How does the war in Iran look from Asia? My take:

20+ years of capturing Japan on canvas. Really enjoyed this conversation with Carl Randall.

Interesting weekend coming up in Japan. By way of an appetiser, here's my piece for @lrb.co.uk.

Do go and see the British Museum's spellbinding new Samurai exhibition if you have a chance.

Meanwhile, my essay for Engelsberg Ideas on the origins and legacies of Japan's warrior class:

Samurai at the British Museum review — a ravishing, bloody trip to Japan There is beauty and force in equal measure in this riveting show about the warrior class that rose to power in Japan in the Middle Ages and became its ruling elite

Five stars in The Times too…

www.thetimes.com/culture/art/...

Samurai review: Japan’s lethal warrior class are shown in all their sexy, demonic glory Extraordinary battle armour, complete with moustachioed masks, enlivens this scintillating show, which brilliantly captures the theatrical side of a chivalrous epoch

Congratulations to @olegb.bsky.social on a five-star review of the new Samurai exhibition at the British Museum. Opens on 3rd Feb.

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

My review of @hirokoyoda.bsky.social ‘s excellent new book:

True! I recall the public meeting early on in the film being packed with political commentary. Found it refreshing!

Sweet...!

Ha - lovely!

That’s fascinating. There were rumours in the UK that some children going back to school after Covid were trying to swipe their fingers up or across paperbacks - again, perhaps not as intuitive as we might think...

Looking forward to the revised version - things are moving fast, aren't they...! 😅

As someone who's moved to JAPAN 🎌 not too long ago, I always wanted to explore the country's fascinating MODERN history... Thanks to @drchrisharding.bsky.social I finally got the chance!

Check out our FULL CONVO here 👇🏻

YT:
youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU

Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

Such a great series. @philipgoff.bsky.social was excellent, as was Gilbert Markus talking about 'Is God Nothing?' (of interest to anyone thinking about inter-religious dialogue and concepts of the divine). @takeshimorisato.bsky.social @theosthinktank.bsky.social

Really enjoyed this conversation!

Fantastic - thank you for sharing this. Have signed up for your Substack and will look forward to more there.

Interesting - thanks!

Thank you for a great thread. What do you make of the claim that Japan could produce a nuclear weapon inside a year, starting from its current tech and resources?

I keep reading that the 'permit' NNP might be nuanced or binned - unlikely though, in your view?

Looking forward to History Hit on Substack…!

😂

Seems reasonable. Fingers crossed it helps a bit...!

Or indeed this... (Lib Dem leader, 2024 UK election). 😂

😂

Bluesky worked in my case - thanks for sharing it!

Ha! 😂

Can Vending Machines Save Japan? Part II: Salvation Through Automation

Japan is losing more than 2,000 people every day to population decline.

Is automation the answer?

This week's Substack post:
www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...

Can Vending Machines Save Japan? Part I: Trust meets High Technology

Japan's famous vending machines look like late 20th-century tech.

In fact, they're both decades and centuries older.

They may also hold the key to the country's future.

www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...

Promises to be an interesting evening - do come!

Kodama Yoshio, born poor in Fukushima in 1911, became an ultranationalist adventurer.

He amassed a fortune in wartime China, from gems to precious metals, doing black-market deals with Nationalists and Communists alike and working as a fixer for the Imperial Japanese Navy.