Romeo Marcantuoni
@rmarcantuoni.bsky.social
Ph.D. candidate at Waseda University, Adjunct Lecturer at Temple University, Japan Campus, and editor at Tokyo Review. Researching the politics of emotion, parties, and conspiracy beliefs with a focus on Japan.
New piece from Tokyo Review: Writing about Japan's declining suicides, Peter Chai from Waseda University argues that the numbers obscure the unequal distribution of risk www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/japa...
Japan’s suicide rates decline, but risks persist for youth and women
For much of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Japan faced persistently high suicide rates. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, annual suicides exceeded 30,000 for 14 consecu...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
New piece from Tokyo Review: Writing about Japan's declining suicides, Peter Chai from Waseda University argues that the numbers obscure the unequal distribution of risk www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/japa...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
November updates:
- the documentary will be screened at T-Joy Prince Shinagawa in December.
- added a link to the piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee published on @tokyoreview.net
asian-docs.com/2025/03/10/d...
- the documentary will be screened at T-Joy Prince Shinagawa in December.
- added a link to the piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee published on @tokyoreview.net
asian-docs.com/2025/03/10/d...
Documentary ethics, informed consent, and journalism vs documentary: The Black Box Diaries “case”
This is an open space – open because it’s a work in progress – where I will attempt to collect and index articles, essays and discussions generated in Japan by the non-release (as…
asian-docs.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:38 AM
November updates:
- the documentary will be screened at T-Joy Prince Shinagawa in December.
- added a link to the piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee published on @tokyoreview.net
asian-docs.com/2025/03/10/d...
- the documentary will be screened at T-Joy Prince Shinagawa in December.
- added a link to the piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee published on @tokyoreview.net
asian-docs.com/2025/03/10/d...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
I'm pleased to announce that I've joined the new editorial board for Tokyo Review. I will be reaching out to promising new writers soon, as well as contribute my own research and opinions on a regular basis.
Times are changing and so is Tokyo Review. We are excited to announce a fresh new team of editors!
It’s been a while
When Tokyo Review was founded eight years ago, its founders had two goals. The first was to elevate the standard of analysis on Japan-related issues for an English-speaking audience. That goal remains...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I'm pleased to announce that I've joined the new editorial board for Tokyo Review. I will be reaching out to promising new writers soon, as well as contribute my own research and opinions on a regular basis.
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
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...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
Important piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee about Itō Shiori’s recent documentary Black Box Diaries. I have more to add to this story myself at some point because Itō’s assaulter, Yamaguchi Noriyuki, is frequently invited on Sanseitō and Kamiya Sōhei’s YouTube channel. www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/movi...
“Black Box Diaries” review
Itō Shiori, the Japanese #MeToo trailblazer who regrettably never was A conspiracy-thriller-adjacent documentary of her 8-year journey as a sexual assault survivor, Itō Shiori’s Black Box Diaries (202...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 6, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Important piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee about Itō Shiori’s recent documentary Black Box Diaries. I have more to add to this story myself at some point because Itō’s assaulter, Yamaguchi Noriyuki, is frequently invited on Sanseitō and Kamiya Sōhei’s YouTube channel. www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/movi...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
Worth translating: interview w/ @valentimvicente.bsky.social on a very plausible explanation for the rise of the radical right in Europe:
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
"Es herrscht die falsche Annahme, dass viele Wähler, die früher Mitte-rechts-Parteien gewählt haben, im Herzen noch immer Mitte-rechts sind. Meine Arbeit legt aber nahe, dass diese Menschen schon vorher extrem rechts gedacht haben"
www.zeit.de/politik/2025...
www.zeit.de/politik/2025...
