Tobias Harris
@tobiasharris.bsky.social
Japanese politics analyst; author of The Iconoclast: Shinzō Abe and the New Japan; Chicago-born Cubs fan now living in DC; marathoner; RHP + IF ⚾
Substack: Observingjapan.substack.com.
Business: www.japanforesight.com
Substack: Observingjapan.substack.com.
Business: www.japanforesight.com
Pinned
Tobias Harris
@tobiasharris.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Kōmeitō quits the coalition
A guide for the perplexed
open.substack.com
Japanese politics was rocked on Friday as the Kōmeitō announced it would leave its coalition with the LDP after twenty-six years. To understand why this happened and what it means, I wrote a guide for the perplexed.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Bluesky going to Bluesky
(Guess the subject of this post)
(Guess the subject of this post)
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Bluesky going to Bluesky
(Guess the subject of this post)
(Guess the subject of this post)
Mission accomplished. 🍠
November 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Mission accomplished. 🍠
@nickkapur.bsky.social, do you realize that your book is basically cited in every Wikipedia entry that is even tangentially related to the period?
November 9, 2025 at 11:41 PM
@nickkapur.bsky.social, do you realize that your book is basically cited in every Wikipedia entry that is even tangentially related to the period?
Reposted by Tobias Harris
To make up for this week’s absences, I have a special, extra-long Japan Daily Briefing available for all readers that looks at this week’s parliamentary debates, “responsible” fiscal policy, and some of the tensions between the LDP and Ishin no Kai.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Takaichi faces the Diet as coalition troubles brew | Japan Daily Briefing
Thank you for reading Observing Japan. This is a new feature for paid subscribers, Japan Daily Briefing, that will replace This Week in Japanese Politics.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
To make up for this week’s absences, I have a special, extra-long Japan Daily Briefing available for all readers that looks at this week’s parliamentary debates, “responsible” fiscal policy, and some of the tensions between the LDP and Ishin no Kai.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Tobias Harris
To make up for this week’s absences, I have a special, extra-long Japan Daily Briefing available for all readers that looks at this week’s parliamentary debates, “responsible” fiscal policy, and some of the tensions between the LDP and Ishin no Kai.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Takaichi faces the Diet as coalition troubles brew | Japan Daily Briefing
Thank you for reading Observing Japan. This is a new feature for paid subscribers, Japan Daily Briefing, that will replace This Week in Japanese Politics.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
To make up for this week’s absences, I have a special, extra-long Japan Daily Briefing available for all readers that looks at this week’s parliamentary debates, “responsible” fiscal policy, and some of the tensions between the LDP and Ishin no Kai.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Meanwhile, I'm waiting for NHK'S Nichiyo Toron to start, which will surely give me insight into what these young voters think.
Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications confirms that most of the increase in voter turnout in July was due to significantly higher turnout among younger votes.
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
投票に目覚めた20〜30代 夏の参院選、国民民主・参政党に流入か - 日本経済新聞
総務省が公表した7月の参院選の年齢別投票率（抽出調査）によると、20代や30代の有権者の投票率が近年の国政選挙から上昇したことがわかった。20代や30代は従来、他の世代に比べ投票率が相対的に低い傾向があった。若い世代の投票率の伸長が選挙結果に影響を与えた可能性がある。2025年参院選の投票率（選挙区）は58.51%だった。22年参院選から6ポイント以上、前年の24年衆院選から4ポイント超上がっ
www.nikkei.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Meanwhile, I'm waiting for NHK'S Nichiyo Toron to start, which will surely give me insight into what these young voters think.
I'm watching something on NHK about some guys preparing for their work carrying the mikoshi in a matsuri and maybe that's the solution to the masculinity crisis. Street parties everywhere centered around dudes working together to carry something heavy.
November 8, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I'm watching something on NHK about some guys preparing for their work carrying the mikoshi in a matsuri and maybe that's the solution to the masculinity crisis. Street parties everywhere centered around dudes working together to carry something heavy.
Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications confirms that most of the increase in voter turnout in July was due to significantly higher turnout among younger votes.
