From the Editor
David McNeill
The FCCJ’s annual Freedom of the Press Award is our chance to take stock of the bleak state of journalism. Across the world, media workers are being fired, harassed, attacked and murdered in record numbers. As Cédric Alviani, Asia-Pacific Bureau Director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) points out in this issue, in the last decade alone, about 2,000 journalists have been killed or gone missing. Nearly 500 are still being detained, mainly in China, Russia, Syria and Myanmar. Among those currently imprisoned is Dong Yufu, locked up in a Chinese jail after meeting a Japanese diplomat. His son Dong Yifu, movingly explains his case in the pages below. These are shocking facts to have to write. But as Eric Johnston’s report on the award ceremony on May 28 makes clear, despite these dangers, journalism still produces the most inspiring, courageous people. It is worth reminding ourselves that we are privileged to count them among our profession, and to work in a relative bubble of press freedom that allows us to celebrate them without fear of repression. This issue is my first as editor, having agreed to temporarily take the No1 Shimbun rudder from Justin McCurry, who is somewhere cycling around Kyushu as I write. Justin is a hard act to follow and I can only but try. I will start by issuing his standard appeal to our readers for pitches. Justin has made No1 Shimbun a must-read for anyone interested in Japan but it can only stay that way if we hear from the remarkable pool of writers, editors and photographers at the FCCJ. So do get in touch.
Cover artwork by Julio Shiiki
The Number 1 Shimbun
June 2026
Publisher FCCJ
Editor David McNeill
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 Randy Schmidt
2nd Vice President Aviraj Gokool
Treasurer Anthony Rowley
Secretary Kathleen Benoza
Directors-at-Large
Michael King, Taeko Nagayama, Michiyo Nakamoto, Masayuki Watanabe
Kanji Martin Fackler, Knopf Doubleday Publishing & Simon Farrell, Custom Media K.K.
Reserve Director
David Umeda
FCCJ Committee & Ad-hoc Committee Chairs
Publications (Number 1 Shimbun) Justin McCurry
Associate Members’ Liaison Simon Farrell & David Umeda
Entertainment Simon Farrell & Douglas Montgomery
Exhibition Peter Lyon
Film Karen Severns
Finance Anthony Rowley
Food & Beverage Shuri Fukunaga & Michiyo Nakamoto
Freedom of Press David McNeill & Ilgin Yorulmaz
House & Property Randy Schmidt
Human Resources Avi Gokool
Library, Archives & Workroom Suvendrini Kakuchi & Robert Whiting
Membership Randy Schmidt & Dan Sloan
Professional Activities Eric Johnston & Martin Fackler
DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Martin Fackler
Compliance Yoshisuke Iinuma & Masayuki Watanabe
Election (2025-2026) Yoshisuke Iinuma
Deep Dive Anthony Rowley
Information Technology (Web) TBD
Membership Marketing TBD
Sports Akihiko Tanabe
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan
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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.