Stars & Stripes, the US military newspaper, has become the latest victim of Donald Trump/MAGA's war on the media because it has tried to accurately report the impact of Trump's disastrous war against Iran. My piece in No1 Shimbun: fccj.or.jp/index.php/nu...

Greenpeace says climate change is damaging key crops in Japan: Pears (Chiba); Grapes (Yamanashi); Rice (Niigata); and Sweet Potatoes (Kagoshima): "Accelerating heat waves have pushed...agricultural hubs past their thermal limits:" www.greenpeace.org/japan/wp/wp-...

I went to Nanmoku in Gunma to ask: what happens to societies that begin to depopulate and shrink? Japan is finding out. My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...

Japan’s disappearing village fights to avoid extinction

Some years pass without a single baby in Nanmoku. Now the mountain community is searching for a way to avoid extinction

irishtimes.com

Steve McClure and I discuss Japanese Rebels on the Deep in Japan podcast —and the activists, artists, outsiders, and troublemakers who challenged Japan’s status quo. 🎧 Listen here: deepinjapan.transistor.fm/48

Deep in Japan | Japanese Rebels with David McNeil and Stephen McClure

Japan is often described as a place where the nail that sticks up gets hammered down—but what about the nails that refuse to stay down? In this episode, we speak with scholars and journalists David...

deepinjapan.transistor.fm

Japan’s minister in charge of harmoniously coexisting with foreigners seems to embody an increasingly xenophobic national mood. My piece with Karyn Nishimura. fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

Tokyo’s muted response to US sanctions on its most senior international judge highlights its dependence on Washington patron. My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...

‘Very unfortunate’: the phrase that captures Japan’s Trump dilemma

Tokyo’s muted response to US sanctions on its most senior international judge highlights its dependence on Washington

irishtimes.com

I'll be emceeing this press conference tomorrow (Tuesday Sept 1) at noon. FCCJ pressers are open and free to attend, online or in person. You can also submit questions via the FCCJ website: Join us if you can: www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...

Press Conference: How Okinawa's Next Election Will Impact Japan | FCCJ

PRESS CONFERENCEHow Okinawa's Next Election Will Impact JapanNaomi Machida, Head of Ginowan Churamizu Environmental GroupTakamatsu Gushiken, Head of Gamafuya Group Recovering War Remains12:00-13:00 Tu...

fccj.or.jp

Kimi Onoda, Minister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals, has repeatedly declined invitations to take questions on her policies regarding foreigners in Japan from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan.

Japan's nuclear taboo faces its sternest test in decades. My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...

Japan’s nuclear taboo faces its sternest test in decades

On the anniversary of Hiroshima, the only country to experience atomic attack is confronting calls to revisit assumptions about national security

irishtimes.com

We interviewed Hikari, the junior prosecutor who says she was raped by her boss, the head of the Osaka Public Prosecutor’s Office: apjjf.org/2026/8/mcnei...

August No1 Shimbun includes my interview with Akito Tanaka, chief editor of Nikkei Asia; Eric Johnston on an innovative approach to investigative journalism in Japan, and Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, on why AI won't destroy reporting: www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

Number 1 shimbun | FCCJ

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (FCCJ) is one of the world leading press clubs, providing a forum for journalists and public figures in Tokyo.

fccj.or.jp

I'm not qualified to judge whether such people are psychopaths. All I can say is that they behave as if they are. From today's Telegraph.

Japan’s earthquake death toll could have been far higher. Here is why it was not. My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...

Japan’s earthquake death toll could have been far higher. Here is why it was not

Strict building codes, innovation and learning from past disasters make the country an earthquake-resilient society

irishtimes.com

The Japanese government has amended the law to reclassify the posting of false information as an “illegal act” that undermines the fairness of elections, and demand that SNS platforms implement countermeasures. The law will take effect in March 2027. www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...

SNS偽情報の対策、27年春の統一地方選から義務づけ　改正2法が成立 - 日本経済新聞

選挙運動のSNS規制に関する改正法が13日、参院本会議で可決、成立した。偽情報の投稿を選挙の公正を損なう「違法行為」とみなす。偽情報の拡散を食い止めるためSNS事業者に対策を義務づける。2027年3月に施行し、同年春の統一地方選から適用する。公職選挙法と情報流通プラットフォーム対処法（情プラ法）を改正する。具体的な措置はSNS事業者に委ねる。事業者にどのような措置を講じたか状況を年1回公表さ

nikkei.com

I did a podcast on Japan's imperial succession issue for BBC World Service: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVh...

