hornyak devoted to skills-intensive making with Russia and China, while North Korea is likely to remain provocative and of today’s auto drivetrains. With no the Japan-Korea relationship is precarious. Domestically, he has not delivered compensating inherent advantage economic reforms to bring innovation. in making batteries, a huge chunk All these questions are critical for him to push for his ultimate goal of revising GETTING OUT WHILE THE GETTING’S GOOD of manufacturing may simply Article 9 by the end of the newly set tenure of 2021. disappear along with a wide swath But the best news for Abe is the fact that there are no alternatives as long as the Sensing that a shakeup at the top could mitigate of auto services, since EVs need no largest opposition Democratic Party remains pathetically weak and incapable hostilities between warring factors, Tsukasa gasoline, oil changes or timing-belt • Ayako Mie, Japan Times Shinobu, the Yamaguchi-gumi’s top boss, will step replacements. down in the Year of the Rooster. The past two years • John R. Harris have not been kind to Japan’s largest organized Automobile Magazine THE ODDS HAVE IT NO, THE SUPREME LEADER NEVER LEARNED TO PARALLEL PARK crime group. Not only did its membership drop in a mutiny but it also became engaged in a sometimes violent dispute with the Yamaguchi-gumi, a rival The fake news phenomenon appears to Nintendo partners with Toyota and Google to create “Super Mario gang composed of former members. have swept across the Pacific to Japan with Kart Driver,”an augmented reality game that is downloaded more than The groundwork for Shinobu’s move may have already been set. In late reports that U.S. President Donald Trump 25 million times on its launch day – and the stock prices of the three September, a secret meeting - dubbed “The Yakuza Summit” - between Shinobu is to open a casino on the Senkaku islands. partners and a host of related companies go stratospheric. The game and the bosses of the Sumiyoshi-kai and Inagawa-kai, two other top syndicates, Katsuto Momii emerges from his post-NHK allows players to use footage streamed live from dashboard cameras was held in Yokohama’s Chinatown. Was the purpose of the summit to prepare retirement to become , of random cars to simulate a realistic driving experience, into for his resignation? Japan’s criminal underworld is about to find out. citing his mahjong expertise as justification which characters from the Mario games are superimposed. On the • Brett Bull, Editor-in-Chief, the Tokyo Reporter (www.tokyoreporter.com) to oversee the casino industry launch. “It is fourth day of release a team of North Korean- extremely regrettable,” says everyone. The sponsored hackers uses the app to Liberal Democratic Party finally agrees to take control of thousands of send a cabinet minister to the FCCJ to discuss cars via their onboard NO ROOM FOR THE VIEW “how to bet at roulette and other important computers and cause stuff.” The press conference ends in chaos hundreds of The number of inbound tourists will continue to grow at a rate that after correspondents press the minister accidents, many surprises even the most positive analysts at the Japan Tourism Agency. In to discuss government policy, sparking of them fatal. order to cope with the hordes of people flocking to the most well-known threats to prosecute reporters under the • Gavin Blair tourist destinations, different kinds of barriers and screening mechanisms state secrets act. “This is deplorable,” will be put in place. There will be a lottery deciding who will get to venture the minister says. “Now ask me about my past Asakusa’s Kaminarimon gate and spots in the elevators that lead up to favorite season.” the observation deck at Tokyo Skytree will be auctioned to the highest bidder. • Justin McCurry, The Guardian • Said Karlsson, Navitime for Japan Travel

8 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 9 SERIES PROFILE Abigail Leonard

by TIM HORNYAK

n her first trip to Japan, Abigail “It’s really important suffering “pain, amputation, disfig- Leonard had a brush with fate. urement and death.” Media scrutiny of OShe was on a plane flying from for democracy to prisoner care raised awareness, and Tokyo to Okinawa on March 11, 2011 have a healthy press, reforms were made. when the massive earthquake struck “It’s really important for democra- Tohoku, and – when Tepco’s nuclear obviously, and that’s cy to have a healthy press, obviously, power plant in Fukushima melted down and that’s true now more than ever – what was supposed to be a two-week true now more than in the U.S.,” says Leonard, referring cultural exchange program for overseas ever in the U.S.” to the media fallout in the aftermath journalists turned into an opportunity to of the 2016 presidential election. She report on the emerging nuclear crisis. believes that funding is a key part of “I was here for something that was the disconnect between mainstream critical and historic and identity-forming media and voters who felt marginal- for Japanese people and a lot of foreign- ized