Jeffrey J. Hall
@mrjeffu.bsky.social
PhD. Lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies. I research Japan's Politics/Nationalist Activism/History Disputes/Pop Culture. Shares/Likes ≠ endorsements. https://linktr.ee/jeffreyjhall
Pinned
Jeffrey J. Hall
@mrjeffu.bsky.social
· Jan 22
New video on my YouTube channel: "Is Donald Trump popular in Japan?" -
I examined Japanese public opinion polls about Trump from 2016 to 2025.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LCI...
I examined Japanese public opinion polls about Trump from 2016 to 2025.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LCI...
Video of my appearance on Australia's ABC News last night to discuss the politics of nuclear power restarts and Japan's upcoming general election:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6vz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6vz...
Japan delays restart of reactor at world's biggest nuclear plant | The World | ABC NEWS
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:23 AM
Video of my appearance on Australia's ABC News last night to discuss the politics of nuclear power restarts and Japan's upcoming general election:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6vz...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6vz...
Reuters interviewed me today about Prime Minister Takaichi's call for a snap election, which seems to be aimed at taking maximum advantage of her high approval ratings. www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
Japan PM Takaichi to call Feb 8 snap election on spending, tax cuts and defence
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will call a national election on February 8 to seek voter backing for increased spending, tax cuts and a new security strategy that is expected to accelerate a de...
www.reuters.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Reuters interviewed me today about Prime Minister Takaichi's call for a snap election, which seems to be aimed at taking maximum advantage of her high approval ratings. www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...
Japanese Prime Minister Abe was known for having a strong circle of advisors.
According to tabloid Daily Shincho, Takaichi, "who regards Abe as her political mentor, is said to be sitting alone at her desk," making top-down decisions without getting much advice.
www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2026...
According to tabloid Daily Shincho, Takaichi, "who regards Abe as her political mentor, is said to be sitting alone at her desk," making top-down decisions without getting much advice.
www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2026...
January 15, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Japanese Prime Minister Abe was known for having a strong circle of advisors.
According to tabloid Daily Shincho, Takaichi, "who regards Abe as her political mentor, is said to be sitting alone at her desk," making top-down decisions without getting much advice.
www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2026...
According to tabloid Daily Shincho, Takaichi, "who regards Abe as her political mentor, is said to be sitting alone at her desk," making top-down decisions without getting much advice.
www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2026...
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
If I was more conspiratorially minded I would say it's deliberate given the opposition's relative strength up north.
It's been 36 years since the last time Japan held a general election in the middle of winter, and there's a practical reason for that: many areas of the country get a lot of snow this time of the year.
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
January 15, 2026 at 1:48 AM
If I was more conspiratorially minded I would say it's deliberate given the opposition's relative strength up north.
It's been 36 years since the last time Japan held a general election in the middle of winter, and there's a practical reason for that: many areas of the country get a lot of snow this time of the year.
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
January 15, 2026 at 1:37 AM
It's been 36 years since the last time Japan held a general election in the middle of winter, and there's a practical reason for that: many areas of the country get a lot of snow this time of the year.
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
How do you campaign and put up posters in heavy snowfall?
www.asahi.com/articles/ASV...
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
Former Nadeshiko Japan midfielder Marumi Yamazaki, who retired in 2023 after a career spent mostly in the Nadeshiko League with Urawa, Niigata, Nagano and Chiba (along with a short WEL stint at Omiya) has come out as a trans man and announced his marriage.
h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social
h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Former Nadeshiko Japan midfielder Marumi Yamazaki, who retired in 2023 after a career spent mostly in the Nadeshiko League with Urawa, Niigata, Nagano and Chiba (along with a short WEL stint at Omiya) has come out as a trans man and announced his marriage.
h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social
h/t @rbyryo.bsky.social
I was at a Japanese supermarket yesterday and saw a display of Christmas messages written by children who had visited the store.
Almost all of the messages were wishes for a Merry X-mas, but one kid simply wrote the word "Roblox."
Almost all of the messages were wishes for a Merry X-mas, but one kid simply wrote the word "Roblox."
December 24, 2025 at 5:24 AM
I was at a Japanese supermarket yesterday and saw a display of Christmas messages written by children who had visited the store.
Almost all of the messages were wishes for a Merry X-mas, but one kid simply wrote the word "Roblox."
Almost all of the messages were wishes for a Merry X-mas, but one kid simply wrote the word "Roblox."
“The U.S. is a total outlier in how much people suffer.” - Keio University Prof. Ikegami comparing the Japanese universal healthcare system to the U.S. healthcare system.
Japanese conservative broadly support the existing system.
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-assa...
Japanese conservative broadly support the existing system.
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-assa...
December 23, 2025 at 4:05 AM
“The U.S. is a total outlier in how much people suffer.” - Keio University Prof. Ikegami comparing the Japanese universal healthcare system to the U.S. healthcare system.
Japanese conservative broadly support the existing system.
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-assa...
Japanese conservative broadly support the existing system.
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-assa...
