Issue:
Dear members
We closed September with a Saturday Night Live honoring Sandra Mori and Geoff Tudor, who played key roles in popularizing this event. The club also showed the documentary The Making of a Japanese, held a Book Break with Japan and FCCJ stalwart Bob Whiting, as well as a memorial for Bob Neff and Terry Anderson. We also heard from LDP candidates hoping to be Japan’s next prime minister and hosted a panel on the country’s political horizon.
In that vein, the new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba - one of the candidates who visited the club - is about to appoint his cabinet, and we hope to have him speak at the here again as the first acting premier to do so in over 50 years. First, though, I wanted to update on what your new board of directors and committees are planning for at least the month ahead.
On October 7, we will host the mayors of Shibuya and Shinjuku wards, who will explain their Halloween strategies to avert drunken disorder from imperilling their neighborhoods. On October 17, Hiromi Yamaji, head of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, will tell us how and why Japan Inc is getting its corporate act together and how that’s reflected in equity prices. Our new photo exhibition will feature the work of Benjamin Lee, after a month of punk-era memories from Herbie Yamaguchi. A reception will be held with Lee on October 7.
Crucially, on October 28 we will host a general membership meeting to select a new kanji and vote on some bylaw amendments. In the past, GMMs have been held almost exclusively in March and June, but the meeting this month will complete our board, make key bylaw amendments to improve efficiency and flexibility, and offer direct interaction with the membership.
Under our previous shadan hojin status, we would meet every quarter, have a meal, and while never certain of a quorum, at least exchange opinions on crucial club matters.
This tradition ended with the switch to koeki status, while the online voting process allowed many to miss GMMs entirely. I encourage visiting the FCCJ to share a moment with fellow members and, most of all, let us know what represents value for your time and money. A Zoom link will also be available.
Among our diverse committees and their contributions, I have shared activities by the PAC, Entertainment, Library, Archives & Work Room, Exhibition, and Film teams, but the IT group is holding paid events contributing to club revenues and upgrading FCCJ computer infrastructure. This is greatly appreciated, as all are efforts on the club’s behalf. Please also know that our monthly membership applications are on the upswing, which stems from the quality of our activities and events, and the hard work of our marketing team and staff.
More innovations are coming to attract new associate, professional associate, regular – and student – members, but your introductions are always welcome and appreciated. We will hold our annual Hacks & Flacks in January, with special guests. It will be a lot of fun, and a chance to highlight what makes the club an essential professional organization.
Dan Sloan
President, FCCJ
