Editor’s note: This article was written in October 2025 and originally appeared in the December issue of Chuokoron, published on November 10 of the same year. Sahashi Ryo, Professor, University of Tokyo “A World with America” ​​and “A World without America” International politics is in flux. Such clear, tectonic shifts are rare. In the summer of 2025, dozens of world leaders attended international conferences hosted by the Chinese government in Tianjin and Beijing. Their presence in photographs seemed to endorse China’s leadership. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump negotiated a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The White House and Trump’s supporters continue to promote an image of Trump as a global peacemaker. As of mid-October 2025, the United States and China were continuing their tariff negotiations and threatening to impose new export restrictions and tariffs. However, it is believed that there ... [Read more]

What constitutes a “survival-threatening situation”? The government’s view is that Prime Minister Takaichi’s November 2025 response, in which she stated that a naval blockade around Taiwan could constitute such a situation, does not change the government’s previous position. However, many issues remain unresolved, and the legal basis is not necessarily clear. Tsuruta Jun examines the situation envisioned in this response, the legal structure of such existential threat situations, and the right of collective self-defense. Tsuruta Jun, Associate Professor, Meiji Gakuin University Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks to the question of survival-threatening situations During the Lower House Budget Committee session on 7 November 2025, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae responded to a question from an opposition lawmaker who asked whether a blockade of the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines would constitute a “survival-threatening situation.” She stated the following: “If an armed attack [by China] were ... [Read more]

The popularity of Japanese pop culture continues to grow. Leveraging inbound tourism and imported culture is also a key aspect of cultural diplomacy. Pop culture as a strategic pillar of cultural diplomacy. The weak yen is driving global interest in events and sales within Japan. The “mutual circulation” of culture aligns with the essence of cultural diplomacy. Nakamura Jin, Professor, Atomi University Pop culture has become an important element in modern soft power strategies. Japanese anime, manga, games, and related music are enjoyed worldwide, and Japan is already one of the leading countries in promoting pop culture. Anime and game conventions are held in various countries and regions around the world, attracting many fans of Japanese works. This movement of Japanese pop culture is primarily driven by creators and private companies who communicate its fun and excitement through their work, both in Japan and ... [Read more]

Genda Yuji, Professor, The University of Tokyo “I haven’t thought about it specifically yet, but after working hard until I’m in my 60s, I’d like to retire completely and be free at the appropriate time. I’d like to spend my retirement years comfortably, focusing on the things I enjoy, such as following pop idols/ entertainment interests and hobbies, while also taking care of my health.” For young people, this is likely the retirement future most people hope for. But is this future really possible? Saving money is essential to achieving a comfortable life. The Public Opinion Survey on Household Financial Behavior (Central Council for Financial Services Information [now Japan Financial Literacy and Education Corporation [J-FLEC]]) looked at the financial assets of households with two or more people in their 40s. The survey found that, in 2003, over 60% of the households had assets exceeding ... [Read more]

Recent cyberattacks in the context of geopolitics Since around 2022, state-sponsored cyberattacks have become increasingly prevalent. This is partly due to the rogue cyber nations[1] using cyberattacks to achieve their national objectives. Cyberattacks that do not involve large-scale destruction or loss of life do not constitute armed attacks. These attacks can disable an adversary’s critical infrastructure without inciting armed conflict. Furthermore, ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure or supply chains make it difficult to distinguish between attacks by criminal groups and those ordered by a state. This makes it possible to damage an enemy country while concealing state involvement. In this respect, cyberattacks have become a convenient tool for rogue cyber nations. Furthermore, information-theft cyberattacks, which take advantage of the technical characteristics of cyberattacks that make it difficult to identify attackers, are becoming more prevalent, stealing policy information, business secrets, and intellectual property from target ... [Read more]

Hashimoto Kenji, Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University “This book seems to have predicted the results of the Upper House election and the subsequent political situation.” In his highly acclaimed new book, Atarashii Kaikyu Shakai (A new class society), which has garnered much attention, Hashimoto Kenji examines the expanding “underclass” and the transformation of the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) core support base. He also proposes the path the LDP should take. The shock of the Upper House election results and “A New Class Society” Nearly a month before the Upper House election on July 20, 2025, I published a book titled “A New Class Society: The End of Widening Inequality Revealed by the Latest Data.” I finished writing the manuscript in February of that year, so the book does not mention the election. Immediately after the election, however, I received inquiries and interview ... [Read more]