OPINION: Takaichi's sweeping win in a high-ground gamble - and democracy's test Politics has always been war by other means. Weapons have been replaced by language, battlefields by parliaments and social media. But the logic of victory has changed far less than we like to believe. In this sense, the most enduring manual for understanding modern politics remains The Art of War. Sun Tzu located victory not in manpower or tactics, but in shi—the configuration of power, momentum, and terrain. The decisive battle, he argued, is often won before it is fought. The landslide victory of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the 2026 general election offers a textbook example of this ancient insight in the age of algorithms. This was not an election about weighing competing policy platforms. It was framed as a single, binary question: Takaichi, or not Takaichi. Voters were not choosing a government. They were choosing a figure. It was a high-ground strategy—rare in postwar Japanese politics. Rather than expanding cautiously toward the center, Takaichi simplified the battlefield, accepted polarization, and forced a decision. In Sun Tzu’s terms, she did not refine her tactics. She changed the terrain. Once the high ground is seized, every subsequent battle is fought on its terms. Opposition parties offered rational arguments and moderate appeals. They were safe. They were also irrelevant. Politics that avoids being disliked preserves stability, but it rarely generates momentum. Politics that risks unpopularity is dangerous—but it can dominate the field. This election did not judge moral virtue. It tested which strategies survive in today’s information environment. “Sanakatsu”: Fandom Politics in the Algorithm Age The key to understanding this election lies in a single word: sanakatsu. Derived from oshikatsu—the culture of idol fandom—it describes the fervent, organized following around Takaichi. Campaign rallies became concerts. Badges and posters became merchandise. Online communities outperformed traditional party machinery. Politicians became brands. Voters became fans. This was no accident. Sun Tzu’s shi—momentum—now appears as “high-energy support” in digital form. Platforms do not reward moderation. They do not amplify compromise. They favor clarity, emotion, and repetition. Average messages do not spread. Strong ones do. Takaichi’s slogan, “A Strong and Prosperous Japanese Archipelago,” fit the logic perfectly. It was simple, repeatable, emotionally resonant. It belongs to the same lineage as Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again”: language that needs no explanation and leaves little room for ambiguity. Personal narrative reinforced the message. In a political culture dominated by dynasties, Takaichi’s story—daughter of a factory worker and a police officer who rose through effort—created identification, especially among younger voters. Their support was less about policy preference than identity choice. In military terms, she offered not wages, but meaning. An army that fights for meaning does not disperse easily. “Strong Japan” and the Power of National Narrative In war, legitimacy matters more than numbers. Soldiers who do not understand why they fight will not fight long. Takaichi presented Japan with a powerful national story: Strong Japan. Between Xi Jinping’s China and Trump’s America, she argued, Japan should no longer be a cautious manager of decline. It should be an autonomous actor—choosing, deciding, and bearing responsibility. The message struck a nerve. Decades of stagnation, demographic decline, and geopolitical uncertainty had left Japan suspended between past greatness and present anxiety. Takaichi did not offer comfort. She offered dignity. In strategic terms, this is the most effective form of mobilization. Politics that explains failure attracts few followers. Politics that declares possibility attracts many. But legitimacy is always double-edged. “Strong Japan” leads naturally to constitutional revision, military expansion, and renewed debates over historical memory. For South Korea and China, it raises concerns. Within Japan, weakened institutional restraints could accelerate ideological hardening. Her shift toward a more assertive governing coalition has only intensified these anxieties. High ground creates vision. It also creates exposure. Sun Tzu warned that holding high ground is harder than capturing it. Support built on clarity and emotion must eventually be justified by results. Otherwise, it evaporates. “Strong Japan” works as a slogan. As policy, it faces the hard fronts of fiscal limits, demographic decline, and diplomatic constraints. In East Asian terms, Takaichi’s victory may reshape regional dynamics—from Korea-Japan relations to trilateral coordination with the United States, to ties with China. A clear Japan may be abrasive, but it is predictable. Diplomacy is management, not sentiment. Sometimes a firm counterpart is easier to deal with than an ambiguous one. The real question is whether clarity becomes managed competition—or unmanaged confrontation. At this point, the lens naturally turns to South Korea. Fandom politics, weakened opposition, generational polarization, and emotion-driven voting are not uniquely Japanese phenomena. Algorithm-amplified outrage, loyalty over verification, and “vote first, think later” behavior erode democratic capital at speed. Japan’s present may well resemble Korea’s future. Sun Tzu’s final warning is worth recalling: generals intoxicated by momentum prepare their own defeat. When political victory is not followed by responsibility, high ground becomes a trap. Takaichi’s landslide reflects an acute reading of her era. Whether it represents a victory for democracy remains undecided. Politics, unlike war, does not end with triumph. It must lead to governance. It must prove itself in outcomes. History is now asking a single question: After capturing the high ground, how will it be defended? That question confronts not only Japan, but South Korea and East Asia as a whole. *The author is a columnist for AJP. 2026-02-09 13:44:18

