Shikinami
@shikinami.bsky.social
MA in Public Policy. UTokyo GraSPP alumnus. Trying my hand at the Japanese content industry. I stand for Human Rights. RTs≠endorsements He/him.
ＷＨＹ
There are countries where it is held only once a year - and there are others where for a variety of circumstances JLPT is not held at all (country too small, ongoing conflict etc.)
Why would you take away this opportunity from people?
There are countries where it is held only once a year - and there are others where for a variety of circumstances JLPT is not held at all (country too small, ongoing conflict etc.)
Why would you take away this opportunity from people?
From 2026, tourists will no longer be allowed to take the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test in Japan.
Tourists no longer allowed to take JLPT in Japan from 2026
The change was driven by problems linked to overseas applicants using Japanese addresses without permission or submitting invalid phone numbers.
ebx.sh
February 18, 2026 at 8:38 AM
ＷＨＹ
There are countries where it is held only once a year - and there are others where for a variety of circumstances JLPT is not held at all (country too small, ongoing conflict etc.)
Why would you take away this opportunity from people?
There are countries where it is held only once a year - and there are others where for a variety of circumstances JLPT is not held at all (country too small, ongoing conflict etc.)
Why would you take away this opportunity from people?
In other words: she wants to hedge against a far right pick by a potential Rassemblement national government.
Absolutely the right move.
Lagarde remains a true statesperson through and through 💐👑
Absolutely the right move.
Lagarde remains a true statesperson through and through 💐👑
Lagarde to leave ECB before the end of 8-year term ft.trib.al/88DQOgH
Lagarde to leave ECB before the end of 8-year term
Central banker wants to give Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz the chance to pick her successor
ft.trib.al
February 18, 2026 at 5:23 AM
In other words: she wants to hedge against a far right pick by a potential Rassemblement national government.
Absolutely the right move.
Lagarde remains a true statesperson through and through 💐👑
Absolutely the right move.
Lagarde remains a true statesperson through and through 💐👑
Reposted by Shikinami
The online survey was conducted by Toyo University professor Morihiro Ogasawara from the night of Feb. 8 to Feb. 10.
Survey finds false info perceived as true by many voters in Feb. 8 election
ebx.sh
February 18, 2026 at 3:45 AM
The online survey was conducted by Toyo University professor Morihiro Ogasawara from the night of Feb. 8 to Feb. 10.
Reposted by Shikinami
Congratulations to Faculty Associate Saori Katada and Kei Koga on their new book, Japan's Grand Strategy: Liminal Power in an Uncertain World, which is part of the Oxford Studies in Grand Strategy! academic.oup.com/book/62240?l...
Japan's Grand Strategy: Liminal Power in an Uncertain World
Abstract. Japan is a liminal power, as it straddles contrasting identities in term of its power status (e.g. small power to great power) because of fluctua
academic.oup.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Congratulations to Faculty Associate Saori Katada and Kei Koga on their new book, Japan's Grand Strategy: Liminal Power in an Uncertain World, which is part of the Oxford Studies in Grand Strategy! academic.oup.com/book/62240?l...
Reposted by Shikinami
Congratulations to Hilary Holbrow (2017-18) on the publication of her book, The Future Is Foreign: Women and Immigrants in Corporate Japan! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
The Future Is Foreign by Hilary J. Holbrow | Paperback | Cornell University Press
Japan is at the forefront of global population decline. The Future Is Foreign investigates how elite Japanese firms are responding to this unprecedented challenge. Hilary Holbrow argues that labor sho...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
February 17, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Congratulations to Hilary Holbrow (2017-18) on the publication of her book, The Future Is Foreign: Women and Immigrants in Corporate Japan! www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
There it is - never trust a party that claims to be 100% composed of engineers
While some parties during Lower House campaigning argued for strictly monitoring foreign nationals or setting quotas, Team Mirai sees AI as a means to replacing them altogether.
