Andy Sharp
@sharp_writing
Followers
10,866
Following
3,499
Media
2,707
Statuses
31,594
Editor @NikkeiAsia . Brit in Tokyo. No Pulitzers etc. DMs open. Tips and comments to andrew.sharp @nex .nikkei.com 力愛不二.
Tokyo
Joined January 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
#บางกอกคณิกาep1
• 465113 Tweets
#WeAreSeriesEP6
• 322601 Tweets
WIN AT BANGKOK 3024
• 237793 Tweets
iPad
• 204764 Tweets
Grok
• 134577 Tweets
Pablo Marçal
• 134052 Tweets
PondPhuwin WeAre EP6
• 111112 Tweets
ESTREIA DAVI DOC
• 84019 Tweets
어버이날
• 73594 Tweets
bruno mars
• 44183 Tweets
#JO1ANNX
• 39573 Tweets
Natalie Elphicke
• 39532 Tweets
THE A'TIN OF SB19
• 37165 Tweets
ANTT
• 32246 Tweets
自動車税
• 24016 Tweets
Paul Ryan
• 20744 Tweets
#SheenAmazingDay
• 19851 Tweets
ダンバイン
• 19408 Tweets
味園ビル
• 19101 Tweets
SHEE SLAYS AT 20
• 18715 Tweets
みどりの窓口
• 18120 Tweets
オーサムリザルト
• 13759 Tweets
オルター
• 13742 Tweets
B'zのGet Wild
• 13551 Tweets
#ポケモンタイプ診断
• 11825 Tweets
1st Dream of FAYMAY
• 10886 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
Always nice to have my work republished in the
@FT
Myanmar’s shadow government says ‘military is ready to collapse’
0
5
21
Director Eiji Uchida and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi spoke well about transgender issues in Japan, and I'm now keen to go and watch Midnight Swan.
内田監督と草薙さんはトランスジェンダーの問題についてうまく話して、ミッドナイトスワンを見に行きたくなった。
13
760
2K
そろそろ、草彅剛は日本外国特派員協会で会見します。
Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, one of Japan's most famous celebrities, is about to give a press conference at the FCCJ.
5
589
1K
Japan is bottom of the list of OECD countries in terms of the number of vaccine doses delivered per 100 people.
34
1K
1K
My colleague
@SugiuraEri
and I interviewed
@EijiUchidaFilm
, the director of
#MidnightSwan
, starring former SMAP star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. He offered some great insight into the lives of transgender people in Japan from his perspective as an outsider. 1/9
2
334
720
「ミッドナイトスワン」の内田監督 親子や愛情の物語：日本経済新聞
@ksngtysofficial
@EijiUchidaFilm
@M_Swan_Film0925
The link is to a Japanese version of this English piece that I did with
@SugiuraEri
last month
0
173
548
On a quiet Friday in Tokyo, looks like the biggest news is figure skater Hanyu being awarded the
People's Honour Award 国民栄誉賞
1
232
509
FOUR security guards outside this KFC in Tokyo. Must be Christmas
15
66
497
When Gov. Yuriko Koike took office in 2016 under the banner of making Tokyo the premier Asian financial hub again, the city was ranked as the world’s No. 5 financial center. Now the Japanese capital does not even make the top 20 anymore.
19
89
445
Abe's LDP gave out magnet stickers at its annual conference yesterday (Daily Shincho)
You can erase what you write on it （書いて消せる). Do they not realize the irony given the
#Moritomo
scandal that involves document doctoring?
16
462
423
The U.S. will establish a network of precision-strike missiles along the so-called first island chain as part of $27.4 billion in spending to be considered for the Indo-Pacific theater over the next six years, Nikkei has learned.
112
236
407
“For a long time, we have believed that the Olympics are something special,” Yamaguchi said. “From now on, we should think that Olympics are merely entertainment and business events.”