and distrustful toward media like ers who were here,” says Leonard. Her the New York Times. And that it takes interviews with hibakusha in Hiroshima money to assign reporters from power about the Fukushima radiation problem, centers in New York and Washington contrasting it with the effects from the into the heartland to do journalism wartime atomic bombing, ended up air- than can make a difference to people. ing on “Need to Know,” a program on the “I worked in the U.S. for 10 years, and U.S. Public Broadcasting System. you could see that good investigative Born in Boston to a lawyer father and journalism wasn’t getting funded,” she research scientist mother, Leonard went says. “And how do you even start to deal to school in Philadelphia. A desire to do with fake news?” “something meaningful” after graduat- She believes that it’s something that ing, led her to a job teaching junior high Facebook and Google are going to have for two years in New Orleans. to grapple with. “But the good thing that She later returned to university study- could come out of the election is that ing science and environmental report- some thought is now being given into ing in a journalism program at New York how to do better journalism and how University, before going back to work as important it is to have a free and open a staff producer for “Now on PBS.” She press. People are recognizing that and also wrote for MSNBC’s “Countdown people are subscribing [to such outlets]. with Keith Olberman,” hosted by the “It’s a critical time in American acerbic popular sports and political commentator. “He was media, particularly at a time where you have a president like an amazing editor and writer and presenter,” says Leonard. Donald Trump, who himself is spreading disinformation and “I learned from him how to communicate ideas really effec- vilifying the press. So it’s a tough time to be away from the tively – how that it’s more of an argument, building a case U.S. – but for now I’m in Japan.” rather than telling a narrative.” Leonard continued to expand her parameters, writing LEONARD IS NOW FOCUSED on working as a freelance jour- for “The War Room” with Jennifer Granholm, and working nalist in Tokyo after her husband was sent here to open a as a producer for CNN, ABC and Al Jazeera America, where Tokyo office for his company in 2015. She operates out of a she had the opportunity to research and produce impactful co-working space near Shibuya but visits the FCCJ for press material. “We did a story on privatizing prison healthcare in conferences and PAC meetings. While doing radio stories for Arizona that brought a lot of attention to an issue that people the BBC, she’s also been writing print pieces for the Washing- don’t normally care about,” says Leonard. “What we uncov- ton Post, Newsweek, Popular Science, Vox, the New York Daily ered showed they were making a profit while driving the News and Newsday. She’s also written for OZY and NPR. She costs down as low as possible.” dislikes wacky Japan stories, the grist for many a freelancer’s mill, and is especially interested in women’s and social issues THE PROGRAM WAS A brutal exposé. One female prisoner that aren’t being covered. One example of how she matches interviewed by Leonard claimed that doctors had left her her interests to her work is a Newsweek story she did on how with an open wound from a C-section and, when it didn’t Japan’s declining population could lead to restrictions on heal properly, packed it with kitchen sugar from McDonald’s. women’s access to reproductive care. Although Leonard’s Al Jazeera article “There are so many stories out there included a dismissal of the claims from Tim Hornyak is a freelance writer who has that need to be told. Personally it’s been a state lawmaker who drafted the priva- worked for IDG News, CNET News, Lonely an amazing journey. I’ve met some tization legislation, allegations of mis- Planet and other media. He is the author of really incredible people and hopefully treatment were also raised in an ACLU Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of I could change things for the better in Japanese Robots. lawsuit that claimed prisoners were some small way.” ❶ ANDREW POTHECARY

10 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 11 FEATURE MEDIA

une in to Japanese television on any given evening and by a growth in sales of streaming rights to