Nissin is going to produce and sell cup curry using the special recipe of the President of the APA Hotels chain, which is known for having historical revisionist literature in its hotel rooms, denying that Japan waged a war of aggression in World War II.
news.livedoor.com/article/deta...
news.livedoor.com/article/deta...
December 10, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Nissin is going to produce and sell cup curry using the special recipe of the President of the APA Hotels chain, which is known for having historical revisionist literature in its hotel rooms, denying that Japan waged a war of aggression in World War II.
news.livedoor.com/article/deta...
news.livedoor.com/article/deta...
Prime Minister Takaichi's official supporter merch shop is also selling a "Fight On!! Sanae For Japan" toothbrush for 6,600 yen ($42).
They only plan to sell 200 of them, so I guess that makes this a very special toothbrush?
They only plan to sell 200 of them, so I guess that makes this a very special toothbrush?
December 7, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Prime Minister Takaichi's official supporter merch shop is also selling a "Fight On!! Sanae For Japan" toothbrush for 6,600 yen ($42).
They only plan to sell 200 of them, so I guess that makes this a very special toothbrush?
They only plan to sell 200 of them, so I guess that makes this a very special toothbrush?
The official Takaichi supporter shop is selling versions of the "JAPAN IS BACK" hat she prepared for Trump's visit to Japan.
It is priced at ¥13,200 ($85), which is considerably more expensive than the $55 that Donald Trump's official shop charges for MAGA hats.
veanas.theshop.jp
It is priced at ¥13,200 ($85), which is considerably more expensive than the $55 that Donald Trump's official shop charges for MAGA hats.
veanas.theshop.jp
December 7, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The official Takaichi supporter shop is selling versions of the "JAPAN IS BACK" hat she prepared for Trump's visit to Japan.
It is priced at ¥13,200 ($85), which is considerably more expensive than the $55 that Donald Trump's official shop charges for MAGA hats.
veanas.theshop.jp
It is priced at ¥13,200 ($85), which is considerably more expensive than the $55 that Donald Trump's official shop charges for MAGA hats.
veanas.theshop.jp
FT reports that there is "deep disappointment" in the Takaichi Administration over the lack of public support she has received from Trump over her remarks about defending Taiwan.
The article notes that Elbridge Colby had been pushing Japan to take such a stance. www.ft.com/content/bf8b...
The article notes that Elbridge Colby had been pushing Japan to take such a stance. www.ft.com/content/bf8b...
December 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM
FT reports that there is "deep disappointment" in the Takaichi Administration over the lack of public support she has received from Trump over her remarks about defending Taiwan.
The article notes that Elbridge Colby had been pushing Japan to take such a stance. www.ft.com/content/bf8b...
The article notes that Elbridge Colby had been pushing Japan to take such a stance. www.ft.com/content/bf8b...
Japanese Justice Gang cosplayers today at Tokyo Comic Con 2025:
December 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Japanese Justice Gang cosplayers today at Tokyo Comic Con 2025:
The article has also been translated into Japanese: ｢鬼滅の刃｣中国で大ヒットも日本アニメ公開中止相次ぐ－台湾巡り対立
www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/article...
www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/article...
November 26, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The article has also been translated into Japanese: ｢鬼滅の刃｣中国で大ヒットも日本アニメ公開中止相次ぐ－台湾巡り対立
www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/article...
www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/article...
I was interviewed for this Bloomberg article about China delaying the release of Japanese films after Takaichi's Taiwan remarks: "Japan-China Spat Clouds Anime Boom’s Momentum in China" bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/japan-china-spat-clouds-anime-boom-s-momentum-in-china
November 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
I was interviewed for this Bloomberg article about China delaying the release of Japanese films after Takaichi's Taiwan remarks: "Japan-China Spat Clouds Anime Boom’s Momentum in China" bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-25/japan-china-spat-clouds-anime-boom-s-momentum-in-china
Japan's NTV notes that Takaichi happily greeted South Korean President Lee at the G20 Summit, but when Chinese Premier Li showed up one minute later, he briefly looked at her and turned away to talk to other leaders (perhaps because of Takaichi's Taiwan remarks).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zY...
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Japan's NTV notes that Takaichi happily greeted South Korean President Lee at the G20 Summit, but when Chinese Premier Li showed up one minute later, he briefly looked at her and turned away to talk to other leaders (perhaps because of Takaichi's Taiwan remarks).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_zY...
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
If you haven't checked out @mrjeffu.bsky.social's interview on Lemonade Stand you should! A very good, really informative overview of Japanese politics and current social issues.
youtu.be/Dc0z0ulibtk?...
youtu.be/Dc0z0ulibtk?...
THE JAPAN EPISODE ft. @JapanMatters | Lemonade Stand 🍋
YouTube video by Lemonade Stand
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 12:31 AM
If you haven't checked out @mrjeffu.bsky.social's interview on Lemonade Stand you should! A very good, really informative overview of Japanese politics and current social issues.
youtu.be/Dc0z0ulibtk?...
youtu.be/Dc0z0ulibtk?...