BTS Comeback D-40: Seoul readies an army to protect ARMY on concert day SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) -South Korea’s elite counterterrorism units are preparing for a mission unlike any other this spring: protecting not a summit, not a visiting head of state, but the global fan base of BTS. On March 21, Gwanghwamun Square — framed by royal palaces and glass towers — will host the group’s first full-member comeback concert in nearly four years. Police expect up to 260,000 people to converge on the historic plaza for what is already being billed online as “a royal return” and “the concert of the century", live-streamed worldwide through Netflix. Separate from the worldwide tour, ticketing for the first-ever comeback show has been split to accommodate both the general public and dedicated fans, with free general-admission seats available on a first-come, first-served basis via Nol Ticket at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23. Official fan club members can enter a global raffle through Weverse tied to purchases of the group’s fifth studio album, “ARIRANG.” Detailed booking instructions will be released on Feb. 20, with raffle guidelines due on Feb. 10. Expecting an exceptional turnout for the unprecedented event, Seoul’s police force is mobilizing at near-national-event level, with bomb squads, special forces, cybercrime units and crowd-control commanders deployed across downtown. It is deploying security infrastructure usually reserved for major diplomatic summits for K-pop. With attendance projections rivaling major political rallies, police have divided the area into four layers: core, hot, warm and cold zones, further subdivided into 15 sections. Each zone will be overseen by a senior commander. Special assault teams will be stationed nearby. Explosive-detection units will sweep the venue. Thirteen rapid-response crime squads from nine precincts will be on standby. The free outdoor show, titled “THE COMEBACK LIVE: ARIRANG,” is being designed as more than a performance. It is emerging as a hybrid of concert, civic ceremony and global media event — staged at Gwanghwamun Square, with Gyeongbokgung Palace as its backdrop. Rather than returning through a stadium tour, BTS has chosen the symbolic heart of Seoul — where royal processions once passed, presidents give speeches, and protesters gather. According to officials and industry sources, organizers are considering a ceremonial entrance that traces the palace’s historic axis — beginning inside the royal compound and moving outward into public space — effectively transforming centuries-old protocol into modern stagecraft. Event organizer and BTS agency HYBE has pledged to deploy more than 3,500 private security staff, but authorities have warned that more may be required under Korea’s “beneficiary pays” safety principle. Large-scale gatherings in Korea have become politically and socially sensitive since the 2022 Itaewon tragedy. Crowd management is now treated as a matter of institutional credibility. For BTS’s return, there will be no margin for error, said Park Jeong-bo, Seoul Metropolitan Police agency chief during a briefing Monday. The police vowed to watch over online threats and ticketing fraud in real time. 2026-02-09 13:27:01

Boston Dynamics Releases New Video of Atlas Doing Cartwheel and Back Tumbles Hyundai Motor Group robotics unit Boston Dynamics said Monday that it posted a new video to its YouTube channel on Feb. 7 (local time) showing its humanoid robot Atlas performing a cartwheel followed by back tumbles. In the video, Atlas links the two moves smoothly, like a gymnast, and lands the final flip without wobbling. Boston Dynamics said the footage shows Atlas has reached a more stable stage of continuous full-body control, covering takeoff, midair posture control, impact absorption on landing and recovery. The company has also drawn attention for video of Atlas walking on icy ground without falling. YouTube users reacted with comments such as, “It’s the most humanlike walking motion I’ve seen,” and, “It’s really cool that they also show the failures.” A comment calling the video “amazingly impressive” received more than 2,000 likes. Boston Dynamics said the video includes parts of its research process, including failed tumbling attempts. It said Atlas is building full-body mobility through repeated learning that allows continuous performance and repeated verification, and that it plans to systematically train Atlas in Hyundai Motor Group manufacturing environments. A Boston Dynamics official said, “Now that Atlas’ enterprise platform is up and running, performance testing of the research version is coming to an end,” adding, “With help from the RAI (Robotics and AI) Institute, our researchers conducted final tests to push the limits of full-body control and mobility.” Hyundai Motor Group previously said at CES that it plans to deploy a next-generation electric Atlas development model at production sites including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and to expand adoption step by step after process-level verification. Starting in 2028, the group plans to introduce Atlas at HMGMA first in processes with clearly verified safety and quality benefits, such as sequencing work for parts classification. From 2030, it plans to expand the scope to parts assembly. Atlas won CNET’s Best of CES 2026 award for best robot at CES 2026.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 13:24:40

