JONATHAN SOBLE Nominated by: Yoshisuke Iinuma Seconded by: Sandra Mori

Candidate for Treasurer

Jonathan Soble

Dear fellow FCCJ members,

Greetings. I'm pleased to have been nominated to be your Treasurer.

The Treasurer's job, it seems to me, is a lot like a newspaper reporter's: to deliver clear, reliable and unbiased information to readers - in this case the FCCJ board and membership - so they can make sound decisions about the future.

The Club has lost money in each of the last two years, and will probably lose money again this year. The recession is the proximate cause, but it's clear that there are also long-term structural problems at work. Solving them will be up to the board, the various committees and the general membership, but in all cases the debate needs to be grounded in plain facts and figures.

My knowledge of finance and accounting is imperfect and, I'm proud to say, acquired in the amateur style of a journalist. There are, luckily, educated professionals on the finance committee, and I look forward to working with them and borrowing their expertise. You may be reassured to know that Yoshisuke Iinuma, our experienced outgoing Treasurer, has agreed serve on the committee in the coming year.

A bit about my background: I'm originally from Ontario, Canada. I've been a journalist in Tokyo for eight years, with Dow Jones Newswires, Reuters and, since 2007, the Financial Times, where I write mostly about Japanese industry. I joined the FCCJ in 2006.

Thank you for your trust and support.