Tessera

21st Century Schizoid Tran @grayathena.bsky.social · last mo.

LDP politician Akamatsu Ken, who was a famous manga author before entering politics, has frequently spoken out about the importance of freedom of expression. He posted an apology for "not being able to stop" a law outlawing desecration of the flag. He joined the LDP in voting "yes" for the law.

just keeps happening

Leah McElrath@leahmcelrath.bsky.social · last mo.

RIP pivot to Asia

・US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby in January 2026: South Korea is a "model ally." ・Trump in August 2026: US-ROK joint exercises are "inappropriate and hostile." North Korea, which recently test fired several missiles without warning, is "unthreatening and respectful."

PM Takaichi prayed to the war dead at the Yasukuni Shrine today...from a parking lot less than one kilometer away. If she bows and prays from outside of the actual shrine grounds, does it count as not visiting? www.jiji.com/jc/article?k...

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I was interviewed by DW News about the Northern Territories dispute: "Why did Putin just visit territory embroiled in decades-long Japan-Russia dispute?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDbR...

Why did Putin just visit territory embroiled in decades-long Japan-Russia dispute? | DW News

YouTube video by DW News

youtube.com

“I’ve never seen a prime minister brag about not sleeping.” - Japan's Mainichi Shimbun reports on Takaichi Sanae's strange post announcing that she is operating on 0-3 hours of sleep many nights. It's a dangerously low level of sleep that could impair judgement. mainichi.jp/articles/202...

I was interviewed for this article about Japan's Lower House approving a bill that will ban desecration of the national flag: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/06...

Japanese People Don't Trust Trump: A new Pew Research poll has found that only 25% of Japanese people trust that President Donald Trump will do the right thing regarding world affairs. Only 11% of Japanese trust Benjamin Netanyahu and 7% trust Xi & Putin. www.pewresearch.org/global/2026/...

How do views of Trump compare with other global leaders?

Of the six leaders asked about, only Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu ranks below President Donald Trump in confidence.

pewresearch.org

Jeffrey J. Hall@mrjeffu.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The first twenty minutes of the second episode of the NewsPicks J-Context podcast is now available on Youtube! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Udmx...

アメリカメディアの救世主になるか…勢いを増す新興メディアとは？Jeffrey J. Hall【英語で時事問題が学べるコンテンツ J CONTEXT】

YouTube video by NewsPicks /ニューズピックス

youtube.com

I have started co-hosting a podcast for Japanese media outlet NewsPicks: Here is a link to the first twenty minutes of the first episode, in which we discuss Takaichi's diplomacy. (Newspicks is a paid service, so only the preview clip is free.) www.youtube.com/watch?v=skuA...

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I appeared on Australia's ABC News today to talk about Japan hiking entry fees for tourist visas, and how it might impact people from certain countries more than others: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNwj...

Japan to hike entry visa fees - what does it mean for your holiday? | The World | ABC NEWS

YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

youtube.com

アメリカ人日本専門家 Jeffery J. Hallが高市政権、日本政治、社会、トランプ政権に切り込む【新番組 J CONTEXT スタート】

YouTube video by NewsPicks /ニューズピックス

youtube.com

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I randomly flipped through a "Florida Place Names" book at a Japanese library today and learned the horrible story of "Hongry Land."

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Japan's Mire Biscuits has halted production of some of its products due to the impact of a naphtha shortage caused by the Iran War. It hasn't been able to get enough packaging materials. The Takaichi administration has told the nation there is no naphtha supply shortage. www.47news.jp/14294317.html

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Japan is experiencing shortages of petroleum-based materials: •"The effects are already being felt across a wide range of everyday goods, including food products" •There is a "gap" between the PM Takaichi's claims that there are no shortages & the actual situation. www.47news.jp/14289309.html

Jeffrey J. Hall@mrjeffu.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A look at the Twitter account of the person who claimed responsibility for yesterday's Shibuya scramble crossing fire reveals past posts in which he enthusiastically supported the far-right Sanseito party. He also appeared to have positive views of Prime Minister Takaichi.

