The power to navigate a changing Japan
I spoke with Leo Lewis from the Financial Times about Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s 7 February summit with US President Donald Trump. “You can imagine situations at this summit that could require grace, patience, and sangfroid. The question is whether Ishiba can deliver that,” said Tobias Harris, founder of political risk advisory Japan Foresight. Harris … Continue reading Harris speaks to the FT about Ishiba-Trump summit
From the moment that Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced that he would not be seeking reelection as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, I have been speaking to reporters and joined television programs to discuss the race to become Japan’s next prime minister. Immediately after Kishida announced his exit, I spoke with National Public Radio’s … Continue reading Harris speaks to the media about the LDP election
I recently joined CNBC Asia’s Asia Squawk Box to discuss the Japan-China-South Korea trilateral summit. Here’s a brief excerpt: Some quotes from the interview were also included here.
I exchanged some emails with Nikkei Asia‘s Ken Moriyasu about Kishida’s ambitions for a story previewing Kishida’s state visit to the US. In stark contrast, Kishida has met Putin zero times since becoming prime minister in October 2021. In line with the West, he was quick to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, joining in sanctions … Continue reading Harris quoted in Nikkei Asia
I spoke with Morgan Chalfant of Semafor for a story that looked at how domestic politics in both the US and Japan are casting a shadow over Kishida’s state visit to the US. In Japan, officials are wondering what a return of Donald Trump to the White House might mean for the trajectory of the … Continue reading Harris quoted in Semafor
Tobias Harris spoke with Motoko Rich of the New York Times ahead of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s trip to the United States in April. His quotes can be viewed below: At the summit this week, during which Mr. Kishida will also address a joint session of Congress, the leaders are expected to talk about closer … Continue reading Harris quoted in the New York Times
Tobias Harris was quoted in an article in the Washington Post by Michelle Ye Hee Lee on how Japan is thinking about the possibility of a second Trump administration. That early outreach laid the groundwork for Abe’s personality-driven diplomacy with Trump. And while the charm offensive wasn’t always effective, Abe’s approach helped quell concerns about managing … Continue reading Harris quoted in Washington Post
Tobias Harris was quoted by Linda Sieg in an article for Foreign Policy on the LDP’s kickback scandal and the outlook for Prime Minister Kishida. “The predictable stability that characterized Japanese politics since 2012 [when Abe led the LDP back to power after three years in opposition] is in all likelihood over,” wrote political analyst Tobias Harris, … Continue reading Harris quoted in Foreign Policy
Tobias Harris spoke with Eryk Bagshaw of the Sydney Morning Herald about Kishi Nobuchiyo and the future of the Abe-Kishi dynasty. Tobias Harris, a Japan analyst and former political staffer in Toko who wrote Abe’s biography The Iconoclast, said it was an inauspicious start to a political career. “I mean it just shows the challenge of … Continue reading Harris quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald
Tobias Harris spoke with Nikkei Asia‘s Ken Moriyasu for an account of Rahm Emanuel’s time as ambassador in Tokyo: Emanuel has also leaned on traditional Japan experts to deepen his understanding of the Japanese political system. Tobias Harris, deputy director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, briefed Emanuel … Continue reading Harris quoted in Nikkei Asia
Japan Foresight 