Fellowship Program: The Washington Post Journalist Matt Viser

Fellowship Program: The Washington Post Journalist Matt Viser

As part of the 2025-2026 FPCJ Fellowship Program, Mr. Matt Viser, the White House Bureau Chief at The Washington Post, visited Japan from October 26 to November 1, 2025.

Founded in 1877, The Washington Post is a leading U.S. daily newspaper. Known as the largest quality paper in the US capital, Washington, D.C., and with a focus on political reporting, the paper boasts 2.5 million digital subscribers.

While in Japan, Mr. Viser pursued three different topics: Japan-US relations, Japan’s coffee culture including omakase experiences, and 80 years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. As for Japan-US relations, Mr. Viser’s interviews with a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official and an academic expert coincided with US President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan. As such, he immediately filed and published stories about the US-Japan summit. Being an unparalleled coffee lover, Mr. Viser experienced four different omakase courses at coffee shops in Tokyo and Kyoto and interviewed their respective representatives on the topic of Japan’s coffee culture. Lastly, Mr. Viser interviewed a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official and visited Hiroshima to cover the topic of 80 years after the atomic bombing of the city. There, he visited the Peace Memorial Museum and interviewed a hibakusha, the daughter of one of the six atomic bomb survivors whom American journalist John Hersey interviewed and documented in his 1946 book Hiroshima.

After the program, Mr. Viser commented that he had a wonderful time in Japan, having been able to visit and interview all the people essential for his reporting on the three topics he was interested in.

[Reporting based on this fellowship]

October 28, 2025　Japan’s new leader tries to charm Trump with gold, golf and deal on rare minerals

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/27/trump-japan-critical-minerals-china/

October 28, 2025　World leaders wooing Trump turn to a common present: Golf clubs

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/28/trump-gifts-world-leaders-golf/