David McNeill
@davidamcneill.bsky.social
Professor of Communications at Sacred Heart Uni, Tokyo. Ex-correspondent with The Economist, Independent, Chronicle of Higher Ed., Irish Times etc. I post mainly about the media and politics. Hoping to escape Twitter/X.
I talked on the radio about over-tourism and the cancelation of a sakura festival near Mt Fuji. Might be thought of as a classic case of 'be careful what you wish for'. www.newstalk.com/podcasts/cla...
Japan cancels its iconic cherry blossom festival | Newstalk
A city in Japan has officially cancelled its iconic cherry blossom festival, citing a crisis cau...
www.newstalk.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:56 AM
I talked on the radio about over-tourism and the cancelation of a sakura festival near Mt Fuji. Might be thought of as a classic case of 'be careful what you wish for'. www.newstalk.com/podcasts/cla...
The LDP won 21m votes, roughly one-in-five adults. Hardly needs saying that many Japanese oppose the party and its policies
自民 2103万票(36.7%)
中道 1044万票(18.2%)
国民 557万票 (9.7%)
維新 494万票 (8.6%)
参政 426万票 (7.4%)
みら 381万票 (6.7%)
共産 252万票 (4.4%)
れ新 167万票 (2.9%)
保守 146万票 (2.5%)
減税 81万票 (1.4%)
社民 73万票 (1.3%)
自民 2103万票(36.7%)
中道 1044万票(18.2%)
国民 557万票 (9.7%)
維新 494万票 (8.6%)
参政 426万票 (7.4%)
みら 381万票 (6.7%)
共産 252万票 (4.4%)
れ新 167万票 (2.9%)
保守 146万票 (2.5%)
減税 81万票 (1.4%)
社民 73万票 (1.3%)
February 10, 2026 at 2:22 AM
The LDP won 21m votes, roughly one-in-five adults. Hardly needs saying that many Japanese oppose the party and its policies
自民 2103万票(36.7%)
中道 1044万票(18.2%)
国民 557万票 (9.7%)
維新 494万票 (8.6%)
参政 426万票 (7.4%)
みら 381万票 (6.7%)
共産 252万票 (4.4%)
れ新 167万票 (2.9%)
保守 146万票 (2.5%)
減税 81万票 (1.4%)
社民 73万票 (1.3%)
自民 2103万票(36.7%)
中道 1044万票(18.2%)
国民 557万票 (9.7%)
維新 494万票 (8.6%)
参政 426万票 (7.4%)
みら 381万票 (6.7%)
共産 252万票 (4.4%)
れ新 167万票 (2.9%)
保守 146万票 (2.5%)
減税 81万票 (1.4%)
社民 73万票 (1.3%)
Nikkei: Following her election, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she is "working to create the right environment" for an official visit to Yasukuni Shrine and aims to "gain proper understanding from our allies and neighboring countries." www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
高市早苗首相、靖国神社への参拝「環境整えるため努力」 - 日本経済新聞
高市早苗首相（自民党総裁）は8日夜、フジテレビ番組で東京・九段北の靖国神社の参拝に言及した。「環境を整えるために努力している」と話した。「同盟国、周辺諸国にもちゃんと理解を得る。互いに国のために亡くなった方々に敬意をささげる環境をつくるのが私の目標だ」と
www.nikkei.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Nikkei: Following her election, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she is "working to create the right environment" for an official visit to Yasukuni Shrine and aims to "gain proper understanding from our allies and neighboring countries." www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
"Japan had 3.96 million resident aliens, an 1.8-fold increase a decade. According to the National Police Agency, over the past 15 years, the number of crimes committed by foreigners has alternated between slight declines and slight increases." Damn statistics! japantoday.com/category/fea...
As election day nears, magazine takes objective look at Japan's alleged 'foreigner problem'
With immigration-related matters taken up by many of Japan's political parties during the current campaign, the cover story in Newsweek Japan (Jan 27), titled "An in-depth look into the 'foreigne...
japantoday.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:22 AM
"Japan had 3.96 million resident aliens, an 1.8-fold increase a decade. According to the National Police Agency, over the past 15 years, the number of crimes committed by foreigners has alternated between slight declines and slight increases." Damn statistics! japantoday.com/category/fea...