3
187
429
The southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung has erected a statue of the late Shinzo Abe. His wife Akie was there for the unveiling.
Seems a little strange given that, as far as I know, there are no monuments yet in Japan to the former PM.
16
73
409
This is becoming very normal
Six U.S. lawmakers arrive in Taiwan on unannounced trip
11
77
383
The smartest thing
#Tokyo2020
could have done after all the scandals was to present this global face of Japan. And they did it. 👋
14
68
358
Some professional news: I’ve been promoted to become
@NikkeiAsia
‘s politics and economics news editor. Basically handling everything from New Zealand to Afghanistan with a dedicated team of colleagues and contributors scattered across Asia and the rest of the world.
56
9
352
In 2023, not a single Western entry made it to Apple Music's annual list of the top 100 streamed songs in Japan. Even with online streaming and CD sales combined, Western music that ranked in Billboard Japan's weekly Hot 100 chart accounted for a mere 0.3% in 2023, compared with…
5
85
336
Former PM Abe says you are “anti-Japan” if you oppose holding the Olympics. By that logic, that’s a lot of Japanese people who don’t like their own country.
25
107
324
Ukrainians, Russians, Japanese (and Hachiko himself) protesting against the war in Shibuya
2
70
322
After Japan's "digital defeat" (the minister's words), this story asks all the right questions about Suga's ambitious plans for a digital ministry -- and the fights it will face with an entrenched bureaucracy.
17
132
286
In a first, a Japanese court rules that it is unconstitutional to not recognize same-sex marriage.
8
100
285
It's a family affair...
Jokowi's son set to win mayoral election in Indonesia's Solo
34
54
241
A mere 252 tourists entered the country between June 10 and 30 under the new tour group scheme, according to preliminary figures from the Japan Tourism Agency
22
82
246
Seems like I’m one of the many journalists in Tokyo today to receive a message like this. I couldn’t help my response.
14
18
251
Japan's Aso said the font was too small on a sexual harassment complaint against his ministry.
via
@bpolitics
16
414
231
I know Japan is looking (rightly or wrongly) to attract more higher end (rich) tourists, but these big price hikes could deter some middle class foreigners from exploring the many great things this country has to offer. My mum used to love using this pass when she came regularly.
JR Pass prices are going up MASSIVELY in October 2023!
7-day ¥29,650 yen to ¥50,000
14 day ¥47250 yen to ¥80,000
21-day ¥60,450 yen to ¥100,000
Green Class
7-day ¥39,600 to ¥70,000 yen
14-day ¥64,120 to ¥110,000
21-day ¥83,990 to ¥140,000
>68% increase for the 7-day pass!
75
527
594
41
56
241
For years, I’ve been amazed at the willpower of older Japanese people to get up at sunrise to exercise.
Now, I find myself in the same park at dawn.
11
14
243
The LDP funding scandal is getting wild.
The party is said to be considering removing all ministers, vice ministers and parliamentary vice ministers who are in the Abe faction (the ruling party’s biggest grouping)
安倍派「政務三役」に全交代案浮上…
4
57
241
This Starbucks in Tokyo has a very complex social distancing floor pattern.
16
30
237
Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa, you will not be missed...
22
41
223
Profits from this burger go to the Ukrainian embassy in Tokyo.
6
53
214
Thought I’d take a look at the outline of Kishida’s “new capitalism” but this collection of PowerPoint slides is giving me a headache.
22
39
215
Very welcome news for long-term foreign residents of Japan.
16
55
216
Yet another example of how the weak yen is hurting residents of Japan.
Japan hotel rates spike 25% as weak yen draws foreign tourists
17
37
215
I love Japan, but the archaic bureaucracy and unnecessary rules drive me crazy.
I’m trying to send money to a relative overseas. Bank tells me I need a My Number card (I have a number but no card).
I go to the ward office, they tell me it takes THREE MONTHS to send me a card.
