James Hardy
@aspacjames.bsky.social
UK diplomat in Tokyo with soft spot for Japanese politics, snow, sake and sumo.
Reposted by James Hardy
Japan's "Mundane Halloween" costume contest is back!
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
November 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Japan's "Mundane Halloween" costume contest is back!
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
Each year website DailyPortalZ holds a contest where people dress up as something super duper ordinary.
Here's a thread of some of my favorites from the 2025 contest!
#MundaneHalloween
Reposted by James Hardy
Takaichi’s first diplomatic outing was to remotely join the Coalition of the Willing talks hosted by London. She said “Russia’s invasion is an outrage that shakes the foundation of the int. system. Our position of solidarity with Ukraine remains unchanged”
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1229...
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1229...
首相「ロシアによる侵略は暴挙」 就任後初の国際会議に参加：北海道新聞デジタル
【キーウ共同】ウクライナ支援の有志国連合は24日、ロンドンで首脳会合を開いた。ゼレンスキー大統領も出席し、オンラインも含め欧州を中心に20カ国以上が参加の見通し。ロシアとの和平・領土交渉や、停戦後に...
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp
October 25, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Takaichi’s first diplomatic outing was to remotely join the Coalition of the Willing talks hosted by London. She said “Russia’s invasion is an outrage that shakes the foundation of the int. system. Our position of solidarity with Ukraine remains unchanged”
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1229...
www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/1229...
Another great day on HMS Prince of Wales in Tokyo Bay. Proud to be part of the team bringing her and the rest of CSG25 to Japan
August 31, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Another great day on HMS Prince of Wales in Tokyo Bay. Proud to be part of the team bringing her and the rest of CSG25 to Japan
HMS Prince of Wales and a Tokyo sunset
August 29, 2025 at 11:45 PM
HMS Prince of Wales and a Tokyo sunset
HMS Prince of Wales alongside in Tokyo Bay; here for a few days of defence engagement with our friends, allies and partners before heading to see for more exercises
August 28, 2025 at 11:20 PM
HMS Prince of Wales alongside in Tokyo Bay; here for a few days of defence engagement with our friends, allies and partners before heading to see for more exercises
Reposted by James Hardy
Editorial: There is no clearer sign of the vitality of Japan-U.K. security cooperation than the visit to Japan this month of the British aircraft carrier Prince of Wales and its multinational carrier strike group, CSG25.
Operation Highmast reinforces claims that ‘security is indivisible’
European governments recognize that developments in the Indo-Pacific have a profound impact on their national interests.
ebx.sh
August 16, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Editorial: There is no clearer sign of the vitality of Japan-U.K. security cooperation than the visit to Japan this month of the British aircraft carrier Prince of Wales and its multinational carrier strike group, CSG25.
Reposted by James Hardy
Linocut by contemporary UK printmaker and artist Alexandra Buckle who is inspired by her local countryside #womensart
#summer #sunday
#summer #sunday
July 27, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Linocut by contemporary UK printmaker and artist Alexandra Buckle who is inspired by her local countryside #womensart
#summer #sunday
#summer #sunday
Reposted by James Hardy
This is well worth a read. 30 years on, it remains one of the most shocking moments in postwar Japanese history - both the attack itself, on the Tokyo underground, and the fact that ordinary, intelligent young people had seen so little future for themselves in Japan that they joined a cult.
Subsequent revelations about the cult proved even more alarming than the 1995 assault. It became clear that the authorities had been worried about the group for some time.
Thirty years later, Aum Shinrikyo’s horrors are ever-present
www.japantimes.co.jp
March 21, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This is well worth a read. 30 years on, it remains one of the most shocking moments in postwar Japanese history - both the attack itself, on the Tokyo underground, and the fact that ordinary, intelligent young people had seen so little future for themselves in Japan that they joined a cult.
Fukushima City from the top of Shinobuyama; a good short, steep walk.
February 23, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Fukushima City from the top of Shinobuyama; a good short, steep walk.
Deep snow in Urabandai the past few days
January 2, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Deep snow in Urabandai the past few days
Reposted by James Hardy
"Twelfth Night Till Candlemas"
The story of a 40 year book-quest and of its remarkable ending
And about goblins and Christmas; the perils of ChatGPT; and the real value of librarians and so on
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/twelfth-ni...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2024/12/twel...
The story of a 40 year book-quest and of its remarkable ending
And about goblins and Christmas; the perils of ChatGPT; and the real value of librarians and so on
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/twelfth-ni...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2024/12/twel...
December 20, 2024 at 10:30 AM
"Twelfth Night Till Candlemas"
The story of a 40 year book-quest and of its remarkable ending
And about goblins and Christmas; the perils of ChatGPT; and the real value of librarians and so on
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/twelfth-ni...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2024/12/twel...
The story of a 40 year book-quest and of its remarkable ending
And about goblins and Christmas; the perils of ChatGPT; and the real value of librarians and so on
Substack emptycity.substack.com/p/twelfth-ni...
Personal blog davidallengreen.com/2024/12/twel...
Reposted by James Hardy
I don't see many long threads on here, but I'll try one - it's about Holbein's Ambassadors, his 1533 masterpiece in the National Gallery. It's often presented as a great mystery, but I think once we understand the circumstances in which it was made, its meaning becomes clearer.
1/
1/
December 17, 2024 at 11:15 PM
I don't see many long threads on here, but I'll try one - it's about Holbein's Ambassadors, his 1533 masterpiece in the National Gallery. It's often presented as a great mystery, but I think once we understand the circumstances in which it was made, its meaning becomes clearer.
