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...
Reposted by Tobias Harris
In today’s Japan Daily Briefing, LDP-Ishin talks on political reform continue, Takaichi spoke with Trump following the latter’s call with Xi, Takaichi met with business and labor leaders, and the Takaichi government looks to expand trade links.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
The LDP and Ishin look for a way forward on seat cuts | Japan Daily Briefing
The two partners are still seeking a blueprint for "non-negotiable" reform
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
In today’s Japan Daily Briefing, LDP-Ishin talks on political reform continue, Takaichi spoke with Trump following the latter’s call with Xi, Takaichi met with business and labor leaders, and the Takaichi government looks to expand trade links.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
In today’s Japan Daily Briefing, LDP-Ishin talks on political reform continue, Takaichi spoke with Trump following the latter’s call with Xi, Takaichi met with business and labor leaders, and the Takaichi government looks to expand trade links.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
The LDP and Ishin look for a way forward on seat cuts | Japan Daily Briefing
The two partners are still seeking a blueprint for "non-negotiable" reform
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
In today’s Japan Daily Briefing, LDP-Ishin talks on political reform continue, Takaichi spoke with Trump following the latter’s call with Xi, Takaichi met with business and labor leaders, and the Takaichi government looks to expand trade links.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Tobias Harris
Takaichi expected to hold phone call with Trump today, with Taiwan being big focus, report says www.fnn.jp/articles/-/9...
【独自】きょう日米電話首脳会談で調整…トランプ大統領が中国・習主席との電話会談受け高市首相に説明か 台湾問題の認識は…｜FNNプライムオンライン
中国が高市首相の「台湾有事」をめぐる国会答弁に反発を続ける中、高市首相は、25日午前にアメリカのトランプ大統領と電話会談する方向で最終調整している。トランプ大統領側から呼びかけがあったという。複数の政府関係者が明らかにした。これに先立ちトランプ大統領は24日、中国の習近平国家主席と電話で会談しており、高市首相に対し、習主席との会談について説明するものと見られる。中国国営の新華社通信は、米中電話会談...
www.fnn.jp
November 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Takaichi expected to hold phone call with Trump today, with Taiwan being big focus, report says www.fnn.jp/articles/-/9...
Thinking of becoming a Montgomery County revanchist, as a bit.
November 25, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Thinking of becoming a Montgomery County revanchist, as a bit.
The 1619 project so powerful it projected back in time to convert nineteenth-century Americans to Woke
November 25, 2025 at 12:39 AM
The 1619 project so powerful it projected back in time to convert nineteenth-century Americans to Woke
Reposted by Tobias Harris
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, Tokyo is watching after Xi raised the question of Taiwan in a call with Trump, scrutiny of Hayashi Yoshimasa’s campaign finance records is growing, and the Takaichi government identifies priority sectors for industrial policy. open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Tokyo warily watches Trump-Xi call
Call plays on fears of grand bargain that isolates Japan
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, Tokyo is watching after Xi raised the question of Taiwan in a call with Trump, scrutiny of Hayashi Yoshimasa’s campaign finance records is growing, and the Takaichi government identifies priority sectors for industrial policy. open.substack.com/pub/observin...
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, Tokyo is watching after Xi raised the question of Taiwan in a call with Trump, scrutiny of Hayashi Yoshimasa’s campaign finance records is growing, and the Takaichi government identifies priority sectors for industrial policy. open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Tokyo warily watches Trump-Xi call
Call plays on fears of grand bargain that isolates Japan
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, Tokyo is watching after Xi raised the question of Taiwan in a call with Trump, scrutiny of Hayashi Yoshimasa’s campaign finance records is growing, and the Takaichi government identifies priority sectors for industrial policy. open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Xi and Baby Trump Dig Potatoes! 🥔😂🍟
YouTube video by Beast of the Gods
youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I've spent the morning with T20 Asia Cup cricket matches on while I work and...I think I finally understand cricket and might become a cricket sicko?
November 24, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I've spent the morning with T20 Asia Cup cricket matches on while I work and...I think I finally understand cricket and might become a cricket sicko?
Not for nothing, Taiwan being on the agenda of the Trump-Xi call today has, uh, caught Tokyo's attention.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump, Xi spoke by phone Monday
The emerging talks come amid mounting tensions between China and Japan over the future of self-governed Taiwan, a former Japanese territory that China sees as its own.
