Hikosaemon
@hikosaemon.bsky.social
Tokyo based Vlog/Video podcaster & bilingual news geek 東京在住外国人ブロガーです♪ Livestream 10:30pm JST on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/hikosaemon
http://www.youtube.com/hikosaemon
I don't like her but I think there is a world of separation between Trump and the people that support him, and Takaichi.
February 9, 2026 at 6:34 AM
I don't like her but I think there is a world of separation between Trump and the people that support him, and Takaichi.
Honestly I see almost zero comparisons to Trump's rise to power. Other than being conservative what do you see? Trump was anti-establishment GOP and came through with populism, Takaichi is institutional. Even foreigner stuff is constrained to wanting more controls not saying races are eating pets
February 9, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Honestly I see almost zero comparisons to Trump's rise to power. Other than being conservative what do you see? Trump was anti-establishment GOP and came through with populism, Takaichi is institutional. Even foreigner stuff is constrained to wanting more controls not saying races are eating pets
Also it resulted in many LDP members charged with corruption placed low on the party list as "punishment" getting back in on the landslide. Arguably they owe their political lives to her but also signals that the old LDP still lives. Only bright side is that not even this landslide saved Mio Sugita
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Also it resulted in many LDP members charged with corruption placed low on the party list as "punishment" getting back in on the landslide. Arguably they owe their political lives to her but also signals that the old LDP still lives. Only bright side is that not even this landslide saved Mio Sugita
This totally validates Takaichi's decision to call a snap election. As much as I dislike the LDP, it unblocks the legislative process that was tied up with a minority government in both houses. It positions her with as much of a mandate as Abe
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
This totally validates Takaichi's decision to call a snap election. As much as I dislike the LDP, it unblocks the legislative process that was tied up with a minority government in both houses. It positions her with as much of a mandate as Abe
Legacy leftwing parties the Socialists, JCP and also recent party Reiwa nearly vanished replaced with far right Sanseito and what I consider a fringe party Mirai party (I think wants AI to run government?). This means the entire spectrum in Japan is now center-right with no real left (like USA)
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Legacy leftwing parties the Socialists, JCP and also recent party Reiwa nearly vanished replaced with far right Sanseito and what I consider a fringe party Mirai party (I think wants AI to run government?). This means the entire spectrum in Japan is now center-right with no real left (like USA)
The Democrats merged with Komeito and were annihilated, with almost Komeito members left
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02...
LDP secures two-thirds supermajority in Lower House election victory
Results early Monday showed the LDP had won 316 seats, giving it a higher proportion of representatives in the body than any other party in postwar Japan.
www.japantimes.co.jp
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
The Democrats merged with Komeito and were annihilated, with almost Komeito members left
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02...
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02...
And... the election. It was an LDP landslide. The LDP won 316 seats, more than 296 needed for supermajority to overrule the upper house. Also means they hardly need the Osaka Isshin party to rule with 356 seats (they want to eliminate 10% of seats).
www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shu...
www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shu...
衆議院選挙 開票速報・結果【随時更新】衆院選2026
【読売新聞】第51回衆議院議員選挙（衆院選2026、1月27日公示・2月8日投開票）の開票結果をお伝えします。候補者一覧とプロフィル、政党公約も掲載しています。
www.yomiuri.co.jp
February 9, 2026 at 4:00 AM
And... the election. It was an LDP landslide. The LDP won 316 seats, more than 296 needed for supermajority to overrule the upper house. Also means they hardly need the Osaka Isshin party to rule with 356 seats (they want to eliminate 10% of seats).
www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shu...
www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shu...
It is remarkable and disappointing that Sanseito got such a blog pretty much exclusively from campaigning against foreign people.
Japan's populist Sanseito set to more than double lower house seats mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan's populist Sanseito set to more than double lower house seats mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan's populist Sanseito set to more than double lower house seats - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's minor populist party Sanseito increased its House of Representatives seats more than sixfold to 13 from two before Sunday's e
mainichi.jp
February 9, 2026 at 3:49 AM
It is remarkable and disappointing that Sanseito got such a blog pretty much exclusively from campaigning against foreign people.
Japan's populist Sanseito set to more than double lower house seats mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan's populist Sanseito set to more than double lower house seats mainichi.jp/english/arti...
I've seen this as top news in Japan and New Zealand, but in outrage fatigued America it seems like it got more than a shrug.
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it - The Mainichi
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's racist social media post featuring former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates
mainichi.jp
February 9, 2026 at 3:45 AM
I've seen this as top news in Japan and New Zealand, but in outrage fatigued America it seems like it got more than a shrug.
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Reposted by Hikosaemon
My 2026 Japanese general election thread starts here. We're now less than a half hour to polls closing.
February 8, 2026 at 10:35 AM
My 2026 Japanese general election thread starts here. We're now less than a half hour to polls closing.
Reposted by Hikosaemon
My first attempt to make sense of a truly historic general election.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
The age of Takaichi dawns
Understanding what happened on Sunday
open.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:57 PM
My first attempt to make sense of a truly historic general election.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
A record 56% of Koreans feel positively towards Japan. The fact this is happening during a left wing administration marks a particularly positive turn, some Japanese commenters hoping that the old Japan bashing for votes play might be finally ending in Korea
itainews.com/archives/205...
itainews.com/archives/205...
