We need more smart writing like this about Japan right now. With all the talk of the rupture of the Post WWII international order, the collapse of NATO, and the dissolution of international institutions writ large, there’s too little discussion about Japan and the US-Japan Security Alliance. People seem to forget Japan is quietly still the world’s third largest economy, a top 5 military power, and capable of turning a key and reacquiring nuclear weapons overnight. Throw in its geographical proximity to China and the justifiable foundering of its trust in Trump’s self-centered America, and you have the makings of a tectonic shift in geopolitical relations. The current self-confident Japanese prime minister may be a preview of coming attractions. Nicely done.
The word "right" as in "rightist" appears nowhere in this essay, and "nationalism" appears once without elaboration. Could you go into that aspect of the subject a bit more?
Takaichi is right-wing —not in the bland, split-the-difference way that characterizes usual LDP politicos, but in the muscular, conviction-driven register that Japanese politics generally filters out. She has visited Yasukuni, the incandescently controversial shrine that honors fallen Japanese soldiers very much including WWII-era war criminals, and she doesn’t apologize for it. She opposes allowing women to keep their own family names after marriage. She talks about constitutional revision to allow Japan to use its military more freely without whispering.
Thanks. Those things weigh on my appreciation of Takaichi's rise to the top.
By the way, the controversial remark on Taiwan in the Diet was a Trump-like departure from the words that had been prepared for her. It resulted in economic retaliation by China including strong discouragement of travel to Japan by its citizens, which continues to have a painful effect on people working throughout Japan's tourist industries. I'd say Prime Minister Takaichi made an expensive purchase, with her personal éclat coming at considerable cost to the country.
If I understand correctly, the new Prime Minister is a conservative, more or less in the mold of Thatcher. Is she a right wing populist? ( dreaded term for liberals?) Is she a nationalist? ( another dreaded term) - or even worse a "right wing nationalist". That term is used as an scary label by democrats. The article was informative and fair, but I am surprised that it seemed quite laudatory...given that this substack is normally so critical of politicians who are openly right wing and openly nationalist.
Thats refreshing. Thank you! I wish more journalists would write this way - to objectively describe events and personalities without filtering everything through a partisan lens. This objective analysis is the only way to progress intellectually.
What is ‘conservative’ anyway? I thought it meant minimizing or eliminating government income redistribution and social benefits. Is that her conservatism? And what is feminism anyway? I thought it was a program to see to it that women could get ‘men’s jobs’ and, recognizing that discrimination in employment persists, government intervention to promote fair hiring. Is she opposed to that? If not, what the heck is conservatism? This isn’t a rhetorical question.
We need more smart writing like this about Japan right now. With all the talk of the rupture of the Post WWII international order, the collapse of NATO, and the dissolution of international institutions writ large, there’s too little discussion about Japan and the US-Japan Security Alliance. People seem to forget Japan is quietly still the world’s third largest economy, a top 5 military power, and capable of turning a key and reacquiring nuclear weapons overnight. Throw in its geographical proximity to China and the justifiable foundering of its trust in Trump’s self-centered America, and you have the makings of a tectonic shift in geopolitical relations. The current self-confident Japanese prime minister may be a preview of coming attractions. Nicely done.
The word "right" as in "rightist" appears nowhere in this essay, and "nationalism" appears once without elaboration. Could you go into that aspect of the subject a bit more?
Takaichi is right-wing —not in the bland, split-the-difference way that characterizes usual LDP politicos, but in the muscular, conviction-driven register that Japanese politics generally filters out. She has visited Yasukuni, the incandescently controversial shrine that honors fallen Japanese soldiers very much including WWII-era war criminals, and she doesn’t apologize for it. She opposes allowing women to keep their own family names after marriage. She talks about constitutional revision to allow Japan to use its military more freely without whispering.
Thanks. Those things weigh on my appreciation of Takaichi's rise to the top.
By the way, the controversial remark on Taiwan in the Diet was a Trump-like departure from the words that had been prepared for her. It resulted in economic retaliation by China including strong discouragement of travel to Japan by its citizens, which continues to have a painful effect on people working throughout Japan's tourist industries. I'd say Prime Minister Takaichi made an expensive purchase, with her personal éclat coming at considerable cost to the country.
If I understand correctly, the new Prime Minister is a conservative, more or less in the mold of Thatcher. Is she a right wing populist? ( dreaded term for liberals?) Is she a nationalist? ( another dreaded term) - or even worse a "right wing nationalist". That term is used as an scary label by democrats. The article was informative and fair, but I am surprised that it seemed quite laudatory...given that this substack is normally so critical of politicians who are openly right wing and openly nationalist.
It’s not really my place to praise or condemn Takaichi-san.
My job is to explain why she appeals to so many Japanese people. What you think of her, that’s up to you.
Thats refreshing. Thank you! I wish more journalists would write this way - to objectively describe events and personalities without filtering everything through a partisan lens. This objective analysis is the only way to progress intellectually.
There are three Presidential or PM identities:
1. Technocrat
2. Populist in policy
3. Charismatic for the majority
Trump is massive in #2, although showing some breaks with his failure to go after the big corporations. He is absolutely #3. He is not #1.
Obama was #1 and #3.
Biden was none of the above. At all.
It appears that Takaichi is all three. Good win for Japan!
What is ‘conservative’ anyway? I thought it meant minimizing or eliminating government income redistribution and social benefits. Is that her conservatism? And what is feminism anyway? I thought it was a program to see to it that women could get ‘men’s jobs’ and, recognizing that discrimination in employment persists, government intervention to promote fair hiring. Is she opposed to that? If not, what the heck is conservatism? This isn’t a rhetorical question.