Rob Fahey
@robfahey.net
CTO at VETA (https://veta.co.jp), where we’re building data science tools to tackle social issues. Recovering academic (formerly at Waseda). Occasional journalist. 🇮🇪/🏳️🌈/He/Him
One further thought on this immigration thread. While the proposed cost rises aren't a major issue for most people in relatively high-earning fields like tech / finance, I don't think we should underestimate the impact this "mood music" has on the ability to attract / retain international labour.
Aside from the obvious populist scapegoating, a striking thing about the government’s stance here is how utterly incoherent it is with the past decade of LDP policy - including that of Takaichi’s icon Abe, who squarely aimed migration policy at shoring up the country’s dwindling workforce.
In Japan they are considering increasing the cost for applying for a permanent visa to around 1900 USD because "other countries charge more than Japan".
It costs 50 USD in Spain, just say clearly that you want all foreigners out of the country, Japanese government.
It costs 50 USD in Spain, just say clearly that you want all foreigners out of the country, Japanese government.
November 29, 2025 at 1:50 AM
One further thought on this immigration thread. While the proposed cost rises aren't a major issue for most people in relatively high-earning fields like tech / finance, I don't think we should underestimate the impact this "mood music" has on the ability to attract / retain international labour.
Aside from the obvious populist scapegoating, a striking thing about the government’s stance here is how utterly incoherent it is with the past decade of LDP policy - including that of Takaichi’s icon Abe, who squarely aimed migration policy at shoring up the country’s dwindling workforce.
In Japan they are considering increasing the cost for applying for a permanent visa to around 1900 USD because "other countries charge more than Japan".
It costs 50 USD in Spain, just say clearly that you want all foreigners out of the country, Japanese government.
It costs 50 USD in Spain, just say clearly that you want all foreigners out of the country, Japanese government.
November 29, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Aside from the obvious populist scapegoating, a striking thing about the government’s stance here is how utterly incoherent it is with the past decade of LDP policy - including that of Takaichi’s icon Abe, who squarely aimed migration policy at shoring up the country’s dwindling workforce.
Reposted by Rob Fahey
How does a fringe, anti-vaccine party come to influence national politics? In this insightful article, Romeo Marcantuoni and Robert A. Fahey examine Sanseitō, a Japanese political party founded during the pandemic.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
Fighting the Cabal from the Diet: Sanseitō and the Role of Conspiracy as Political Ideology | Asia-Pacific Journal | Cambridge Core
Fighting the Cabal from the Diet: Sanseitō and the Role of Conspiracy as Political Ideology - Volume 23
www.cambridge.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
How does a fringe, anti-vaccine party come to influence national politics? In this insightful article, Romeo Marcantuoni and Robert A. Fahey examine Sanseitō, a Japanese political party founded during the pandemic.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
www.cambridge.org/core/journal... #Japan #Politics #ConspiracyTheories #APJJF
This was a timely reminder to donate and upgrade to supporting membership.
The key point here is that the NSF was trying to attach sweeping, baguely defined conditions not just to how its grant money would be used, but to *all other activities* of the foundation.
The key point here is that the NSF was trying to attach sweeping, baguely defined conditions not just to how its grant money would be used, but to *all other activities* of the foundation.
TLDR; The PSF has made the decision to put our community and our shared diversity, equity, and inclusion values ahead of seeking $1.5M in new revenue. Please read and share. pyfound.blogspot.com/2025/10/NSF-...
🧵
🧵
The official home of the Python Programming Language
www.python.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:15 AM
This was a timely reminder to donate and upgrade to supporting membership.
The key point here is that the NSF was trying to attach sweeping, baguely defined conditions not just to how its grant money would be used, but to *all other activities* of the foundation.
The key point here is that the NSF was trying to attach sweeping, baguely defined conditions not just to how its grant money would be used, but to *all other activities* of the foundation.
Takaichi wins, with Koizumi falling surprisingly short in the lawmaker votes - he didn't even win all of Hayashi's votes.
Probably in part down to lawmakers not wanting to ignore the constituency votes, but also a pretty clear sign of a party running scared of populist challenges from its right.
Probably in part down to lawmakers not wanting to ignore the constituency votes, but also a pretty clear sign of a party running scared of populist challenges from its right.
October 4, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Takaichi wins, with Koizumi falling surprisingly short in the lawmaker votes - he didn't even win all of Hayashi's votes.
Probably in part down to lawmakers not wanting to ignore the constituency votes, but also a pretty clear sign of a party running scared of populist challenges from its right.
