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]

The “weaponization” of the economy and the rise of economic security Free trade is in crisis. The Trump administration’s tariff policy aims to rebuild trade by placing “fairness and balance” above economic efficiency. For the United States, this means that a growing trade deficit through free trade is “unfair,” and rebalancing is important. Therefore, the US uses tariffs to reduce imports from other countries. If imports are required, the revenue generated from tariffs can be used to recover lost wealth. Whether this policy will produce the results President Trump claims and what impact it will have on the American economy is impossible to predict. Nevertheless, it is clear that this tariff policy is endangering free trade. However, the Trump administration’s tariff policies are not the only reason for the current crisis in free trade. As a result of this American tariff policy, China was ... ... [Read more]

The LDP’s difficulties will continue in the next election As of this writing, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has not yet chosen a new president. However, by the time this issue of Chuokoron is published on October 10, 2025, a new government will have been formed under the new president, and the LDP will likely have high expectations.[1] Nevertheless, the new president’s popularity and the LDP’s recovery in approval ratings may not endure this time. The LDP’s poor performance in both the Lower House general election in October 2024 and the Upper House regular election in July of this year is due to tectonic shifts in Japanese politics. The LDP’s inability to respond adequately to these shifts is at the heart of the problem. Throughout its history, the LDP has typically recovered in the following election, even if it performed poorly in either the ... ... [Read more]

  Supply chain management to prepare for geopolitical incidents requires strategic thinking, where predicting the reaction of geopolitical competitors is essential to designing effective countermeasures.   Deterrence is the key for promoting supply chain resilience Friend-shoring is a double-edged sword Risk can be alleviated by trust-building through inter-firm networks across national borders   Inomata Satoshi, Chief Senior Researcher, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) With looming uncertainty in the global business environment, the pursuit of economic efficiency is increasingly associated with supply chain vulnerabilities. “Resilience” became a keyword in supply chain management and now forms the core aspect of economic security. Supply chain vulnerabilities are attributed either to (1) physical risks, (2) cyber risks, or (3) geopolitical risks.[1] Physical risks include those of natural hazards, climate change, and pandemics. Cyber risks are represented by malicious attacks on critical infrastructure or theft/leakage ... ... [Read more]

War has thrown the international order into flux. The search for a multipolar order centered on various “Souths” has begun. Key Points: The presence of emerging powers, which sometimes surpass developed nations, is growing. New, regionally driven frameworks for conflict management are emerging and warrant closer scrutiny. Japan should consider shifting away from “American dominance” and toward “diversification.” Kawashima Shin, Professor, University of Tokyo Wars and hostilities frequently erupt across Eurasia, from Ukraine to the Middle East, India and Pakistan, Thailand and Cambodia. After occupying and annexing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Russia’s fighting in eastern Ukraine escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022. This aggression continues to this day. On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. Israel subsequently retaliated by extending its attacks beyond Gaza to include pro-Iranian forces, such as Hezbollah. Israel also launched military strikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear program. ... ... [Read more]