Issue:
Regular Member
Anoma van der Veere
Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS)
I am a multimedia correspondent for NOS (Netherlands Public Broadcasting) and NRC newspaper. I am based in Tokyo, (for the main part) covering Japan (and adjacent countries when necessity dictates) for television, radio, and print media. Although I am in charge of general news, my personal interests lie in international relations, gender-based discrimination and violence, and migrant issues. Heavy topics, but I also quite enjoy watching B-rated movies and reading terribly written books so I can complain about them. I am Dutch, so complaining about things is a proud part of our culture. I think it’s result of centuries of living with three hours of sunlight.
On a more serious note: following my graduate degree at Leiden University and an exchange at Keio University, I decided to pursue my PhD in Japan. I received my doctorate from Osaka University in 2022 thanks to a MEXT scholarship (thank you MEXT), and am now also Senior Researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre, Leiden University, focused on Japan. In short: this is the main reason I am in Japan. Although the food helps too.
One day a week, each semester, I spend teaching. I am a university lecturer at Maastricht University (The Netherlands) and I teach two classes at Tama University (Japan). I do this mostly to stay connected to the academic world, as I feel that in my work as a journalist there is a disconnect between scientific knowledge and the general public. The media plays a big role in bridging this gap, and having one foot in each of these worlds allows me to connect the right people at the right time. Sometimes. Probably.
Regular Member
Emiko Amagawa
NHK World-JAPAN
After graduating from Waseda University, she began her career as a program director at NHK in Nagasaki. She thoroughly interviewed hibakusha, tracked down the people in the 115 photographs taken in Nagasaki the day after the bombing and produced a documentary, for which the program won the Golden Nymph Awards at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival.
She has continued to make documentaries on the tragedies of war including the fierce battle of Peleliu, Okinawa, and South Sakhalin etc. Right after 9/11, she was dispatched to Washington D.C and covered breaking stories such as the anthrax attacks and the war in Afghanistan.
Along with war coverage, the issue of crime victims has been her life's work to follow. Her coverage also ranges from Kenzaburo Oe and Donald Keene to documentary series on fast-growing India etc.
She was appointed Managing Director of NHK World-JAPAN in June 2024.
Regular Member
Takeshi Yoshimura
The News Lens Japan
Takeshi Yoshimura was born in Akashi, in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture. While studying at Nihon University College of Law in 1988, he studied abroad at Peking University. After graduation, he joined Sankei Shimbun in 1990, and was in charge of covering two important cases in Japanese society: the Glico Morinaga case and the Sekihōtai case. He also had experiences tracking organized crimes and doing reports about the royal family. At the same time, he began to grow his interest in cross-strait relationships while interviewing Japanese in China and Chinese in Japan who had migrated after World War II.
Mr. Yoshimura was chosen and sent to National Taiwan University to study by Sankei Shimbun during 2006-2007, and served as head of Sankei Shimbun's Taipei branch from 2011 to 2014. After returning to Japan, he wrote a thesis "Policy towards Japan and across the strait of Ma Ying-Jeou Regime" to obtain a master's degree of international intelligence from Nihon University Graduate School. After that, he served as director and editorial committee member of Sankei Shimbun's Hiroshima General Bureau, and retired at the end of 2019 to become a freelance reporter.
He recently published a book, Bloody Winds of Asia (アジア血風録) (MdN Shinsho) and has been writing articles for magazines and online media, mostly on topics relating to the Taiwan Strait. He also hosts Hyper J Channel's program "Yoshirnura Tsuyoshi's
Asia Newsbook" and "Talk about Taiwan, visit Taiwan ("活しTaiwan・行きTaiwan")" and serves as part-time lecturer in the Department of Oceanography at Tunghai University then Special Research Fellow (Cognitive Warfare Research), National Chengchi University (Taiwan).
Professional Associate Member
Kaoru Yamaoka
Travel Voice
In 2012, I was appointed editor-in-chief of "Travel Voice". Travel Voice Japan is the largest Japanese tourism industry news media in Japan with over 1,200,000 subscribers mainly managements and marketers. The news are all about tourism and travel and especially digital related news are well focused.
After graduating from university, I joined a major Japanese travel agency, planning and managing domestic and international tours. I gained a solid foundation of knowledge in the travel industry.
After that I moved to the publishing industry. I was involved in the launch of a travel information magazine for a major publishing company and worked in editing and planning for several travel media.
