Why are we so obsessed with Japan? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 17, 2026 · 30 MIN

Why are we so obsessed with Japan?

from The New Statesman Podcast, Subscriber Only Edition

A professional sumo tournament in London in October 2025 offered more than sporting spectacle.   It became a lens through which to view Japan's growing cultural pull in the West, a society where ancient ritual, hierarchy and Shinto belief coexist with hyper-modern life.   Tanjil Rashid is joined by historian Christopher Harding to explore how Japan balances tradition and modernity, and why that balance is proving increasingly compelling to Western audiences.

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Why are we so obsessed with Japan?

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This episode is 30 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 17, 2026.

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A professional sumo tournament in London in October 2025 offered more than sporting spectacle.   It became a lens through which to view Japan's growing cultural pull in the West, a society where ancient ritual, hierarchy and Shinto belief coexist...

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