Welcome to Japan and the World
History, Culture and Global Connections
What connects the samurai to modern Japanese politics? Why does Japan approach artificial intelligence so differently from Silicon Valley? Why is the country’s population collapsing - and can anything be done about it?
Every week, Japan and the World explores these questions, revealing the history behind everything you love about Japan and showing how Japanese history and culture shape our world. The newsletter is grounded in scholarly research but written for curious minds, not just specialists.
Whether you’re fascinated by traditional culture, interested in East-West encounters, or trying to understand Japan’s role in our turbulent 21st century, Japan and the World brings you credible and engaging analysis from a university lecturer, award-winning writer and BBC broadcaster.
What you’ll discover
As a free subscriber, you can expect essays on a wide range of topics from food, film and famous names to ghosts, sport, turning-point moments and the big challenges facing Japan. Each new post comes with a companion podcast, for those who prefer listening. All content remains free to read for seven days after publication.
Paid subscribers unlock the full archive and receive exclusive monthly content:
A monthly ‘Deep Dive’ post exploring stand-out stories and people from Japanese history - like the godfather of Japanese organised crime.
A monthly ‘Japan Now’ post bringing you analysis of current events through a historical lens - including the rise of the Right - alongside reviews of must-read books.
Instant access to the introduction of my latest book: A Short History of Japan.
Quarterly live Q&A sessions.
Paid subscriptions directly support the time-intensive research, filming in Japan, and writing that makes this publication possible.
Featured Essays
New here? Start with these:
Why is Japan’s Population Shrinking So Fast - and Is It Really a Crisis?
Hidden Lives of the Samurai - Beyond Bloodshed
Renovation and Romance in Rural Japan
Bin Lorries and the Fraying of Japan’s Social Contract
Who writes this newsletter?
I’m Christopher Harding, a cultural historian and broadcaster based at the University of Edinburgh. I’m the author of Japan Story: In Search of a Nation, 1850 to the Present, A Short History of Japan, The Light of Asia: A History of Western Fascination with the East and The Japanese: A History in Twenty Lives. My next book, Barbarians, explores the first century of European-Japanese encounters in the 16th and early 17th century.
I write features pieces for publications including BBC History Magazine and The Spectator, and I provide commentary and analysis for The Sunday Times, UnHerd, Sky News and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. I contribute to podcasts and television documentaries, including The Rest is History and BBC Civilisations, and I produce documentaries for the BBC. I have recently begun creating video content for YouTube and Instagram - all aimed at making Japan’s fascinating history and global influence accessible to as broad an audience as possible.
Questions? Topic suggestions? Email me directly: chris@christopher-harding.com.
You've definitely intrigued me!
Have you ever written about Pokémon?