This Tuesday report will present some insights into life for a westerner (me) who’s working for an prolonged interval at Kyoto College in Japan however who over time of working right here has more and more started to grasp the language and native cultural traditions.
Effectively this week I’m again in Japan.
For the final a number of years I’ve been fortunate sufficient to be a visitor Professor at Kyoto College working in one of many analysis labs right here for a couple of months.
It provides me a very good alternative to not solely work together with first-rate colleagues unfold throughout a number of educational disciplines but in addition to delve extra deeply into the historical past and tradition of the place and additional cement long-term friendships.
We will likely be working an MMT-type occasion later within the 12 months – most likely in Tokyo (late November) – which is able to problem the fundamental authorities place on the way forward for the financial system right here.
I will likely be selling the work on degrowth that I’m doing at current.
It’s nice to be again dwelling by the Kamo and Takano Rivers, simply close to the delta.
My early morning runs take me for a lot of kms alongside the rivers and typically into the Higashiyama Mountains – all inside a brief distance of the place I dwell.
It’s a fabulous technique to begin every work day.
It’s a very attention-grabbing interval to be dwelling in Japan.
The long-term ruling elites within the conservative LDP are in chaos and the smaller opposition events are actually making critical leeway.
The LDP dynasty is coming to an finish and Japan will likely be higher off for it.
I take advantage of the time period ‘conservative’ in relation to Japan cautiously as a result of what constitutes conservatism right here doesn’t simply translate within the Western context, the place the time period, today, is tantamount to neoliberalism and extra chaotically to the brand new anti-migration, anti-LGBTQIA+, anti-science, pro-gun, anti-people teams who are actually working locations just like the US.
Making an attempt to use these ideas to Japan is fraught and infrequently results in a very incorrect inference as to what’s truly happening.
The Japan Occasions revealed an article some time again (August 31, 2025) – What’s a ‘Japanese conservative’ at the present time? – which supplies some data for Western readers.
The purpose is that a few of the ‘conservative’ political forces could be take into account ‘liberal’, even progressive, in a Western context.
We learn:
In contrast to in lots of Western nations, Japanese conservatism will not be concerning the measurement of presidency, gun rights, reproductive rights, entry to common well being care and aged care, earnings inequality, progressive earnings and inheritance tax buildings, spiritual fundamentalism or states’ rights vs. central authorities.
Fairly it’s about “preserving what has been handed down by the generations” significantly the cultural heritage and traditions and “the willingness to adapt flexibly to guard what should be preserved”.
The article notes that “exceedingly uncommon carpentry abilities are nourished whereas introducing trendy sustainability”.
On this spirit, I’m going to embark on a venture (in my spare time) of restoring an previous Machiya in Kyoto – to be a part of those that work to protect these previous buildings whereas bringing them as much as sustainability and power effectivity requirements.
Machiyas are the normal townhouses that first appeared within the Edo interval (1603 to 1867).
These townhouses are beneath menace from builders and their is a robust resistance motion to guard them.
The builders pull them down and switch them into automotive parks or terrible concrete buildings.
There may be stress on house as extra Japanese search to personal and drive their very own automobiles.
Kyoto remains to be a motorbike metropolis however the variety of automobiles on the highway will increase every year – and at nights they need to park someplace, and the slim streets are usually not conducive.
So all through the neighbourhoods one comes throughout allotments that used to have a historic townhouse however are actually parking areas for automobiles.
So I’m a ‘conservative’ within the Japanese sense as a result of I’m eager to protect these stunning buildings.
Within the West, such actions could be thought-about progressive.
For instance, the World Monuments Fund’s – Machiya Townhouses – program is partnering with native teams in Kyoto, such because the – Kyomachiya Revitalization Research Group – and the – Kyoto Middle for Group Collaboration (KCCC) – for the restoration of machiya.
We hope to realize a whole lot of data and expertise from those that have been invested on this train for some years now.
I’ll doc this venture because it unfolds within the coming years.
Japan can also be in a troublesome place with respect to the US now and the way that performs out will likely be very attention-grabbing.
I’m much less assured that the federal government will likely be sufficiently assertive towards the Trump insanity.
Already, it has introduced it won’t recognise a Palestinian State for concern of angering the US Administration.
My view is that the extra nations stand towards Trump the extra possible the latter’s chaotic coverage selections will isolate the US and injury on it.
Anyway, every Tuesday, I’ll write about day by day life working and driving bikes round Kyoto and its surrounds.
Some issues that curiosity me, may simply curiosity others.
That’s sufficient for in the present day!
(c) Copyright 2025 William Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.