Message
In my quarter-century as a newspaper reporter, I faced a major challenge: the disconnect between "writing good articles" and "reaching readers".
No matter how hard a reporter works to write a dedicated article, it gets buried in the wave of information overload. The reality of "news deserts" spreading in the US, where news disappears from local areas, is no longer someone else's problem for Japan. If this continues, the "right to know" will wither away from the communities we live in—this sense of crisis drove me.
"I want to enliven the world of local journalism from the outside." To such an unreasonable request, the newspaper company that raised me for many years understood my positive intentions and finally pushed me forward to send me off.
Our goal is not just to use the latest technologies like 3D and AI. It is to use them to create opportunities for people to take an interest in local news and issues again.
The only way to prevent news deserts is for people to take an interest in their local information again.
Just as I once conveyed truth with a pen and camera, I will now support the future of local newspapers and the news industry with the new brush of technology.
December 15, 2025 Immersive Press Representative Masashi Suzuki
Career & Qualifications
1975: Born in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Programming became a hobby when I got a Family Basic in elementary school. Learned BASIC on MSX2 and MSX2+, and dabbled in object-oriented programming on DOS/V machines in university.
1998: Passed Eiken Grade Pre-1.
2000: Completed Master's course in Structural Geology at Shizuoka University Graduate School of Science and Engineering. Passed Certified Weather Forecaster exam utilizing 4 years of part-time experience at Japan Weather Association.
2000: Joined Shizuoka Shimbun.
2003: Newspaper Association Award Photo Division entry for scoop photo of hostage barricade incident.
2008: Scooped the decommissioning of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 & 2 and the construction plan for Unit 6 (Newspaper Association Award entry).
2017: Cap of long-term serialization on 40 years of Tokai Earthquake theory (Newspaper Association Award finalist).
2019: Passed Eiken Grade 1.
2021: Desk of long-term serialization on Atami debris flow (Newspaper Association Award winner).
2022: City News Department Manager, Editorial Writer, and Senior Staff Writer.
2022: Completed Weather Data Analyst training course.
2022-: Desk of serialization on Makinohara kindergarten bus abandonment incident (Newspaper Association Award finalist).
2023-: Desk of long-term serialization on Mr. Hakamada and retrial issues (VR app development).
2025 Nov: Retired. Founded Immersive Press. Father of 3. Still have plenty of mortgage left (tears).
