simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
@kant.bsky.social
co-founder of Salon Séance. philosopher at heart, historian by trade. did the research for Gambling Man (Allen Lane, 2024; 邦訳『勝負師』日経BP). next book: Tokyo’s Private Railway Empires. 元자이니치. 京都生まれ名古屋育ち東京在住. simonは芸名です.
https://salonseance.com
https://salonseance.com
I read many a book over the past year, but two books left the deepest impression on me
They challenged me, made me dwell and spurred me on not only to think but also to think better
They are UNO Tsunehiro’s In Search of a Garden and AZUMA Hiroki’s Peace and Folly
They challenged me, made me dwell and spurred me on not only to think but also to think better
They are UNO Tsunehiro’s In Search of a Garden and AZUMA Hiroki’s Peace and Folly
December 31, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I read many a book over the past year, but two books left the deepest impression on me
They challenged me, made me dwell and spurred me on not only to think but also to think better
They are UNO Tsunehiro’s In Search of a Garden and AZUMA Hiroki’s Peace and Folly
They challenged me, made me dwell and spurred me on not only to think but also to think better
They are UNO Tsunehiro’s In Search of a Garden and AZUMA Hiroki’s Peace and Folly
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
Honored to have my writing appeared at @jmwwjournal.bsky.social!! I thank the editors and @kant.bsky.social’s feedback on the earlier drafts.
"Until those random words from an oyster noodle shop owner,... I had almost forgotten I was and would always be a non-native speaker of Japanese."
Creative Nonfiction: Your Japanese Is So Good! by Lillian Tsay
jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/c...
Creative Nonfiction: Your Japanese Is So Good! by Lillian Tsay
jmwwblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/04/c...
Creative Nonfiction: Your Japanese Is So Good! by Lillian Tsay
Until those random words from an oyster noodle shop owner, I had become so accustomed to being treated like an equal that I had almost forgotten I was and would always be a non-native speaker of Ja…
jmwwblog.wordpress.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Honored to have my writing appeared at @jmwwjournal.bsky.social!! I thank the editors and @kant.bsky.social’s feedback on the earlier drafts.
Also: Kyodo has just independently verified the WSJ’s claims by interviewing people on the Japanese side with knowledge of the call
According to their reporting, Trump stressed the need to “manage” the relationship with China in his call with Takaichi
news.jp/i/1366746011...
According to their reporting, Trump stressed the need to “manage” the relationship with China in his call with Takaichi
news.jp/i/1366746011...
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Also: Kyodo has just independently verified the WSJ’s claims by interviewing people on the Japanese side with knowledge of the call
According to their reporting, Trump stressed the need to “manage” the relationship with China in his call with Takaichi
news.jp/i/1366746011...
According to their reporting, Trump stressed the need to “manage” the relationship with China in his call with Takaichi
news.jp/i/1366746011...
Religious studies scholar Shimada Hiromi has a new book on Sanseito out this week
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
November 13, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Religious studies scholar Shimada Hiromi has a new book on Sanseito out this week
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
He details how Sanseito adopts tactics already proven effective by Komeito (which Shimada has studied for decades)
And by JCP and Reiwa (Furuya Tsunehira’s book from last month is also good on the Reiwa connection)
autumnal mazesoba with porcini and beef in mushroom cream sauce
October 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
autumnal mazesoba with porcini and beef in mushroom cream sauce
「私は総じて読書を好む。知性を鍛え魂を強くすることのできるようなことが見出される類いの読書は、私の最も好むものである。とりわけ私は、才気の優れた人と共に読書することに、無上の満足を見出す。こうすると、読んでいることについて刻々考え、考えたことをもとにして世にも楽しく、かつ有益な会話が成り立つからである」
(「ラ・ロシュフコー自画像」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
(「ラ・ロシュフコー自画像」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
October 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
「私は総じて読書を好む。知性を鍛え魂を強くすることのできるようなことが見出される類いの読書は、私の最も好むものである。とりわけ私は、才気の優れた人と共に読書することに、無上の満足を見出す。こうすると、読んでいることについて刻々考え、考えたことをもとにして世にも楽しく、かつ有益な会話が成り立つからである」
