Jesse Johnson
@jljzen.bsky.social
Covering defense and diplomacy for @japantimes.co.jp • Signal: jljzen.18 • views my own • Japan resident since 2002 • グリーン車 aficionado
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
CSIS: “This ship will never sail. It will take years to design, cost $9 billion each to build, and contravene the Navy’s new concept of operations, which envisions distributed firepower. A future administration will cancel the program before the first ship hits the water.”
December 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM
CSIS: “This ship will never sail. It will take years to design, cost $9 billion each to build, and contravene the Navy’s new concept of operations, which envisions distributed firepower. A future administration will cancel the program before the first ship hits the water.”
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
If you haven't already, definitely read this WSJ story on how Putin hand-picked Witkoff for his malleability and cupidity.
www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
How Putin Got His Preferred U.S. Envoy: Come Alone, No CIA
The Kremlin fueled the rise of Trump’s friend Steve Witkoff with a prisoner release, sidelining career diplomats.
www.wsj.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
If you haven't already, definitely read this WSJ story on how Putin hand-picked Witkoff for his malleability and cupidity.
www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
www.wsj.com/world/putin-...
All this stuff (Golden Dome, etc) reminds me of SDI
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the navy will build a new "Trump-class” battleship as part of the White House push to modernize a fleet that’s been hobbled by years of cost overruns and delays.
Trump announces new class of warship named after himself
The new ships are part of Trump’s 'Golden Fleet” bid to revive U.S. shipbuilding and address shortfalls in smaller vessels as it seeks to compete against China.
ebx.sh
December 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
All this stuff (Golden Dome, etc) reminds me of SDI
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
The government and ruling parties began considering tightening the requirement for acquiring Japanese nationality to 10 years of residency or longer in principle, compared with the current five years.
Japan eyes stricter residency requirement for naturalization
By extending the necessary period of residency to at least 10 years, Japan would bring the nationality requirement into line with that for obtaining permanent residency.
ebx.sh
December 23, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The government and ruling parties began considering tightening the requirement for acquiring Japanese nationality to 10 years of residency or longer in principle, compared with the current five years.
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
DF-26 can have a battleship, as a treat
December 23, 2025 at 1:21 AM
DF-26 can have a battleship, as a treat
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
細谷さん、神保さんと今年一年を振り返る動画です。なかなか顔を合わせることが難しい仲間と一緒に議論するのはやっぱり楽しいですね。今回はちょっとしたおまけも付いている動画です。
2025年、変容した国際社会の行方は？｜年末拡大版インサイト youtu.be/Z7pce8HvoQ4?si… @ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅより
2025年、変容した国際社会の行方は？｜年末拡大版インサイト youtu.be/Z7pce8HvoQ4?si… @ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅより
2025年、変容した国際社会の行方は？｜年末拡大版インサイト
YouTube video by 地経学研究所 / Institute of Geoeconomics
https://youtu.be/Z7pce8HvoQ4?si…
December 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
細谷さん、神保さんと今年一年を振り返る動画です。なかなか顔を合わせることが難しい仲間と一緒に議論するのはやっぱり楽しいですね。今回はちょっとしたおまけも付いている動画です。
2025年、変容した国際社会の行方は？｜年末拡大版インサイト youtu.be/Z7pce8HvoQ4?si… @ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅより
2025年、変容した国際社会の行方は？｜年末拡大版インサイト youtu.be/Z7pce8HvoQ4?si… @ＹｏｕＴｕｂｅより
Heading to Popeye’s beer place for first time ever.
December 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Heading to Popeye’s beer place for first time ever.
Senior LDP official hints at need for discussion of non-nuclear principles www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Senior LDP official hints at need for discussion of non-nuclear principles
The remarks by former Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera were the latest signal that the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi could be eyeing revisions to the principles.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 21, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Senior LDP official hints at need for discussion of non-nuclear principles www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
wtf
1/ At bargaining yesterday, @propublica.org management said that they should have 100% discretion to replace workers with AI and would not commit to labeling future AI-generated content.
December 20, 2025 at 8:52 AM
wtf
U.S. appears to pour cold water on idea of Japan acquiring nukes www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
U.S. appears to pour cold water on idea of Japan acquiring nukes
The State Department called Japan “a global leader” and “valuable partner” on nuclear nonproliferation and advancing nuclear arms control.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2025 at 8:47 AM
U.S. appears to pour cold water on idea of Japan acquiring nukes www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
So much reassurance.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled soaring Japanese tensions with China “preexisting,” reiterating the White House stance that Washington will work to balance relations with allied Tokyo and top rival Beijing. 👉 ebx.sh/St9Gxz
December 20, 2025 at 4:11 AM
So much reassurance.
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
Rubio calls Japan-China tensions ‘preexisting,’ vows to work with both sides www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Rubio calls Japan-China tensions ‘preexisting,’ vows to work with both sides
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Asian powerhouses’ row over Taiwan “one of the dynamics that has to be balanced in that region.”
