The torrid pace of events that followed Abe's resignation and Suga's elevation has slowed this month, but I've still been busier than usual (I've gotten behind posting links to webinars and podcasts, which I hope to rectify soon). You may have noticed that I've launched two political data projects at this site, one that analyzes …
Author: Tobias S. Harris
Tobias Harris is Japan analyst at Teneo Intelligence. He is the author of a forthcoming biography of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Bookplates now available!
As I readied The Iconoclast for publication, I had hoped that I would be able to have a proper book tour that would allow me to meet readers in the US, Japan, and elsewhere in person.Unfortunately, an in-person book tour has not been possible for obvious reasons. I am, of course, grateful for the many …
The Week of 27 September 2020
Another week is finished for Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. This week includes new chart showing the week-over-week change in the number of minutes the prime minister devotes to different activities and advisers. Perhaps not surprisingly given that one of the major stories this week was what appeared to be a clear decision by Suga to …
The Week of 20 September 2020
Suga Yoshihide has completed his first full week as Japan's prime minister. His schedule this week included both his first calls with foreign leaders and his first domestic trip at prime minister (to Fukushima prefecture). It is also possible to begin identifying certain patterns to his days, perhaps even certain officials or groups of officials …
Stimson Center, 17 September
For my final event of the week of 13 September, I joined Keio University's Hosoya Yuichi and the Stimson Center's Yuki Tatsumi for a conversation that looked both at Abe's record as prime minister and what to expected from Prime Minister Suga. The questions in this session were especially good. https://youtu.be/6lOTbIWUdwM
Heritage Foundation, 16 September
On 16 September, the day that Suga Yoshihide was officially chosen by the Diet as Japan's ninety-ninth prime minister, I joined the Brookings Institution's Mireya Solis and the RAND Corporation's Jeffrey Hornung, moderated by Heritage's Bruce Klingner, for a conversation about what to expect from the Suga administration.This event really was a conversation among friends. …
Asia Society, 15 September
I was really pleased to have an opportunity to give a book talk to the Asia Society and its global chapters on Tuesday, 15 September. James Kondo, chairman of the International House of Japan, read the book thoroughly and he guided a discussion that really hit the book's major themes. https://youtu.be/Hytq5ji-qaI
Australian Institute of International Affairs, 14 September
On Monday, 14 September, I woke bright and early in the suburbs of Washington, DC to join Bryce Wakefield, the executive director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs in conversation about Abe's legacy and what to expect from Suga Yoshihide, who was elected as the LDP's new leader shortly before our talk. https://youtu.be/3nHxePPAo_A
British Chamber of Commerce Japan, 7 September
On 7 September (US)/8 September (Japan), I gave a book talk at an event hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Japan and co-hosted by the BCCJ's Australian, New Zealand, Irish, and Spanish counterparts (possibly several more that I'm leaving out). https://youtu.be/5dnEPTto5Lo The BCCJ wrote a brief summary of the event here.
The Week of 13 September 2020
Suga Yoshihide was elected as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in an overwhelming victory on 14 September. Two days later, he was selected by the Diet as Japan's ninety-ninth prime minister, at which point a new cabinet of twenty - two larger than the cabinet it replaced - was officially sworn into office.Not …
