Episode 5: The person-to-person foundation of the US-Japan relationship, with Joshua Walker

On the fifth episode of The Observing Japan Podcast, I discuss three things to about Japan's politics this week, including: the scandal that could unsettle Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's government; a discussion of revising Japan's three non-nuclear principles at the prime minister's national security advisory council; and the significance of the death of former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Kōno Yōhei.Then, I talked with Joshua Walker, the outgoing president and CEO of the Japan Society in New York and the author of a new book, Japan, Beyond the Genkan. We discussed the state of grassroots diplomacy and person-to-person cooperation between the US and Japan, drawing on his experiences at the Japan Society..LinksJoshua Walker, Japan, Beyond the Genkan (Amplify)He also has a new book in Japanese, 同盟の転機　アメリカの変貌と日本の戦略.Joshua Walker at the FCCJ in February 2026.My post on Kōno Yōhei this week. 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