Vicente Valentim: "Angela Merkel lag richtig"
Haben Menschen früher rechter gedacht, als sie gewählt haben? Der Forscher Vicente Valentim sagt, dass wir eine Ursache für den Erfolg extrem rechter Parteien übersehen.
www.zeit.de
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Worth translating: interview w/ @valentimvicente.bsky.social on a very plausible explanation for the rise of the radical right in Europe:
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
Norms that made voting far-right parties socially undesirable have eroded - and the availability of far-right parties met a certain "demand" that already existed
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...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
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:
Important piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee about Itō Shiori’s recent documentary Black Box Diaries. I have more to add to this story myself at some point because Itō’s assaulter, Yamaguchi Noriyuki, is frequently invited on Sanseitō and Kamiya Sōhei’s YouTube channel. www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/movi...
“Black Box Diaries” review
Itō Shiori, the Japanese #MeToo trailblazer who regrettably never was A conspiracy-thriller-adjacent documentary of her 8-year journey as a sexual assault survivor, Itō Shiori’s Black Box Diaries (202...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 6, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Important piece by Heidi Ka-Sin Lee about Itō Shiori’s recent documentary Black Box Diaries. I have more to add to this story myself at some point because Itō’s assaulter, Yamaguchi Noriyuki, is frequently invited on Sanseitō and Kamiya Sōhei’s YouTube channel. www.tokyoreview.net/2025/11/movi...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
A bittersweet announcement this morning: Rob Fahey and I have handed off editorship of Tokyo Review to a new editing team. We had, frankly, become negligent of a project that needed to thrive, so we've passed it on to four new editors who we're very confident are going to take good care of it:
Times are changing and so is Tokyo Review. We are excited to announce a fresh new team of editors!
It’s been a while
When Tokyo Review was founded eight years ago, its founders had two goals. The first was to elevate the standard of analysis on Japan-related issues for an English-speaking audience. That goal remains...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 10:35 PM
A bittersweet announcement this morning: Rob Fahey and I have handed off editorship of Tokyo Review to a new editing team. We had, frankly, become negligent of a project that needed to thrive, so we've passed it on to four new editors who we're very confident are going to take good care of it:
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
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 5:42 PM
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
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
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 Romeo Marcantuoni
Rintaro Nishimura offers a timely and vital analysis of the LDP's fragile, new alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai. Will the partnership serve both parties equally, as the LDP-Komeito coalition once did? Or has it already started teetering on the edge?
The future of the LDP-Ishin partnership
Japanese politics has hit a major inflection point. Takaichi Sanae has become the first woman to be named prime minister. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) over two decades-long coalition w...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Rintaro Nishimura offers a timely and vital analysis of the LDP's fragile, new alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai. Will the partnership serve both parties equally, as the LDP-Komeito coalition once did? Or has it already started teetering on the edge?
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
In this film review, Heidi Ka-Sin Lee discusses "Black Box Diaries" by Itō Shiori, a pathbreaking documentary detailing the director's own civil case against her assaulter, but which has yet to be released in her home country.
“Black Box Diaries” review
Itō Shiori, the Japanese #MeToo trailblazer who regrettably never was A conspiracy-thriller-adjacent documentary of her 8-year journey as a sexual assault survivor, Itō Shiori’s Black Box Diaries (202...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM
In this film review, Heidi Ka-Sin Lee discusses "Black Box Diaries" by Itō Shiori, a pathbreaking documentary detailing the director's own civil case against her assaulter, but which has yet to be released in her home country.
I'm pleased to announce that I've joined the new editorial board for Tokyo Review. I will be reaching out to promising new writers soon, as well as contribute my own research and opinions on a regular basis.
Times are changing and so is Tokyo Review. We are excited to announce a fresh new team of editors!
It’s been a while
When Tokyo Review was founded eight years ago, its founders had two goals. The first was to elevate the standard of analysis on Japan-related issues for an English-speaking audience. That goal remains...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I'm pleased to announce that I've joined the new editorial board for Tokyo Review. I will be reaching out to promising new writers soon, as well as contribute my own research and opinions on a regular basis.
