Dan Sneider

EDITORIAL: Takaichi must show leadership to avoid danger of fragmentation | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis The Liberal Democratic Party presidential election was held amid the unusual circumstance of it being in the minority in both Diet chambers.

the Asahi opines on Takaichi and the challenges ahead -- a long editorial from the liberal Japanese daily.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Future of Japan's ruling coalition uncertain as Komeito pushes back on Takaichi Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito has said that they cannot form a coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party unless Komeito's concerns are addressed.

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10...

Gerald Curtis: Takaichi victory hastens LDP's collapse; 'not if, when' Veteran Japan watcher worried about what comes after the 'most boring election'

Tough words from Gerry Curtis, whose knowledge of Japanese politics is unmatched.
asia.nikkei.com/politics/jap...

Victory for Japan’s polarising Iron Lady, Takaichi Sanae A hardline right-winger is set to become prime minister

The Economist takes stock of the Takaichi victory and what lies ahead for her, and for Japan.
www.economist.com/asia/2025/10...

How Takaichi won the LDP’s leadership race A split of moderate votes in the first round and the support of an LDP kingmaker helped propel the former economic security minister to a historic victory.

A good piece from Eric Johnston at Japan Times on how Takaichi won and what she may do to assemble a government.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10...

Takaichi's Rise Raises Red Flags for South Korea-Japan Ties Takaichis Rise Raises Red Flags for South Korea-Japan Ties Despite Emphasizing Cooperation, Takaichis Hardline Stances on Dokdo, Historical Issues Could Test Relations

"Although the Kishida administration and the Yoon Suk-yeol government, as well as the Ishiba administration and the Lee Jae-myung government, have made rapid progress... tensions over historical and territorial disputes are likely to escalate under Takaichi’s leadership."

How two duelling history influencers explain South Korea’s polarised politics The country’s recent brush with martial law has deep roots

It was great talking with Noah Sneider as he prepared this awesome look at competing views of history in South Korea.

www.economist.com/1843/2025/10...

U.S. President Donald Trump Visits South Korea, Skips APEC Leaders' Meeting U.S. President Donald Trump Visits South Korea, Skips APEC Leaders Meeting Trump to Attend APEC Business Summit, Hold U.S.-China Summit with Xi Jinping Before Departing

Trump to Visit South Korea for Just 12 Hours on 10/29, Skipping APEC Leaders' Meeting www.chosun.com/english/nati...

How Charlie Kirk’s death galvanized South Korea’s ‘MAGA’ conservatives The honoring of Kirk in South Korea is the latest example of the strengthening ties between the country’s Christian conservatives and U.S. evangelicals.

Michelle Lee of the Post on the Christian nationalist axis between the US and South Korea.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

This is so typical -- a visit that is in fact an insult and a rejection of any multilateral organization.

(2nd LD) Trump remains open to talks with N.K. leader Kim 'without any preconditions': White House | Yonhap News Agency (ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 2, 8, 11-14)By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (Yonhap)...

White House says Trump remains open to talking with Kim Jong Un "without any preconditions."

The statement also said "US policy on North Korea has not changed," but it did not mention denuclearization by name. en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...

The U.S. Eases Visa Restrictions on South Korean Workers

A visa fix for Korea -- still cannot entirely repair the damage done by the ICE thugs in Georgia.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/w...

Trump’s big, costly, coercive trade deals falling apart in Asia - Asia Times SEOUL – American economist Anne Krueger, 91, has witnessed a great deal of public policy chicanery during her stints as a top executive at the

A critical view of the trump demands on Korea and Japan and the response in Seoul and Tokyo. Useful corrective to some other reporting.
asiatimes.com/2025/10/trum...

Public Opinion and the Future of the U.S.–South Korea Alliance - Korea Economic Institute of America Data shows enduring support for South Korea as a partner and consistent preference for more open trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

keia.org/the-peninsul...