44
18
207
@kanika0509
Must have been so many incredible stories that have come out of Lahore station. The photos oozes history.
9
7
192
China has announced 8 countermeasures in response to Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.
The last one of abandoning climate change cooperation with the U.S. is the most concerning.
130
79
198
Main takeaway for me tonight was Suga's concern about the delta variant spreading rapidly.
Tough presser for Suga tonight. New state of emergency, average showing for the LDP in the Tokyo election, and now the Olympics likely to be without spectators.
10
27
107
33
70
197
The 15 items required for a person from the UK to visit a relative in Japan.
37
31
202
Strong piece
‘I cried all day’: the anguish of people locked out of Japan by Covid | Japan | The Guardian
9
45
197
A 🧵
1/ Japan has one of the world’s biggest debt-GDP ratios, and borrowing costs are rising.
But investors – and Tokyo – seem sanguine about any kind of debt crisis. I take a look here at how the world’s third-largest economy is staying afloat.
9
52
188
In 2016, Abe shot out of a pipe in Rio dressed as Super Mario at the closing ceremony.
In 2021, Abe won’t even be attending the opening ceremony of the Games he helped secure.
11
135
184
The scientific case is strong. Strikes that the biggest issue with releasing the treated water from Fukushima is that people don’t trust Tepco.
64
66
178
Possibly the most Japanese Olympic gag you can find. Classy
1
58
171
The Taiwan 🇹🇼 pineapples looking rather showy next to the Philippine 🇵🇭🍍
8
17
169
Japan appears to have turned the corner after imposing a state of emergency.
5
19
162
Possibly the best headline from this crazy presser
*TRUMP SEES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR CONDOS IN NORTH KOREA
8
84
156
In 2000, Japan's economy was the second-largest in the world, at $4.96 trillion, which is larger than it is today.
Pretty amazing that (in dollar terms) Japan's economy hasn't grown over the past 23 years.
via
@NikkeiAsia
10
31
162
Male colleagues of the first woman to head Japan’s largest trade union association begged her to turn the job down because they believed her gender made her incapable of fighting corporate Japan for higher wages.
10
64
159
Taro Kono urges the Japanese government to let foreign students into the country if they are Covid-free.
8
35
156
Pushing Tokyo back to 2024 with LA and Paris to follow in 2028 and 2032 strikes me as the most practical solution.
According to a senior member of the coalition, there is agreement that the Games, postponed a year, are doomed. The aim now is to find a face-saving way of announcing the cancellation that leaves open the possibility of Tokyo playing host at a later date.
7
52
82
11
39
152
Tokyo
#sento
people: what's your favourite bathhouse in the city? I picked five for my debut FT Globetrotter piece. #銭湯
21
35
152
Often my 12-year-old son has no one to hang out with after school because most of his friends go to to juku.
The system is 1) rigged towards affluent families; 2) deprives kids of time just hanging out with mates; 3) probably why the birth rate is low
19
21
151
Japan’s meteorological agency says the typhoon approaching Kyushu is dangerous on an unprecedented level.
気象庁は、過去に例がない危険な台風
4
65
150
Asahi rubbing it in that Japan only managed to evacuate one person from Afghanistan
13
28
144
Taro Kono to be named digital minister, so he now has to fix all the “analogue” things in Japan that he complains about.
12
24
144
Japan will pay 44.2 million yen (about $420,000) in compensation in the event a person dies after taking the coronavirus vaccine.
Interesting approach. Other countries, such as Indonesia, are looking at fines for people who refuse vaccines.
#NewsDigest
5
71
141
"The Marcos family's return to the presidential palace in Manila is a window into a more disturbing world. It has laid bare pathologies that are rotting democracies in Asia and elsewhere from within."
Well crafted prose as always from
@Mikepeeljourno
3
40
138
Pelosi’s visit “was a turning point, when all Ukrainians started rooting for Taiwan," said Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun, a member of the pro-Taiwan caucus in Kyiv.
