Issue:
Regular Member
Ryosuke Endo
The Sankei Shimbun
Ryosuke Endo, Editor of International News and Editorial Writer of the Sankei Shimbun, is an experienced journalist in the field of international news, especially of Russia and former Soviet countries. Mr. Endo is the laureate of the Vaughn-Uyeda Memorial International Journalistic Prize for covering Russia-Ukraine war (2023).
He worked in Moscow Bureau of the Sankei from 2006 to 2018 continuously, including as Chief Correspondent of Moscow Bureau from 2014 to 2018. For all the time, he covered various events in Russia and former Soviet countries such as the war in Georgia, annexation of Crimea, the war in eastern Ukraine. In 2017, on the occasion of 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, he engaged in a long-run serial publication based on wide-ranging archives and the latest historical findings, which was published as a book, "Putin and the Russian Revolution / Great Failure of 100 years" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 2018).
Returning to Tokyo Headquarter, Mr. Endo worked as Deputy Editor of International News and at the same time as Editorial Writer. Apart from editing, he engaged in writing periodical columns and editorial articles mainly in the field of Russian affairs. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia to Ukraine, he has visited Ukraine for 7 times and made a number of reports including from the front areas in eastern Ukraine. Mr. Endo was blacklisted and banned from Russia by the sanction against Japan in May 2022 in relation to the Russia- Ukraine war.
Mr. Endo was born in Ehime prefecture in 1973 and grew up mainly in Saitama prefecture. B.A. and M.A. in Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. He has been regular employee of The Sankei Shimbun since 1999 and worked in Yokohama Bureau, Morioka Bureau and International News Department before dispatched to Moscow Bureau.
Regular Member
Chie Matsumoto
Freelance
As a freelance journalist, I write features and columns for online and print publications. I also work as a fixer/local producer for overseas media, besides juggling some odd projects. I enjoy organizing a bilingual media cooperative, Unfiltered, with a diverse group of journalist friends.
Before becoming independent, I worked as a reporter for an English-language newspaper based in Tokyo and as a Tokyo correspondent for a foreign news agency.
I also taught media literacy and contemporary social issues in Japan at some universities.
Regular Member
Eugene Hoshiko
Associated Press
Eugene Hoshiko is the Chief Photographer at the Associated Press Tokyo Bureau and one of the most experienced photojournalists working in Asia today. With a career spanning more than 30 years, he has reported from over 30 countries, covering major international events across Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
Hoshiko began his career in the 1980s documenting the civil war in El Salvador. Since joining the Associated Press in 1994, he has covered historic moments such as the Peru hostage crisis, the war in Afghanistan, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. He has also photographed numerous Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.
He has been based in AP bureaus in Mexico City, Tegucigalpa, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Fluent in Japanese, English, and Spanish, Hoshiko has long worked across linguistic and cultural boundaries to report complex stories from the field. In addition to his photography, he is also an accomplished photo editor and mentor to emerging journalists.
His career reflects a long-standing commitment to accurate, ethical, and impactful journalism grounded in deep field experience and visual storytelling.
Professional/Journalist Associate Member
Callum Smith
Trip.Com Group
Callum Smith is an Australian scholar, writer, digital artist and translator, working in and on the Asia-Pacific region. He lives in Japan, and speaks English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.
His academic work focuses on the realm of culture and people. He is interested in the question of how people and countries engage through art, culture and exchange. In particular, his work has explored social, economic and cultural phenomena in contemporary China, and international engagement with it. He has also focused on the legacies of the Australian journalist George E. Morrison in China and Japan.
Outside academia, he is an experienced professional with a passion for international cultural engagement and a decade of experience working in the region. He has worked across industries linking culture and commerce, and in various capacities spanning corporate and government affairs, media, publications, research, analysis and business development.
He holds degrees from the Australian National University (BAPS, 2014; Hons, 2015), East China Normal University (LLM, 2018), Kanazawa University (PhD, 2024). He has translated and edited multiple volumes and is the author of numerous academic articles in English and Chinese. He is also the designer and webmaster of China Heritage, and a founding member of the Wairarapa Academy for New Sinology (2016-).
Professional/Journalist Associate Member
Naoya Hayashi
Jiji Press
Naoya Hayashi joined Jiji Press in April 1996 after graduating from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies with a bachelor's degree in language and area studies.
