Episode 2: Japan's Energy Security and the Hormuz Crisis with Jane Nakano

For the second episode of The Observing Japan Podcast, I discuss three things to know about Japan's politics this week, including the Takaichi government's decision to begin drafting a supplemental budget; Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's efforts to bolster her support within the Liberal Democratic Party; and the prime minister's latest summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.Then, I talked with Jane Nakano, senior fellow in the Energy Security and Climate Change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the implications of the Hormuz crisis for Japan's energy security.LinksJane Nakano, "How the Hormuz Energy Crisis Is Reshaping US, South Korea, and Japan Energy Cooperation," The National InterestJane Nakano and Kristi Govella, "What Are the Implications of the Iran Conflict for Japan?" CSISMETI, "Japan's 7th Basic Energy Plan," February 2025MOFA, "Japan-ROK Summit Meeting," 19 May 2026 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit observingjapan.substack.com/subscribe