The Significance of Crowdfunding for the National Museum of Nature and Science: Saving a National Institution

The Significance of Crowdfunding for the National Museum of Nature and Science: Saving a National Institution

What is the significance of support that is not only money, but “do your best and work hard” The National Museum of Nature and Science in Ueno, Tokyo is also suffering from high prices (Photo: Aflo) Go to gallery page The National Museum of Nature and Science, the only national science museum in Japan, “Kahaku”, … Read more

The Fearful Showdown: Oda Nobunaga and Mitsuhide’s Confrontation After a Sleep-Induced Attack

The Fearful Showdown: Oda Nobunaga and Mitsuhide’s Confrontation After a Sleep-Induced Attack

“The fear of the scenario” that made Oda Nobunaga and Mitsuhide face each other after being attacked by sleep Mitsuhide Akechi (date unknown) Photo: akg-images/Aflo Go to gallery page  In the NHK Taiga Drama “Dosuru Ieyasu”, the production while incorporating a new historical interpretation has become a hot topic. In the 28th “Honnoji Incident”, Tokugawa … Read more

The Dismissal of Foreign Minister Qin Gang: The Beginning of President Xi Jinping’s “Great Purge”?

The Dismissal of Foreign Minister Qin Gang: The Beginning of President Xi Jinping’s “Great Purge”?

Not only the sudden dismissal of the foreign minister, but also the footsteps of internal collapse creeping into the administration Is the dismissal of Foreign Minister Qin Gang the beginning of the “Great Purge” by President Xi Jinping? (Photo: AP/Aflo) Go to gallery page In addition to the dismissal of Foreign Minister Qin Gang, there … Read more

Putin’s Meeting with Prigogine and Wagner Commanders: Evaluating the Events of the Prigogine Uprising

Putin’s Meeting with Prigogine and Wagner Commanders: Evaluating the Events of the Prigogine Uprising

Wagner during military training in Belarus, Putin aims to “divide from Prigogine” President Putin (Photo: Representative photo/Reuters/Aflo) Go to gallery page (International journalist, Masato Kimura) Interview with Prigogine and 35 Wagner commanders 5 days after the uprising Russia’s leading daily newspaper Kommersant (Electronic 7 announced on May 13th. Putin had a meeting with Prigozhin and … Read more

Ukraine’s Hopes for NATO Membership Fall Short

Ukraine’s Hopes for NATO Membership Fall Short

All the wishes of the Ukrainian president did not come true (British Economist July 15, 2023 issue) Ukraine also participated in discussions on Ukraine’s NATO membership (July 13, from the NATO website) Still, the president achieved considerable results. Ahead of the July 11-12 summit in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, Ukraine and its closest allies – … Read more

Examining Perspectives on Ukraine’s NATO Membership: The Outcome and Implications of the NATO Summit

Examining Perspectives on Ukraine’s NATO Membership: The Outcome and Implications of the NATO Summit

“I don’t want you to lose the war, but NATO membership…” How countries look at Ukraine Ukrainian President Zelensky (Photo: AP/Aflo) Go to gallery page (Yoichi Masuzoe: Scholar of International Politics) Prime Minister Kishida participated in the NATO Summit held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, from July 11th as the chair of the G7, … Read more

Examining the Impact of Cluster Munitions on Russian Ground Forces: The Case of Ukraine

Examining the Impact of Cluster Munitions on Russian Ground Forces: The Case of Ukraine

There is no need to hesitate to use it to invade military powers Cluster munitions are fired into enemy lines by HIMARS (pictured) and 155mm howitzers. Go to gallery page Ukraine has long been eager to supply cluster munitions. On July 7, the U.S. government finally announced that it would provide cluster munitions. The United … Read more

The Perception Gap: China’s Underestimation of European Support for Ukraine

The Perception Gap: China’s Underestimation of European Support for Ukraine

Ukraine’s War Exposed Flaws in Chinese Government Thinking (Financial Times, July 5, 2023) China’s aim is France, Premier Li Qiang visits France on June 22 (Photo: Xinhua/Aflo) We instinctively understand others through projection. It’s about assuming that the other person thinks and feels the same way you do. Countries often make the same mistakes in … Read more

The Challenge of Understanding the Ukrainian Military Situation: Unseen Viewpoints from the Western Perspective

The Challenge of Understanding the Ukrainian Military Situation: Unseen Viewpoints from the Western Perspective

Many viewpoints that are not visible to those accustomed to Western thinking 2023.7.8 (Sat) WC follow follow up What happened to the two who should have been allies? Almost a month later, the Ukrainian military’s reversal offensive began in order to put an end to the protracted conflict with Russia. In the West, there are … Read more

The Brewing Turmoil: Russia’s Post-Putin Era Faces Uncertainty

The Brewing Turmoil: Russia’s Post-Putin Era Faces Uncertainty

A new era of turmoil hits Russia (British Economist July 1, 2023 issue) Will there be turmoil in post-Putin Russia? A faction close to the Russian president ponders a “post-Putin” way of life. After being appointed acting president of Russia in late 1999, Vladimir Putin likened the first decade after the collapse of the Soviet … Read more