The Japan Considered Podcast

By Dr. Robert C. Angel

Weekly programs of analysis and commentary on Japanâ€™s domestic politics and foreign relations. Role of the prime minister and cabinet, changes in Japan's domestic political environment, connecting v... more

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FAQs about The Japan Considered Podcast:

How many episodes does The Japan Considered Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 117 episodes available.

The Japan Considered Podcast episodes:

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February 19, 2009 090218JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No06
February 18, 2009, Volume 05, Number 06

Click here for a transcript of today's program

Welcome
today from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. At Edisto Beach State Park,
South Carolina. Back at site # 18 again, and enjoying the view. What a
great place to produce a podcast! You can see more of Edisto Beach at:

http://mobilestudiotravels.blogspot.com/

Today
we'll focus on the problems of Japan's political party system at the
national level. Really, the "trials of Taro," or, more politely, the
challenges facing Prime Minister Aso, are only a manifestation of that
more basic problem. As presently configured, Japan's national political
party system has proven incapable of recruiting effective, competent
central political executives. And Japan overall is paying the price. I
suggest that this situation can't last forever. That we're likely to
see the beginnings of fundamental change in the party system during the
next general election.

Please continue to send your
comments and suggestions for the program directly to me at
[email protected]. I appreciate them.
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26min
February 07, 2009 090206JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No05
February 06, 2009, Volume 05, Number 05

Click here for the audio file of today's program

Click here for a transcript of today's program
Thanks
for dropping by again today, to you long-time listeners. And a hearty
South Carolina welcome to those of you who have found us for the first
time. Each week, or most weeks, anyway, on this program we consider
developments in the news concerning Japan's domestic politics and/or
the formulation and implementation of foreign policies.

This
week we consider two recent international developments. Japan's recent
dispute with Russia over the terms of access to one of the Northern
Territories islands, Kunashiri. And the significance of what appears to
be North Korea's latest missile diplomacy initiative.

Following
that we return to the even more turbulent environment of Japan's
domestic politics. With brief consideration of the role prefectural and
local individuals and organizations may play in sorting out the current
mess in Nagatacho.

Please continue to send your comments
and suggestions to me at [email protected]. We've had a big
increase in the volume of e-mailed comments recently. Thanks for the
effort. They all help to improve the program.
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28min
January 23, 2009 090123JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No04
January 23, 2009; Volume 05, Number 04

Click here for a transcript of today's program

It's
Friday again, and thanks for dropping by. Another excellent interview
for this program. Timely, and full of useful information. Dr. Ed
Lincoln, Director of the Stern School of Business's Japan-U.S. Center
at New York University, agreed to come on to help us understand how
bilateral economic relations between Japan and the United States are
likely to change under the incoming Obama Administration. Ed is far
closer to the new Administration and the people likely to assume senior
policy posts than am I. And, his political and econo-political
perspective is quite different than mine. So his comments at this time
are especially valuable.

It's another longer program than we usually have. But I'm sure you'll agree it's well worth the extra time.
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44min
January 21, 2009 090120JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No03
January 20, 2009; Volume 05, Number 03

Click here for a transcript of today's program

090112EdistoBeachState Park
Click Photo for Picasa Album

Welcome
back to another edition of the Japan Considered Podcast. A bit delayed
by a five-day visit to Edisto Beach State Park, on beautiful Edisto
Island, South Carolina. Right on the shore of the Atlantic. Click on
the photo on the left to see some photos of the trip. Even warm enough
to kayak one day!

This week I've got another treat for you.
Mr. Gregg Rubinstein, principal of GAR Associates in Washington D.C.,
agreed to join us again to follow up Skipp Orr's interview with
discussion of security policy issues between Japan and the United
States during the incoming Obama Administration. So, enjoy. An
excellent overall assessment of what we're likely to see in this
increasingly important aspect of the bilateral relationship.
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38min
January 09, 2009 090109JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No02
January 09, 2009; Volume 05, Number 02

Click here for a transcript of today's program

Dreher Island State Park, SC
Click for More Photos

Greetings
again from Columbia, South Carolina. Just back from Dreher Island State
Park with the Japan Considered Mobile Studio. A beautiful place to
visit. Right on the shore of Lake Murray, and less than an hour from
Columbia. Here are some photos on the left. Just click the picture to
go to the Picasa website.

