Chris Harding
@drchrisharding.bsky.social
Cultural historian & broadcaster based at the University of Edinburgh Weekly essays 👉 http://www.japan-and-the-world.com/ Writings/podcast/video 👉 https://linkin.bio/chrisharding
How does the war in Iran look from Asia? My take:
Engelsberg Ideas@engelsbergideas.bsky.social · 4mo agoIn the face of the Iran war’s impact on global oil flows, Asian capitals are reassessing energy security and the broader geopolitical map. The Iran war through Asia’s eyes | @drchrisharding.bsky.social engelsbergideas.com/essays/the-i...
Interesting weekend coming up in Japan. By way of an appetiser, here's my piece for @lrb.co.uk.
London Review of Books@lrb.co.uk · 6mo ago‘Sanseito’s manifesto promises economic security, social cohesion and the promotion of a single cultural identity. Pinning economic woes on migrants and complacent politicians proved to be a successful strategy.’ Christopher Harding on the Japanese elections. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Do go and see the British Museum's spellbinding new Samurai exhibition if you have a chance. Meanwhile, my essay for Engelsberg Ideas on the origins and legacies of Japan's warrior class:
Engelsberg Ideas@engelsbergideas.bsky.social · 6mo agoNearly 700 years after their political dominance ended, Japan’s warrior elite continue to shape global culture. Why the samurai still matter | Chris Harding (@drchrisharding.bsky.social) engelsbergideas.com/essays/why-t...
Congratulations to @olegb.bsky.social on a five-star review of the new Samurai exhibition at the British Museum. Opens on 3rd Feb. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Samurai review: Japan’s lethal warrior class are shown in all their sexy, demonic glory
Extraordinary battle armour, complete with moustachioed masks, enlivens this scintillating show, which brilliantly captures the theatrical side of a chivalrous epoch
theguardian.com
As someone who's moved to JAPAN 🎌 not too long ago, I always wanted to explore the country's fascinating MODERN history... Thanks to @drchrisharding.bsky.social I finally got the chance! Check out our FULL CONVO here 👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU Apple podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...
Such a great series. @philipgoff.bsky.social was excellent, as was Gilbert Markus talking about 'Is God Nothing?' (of interest to anyone thinking about inter-religious dialogue and concepts of the divine). @takeshimorisato.bsky.social @theosthinktank.bsky.social
Nick Spencer@nickebs.bsky.social · 8mo agoAnd so another series of @theosthinktank.bsky.social's Reading our Times comes to an end, with a great interview with @philipgoff.bsky.social in which we simply ask does the universe have a purpose? After a series covering consciousness, quantum, time & God, what else? tinyurl.com/56t5uymc
Really enjoyed this conversation!
Smart Cookies podcast@smartcookies.bsky.social · 8mo agoFrom Samurai to Shinkansen - how did JAPAN become a global superpower in just a short few decades? And why is it stagnating today? Check the thrilling conversation with the eminent historian of Japan @drchrisharding.bsky.social HERE 👇🏻🎌 youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU #japan #history
Japan is losing more than 2,000 people every day to population decline. Is automation the answer? This week's Substack post: www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...
Can Vending Machines Save Japan?
Part II: Salvation Through Automation
chrishardingjapan.com
Japan's famous vending machines look like late 20th-century tech. In fact, they're both decades and centuries older. They may also hold the key to the country's future. www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...
Can Vending Machines Save Japan?
Part I: Trust meets High Technology
chrishardingjapan.com
Promises to be an interesting evening - do come!
Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation@daiwafoundation.bsky.social · 11mo agoAs part of Noh Reimagined 2025 curator Gina Buenfeld-Murley and Daiwa Scholarships alumnus @drchrisharding.bsky.social will discuss ‘Bashō’ (Plantain Tree) by Konparu Zenchiku (1405–1470), ahead of its first-ever performance outside Japan. Fri, 28 Nov at 6pm: www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/wor...
‘The sense in Japan of a society and culture under threat and in need of defending is set to be a potent force in politics for a good while to come.’ My piece for @thetimes.com today: www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...
