Issue:

Dear Members,

I hope this note finds everyone well and hopefully rested after the Obon Holidays, despite the heat.

In was in that same heat that some trial events were held in August for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, a reminder for athletes and organizers alike that summer in Japan’s capital can be fairly brutal. Author Bob Whiting told me the 1964 Tokyo Olympics were held in October, with the organizers at the time saying the month brought the ideal weather to host the event in Japan. Perhaps that is one lesson not learned from history.

The Editor-in-Chief of the Olympic Information Service, Lucia Montanarella, dropped by the Club early in August. She said she will be back and we offered her an FCCJ guest membership. Gianni Merlo, the president of the International Association of Sports Press, is also expected to visit the FCCJ in the coming weeks.

As part of preparations for the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup, the Club will offer limited time guest memberships to accredited journalists for both events. We should have special prepaid visitor cards ready by then (think Pasmo, but for use at the FCCJ only). All of this, of course, is to promote the use of the Club by journalists and to attract more speakers from among athletes taking part in the events.

The FCCJ Board met on Aug. 16, when the General Manager reported that F&B visitor numbers were up in July on year. The Pen & Quill also reopened and is proving popular for private dining. However, total membership numbers remained largely flat as resigning members offset new members. The Board has given itself the mandate to attract new members to the Club and passed a motion to credit a member’s account with ¥25,000 if they introduce a new member.

The FCCJ’s social media accounts are expanding. We had 6,199 Twitter followers as of July 31, up more than 900 this year, but clearly much more needs to be done on this front.

On a final note, the Library Committee noted that we have a number of lockers on the sixth floor still available. The board agreed to lower the charge, so ¥3,000 and change will give you a locker rental for six months. Just the place to store your running gear before a jog around the Palace just watch out for the heat.

See you in the Club,


– Peter Langan