Kyoto Report 2024 – 1

This Tuesday report will provide some insights into life for a westerner (me) who is working for an extended period at Kyoto University in Japan.

Well I am back in Kyoto for an extended period and it is unseasonably hot and humid for October.

It seems that the warm weather will endure throughout October at least, which is a worrying sign.

Although if one abstracts from what that means for the Globe and the long term the warm weather means early morning runs are really nice.

I have been mostly just locked in my ‘office’ here trying to finish things off and I haven’t ventured out much yet other than for running in the morning and a few bike rides late in the afternoon after work.

I live just near the Kamo river which runs down the east side of the city and segments what the locals call the ‘right’ and the ‘left’ part of the city.

The ‘left’ part is where the progressives live and so I am happy to always be on that side of the river.

The sound of the Kamo as it runs over the human-made waterfalls that are scattered along its course is really calming and one of the best things there is.

There is a general election coming up in the weeks ahead which I am following closely.

The biggest news out of today was the ‘touched up’ official photo of the new Cabinet.

Here is the original that was published in a few newspapers (on left) and the official one that was later altered to head off a scandal.

There was a mini-furore going on about this.

Social media contained statements such as “sloppy Cabinet”, or “dishevelled” as a result of the ‘white shirt’ exposure at the waist of the new Prime Minister and the new Defense Minister.

Anyway, the official photo that was released later showed the ‘white’ bit gone and all is well in the world again.

It would be better if they concentrated on the challenges facing the nation of which I am working on a book project that aims to give my take on those issues.

The other striking aspect of the Cabinet makeup is the male domination.

Only 2 of the 24 Cabinet Ministers are women.

There were 5 women in Kishida’s 24-person Cabinet.

Japan has not yet caught up with the trends elsewhere where female representation in the political decision-making process more closely reflects their demographic proportion.

More next week.