The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan

01/05/2026

This month’s exhibition is a collection of stunning photos selected from the annual “Japan - Ambassador’s Eye” photo competition & exhibition that has, under the patronage of Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, been open to diplomats and their families since 1998. Come and see for yourself after Golden Week: https://www.fccj.or.jp/membership-benefits

23/04/2026

Continuing its tradition of seeking diverse perspectives, the looks back on Yasser Arafat’s 1981 visit in our next video collaboration with the . The PLO leader didn't just face tough questioning; he challenged the journalists themselves, admonishing them to "be fair" and avoid looking at the world "from only one angle." The FCCJ is where history is made; here's the proof! https://tinyurl.com/yft3njnd

20/04/2026

Book Break: The Modern Japanese Garden
By Stephen Mansfield
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
A Dinner Event, from 5:45 pm to 8:30 pm
(The talk will be in English)

Photo journalist and author Stephen Mansfield will talk about his background and why he has developed a particular interest in Japanese gardens, mentioning relevant previous experiences, publications, the genesis and evolution of the book, The Modern Japanese Garden (Thames & Hudson, 2025) in the pre-publication stage.

He will explain how the book features iconic and representative gardens from around Japan, including those of prominent museums and public buildings, plus many newly completed examples at the vanguard of Japanese garden design today, with an analysis of key works of interest through detailed individual garden profiles. He will briefly touch on the relationship between nature and modernity, and how this is represented in the gardens featured in the book. Divided between pre- and post-1945 Japanese garden design, he will examine some of the post-war shifts in attitudes towards contemporary gardens as they move from status symbols and expressions of political influence to spaces resembling art installations, environments for healing and meditation. Chapters content will be introduced, and the reasoning behind their inclusion explained alongside slide images.

Mansfield will explain the function of short Interludes in the book in refreshing and invigorating the main text and introducing extra sub-topics outside its scope. He will expand on the presence in the book of a number of essays by prominent industry experts from within and outside Japan: garden designers, scholars, writers and architects, including Kengo Kuma and Shunmyo Masuno. The talk will be supplemented with a small number of short reading samples from the text.

Stephen Mansfield is a British photojournalist and author, based in Japan and specializing in Japanese garden design. Stephen’s work has appeared across various magazines, newspapers and journals world-wide, including The Geographical, CNN Travel, Critical Asian Studies and Nikkei Asia. He is the author of twenty books, including the critical history Tokyo: A Biography. His work has been translated into French, German, Polish and Chinese.

Doors open at 5:45 pm with a casual “meet the author/cocktail time” from 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served from 6:30 pm and the talk begins at 7:15 pm.

The menu is Seafood Japanese-style Salad, Chicken Breast Cordon Bleu Style, Bread, Dessert, Coffee or Tea. A vegetarian option is available. Please inform the club of food restrictions when reserving ([email protected]). Price: 3,000 yen for members; 4,000 yen for non-members.

Beverages can be purchased at the venue at just 550 yen per drink (non-members can purchase drink tickets at Reception).

Online attendance (Zoom) is available by reservation at 550 yen per person.

The member reservation deadline is 2 pm May 26.

Non-members must reserve and pay by Thursday, May 21.

No cancellations after Saturday, May 23.

Library, Archives & Workroom Committee

https://www.fccj.or.jp/event/book-breaks

17/04/2026

Donald Trump features in the next and video collaboration. In 1993, current US President Donald Trump visited Japan as a private citizen and spoke to a captive audience at an FCCJ press luncheon. In what was a highly quotable speech, the self-professed golf aficionado, when speaking on his recent debt crisis, proclaimed “it’s really not who hits the best shot, it’s who’s able to hit the bad shots not so bad they can recover.” The FCCJ is where history is made; here's the proof! https://tinyurl.com/yft3njnd

17/04/2026

Upcoming press events:

April 20 Monday 13:00-14:00 (Press Conference)
Does an Ishigaki Island Golf Resort Threaten Biodiversity?
Seiji Hayama, Director of Wild Bird Society of Japan
Tomoko Oda, Field Project Leader, Wildlife Group, Conservation Division, WWF Japan

April 20 Monday 15:00-16:00 (Press Conference)
The Enigma of Japanese Power, Four Decades Later
Karel van Wolferen, Journalist & Publisher

April 22, Wednesday 13:30-14:30 (Press Conference)
Junya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance

PRESS CONFERENCEJunya Ogawa, leader of the Centrist Reform Alliance (Chudo kaikaku rengo)13:30-14:30 Wednesday, April 22, 2026The speech and Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.Can Japan’s Liberal Opposition Make a Comeback?Sanae Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party t...

17/04/2026

プレスイベントのお知らせ：

4月20日(月)13:00-14:00（記者会見）
Does an Ishigaki Island Golf Resort Threaten Biodiversity?
葉山政治、公益財団法人日本野鳥の会 常務理事　
小田倫子、公益財団法人世界自然保護基金ジャパン 自然保護室 野生生物グループ フィール
ドプロジェクトリーダー

4月20日(月)15:00-16:00（記者会見）
The Enigma of Japanese Power, Four Decades Later
カレル・ヴァン・ウォルフレン、ジャーナリスト兼出版者

4月22日(水)13:30-14:30 (記者会見)
小川淳也、中道改革連合代表

10/04/2026

“Space week” is coming to an end with the imminent splash-down of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft, but here’s a line-up of stars from the FCCJ’s guest-speakers vault! The first person in outer space, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagrin; the “Father of America's Space Program," Wernher Von Braun; the first person to set foot on the moon, Astronaut Neil Armstrong; the third person to walk on the moon, Astronaut Charles “Pete” Conrad Jr.; Space Shuttle “Discovery”and ill-fated “Challenger” crew member, Astronaut Ellison Onizuka; the first women in space, Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova; the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station, Space Shuttle Endeavor crew Astronaut Koichi Wakata; and the last Japanese Space Shuttle Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery crew Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. The FCCJ is where history is made; here's the proof! #日本外国特派員協会 https://www.fccj.or.jp/membership-benefits

10/04/2026

プレスイベントのお知らせ：

4月15日(水)10:30-11:30（記者会見）
高野 隆、弁護士、大川原化工機事件訴訟
相嶋カズト、原告、相嶋静夫さん長男

4月16日(木)11:00-12:00（記者会見）
「孤独のグルメ」
松重豊、俳優・監督・脚本家

10/04/2026

Upcoming press event:

April 15 Wednesday 10:30-11:30 (Press Conference)
Takashi Takano, Attorney, Okawara Kakohki Case
Kazuto Aishima, Plaintiff, Eldest son of the late Shizuo Aishima

April 16, Thursday 11:00-12:00 (Press Conference)
"The Solitary Gourmet"
Yutaka Matsushige, Actor, Director, and Screenwriter

07/04/2026

This month’s exhibition features stunning photos from across six generations, from the Meiji era through today. The “Dancer on the Roof of Nichigeki Music Hall,” natural beauty amid a stark post war backdrop, is just one of many examples of this extensive and beautiful collection. Visit our free exhibition and find out about membership opportunities of this historical organization.
https://www.fccj.or.jp/exhibition/april-2026-exhibition

03/04/2026

April 9, Thursday 16:00-17:00 (Press Conference)
Souhei Kamiya, Sanseito leader