Probably in part down to lawmakers not wanting to ignore the constituency votes, but also a pretty clear sign of a party running scared of populist challenges from its right.
Takaichi and Koizumi go into a runoff, as expected. Her popularity with the rank and file was key - she won over 40% of membership votes (Koizumi got 28%).
Weird upsets do happen in the runoffs, but note that Takaichi didn't even come second in her colleagues' votes - she was third behind Hayashi.
Weird upsets do happen in the runoffs, but note that Takaichi didn't even come second in her colleagues' votes - she was third behind Hayashi.
October 4, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Takaichi and Koizumi go into a runoff, as expected. Her popularity with the rank and file was key - she won over 40% of membership votes (Koizumi got 28%).
Weird upsets do happen in the runoffs, but note that Takaichi didn't even come second in her colleagues' votes - she was third behind Hayashi.
Weird upsets do happen in the runoffs, but note that Takaichi didn't even come second in her colleagues' votes - she was third behind Hayashi.
The campaigning for today's LDP leadership election has largely been very dull, enlivened only by Takaichi speed-running the Kemi Badenoch "politics is when you see stuff on Twitter and then make a speech insisting it's true" path to insanity. Most predictions seem to think it's Koizumi's moment.
October 4, 2025 at 4:09 AM
The campaigning for today's LDP leadership election has largely been very dull, enlivened only by Takaichi speed-running the Kemi Badenoch "politics is when you see stuff on Twitter and then make a speech insisting it's true" path to insanity. Most predictions seem to think it's Koizumi's moment.
Reposted by Rob Fahey
We're less than two hours from the start of voting for the next LDP leader. I made a little cheat sheet.
October 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
We're less than two hours from the start of voting for the next LDP leader. I made a little cheat sheet.
Polling for LDP elections can help to show how the wind is blowing, but as Jeff points out, only members get to vote (and are actually very hard to pin-point in polling data so these estimates are always very rough). Plus, the decisive second round is very heavily weighted towards lawmakers’ votes.
A new poll asked Japanese their preference for the next leader of the LDP. Takaichi Sanae came in first with 29%.
However, it should be noted that when you isolate for LDP supporters, Koizumi Shinjiro beats her 33% to 28%. Non-party members do not vote in the election.
news.line.me/detail/oa-yo...
However, it should be noted that when you isolate for LDP supporters, Koizumi Shinjiro beats her 33% to 28%. Non-party members do not vote in the election.
news.line.me/detail/oa-yo...
次の自民党総裁、トップは高市早苗氏２９％・小泉進次郎氏が続く…読売世論調査（読売新聞オンライン）
読売新聞社は１３～１４日、全国世論調査を実施した。自民党総裁選（２２日告示、１０月４日投開票）を巡り、次の自民党総裁に誰がふさわしいと思うかを尋ねたところ、高市早苗・前経済安全保
news.line.me
September 15, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Polling for LDP elections can help to show how the wind is blowing, but as Jeff points out, only members get to vote (and are actually very hard to pin-point in polling data so these estimates are always very rough). Plus, the decisive second round is very heavily weighted towards lawmakers’ votes.
Whoever leads the LDP next needs to balance holding together an increasingly fractured party with building alliances with opposition parties to pass legislation, as well as handling U.S. political instability and tough economic headwinds. Motegi probably ticks a couple of those boxes, at least.
The race to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has kicked off, with LDP heavyweight Toshimitsu Motegi on Monday becoming the first to announce his candidacy, a day after Ishiba said he would step down.
Race to replace Ishiba kicks off as LDP heavyweight Motegi throws hat into ring
Former party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi became the first to announce he is running in a party presidential election, with others expected to follow soon.
ebx.sh
September 8, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Whoever leads the LDP next needs to balance holding together an increasingly fractured party with building alliances with opposition parties to pass legislation, as well as handling U.S. political instability and tough economic headwinds. Motegi probably ticks a couple of those boxes, at least.
I'd love to know what Suga and Koizumi said to him last night to get him to step down. My guess is that they convinced him that doing so opens a pathway to unite the party's moderates behind a preferred candidate - he's too stubborn to have given in because of threats of withdrawing support etc.
BREAKING: Japanese PM says he has decided to quit 石破首相 総理大臣を辞任する意向を固める | NHK www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...