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
@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 Romeo Marcantuoni
"If the United States hopes to rely on Japan as a pillar of the Indo-Pacific order, it must match Japan’s sense of urgency with sustained capacity, clarity of direction, and alignment of strategic intent", Jada Fraser writes in her analysis on the changing dynamics of the US-Japan security alliance.
Why Japan’s accelerated defense timeline is not just about security threats
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s decision to move Japan’s defense-spending target of two percent of GDP two years earlier—from fiscal 2027 to the current fiscal year—is more than a headline. It reflect...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
"If the United States hopes to rely on Japan as a pillar of the Indo-Pacific order, it must match Japan’s sense of urgency with sustained capacity, clarity of direction, and alignment of strategic intent", Jada Fraser writes in her analysis on the changing dynamics of the US-Japan security alliance.
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
Times are changing and so is Tokyo Review. We are excited to announce a fresh new team of editors!
It’s been a while
When Tokyo Review was founded eight years ago, its founders had two goals. The first was to elevate the standard of analysis on Japan-related issues for an English-speaking audience. That goal remains...
www.tokyoreview.net
November 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Times are changing and so is Tokyo Review. We are excited to announce a fresh new team of editors!
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
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 2:29 PM
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.
As a non-native speaker this has always confounded me because I’ve seen it mixed up all my life
Earnest Q for copy editors bc I might be going insane. I always thought it was “[more moderate] much less [more extreme].” As in: “I can’t afford a night out, much less a vacation.” But in three printed news sources in the last week I have seen the reverse (ie vacation, much less a night out). WHAT
November 4, 2025 at 3:28 AM
As a non-native speaker this has always confounded me because I’ve seen it mixed up all my life
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
I had this piece in the pipeline at Teen Vogue when the news dropped; I'm publishing it to my Substack because I think it's important and I don't want an interview with Adam Hochschild to go to waste.
sufficienttotheday.substack.com/p/the-federa...
sufficienttotheday.substack.com/p/the-federa...
The federal government wants to crack down on left organizing. A century ago, it largely succeeded.
Socialist labor leader and presidential candidate Eugene Debs upon his release from federal prison in 1922.
sufficienttotheday.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:13 AM
I had this piece in the pipeline at Teen Vogue when the news dropped; I'm publishing it to my Substack because I think it's important and I don't want an interview with Adam Hochschild to go to waste.
sufficienttotheday.substack.com/p/the-federa...
sufficienttotheday.substack.com/p/the-federa...
Reposted by Romeo Marcantuoni
The narrative seems to be(come) that the Dutch election shows a “comeback of the political center”. We have seen this frame before, implying “the center” has an ideological substance and is stable. But “the center” keeps moving right on mostly nativist, but also often authoritarian, issues.
October 30, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The narrative seems to be(come) that the Dutch election shows a “comeback of the political center”. We have seen this frame before, implying “the center” has an ideological substance and is stable. But “the center” keeps moving right on mostly nativist, but also often authoritarian, issues.
I'm trying to get a hang of Photoshop but the AI functions are throwing me off. Here's me trying to remove the BACKGROUND to an image. I get now that that's not what the button does, but there's little signaling that it will do what it does: transform the Diet into the Capitol Hill building
October 29, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I'm trying to get a hang of Photoshop but the AI functions are throwing me off. Here's me trying to remove the BACKGROUND to an image. I get now that that's not what the button does, but there's little signaling that it will do what it does: transform the Diet into the Capitol Hill building
I don’t understand what’s happening. At all.
RIP david lynch you would have loved a baseball stadium full of people slowly losing their minds
October 28, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I don’t understand what’s happening. At all.
Well I’ll be damned
A Komeito executive has said the party may give its backing to candidates of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in future parliamentary elections.
Komeito executive says party may support CDP candidates
The comments follow Komeito's departure from the ruling coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party earlier this month, partly due to discord over regulating political donations.
ebx.sh
October 27, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Well I’ll be damned