Kisha Club - Major Kisha Clubs

Major Kisha Clubs

In addition to the kisha clubs listed below, there are clubs for the government of each prefecture.

Kabuto Club (兜倶楽部?)

The kisha club within the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In principle, companies make announcements about events which are likely to have a major effect on share prices at this club.

Tokiwa Club (ときわクラブ?)

The kisha club of the former Japanese National Railways. At present, it is at the head offices of JR East Japan. As most reporters concerned with transport normally work at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, few are permanently stationed at the Tokiwa club. During his time as a reporter with the Asahi Shimbun, Naoki Tanemura belonged to the club, and the fiction he wrote as a railway writer contained several names which were variations on the name "Tokiwa".

Kasumi Club (霞クラブ?)

The kisha club of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Reporters from the mass media in Japan and overseas are stationed here.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Kisha Club (国土交通省記者クラブ?)

This kisha club was formed from a union of the clubs for the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Construction and National Land Agency

Its nature as a combination of different groups can often be observed; for example, a reporter covering traffic policy may be sitting next to a reporter covering the disposal of debts by general construction companies.

Heavy Industries Research Club (重工業研究会?)

A kisha club at the Japan Iron and Steel Federation in Chūō, Tokyo. Despite its location, resident reporters cover a range of industries, including metals other than steel, chemistry, textiles, rubber, paper, glass, cosmetics, personal care goods (such as those from Lion or Kaō), pharmaceuticals and apparel. It has the widest rance of areas covered of any kisha club.

Because of its name, it is often wrongly thought to be a club covering businesses such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries or Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries.

Honseki Textiles Club (本石繊維会?)

A club in Honseki-chō, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, which serves as a base for reporters covering the textile and paper industries.

It is not an official club, but a subdivision of the heavy industries club, with which it merged in 2002.

Bank of Japan Club (日銀クラブ?)

This is a club within the Bank of Japan, whose resident reporters cover not only the Bank itself but also private organizations such as banks and insurance agencies.

Automobile Industry Kisha Club (自動車産業記者会?)

Initially, this was a subdivision of the Keidan Kikai Club, but became a club in its own right when the Kikai Club closed in 1999.

However, the four major newspapers, the Nikkei, Asahi, Yomiuri and Mainichi, decided not to participate in it, it is not recognized as a kisha club by the Newspaper Association.

The Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun, which is not a member of the Newspaper Association, is a resident company at the automobile club.

Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kisha Club (東商記者クラブ?)

The kisha club at the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Marunouchi, Tokyo.

This club was established with the aim of allowing the mass media to report on small businesses. However, in practice, there is next to no reporting on small businesses, and instead it is a base for reporting on the delivery, service, non-banking financial and food businesses. The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry has repeatedly expressed discontent about this, and asked for it to be used to report on small businesses, but this has not come about.

For this reason, the relationship between the media and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry concerning the running of the club has not always been a close one, and there have often been rumors that the club may close.

Seitō Club (青灯倶楽部?)

Nagata Club (永田クラブ?)

A kisha club within the official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister. In recent times, it has often been referred to as the Kantei Club (官邸クラブ?), but its official name is Cabinet Kisha Club (内閣記者会?). Reporters belonging to this club report mainly on the Prime Minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, the official residence and the cabinet.

Eiho Club (映放クラブ?)

A club at the House of Representatives in the National Diet with the six Tokyo television stations (NHK, Nippon TV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo) as members. It is the only club in Japan which is exclusively for television news camera operators.

Minpō Club (民放クラブ?)

A club within the House of Representatives which is exclusively for radio news journalists. Its official name is the Diet Broadcast Reporter Club (国会放送記者会?). It is mainly used for recording press conferences or ぶらさがり取材.

NHK is not a member of this club, as its radio news uses the audio from its television news.

Hirakawa Club (平河クラブ?)

A kisha club with offices inside the headquarters of the LDP and at the House of Representatives. The reporters belonging to this club report mainly on the LDP and New Komeito.

The club inside the LDP headquarters is referred to as the Party HQ Hirakawa Club (党本部平河?), and the club at the House of Representatives is known as the House Hirakawa Club (院内平河?). Reporters from the Hirakawa generally attend the club at the House when the Diet is in session, and the HQ when it is out of session.

Opposition Party Club (野党クラブ, Yatō Kurabu?)

A club at the House of Representatives in the National Diet. Reporters at this club cover mainly the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party

Imperial Household Agency Kisha Club (宮内庁記者クラブ?)

Tokyo Metropolitan Police kisha clubs

Television reporters often say they are reporting "from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police kisha club", but this is not technically correct.

Ignoring the industry newspaper, there are three kisha clubs at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Tokyo, Nikkei and Kyōdō news companies are members of the「Shichisha Kai (七社会?), which means "club of seven companies", as the Jiji Shinpō newspaper was once also a member. This club has the longest history of any of the clubs at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The NHK, Sankei, Jiji, Nippon Broadcasting, Nippon Cultural Broadcasting and MXTV companies are members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department kisha club (警視庁記者倶楽部?). This is the smallest club, and in practice only the first three of these companies are resident.

The five private broadcasters, Nippon TV, TBS, Fuji TV, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo, are members of the News Kisha Club (ニュース記者会?).

These three clubs are run separately, with separate accounts.

Tokyo Fire Department kisha club (東京消防庁記者クラブ?)

Since this is run by the reporters from the police kisha clubs, in practice there are no companies resident here.

Mita club (三田クラブ?)

A kisha club related to the labor movement. In former times, organizations such as the General Council of Trade Unions of Japan provided information, and member newspaper and magazine reporters worked here. At present the Japanese Trade Union Confederation is involved. As two of the news companies, Rodo Joho and Akahata reported on the massive debt incident and the trade union budget spending incident, by the former Japan Postal Workers' Union (now the JPU), the Postal Workers' Union blocked them from becoming members.