From the Editor
Tim Hornyak
President Donald Trump’s attacks on journalists are nothing new. But he kicked them up a notch in September when he banned reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds. The move disrupted the work of the U.S. network video pool that CNN contributes to, but was soon temporarily struck down by a U.S. judge. In his cover story, David McNeill looks at the campaign against Max D. Lederer Jr. and otherjournalists at the Stars and Stripes military newspaper whose reporting about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln triggered their termination (after the fact, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao admitted that eight sailors assigned to the carrier’s strike group attempted suicide). Also in this issue, Eric Johnston examines Japan’s response to the White House campaign against the International Criminal Court and its president, Tomoko Akane, while Jeffrey J. Hall shines a light on how X has rewarded xenophobia in Japan. Dennis Normile covers Martyn Williams’ analysis of North Korea’s burgeoning smartphone market, Thisanka Siripala writes about the struggles of people in Kumamoto reeling from multiple earthquakes, and Anthony Rowley considers the need for an Asian version of NATO. In FCCJ news, McNeill reports on a visit by famed crooner Masashi Sada, author Alex K.T. Martin discusses his new book on the extinct Japanese wolf, which may or may not still exist, and Tokyu, the Club’s new food and beverage provider, tells us more about its menu for the Main Bar. Tuck in!
Cover design by Julio Shiiki
INDEX
The Number 1 Shimbun
October 2026
Publisher FCCJ
Editor Tim Hornyak
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
President & Board of Directors
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.