石破首相 総理大臣を辞任する意向を固める | NHK
【NHK】自民党の臨時の総裁選挙が実施されるかどうか、8日決まるのを前に、石破総理大臣は、党が分断される事態は避けたいとして総理大…
www3.nhk.or.jp
September 7, 2025 at 6:39 AM
I'd love to know what Suga and Koizumi said to him last night to get him to step down. My guess is that they convinced him that doing so opens a pathway to unite the party's moderates behind a preferred candidate - he's too stubborn to have given in because of threats of withdrawing support etc.
The Substance finally launched in Japan so we went to see it yesterday; between the dubious parables about eternal life backed up by body horror, and the copious amounts of wine we drank afterwards, that’s the most Catholic I’ve felt on a Sunday in quite a while.
May 19, 2025 at 4:40 AM
The Substance finally launched in Japan so we went to see it yesterday; between the dubious parables about eternal life backed up by body horror, and the copious amounts of wine we drank afterwards, that’s the most Catholic I’ve felt on a Sunday in quite a while.
Even as Ishiba’s detractors in the LDP furiously sharpen their knives for his back, it’s worth noting that his most defining qualities as a politician - boulder-level stubbornness and willingness to play a very long game - seem to be incredibly well suited to dealing with this Trump admin.
Japan might be playing the long game with the U.S. in tariff talks, possibly in the hope that mounting domestic pressure will force Trump to give it a better deal.
Japan might be playing long game in U.S. tariff talks
Tokyo is resisting making any major concessions, possibly in the hope that mounting domestic pressure will force U.S. President Donald Trump to give it a better deal.
www.japantimes.co.jp
May 13, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Even as Ishiba’s detractors in the LDP furiously sharpen their knives for his back, it’s worth noting that his most defining qualities as a politician - boulder-level stubbornness and willingness to play a very long game - seem to be incredibly well suited to dealing with this Trump admin.
In Osaka for a few days; didn’t even make it through baggage claim before being hit with a drive-by Myaku-Myaku.
(I’m not sure this little freak should be in charge of a vehicle.)
(I’m not sure this little freak should be in charge of a vehicle.)
May 12, 2025 at 6:24 AM
In Osaka for a few days; didn’t even make it through baggage claim before being hit with a drive-by Myaku-Myaku.
(I’m not sure this little freak should be in charge of a vehicle.)
(I’m not sure this little freak should be in charge of a vehicle.)
As ever, I am a trendsetter - whereas some millennials have become uncool, I’m waaaay ahead of them since I have never been cool.
May 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
As ever, I am a trendsetter - whereas some millennials have become uncool, I’m waaaay ahead of them since I have never been cool.
The abrupt post-Golden Week transition from sipping wine coolers on a boat in Tokyo Bay to sitting through a morning of Zoom meetings is giving me mental whiplash.
I just don’t think, at this age, that I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life, y’know?
I just don’t think, at this age, that I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life, y’know?
May 7, 2025 at 3:35 AM
The abrupt post-Golden Week transition from sipping wine coolers on a boat in Tokyo Bay to sitting through a morning of Zoom meetings is giving me mental whiplash.
I just don’t think, at this age, that I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life, y’know?
I just don’t think, at this age, that I’m meant to live an uncomfortable life, y’know?
Arguably the only silver lining to the Trump admin is that it's probably going to do to right-wing MAGA-esque movements around the world what Brexit did to the nativist stripe of Euroskepticism around the EU.
The impact of an unpopular American president on a foreign election is stunning. Never seen anything like the seismic political shift Trump triggered in Canada to deliver a stunning Liberal win.
Trump’s toxicity is rewriting global politics.
Trump’s toxicity is rewriting global politics.
April 29, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Arguably the only silver lining to the Trump admin is that it's probably going to do to right-wing MAGA-esque movements around the world what Brexit did to the nativist stripe of Euroskepticism around the EU.
A collection of essays about Japan in the NYT? With an introduction by Pico Iyer of "the REAL Japan is when you make your wife translate everything for you for three decades" fame, you say?
A lovely morning of dunking for GaiSky, but I think I'll preserve the remaining shreds of my sanity, thanks.
A lovely morning of dunking for GaiSky, but I think I'll preserve the remaining shreds of my sanity, thanks.
a man is sitting in a car with a group of women and says `` that 's bait . ''
Alt: Mad Max, sitting in the front of his car, wags his finger disapprovingly and says "That's bait". One often overlooked advantage of the post-apocalyptic hellscape of Mad Max is that the New York Times presumably no longer exists.
media.tenor.com
April 25, 2025 at 2:23 AM
A collection of essays about Japan in the NYT? With an introduction by Pico Iyer of "the REAL Japan is when you make your wife translate everything for you for three decades" fame, you say?
