Shikinami
@shikinami.bsky.social
MA in Public Policy. UTokyo GraSPP alumnus. Trying my hand at the Japanese content industry. I stand for Human Rights. RTs≠endorsements He/him.
Holy moly, was about to buy an eSIM via Airalo but decided to check local providers at home and the difference was massive: 7k yen via the former vs less than 2k yen via a local carrier.
Glad I looked beforehand.
Glad I looked beforehand.
December 20, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Holy moly, was about to buy an eSIM via Airalo but decided to check local providers at home and the difference was massive: 7k yen via the former vs less than 2k yen via a local carrier.
Glad I looked beforehand.
Glad I looked beforehand.
Yet another day doing Xmas shopping - hearing the same Xmas songs in every single store 🫠
Having a break at a Segafredo and finally got some holiday music variety - props to them for picking a slightly different playlist lol
Having a break at a Segafredo and finally got some holiday music variety - props to them for picking a slightly different playlist lol
December 20, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Yet another day doing Xmas shopping - hearing the same Xmas songs in every single store 🫠
Having a break at a Segafredo and finally got some holiday music variety - props to them for picking a slightly different playlist lol
Having a break at a Segafredo and finally got some holiday music variety - props to them for picking a slightly different playlist lol
There’s so much they can do to make it nigh impossible to get PR even without an N1 requirement. They can, for example, add an exam to the upcoming mandatory course that includes Japanese history and literature an and only accept those who get 100% of the answers correctly.
THERE IT IS.
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
December 20, 2025 at 2:01 AM
There’s so much they can do to make it nigh impossible to get PR even without an N1 requirement. They can, for example, add an exam to the upcoming mandatory course that includes Japanese history and literature an and only accept those who get 100% of the answers correctly.
THERE IT IS.
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
Japanese proficiency eyed as permanent residency requirement
To obtain the status, foreign nationals will also be mandated to take a program aimed at helping them smoothly integrate into local communities.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
THERE IT IS.
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
All they need to do is to require JLPT 1 and they will succeed in making PR near impossible (JLPT 2 holder here with very little extra time to add studies on top)
A nice change I’ve observed over the years is the increase of high school girls “rebelling” against uniforms by… wearing their PE pants under skirts during winter. There’s 0 reason for kids to undergo discomfort for the sake of a dress code - I hope this will bring some relaxation of outdated rules
December 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
A nice change I’ve observed over the years is the increase of high school girls “rebelling” against uniforms by… wearing their PE pants under skirts during winter. There’s 0 reason for kids to undergo discomfort for the sake of a dress code - I hope this will bring some relaxation of outdated rules
Reposted by Shikinami
2025's last Japan Daily Briefing, free for all:
-Takaichi gov faces calls to fire official who discussed nukes
-LDP+Ishin finalize FY2026 tax plan, as DPFP celebrates victory
-Diet opening date could have electoral implications
-BOJ raises rates, JPY falls
observingjapan.substack.com/p/nuclear-ta...
-Takaichi gov faces calls to fire official who discussed nukes
-LDP+Ishin finalize FY2026 tax plan, as DPFP celebrates victory
-Diet opening date could have electoral implications
-BOJ raises rates, JPY falls
observingjapan.substack.com/p/nuclear-ta...
Nuclear taboo tested | Japan Daily Briefing
Opposition lawmakers call for official to be fired for nuclear weapons comment
observingjapan.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:31 PM
2025's last Japan Daily Briefing, free for all:
-Takaichi gov faces calls to fire official who discussed nukes
-LDP+Ishin finalize FY2026 tax plan, as DPFP celebrates victory
-Diet opening date could have electoral implications
-BOJ raises rates, JPY falls
observingjapan.substack.com/p/nuclear-ta...
-Takaichi gov faces calls to fire official who discussed nukes
-LDP+Ishin finalize FY2026 tax plan, as DPFP celebrates victory
-Diet opening date could have electoral implications
-BOJ raises rates, JPY falls
observingjapan.substack.com/p/nuclear-ta...
