IT IS WITH A SENSE OF HUMILITY AND HONOR THAT I take on the role of No. 1 Shimbun editor. David McNeill is a tough act to follow, folks, and I shall do my best to maintain the high standards he set during his term as editor.

Luckily, I have a crack team to help me do that. Our new deputy editor, Bob Neff, will be going over each story with a fine-toothed editorial comb, while newly appointed publications committee chair John Harris will be applying his not-inconsiderable proofreading talents to each issue. And art director Andrew Pothecary will continue to use his brilliant graphic skills to make No.1 polished and presentable.

All of our efforts would be for naught, of course, were it not for the impressive array of journalistic and photographic talent that it is our privilege to present in each installment of the Club’s magazine. That’s where you, the Club member, come in. For No.1 is the voice of the Club, pure and simple.

But what exactly does that mean? The way I see it, No. 1’s primary focus should be on stories that directly concern and are of interest to journalists – we’re a press club, after all.

For example, in this month’s issue, we’re running a fascinating story by Gavin Blair about the Byzantine machinations surrounding the Mainichi Shimbun’s closure of the WaiWai Web site. And David McNeill paints a vividly detailed – and only slightly cynical – picture of what it was like to cover the recent G8 madness in Hokkaido.

Another part of No. 1’s mission is to draw upon the wealth of knowledge and experience of our members to provide unique and valuable insights into Japanese and East Asian politics, history and society. Other items on our editorial smorgasbord include Club affairs, lively exchanges of opinion in our letters section, and general-interest lifestyle stories – we’re a broad church here at No. 1.

Said “church” has been supporting itself by tithing its congregation by means of the monthly ¥500 subsidy. There are differing opinions as to whether or not that’s a good thing. To me it’s OK. I don’t say this out of self-interest – I receive a ¥25,000 monthly stipend as No. 1 editor. In terms of the number of hours one spends on the mag, working at McDonald’s would be more economically attractive (cue sound of violins whimpering in the background).

We take pride in turning out what we believe to be a good product; one that may even be worth slightly more than the price of a gin-and-tonic in the Main Bar, in my humble and highly subjective opinion.

It must be said, however, that we at No. 1 have not necessarily done the best job of convincing you (especially our long-suffering Associate members) that our august organ is worth shelling out a few spondulicks for. Input from you folks on this crucial point is most welcome.

This concludes this month’s sermon. Now, read on…

–Steve McClure