At Jiji Press' English news desk, he translated Japanese news stories into English.
In November 1998, he was transferred to Jiji Press' Sydney bureau, where he engaged in administrative work and news reporting. He also worked as an intern at the Australian Associated Press and wrote stories about things related to Japan, including the anime series "Neon Genesis Evangelion," which was broadcast in Australia at that time.
He returned to Tokyo in November 1999 and was reassigned to the English news desk. He covered the stock market as a member of the kabuto press club at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, as well as the economy and monetary policy as a member of the press clubs at the Cabinet Office, the Bank of Japan and the Finance Ministry, before becoming an editor.
He is involved in a project to develop machine translation and artificial intelligence tools and apply them to news production at the English news desk. He became chief of the section on July 1.
Associate Member
Daniel Bogler
FGS Global (Japan) GK
Dan Bogler is a former journalist and media executive who now works for FGS Global, one of the leading global strategic and financial communications firms.
Before joining FGS Global in Tokyo in 2020, Dan worked for the Financial Times and Nikkei for 25 years in a number of jobs that took him twice to New York and Hong Kong, as well as London, Frankfurt and, finally, Japan. On the editorial side of the FT, he was Head of Lex, Asia News Editor and Managing Editor. His commercial roles included President of Medley Global Advisors, a macroeconomic consultancy purchased by the FT, and Managing Director of ScoutAsia, a private company database set up by the two news organisations after Nikkei purchased the FT in 2015.
Originally from Germany, Dan studied Modern History at Oxford University and remains an avid student of history in all its forms. He is married with one son and lives in western Tokyo.
Associate Member
Soichiro Iseda
Bright City Japan Inc.
Soichiro Iseda is an aviation professional and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing safe, human-centered, and efficient air transportation. He earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, specializing in aviation safety and human factors. After returning to Japan, he obtained his commercial pilot license and became engaged in regional revitalization initiatives, where he witnessed the structural challenges facing local mobility, logistics, and workforce development.
These experiences shaped his commitment to designing transportation systems that reduce regional disparities and place equal value on safety, comfort, and operational integrity. His current work focuses on integrating aviation, logistics, and digital automation to create seamless, rational, and customer-oriented mobility solutions. He is particularly interested in how technology, organizational culture, and thoughtful design can improve both employee well-being and the overall travel experience.
He looks forward to connecting with members of the Club and exchanging insights on the future of aviation, mobility innovation, and regional development in Japan.
Associate Member
Takayuki Sakamoto
HEXEL Works, Inc.
Takayuki Sakamoto serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of HEXEL Works, Inc., a leading company in Japan's electrical construction sector. He first joined HEXEL Works, Inc. in 1993 in HR, when the company was first known as Rokko and Associates, Inc. Over the course of his long tenure, Mr. Sakamoto undertook a broad range of leadership responsibilities across Japan and in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the United States, overseeing business development and organizational initiatives. Before being promoted to President and CEO, Mr. Sakamoto served as Senior Managing Executive Officer.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mr. Sakamoto values time with his wife, two daughters, and cat. He maintains a long-standing appreciation for live music and regularly attends performances featuring both Japanese and international artists.
Mr. Sakamoto holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Economics from Meiji University. He is an active member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) and the Japan Electrical Construction Association.
Reinstatement (Associate Member)
Gen Takamatsu
Cargill Japan LLC
Director, Business Development & Japan Lead, Ocean Transportation in Cargill Japan LLC, Tokyo, Japan
He was appointed as Business Development Manager in 2015 once he joined Cargill Japan (current Cargill Japan LLC), and promoted to Japan Lead for Ocean Transportation in 2016. After his first 5 years in Cargill Japan successfully done, he was transferred to Cargill Ocean Transportation Singapore Pte Ltd in September 2020 as Business Development Manager South East Asia. He was transferred back to Japan as Director, Business Development in Ocean Transportation and started new role from June 2025.
The position is responsible for freight sales to the customers based in Japan and South East Asia, with customers satisfaction to our service rendered to them.
Gen Takamatsu received a Bachelor degree of Economics from Matsuyama University, Ehime Pref., Japan in March 1994.