(「ラ・ロシュフコー自画像」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
(「ラ・ロシュフコー自画像」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
「ちゃんとわかる人にとっては、わけのわからない人たちにわからせようとするよりも、彼らに負けておくほうが骨が折れない」
(「箴言448」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
(「箴言448」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
October 29, 2025 at 12:22 PM
「ちゃんとわかる人にとっては、わけのわからない人たちにわからせようとするよりも、彼らに負けておくほうが骨が折れない」
(「箴言448」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
(「箴言448」『ラ・ロシュフコー箴言集』より)
Once again, the "conspiracy parties" revealed themselves
In yesterday's Miyagi governor race, the LDP-backed incumbent Murai won by 1.8% against the Sanseito-backed Wada whose supporters spread misinfo about Murai
Exit polls show Sanseito, DPP and Reiwa have the highest share of Wada supporters
In yesterday's Miyagi governor race, the LDP-backed incumbent Murai won by 1.8% against the Sanseito-backed Wada whose supporters spread misinfo about Murai
Exit polls show Sanseito, DPP and Reiwa have the highest share of Wada supporters
October 27, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Once again, the "conspiracy parties" revealed themselves
In yesterday's Miyagi governor race, the LDP-backed incumbent Murai won by 1.8% against the Sanseito-backed Wada whose supporters spread misinfo about Murai
Exit polls show Sanseito, DPP and Reiwa have the highest share of Wada supporters
In yesterday's Miyagi governor race, the LDP-backed incumbent Murai won by 1.8% against the Sanseito-backed Wada whose supporters spread misinfo about Murai
Exit polls show Sanseito, DPP and Reiwa have the highest share of Wada supporters
Ishiba will hold a press conference at 6pm
Some say he’s going to resign and retire, others that he will resign but also make a bid for re-election in a leadership election
We won’t know for sure until 6pm
Some say he’s going to resign and retire, others that he will resign but also make a bid for re-election in a leadership election
We won’t know for sure until 6pm
September 7, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Ishiba will hold a press conference at 6pm
Some say he’s going to resign and retire, others that he will resign but also make a bid for re-election in a leadership election
We won’t know for sure until 6pm
Some say he’s going to resign and retire, others that he will resign but also make a bid for re-election in a leadership election
We won’t know for sure until 6pm
Apparently the rebels have sufficient numbers to call an early leadership election
Ishiba just met with Suga and Koizumi
Now the options are 1) resign before the 8th; 2) call a snap general election; 3) make a bid for leadership re-election but if he loses call a snap; 4) not run but back Koizumi
Ishiba just met with Suga and Koizumi
Now the options are 1) resign before the 8th; 2) call a snap general election; 3) make a bid for leadership re-election but if he loses call a snap; 4) not run but back Koizumi
September 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Apparently the rebels have sufficient numbers to call an early leadership election
Ishiba just met with Suga and Koizumi
Now the options are 1) resign before the 8th; 2) call a snap general election; 3) make a bid for leadership re-election but if he loses call a snap; 4) not run but back Koizumi
Ishiba just met with Suga and Koizumi
Now the options are 1) resign before the 8th; 2) call a snap general election; 3) make a bid for leadership re-election but if he loses call a snap; 4) not run but back Koizumi
Do please read it, a lot of effort went into this piece
My piece for Chihei is available in bookstores on Friday!
September 5, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Do please read it, a lot of effort went into this piece
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
My piece for Chihei is available in bookstores on Friday!
September 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
My piece for Chihei is available in bookstores on Friday!
Aso met with Kamiya today news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bbe...
麻生氏、参政党代表と会談 保守政策巡り意見交換か（共同通信） - Yahoo!ニュース
自民党の麻生太郎最高顧問は28日、参政党の神谷宗幣代表と国会内で約30分にわたり会談した。参政党が7月の参院選で掲げた保守的な政策や今後の党運営を巡り意見交換したとみられる。
news.yahoo.co.jp
August 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Aso met with Kamiya today news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/bbe...
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
「注文書のない古書目録」配布中（8月分更新） | 八木書店グループ
company.books-yagi.co.jp/archives/new...
company.books-yagi.co.jp/archives/new...