Reposted by Shikinami
🇯🇵YIELD ON 10-YEAR JGB RISES 4.5 BASIS POINTS TO 2.010%, HIGHEST SINCE 1999
December 19, 2025 at 4:50 AM
🇯🇵YIELD ON 10-YEAR JGB RISES 4.5 BASIS POINTS TO 2.010%, HIGHEST SINCE 1999
Just 5 days before my trip back home - greeeeat 🫠
Yen Weakens After BOJ Hike, Boosting Australian and New Zealand Dollars
December 19, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Just 5 days before my trip back home - greeeeat 🫠
They were already the largest licensee (if not master licensee) for Japan: they owned all Snoopy stores + the Snoopy Museum Tokyo
www.scp.co.jp/en
www.scp.co.jp/en
December 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
They were already the largest licensee (if not master licensee) for Japan: they owned all Snoopy stores + the Snoopy Museum Tokyo
www.scp.co.jp/en
www.scp.co.jp/en
🤦♂️
EN DIRECT, crise agricole : la FNSEA reste « mobilisée » après l’annonce du report à janvier de la signature de l’accord UE-Mercosur
EN DIRECT, crise agricole : la FNSEA reste « mobilisée » après l’annonce du report à janvier de la signature de l’accord UE-Mercosur
La présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a annoncé aux dirigeants des 27 pays de l’UE réunis à Bruxelles que l’accord commercial ne serait pas signé comme prévu samedi et qu’il faudrait attendre le mois prochain, ont rapporté des sources diplomatiques auprès de l’Agence France-Presse.
www.lemonde.fr
December 19, 2025 at 1:14 AM
🤦♂️
Reposted by Shikinami
"Japan’s low levels of street protest have not produced disengagement; participation has migrated online", Rina Komiya writes, as she explains how digital outrage increasingly manages to derail local inclusion policies in Japan.
How online outrage undermines local inclusion efforts in Japan
A specter is haunting local governance in Japan—the specter of the attention economy. Municipal officials, whose daily work usually revolves around routine community services, now find themselves conf...
www.tokyoreview.net
December 15, 2025 at 1:45 AM
"Japan’s low levels of street protest have not produced disengagement; participation has migrated online", Rina Komiya writes, as she explains how digital outrage increasingly manages to derail local inclusion policies in Japan.
This can only go well
Japanese ministries to adopt AI to help overworked bureaucrats
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/artificial-intelligence/japanese-ministries-to-adopt-ai-to-help-overworked-bureaucrats
https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/artificial-intelligence/japanese-ministries-to-adopt-ai-to-help-overworked-bureaucrats
Japanese ministries to adopt AI to help overworked bureaucrats
AI to craft responses delivered by top officials in parliamentary sessions
asia.nikkei.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:58 PM
This can only go well
Reposted by Shikinami
Japan PM Takaichi's government readies record budget, alarming market
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan-pm-takaichi-s-government-readies-record-budget-alarming-market
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan-pm-takaichi-s-government-readies-record-budget-alarming-market
Japan PM Takaichi's government readies record budget, alarming market
Minority government forced to include spending demands from opposition parties
asia.nikkei.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Japan PM Takaichi's government readies record budget, alarming market
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan-pm-takaichi-s-government-readies-record-budget-alarming-market
https://asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan-pm-takaichi-s-government-readies-record-budget-alarming-market
Reposted by Shikinami
Thanks @nikkei.com Japan for this interview about the far right in Europe. We spoke also about the differences with the far left and the role of civil society. farpo.eu @scpo-research.bsky.social @sciencespo-cee.bsky.social
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
極右・極左政党、日常化する世界 欧州から考える日本政治の将来 - 日本経済新聞
日本は2024年の衆院選と25年の参院選を経て多党化の傾向を強めた。多党制が定着している欧州では極右や極左といわれる政党が支持を集め、政権を担う例も珍しくなくなった。欧州の政治から日本の将来を考えてみたい。自国民を移民より優先すべきだとするネイティビズムや権威主義を前面に出す――。欧州学界の有力な論文を調べると、極右政党はおおむねこう定義できる。ポピュリズムの手法似る自らを大衆の代弁者と位
www.nikkei.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Thanks @nikkei.com Japan for this interview about the far right in Europe. We spoke also about the differences with the far left and the role of civil society. farpo.eu @scpo-research.bsky.social @sciencespo-cee.bsky.social
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
Here’s why I didn’t bother to try for naturalization in Japan.
The Trump administration plans to ramp up efforts to strip some naturalized Americans of their citizenship, marking an aggressive new phase in the president’s immigration crackdown. | via @nytimes.com
Trump administration aims to strip more foreign-born Americans of citizenship
New guidance from the administration is seeking 100-200 denaturalization cases per month in the 2026 fiscal year.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 18, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Here’s why I didn’t bother to try for naturalization in Japan.
