Tag Archives: SEALDs

Agnes Chow and the idolisation of female activists in Japan

Posted on Sep 21, 2020 by William Andrews

Following the civil unrest over the subsequently withdrawn extradition bill, the latest chapter in the protracted saga in Hong Kong was the passing of a new national security law. The pro-democracy, anti-Beijing protests in the former British colony have rightly … Continue reading →

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Lovable communism: Japanese Communist Party creates anime idol character election songs and music videos

Posted on Jul 16, 2019 by William Andrews

The Japanese Communist Party has launched its campaign for the upcoming House of Councillors election this month with the customary tactics of speeches in public places and canvassing, but has also created surely the most original videos by any of … Continue reading →

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New academic year begins with student activists and Hōsei University staff clashing at campus entrance

Posted on Apr 15, 2018 by William Andrews

In Japan, April is far from the cruellest month and perhaps rather the most optimistic, not least because it heralds the cherry blossom and the start of the new fiscal and academic year. I recently had the somewhat unnerving experience … Continue reading →

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Photographers on contemporary protest and social movements in Japan

Posted on May 14, 2017 by William Andrews

In teaching us a new visual code, photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing. Finally, … Continue reading →

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Remembering the Asama-sansō Incident, 45 years on

Posted on Mar 19, 2017 by William Andrews

One of my ongoing concerns when researching Japanese radicalism is the question of what happens to activists the morning after the night before: how do they move on, assuming they can? Do they transition to other movements? Or just give … Continue reading →

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