「注文書のない古書目録」配布中（8月分更新） | 八木書店グループ
平素は八木書店古書部をお引き立てくださいましてありがとうございます。 「注文書のない古書目録」8月分更新致しました。 【注文書のない古書目録（全）】DownLoad（1300件規模/969MB）※毎月
company.books-yagi.co.jp
August 26, 2025 at 5:19 AM
「注文書のない古書目録」配布中（8月分更新） | 八木書店グループ
company.books-yagi.co.jp/archives/new...
company.books-yagi.co.jp/archives/new...
Sanseito is experiencing growing pains as they don’t have enough aides for their 14 new diet members
According to Gendai, the candidate pool — ex-aides to LDP candidates who lost — are reluctant to apply because they fear having to draft insane diet questions www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/vie...
According to Gendai, the candidate pool — ex-aides to LDP candidates who lost — are reluctant to apply because they fear having to draft insane diet questions www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/vie...
党勢拡大の参政党「スタッフ募集」に高い壁…供給源のはずの自民落選議員秘書も「やりたくない」と避けるワケ｜日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL
先の参院選では、自民党の現職議員も大量に落選。永田町では、秘書たちの再就職活動が活発化しているが、あの政党はやは...
www.nikkan-gendai.com
August 26, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Sanseito is experiencing growing pains as they don’t have enough aides for their 14 new diet members
According to Gendai, the candidate pool — ex-aides to LDP candidates who lost — are reluctant to apply because they fear having to draft insane diet questions www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/vie...
According to Gendai, the candidate pool — ex-aides to LDP candidates who lost — are reluctant to apply because they fear having to draft insane diet questions www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/vie...
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
ICE detains a violinist who has played with the Utah Symphony and is involved with the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake. Apparently this is what Trump means when he's saying countries aren't sending their best:
Loved ones shocked, worried after beloved Utah violinist detained by ICE
Friends and family are reacting after Utah violinist John Shin was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday.
www.fox13now.com
August 25, 2025 at 5:23 AM
ICE detains a violinist who has played with the Utah Symphony and is involved with the Chamber Music Society of Salt Lake. Apparently this is what Trump means when he's saying countries aren't sending their best:
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
so okay! first piece out from me at Common Wealth
"Beyond Bidenomics: On what is living and what is dead in economic policy"
the argument is that progressives should take credit for the successful parts of the pandemic policy response and build the next Thing
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
"Beyond Bidenomics: On what is living and what is dead in economic policy"
the argument is that progressives should take credit for the successful parts of the pandemic policy response and build the next Thing
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
Beyond Bidenomics | Perspectives
On what is living and what is dead in economic policy.
www.common-wealth.org
August 20, 2025 at 2:06 PM
so okay! first piece out from me at Common Wealth
"Beyond Bidenomics: On what is living and what is dead in economic policy"
the argument is that progressives should take credit for the successful parts of the pandemic policy response and build the next Thing
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
"Beyond Bidenomics: On what is living and what is dead in economic policy"
the argument is that progressives should take credit for the successful parts of the pandemic policy response and build the next Thing
www.common-wealth.org/perspectives...
