From the Editor
Justin McCurry
We really should have anniversary parties more often. With the bonenkai season on the horizon, hundreds of FCCJ members and their guests warmed up with an evening of food, drink, music and (appropriately short) speeches at the end of November to mark the club’s 80th anniversary. The event was a chance to catch up with friends and a reminder that, eight decades after it was formed, the FCCJ is an institution worth cherishing. In this month’s issue, current and past members share their club anecdotes, accompanied by photographs from the recent celebrations. Elsewhere, David McNeill and I review the news in 2025, while Peter McGill brings us up to speed on troubled peace plans for Ukraine and the continuing crackdown on free speech in Hong Kong. In a change of pace, Mark Schreiber explains why the Year of the Fire Horse is considered inauspicious, and Vicki L. Beyer takes us on a tour of Kyushu’s “living” war museums. In club news, TV journalist and proud Trekkie Anthony Trotter revels in an appearance by George Takei, and Anthony Rowley reports on a briefing about what recent stock market movements mean for the Japanese economy. In their regular columns, Philip Brasor exposes weaknesses in Japan’s welfare system, and Eric Johnston explains Hokkaido’s rushed response to a wave of bear attacks.
Cover artwork by Julio Shiiki
The Number 1 Shimbun
December 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 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
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.