FAQ

The FPCJ was jointly funded by the Japan Newspaper Publishers &anp; Editors Association and Keidanren, and was founded as an incorporated foundation in 1976 before becoming a public interest incorporated foundation in 2011. With a mission of disseminating information from Japan to other countries, the FPCJ provides a range of support to the reporting activities of foreign media. For your reference, FCCJ, the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan is a members-only press club formed by foreign correspondents in Japan, working together as an organization to acquire reporting opportunities.

Our funding mainly comes from fees for work done for government offices and from donations by Supporting Members. The FPCJ was originally established in 1976 through funding provided by the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association and Keidanren as a nonprofit organization, and in 2011 became a public interest incorporated foundation.

There are currently 431 reporters affiliated with 145 media organizations from 30 countries and regions working in Japan to transmit news from Japan to the world (data gathered by the FPCJ as of February 1, 2025. For a list by country/region, see this PDF). Many journalists also temporarily visit Japan to report on it.

The cost will vary depending on factors such as what locations the press tour stops at, the number of participants, and how long it is (day trip or two days with an overnight stay). For your reference, the main costs are travel to and from Tokyo (plane tickets, Shinkansen tickets, etc.), transportation during the tour (chartered bus), accommodation, meals, and interpretation. When commissioning the FPCJ for a press tour, service fees (planning and coordination fees, tour promotion fees) will also be invoiced. If you provide us with details of the tour you are planning, we can provide an estimate.
Press Tour Planning Cooperation
With press tours, journalists will gather information and then report on their own in articles or programs. Therefore, information about initiatives throughout Japan is disseminated worldwide as news, which is more trusted and objective than advertising.
Reporting on Japan Made With the FPCJ’s Cooperation

The FPCJ offers a paid Press Release Distribution and Listing service. The service distributes press releases to foreign press organizations and foreign embassies in Japan. Currently, foreign press in Japan from approximately 190 organizations and 120 officials from foreign embassies in Japan are registered for this service. For further details, please contact the Media Communication and Planning Division (Tel.: 03-3501-5251).

There are currently 431 reporters affiliated with 145 media organizations from 30 countries and regions working in Japan to transmit news from Japan to the world (data gathered by the FPCJ as of February 1, 2025). Many journalists also temporarily visit Japan to report on it.
For a list of foreign press organizations and numbers of journalists, and by country/region, see here [PDF]

All of the FPCJ’s activities: press briefings given by leading experts and government officials, as well as press tours to places throughout Japan, primarily for foreign correspondents in Japan. See below for more details.

1. Participating in seminars and networking events with foreign journalists
2. Invitations to online press briefings
3. Access to the weekly newsletter, Reporting on Japan by Major Foreign Media (Japanese only)
4. Discount on services for disseminating information overseas
5. Press Release Distribution and Listing service (20% off when three days in advance)
6. Press tour and online event support (both 10% off)

The annual membership fee for Supporting Members (200,000 yen) qualifies for a tax exemption as a donation in Japan. The FPCJ became a public interest incorporated foundation in April 2011. Corporations that donate to a public interest incorporated foundation may be eligible for a special deductible for this donation. For details, refer to the website of the National Tax Agency.

-Golden Week, a series of consecutive holidays from the end of April to early May
-Summer break season in August (particularly mid-August)
-Year end and New Year’s season (late December to early January)
-The changeover of the fiscal year (end of March to early April)

In principle, media representatives from countries that have reciprocal visa waiver agreements with Japan are not required to obtain visas (excluding some countries such as the U.S.) if they are staying for only a short time for the purpose of reporting. Media representatives from other countries are required to apply for a visa beforehand at a Japanese embassy or consulate general. The FPCJ does not issue letters of invitation for visa applications.

The FPCJ can suggest interpreters or coordinators.
If you cannot speak Japanese, you will need to hire an interpreter. If filming video for your reporting, you will need to hire a coordinator.

Sample costs of hiring a Japanese-English interpreter through an interpreting company
-Full day (Up to 8 hours): Approx. 90,000 to 100,000 yen
-Half day (Up to 4 hours): Approx. 60,000 to 70,000 yen
Sample cost of hiring a freelance coordinator
-Full day (Up to 8 hours): Approx. 100,000 yen

In the case of media representatives from member countries of the Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods, work-related equipment (media and broadcasting equipment, camera equipment) can pass through customs as temporary imports if you submit an ATA carnet when entering Japan. In other cases, it is necessary to follow the required procedures (deposit of guarantee, etc.) at the port of entry, and it may take you several days to get your equipment back.
*The voltage in Japan is 100 V. The television system is NTSC.