「戦没者の命は尊い」
→命は尊いという意味では正しい。ただし、無謀な戦争のための犠牲となった戦没者の「死」は、決して尊いものではない
「先人の礎の上に今の平和がある」
→これも正しい。ただし、ここの「先人」は戦没者ではなく、焼け野原から新たな礎を築き、復興に努めた生存者たちである
→命は尊いという意味では正しい。ただし、無謀な戦争のための犠牲となった戦没者の「死」は、決して尊いものではない
「先人の礎の上に今の平和がある」
→これも正しい。ただし、ここの「先人」は戦没者ではなく、焼け野原から新たな礎を築き、復興に努めた生存者たちである
August 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
「戦没者の命は尊い」
→命は尊いという意味では正しい。ただし、無謀な戦争のための犠牲となった戦没者の「死」は、決して尊いものではない
「先人の礎の上に今の平和がある」
→これも正しい。ただし、ここの「先人」は戦没者ではなく、焼け野原から新たな礎を築き、復興に努めた生存者たちである
→命は尊いという意味では正しい。ただし、無謀な戦争のための犠牲となった戦没者の「死」は、決して尊いものではない
「先人の礎の上に今の平和がある」
→これも正しい。ただし、ここの「先人」は戦没者ではなく、焼け野原から新たな礎を築き、復興に努めた生存者たちである
Ishiba is similar to Abe in that his cabinet’s approval rating consistently stays above that of his party www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
Another similarity, of course, is that Abe also tried to stay on as PM after the Upper House election loss in 2007
Another similarity, of course, is that Abe also tried to stay on as PM after the Upper House election loss in 2007
August 14, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Ishiba is similar to Abe in that his cabinet’s approval rating consistently stays above that of his party www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
Another similarity, of course, is that Abe also tried to stay on as PM after the Upper House election loss in 2007
Another similarity, of course, is that Abe also tried to stay on as PM after the Upper House election loss in 2007
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
An interview with Nikkei Asia on Sanseito. Full discolure: I didn’t actually realize this was going to be a long-form video and was mostly trying to hit sound bites. But good experience to be thrown into the deep end these past few weeks of Sanseito coverage. youtu.be/s3K1lzia4eM?...
Unpacking Sanseito and the 'Japanese First' movement
YouTube video by Nikkei Asia
youtu.be
August 5, 2025 at 1:49 AM
An interview with Nikkei Asia on Sanseito. Full discolure: I didn’t actually realize this was going to be a long-form video and was mostly trying to hit sound bites. But good experience to be thrown into the deep end these past few weeks of Sanseito coverage. youtu.be/s3K1lzia4eM?...
finally the world is catching up to japanese marxist analysis ca. 1930
Increasingly think neofeudalism vs capitalism is a better lens for understanding what’s going on in contemporary politics than capitalism vs socialism.
August 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
finally the world is catching up to japanese marxist analysis ca. 1930
Reposted by simon loves books📚活字中毒の左衛門
東急沿線、参政党の得票目立つ JR中央線は国民民主や女性が躍進
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
「東急沿線の比較的富裕な層は自民党に政治とカネの問題などが浮上すると、同党以外の保守政党に投票する傾向がある」
鉄道沿線や団地などの空間と政治の相関関係を分析する試みである「空間政治学」。
東京都議選と参院選の投票行動を読み解きます。
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
「東急沿線の比較的富裕な層は自民党に政治とカネの問題などが浮上すると、同党以外の保守政党に投票する傾向がある」
鉄道沿線や団地などの空間と政治の相関関係を分析する試みである「空間政治学」。
東京都議選と参院選の投票行動を読み解きます。
July 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
東急沿線、参政党の得票目立つ JR中央線は国民民主や女性が躍進
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
「東急沿線の比較的富裕な層は自民党に政治とカネの問題などが浮上すると、同党以外の保守政党に投票する傾向がある」
鉄道沿線や団地などの空間と政治の相関関係を分析する試みである「空間政治学」。
東京都議選と参院選の投票行動を読み解きます。
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
「東急沿線の比較的富裕な層は自民党に政治とカネの問題などが浮上すると、同党以外の保守政党に投票する傾向がある」
鉄道沿線や団地などの空間と政治の相関関係を分析する試みである「空間政治学」。
東京都議選と参院選の投票行動を読み解きます。
imagine being a yt boomer dude named ed who naturalises as japanese and in the process decideds to officially change his name to edo written as “wise man” (慧人)
cringissimo
cringissimo
New piece by Edo Naito on Sanseito does very little other than aid the normalization of far-right views. He also calls this characterization of the party 'snarky, which feels like a dismissal of the time and effort me and others have put into our research 🧵
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
A fringe or political force: Will the real Sanseito stand up?
There were a few things that might raise eyebrows, but nothing especially scary. Sanseito's published policy platform is relatively benign.
www.japantimes.co.jp
July 31, 2025 at 5:14 AM
imagine being a yt boomer dude named ed who naturalises as japanese and in the process decideds to officially change his name to edo written as “wise man” (慧人)
cringissimo
cringissimo