Turns out, I can talk about Japan’s energy strategy for an hour. At least.

My appearance on the IR Thinker Podcast

Hey Power Japan readers,

It’s been a minute. Apologies for the weeks-long silence — projects big and small as well as matters in my personal life have been tugging at my time and attention.

Where I sit in the US Pacific Northwest, this is the first week that feels like proper summer. Wherever you are, I hope you’re healthy, safe, and fulfilled.

Today I want to share an update about one of the things I’ve done in the very recent past: being featured in the IR Thinker Podcast.

Source: IR Thinker Podcast

IR Thinker is a “compelling talk show exploring international relations and geopolitics through in-depth interviews with leading experts. It offers sharp, thought-provoking insights into global challenges.” I hope I live up to that description.

You can watch the video recording of the hour-long conversation on YouTube or listen to the audio version on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The host of the podcast, Martin Zubko, asked me some big questions that will be of interest to anyone curious about Japan’s energy transition, the relationship between domestic political economy and foreign energy policy, and energy geopolitics more broadly.

Helpfully, Martin provided a “table of contents” for the episode, which I reproduce here:

1. Strategic Coherence: Can Japan Achieve Net-Zero by 2050?

2. Understanding Domestic Scepticism Toward Climate Goals

3. Institutions and Governance: The Role of the Basic Energy Plan

4. Public vs. Private Ownership in Japan’s Energy Sector

5. Who Owns Japan’s Major Energy Companies?

6. The Strategic Role of LNG in Japan’s Energy Transition

7. LNG Diplomacy and Japan’s Geopolitical Exposure

8. Japan’s Hydrogen Society: Vision and Implementation

9. Nuclear Power in Japan’s Future Energy Mix

10. Barriers to Accelerating Renewable Energy Deployment

11. Carbon Capture and Storage: Promise or Distraction?

12. Corporate Collaboration in Decarbonisation Efforts

13. Civil Society’s Role in Advancing Climate Action

14. Start-Ups and Innovation in Japan’s Climate Ecosystem

15. Households and Energy System Upgrades

16. Japan’s Greatest Untapped Opportunity in Decarbonisation

Here are those links again: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

I’d be curious to hear what you think about the conversation. Let me know in the comments or in the subscriber chat.

And please share this post or publication with your friends and colleagues.

Talk to you soon.