Today, the tourism industry around the world is growing significantly and facing challenges because of the growth. I find information that can help us achieve a future of sustainable tourism, write articles about it, and publish them on our website. In addition, I host events, give lectures, and appear on TV programs.
Associate Member
Manabu Kasahara
AUI Co., Ltd.
Associate Member
Masashi Komamba
Tonden Holdings Co., Ltd.
Associate Member
Takeshi Matsubara
UI Japan
Current Position: Head of Internal Audit, UI JAPAN
Education: Graduated in 1983 from Chuo University, Faculty of Law, Department of Law
In 1983, joined Sumitomo Trust Bank (later merged with Mitsui Trust Bank to form Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank) and spent approximately 40 years primarily engaged in international finance and internal audit operations. Between 1997 and 2004, he gained overseas experience during his posting in Singapore.
After retiring from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank in 2023, he leveraged his expertise in finance and internal auditing to take on leadership roles in internal audit departments of companies in financial-related industries. Specifically, after serving as the head of the internal audit department for a major cryptocurrency exchange operator, he currently holds the position of Head of Internal Audit at UI JAPAN, as mentioned above. The company is a foreign asset management firm specializing in the securitization of logistics facilities. With the growing demand for logistics warehouses driven by the expansion of e-commerce, the company is experiencing rapid business growth.
Certifications:
- CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)
- CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
- CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist)
Associate Member
Satoshi Negishi
Aoi Hotels & Resorts
Currently is the representative director of Aoi Hotels & Resorts in Kyoto City.
As a financial controller and general manager of Medical Device Company for 30 years.
Prior to medical companies, I was an auditor of Ernst & Whinny serving auditing and consulting for international enterprises.
A member of the Japanese institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA) and 27 years experiences in financial accounting.
Associate Member
Toshihiro Ogawara
E-Construction
I was born and raised in Hokkaido.
Educational background: I went to the U.S. when I was a student, including my educational background, and I don't have anything to be proud of.
It is simply an education from "parents" from an early age, and "social contradictions" and "principles and principles of thought" are valued.
Just as water flows from upstream to downstream, the strong reach out to the weak.
Partly due to the influence of my religious views as a Christian, I always examine from the "perspective" of the weak and the righteous.
Having said that, the award of a letter of appreciation from the Minister of Justice has also caused friction.
What you get from the market is returned to the market as a benefit.
If you receive kindness from others, accept it as a favor and give kindness to others.
I hope that the world will expand through the FCCJ.
Associate Member
Atsubumi Taguchi
Tokyo Suisan Reizo Co., Ltd.
Hello. My name is Atsubumi Taguchi. My family business is in the seafood industry, and my first career was a tuna dealing business. I received tuna dealing and technical guidance for one year at the Tsukiji Fish Market. I started to import tuna from the Mediterranean and sold it all over Japan. After that, my aunt called me to join her company. We operate a cold storage company (one of the commercial facilities where we store and deliver frozen food to our customers), and I have been working here since then (for almost 30 years). Eventually I inherited my aunt’s company. Now my company handles imported frozen fish, prawns, and crab, as well as meat. I also had volunteered as a PTA president for a total of 10 years at an international school in Chiba prefecture. It was a wonderful experience, and I learned many things from it. I’m honored to be a member of The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ) and look forward to interacting with you. Thank you.
President
TOKYO SUSAN REIZO CO., LTD.
Associate Member
Reiji Takehara
Keizai Koho Center
Managing Director, Keizai Koho Center (Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs)
Reiji Takehara joined Arabian Oil Co., Ltd. as a fresh university graduate in 1989, and worked at the Operations Coordination Department. In 1994, he was transferred to the Field Office located in Al-Khafji, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where the company managed the gigantic offshore oil field under the concession agreement, and was engaged in compiling the annual program and budget as well as the long-term corporate strategy at the Planning Department.
In 2000, he moved to Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and tackled various issues in both domestic and international arena such as industrial policies, environment and energy, bilateral and multilateral economic and trade relations, overseas development cooperation, and public relations. He has been in the current position since June 2024 in charge of disseminating the information on policy proposals of Keidanren, promoting dialogues with journalists, lawmakers, scholars and researchers, business executives and entrepreneurs, educators and students, and government officials, and increasing the communication among members, stake holders, and domestic and foreign media.
