From the Editor
Justin McCurry
While Japan’s media digested the fallout from the lower house elections at the end of last month, developers quietly began felling trees in Jingu Gaien. In his cover story, David McNeill looks at the simmering controversy over the planned redevelopment of the public park, including the rebuilding of two much-loved sports stadiums. With opponents of the plan refusing to give up, this is a subject to which I’m sure we’ll return in future issues. Elsewhere, Mark Schreiber analyses media coverage of the recent killing of a Japanese schoolboy in China, while Anthony Trotter reports on an FCCJ visit to Japan’s biggest prison. In a lighter vein, Vick L. Beyer explains the art-led transformation of the city of Maebashi, while FCCJ stalwart Robert Whiting has kindly provided an extract from his new book, Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan. Karyn Nishimura reviews a new documentary about Iwao Hakamada, who has been cleared of murder after an ordeal lasting almost six decades, and in their regular columns, Philip Brasor sifts through reaction to recent U.S. military crimes in Okinawa, and Eric Johnston explains why the Liberal Democratic Party fared so poorly in Hokkaido in the October 27 election.
Cover design by Julio Shiiki, image sourced via Unsplash
The Number 1 Shimbun
November 2024
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 Khaldon Azhari
2nd Vice President Randy Schmidt
Treasurer Anthony Rowley
Secretary David M. Umeda
Directors-at-Large
Shuri Fukunaga, Suvendrini Kakuchi, Dave McCombs, Taeko Nagayama
Kanji Simon Farrell, Freelance
FCCJ Committee & Ad-hoc Committee Chairs
Publications Justin McCurry
Associate Members’ Liaison Simon Farrell
Entertainment Jake Adelstein & Simon Farrell
Exhibitions Peter Lyon
Film Karen Severns
Finance Anthony Rowley
Food & Beverage Shuri Fukunaga & Michiyo Nakamoto
Freedom of Press David McNeill
House & Property Khaldon Azhari
Human Resources Randy Schmidt
Information Technology Hinza Asif & Yusuke Wada
Library, Archives & Workroom Suvendrini Kakuchi & Robert Whiting
Membership Randy Schmidt
Professional Activities Tetsuo Jimbo & Martin Koelling
DeRoy Memorial Scholarship Martin Fackler
Compliance Kunio Hamada & Yoshisuke Iinuma
Election Yoshisuke Iinuma
Deep Dive Anthony Rowley
Membership Marketing Gary Bremermann
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 Fax: (03) 3211-3168 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.