The Prime Minister’s Office of Japan has now released the transcript of the – Policy Speech by Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae to the 219th Session of the Diet (October 24, 2025). This was her first major speech after taking on the office of Prime Minister and allows us to see some detail beyond the rather…
Japan
A few weeks ago I wrote this blog post – Japan – the challenges facing the new LDP leader – Part 2 (October 9, 2025) – documenting the viability of a fiscal expansion in Japan given the availability of idle labour resources, which are in short supply. I noted that the recent estimates from the…
This Tuesday report will provide some insights into life for a westerner (me) who is working for an extended period at Kyoto University in Japan but who over the years of working here has increasingly began to understand the language and local cultural traditions. Tokyo Event – November 6, 2025 I will be speaking at…
I do not have much time to write today as I am moving house later this afternoon and have a few work meetings to attend before that. So the next topic might take two shorter parts. As predicted, Ms Takaichi became the first female Prime Minister for Japan on Tuesday after consolidating a coalition with…
This is a second part of an as yet unknown total, where I investigate possible new policy agendas, which are designed to meet the challenges that Japan is facing in the immediate period and the years to come. This is also in the context of the elevation of Ms Takaichi to the LDP presidency and…
This is a third part of an as yet unknown total, where I investigate possible new policy agendas, which are designed to meet the challenges that Japan is facing in the immediate period and the years to come. The first two parts were written in the context of the elevation of Ms Takaichi to the…
This Tuesday report will provide some insights into life for a westerner (me) who is working for an extended period at Kyoto University in Japan but who over the years of working here has increasingly began to understand the language and local cultural traditions. Farming in urban areas One of the striking things about living…
This will be a series of blog posts where I analysis the period ahead for Japan under the new LDP leadership of Ms Sanae Takaichi. The motivation is that on November 7, 2025, the research group I am working with at Kyoto University will be staging a major event at the Diet (Parliament) Building in…
This Tuesday report will provide some insights into life for a westerner (me) who is working for an extended period at Kyoto University in Japan but who over the years of working here has increasingly began to understand the language and local cultural traditions Growing hostility to tourists in Japan I was out running early…
This Tuesday report will provide some insights into life for a westerner (me) who is working for an extended period at Kyoto University in Japan but who over the years of working here has increasingly began to understand the language and local cultural traditions The beautiful Kamo river Out running early yesterday, after a stormy…