you will find nothing that different from two or three Airborne China of 78.7 percent. Opposite, Jessie Graff decades ago. Programming is still dominated by the Clearance of copyright was a major issue T in the “American Ninja usual menu of variety shows packed full of segments on food for online distribution of all Japanese con- Warrior” finals; left, Taka and travel punctuated by excited cries of “Oishii!” and “Sugoi!” tent because the Broadcast Law and copy- Hayakawa, director of emanating from the familiar roster of celebrity faces, along right are governed by different ministries. worldwide production with some largely formulaic dramas, the ubiquitous quiz Many of the hurdles have now been over- and sales at Fuji TV; shows and the occasional elaborate popular music program. come, but the issue remains a barrier for below, the Netflix drama, But take notice, for changes are afoot. A shrinking international distribution, according to Sug- Hibana domestic market is forcing the big networks to look further iyama of TBS: “Everyone is working toward afield for growth, while competition from new platforms trying to resolve this, but it’s not as simple as such as Netflix and Amazon is posing challenges, but also people think it is; clearance is difficult even creating opportunities. for the music used in TV programs, since it may be cleared for domestic distribution, but not overseas.” The networks don’t own the rights for all Demographics and new technologies are the programs they broadcast, but are often having a big effect on viewing habits in Japan. involved as co-producers of anime, receiving a share of the revenue from overseas sales. “TV stations used to sell content in stages, with first broadcast and then DVD releases. A change in the air(waves) But now distribution through broadcasting, streaming and DVD sales are becoming almost by GAVIN BLAIR simultaneous,” says Sugiyama. Sales of formats – essentially ideas for shows – has been a long-running global suc- cess story for the TV networks. The “Drag- The programming and business of the commercial broad- ons’ Den/Shark Tank” show, where venture casters – and to a lesser extent NHK – revolves around the watch ad-free or skip ad breaks on recorded programs. two have formed an alliance to co-create dramas for the Asian capitalists decide whether or not to invest in entrepreneurs’ “Golden Time” hours of 7 to 10 pm, when the highest-rating In addition to expanded offerings from cable and satellite market. Even staid public broadcaster NHK partnered with business ideas, has been remade in around 30 countries, but programs and biggest-earning commercials air. And while networks, the Japanese TV industry now faces stiffer com- Netflix on “Tokyo Trials.” The four-part mini-series about the started life as “Money no Tora” on NTV in the early 2000s. you may not notice the difference, the shifting demographics petition from a growing number of alternative content plat- trials of war criminals after World War II was broadcast on Other global hits include “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” of the domestic audience has led to a shift in content over forms in a now crowded marketplace. “Amazon, Netflix and NHK in December, while Netflix streamed it overseas. NHK “Takeshi’s Castle” and “Sasuke/Ninja Warrior,” all of which the last 10 to 15 years to programming designed to appeal other new platforms have been totally disruptive in the U.S. BECKER/NBC DAVID will offer it on its own VOD service before Netflix makes it originated at TBS, and Fuji TV’s “Iron Chef” and “Hole in to older viewers, according to Taka Hayakawa, director of and are now trying the same strategy in Japan,” says Hayaka- available to its subscribers in Japan. the Wall.” worldwide production and sales at Fuji TV. “There is no young wa. “Competition is getting very tough and we are only at the For decades, movie production has been an important rev- Many observers put this plethora of ideas down in part generation, so it’s all about the ojisan and obachan,” says Hay- initial stage of disruption in Japan as they have just launched enue stream for the commercial networks. Many of the annu- to the large number of short segments in Japanese variety akawa, whose career has also included writing, directing and recently here. But their growth is inevitable. The Japanese TV al box office leaders are spin-offs from drama series or other shows, which are often the birthplace of formats for pro- producing for television industry is pondering how to survive in this landscape.” films that TV companies are involved with through a movie grams in their own right. The low-budget nature of much This has manifested itself most visibly in the increasing Definitive numbers are unavailable, but local platform production committee system that brings partners from dis- of Japanese TV leads to producers being creative and often number of police detective and medical-themed dramas, Abema TV is reported to be the most popular VOD service, tributors, rights holders and advertising agencies together coming up with ideas for shows that can be made relatively with relatively simple, formulaic storylines in the primetime followed by Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, dTV and then Netflix. as investors. NTV has announced a movie spin-off from “The inexpensively – another attraction for international buyers. slots, says Hayakawa. “If it’s a detective story, you can guess In terms of hours watched weekly, dTV – which was originally Last Cop,” due for release this spring. With younger people in particular now consuming video the conclusion is going to be catching the bad guy; with a a mobile service launched by DoCoMo that has expanded to Few of the 400 or so Japanese films released each year gen- on a variety of devices from multiple platforms, the business medical-type drama, if you can understand the first few min- television – is in the lead, followed by Amazon and Netflix. erate more than minimal interest or box office overseas. But model of the traditional linear broadcasters looks unsus- utes, then you will be able to work out the story.” Hulu found it difficult to carve out a niche in the local the emergence of the huge Chinese theatrical market at a tainable. Factor in the shrinking population, and the TV net- According to Hayakawa, these dramas are “safe and comfort- market and sold its Japan operations to Nippon TV in early time when relations between the two countries have thawed works face a particularly acute environment. In addition to able, without any edginess or feeling of danger.” He says that 2014. Since the takeover by NTV, the service has ramped up enough for Japanese films to start getting released again is aiming for further growth in overseas markets for content despite Fuji TV’s efforts to resist the shift, the broadcaster will its local original programming, including a Japanese version creating new opportunities. Flying Colors (Billy Girl) was the and ideas, the broadcasters will likely need to follow the lead run two dramas with such themes in its next primetime slots. of the German police series “The Last Cop,” which became a third-biggest Japanese live-action film of 2015 with ¥28.4 bil- of corporations in other sectors in making investments and Makito Sugiyama, vice president of global business at Tokyo big draw for Hulu last year. lion ($23.6 million). Based on a true story about a waster of acquisitions abroad. Broadcasting System Television, doesn’t see such a significant Original content is becoming a key part of the expansion of a high school student who suddenly decides to go to an elite Fuji TV, for example, was an early investor in Niantic, the San change in content on the terrestrial channels, although the the new platforms in Japan, mirroring the strategy of Ama- university, it featured TBS as a leading company of its produc- Francisco-based developer of worldwide smash hit augmented Broadcast Satellite channels are “targeting older viewers.” zon Video and Netflix’s global ambitions. Amazon Japan has tion committee. The film was given a wide release in China in reality game Pokemon Go, despite not being the broadcaster already announced 12 original series, including dramas, doc- April 2016 and took in more than $6 million. Although that of the TV anime series. The company also produced a docu- ONE CHANGE THAT HAS undeniably occurred in television umentaries, variety shows, anime programs and children’s is only a fraction of the $80 million that the anime hit Your mentary about the Pokemon Go phenomenon, in Japanese and viewing habits, though not one peculiar to Japan, is the grow- shows, with plans for more. In the summer of 2016, Netflix Name (Kimi no Na wa) had made in China by late December, English, that was broadcast in Japan in December and is tar- ing tendency to watch programs in time-shift: either recorded, Japan launched “Hibana (Spark),” a 10-episode drama based on let alone the hundreds of millions that a Hollywood block- geted at a global audience. Such strategies and synergies are on VOD (video on demand), catch-up services or on net-based an -winning novel by Matayoshi Naoki. As well buster can pull in there, it represents significant overseas the way forward, according to Fuji’s Hayakawa, who both led platforms such as Hulu and Amazon. The way that viewing fig- as boosting local content, the drama was made available on box office success for a Japanese film. the investment and acted as a producer for the documentary. ures are calculated in Japan was recently changed to reflect this Netflix in 190 countries and dubbed into around 20 languages. “Similar to the divide between Silicon Valley and Hollywood in change, bringing some cheer to the networks, which are able ON THE ANIME TV series front, overseas sales have been the U.S., the two industries are separate in Japan, but we have to show that their audiences have not dropped as much as had ALTHOUGH THE NEW PLATFORMS are a clear challenge to the growing exponentially over the last couple of years, helping to combine the two in order to survive,” suggests Hayakawa. ❶ been thought. With the price of commercial slots based on rat- legacy commercial broadcasters, the networks aren’t adopt- to boost revenue for the anime industry to ¥1.83 trillion ($18 ings, the networks now have to devise new formulas to reflect ing a siege mentality, but rather working with them. Fuji TV billion) in 2015. That was up by 12 percent from a year earlier, Gavin Blair covers Japanese business, society and culture for the time-shift audience, complicated by the fact that some can created the drama “Underwear (Atelier)” for Netflix, and the according to the Association of Japanese Animations, helped publications in the U.S., Asia and Europe.

