Japan's cult of safetyism
The Japanese government has launched an initiative to encourage young people to drink more alcohol. Yes, really. The national tax…
Japan’s nuclear renaissance
Japan is reversing its avowedly anti-nuclear stance, restarting idled plants and looking to develop a new generation of reactors, announced Prime Minister…
In defence of Graeme Souness’ ‘man’s game’ comments
‘Language please, there are ladies present’, that was the kind of thing you would occasionally hear when some possibly overly…
What does England’s victory mean for women's football?
Well, thank goodness for that. Just as it seemed the England’s women’s football team might be about to extend the…
Why is the BBC's women's football coverage so patronising?
Be honest, how excited are you about the women’s European football championship? The BBC – which will broadcast every game…
Why won't David Beckham criticise Qatar?
David Beckham has come under fire for failing to speak out about human rights abuses in Qatar. Amnesty International said…
Gareth Southgate doesn't know what he's doing
‘The Hungar Shames’ screamed the Sun after England suffered a mortifying 0-4 defeat to the not so mighty Magyars last…
Is Emma Raducanu a one-hit wonder?
If there is one thing that could salvage this year’s Wimbledon it would be a decent showing by the tournament’s…
Wimbledon is getting what it deserves
What a mess. With just five weeks to go before the start of the tournament, Wimbledon organisers are having to…
Is this the return of football hooliganism?
Everton secured their Premier League safety last night, coming back from two goals down to bag a 3-2 victory against…
Ukraine shouldn't get a free pass to the World Cup
Should Ukraine be given a free pass into this year’s football World Cup? Boris Johnson has given his support to…
Does Putin’s Judo philosophy explain his sanctions response?
Contemplating leaders and their heroes can be a revealing business. Churchill had busts of Nelson and Napoleon at Chartwell (and…
In Japan, being a token westerner is big business
How to make money as a token westerner in Japan
Kicking Russia out of the World Cup would achieve nothing
‘There are more important things in life than football,’ said the Polish football federation as they announced their intention to boycott…
How long can Japan keep foreigners locked out?
A colleague has posted on the ‘Return to Japan’ Facebook page that his hotel quarantine at Tokyo’s Narita airport is…
The march of South Korea’s anti-feminists
How men’s rights became a big political issue
Could Covid finally end the tradition of Japan’s dreaded 'bonenkai' parties?
John Updike described America as a ‘vast conspiracy to make you happy’. Japan, a wonderful place to live in many…
Why COP26 flopped
King coal is dead, long live king coal! That might be a fitting epitaph for COP26, which mercifully ended last…
Is climate change scepticism growing in Japan?
Fumio Kishida, the newly-installed Japanese prime minister, could have been forgiven for giving COP26 a miss. The opening ceremony in…
The enduring power of Japan’s doomsday cults
The enduring power of Japan’s doomsday groups
Meet Japan's latest unloved leader
Japan will soon have yet another new prime minster: Fumio Kishida. He will be the country’s third leader in as…
Farewell, Yoshihide Suga, Japan's unloved leader
Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga has fallen on his sword. Suga announced today that he will not be seeking reelection as leader…
The rise and fall of the yakuza
For the first time in history, an organised crime ‘yakuza’ boss has been sentenced to death in a Japanese court.…
Is Japan about to enter a 'London-style lockdown'?
Just like the Olympics, which ended a fortnight ago, the Paralympics is set to commence amid a drumbeat of doom.…
Was the Tokyo Olympics a success?
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s Prime Minister, is a hard man to read. He has a sum total of one facial expression…