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
投票に目覚めた20〜30代 夏の参院選、国民民主・参政党に流入か - 日本経済新聞
総務省が公表した7月の参院選の年齢別投票率（抽出調査）によると、20代や30代の有権者の投票率が近年の国政選挙から上昇したことがわかった。20代や30代は従来、他の世代に比べ投票率が相対的に低い傾向があった。若い世代の投票率の伸長が選挙結果に影響を与えた可能性がある。2025年参院選の投票率（選挙区）は58.51%だった。22年参院選から6ポイント以上、前年の24年衆院選から4ポイント超上がっ
www.nikkei.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications confirms that most of the increase in voter turnout in July was due to significantly higher turnout among younger votes.
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
This is great -- I have an old used copy but this is a classic.
November 7, 2025 at 11:58 PM
This is great -- I have an old used copy but this is a classic.
Reposted by Tobias Harris
I wrote a shorter, slightly punchier version of my recent research article about Sanseitō as my first contribution to the new Tokyo Review. It should be vastly more accessible, and hopefully sets the tone of what else I plan to do in the future of TR www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/what...
Sanseitō and its far-right conspiracy 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 6, 2025 at 9:09 AM
I wrote a shorter, slightly punchier version of my recent research article about Sanseitō as my first contribution to the new Tokyo Review. It should be vastly more accessible, and hopefully sets the tone of what else I plan to do in the future of TR www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/what...
Happy to have done my part in creating this very special Bluesky moment.
November 7, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Happy to have done my part in creating this very special Bluesky moment.
I love getting free books but I especially love getting a free book when it's a friend's highly anticipated forthcoming book. Congrats for this @wdavidmarx.bsky.social!
November 6, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I love getting free books but I especially love getting a free book when it's a friend's highly anticipated forthcoming book. Congrats for this @wdavidmarx.bsky.social!
Really hope I chance into one of these while I'm in Tokyo. 🍠
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Really hope I chance into one of these while I'm in Tokyo. 🍠
It's the headquarters of the LDP but there aren't any huge banners of the leader's face. Are they even trying?
November 6, 2025 at 3:04 AM
It's the headquarters of the LDP but there aren't any huge banners of the leader's face. Are they even trying?
@dfeds.bsky.social, received this flyer from protestors outside the Diet.
November 6, 2025 at 2:59 AM
@dfeds.bsky.social, received this flyer from protestors outside the Diet.
For what it's worth the gift shop at the Diet members' office building is sold out of Takaichi manju.
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
For what it's worth the gift shop at the Diet members' office building is sold out of Takaichi manju.
Of course.
Trump on Democrats: "I think they're kamikaze pilots. I just got back from Japan, I talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze. They'll take down the country if they have to."
November 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Of course.
Armando Ianucci is kicking himself that he didn't think of that first
MNYGA. Yeah, can't see any way that might go wrong.
Update #2: Ackman is still convinced Cuomo is going to win, and has proposed Cuomo adopt the slogan "MNYGA"
November 5, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Armando Ianucci is kicking himself that he didn't think of that first
Genius marketing decision by Suntory to name a non-alcoholic beer after what someone trying to order another round might sound like after having perhaps a few too many regular beers.
November 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Genius marketing decision by Suntory to name a non-alcoholic beer after what someone trying to order another round might sound like after having perhaps a few too many regular beers.
Japan celebrated Culture Day on Monday, so today’s Japan Daily Briefing is light, looking at assessments of Takaichi’s busy week of diplomacy and the pending debate on cutting the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Takaichi pivots from diplomacy to the Diet | Japan Daily Briefing
A busy legislative session awaits after a successful diplomatic debut
open.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Japan celebrated Culture Day on Monday, so today’s Japan Daily Briefing is light, looking at assessments of Takaichi’s busy week of diplomacy and the pending debate on cutting the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
I'm contemplating a little project, a glossary of important Japanese political terms. Think it could be a useful tool.
November 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I'm contemplating a little project, a glossary of important Japanese political terms. Think it could be a useful tool.
I've started reading Jon Grinspan's history of the Wide Awakes and I like how he frames this (which seems relevant).
November 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I've started reading Jon Grinspan's history of the Wide Awakes and I like how he frames this (which seems relevant).