12 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 13 CHILD POVERTY HEALTH

Riko Muranaka says the vaccine can help save the lives of 3,000 young women a year, but a libel lawsuit seems aimed at silencing support for its use. Vaccine battle stakes are high by JUSTIN MCCURRY to society. Ikeda’s social responsibility Left to right, Chieko Kuribayashi, Yasuhi is big. We found no evidence to suggest Aoto and Charles E. McJilton at the Club reported symptoms are related to the HPV vaccine.” Activists dealing with the country’s disadvantaged claim that the poor, anything to eat all that day. I started to JAPAN’S REFUSAL TO OFFICIALLY especially children, are being ignored by the government. provide learning support for children recommend a vaccine that protects MURANAKA, WHO IS PAYING her own who feared they would not be able to against cervical cancer is a threat to legal fees while accepting donations go on to senior high school. thousands of women who contract the from a support group, believes many Is the government blind to As well as providing a place where illness every year, according to medical of the 3,000 Japanese women who die local children can meet up, eat together doctor and journalist Riko Muranaka, from cervical cancer every year could and simply spend time in a comfortable whose campaign to prove the drug’s have been saved by the vaccine. She Japan’s impoverished? environment, the centers invite safety has landed her in court. accused her opponents of “sowing the volunteer high school and university Muranaka, a lecturer at Kyoto seeds for misunderstanding about the Riko Muranaka students to help the children study. University’s school of medicine, is now safety of the HPV vaccine that persists by JULIAN RYALL at the Club fighting a libel suit after she accused to this day.” BUT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS are not Shuichi Ikeda, dean of the school To support the claims she has made in being dealt with, in part, critics say, of medicine at Shinshu University, women have decided not to get a safe numerous papers and articles, she cited DESPITE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO Abe’s “If we look at how difficult the because the government is handing of “fabricating” the results of an and effective vaccine [that could] save a study of 70,960 vaccinated and non- declarations of concern over the nation’s situation has become, particularly over responsibility for caring for experiment with a single mouse that he their lives,” said Muranaka, whose case vaccinated adolescent girls in stubbornly unyielding poverty rate, for children, over the last 25 years, I those living below the poverty line then used to “prove” that the human is not expected to reach a verdict for that found “no significant associations Yasushi Aoto says he has no interest believe there are two main reasons: to NGOs. “I believe the government papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine causes at least another 18 months. “I would between 24 alleged vaccine-induced in the problem that grips millions of education and employment,” said Aoto. should be doing more and that its serious neurological conditions. like to ask Dr. Ikeda if he feels any symptoms and the HPV vaccines.” households across the country. current policies for alleviating poverty Ikeda, who had been given a grant responsibility for this.” Muranaka said that she had been Poverty, including child poverty, does ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATION, 16.3 are insufficient,” Kuribayashi said. by the health ministry to investigate She said that the epidemiological unfairly targeted by opponents, and not translate into sufficient votes for percent of Japanese households are “However, citizens across the country alleged adverse side effects, insisted data from around the world has that other doctors who support her the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for living on less than ¥3 million a year, are now learning that this problem on a causal link in a TV appearance, shown no increase in the vaccinated stance are too scared to speak out it to be a major concern, says Aoto, who affecting 3.5 million children under exists. This is an opportunity to think generating alarmist newspaper group for specific diseases such as in case they too end up in court. has witnessed the problem close up as the age of 17 – which is fully one in about our children’s futures.” headlines the following day. neurological diseases or auto-immune “Publishers refused to publish my chairman of the Japan Association of six of all children in the country. And Charles McJilton is executive The HPV jab was made available for diseases. And a health ministry articles, and declined to publish a Child Poverty and Education Support looking into the future, Aoto points director of Second Harvest Japan, the free in late 2010 for girls between 12 task force subsequently ruled out book, even though they had agreed to Organizations. “To put it simply, I do out, this will inevitably worsen as fewer country’s leading food bank and a close and 16 years old, and