1/
1/
Reposted by James Hardy
If I could have just a moment of your time, I’d like to tell you a story about some trees, and a woman I met today at Mimeguri shrine. It will be dark at times and involve the incendiary bombing of a heavily populated civilian area, so content warnings may apply. 1/🧵
December 6, 2024 at 12:49 PM
If I could have just a moment of your time, I’d like to tell you a story about some trees, and a woman I met today at Mimeguri shrine. It will be dark at times and involve the incendiary bombing of a heavily populated civilian area, so content warnings may apply. 1/🧵
Top brass in town! The band of the Coldstream Guards were at the Embassy yesterday at the end of their Japan tour
December 5, 2024 at 8:14 AM
Top brass in town! The band of the Coldstream Guards were at the Embassy yesterday at the end of their Japan tour
Reposted by James Hardy
The Berkley Center at Georgetown just published a short essay I wrote: "In Religion-Averse Japan, a Religion-Backed Party Remains Pivotal." I wrote this and then Komeito got hammered in the October election. However, I think what I write here holds true.
berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/in-rel...
berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/in-rel...
In Religion-Averse Japan, a Religion-Backed Party Remains Pivotal
Levi McLaughlin contends that in the post-Shinzo Abe age, we can expect Soka Gakkai and Komeito to remain pivotal forces and for religion, as a whole, to remain a potent force within Japanese politics...
berkleycenter.georgetown.edu
November 27, 2024 at 2:01 AM
The Berkley Center at Georgetown just published a short essay I wrote: "In Religion-Averse Japan, a Religion-Backed Party Remains Pivotal." I wrote this and then Komeito got hammered in the October election. However, I think what I write here holds true.
berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/in-rel...
berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/posts/in-rel...
Reposted by James Hardy
Much enjoyed recording this IISS Japan Memo podcast on all things ‘deterrence’ with our luxury casting of Bill Emmott, Murano Masashi and Nanae Baldauff - some great detail & insights from our fantastic guests.
🎧 www.iiss.org/podcasts/jap...
🎧 www.iiss.org/podcasts/jap...
November 21, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Much enjoyed recording this IISS Japan Memo podcast on all things ‘deterrence’ with our luxury casting of Bill Emmott, Murano Masashi and Nanae Baldauff - some great detail & insights from our fantastic guests.
🎧 www.iiss.org/podcasts/jap...
🎧 www.iiss.org/podcasts/jap...
Reposted by James Hardy
Hi! I am moving some of my favorite memes about Japan that I’ve made over the years across the abyss to a pinned post over here, so that we all may have a happy, new life together. Depending on how well you know me, this 🧵 will either be my informal self-introduction, or a blast from the past.
November 19, 2024 at 4:26 AM
Hi! I am moving some of my favorite memes about Japan that I’ve made over the years across the abyss to a pinned post over here, so that we all may have a happy, new life together. Depending on how well you know me, this 🧵 will either be my informal self-introduction, or a blast from the past.
One of Tokyo’s rare green corridors, linking parts of Meguro, Sangenjaya and Shimo-Kitazawa. Like to imagine what Tokyo would be like with many more of these little oases
November 17, 2024 at 7:07 AM
One of Tokyo’s rare green corridors, linking parts of Meguro, Sangenjaya and Shimo-Kitazawa. Like to imagine what Tokyo would be like with many more of these little oases
The lobby of Japan’s Diet is an under appreciated gem
November 16, 2024 at 11:03 AM
The lobby of Japan’s Diet is an under appreciated gem
At the Nikkei-CSIS annual shindig yesterday; some excellent people saying interesting things. Highlight was Joe Nye uttering the words ‘soft power’, which I guess for polscis is like seeing Paul McCartney play Eleanor Rigby?
November 16, 2024 at 3:52 AM
At the Nikkei-CSIS annual shindig yesterday; some excellent people saying interesting things. Highlight was Joe Nye uttering the words ‘soft power’, which I guess for polscis is like seeing Paul McCartney play Eleanor Rigby?
Reposted by James Hardy
Mark your calendars!
Carol Gluck's 2024 MJHA Distinguished Annual Lecture, titled "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Modern Japanese History: Time Past, Present, Future," will be Thursday, 12/5 from 7:00-8:30 pm ET (Friday 12/6 9:00-10:30 am JST)!
REGISTER FOR ZOOM HERE: mjha.org/event-5944148
Carol Gluck's 2024 MJHA Distinguished Annual Lecture, titled "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Modern Japanese History: Time Past, Present, Future," will be Thursday, 12/5 from 7:00-8:30 pm ET (Friday 12/6 9:00-10:30 am JST)!
REGISTER FOR ZOOM HERE: mjha.org/event-5944148
November 12, 2024 at 5:53 AM
Mark your calendars!
Carol Gluck's 2024 MJHA Distinguished Annual Lecture, titled "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Modern Japanese History: Time Past, Present, Future," will be Thursday, 12/5 from 7:00-8:30 pm ET (Friday 12/6 9:00-10:30 am JST)!
REGISTER FOR ZOOM HERE: mjha.org/event-5944148
Carol Gluck's 2024 MJHA Distinguished Annual Lecture, titled "Thirteen Ways of Looking at Modern Japanese History: Time Past, Present, Future," will be Thursday, 12/5 from 7:00-8:30 pm ET (Friday 12/6 9:00-10:30 am JST)!
REGISTER FOR ZOOM HERE: mjha.org/event-5944148