The plan to expand Japan’s imperial family - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

YouTube video by BBC World Service

youtube.com

I've temporarily taken on editing No1 Shimbun, the house magazine of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. On the cover is Dong Yuyu, a former editor at Chinese newspaper the Guangming Daily, who was arrested while meeting a Japanese diplomat in 2022. fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

We hosted our annual Freedom of the Press Awards at the FCCJ last night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-K6.... Japan Honorable Mention: Yasuda natsuki Japan Award: Hokkaido Shimbun Asia Honorable Mention: Frenchie Mae Cumpio Asia Award: Dong Yuyu Lifetime Achievement: Gwen Robinson

Freedom of Press Awards Ceremony 2026, May 28, 2026

YouTube video by 日本外国特派員協会 オフィシャルサイトFCCJchannel

youtube.com

Weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun has released the results of a poll on a female emperor. The editors say they got 25,000 responses. ■ Do you support or oppose amending the Imperial House Law to allow for a female emperor? In favor: 93.1% Opposed: 6.9% bunshun.jp/denshiban/ar...

「女性・女系天皇」緊急アンケート結果発表！《回答者2.5万人の93％が…》《男系男子論に「皇紀2686年の正統性がある」「側室なければ無理」》 | 週刊文春

●回答者2.5万人の93％が… ●男系男子論に「皇紀2686年の正統性がある」「側室なければ無理」　皇室典範改正を巡る議論が、俄かに熱を帯びてきた。衆参与野党による皇族数確保に関する全体会議では、女…

bunshun.jp

I interviewed musical legend Masashi Sada for The Japan Times: www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2026...

Masashi Sada still believes music begins with melody

The veteran singer-songwriter discusses fame, artistic independence and why he never chased musical trends.

japantimes.co.jp

Fierce Survivor: my interview with Shiori Ito: "One of my friends gave me a knife-proof tank top and I wore that whenever I had to go on stage. People threatened me, online mainly. Verbally, too – negative nasty things." apjjf.org/2026/5/mcneill

Justin McCurry and I wrote this month's cover story for No1 Shimbun, the house magazine of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, on Israel's relentless, murderous war against journalists: fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

Lots of discussion about the fact that a uniformed SDF member sang the kimigao at LDP convention on April 12. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi says it was not illegal. The US bans uniformed personnel from appearing at political rallies. Ditto UK. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques....

Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

questions-statements.parliament.uk

FCCJ presser *tomorrow *about a lawsuit against police by family of engineer falsely arrested on suspicion of exporting equipment to fabricate biological weapons. Despite being treated for cancer at the time, the man was denied bail and died in custody: www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...

Nearly 500 elderly Japanese people killed from 2006 - 2024 as a result of murder or abuse by family members or relatives who had been caring for them. "This is just the tip of the iceberg and strengthening support is urgently needed." mainichi.jp/english/arti...?

Nearly 500 elderly killed by family caregivers in Japan in FY 2006-2024 - The Mainichi

OSAKA (Kyodo) -- A recent analysis of a government report showed that nearly 500 people aged 65 and older died between fiscal 2006 and 2024 as a resul

mainichi.jp

Following Donald Trump's threat to bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages, I explain that the long history of bloody US bombing campaigns began over Japanese cities during second World War: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...

Donald Trump’s threat to bomb Iran ‘back to the Stone Ages’ resonates profoundly in Japan

Long history of bloody US bombing campaigns began over Japanese cities during second World War

irishtimes.com

Justin and I wrote about Sanae Takaichi's relationship with the media, and her legions of loyal online shock troops. www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

Number of foreign residents in Japan, which has topped 4 million for the first time, is making headlines here, but that's just 3.5% of the total population. In my native Ireland it is 23.3%; Austria (22.5%), Sweden (20.8%); Germany (20.5%), France (14%). www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03...?

Japan's foreign resident population hits record 4.12 million

The figure is a 9.5% increase from a year earlier, the Immigration Services Agency said Friday.

japantimes.co.jp

No Kings Day demo this Saturday in Tokyo. 東京でもNo Kings Dayデモが土曜日に企画されていると聞きました。 East exit at Shimokitazawa Station 2:30 PM on Saturday 土曜日午後2時半に下北沢駅だそうです。 www.meetup.com/ja-jp/democr...

No Tyrant's Day (same day as No Kings in the US), 2026年3月28日(土) 14:15 | Meetup

Come out to protest against the Trump Administration with other US citizens at the No Tyrant's Day Event sponsored by the Democrats Abroad Japan, Kanto Chapter. We will be

meetup.com

The number of measles cases in Tokyo this year is already equal to the total for the whole of 2025. "Since Japan's WHO designation as a country where the measles has been eliminated, most infections have involved people who recently traveled overseas." mainichi.jp/english/arti...

Measles cases in Tokyo rise sharply, matching last year's total by mid-March - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Reported measles cases in the Japanese capital have increased rapidly this year, reaching 34 as of March 17 -- already equal to the total for

mainichi.jp

Can PM Takaichi say 'no' to Trump? My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/middle...

Japan’s leader faces test of nerve with Donald Trump: can she say ‘no’?

US president is expected to press Sanae Takaichi for military help in the Strait of Hormuz

irishtimes.com