became part of a causal link between HPV vaccine do so,” she said. “One magazine ended not believe that Abe has any interest in children are born, the government’s collaborator with both local and national Japan’s national immunization program and the professed symptoms, adding my regular column since they don’t child poverty, or the problem of poverty tax revenues decline and increasing governments and other NGOs – and he is in early 2013. But just two months later, that the reported cases were most want to be involved.” in general, and I believe this attitude numbers of elderly people require more aware than most of the problems the health and welfare ministry made likely psychosomatic. Despite those She scolded Japan’s medical society is common to all conservative parties pensions and healthcare. facing those living on the fringes of what Muranaka called the “unusual and findings, the government has not and the media for their silence. “I because the issue does not generate The cost of a university education Japanese society: he once spent 15 perplexing” decision to keep the vaccine made a “proactive recommendation” have asked Doctor Ikeda time and votes,” Aoto told a press conference at has similarly increased in recent months living in a cardboard box in in the program but suspend “proactive” to reintroduce the vaccine into the again to publish more details about his the FCCJ last November. decades, climbing from ¥100,000 Tokyo alongside homeless people to gain recommendations for it. immunization program. experiment and the original data, but he “Politicians are living in a world of a year in the 1970s to more than a better understanding of their plight. The decision followed Ikeda’s claim The ministry’s decision has been has failed to comply,” she said. “I hope immediate reality and I don’t believe ¥500,000 a year today, even for a “Within Tokyo, there are maybe 40 or and the release of a video by a group criticized by the World Health the court will understand that the lawsuit they have the ability to think about the liberal arts course, he said. Invariably, 50 locations where someone can pick up of alleged victims showing vaccinated Organization, which fears that was not the right thing to do, because lives of children today and the people the majority of people that Aoto’s group hot food, an emergency meal,” he said. women with serious neurological dubious claims about harmful side Ikeda should have refuted my claims they will be in 40 or 50 years,” he said. assists are from families that have “In , there are 1,100 places, symptoms. effects could lead to a global drop in in the scientific realm. I’m happy to In April, a report issued by the UN not had a university-level education. has 600, San Francisco, even Since the ministry suspended its vaccinations and a rise in cervical discuss this with him within the scientific Children’s Fund underlined Aoto’s Some are not even able to make it to Hong Kong has 520. So why do we have so recommendation, the vaccination cancer cases. There is evidence that community, but he won’t do that.” concern for the most vulnerable in senior high school; such is their lack of few here? We have resources, so how come rate among the target age group has the controversy in Japan has already Muranaka said that her single aim Japanese society, revealing that children financial resources and support. we can’t reach those who are in need?” plummeted from 70 percent to less hit vaccination rates in Denmark and is for Japan’s government to comply from the poorest households here are Chieko Kuribayashi is chief director McJilton’s organization has set itself than 1 percent. Ireland. Worldwide, about 528,000 new with global expectations and global relatively far more disadvantaged than of the non-profit organization, a goal of feeding 100,000 people in cases of cervical cancer are reported standards. “The voices of the victims children in most other industrialized Toshima Kodomo WakuWaku Network, Tokyo every week by 2020 and he is IN AN ARTICLE IN Wedge magazine in annually, causing 266,000 deaths. In are echoing around the world, but nations. That finding is backed up and was instrumental in setting up the calling on the government to see food March of this year, Muranaka accused Japan 9,300 cases of invasive cervical scientific journalists have to do the by research by Aoto’s organization first “children’s cafeteria” in Toshima safety for the most vulnerable in society Ikeda of fabricating the data. “Doctor cancer cause 3,000 deaths a year. same – we have to make our voices and others campaigning against the Ward for youngsters in her community. in the same way as it sees healthcare Ikeda’s data is not just about one While the libel case continues, heard around the world and publish problem here – but who also admit that The initiative has since been replicated provisions. All children up to the age of mouse experiment,” Muranaka said at the health ministry has publicly science-based articles, or else people’s determining precise figures for poverty across Japan and there are now 300 16 receive free healthcare, he