Chris Harding
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drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding
@drchrisharding.bsky.social
250 followers 210 following 57 posts

Cultural historian & broadcaster based at the University of Edinburgh
Weekly essays 👉 http://www.japan-and-the-world.com/
Writings/podcast/video 👉 https://linkin.bio/chrisharding

Videos

Christopher Harding is a cultural historian of modern India and Japan, lecturer in Asian history at the University of Edinburgh, broadcaster and journalist. His series on culture and mental health, The Borders of Sanity, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and the BBC World Service in 2016. .. more

Political science 45%
Economics 14%
Posts Replies Media Videos

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 3d
Interesting weekend coming up in Japan. By way of an appetiser, here's my piece for @lrb.co.uk.
lrb.co.uk London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 3d
‘Sanseito’s manifesto promises economic security, social cohesion and the promotion of a single cultural identity. Pinning economic woes on migrants and complacent politicians proved to be a successful strategy.’

Christopher Harding on the Japanese elections.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Christopher Harding · Short Cuts: Japan at the Polls
Assuming she remains prime minister after this month’s election, Takaichi Sanae will focus on the immediate economic...
www.lrb.co.uk

Reposted by Christopher Harding

lrb.co.uk
London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 3d
‘Sanseito’s manifesto promises economic security, social cohesion and the promotion of a single cultural identity. Pinning economic woes on migrants and complacent politicians proved to be a successful strategy.’

Christopher Harding on the Japanese elections.

www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Christopher Harding · Short Cuts: Japan at the Polls
Assuming she remains prime minister after this month’s election, Takaichi Sanae will focus on the immediate economic...
www.lrb.co.uk

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 5d
Do go and see the British Museum's spellbinding new Samurai exhibition if you have a chance.

Meanwhile, my essay for Engelsberg Ideas on the origins and legacies of Japan's warrior class:

Reposted by Christopher Harding

engelsbergideas.bsky.social
Engelsberg Ideas @engelsbergideas.bsky.social · 5d
Nearly 700 years after their political dominance ended, Japan’s warrior elite continue to shape global culture.

Why the samurai still matter | Chris Harding (@drchrisharding.bsky.social)

engelsbergideas.com/essays/why-t...
Why the samurai still matter
Nearly 700 years after their political dominance ended, Japan’s warrior elite continue to shape global culture.
engelsbergideas.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 11d
Five stars in The Times too…

www.thetimes.com/culture/art/...
Samurai at the British Museum review — a ravishing, bloody trip to Japan
There is beauty and force in equal measure in this riveting show about the warrior class that rose to power in Japan in the Middle Ages and became its ruling elite
www.thetimes.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 11d
Congratulations to @olegb.bsky.social on a five-star review of the new Samurai exhibition at the British Museum. Opens on 3rd Feb.

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Samurai review: Japan’s lethal warrior class are shown in all their sexy, demonic glory
Extraordinary battle armour, complete with moustachioed masks, enlivens this scintillating show, which brilliantly captures the theatrical side of a chivalrous epoch
www.theguardian.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 15d
My review of @hirokoyoda.bsky.social ‘s excellent new book:

Reposted by Christopher Harding

newstatesman1913.bsky.social
The New Statesman @newstatesman1913.bsky.social · 15d
How the Japanese do life

A national culture built upon civility and respect offers an alternative to the self-absorption of the West

By @drchrisharding.bsky.social
How the Japanese do life
A national culture built upon civility and respect offers an alternative to the self-absorption of the West
www.newstatesman.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 21d
True! I recall the public meeting early on in the film being packed with political commentary. Found it refreshing!

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 23d
Sweet...!

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 23d
Ha - lovely!

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 24d
That’s fascinating. There were rumours in the UK that some children going back to school after Covid were trying to swipe their fingers up or across paperbacks - again, perhaps not as intuitive as we might think...

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 25d
Looking forward to the revised version - things are moving fast, aren't they...! 😅

Reposted by Christopher Harding

smartcookies.bsky.social
Smart Cookies podcast @smartcookies.bsky.social · Dec 27
As someone who's moved to JAPAN 🎌 not too long ago, I always wanted to explore the country's fascinating MODERN history... Thanks to @drchrisharding.bsky.social I finally got the chance!

Check out our FULL CONVO here 👇🏻

YT:
youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU

Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 22
Such a great series. @philipgoff.bsky.social was excellent, as was Gilbert Markus talking about 'Is God Nothing?' (of interest to anyone thinking about inter-religious dialogue and concepts of the divine). @takeshimorisato.bsky.social @theosthinktank.bsky.social
nickebs.bsky.social Nick Spencer @nickebs.bsky.social · Dec 16
And so another series of @theosthinktank.bsky.social's Reading our Times comes to an end, with a great interview with @philipgoff.bsky.social in which we simply ask does the universe have a purpose? After a series covering consciousness, quantum, time & God, what else? tinyurl.com/56t5uymc
Does the universe have a purpose? In conversation with Philip Goff
Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 16/12/2025 · 36m
tinyurl.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 21
Really enjoyed this conversation!
smartcookies.bsky.social Smart Cookies podcast @smartcookies.bsky.social · Dec 21
From Samurai to Shinkansen - how did JAPAN become a global superpower in just a short few decades? And why is it stagnating today?

Check the thrilling conversation with the eminent historian of Japan @drchrisharding.bsky.social HERE 👇🏻🎌

youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU

#japan #history

Reposted by Christopher Harding

smartcookies.bsky.social
Smart Cookies podcast @smartcookies.bsky.social · Dec 21
From Samurai to Shinkansen - how did JAPAN become a global superpower in just a short few decades? And why is it stagnating today?

Check the thrilling conversation with the eminent historian of Japan @drchrisharding.bsky.social HERE 👇🏻🎌

youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU

#japan #history

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 19
Fantastic - thank you for sharing this. Have signed up for your Substack and will look forward to more there.

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 19
Interesting - thanks!

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 19
Thank you for a great thread. What do you make of the claim that Japan could produce a nuclear weapon inside a year, starting from its current tech and resources?

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 19
I keep reading that the 'permit' NNP might be nuanced or binned - unlikely though, in your view?

Reposted by Christopher Harding

nickebs.bsky.social
Nick Spencer @nickebs.bsky.social · Dec 16
And so another series of @theosthinktank.bsky.social's Reading our Times comes to an end, with a great interview with @philipgoff.bsky.social in which we simply ask does the universe have a purpose? After a series covering consciousness, quantum, time & God, what else? tinyurl.com/56t5uymc
Does the universe have a purpose? In conversation with Philip Goff
Podcast Episode · Reading Our Times · 16/12/2025 · 36m
tinyurl.com

drchrisharding.bsky.social
Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · Dec 12
Looking forward to History Hit on Substack…!