From the Editor

Justin McCurry

There was never any doubt about which story should go on the cover of this month’s Number 1 Shimbun. Mention the name Mohammed Hanif to any FCCJ member and they will break into a smile as they reflect on his warmth and numerous acts of kindness, not to mention the professionalism that defined his 47 years as a much-loved member of staff. John Harris speaks for us all in his fond farewell to an FCCJ treasure. Hanif-san, we wish you all the very best. Elsewhere in this issue, David McNeill interviews the editor of Made in China Journal about how journalists are rising to the challenge posed by Xi Jinping’s propaganda machine, while Ilgin Yorulmaz reports on a recent press freedom event organised by the Columbia Journalism School. Stephen Mansfield celebrates the cultural oasis that is Infinity Books, and Mark Schreiber completes his reminiscences of the 1970 Expo in Osaka. In their regular columns, Eric Johnston has mixed feelings about the current Expo’s showcasing of Ainu culture, while Philip Brasor laments the closure of many of Japan’s concert venues. It is with a mixture of sadness and fondness that we publish an extract from a book about Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s eventful 1956 honeymoon in Japan that Mary Corbett was writing when she died late last year. Plus events and press conferences, the latest in Suvendrini Kakuchi's series of interviews with associate members, and another instalment of Lens On Japan.

Cover illustration by Julio Shiiki

INDEX

 

The Number 1 Shimbun

June 2025

 

Publisher FCCJ

Editor  Justin McCurry

Designer  Julio Kohji Shiiki, www.sedo.co.jp

Website  Paul Braganza

Editorial Assistant  Naomichi Iwamura

Photo coordination  Hiroko Moriwaki

Publications Committee
Justin McCurry (Chair), Suvendrini Kakuchi, David McNeill, Andy Sharp

 

FCCJ Board of Directors

President  Dan Sloan

1st Vice President  Khaldon Azhari

2nd Vice President  Randy Schmidt

Treasurer  Anthony Rowley

Secretary  David M. Umeda

Directors-at-Large
Shuri Fukunaga, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Dave McCombs, Taeko Nagayama

Kanji  Martin Fackler, Knopf Doubleday Publishing & Simon Farrell, Custom Media K.K.

 

FCCJ Committee & Ad-hoc Committee Chairs

Publications  Justin McCurry

Associate Members’ Liaison  Simon Farrell & David Umeda

Entertainment  Jake Adelstein & Simon Farrell

Exhibitions  Peter Lyon

Film  Karen Severns

Finance  Anthony Rowley

Food & Beverage  Shuri Fukunaga & Michiyo Nakamoto

Freedom of Press  David McNeill

House & Property  Khaldon Azhari

Human Resources  Randy Schmidt

Information Technology  Hinza Asif & Yusuke Wada

Library, Archives & Workroom  Suvendrini Kakuchi & Robert Whiting

Membership  Randy Schmidt

Professional Activities  Tetsuo Jimbo & Martin Koelling

DeRoy Memorial Scholarship  Martin Fackler

Compliance  Kunio Hamada & Yoshisuke Iinuma

Election  Yoshisuke Iinuma

Deep Dive  Anthony Rowley

Membership Marketing  Gary Bremermann

Sports  Akihiko Tanabe

 

The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan

Marunouchi Nijubashi Building 5F
Marunouchi 3-2-3 Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005
Tel: (03) 3211-3161・fccj.or.jp

Published by the FCCJ All opinions contained within the Number 1 Shimbun are those of the authors. As such, these opinions do not constitute an official position of Number 1 Shimbun, the editor or the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.