said. They the FCCJ in November. “It is about the accused Dr. Ikeda of “causing health will be at risk.” ❶ rates is more difficult in Japan for a such centers. “I am not a teacher or a should also have the same guaranteed consequences it has for 10,000 women misunderstanding.” According to an number of reasons, not least because professional, but a mother who raised access to sufficient food. ❶ and their families who get cervical op-ed by Muranaka in the Wall Street Justin McCurry is Tokyo correspondent for the social stigma attached to being poor my children in the area,” she told the cancer every year in Japan, and the Journal, the ministry statement said: the Guardian and Observer newspapers in and writes about Japan and Korea for causes millions of people not to claim press conference. “I would often meet Julian Ryall is Japan correspondent for the 3,000 women who die from it.” “We are truly sorry his inappropriate the Lancet medical journal. welfare support. kids who were hungry and had not had Daily Telegraph. “Because of his actions, more young presentation caused misunderstanding

14 JAN 2017 FCCJ FCCJ JAN 2017 15 CLUB NEWS CLUB NEWS

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The Members-only deal allows for flat-rate access at ¥7,900 per month – offering big savings on a service that While at high school, Natsuki Yasuda . . . for a very special sneak preview of Martin Scorsese’s long-gestating passion normally costs ¥126,000 per month Some Day, Going Back Home went to Cambodia on an NGO project, Silence, on Thurs., Jan. 12. Nearly 30 years after he read Shusaku Endo’s program to document projects for 1966 novel about the persecution of hidden Christians in 17th-century Japan, – Syrian Refugee Children young people. Now a professional the legendary director has finally released this story of two Portuguese padres, photojournalist, she reports from The service will be billed by the Sebastian Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver), who photographs by Natsuki Yasuda Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Club. The FCCJ benefits from all Africa and Japan. Since the Tohoku journey from Macao to Japan to search for their missing mentor, after receiving subscriptions sold under this earthquake her main base has been the startling news that he has gone native. The priests begin their arduous journey arrangement. NATSUKI YASUDA IS CURRENTLY documenting the tragic plight of the Rikuzentakata, from where she has to the Japanese heart of darkness with a lapsed Christian named Kichijiro (Yosuke refugees of the Syrian civil war. Since it began in 2011, the worsening conflict documented developments in the Kubozuka), settling in with clandestine worshippers in the tiny village of Tomogi. Nexis provides access to news and in Syria has forced 9.5 million people – around half the population – to leave disaster-hit area. In 2012 she won the But soon enough, the area’s ruthless Inquisitor Inoue (Issey Ogata) throws information from more than 34,000 eighth Younosuke Natori Photography their homes. Over three million of these displaced people have been forced to Rodrigues and his new followers behind bars, and sets about putting their faith to sources, including Kyodo News, Jiji, Award for her work on Uganda’s HIV- leave Syria, including over 600,000 who have sought refuge in Jordan. These the ultimate test. Yonhap, Xinhua, AP, Reuters, AFP, AIDS orphans. www.yasudanatsuki.com photographs are windows into the lives of the people there. ❶ In collaboration with Kadokawa, Scorsese’s masterwork will be screened all major world newspapers and from 4:15 pm at the Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho, above Bic Camera, with the specialist news sources. Also Q&A session starting from 7:30 back at FCCJ. Japanese stars Issey Ogata and included is a database of U.S. and Yosuke Kubozuka will be on hand to discuss the months-long filming of this epic international company information, international production. (U.S., 2016; 161 minutes; Japanese/English/Latin with biographical databases, country Japanese and English subtitles.) profiles and a U.S. legal database. – Karen Severns

For those already in on the secret, the application form is available MEDIA VISIT TO YAMATO HOLDINGS “HANEDA CHRONOGATE” on the FCCJ website or from the 19F Club office. Chronogate is located next to Haneda Airport, close to JR Freight Container Terminals and Tokyo and Yokohama Ports. The giant integrated terminal provides seamless land, sea and air connections both in Japan and THE SPECIAL PROJECTS COMMITTEE throughout the world. arranged a visit to Yamato Holdings Co. The centralization of the Yamato Ltd’s Haneda Chronogate, the most Group’s services and capabilities, advanced and biggest logistics hub in the such as domestic delivery networks, world. Led by SPC committee member forwarding (import/export cargo process Kenji Obayashi, the group of nine FCCJ management), distribution strategies at journalists made the visit on Dec. 14. one point enables speedy and consistent Opened in Sept. 2013, Haneda logistics service to the customer.