A lovely morning of dunking for GaiSky, but I think I'll preserve the remaining shreds of my sanity, thanks.
A lovely morning of dunking for GaiSky, but I think I'll preserve the remaining shreds of my sanity, thanks.
Process times at the catastrophically understaffed Immigration agency are now so long that renewed / changed visas don’t get issued until months into the renewal extension period (i.e., past the expiry date printed on the residence card) - an extension period banks universally refuse to acknowledge.
Some banks in Japan have started freezing withdrawals from accounts held by foreign nationals whose visas or residential statuses have expired as part of a government initiative to combat scams and fraud.
Banks freeze withdrawals for foreign nationals upon expiry of visas
The move is part of a government initiative to combat scams and fraud, the Financial Services Agency says.
www.japantimes.co.jp
April 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Process times at the catastrophically understaffed Immigration agency are now so long that renewed / changed visas don’t get issued until months into the renewal extension period (i.e., past the expiry date printed on the residence card) - an extension period banks universally refuse to acknowledge.
People keep saying these policies are out of the Gilded Age, but his statements make more sense if you go back many more centuries and think in terms of tribute, not tariffs. He's dreaming of obsequious courtiers from far-off vassal states coming to lay chests of gold at the feet of the Emperor.
Trump: China will now pay a big number to our treasury. This is all taxes. And don't let them keep telling you that this is a tax on our people. I hate that. You know, they say it's a tax. No.
April 9, 2025 at 2:23 AM
People keep saying these policies are out of the Gilded Age, but his statements make more sense if you go back many more centuries and think in terms of tribute, not tariffs. He's dreaming of obsequious courtiers from far-off vassal states coming to lay chests of gold at the feet of the Emperor.
Osaka High Court is the latest to rule that the failure to recognise same-sex marriages under law is unconstitutional. Today's ruling overturns an earlier district court ruling that was one of the only legal losses to date for the equal marriage cases.
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...
同性婚認めないのは憲法違反 大阪高裁 2審の違憲判決は5件目 | NHK
【NHK】同性どうしの結婚が認められていないのは憲法に違反するとして、京都府などに住む3組の同性のカップルが国を訴えた裁判で、2審…
www3.nhk.or.jp
March 25, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Osaka High Court is the latest to rule that the failure to recognise same-sex marriages under law is unconstitutional. Today's ruling overturns an earlier district court ruling that was one of the only legal losses to date for the equal marriage cases.
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...
www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20...
Reposted by Rob Fahey
The US 2020 Elections - @sjungkunz.bsky.social, @robfahey.net & Airo Hino investigate the dynamics of political violence justification & its connection with populist attitudes & conspiracy beliefs: https://buff.ly/3ZidmeI
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #ECRs #polsky
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #ECRs #polsky
February 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The US 2020 Elections - @sjungkunz.bsky.social, @robfahey.net & Airo Hino investigate the dynamics of political violence justification & its connection with populist attitudes & conspiracy beliefs: https://buff.ly/3ZidmeI
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #ECRs #polsky
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social @uoypolitics.bsky.social #ECRs #polsky
I've been lax in plugging the Waseda podcast, but I particularly enjoyed this discussion with Prof. Liu-Farrer about migration in Asia. We talk about the artificial ideas of "skilled" migration, and how labour flows in Asia impact both sending and receiving nations:
www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/...
www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/...
【Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact】“Rethinking Skilled Migration”
Waseda University released the sixth episode, “Rethinking Skilled Migration”, of its English language podcast series “Rigorous Research, Rea...
www.waseda.jp
February 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I've been lax in plugging the Waseda podcast, but I particularly enjoyed this discussion with Prof. Liu-Farrer about migration in Asia. We talk about the artificial ideas of "skilled" migration, and how labour flows in Asia impact both sending and receiving nations:
www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/...
www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/...
Fought through crashing waves of jet-lag to see Sigourney Weaver’s last night in The Tempest - absolutely worth it! She was wonderful, of course, though the show was thoroughly stolen by the jawdropping set design and by Mason Alexander Park’s fantastically ethereal performance as Ariel.
February 2, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Fought through crashing waves of jet-lag to see Sigourney Weaver’s last night in The Tempest - absolutely worth it! She was wonderful, of course, though the show was thoroughly stolen by the jawdropping set design and by Mason Alexander Park’s fantastically ethereal performance as Ariel.