The beginning of autumn in Japan saw major changes in the long-held practice of dealing with the press at official levels. The Club, along with the Foreign Press in Japan, had for a long time demanded full access by the foreign media to the press conferences of various ministries and agencies, many of which had previously been under the virtual monopoly of the kisha-club system. The new government is now boldly moving ahead to fulfill the DPJ’s pledge to open the gates of official press events to foreign journalists, as well as other non-club members and freelancers.