On Sunday, the last day of the Group of Seven summit, I was supposed to help my colleague write a story on a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea and prewrite a story about hibakusha Setsuko Thurlow before her news conference set for later in the day.
But that plan went down the drain when we learned that Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenskyy was going to hold a news conference in the evening.
“Your job today is to write a story about Zelenskyy’s news conference in first person,” an editor told me at a morning planning meeting. It actually took hours before the information sunk in ... that I would be there in person for the biggest story of the day.
I quickly learned that I was one of many reporters who threw away their plans to be at the news conference — arguably the biggest draw of the summit.
“I was supposed to be working on something else right now but then this (event) was announced and (my company) had to throw all that out the window. They told me to forget about everything else and just go,” said a reporter for an American news outlet, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not have permission to talk on the record.
“Our workflow and schedule changed completely with his visit and everything was so uncertain, so there are moments when it’s stressful, but it’s like a celebrity coming to visit us, with his charismatic personality,” said a reporter for a Japanese newspaper, who also asked not to be named. “Everyone likes Zelenskyy, so it all feels worth it.”
The excitement was apparent at the media center, too, ever since news broke Friday that the Ukrainian president would come to Hiroshima in person.
When what appeared to be his flight arrived at the Hiroshima airport on Saturday, journalists swarmed to nearby TVs to watch a live broadcast of his French-government-backed plane landing. TV stations sent helicopters to offer live feeds of his motorcade traveling on a closed down highway into the city. Zelenskyy dominated the conversation of reporters at the media center.
Fast forward to Sunday morning, I signed up for the event — which accepted one reporter from each media organization — triple-checking that I was registered. I went to the meeting point 15 minutes early just to be safe.
When we arrived at the venue, journalists poured into the conference room, all eager to get a seat in the front row. And when the man of the hour entered the room, reporters all took out their smartphones to record videos and take photos.
For journalists, it was a rare chance to ask questions to one of the most high-profile world leaders, who also happens to be a wartime president.
After Zelenskyy’s speech, reporters scrambled to line up in front of the microphone in hopes of asking a question. Well, at least I did.
“With your surprise visit, all eyes are now on Ukraine. Some think it is taking attention from Hiroshima and nuclear disarmament. What do you think about that?” I said. I was next to the last person allowed a question.
After the 40-minute news conference was over, one veteran reporter was literally stomping her feet in frustration that she was unable to ask a question.
“It’s so great you got to ask him a question!” a reporter from Taiwan said after she randomly grabbed my shoulder to get my attention. “That’s a huge advantage for your career.”
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