The Asahi Shimbun: "Japan's ruling coalition aims to restore Japanese military ranks used in World War II for members of the Self-Defense Forces, a plan that has drawn concern and bewilderment in the Defense Ministry." www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Coalition pushes revival of ranks from imperial military days | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
The ruling coalition aims to restore Japanese military ranks used in World War II for members of the Self-Defense Forces, a plan that has drawn concern and bewilderment in the Defense Ministry.
www.asahi.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:03 AM
The Asahi Shimbun: "Japan's ruling coalition aims to restore Japanese military ranks used in World War II for members of the Self-Defense Forces, a plan that has drawn concern and bewilderment in the Defense Ministry." www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Despite a calibrated burst of nationalist fury from China, Takaichi has declined to back down. Officially, Japan still recognizes the one-China policy of 1972, which acknowledges but not explicitly accept, Beijing’s claim over Taiwan: My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...?
Last of Japan’s pandas leave for China as ties fray
Departure of Tokyo zoo’s main attraction marks the end of a diplomatic tradition – and highlights growing military rivalry and tensions over Taiwan
www.irishtimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Despite a calibrated burst of nationalist fury from China, Takaichi has declined to back down. Officially, Japan still recognizes the one-China policy of 1972, which acknowledges but not explicitly accept, Beijing’s claim over Taiwan: My piece in The Irish Times: www.irishtimes.com/world/asia-p...?
Press Conference: Rina Gonoi, Former member of the SDF who has settled her sexual harassment case with the army. I'll be emceeing this press conference *this afternoon*. Please join us if you can. www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Press Conference: Rina Gonoi, Former member of the Ground Self-Defense Forces | FCCJ
PRESS CONFERENCESettlement in Sexual Harassment Case at Japan's ArmyRina Gonoi, Former member of the Ground Self-Defense ForcesEmi Torii and Aiko Ohta, Attorney at Law14:00-15:00 Monday, January 26, 2...
www.fccj.or.jp
January 26, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Press Conference: Rina Gonoi, Former member of the SDF who has settled her sexual harassment case with the army. I'll be emceeing this press conference *this afternoon*. Please join us if you can. www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Reposted by David McNeill
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
January 22, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Deporting children with cancer.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Using a 5-year-old as bait.
Shooting moms.
ICE is beyond reform. And today the House is voting to bankroll more terror. Hell no.
Next week (Jan 26), a group of graduates from Japan's National Defense Academy will go on hunger strike to protest Japan's purchase of Israeli attack drones. Here's their Instagram post: www.instagram.com/reels/DTwUuz...
𝗖𝗟𝗣 on Instagram: "1/16 「イスラエル製虐殺ドローンを買うな！」防衛省前ハンガーストライキ
防衛省のイスラエル製ドローン導入をめぐり、1月26日から防衛省前でハンガーストライキを行う平山貴盛さん「ジェノサイドに抗する防衛大学校卒業生の会」）が会見を開きました #clptopics
staff:
@kodeskinos
@kawakamitakuya
@nope_soo...
858 likes, 8 comments - clp_jpn on January 20, 2026: "1/16 「イスラエル製虐殺ドローンを買うな！」防衛省前ハンガーストライキ
防衛省のイスラエル製ドローン導入をめぐり、1月26日から防衛省前でハンガーストライキを行う平山貴盛さん「ジェノサイドに抗する防衛大学校卒業生の会」）が会見を開きました #clptopics
staff:
@kod...
www.instagram.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Next week (Jan 26), a group of graduates from Japan's National Defense Academy will go on hunger strike to protest Japan's purchase of Israeli attack drones. Here's their Instagram post: www.instagram.com/reels/DTwUuz...
I co-wrote a book, out in April: www.amazon.co.jp/Japanese-Reb...
Japanese Rebels: Non-conformists in a Conformist Society (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series)
Amazon.co.jp: Japanese Rebels: Non-conformists in a Conformist Society (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series) : McNeill, David, McClure, Stephen: Foreign Language Books
www.amazon.co.jp
January 5, 2026 at 11:18 PM
I co-wrote a book, out in April: www.amazon.co.jp/Japanese-Reb...
Eric Nyari, the producer of Black Box Diaries, noted that even before a controversial intervention last year by Shiori Ito's laywers, the documentary was being blackballed at home. My piece on Shiori Ito's FCCJ press conference: fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...