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Rubio calls Japan-China tensions ‘preexisting,’ vows to work with both sides www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement
To obtain the status, foreign nationals will also be mandated to take a program aimed at helping them smoothly integrate into local communities.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
WHERES THE CHINA MILITARY POWER REPORT?!
December 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
WHERES THE CHINA MILITARY POWER REPORT?!
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
When Trump visited Mount Vernon in 2018, he couldn't understand why George Washington didn't name it after himself. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.” Reupping this prescient piece from @politico.com which seems pretty relevant today. www.politico.com/story/2019/0...
Trump’s ‘truly bizarre’ visit to Mt. Vernon
The 45th president — no student of history — marveled at the first president's failure to name his historic compound after himself.
www.politico.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:56 PM
When Trump visited Mount Vernon in 2018, he couldn't understand why George Washington didn't name it after himself. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.” Reupping this prescient piece from @politico.com which seems pretty relevant today. www.politico.com/story/2019/0...
“Polka king of the Midwest? The Kenosha Kickers? No?”
December 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
“Polka king of the Midwest? The Kenosha Kickers? No?”
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
December 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
How Trump’s Venezuela embargo could put Taiwan at risk www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
How Trump's Venezuela embargo could put Taiwan at risk
Beijing could exploit a U.S. blockade of Venezuela to undercut any American efforts to drum up international diplomatic opposition to such a move in the Taiwan Strait, experts say.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 19, 2025 at 3:31 AM
How Trump’s Venezuela embargo could put Taiwan at risk www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
French publishing house Harlequin decided to use AI translation instead of human translations.
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
All their freelance translators (some of whom had been working with Harlequin for +30y!!!) were told they would no longer receive work from Harlequin
December 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Remember how I said I have it written into my foreign-language contracts that my work has to be translated by an actual human? This shit is why.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Those book translations are gonna suck. They'll save money putting out books that are going to be painful to read. That's not a great long-term strategy.
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
I'm actually with Kyrie on this one.
Help this is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen I can’t stop watching Kyrie Irving vs the robot 😭😭😭
December 18, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I'm actually with Kyrie on this one.
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
So, this is sounding less like "Japan needs nukes" and more "an independent deterrent is the only way to guarantee our security, but it's not economically/politically feasible so we'll work to strengthen extended deterrence" which is...not new at all
首相官邸筋「核持つべきだ」 安保担当、非公式取材で（無料記事）
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
高市政権で安全保障政策を担当する官邸筋は12月18日、「私は核を持つべきだと思っている」と官邸で記者団に述べました。
オフレコを前提にした記者団の非公式取材を受けた際に出た発言です。
記者団から核保有に対する考えを問われ、官邸筋は核保有が必要だとした上で「最終的に頼れるのは自分たちだ」と説明しました。
同時に、現実的ではないとの見方にも言及しました。
#ニュース
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO...
高市政権で安全保障政策を担当する官邸筋は12月18日、「私は核を持つべきだと思っている」と官邸で記者団に述べました。
オフレコを前提にした記者団の非公式取材を受けた際に出た発言です。
記者団から核保有に対する考えを問われ、官邸筋は核保有が必要だとした上で「最終的に頼れるのは自分たちだ」と説明しました。
同時に、現実的ではないとの見方にも言及しました。
#ニュース
首相官邸筋「核持つべきだ」 安保担当、非公式取材で - 日本経済新聞
高市政権で安全保障政策を担当する官邸筋は18日、「私は核を持つべきだと思っている」と官邸で記者団に述べ、日本の核兵器保有が必要だとの認識を示した。発言はオフレコを前提にした記者団の非公式取材を受けた際に出た。同時に、現実的ではないとの見方にも言及した。非公式取材で記者団から核保有に対する考えを問われ、官邸筋は核保有が必要だとした上で「最終的に頼れるのは自分たちだ」と説明した。一方「コンビニで買
www.nikkei.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
So, this is sounding less like "Japan needs nukes" and more "an independent deterrent is the only way to guarantee our security, but it's not economically/politically feasible so we'll work to strengthen extended deterrence" which is...not new at all
Reposted by Jesse Johnson
There have been plenty of "Japan should have a discussion about revising 3NNP" or "Art 9 doesn't prohibit the possession of nukes" comments, but the closest to a "Japan *should* get nukes" like this that I can recall is Vice Defense Minister Nishimura in 1999
www.armscontrol.org/act/1999-11/...
www.armscontrol.org/act/1999-11/...
December 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
There have been plenty of "Japan should have a discussion about revising 3NNP" or "Art 9 doesn't prohibit the possession of nukes" comments, but the closest to a "Japan *should* get nukes" like this that I can recall is Vice Defense Minister Nishimura in 1999
www.armscontrol.org/act/1999-11/...
www.armscontrol.org/act/1999-11/...