Takaichi says no to nuclear sharing -- an idea promoted by the late PM Abe, her mentor. Interesting. mainichi.jp/english/arti...

South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol jailed for life for leading insurrection | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Right on schedule, Trump takes credit for Takaichi's victory. english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/7...

My analysis of how PM Takaichi won Japan’s election: a nationalist narrative, personal popularity and digital savvy. But lofty promises of strategic investment and national strength now face the constraints of fiscal reality and intensifying great power competition eastasiaforum.org/2026/02/15/h...

The U.S. is reinterpreting its security agreements with Japan and South Korea in ways that could undermine stability and increase tensions and uncertainty in Northeast Asia, cautions @dcsneider.bsky.social: ow.ly/vTv250YeqGB

My piece on the shift in US ties with Japan and Korea, republished in AsiaTimes. asiatimes.com/2026/02/amer...

My latest, for KEI, on how the Trump administration is undermining the postwar strategic bargains with Japan and Korea. keia.org/the-peninsul...

Useful discussion of Japanese election from Harvard's Gordon. www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...

Maybe not the most important reason but I wonder whether Okada's part in Takaichi's Taiwan remarks contributed to his defeat. He did seem to be singled out with slanderous content online, so who knows. news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/14e...

So will Takaichi go down the constitutional revision route? She is signaling she will use her new power to that end. The end of the postwar era that Abe sought in sight? giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...

Mafia boss Don to his new capo, Takaichi -- I got you elected, now give me the money honey. asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...

Recommended for anyone trying to wrap their heads around what just happed in Japan.

Post election pragmatism from Takaichi -- so far. english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/7...

The Asahi Shimbun: "Japan's ruling coalition aims to restore Japanese military ranks used in World War II for members of the Self-Defense Forces, a plan that has drawn concern and bewilderment in the Defense Ministry." www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

terrific podcast by The Economist's Iida Moeka on the trial of Abe's assassin and the reverberations of this in Japan. www.economist.com/podcasts/202...

The Takaichi magic -- how far does it go? The Economist ponders that question. www.economist.com/asia/2026/01...

Hearing the message loud and clear from Colby et al, the Koreans are now aiming for "defense autonomy." Are nuclear weapons far off? english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...

More drama from Trump re Korea and trade/investment -- timed to Colby's visit? Maybe not but no doubt not helping. en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...

In English, my article for Toyo Keizai Online, on trump and the Japanese election. toyokeizai.net/articles/-/9...

My article in Japanese (English version to follow) in Toyo Keizai Online, on why Trump wants Takaichi to win the coming Japanese election. toyokeizai.net/articles/-/9...

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has exceeded expectations thus far by stabilizing foreign relations and securing pragmatic gains with the United States, China and Japan, but he's not out of the woods, writes @dcsneider.bsky.social in @eastasiaforum.bsky.social. ow.ly/TQbA50Y0jbS

The message from Canadian PM Carney -- and Japan and South Korea need to hear it: Our view is, the middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu. Asahi editorial board heard it. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

On another topic, this is a great explainer of the reality of Trump's phony Peace board from the Guardian. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

My latest, a look at Korea and the year ahead, for East Asia Forum of ANU. eastasiaforum.org/2026/01/18/l...

The Yomiuri, Japan's mainstream conservative daily, says this: The administration’s anachronistic ambitions to seize territory by force, ignoring international norms, is nothing short of appalling. japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yo...

and for the record, report by Joongang Ilbo koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2026-01...

and now a report from Korean media on outcomes, in the same tone. www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffai...

Initial reports are that the Lee-Takaichi meeting went well - lots of good vibes (literally), with small gestures on the past and careful avoidance of the China confrontation. Here is pre meeting report from Hankyoreh with useful comments by Lee. english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...

My analysis of the Korean relations with China and Japan, republished in AsiaTimes. asiatimes.com/2026/01/sout...

China warning about Japanese militarism and nuclear ambitions is quite rich given their own buildup and nuclear arsenal. But it is classic Chinese propaganda. www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01...

Asahi Shimbun also opines to condemn US actions in Venezuela. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

My latest for KEI Peninsula blog keia.org/the-peninsul...

Even the conservative Yomiuri daily is opposed to Trump's Venezuela aggression. japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/editorial/yo...

Japanese business leader says what the Japanese government can't or won't say about Trump. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Excellent dissection of the 'foreigner problem' discussion in Japan today -- rhetoric versus reality - in the latest Economist. www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

The Economist on the strange succession process in North Korea. www.economist.com/asia/2026/01...

The view from Korean progressives of the Venezuela attack. english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...

Takaichi dodges comment on the Trump's imperial attack on Venezuela but the rest of the Japanese political spectrum does not hesitate to call it an illegal act. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Crucial meetings coming up, starting Sunday in China between Xi and Lee, followed in a couple of weeks with a Lee visit to Japan in Takaichi's hometown of Nara. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Nice slice of Korean life story from Michelle Lee of the Post. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Japanese policy on foreigners is moving towards a far more restrictive approach - what happens when labor shortages are getting more severe and there is competition for skilled workers elsewhere in Asia and the world? Japan First becomes Japan Last. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Tobias Harris hits the mark with this oped in Nikkei Asia. The drift toward narrow nationalism led by Takaichi would fundamentally endanger the sources of Japanese peace and prosperity. asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taka...

New in @asia.nikkei.com, I argue that Takaichi's agenda augurs an inward turn that could harm Japan's security. asia.nikkei.com/opinion/taka...

The Washington Post looks at the Japanese defense buildup -- it is about China, but it is also about Trump. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

Asahi's vox populi on the nuclear taboo being broken by the Prime Minister's anonymous aide. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...