iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

How does the war in Iran look from Asia? My take:

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

20+ years of capturing Japan on canvas. Really enjoyed this conversation with Carl Randall.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Interesting weekend coming up in Japan. By way of an appetiser, here's my piece for @lrb.co.uk.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Do go and see the British Museum's spellbinding new Samurai exhibition if you have a chance. Meanwhile, my essay for Engelsberg Ideas on the origins and legacies of Japan's warrior class:

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Reposted by Chris Harding

Smart Cookies podcast @smartcookies.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

As someone who's moved to JAPAN 🎌 not too long ago, I always wanted to explore the country's fascinating MODERN history... Thanks to @drchrisharding.bsky.social I finally got the chance! Check out our FULL CONVO here 👇🏻 YT: youtu.be/prqPJ4_jdaU Apple podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/f...

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Such a great series. @philipgoff.bsky.social was excellent, as was Gilbert Markus talking about 'Is God Nothing?' (of interest to anyone thinking about inter-religious dialogue and concepts of the divine). @takeshimorisato.bsky.social @theosthinktank.bsky.social

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Japan is losing more than 2,000 people every day to population decline. Is automation the answer? This week's Substack post: www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...

chrishardingjapan.com

Can Vending Machines Save Japan?

Part II: Salvation Through Automation

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Japan's famous vending machines look like late 20th-century tech. In fact, they're both decades and centuries older. They may also hold the key to the country's future. www.chrishardingjapan.com/p/can-vendin...

chrishardingjapan.com

Can Vending Machines Save Japan?

Part I: Trust meets High Technology

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Promises to be an interesting evening - do come!

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

‘The sense in Japan of a society and culture under threat and in need of defending is set to be a potent force in politics for a good while to come.’ My piece for @thetimes.com today: www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...

thetimes.com

Tourists love Japan, but under the surface it’s a Land of Rising Anger

Nationalism and discontent are bubbling over in this country of high taxes and resentment against its sometimes obnoxious visitors

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

One of the things that first drew me to Japan was its philosophy: growing out of myths, rituals and an awareness of impermanence, and worked into everyday life & art. A short 🧵 for anyone new to this... @takeshimorisato.bsky.social

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Reposted by Chris Harding

Tobias Harris @tobiasharris.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

A new Today in Japanese Politics: The first candidates announce their intentions as the LDP debates how to elect a new leader. Plus, a milestone meeting of defense ministers in Seoul. open.substack.com/pub/observin...

open.substack.com

The first day of the post-Ishiba era | Today in Japanese Politics

The LDP leadership race takes shape

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Ishiba is off! Japan's PM is stepping down, following two disastrous sets of election results on his watch. A battle for the soul of the LDP - still Japan's largest party, despite its recent woes - ensues. Backstory: www.historywithchrisharding.com/p/rise-of-th... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns

The prime minister had struggled to inspire confidence as Japan faced economic headwinds.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

For someone not previously much interested in Japanese politics, the last few weeks and months have been fascinating - and maybe historic. A short 🧵 for anyone curious about what's going on.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

A side to Japan that not many people have seen - even if they've heard of @yokoono.bsky.social Fascinating stuff!

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

Pride of place this morning at our local @waterstones.bsky.social. And no, I didn’t put it there… 😂 @hcaatedinburgh.bsky.social

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

At the risk of bringing the tone down on Bluesky... 1. The Exchange of Fire 2. The Screen Defence 3. The Fart Bomb 4. The Drive-By 5. Teamwork The Top Five moves in Japan's celebrated 'fart battle' artistic tradition. More here (& turn up the sound) 👉 instagram.com/p/DOI3JtMDJ0B/

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Can Japan hang onto its 'nice things'...? My weekly post for IlluminAsia. www.illuminasia.org/p/bin-lorrie...

illuminasia.org

Bin Lorries and the Fraying of Japan's Social Contract

Can Japan hang onto its 'nice things'?

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Fascinating - and shocking - stats.

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Reposted by Chris Harding

James O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · 21/03/2025

“We just wanted to see the historic electric substation.”

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

This is well worth a read. 30 years on, it remains one of the most shocking moments in postwar Japanese history - both the attack itself, on the Tokyo underground, and the fact that ordinary, intelligent young people had seen so little future for themselves in Japan that they joined a cult.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Great piece on the re-enchantment phenomenon - of which I suspect the #TelepathyTapes are a part, with their criticism of scientific materialism and push for Idealism.

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Chris Harding @drchrisharding.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

What the controversy over Assassin’s Creed Shadows gets wrong - does Japan’s prime minister need a history lesson? www.illuminasia.org/p/assassins-...

illuminasia.org

Assassin's Creed and Japan's Slasher-in-Chief

Does Japan's Prime Minister Need a History Lesson?

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