AI could replace foreign workers in Japan, Team Mirai says
ebx.sh
February 17, 2026 at 8:53 AM
There it is - never trust a party that claims to be 100% composed of engineers
Reposted by Shikinami
Reposted by Shikinami
If weapon sales to Taiwan are openly on the table for US-China talks, then we are truly entering a new era of uncertainty.
Even just Trump saying this out loud is trouble for the Lai administration and cannon fodder for American skepticism here in Taiwan.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Even just Trump saying this out loud is trouble for the Lai administration and cannon fodder for American skepticism here in Taiwan.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump Says He’ll Soon Make Decision on Weapon Sales to Taiwan
President Donald Trump said that he’s discussing future weapons sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping and teased that he would soon make a decision about future defense support for the sel...
www.bloomberg.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:31 AM
If weapon sales to Taiwan are openly on the table for US-China talks, then we are truly entering a new era of uncertainty.
Even just Trump saying this out loud is trouble for the Lai administration and cannon fodder for American skepticism here in Taiwan.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Even just Trump saying this out loud is trouble for the Lai administration and cannon fodder for American skepticism here in Taiwan.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Foreigner hate spreading to universities too…
(Tsukuba Unj is a prime destination for MEXT scholars btw)
(Tsukuba Unj is a prime destination for MEXT scholars btw)
筑波大学准教授がSNSに差別的投稿、大学が謝罪
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
男性准教授は「日本の大学に来る外国人は、だいたい能力が低く、トラブルメーカーが多い」などと投稿。筑波大学は投稿について「外国人に対する差別的表現」と認めました。
#ニュース
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
男性准教授は「日本の大学に来る外国人は、だいたい能力が低く、トラブルメーカーが多い」などと投稿。筑波大学は投稿について「外国人に対する差別的表現」と認めました。
#ニュース
筑波大准教授がSNSに不適切投稿 大学が謝罪「外国人へ差別表現」 - 日本経済新聞
筑波大の男性准教授がSNSで「日本の大学に来る外国人は、だいたい能力が低く、トラブルメーカーが多い」などと投稿していたことが16日、同大への取材で分かった。大学は、投稿について「外国人に対する差別的表現」とし謝罪した。他にも女性准教授がSNSで、タイの政治情勢について不適切な投稿をしたとして、大学は「相手国への敬意を欠いた」とコメ
www.nikkei.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Foreigner hate spreading to universities too…
(Tsukuba Unj is a prime destination for MEXT scholars btw)
(Tsukuba Unj is a prime destination for MEXT scholars btw)
Takaichi is really holding the fort.
Because of that she must succeed- even though I don’t agree with her on pretty much anything.
Had it not been for her, Sanseito filth would end up as the second largest party as a baseline.
Because of that she must succeed- even though I don’t agree with her on pretty much anything.
Had it not been for her, Sanseito filth would end up as the second largest party as a baseline.
「家族制度を壊してしまう」選択的夫婦別姓に反対の参政候補、若者票２割を獲得…高市旋風の長野県で「第３極」３党に明暗
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/20260214-GYT1T00388/
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/shugiin/20260214-GYT1T00388/
「家族制度を壊してしまう」選択的夫婦別姓に反対の参政候補、若者票２割を獲得…高市旋風の長野県で「第３極」３党に明暗
【読売新聞】 衆院選の長野県内選挙区に初めて候補者を擁立した第３極の３党は明暗が分かれた。 衆院選の熱気が冷めやらぬ９日朝、軽井沢町の交差点では、長野３区で落選した参政党の仁科裕貴が道行く車に手を振っていた。仁科は「数週間前までは自
www.yomiuri.co.jp
February 15, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Takaichi is really holding the fort.
Because of that she must succeed- even though I don’t agree with her on pretty much anything.
Had it not been for her, Sanseito filth would end up as the second largest party as a baseline.
Because of that she must succeed- even though I don’t agree with her on pretty much anything.