Good that this is finally making waves overseas too
“They burned millions but got nothing.” Major Japanese game font provider’s aggressive price hike could be result of parent company’s alleged AI failure and financial struggle
automaton-media.com/en/news/japa...
automaton-media.com/en/news/japa...
“They burned millions but got nothing.” Japanese game font provider’s aggressive price hike could be result of parent company’s alleged AI failure and financial struggle - AUTOMATON WEST
After it replaced a domestic $380 annual license plan for game fonts with a $20,500 plan, Monotype has come under scrutiny.
automaton-media.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Good that this is finally making waves overseas too
You can’t get more plutocratic than this
WHITE HOUSE IS SEEKING DONATIONS FROM THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN EACH STATE TO SUPPLEMENT TAXPAYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO “TRUMP ACCOUNTS” FOR NEWBORN SAVINGS, PER WAPO.
December 18, 2025 at 1:37 AM
You can’t get more plutocratic than this
Thank goodness, the wifi for my long haul flight next week is not from starlink
December 18, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Thank goodness, the wifi for my long haul flight next week is not from starlink
Step up the wording: it’s not “it might be illegal” - it should be “it is a crime”
Plenty of pretty clear worded examples to draw inspiration from
Plenty of pretty clear worded examples to draw inspiration from
December 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Step up the wording: it’s not “it might be illegal” - it should be “it is a crime”
Plenty of pretty clear worded examples to draw inspiration from
Plenty of pretty clear worded examples to draw inspiration from
For effs sake, I thought France was the problem with this getting stalled forever but now Italy is joining too…
Prospects are not good, chief
Prospects are not good, chief
Mercosur : l’Italie et la France menacent de bloquer l’accord de libre-échange, Lula lance un ultimatum aux Européens
Mercosur : l’Italie et la France menacent de bloquer l’accord de libre-échange, Lula lance un ultimatum aux Européens
La présidente du conseil italien, Giorgia Meloni, est plus que jamais en position de déclencher ou pas la signature imminente du traité UE-Mercosur. Si la France refuse, la Commission, l’Allemagne et l’Espagne poussent à un accord et le Brésil fait monter la pression.
www.lemonde.fr
December 17, 2025 at 11:11 PM
For effs sake, I thought France was the problem with this getting stalled forever but now Italy is joining too…
Prospects are not good, chief
Prospects are not good, chief
Let’s talk about this card.
I honestly think that this design space is great but there are so many restrictions that make poor Lobelia unplayable: it only targets CREATURES from an OPPONENT’s graveyard and they have to be put there FROM THE BATTLEFIELD during THIS turn.
I honestly think that this design space is great but there are so many restrictions that make poor Lobelia unplayable: it only targets CREATURES from an OPPONENT’s graveyard and they have to be put there FROM THE BATTLEFIELD during THIS turn.
December 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Let’s talk about this card.
I honestly think that this design space is great but there are so many restrictions that make poor Lobelia unplayable: it only targets CREATURES from an OPPONENT’s graveyard and they have to be put there FROM THE BATTLEFIELD during THIS turn.
I honestly think that this design space is great but there are so many restrictions that make poor Lobelia unplayable: it only targets CREATURES from an OPPONENT’s graveyard and they have to be put there FROM THE BATTLEFIELD during THIS turn.
Need a moment to vent so let me rant about a Magic card.
December 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Need a moment to vent so let me rant about a Magic card.
Reposted by Shikinami
Information Office of the PRC State Council furiously scribbling down notes on how you roll out the public announcement of a blockade
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Information Office of the PRC State Council furiously scribbling down notes on how you roll out the public announcement of a blockade
It has now been 6 months since I submitted my wife’s certificate of eligibility application to Japanese immigration authorities - this is a step meant to make resident visa application smoother.
She’s a university professor and former MEXT scholar - why is it taking so freaking long, Japan?
She’s a university professor and former MEXT scholar - why is it taking so freaking long, Japan?
December 17, 2025 at 1:44 AM
It has now been 6 months since I submitted my wife’s certificate of eligibility application to Japanese immigration authorities - this is a step meant to make resident visa application smoother.
She’s a university professor and former MEXT scholar - why is it taking so freaking long, Japan?
She’s a university professor and former MEXT scholar - why is it taking so freaking long, Japan?
Reposted by Shikinami
It sounds like the most deranged Latin American caricature of yankee imperialism come to life. It would be comical if it weren’t serious.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 12:14 AM
It sounds like the most deranged Latin American caricature of yankee imperialism come to life. It would be comical if it weren’t serious.