This week we have another treat.
This is two in a row. You'll soon be spoiled! The media in Japan is
full of articles about the effect of presidential administration change
in Washington on U.S.-Japan Relations. Most of those articles have been
either blatantly speculative, or showing signs of tight political spin.
A number of you have written in asking about this as well, and
suggesting that I spend more time on it.

Well, this week we
will. Robert M. [Skipp] Orr agreed to join us via Skype-Phone from his
home in Kamakura, Japan. It would be hard to find anyone more qualified
to discuss this issue. Skipp played an important role in the Obama
presidential election campaign. Further, as a former senior U.S.
government official, academic, and businessman, he's developed an
incredibly broad range of personal contacts in Japan over the past
three decades. So, he's the fellow to go to for some answers. And we
did.

Please continue to send your comments and suggestions
directly to me at [email protected]. They've been especially
helpful during the past few weeks. And I thank you for taking the time
to write. Even if you do not receive a direct reply, be assured I've
read your note, and will take it into consideration when planning new
programs.
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30min
January 03, 2009 090102JapanConsideredPodcastVol05No01
January 02, 2009; Volume 05, Number 01 Click here for a transcript of today's program

Happy
New Year to you and yours, from all of us in Columbia, South Carolina.
I hope you will find for another year enough of interest on the Japan
Considered Podcasts to bring you back for more. Now that I'm an
officially retired person, I can no longer use the "day job got in the
way" excuse for not producing programs on time. So hopefully we'll have
even more of them this year. No promise! But I'll do my best.

This
week I have a real treat for you. Dr. Jim Auer of Vanderbilt University
agreed at the last minute to do an interview to explain the ins and
outs of the collective self defense issue for us. Even though he was in
the midst of year-end and year-beginning family festivities over there
in Tennessee. Thanks, Jim!

Quite a few of you wrote in
after the last program asking for more detail about this subject. And
since it's well beyond my area of expertise -- even my presumed area of
expertise -- I thought it best to call in an expert.

I'd
hoped also to consider the timing of Japan's next general election. But
that didn't work out. Next time for sure. There's lots of interest for
us to consider there. Even though Japan's media has been full of the
topic for the past couple of weeks.
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25min
December 25, 2008 081224JapanConsideredPodcastVol04No35
December 24, 2008; Volume 04, Number 35

Click here for a transcript of today's program

Thanks
for dropping by again today. And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to
you and yours from all of us. I hope you have just the sort of year-end
holidays you have been wishing for.

Today's Christmas eve.
Only Wednesday. Earlier than usual this week, because of certain
Holiday confusion from tomorrow onward. It may be a while before I even
get this posted to the Net!

Today we begin by considering
Japan's struggle with response to the U.N.'s call for support for the
international Somalian antipiracy campaign. Once again Tokyo is forced
to confront the thorny problem of collective self defense. And it
appears to be no easier this year for Prime Minister Aso than it was
for Prime Minister Abe.

Then
we turn to domestic politics again to follow the "Trials of Taro."
Whose position appears to be more and more difficult, if possible. Both
the Traditionalists and the Reformists have intensified pressure on
him. This week we focus on Yoshimi Watanabe's Lower House vote today
for the Opposition-proposed dissolution resolution. And its
significance for Japan's domestic politics. Quite a dramatic event.

As
always, please continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at
[email protected]. They make excellent reading. And help me to
plan future programs. Even if you don't receive a reply, you can be
sure that I've read and considered your note.
...more
34min

FAQs about The Japan Considered Podcast:

How many episodes does The Japan Considered Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 117 episodes available.