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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
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Vegetable garden has reached a tipping point. Turned the first eggplant into a dip seasoned with garden thyme and dill, pickled the first jalapenos, made pasta sauce seasoned with basil from the garden, and blanched garden green beans for a side.

submitted 9 hours ago • 0 comments

Myakumyaku, the mascot for the Osaka 2025 Expo, in “Myakumyaku’s House” at the event:

submitted 16 hours ago • 14 comments

submitted 20 hours ago • 1 comment

Good morning, Asia. This was our most read story while you were sleeping. Ishiba's NATO snub reflects discord in US-Japan alliance s.nikkei.com/4k67Xj8

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Ishiba is scrapping plans to attend the NATO summit this week in light of the situation in the Middle East, which among other things he won't have a second face-to-face with Trump this month. That might be for the best. www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Everyone may be focused on the other thing, Tokyo voted for its legislative assembly on Sunday, 22 June, which highlighted certain elements of Japanese politics now. open.substack.com/pub/observin...

submitted 2 days ago • 4 comments

When I talk to reporters, I try to be diplomatic about everything, but some other people take a more blunt approach.

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

Everyone may be focused on the other thing, Tokyo voted for its legislative assembly on Sunday, 22 June, which highlighted certain elements of Japanese politics now. open.substack.com/pub/observin...

submitted 2 days ago • 4 comments

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Still early in the counting for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election but at first glance looks like a better night for Koike and not particularly good for the DPFP or Ishimaru Shinji's new party. www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/datab...

submitted 2 days ago • 4 comments

Fun fact I learned from @rickperlstein.bsky.social's "Reaganland": apparently people were singing "Bomb Iran" to the tune of "Barbara Ann" during the hostage crisis.

submitted 3 days ago • 3 comments

I wrote a quick post on what this story means: observingjapan.substack.com/p/the-ishiba...

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

"He knows tons of stuff about baseball" is an absolutely hilarious thing to say about Donald J. Trump.

submitted 3 days ago • 5 comments

Sign of the times: the smug satisfaction I feel getting a Wordle in two that it took the Wordle Bot five tries to get.

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

The story about the GOJ scrapping the 2+2 in response to a demand to spend 3.5% of GDP on defense has been verified separately by Asahi: digital.asahi.com/sp/articles/...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

It shouldn't be possible to make a baseball do that.

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

There are many sound geopolitical and diplomatic reasons why Japan should not be asked to spend 5% of GDP on defense, but here’s a bond market reason.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Great reference. If you know, you know. Ditto JJ Servan-Schreiber. The song remains the same.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I just wrote a quick post on the significance of reports that an unrealistic demand for defense spending led the Ishiba government to "scrap" a 2+2 meeting. observingjapan.substack.com/p/the-ishiba...

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I wrote a quick post on what this story means: observingjapan.substack.com/p/the-ishiba...

submitted 4 days ago • 1 comment

I just wrote a quick post on the significance of reports that an unrealistic demand for defense spending led the Ishiba government to "scrap" a 2+2 meeting. observingjapan.substack.com/p/the-ishiba...

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments