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July 24, 2026
 

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Christopher Hobson
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 24, 2021
Lessons from living through a pandemic
COVID-19 has revealed that collectively we are not very good at dealing with situations of uncertainty.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 5, 2019
Security in ¡®Society 5.0¡¯
As Japan moves toward Society 5.0, there is a need for a much more transparent accounting of the possible downsides surrounding this transition, and further consideration of how some of the risks can be minimized.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 4, 2017
Putting democracy¡¯s troubles in context
History shows us that democracy has survived crises far greater than the present moment.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 20, 2016
Easy punditry, hard problems
The experience of the Bush years suggests that the institutions of U.S. democracy are not necessarily strong enough to prevent dangerous and reckless decisions being made. This does not bode well for a Trump presidency.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 18, 2015
To counter Abe, opposition must offer viable alternatives
Simply rejecting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s policies on defense and nuclear power is not sufficient. The opposition must formulate viable alternatives and advance different visions of Japan¡¯s future.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 20, 2015
The tragedy of Shinzo Abe
If Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s concern is with strengthening the position of Japan, why he has made so little progress on economics reforms?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 2, 2015
Terrorism is low on the list of dangers threatening Japan
The history of the U.S. and other Western democracies since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 has been a depressing tale of massive over-reactions to a very limited threat.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 5, 2014
The ¡®evil¡¯ in Iraq and Syria
Questioning the use of force by the U.S. and its allies in response to the crisis in Iraq and Syria does not mean we should sit idly by as innocents continue to be killed and abused.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 24, 2014
Rebuilding trust in Tepco
Tepco¡¯s task of regaining the trust of Japan¡¯s public will be just as difficult as resolving the technical challenges in the decades-long work of decommissioning the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 7, 2014
Lessons for fixing Fukushima
In March 2011 all of Japan was united by the terrible experience of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. Three years later this unity is increasingly fracturing as a more uneven reality emerges.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 28, 2013
Exposing IAEA to a dose of reality
Contrasting the International Atomic Energy Agency¡¯s findings with the reality in Fukushima, one is left wondering whether the IAEA mission got lost in a Potemkin village during their trip.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 26, 2013
Time to take over Daiichi?
Rather than rely on Tepco and a bare bones staff of regulators, it¡¯s time that the Japanese government consider taking control of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 30, 2012
Wakeup call for Japan¡¯s politicians
The massive shock that Japan received from the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, was not enough to shake the country¡¯s politicians out of their comatose state. This was already evident before the recent national elections.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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