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SPECIAL CAMPAIGN OFFER FOR NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBERS New in the Library The FCCJ is offering a special deal for new Associate Members. Until March 31 this year, those joining are eligible for a ¥100,000 DISCOUNT off of the regular fee of Gamma: Une histoire The Rape of ¥300,000. de photographes Nanking: The If successfully approved, the applicants will be able to Hubert Henrotte; Forgotten Holocaust enjoy all the member benefits: attendance at all the major Floris de Bonneville; of World War II press conferences and professional and social events; dining Gabriel Bauret Iris Chang services at the Main Bar, Pen & Quill Executive Dining area and the Masukomi Sushi Bar; Éditions de La Penguin Books Martinière Gift from Christopher special discounts on sports, arts and cultural events; free wi-fi, half-price parking, the Club’s Gift from Itaru K. A. Pitts monthly magazine; and access to reciprocal press clubs around the world. Kurita Present members can also benefit. A ¥20,000 restaurant voucher will be given to those Kuroi kyoto : Saiko who introduce successfully approved new Associates. For more information, or to pick up Japanese Studies in saibansho Britain: A Survey and Hiroshi Segi an application form, go to the front desk. History Kodansha Hugh Cortazzi (ed.); Gift from Hiroshi Segi Peter Kornicki (ed.) Renaissance Books Crooked Cucumber: Gift from The Japan The Life and REGULAR MEMBERS Society Teaching of Shunryu New KEIKO IIZUKA, the Members Suzuki The Will to Keep David Chadwick WALTER SIM is the Japan correspondent for the Straits Times. He joined Winning Broadway Books the paper, the most-read broadsheet in Singapore, fresh out of Nanyang Daigo Umehara Technological University’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Shogakukan Countdown to Pearl Information, and first cut his teeth on the crime desk, covering everything Gift from Takeharu Harbor: The Twelve from lurid sex-for-corruption trials and murders to the Little India riot in 2013. Chris Kusada Days to the Attack He then moved to domestic politics, reporting on the death of founding Prime (Shoagkukan) Steve Twomey Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Singapore’s general election in 2015. It was during Simon & Schuster his first trip to Japan – a solo trip to Tokyo in 2012 – that he fell in love with the A War of Words: The Man Who Talked Gardens of Gravel country and decided to pick up the language. In his present position, he covers 4000 Japanese into and Sand Japan-related news including politics, diplomacy and social issues with an eye Surrender Leonard Koren on Singapore and the region. Hamish McDonald Stone Bridge Press University of KAZUNORI TAKADA is the Tokyo Bureau Chief for Bloomberg News, Queensland Press Ugetsu Monogatari overseeing 140 reporters and editors in both the English and Japanese Gift from Hamish or Tales of Moonlight language services. Kazunori joined Bloomberg in April 2016 from Reuters McDonald and Rain: A where he spent 16 years covering a wide range of areas from general news to Complete English market and corporate news in Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and China. In his A Public Betrayed: Version of the An Inside Look at Eighteenth-Century last stint at Reuters, he was bureau chief responsible for coverage Japanese Media Japanese collection of financial markets and corporate news in China. He was educated in Japan Atrocities and Their of Tales of the and the U.S. and is a graduate of International Christian University in Tokyo. Warnings to the West Supernatural Kazunori, a Yokohama native, is married with two children. Adam Gamble; Ueda Akinari; Leon M. Takesato Watanabe Zolbrod (trans.) LEI YAN, Xinhua News Agency Regnery Publishing Routledge Gift from Christopher PROFESSIONAL/JOURNALIST ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE MEMBERS A. Pitts Modern MEMBERS Masahide Konishi, Kokuyo Co., Ltd. Prophet: Uchimura Janolof Fritze, Big Five Film and TV Productions Koushu Murakami, the Murakami Land Lord A People’s History of Kanzo, 1861-1930 Shuichi Akiyama, Freelance Corporation The Vietnam War John F. Howes. Golf Times Ltd. Techno Door Co., Ltd. Akira Inoue, Kunio Ogawa, Jonathan Neale UBC Press Hiroshi Kagawa, IBC Publishing, Inc. Tomosaburo Uno, Sanitary Co., Ltd. The New Press Hideaki Ota, the Yuhiko Yasunaga, Shimamoto Partners Gift from Christopher Takashi Uesugi, NO BORDER, Inc. REINSTATEMENT (ASSOCIATE) A. Pitts STATUS CHANGE (ASSOCIATE TO P/JA) Arseny Chuk Besher, GREE, Inc. Gregory Poole, Doshisha University Masami Doi, Kreab K.K. Hiroko Usami, Art Consultants Int’l Ltd.

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