Dan Sneider

Japanese defense minister welcomes Australian frigate decision, but analysts warn risks remain - Breaking Defense “Japan and Australia are special strategic partners, and this was a major step toward further enhancing security cooperation with Australia,” said Gen Nakatani, Japanese defense minister.

breakingdefense.com/2025/08/japa...

Behind Japan's political battles, a war over history A guest essay from Daniel Sneider

Writing in honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, @dcsneider.bsky.social examines how contemporary politics in Japan continues to influence and color how the history of the war is discussed today. ow.ly/o7TL50WAVCX

Japan’s Auto Giants Are Expecting Pain Despite Trump Trade Deal

Poor Akazawa-san, sitting in Washington, trying to nail down an agreement he thought he already had. Turns out he is dealing with liars and performance artists, not actual negotiators.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/b...

Australia's warship selection signals Japanese defense industry's arrival Japan's successful bid will serve as a confidence booster and could set a precedent for other countries to consider Japanese capabilities for their own militaries.

www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...

Trump: the $550 billion pledged by Japan is 'our money' The U.S. president told CNBC that he is free to invest the funds however he wishes.

When Trump says "our money" he means MY MONEY.
www.japantimes.co.jp/business/202...

Japan's political battles animated by hidden war over history - Asia Times The political battles now raging in Japan in the aftermath of the July Upper House election are being waged across many fronts – tax policy, trade,

My look at the history wars in Japan, republished from Observing Japan in the AsiaTimes.
asiatimes.com/2025/08/japa...

Nuclear nightmares are back A grim anniversary points to fading memories and a fraying world order

www.economist.com/asia/2025/08...

www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

The wages of inequality An old phrase resurfaces in Tokyo

Terrific analysis and history lesson from Tobias Harris
open.substack.com/pub/observin...

Lee, Trump likely to outline ‘alliance modernization,’ defer details The leaders of South Korea and the United States are expected to agree in principle to “modernize the alliance” at their upcoming summit, amid a shifting region

Lee, Trump likely to outline ‘alliance modernization,’ defer details - The Korea Herald www.koreaherald.com/article/1054...

Behind Japan's political battles, a war over history A guest essay from Daniel Sneider

With much thanks to Tobias Harris for publishing this piece on Japan's history wars in his fabulous Observing Japan substack.
observingjapan.substack.com/p/behind-jap...

参政・神谷氏、独極右の共同党首と会談　SNSに｢近く私も欧州に｣：朝日新聞 参政党の神谷宗幣代表は5日、ドイツで排外主義的な主張を掲げて勢いを増す最大野党の極右「ドイツのための選択肢（AfD）」の共同党首のクルパラ氏と国会の事務所で会談したと明らかにした。同日夜、X（旧ツイ…

Welcome to the Reactionary International: Sanseitō's Kamiya Sōhei shares that he met with AfD's Tino Chrupalla. digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...

Korea Policy Series: Japan’s Adjustment to a Scary New World - Korea Economic Institute of America The Trump administration’s transactional approach and its frequent demands toward and criticisms of allies have eroded confidence in the United States.

Korea Policy Series: Japan’s Adjustment to a Scary New World - Korea Economic Institute of America keia.org/the-peninsul...

Does Japan Want American Cars? Trump’s Push to Open Foreign Markets Faces Test.

How many times does the US media have to write the same article on why american cars dont sell in Japan? Plus how about mentioning that European brands, such as BMW, sell quite well in Japan - with the steering wheels on the right and a size that fits Japanese roads.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/b...

Akazawa returns to U.S. for more talks as tariff deal looks shaky Japan is urging the United States to cut the tariff on cars as soon as possible.

Akazawa back to Washington to renegotiate what was supposedly already agreed -- highest on the agenda is the cut in auto tariffs, yet to be actually declared. Life when making deals with a con man.
www.japantimes.co.jp/business/202...

Australia announces new warships will come from Japan Canberra will purchase 11 Mogami-class frigates in what will be Tokyo’s biggest-ever defense contract — a breakthrough for Japan's defense industry.

details here in JT on the blockbuster agreement for Japan to supply Mogami-class frigates to the Australian navy.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...

Australia to buy 11 advanced Japanese frigates in breakthrough for Tokyo Canberra will purchase the Mogami-class frigates in what will be Tokyo’s biggest-ever postwar defense contract, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said.

BREAKING: Australia to buy 11 advanced Japanese frigates in breakthrough for Tokyo www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...

Now, Japan fears both abandonment and entrapment English original of article published in Japanese and English today by the Mainichi Shimbun

billemmott.substack.com/p/now-japan-...

So Ishiba and Akazawa admit that the promised cut in auto tariffs that was key to the "deal" with Trump have not yet been delivered.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Opposition parties fume over U.S. trade deal not being put in writing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said issuing a joint document with the U.S. will not serve the nation’s interests and may instead jeopardize the agreement.

Japanese opposition takes aim at the phony trade deal with Trump.
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...

Trump Executive Order Sets No Date to Cut Auto Tariff;U.S., Japan Begin to Diverge on What Agreement Means <p>Uncertainty has yet to be dispelled over details of an agreed-upon automobile tariff to be imposed on Japan by the United States.</p>

Yet more reporting from Japan on the almost completely empty nature of this trade "agreement" -- the auto tariffs are not reduced yet, and not clear when, if ever. Talk about fake news.
japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/business/eco...

Coordination office marks first step in U.S. Forces Japan’s shift to ‘warfighting’ command The launch of the new joint command team is the fruit of a multiyear effort to reshape and streamline U.S.-Japan operations.

Since March, a small room at a U.S. base in Tokyo has been at the heart of a historic transformation set to reshape how the U.S.-Japan alliance coordinates military operations, responds to emergencies and projects power.

Ishiba backs down in face of rightwing resistance in LDP on issuing new anniversary statement on the war which would have been much more forthright about Japanese responsibility.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Donald Trump thinks he’s winning on trade, but America will lose The harm from tariffs will be lasting and deep

Truth from the Economist
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Trump tariffs will forge regional blocs, warns Japanese trading house Southeast Asia's growth will also cause supply chain shifts, says Marubeni CEO

In that vein.
asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-pic...

Trump tariffs underscore need for Japan firms to cultivate new markets US still accounts for 20% of exports thanks to strong demand, business environment

Slowly an alternative global trade system is forming that excludes the US. It may take time but that is where it is headed.
asia.nikkei.com/economy/trad...

Trump’s Official Trade Policy Is to Be As Incoherent As Possible Tax rates are being set by a mix of the president’s confusion, avarice, and personal grievance.

Fred Kaplan on the reality of trump's ego driven, revenge fueled, economically incoherent trade policy.
slate.com/news-and-pol...

Murky Pledges of Investment Cast Shadow on Trump’s Trade Deals

It took them a week to print something about the trade deals with Japan (and Korea) that had been widely reported in Japan (and in Korea), but the NYT finally catches up to reality.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/b...

Trump Administration Live Updates: President Announces Trade Deal With South Korea

As expected

www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07...