Had it not been for her, Sanseito filth would end up as the second largest party as a baseline.
It’s not the weak yen that’s the problem- it was the passport issuance fees that were too high
February 15, 2026 at 3:53 AM
It’s not the weak yen that’s the problem- it was the passport issuance fees that were too high
Sanseito again making a speech in front of my station…
February 15, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Sanseito again making a speech in front of my station…
Damage control is a bit late (eg see the normalization of the nonexistent “foreigner problem”) but it’s still a welcome initiative
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has begun recruiting private-sector experts to strengthen its response to disinformation and misinformation.
February 14, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Damage control is a bit late (eg see the normalization of the nonexistent “foreigner problem”) but it’s still a welcome initiative
Reposted by Shikinami
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election win saw a largely positive initial response from investors. But they remain wary of another market meltdown over her expansive spending plans.
Japan investors remain wary Takaichi will spur another meltdown
Worries that she would add to Japan’s mountain of public debt prompted yields to spike last month to the highest levels in decades.
ebx.sh
February 12, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election win saw a largely positive initial response from investors. But they remain wary of another market meltdown over her expansive spending plans.
Reposted by Shikinami
A leaked planning document published by Project88 emphasizes that Hanoi deeply distrusts the official U.S. proclamations that it respects Vietnam’s political system.
Vietnam Planning For ‘Second US Invasion,’ Leaked Government Document Claims
A leaked planning document published by Project88 emphasizes that Hanoi deeply distrusts the official U.S. proclamations that it respects Vietnam’s political system.
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 5:31 AM
A leaked planning document published by Project88 emphasizes that Hanoi deeply distrusts the official U.S. proclamations that it respects Vietnam’s political system.
Reminder that this filth got 14 new diet seats with the last election.
That’s why I somewhat warmed towards Takaichi - she is holding the fort against the conspiratorial side of the far right.
That’s why I somewhat warmed towards Takaichi - she is holding the fort against the conspiratorial side of the far right.
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
February 11, 2026 at 6:37 AM
Reminder that this filth got 14 new diet seats with the last election.
That’s why I somewhat warmed towards Takaichi - she is holding the fort against the conspiratorial side of the far right.
That’s why I somewhat warmed towards Takaichi - she is holding the fort against the conspiratorial side of the far right.
Reposted by Shikinami
Uh oh.
Big uh oh.
Big uh oh.
Steam Deck OLED is all sold out in America store.steampowered.com/steamdeck
apparently still available in other countries
apparently still available in other countries
February 11, 2026 at 3:59 AM
Uh oh.
Big uh oh.
Big uh oh.
Reposted by Shikinami
Under new government guidelines, when foreign residents move into public housing, local authorities must confirm their nationality. Any emergency contact must be someone capable of communicating in Japanese. news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/n...
国交省 外国人が公営住宅入居の際 国籍把握を全国自治体に通知 | NHKニュース
【NHK】政府が外国人政策をめぐる基本的な考え方をまとめたことを受けて、国土交通省は全国の自治体に対し、公営住宅に外国人が入居する際に、国籍を把握することなどを求める新たな指針を通知しました。
政府は1月に
news.web.nhk
February 11, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Under new government guidelines, when foreign residents move into public housing, local authorities must confirm their nationality. Any emergency contact must be someone capable of communicating in Japanese. news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/n...
Terrifying if the JIP takes over Ministry of Justice, who oversees the Immigration Agency
Reminder: JIP is the one who introduced the idea of a stupid foreign population cap
Reminder: JIP is the one who introduced the idea of a stupid foreign population cap
Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura says he has agreed to a request from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that a member of his party join her Cabinet. 👉 ebx.sh/eP2KKp
February 11, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Terrifying if the JIP takes over Ministry of Justice, who oversees the Immigration Agency
Reminder: JIP is the one who introduced the idea of a stupid foreign population cap
Reminder: JIP is the one who introduced the idea of a stupid foreign population cap
Reposted by Shikinami
Useful discussion of Japanese election from Harvard's Gordon.
