The two most obvious juxtapositions right now in U.S.-Japan relations are the World Series and the outcome of each of our country's elections. The sport of baseball has brought the U.S. and Japan together for over 150 years — and today it is undoubtedly at its peak.
This year’s World Series is truly a world series because of the phenomenon that Shohei Ohtani has created in Japan — with the Dodgers becoming the de facto Japanese national team while you've got one of the best teams in the history of baseball with the Yankees. And the Japan Series, which is a lot more modestly named, is happening simultaneously. That's the good news in October that we'd all hoped for in U.S.-Japan relations.
Unfortunately, October surprises are also playing out in very different ways politically. We just had an upset vote in Japan and the highly charged U.S. elections are about to take place on Nov. 5th. In each of our countries, both sides are worried about the elections, with outcomes that feel uncertain. No matter who wins, it feels like society is losing.
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