韓国人の日本に対する好感度、過去最高の56% : 痛いニュース(ﾉ∀`)
1 名前：：2026/02/08(日) 13:47:56.96 ID:TYxjERwl0●.net 韓国人の日本に対する好感度 過去最高の56％も調査対象国中ワースト https://t.co/gHeaVrtMVO— yonhapnews (@yonhapjp) February 8, 2026 【東京聯合ニュース】日本の公益財団法人「新聞通信
itainews.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:48 AM
A record 56% of Koreans feel positively towards Japan. The fact this is happening during a left wing administration marks a particularly positive turn, some Japanese commenters hoping that the old Japan bashing for votes play might be finally ending in Korea
itainews.com/archives/205...
itainews.com/archives/205...
Meanwhile on Tokyo Digital Crew
Check the mash battle winner at 21:45 Mash Battle Episode 38 (Club Can't Handle Me!): THE WINNING TRACK! youtu.be/GDCt3YFx8kY?...
And join me for the afterparty if there is time at 23:00 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8Y...
Check the mash battle winner at 21:45 Mash Battle Episode 38 (Club Can't Handle Me!): THE WINNING TRACK! youtu.be/GDCt3YFx8kY?...
And join me for the afterparty if there is time at 23:00 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8Y...
Mash Battle Episode 38 (Club Can't Handle Me!): THE WINNING TRACK!
YouTube video by Tokyo Digital Crew
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Meanwhile on Tokyo Digital Crew
Check the mash battle winner at 21:45 Mash Battle Episode 38 (Club Can't Handle Me!): THE WINNING TRACK! youtu.be/GDCt3YFx8kY?...
And join me for the afterparty if there is time at 23:00 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8Y...
Check the mash battle winner at 21:45 Mash Battle Episode 38 (Club Can't Handle Me!): THE WINNING TRACK! youtu.be/GDCt3YFx8kY?...
And join me for the afterparty if there is time at 23:00 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hb8Y...
Quick reminder that 2.5 Oyajis is ON tonight starting in half an hour in Victor's Channel!
2.5 Oyajis - I'm in Japan! Now what? www.youtube.com/live/KfjEV5A...
2.5 Oyajis - I'm in Japan! Now what? www.youtube.com/live/KfjEV5A...
2.5 Oyajis - I'm in Japan! Now what?
YouTube video by Gimmeabreakman
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Quick reminder that 2.5 Oyajis is ON tonight starting in half an hour in Victor's Channel!
2.5 Oyajis - I'm in Japan! Now what? www.youtube.com/live/KfjEV5A...
2.5 Oyajis - I'm in Japan! Now what? www.youtube.com/live/KfjEV5A...
Yup - a bit of a wobble!
February 6, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Yup - a bit of a wobble!
Yes - but simpler times. The only opinions they really had to be worried about were editorial writers and news anchors, who themselves were much more self restrained. Now they are playing to the unwashed social media masses. Loudest dumbest person wins...
February 6, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Yes - but simpler times. The only opinions they really had to be worried about were editorial writers and news anchors, who themselves were much more self restrained. Now they are playing to the unwashed social media masses. Loudest dumbest person wins...
I think it is what has undermined establishment parties everywhere. Establishment Republicans and Democrats in the US would long campaign on protectionism and isolationism and then (correctly) pursue free trade, but try to disown it next election. They were treating voters like idiots.
February 6, 2026 at 5:12 AM
I think it is what has undermined establishment parties everywhere. Establishment Republicans and Democrats in the US would long campaign on protectionism and isolationism and then (correctly) pursue free trade, but try to disown it next election. They were treating voters like idiots.
Nice Kiwi!! And happy Waitangi Day!
February 6, 2026 at 4:46 AM
Nice Kiwi!! And happy Waitangi Day!
Better 10 years late than never…
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group plans to hire bankers to arrange financing deals for data centers as Japan’s biggest bank jumps on the AI boom.
MUFG eyes piece of AI boom with hiring for data center financing
Financing AI initiatives is becoming a lucrative business for banks worldwide.
ebx.sh
February 6, 2026 at 4:45 AM
Better 10 years late than never…
Honestly fear of explaining commonsense but unpopular policies (like free trade, security alliances, immigration) is what will end democracy…
February 6, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Honestly fear of explaining commonsense but unpopular policies (like free trade, security alliances, immigration) is what will end democracy…
So technically police were fencing the property..?
A man who returned lost property to police kobans over 60 times has been arrested. Police realized he was actually stealing items, looking to get reward money. www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/202...
交番に６０回以上「落とし物」届けた無職の５７歳、１４人からお礼の報労金…詐欺と窃盗の疑いで逮捕
【読売新聞】 報労金をだまし取ったとして、警視庁深川署は５日、江東区の無職の男（５７）を詐欺と窃盗の疑いで逮捕した。 発表によると、男は昨年１０月１４日、江東区の飲食店で盗んだ５０歳代男性のスマートフォンを拾得物として交番に届け、同
www.yomiuri.co.jp
February 6, 2026 at 4:42 AM
So technically police were fencing the property..?
Always thought that “Endless” was asking too much…
February 6, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Always thought that “Endless” was asking too much…
Now I think she needs to make up some kind of trophy for him…
February 6, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Now I think she needs to make up some kind of trophy for him…
Sanseito is criticizing increasing immigration of workers. LDP denies increased immigration saying only permanent residents count as immigrants. OMG, am I agreeing with Sanseito's definition of immigration?
Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration' mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration' mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration' - The Mainichi
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's growing intake of foreign workers has emerged as a key issue taken up by some opposition parties against the ruling Liberal D
mainichi.jp
February 6, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Sanseito is criticizing increasing immigration of workers. LDP denies increased immigration saying only permanent residents count as immigrants. OMG, am I agreeing with Sanseito's definition of immigration?
Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration' mainichi.jp/english/arti...
Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration' mainichi.jp/english/arti...