Japan’s far-right party courts Trump allies, vows not to get ‘wacky’ | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis Japan’s far-right Sanseito party has set up an international arm to court Trump allies such as Steve Bannon and like-minded groups in Europe, betting that global conservative recognition will help it ...

Sanseito brands itself the Japan branch of the Fascist International.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Japan’s lead trade negotiator defends tariffs deal with the U.S. | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis Japan’s chief trade negotiator has defended a tariffs deal with the U.S., expressing respect for President Donald Trump and calling him a “tough negotiator.”

A rather weak defense of the Japan-US trade/investment deal.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Asahi survey: Koizumi leads in support among Diet lawmakers | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party prepares for its Oct. 4 presidential election, an Asahi Shimbun survey of party lawmakers indicated farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi currently holds the most clear...

The lineup of the Diet delegation votes is revealing -- the hard right has very little backing from LDP Diet members.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Japan and South Korea leaders commit to closer ties in their final summit Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between their countries.

Ishiba's final meeting with Lee.
apnews.com/article/sout...

Live updates: Trump defends using troops to police U.S. cities in address to military leaders The gathering, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and required some officers to fly thousands of miles.

The core message this morning in Quantico. The "enemy within."

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Takaichi moots U.S. tariff deal do-over when asked about $550 billion pledge The woman who could become Japan’s next prime minister raises questions about the agreement.

Interestingly, among the candidates for LDP presidency, and Premiership, only Takaichi said no to the bogus investment deal with the US.
www.japantimes.co.jp/business/202...

On defense and foreign policy, LDP candidates largely align — except where they don’t From nuanced differences in how to bolster Japan’s defenses to the importance of relations with the U.S., each candidate’s views could result in significantly different policies.

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09...

Japan's leadership race pitting moderates vs hard right - Asia Times As he heads out the revolving door of Japanese politics, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has two important stops on his agenda. The first will be in Busan,

My latest, republished in AsiaTimes.
asiatimes.com/2025/09/japa...

Japan's Succession Battle Pits Moderates Against the Right—and Korea Is Watching - Korea Economic Institute of America The path ahead in Japan is likely to be fraught with ongoing political instability until the party wins a new election and regains its majority.

My latest, for the Korea Economic Institute, on the Japanese leadership fight and implications for relations with Korea.
keia.org/the-peninsul...

North Korea is becoming even more repressive and threatening Kim Jong Un is in a much stronger position than when Donald Trump last wooed him

An important reality check on what is actually going on inside North Korea from The Economist.
www.economist.com/interactive/...

South Korean investment in the US is now in peril Opinion in Seoul is hardening after the Georgia raid

There is a good argument made here, and elsewhere, that Japan and Korea would be better off using funds to compensate their firms for the auto tariffs then submitting to the extortion demands for bogus "investment" funds.
on.ft.com/46sl1uk

LDP candidates vow to deal with foreigner-related problems, crimes | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis Candidates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election vowed to crack down on crimes committed by foreigners in Japan and address problems caused by the constant increase in tourist...

The Sanseito effect is showing up in the LDP election -- with Takaichi in the lead pushing a nasty anti-foreigners narrative. Koizumi was more moderate but still nodding toward the legitimacy of this issue. Only Hayashi resisted the tide.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

The LDP campaign begins | Today in Japanese Politics The outlook for the race, how the candidates are polling, who endorsed whom, and what they said on Monday

With the LDP leadership election kicking off, I have an extra-long post at Observing Japan on the state of the race, opinion polling, what the candidates said at the kickoff Monday, and who endorsed whom.

open.substack.com/pub/observin...

How to Silence Dissent, Bit by Bit Until Fear Takes Over

A chilling parallel to China from the always interesting Li Yuan of the NYT.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...

Okay, Koizumi's press conference. Let's do this.

[News analysis] Korea digs in its heels as US pressures it for a blank check US demands for free rein over the US$350 billion in investments that Korea pledged have prompted some in the Korean government to deem it preferable to accept the 25% tariff rather than bow to unreaso...

So far, the Koreans are not folding in the face of the extortion demands of the Washington mafia.
www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...