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Not for nothing, Taiwan being on the agenda of the Trump-Xi call today has, uh, caught Tokyo's attention.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, some events to watch this week; Takaichi’s trip to the G20 summit, where she had her first meetings with an array of leaders but not with China’s prime minister; and the Takaichi government prepares to launch its answer to DOGE.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Takaichi's weekend in Johannesburg | Japan Daily Briefing
No breakthrough with China on the sidelines of the G20 but plenty of introductory meetings for the prime minister
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
In today's Japan Daily Briefing, some events to watch this week; Takaichi’s trip to the G20 summit, where she had her first meetings with an array of leaders but not with China’s prime minister; and the Takaichi government prepares to launch its answer to DOGE.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Tobias Harris
I know the "Bombs but with LGBTQI flags on them" meme and how everyone is the same, but there really is a practical, kinetic difference between leaders trying and failing (sometimes in horrific, bloody ways) to live up to their ideals and those for whom the horror and blood are the point.
November 23, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I know the "Bombs but with LGBTQI flags on them" meme and how everyone is the same, but there really is a practical, kinetic difference between leaders trying and failing (sometimes in horrific, bloody ways) to live up to their ideals and those for whom the horror and blood are the point.
Me the instant it happened:
November 23, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Me the instant it happened:
Very excited for these too.
I’ve wanted to read these for many years. Coming next month from University of Chicago press.
November 23, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Very excited for these too.
There's only one song he's doing at papal karaoke:
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
There is no pain
You are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
You are receding
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
There's only one song he's doing at papal karaoke:
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
Strangers waitin'
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
Streetlights, people
This Yglesias quote is so bafflingly wrong that it's hard to believe people voluntarily pay for his thoughts on American politics.
I don't think this is a correct description of America's party system.
November 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
This Yglesias quote is so bafflingly wrong that it's hard to believe people voluntarily pay for his thoughts on American politics.
From Viktor Klemperer's diary on this date in 1933:
11.22.33: A certain depression and resignation everywhere. The government appears to be stabilized, the other countries are getting accustomed to it, allow themselves to be impressed, give way...
November 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
From Viktor Klemperer's diary on this date in 1933:
Reposted by Tobias Harris
日経の政治部より毎日の政治部の方が財政拡張に懸念気味なのは面白いとこかも
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 AM
日経の政治部より毎日の政治部の方が財政拡張に懸念気味なのは面白いとこかも
Reposted by Tobias Harris
FREE FRIDAY: Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as she unveils a large stimulus package, while the LDP and Ishin are working through differences on reducing the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Pump priming | Japan Daily Briefing
Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as government unveils large stimulus package
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 PM
FREE FRIDAY: Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as she unveils a large stimulus package, while the LDP and Ishin are working through differences on reducing the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Trump gushing over Mamdani maybe isn't surprising after watching him gush over Takaichi last month. As he said about her, "she's a winner" and he just is naturally drawn to people with that kind of energy.
November 22, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Trump gushing over Mamdani maybe isn't surprising after watching him gush over Takaichi last month. As he said about her, "she's a winner" and he just is naturally drawn to people with that kind of energy.
FREE FRIDAY: Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as she unveils a large stimulus package, while the LDP and Ishin are working through differences on reducing the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Pump priming | Japan Daily Briefing
Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as government unveils large stimulus package
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 PM
FREE FRIDAY: Takaichi seeks to reassure markets as she unveils a large stimulus package, while the LDP and Ishin are working through differences on reducing the number of Diet seats.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
Reposted by Tobias Harris
Literally Yoshida: have you considered the real victim of the Hatoyama purge, namely me???
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Literally Yoshida: have you considered the real victim of the Hatoyama purge, namely me???
Literally Yoshida: have you considered the real victim of the Hatoyama purge, namely me???
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Literally Yoshida: have you considered the real victim of the Hatoyama purge, namely me???
The ruling parties are deliberating on FY2026 tax reform, eyeing cooperation with opposition parties, while the LDP committee tasked with providing recommendations for revising Japan’s three national security documents next year met for the first time Thursday.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
The ruling parties look ahead to 2026 | Japan Daily Briefing
LDP and Ishin no Kai committees begin deliberations on 2026 tax proposals and recommendations for the three national security documents
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The ruling parties are deliberating on FY2026 tax reform, eyeing cooperation with opposition parties, while the LDP committee tasked with providing recommendations for revising Japan’s three national security documents next year met for the first time Thursday.
open.substack.com/pub/observin...
open.substack.com/pub/observin...