A welcome return to our pages by
@heguisen
5
40
133
Here's
@imaruritokyo
and
@cheskareports
on Mori's press conference today. A lot of friction between the Tokyo 2020 chief and reporters, as he pulls the old trick of "retracting" his sexist comments.
10
45
130
"The accuracy of North Korea's missiles improved all at once," a Japanese security official said. "That wouldn't have been possible without Russia's help."
North Korea threat cannot be underestimated
5
81
114
Two takeaways from this long read on Abe’s death
- He was Japan’s Thatcher. Widely applauded overseas, but hugely divisive at home
- LDP factional politics remain hugely important in an essentially one-party state
8
32
131
Tokyo is heavily bound by its contract with the IOC, but a heavy-handed approach by the IOC could harm its reputation and deter cities coming forward as hosts in the future.
More to chew on here
10
44
131
If any English-speaking foreigner is having a tough time with mental health, the people at Tell are around to help.
3
41
130
Watching Kishida now. Good luck translating デジタル田園都市国家構想！！
16
19
128
Whatever your political affiliation, it’s hard to argue against the Japanese Communist Party having the best posters.
5
22
127
Came faster than expected. New face running in the general election for the LDP. Never seen this before in my time here.
9
28
124
So South Korea and Japan have similar vaccine rates and mask-wearing people. South Korea had a record number of cases today, and a total of only FIVE in Tokyo.
Can anyone give me the scientific rationale for this?
38
15
124
The UN will launch an investigation later this into the sexual assaults by Johnny & Associates founder, the late Johnny Kitagawa.
This is above and beyond expectations
国連人権理事会がジャニーズ性加害調査へ(共同通信)
#Yahoo
ニュース
7
61
123
The situation in Indonesia has got so bad that the Japanese government today announced it will put on special planes for Japanese nationals who want to return home.
Despite having more daily infections, Indonesia’s population of 270 million population is just a fifth of India’s. Indonesia now has around 132 cases per million people, compared with India’s 26
6
64
102
5
47
113
"I found myself crying a lot when I first read the screenplay," Kusanagi told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. "I didn't know what my tears were for, but I felt there was beauty about these tears." 3/9
1
44
123
Another former Johnny's idol, Yasunobu Shiga of the group 忍者 (Ninja) tells Bunshun he was molested by Johnny Kitagawa 30-40 times.
Feels like the floodgates are opening
6
33
122
Personal news: My fourth child arrived yesterday. A healthy young girl with a wonderful future.
23
0
121
Interesting profile of Suga from the Nikkei archives. While he’s been Abe’s right-hand man for nearly eight years, the two couldn’t have more contrasting backgrounds.
Who is Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga?
13
59
117
Anyone else see a similarity between the logo for the rebranded Russian McDonalds, and Japan's Mos Burger?
11
27
119
"I'm not sure we've received any explanation for why a foreign resident is a greater risk than a Japanese national entering Japan"
Japan eases reentry ban as stranded foreign residents weigh future
5
43
117
Possibly the least surprising news of the
#Philippine
election season.
Sara Duterte drops Davao mayor bid amid calls for national run
7
15
111
Tough presser for Suga tonight. New state of emergency, average showing for the LDP in the Tokyo election, and now the Olympics likely to be without spectators.
10
27
107
Japan set to ban spectators from Tokyo Olympics
10
45
113
Harsh words from the COVID advisory body to the Tokyo government.
Paraphrasing: Infections are spreading at an unprecedented rate and the situation is uncontrollable
「東京の感染拡大 制御不能な状況」東京都のモニタリング会議 | NHKニュース
10
68
113
Japan health ministry panel approves Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines
米英2社のワクチン、承認を了承 厚労省部会：日本経済新聞
4
29
112
Abe explaining security bills with what appear to be various internal organs.
#Japan
http://t.co/N6XmAl3yxL
15
320
109