1/10 This paper by Daniel McDowell describes the role of the dollar (and potential alternatives) as a global reserve currency. It's a very good and balanced paper, and I agree with his conclusions, but I can't help making one objection. Daniel McDowell atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-resea…

‘…floating the idea of [the EU] working with the Japanese public and private sectors to build supply chains independent of the U.S. and China…’ Japan, EU should jointly develop rare earths in Greenland: senior EU official asia.nikkei.com/editor-s-picks…

On 🇨🇳 grey zone activity: ‘the int’l community needs to acknowledge that gray-zone tactics are warfare by other means. The absence of kinetic conflict does not mean the absence of a genuine threat’ The rules of engagement in East Asian waters have changed asia.nikkei.com/opinion/the-ru…

Stunning, all of them…

Lee Jae Muyng to Ishiba: "I hope South Korea and Japan can get as close emotionally, economically and socio-culturally, and in terms of security, as they are geographically” Japan-South Korea 'shuttle diplomacy' is back. asia.nikkei.com/politics/japan…

This is a synopsis of a longer forthcoming our econ the most important global macro phenomenon of our time: China’s unique industrial policy 1/5 substack.com/@georgemagnus/…

Prime Minister Ishiba's visit to South Korea included a stop at the grave of Lee Soo-hyun, a Korean student who died in 2001 while trying to rescue a Japanese man who had fallen onto the tracks of Shin-Okubo Station in Tokyo.

A message to foreign tourists visiting Japan—there is much to see outside the ‘golden route’ that is as lovely or lovelier than anything in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, not least the glorious sites of Kyushu.

Good on the tensions arising from Japan’s tourism boom—including reference to similar worries triggered by domestic tourism boom as Jp GDP growth took off in 1960s. Why Japan resents its tourism boom via Financial Times on.ft.com/4mJxXCc

Japan could soon make history with its first-ever female prime minister. Hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi has been elected the new leader of Japan's ruling party, putting her on track to lead the world's fourth-biggest economy: bloom.bg/4gRaKNc

An historic result for the LDP and, if confirmed by the Diet on Oct 15 as prime minister, for Japan.

The obvs comparisons of Takaichi to Thatcher are flowing. But which Thatcher? Early Thatcher as PM was pragmatic, late Thatcher wasn’t. And Thatcher was also lucky, esp with her enemies. 高市早苗氏「日本のサッチャーに」　女性初総裁までの歩み：日本経済新聞 nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…

Chart from the Nikkei detailing five of Takaichi’s favourite books. The two vols of the Thatcher memoirs feature—but it might be as well to balance these with the three volumes of Charles Moore’s Thatcher biography for a fuller picture of the person.

This morning’s walk - autumn 🍂 colours. #Cotswolds

Japanese defense and tech shares soared on speculation they’ll benefit from more government spending, as pro-stimulus conservative Sanae Takaichi looks likely to become the nation’s next prime minister bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

In this #JapanMemo, Shihoko Goto 後藤志保子 and Prof. Eto Naoko join Robert Ward to discuss: ➡️ US-China & US-Japan trade negotiations ➡️ Japan’s economic-security strategy amid China’s increasing presence ➡️ Japan’s balancing of China ties with the US alliance 🎧 Listen:

‘Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' stock price hits record high since listing; Takaichi, who advocates "strengthening defense capabilities," becomes LDP president’ 「高市銘柄」高値続々　防衛・核融合・宇宙に買い（6日の株式市場）：日本経済新聞 nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…

Asahi piece citing the right-leaning Democratic Party for the People as in Takaichi’s sights in an expanded ruling coalition. 高市新総裁で国民民主、連立の第1候補に　小泉氏に接近の維新は後退 digital.asahi.com/articles/ASTB5…

Mooted departure of fiscal hawk Miyazawa Yoichi as LDP tax cttee head perhaps a sign of a more expansionary fiscal policy under a Takaichi administration. Fiscal hawk LDP tax chief Miyazawa likely to resign after Takaichi becomes leader - The Mainichi mainichi.jp/english/articl…