Tourists love Japan, but under the surface it’s a Land of Rising Anger
Nationalism and discontent are bubbling over in this country of high taxes and resentment against its sometimes obnoxious visitors
thetimes.com
One of the things that first drew me to Japan was its philosophy: growing out of myths, rituals and an awareness of impermanence, and worked into everyday life & art. A short 🧵 for anyone new to this... @takeshimorisato.bsky.social
A new Today in Japanese Politics: The first candidates announce their intentions as the LDP debates how to elect a new leader. Plus, a milestone meeting of defense ministers in Seoul. open.substack.com/pub/observin...
The first day of the post-Ishiba era | Today in Japanese Politics
The LDP leadership race takes shape
open.substack.com
Another one for the 'and they wonder why Japanese people don't like tourists' file... www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09...
Anger in Japan after Instagrammer drinks burial site offering
On Tuesday, the Australian Embassy warned on Facebook that travelers must ensure 'appropriate behavior' while visiting Japan, without explicitly referring to the incident.
japantimes.co.jp
Ishiba is off! Japan's PM is stepping down, following two disastrous sets of election results on his watch. A battle for the soul of the LDP - still Japan's largest party, despite its recent woes - ensues. Backstory: www.historywithchrisharding.com/p/rise-of-th... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns
The prime minister had struggled to inspire confidence as Japan faced economic headwinds.
bbc.co.uk
For someone not previously much interested in Japanese politics, the last few weeks and months have been fascinating - and maybe historic. A short 🧵 for anyone curious about what's going on.
Pride of place this morning at our local @waterstones.bsky.social. And no, I didn’t put it there… 😂 @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social
Northbank Talent Management@northbanktalent.bsky.social · 11mo agoCongratulations to @drchrisharding.bsky.social as his new book A SHORT HISTORY OF JAPAN is published today by Pelican Books! 'essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries' - Tom Holland www.northbanktalent.com/2025/09/04/a...
At the risk of bringing the tone down on Bluesky... 1. The Exchange of Fire 2. The Screen Defence 3. The Fart Bomb 4. The Drive-By 5. Teamwork The Top Five moves in Japan's celebrated 'fart battle' artistic tradition. More here (& turn up the sound) 👉 instagram.com/p/DOI3JtMDJ0B/
Gaming Japan’s bloody past | @drchrisharding.bsky.social engelsbergideas.com/notebook/gam...
Gaming Japan's bloody past
Controversies over the latest instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, set during Japan’s bloody Sengoku jidai, or ‘era of warring states’ (c.1467-1600), show why the past should not be sanitised...
engelsbergideas.com
For anyone after a Saturday samurai fix, here's @thehistoryguy.bsky.social talking to one of the historical advisors for Disney's #Shogun: shows.acast.com/dansnowshist...
The Real Shogun: The English Navigator Who Became a Samurai | Dan Snow's History Hit
How a sailor from Kent rose through the ranks of Japanese society to become the first Western samurai.
shows.acast.com
Can Japan hang onto its 'nice things'...? My weekly post for IlluminAsia. www.illuminasia.org/p/bin-lorrie...
Bin Lorries and the Fraying of Japan's Social Contract
Can Japan hang onto its 'nice things'?
illuminasia.org
Fascinating - and shocking - stats.
Unseen Japan@unseenjapan.com · last yr.As Japan's population continues to shrink, a new survey finds that 52% of Japanese people ages 15 to 39 say they neither have nor want children. The survey also shows many facing economic challenges, with 11.2% saying they had trouble in the past year even buying food.
“We just wanted to see the historic electric substation.”
This is well worth a read. 30 years on, it remains one of the most shocking moments in postwar Japanese history - both the attack itself, on the Tokyo underground, and the fact that ordinary, intelligent young people had seen so little future for themselves in Japan that they joined a cult.
The Japan Times@japantimes.co.jp · last yr.Subsequent revelations about the cult proved even more alarming than the 1995 assault. It became clear that the authorities had been worried about the group for some time.
Great piece on the re-enchantment phenomenon - of which I suspect the #TelepathyTapes are a part, with their criticism of scientific materialism and push for Idealism.
Nick Spencer@nickebs.bsky.social · last yr.www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202... are we really re-enchanting?