The website promoted by the Shibuya arsonist reveals him to be a far-right conspiracy theorist, obsessed with the idea that Zainichi Koreans have taken over Japan with the help of the "deep state." In 2025 he wrote a letter asking Elon Musk and Trump for help.

Jeffrey J. Hall@mrjeffu.bsky.social · 6mo ago

The Japanese conspiracy theorist who set a fire in Shibuya scramble crossing was a follower of the Lotus Eaters, a right-wing English language podcast hosted by Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad). Prior to the crime, he left a message notifying them to take note of his actions.

Dexerto@dexerto.bsky.social · 6mo ago

A man has been apprehended after starting a fire at Shibuya Scramble Crossing – the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world He reportedly turned himself in after starting the blaze

I am quoted in this new article from the FCCJ's Number 1 Shimbun: Sanae Takaichi’s preference for populist messaging has left Japan’s mainstream media struggling to respond www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shi...

Trust and betrayal | FCCJ

April 2026 | Cover story Sanae Takaichi’s preference for populist messaging has left Japan’s mainstream media struggling to respond Journalists dream of a viral moment in the White House Oval Office. ...

fccj.or.jp

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi is heading to Washington to meet Trump. The visit was set up before the US and Israel launched a war against Iran. She now faces a difficult situation, with Trump using quotation marks to question if "allies" will secure the Straight of Hormuz.

In October Prime Minister Takaichi's declared she would throw away work-life balance and "work, work, work." It became Japan's buzzword of the year for 2025. The media is reporting she had to cancel a diplomatic meeting yesterday because she was "sleep-deprived." news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0e1...

I spoke to India's Firstpost TV about Takaichi's election victory and the outlook for her relations with China and the United States: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i7F...

Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Wins Snap Elections, Modi, Trump & Meloni Extend Wishes | Firstpost Live

YouTube video by Firstpost

youtube.com

I was interviewed by Time Magazine about Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's big election victory. A lot of LDP politicians, including former Abe faction members who lost their seats in 2024, will be grateful to her and look to her leadership. time.com/7372956/japa...

Japan’s Takaichi Wins Big in Snap Election: What to Know

The conservative Prime Minister’s gamble seems to have paid off.

time.com

I was interviewed by the Telegraph for their coverage of Takaichi's election victory: "Japan puts faith in first female prime minister" www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

telegraph.co.uk

The LDP politician who called Abe a "traitor" and publicly rated Takaichi a 2/10 has won a seat in the Diet. Takaichi punished him by placing him at a low position on the LDP's proportional representation list, but the party got enough votes for him to win anyway. news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6569167

Former LDP lawmaker Sugita Mio, who is infamous for her use of hate speech against Koreans & Ainu, failed to win a seat in Osaka's 5th district. Prime Minister Takaichi didn't visit Osaka to campaign for LDP candidates(possibly to avoid friction with the Ishin party).

Paul Nadeau @pauljnadeau.bsky.social · 8mo ago

NHK's map of election district results shows LDP red making major gains across the country. Osaka, the home of the LDP's coalition partner, the Ishin Party, remains Ishin territory. 30 minutes after the polls have closed, they haven't called a single district for the Centrist Reform Alliance.

Re-upping this because I think it still holds…Takaichi and her supporters might think they have a stronger hand on China after their election win, but the structural constraints of a tight budget, wobbly ally in DC, and voters demanding action on the economy are still very much in place

Paul Nadeau@pauljnadeau.bsky.social · 8mo ago

My piece in Nikkei Asia on how Takaichi's stance against China's coercion has made her popular, but her ability to push back will be constrained by a public that wants her to focus on the economy, a budget that's coming under greater pressure, and a security ally who may not be there to help:

Takaichi successfully convinced voters to ignore unresolved scandals and cast their votes for LDP candidates. The LDP will likely win a 300+ seat majority. The opposition CRA is going to lose over a hundred seats. The far-right Sanseito continues to grow, more than doubling its seats.