I appeared on Australia's ABC News today to talk about China's ban on Japanese seafood and a possible reduction of Chinese tourism to Japan:
"China bans seafood from Japan, calls on PM Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks" www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sr...
"China bans seafood from Japan, calls on PM Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks" www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sr...
China bans seafood from Japan, calls on PM Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks | The World | ABC News
YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I appeared on Australia's ABC News today to talk about China's ban on Japanese seafood and a possible reduction of Chinese tourism to Japan:
"China bans seafood from Japan, calls on PM Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks" www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sr...
"China bans seafood from Japan, calls on PM Takaichi to retract Taiwan remarks" www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2sr...
The Lemonade Stand podcast interviewed me for their Japan episode!
We spoke about Prime Minister Takaichi, immigration, Sanseito, historical revisionism, territorial disputes, conspiracy theories, and a whole lot of other stuff!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0z...
We spoke about Prime Minister Takaichi, immigration, Sanseito, historical revisionism, territorial disputes, conspiracy theories, and a whole lot of other stuff!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0z...
THE JAPAN EPISODE ft. Prof Jeffrey Hall | Lemonade Stand 🍋
YouTube video by Lemonade Stand
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:20 AM
The Lemonade Stand podcast interviewed me for their Japan episode!
We spoke about Prime Minister Takaichi, immigration, Sanseito, historical revisionism, territorial disputes, conspiracy theories, and a whole lot of other stuff!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0z...
We spoke about Prime Minister Takaichi, immigration, Sanseito, historical revisionism, territorial disputes, conspiracy theories, and a whole lot of other stuff!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc0z...
Prime Minister Takaichi's new Justice Minister, Hiraguchi Hiroshi, reportedly spent over 8 million yen on "gasoline" from 2021 to 2023 - enough for his political support organization's cars to drive 34 trips around the Earth. www.news-postseven.com/archives/202...
November 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Prime Minister Takaichi's new Justice Minister, Hiraguchi Hiroshi, reportedly spent over 8 million yen on "gasoline" from 2021 to 2023 - enough for his political support organization's cars to drive 34 trips around the Earth. www.news-postseven.com/archives/202...
Goto Teruki, a Japanese perennial candidate who is known for his odd election speeches and posters, is running for Tokyo's Katsushika ward assembly.
He is wearing a penis costume on his election posters, and apparently police ordered him to censor them with a black marker.
He is wearing a penis costume on his election posters, and apparently police ordered him to censor them with a black marker.
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Goto Teruki, a Japanese perennial candidate who is known for his odd election speeches and posters, is running for Tokyo's Katsushika ward assembly.
He is wearing a penis costume on his election posters, and apparently police ordered him to censor them with a black marker.
He is wearing a penis costume on his election posters, and apparently police ordered him to censor them with a black marker.
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
@rmarcantuoni.bsky.social provides a summary of his recent research article on the far-right conspiracy party Sanseitō. Responding to the media's portrayal of the party as a catch-up moment for Japanese politics, he instead argues that its conspiracy ideology is a novel form of political action.
What far-right conspiracy party Sanseitō tells us about a nascent ideology
In July 2025, Sanseitō (a.k.a. The Party of DIY !!) became the first far-right political party in postwar history to establish a stable presence in both Houses of the National Diet. With the party’s f...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
@rmarcantuoni.bsky.social provides a summary of his recent research article on the far-right conspiracy party Sanseitō. Responding to the media's portrayal of the party as a catch-up moment for Japanese politics, he instead argues that its conspiracy ideology is a novel form of political action.
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
A very informative article explaining the conspiracy theories and ideologies motivating Japan's new far-right party, Sanseitō, which made substantial seat gains in last July's upper house election. Thanks to @rmarcantuoni.bsky.social & @robfahey.net for writing this.
How does a fringe, anti-vaccine party come to influence national politics? In this insightful article, Romeo Marcantuoni and Robert A. Fahey examine Sanseitō, a Japanese political party founded during the pandemic.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
Fighting the Cabal from the Diet: Sanseitō and the Role of Conspiracy as Political Ideology | Asia-Pacific Journal | Cambridge Core
Fighting the Cabal from the Diet: Sanseitō and the Role of Conspiracy as Political Ideology - Volume 23
www.cambridge.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
A very informative article explaining the conspiracy theories and ideologies motivating Japan's new far-right party, Sanseitō, which made substantial seat gains in last July's upper house election. Thanks to @rmarcantuoni.bsky.social & @robfahey.net for writing this.
Reposted by Jeffrey J. Hall
My latest piece for Tokyo Review:
Ten years ago, two municipalities in Tokyo wrote history by commencing Japan’s first so-called “partnership systems” to provide some level of recognition to LGBTQ+ couples’ relationships. In the years that followed, the policy has spread tremendously and paved the way for further change.
A decade of LGBT partnership systems in Japan
Ten years ago, two municipalities in Tokyo wrote history by commencing Japan’s first so-called “partnership systems” (パートナーシップ制度) to recognize LGBTQ+ couples’ relationships. In the years that followed...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
My latest piece for Tokyo Review: