Five + 1 Surprising Scenarios for the Year of the Rabbit
2022 was definitely a “Roubini year”, but 2023 could well be a “Pinker year”
Rockin’ in Rhythm: Japan’s Battling Big Bands
Jazz was not merely a music to be accepted or reviled, but rather a metaphor for Japan’s participation in global cultural trends.
Journey to Disaster: Toshiro Mifune in “Band of Assassins”
He asked to be shaved because he knew exactly what was going to happen to his head
A Kurosawa Christmas: When the Turkey is Really Chicken
A glittering star appears amongst the reeking slime
Salute to Toshiro Mifune: Japan’s Greatest Movie Star
When Hideyoshi orders his soldiers to cut off the man’s nose and ears, he fights back
Rock Gods in Japan: Who’s Appropriating Who?
A famous number of theirs compares a girlfriend’s physical attributes to those of a high-performance sports car.
Blowback: Sunak, Kishida & the Supercompetitive Yen
Large currency moves always create winners and losers: the losers complain loudly while the winners count their profits and keep quiet.
Currency Crunch: The Yen is massively mispriced
Deflation could easily return
Reflections on a Funeral
I’m glad the protesters were there and glad they got some feedback
Shinzo Abe’s Legacy Part 2: A More Comfortable, Confident and Asian Japan
The era of the blonde English language teacher as neighbourhood celebrity is over.