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Pushes the Country Further to the Right
Sanae Takaichi secured a supermajority in Japan’s lower house of parliament, giving her significant power to push a harder line against China and pursue a more restrictive immigration policy.
www.newyorker.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:39 AM
Useful discussion of Japanese election from Harvard's Gordon.
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Her solution to low productivity: make sure everyone works 12 hours a day
(Inflation will never get better if she does not change direction: expansionist fiscal policy and a preference for a weak yen just make the problem worse)
(Inflation will never get better if she does not change direction: expansionist fiscal policy and a preference for a weak yen just make the problem worse)
Takaichi's bid to lift real wages faces inflation, low productivity hurdles
https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/takaichi-s-bid-to-lift-real-wages-faces-inflation-low-productivity-hurdles
https://asia.nikkei.com/economy/takaichi-s-bid-to-lift-real-wages-faces-inflation-low-productivity-hurdles
Takaichi's bid to lift real wages faces inflation, low productivity hurdles
Japan's inflation-adjusted pay falls 1.3% in 2025 as price increases pick up pace
asia.nikkei.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Her solution to low productivity: make sure everyone works 12 hours a day
(Inflation will never get better if she does not change direction: expansionist fiscal policy and a preference for a weak yen just make the problem worse)
(Inflation will never get better if she does not change direction: expansionist fiscal policy and a preference for a weak yen just make the problem worse)
Reposted by Shikinami
THERE IT EFFING IS
JAPAN PM TAKAICHI: WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AMENDING CONSTITUTION
February 9, 2026 at 9:50 AM
THERE IT EFFING IS
Reposted by Shikinami
惨敗の中道改革連合、公明出身者は全員当選で議席増 立民出身者7分の1に
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
公明出身候補が全11ブロックの比例代表で名簿の上位を独占したことで議席増につながりました。
しわ寄せを受けたのは立民出身者。
惜敗した候補でも比例復活できないケースが続出しました。
#衆院選2026 #衆議院選挙2026
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
公明出身候補が全11ブロックの比例代表で名簿の上位を独占したことで議席増につながりました。
しわ寄せを受けたのは立民出身者。
惜敗した候補でも比例復活できないケースが続出しました。
#衆院選2026 #衆議院選挙2026
【衆議院選挙】惨敗の中道改革連合、公明出身者は全員当選で議席増 立民出身者7分の1に - 日本経済新聞
8日投開票の衆院選で惨敗した中道改革連合は母体となった立憲民主党と公明党で明暗を分けた。公明出身者は候補全員が当選確実となり、2024年の前回衆院選を上回る28議席を獲得した。立民出身者は公明より少ない21議席しか獲得できなかった。「大変多くの人から期待するという思いを受け止めている。今後の党のあり方について、国会で訴えていくというのが使命だと思っている」。公明出身の中野洋昌共同幹事長は8日の
www.nikkei.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 AM
惨敗の中道改革連合、公明出身者は全員当選で議席増 立民出身者7分の1に
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
公明出身候補が全11ブロックの比例代表で名簿の上位を独占したことで議席増につながりました。
しわ寄せを受けたのは立民出身者。
惜敗した候補でも比例復活できないケースが続出しました。
#衆院選2026 #衆議院選挙2026
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
公明出身候補が全11ブロックの比例代表で名簿の上位を独占したことで議席増につながりました。
しわ寄せを受けたのは立民出身者。
惜敗した候補でも比例復活できないケースが続出しました。
#衆院選2026 #衆議院選挙2026
Reposted by Shikinami
Anonymous LDP official:
"I don't really understand the reason for the landslide victory. The moderates were weak."
"I don't really understand the reason for the landslide victory. The moderates were weak."
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Anonymous LDP official:
"I don't really understand the reason for the landslide victory. The moderates were weak."
"I don't really understand the reason for the landslide victory. The moderates were weak."