A matter of survival | FCCJ
January 2026 | Black Box Diaries Shiori Ito answers her critics at bad-tempered Black Box Diaries screening Shiori Ito at the FCCJ in December
fccj.or.jp
January 3, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Eric Nyari, the producer of Black Box Diaries, noted that even before a controversial intervention last year by Shiori Ito's laywers, the documentary was being blackballed at home. My piece on Shiori Ito's FCCJ press conference: fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...
"Takaichi is vocal about wanting to scrap A9. Among her more concrete proposals was the creation of a law punishing people who damage the Japanese flag. Like her heroine, Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi’s gender may be the least important thing about her": www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...
The year of the snake | FCCJ
December 2025 | Review of the year Election losses, scandal and infighting made for a chastening 2025 for the LDP Artwork by Julio Shiiki Against the grain The rising cost of living affected tens
www.fccj.or.jp
January 2, 2026 at 6:09 AM
"Takaichi is vocal about wanting to scrap A9. Among her more concrete proposals was the creation of a law punishing people who damage the Japanese flag. Like her heroine, Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi’s gender may be the least important thing about her": www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...
Prosecutors in the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami will not seek his hanging for his murder of Shinzo Abe because death penalty rulings have been mostly limited to cases where more than one person is killed - the so-called Nagayama criteria: japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...?
Prosecutors demand life sentence for suspect in Shinzo Abe shooting
Tetsuya Yamagami, who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, is standing trial for murder and other charges at Nara District Court.
japantimes.co.jp
December 18, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Prosecutors in the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami will not seek his hanging for his murder of Shinzo Abe because death penalty rulings have been mostly limited to cases where more than one person is killed - the so-called Nagayama criteria: japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...?
Reposted by David McNeill
If Trump announces a new and illegal regime change war against Venezuela tonight pay attention to which elected Democrats stay silent and don’t vociferously oppose and condemn him for it - and then make sure those Dems are subjected to primary challenges next year.
December 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
If Trump announces a new and illegal regime change war against Venezuela tonight pay attention to which elected Democrats stay silent and don’t vociferously oppose and condemn him for it - and then make sure those Dems are subjected to primary challenges next year.
The East Japan Immigration Centre in Ushiku is forcibly repatriating Mustafa Khalil (62), a Pakistani national from Kashmir who has been detained for a total of over 12 years whose health is in 'severe decline'. Amnesty says he is unfit to travel: www.amnesty.or.jp/news/2025/12...
日本：生命の危機にあるムスタファ・カリルさんの強制送還を直ちに停止せよ : アムネスティ日本 AMNESTY
＊Please scroll down for the English vers...
www.amnesty.or.jp
December 17, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The East Japan Immigration Centre in Ushiku is forcibly repatriating Mustafa Khalil (62), a Pakistani national from Kashmir who has been detained for a total of over 12 years whose health is in 'severe decline'. Amnesty says he is unfit to travel: www.amnesty.or.jp/news/2025/12...
I'll be emceeing this press conference *today* at 3pm - join us if you can, online or in person. You can submit questions via the FCCJ website: www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Press Conference: Opposing an Effort to Whitewash Japan's Wartime Past | FCCJ
PRESS CONFERENCEOpposing an Effort to Whitewash Japan's Wartime PastTeruhisa Minami, The Association of Nagasaki Citizens for an Atomic Bomb Exhibition to Tell the World15:00-16:00 Wednesday, December...
www.fccj.or.jp
December 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
I'll be emceeing this press conference *today* at 3pm - join us if you can, online or in person. You can submit questions via the FCCJ website: www.fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Reposted by David McNeill
A proposal to require a minimum of 10 years residency before naturalization, up from the current 5 years. The article doesn't mention that there are only about 8,000 naturalizations per year in Japan, in contrast to 800,000+ per year in the U.S.
news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/845...
news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/845...
政府 「帰化」に必要な居住期間の要件を5年以上から10年以上に引き上げる方向で検討（TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN） - Yahoo!ニュース
外国人が日本国籍を取得する「帰化」に必要な居住期間の要件を、現行の5年以上から10年以上に引き上げる方向で政府が検討していることが分かりました。
現在、外国人が日本国籍を取得するために必要な居住期
news.yahoo.co.jp
December 13, 2025 at 2:44 AM
A proposal to require a minimum of 10 years residency before naturalization, up from the current 5 years. The article doesn't mention that there are only about 8,000 naturalizations per year in Japan, in contrast to 800,000+ per year in the U.S.
news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/845...
news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/845...
Interesting Mainichi survey of why voters support PM Takaichi's tougher rules on foreigners: the overwhelming response was the desire to review rules on foreign acquisition of real estate and resources such as water. mainichi.jp/english/arti...?
Mainichi poll on Japan's policies on foreigners unveils public concerns - The Mainichi
TOKYO -- A nationwide survey on Japan's policies related to foreigners conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun in November has unveiled public anxieties and
mainichi.jp
December 13, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Interesting Mainichi survey of why voters support PM Takaichi's tougher rules on foreigners: the overwhelming response was the desire to review rules on foreign acquisition of real estate and resources such as water. mainichi.jp/english/arti...?
I'll be emceeing this press conference on Wednesday morning. Join us if you can (online or in person). If you can't, please let me have your razor-sharp questions! fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Press Conference: Rise of Social Media in Japan and its Impact on Politics | FCCJ
PRESS CONFERENCERecent Rise of Social Media in Japan and its Impact on PoliticsIwao Osaka, Professor, Komazawa University Faculty of LawYasuomi Sawa, Journalist & Professor, Waseda University11:00-12:...
fccj.or.jp
December 1, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I'll be emceeing this press conference on Wednesday morning. Join us if you can (online or in person). If you can't, please let me have your razor-sharp questions! fccj.or.jp/event/press-...
Mike Mochizuki: Takaichi 101: How to torpedo relations with China in a month. "Tokyo should publicly reaffirm that even under a “survival-threatening situation,” the SDF would be limited to the defense of Japan and not fight overseas in fight...in Taiwan". responsiblestatecraft.org/japan-china-...
Takaichi 101: How to torpedo relations with China in a month
The brand new Japanese prime minister set off a firestorm by implying war with China if Beijing attacked Taiwan
responsiblestatecraft.org
November 28, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Mike Mochizuki: Takaichi 101: How to torpedo relations with China in a month. "Tokyo should publicly reaffirm that even under a “survival-threatening situation,” the SDF would be limited to the defense of Japan and not fight overseas in fight...in Taiwan". responsiblestatecraft.org/japan-china-...
J-media widely reporting WSJ story that Trump told Takaichi not to provoke China, evidently fretting that Trump and Xi Jinping will stitch up an agreement that will marginalize Japan. Trump needs Xi onside and Xi wants to drive wedge between US and Japan: www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
トランプ大統領、高市首相に「中国を刺激しないよう助言」 米紙報道：朝日新聞
米紙ウォールストリート・ジャーナルは26日（日本時間27日）、高市早苗首相とトランプ米大統領との電話協議で、台湾問題をめぐってトランプ氏が首相に対し「中国政府を刺激しないよう助言していた」と報じた。…
www.asahi.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:50 AM
J-media widely reporting WSJ story that Trump told Takaichi not to provoke China, evidently fretting that Trump and Xi Jinping will stitch up an agreement that will marginalize Japan. Trump needs Xi onside and Xi wants to drive wedge between US and Japan: www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
Japanese govt intends to charge 30,000 for visa renewals (it's currently 6,000 yen) and 100,000 for permanent residence. The fees will be used to "improve conditions for the rapidly growing foreign resident population and to deport illegal residents": japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/pol...
Japan to Charge Foreigners More for Residence Permits, Looking to Align with Western Countries
<p>The government is set to raise fees for residence procedures for foreign nationals to levels comparable to those in Europe and the United States in the next fiscal year, according to government and...
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
November 20, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Japanese govt intends to charge 30,000 for visa renewals (it's currently 6,000 yen) and 100,000 for permanent residence. The fees will be used to "improve conditions for the rapidly growing foreign resident population and to deport illegal residents": japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/pol...
Manga artist and arch provocateur Yoshinori Kobayashi here, perhaps sarcastically, saying that Japan is on the cusp of war with China and that supporters of Sanae Takaichi should be conscripted and sent to the front lines to fight the PLA. yoshinori-kobayashi.com/30516/
「ネトウヨ+高市推し活ファン」の覚悟
我々は大きな時代の転換点にいる。 最近ひしひしとそれを感じる。 感じないのは右脳が劣化しているか
yoshinori-kobayashi.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Manga artist and arch provocateur Yoshinori Kobayashi here, perhaps sarcastically, saying that Japan is on the cusp of war with China and that supporters of Sanae Takaichi should be conscripted and sent to the front lines to fight the PLA. yoshinori-kobayashi.com/30516/