iM Financial Chairman Hwang Byung-woo Holds Town Hall With Employees iM Financial Group said Monday it held a town hall meeting at iM Bank’s second headquarters to strengthen communication with holding company employees. The event, titled “iM PRO Donation Challenge with the CEO,” combined an open discussion with a participatory giving program run by the iM Social Contribution Foundation. Chairman Hwang Byung-woo has promoted employee communication as an ongoing part of corporate culture since taking office. The group held town halls last year on themes including “COFFEE with CEO,” which featured a barista experience, and “Talk & ART.” This year’s session paired donations for vulnerable groups with a candid Q&A between Hwang and employees. The meeting focused on the group’s new way of working, “iM P.R.O (W.O.W ver.2).” “iM P.R.O,” proposed by Hwang, is built around five core keywords: creativity, performance, responsibility, cooperation and autonomy, and is intended to guide professional work practices. Hwang and employees exchanged unfiltered questions and answers on topics including his reflections after ending his concurrent role as bank president, the link between individual achievement and company growth, and insights from attending CES 2026. The group also recognized “iM PRO outstanding employees” selected through a pre-event survey, underscoring a performance- and behavior-focused culture. “Communication between the CEO and employees, without being bound by formality, is the foundation of an organization’s competitiveness,” Hwang said. “We will build a corporate culture where enjoyable communication like today leads to enjoyable work and an enjoyable workplace.” 2026-02-09 13:21:18

Seahawks beat Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl 60, first title since 2014 The Seattle Seahawks won the second Super Bowl title in franchise history, their first since 2014.  Seattle beat the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The win came 11 years after Seattle lost to New England in the 2015 Super Bowl.  Seattle’s defense set the tone, repeatedly stopping New England and helping the Seahawks build a 12-0 lead through three quarters.  The game’s first touchdown did not come until early in the fourth quarter. Once the scoring opened up, both teams scored two touchdowns in the final period.  Seattle running back Kenneth Walker III was voted Super Bowl MVP. He carried 27 times for 135 yards, the most rushing yards by either team. A running back has not won Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos in 1998, a span of 28 years.    2026-02-09 13:18:00

South Korea, U.S. air forces hold first Buddy Squadron exercise of the year SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - The South Korean Air Force and the U.S. Air Force on Monday began their first Buddy Squadron exercise of the year, which runs through Friday, at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province. The Buddy Squadron exercise is a squadron-level combined air drill in which South Korean and U.S. fighter units take turns training together at air bases across the country. The exercise began in 1991 under the name “Friendship Training” to enhance combined operational capabilities by allowing pilots from both countries to train jointly and familiarize themselves with the latest tactics, techniques and procedures. It was renamed the Buddy Squadron exercise in 1997. Under a revised training framework this year, the two air forces plan to more than double the number of participating aircraft and significantly increase the number of training sorties per exercise, while reducing the annual number of iterations from eight to four. The current 26-1 iteration involves KF-16 fighters from the South Korean Air Force and F-16s from the U.S. Air Force. South Korea’s F-35A stealth fighters and FA-50 light attack aircraft will also participate to support integrated operations between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. After completing their deployment to Osan on Monday, South Korean pilots will undergo local base procedures as well as safety and security briefings. They will then conduct joint training with U.S. pilots, including air-to-air tactical exchanges and integrated fourth- and fifth-generation fighter operations. The exercise incorporates realistic scenarios that reflect lessons learned from modern warfare. During the drills, South Korean and U.S. forces will alternate between friendly and opposing roles and form mixed formations through a variety of tactical training methods. Capt. Lee Seung-hyun, a KF-16 pilot participating in the exercise, said the training would “serve as an opportunity for South Korean and U.S. pilots to share the latest tactics, fly together and strengthen interoperability.” 2026-02-09 12:33:06

Lee praises late bloomer's surprise silver-medal finish at Winter Olympics in Italy SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday congratulated snowboarder Kim Sang-kyum after the athlete secured South Korea's first medal at this year's Winter Olympics, which kicked off in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan last Friday. Lee praised Kim's silver-medal finish in the men's parallel giant slalom, saying the athlete spent "years of training for races decided by fractions of a second, perfecting his technique and equipment on harsh snow," and finally made the Olympic podium on his fourth attempt since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Lee said the medal was meaningful as South Korea's 400th Olympic medal and the second silver in snow events, demonstrating the country's strength beyond ice sports. He added Kim's medal will boost the South Korean team's confidence, adding that he will cheer for athletes through the final day of the Olympics which will run until Feb. 22 and feature around 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries competing for 116 medals across 16 disciplines. The previous day, the 37-year-old won silver, narrowly losing the final to Austria's Benjamin Karl by just 0.19 seconds after surprisingly advancing to the knockout round by upsetting world No. 1 and favorite Roland Fischnaller of Italy in the quarterfinals. It was the country's first Olympic medal in a snow event in eight years and only its second ever, after Lee Sang-ho's silver-medal finish at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. The medal was especially precious as it was the late bloomer's first in roughly 12 years, since he first competed as part of South Korea's first Olympic snowboarding team at Sochi. Sunday's medal was a milestone for South Korea, as it was the country's 80th Winter Olympic medal and 400th Olympic medal overall including 320 from the Summer Games. 2026-02-09 11:32:45

BTS Comeback D-40: Free tickets for Gwanghwamun Square show SEOUL, February 09 (AJP) - BTS will open free ticket reservations for their upcoming outdoor comeback stage at Gwanghwamun Square starting February 23. According to an announcement posted to the fan platform Weverse on Monday, the group has finalized the entry process for "BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG," a massive event marking their return as a full seven-member unit. The ticketing is split into two categories to accommodate both the general public and dedicated fans. General admission tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through the online platform Nol Ticket at 8:00 p.m. on February 23. These seats are free and open to anyone without prerequisite conditions. Specific booking instructions are scheduled to be released at noon on February 20 via Weverse and Nol Ticket. Official fans, known as ARMY, can also participate in a global raffle through Weverse. This draw is open to Weverse membership holders who purchase the group's fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," during the designated application period. Further details regarding the raffle entries will be published on February 10. The performance, set for 8:00 p.m. on March 21 in the heart of Seoul, represents a major milestone as the group's first full-scale appearance following a long hiatus. Netflix will collaborate on the event to provide a exclusive live stream to over 190 countries and regions, marking the first time the streaming giant has broadcast a live performance for a solo musical act. In tandem with the concert, the group will launch "BTS THE CITY ARIRANG SEOUL," a city-wide festival running from March 20 to April 12. The project will transform various locations across South Korea's capital with interactive media content and large-scale art installations that blend the group's music with the urban environment. 2026-02-09 11:29:07

Nikkei tests new highs after sweeping Takaichi win, Seoul recoups last week's rout SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) — Asian markets joined the celebration of a landslide victory by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a rare vote of confidence just three months after taking office, reinforcing expectations for a stimulus-focused economic agenda and a tougher stance toward China. Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, won 354 of the 465 seats in the lower house, giving the ruling bloc a more than two-thirds majority. The result allows the government to override the upper house and push through key legislation. The LDP alone secured 316 seats, its largest majority on record. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 5.18 percent to 57,065.25, setting a new record high following the decisive victory. Global tech shares also supported sentiment. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s response to concerns over excessive artificial intelligence infrastructure spending lifted the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index more than 5 percent overnight, feeding optimism across chip-heavy Asian markets. South Korea’s KOSPI climbed 4.5 percent to 5,316.22 by 11:10 a.m. in Seoul, recovering sharply from last week’s selloff. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ added 3.3 percent to 1,115.56. With gains of 21 percent for the KOSPI and 17 percent for the KOSDAQ as of last week, South Korea’s stock market now ranks among the world’s eight largest by valuation. Both local and foreign brokerages see room for further advances, with some projecting a 12-month target of 7,500 for the KOSPI. Individual investors were net sellers of 1.46 trillion won ($995 million), while foreign and institutional investors bought a net 330.9 billion won and 1.09 trillion won, respectively. The return of foreign inflows supported the won, with the dollar slipping 1.30 won to 1,464.20 won. All of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization on the KOSPI traded higher. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix advanced 5.36 percent and 5.60 percent to 167,100 won and 886,000 won, respectively, leading gains in the semiconductor sector. LG Energy Solution rose 1.82 percent to 392,000 won. Financial and biotech shares also strengthened. Samsung Life Insurance gained 5.64 percent to 194,700 won, while Samsung Biologics added 2.40 percent to 1,708,000 won. Automakers joined the advance, with Hyundai Motor rising 3.10 percent to 482,000 won and Kia up 1.38 percent at 154,000 won. Defense and aerospace shares extended gains, with Hanwha Aerospace up 3.90 percent to 1,227,000 won. Shipbuilders also benefited from the broader upswing. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 2.97 percent to 555,000 won, while Hanwha Ocean gained 2.68 percent to 134,100 won. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.29 percent to 26,903.20, while China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.82 percent to 4,099.01 in morning trade. 2026-02-09 11:23:51

Three Korean Films Target Lunar New Year Moviegoers With Family Drama, Spy Action and Period Tale 설 연휴를 맞아 한국 영화 기대작 3편이 동시에 관객을 찾는다. 가족 드라마부터 첩보 액션, 정통 사극까지 장르가 다른 영화 ‘넘버원’과 ‘휴민트’, ‘왕과 사는 남자’가 극장가에 나란히 걸린다. 가족 관객을 겨냥한 ‘넘버원(Number One)’은 판타지 설정을 더한 휴먼 드라마다. 어느 날부터 엄마의 음식을 먹을 때마다 줄어드는 숫자가 보이기 시작한 아들 하-min(Choi Woo Shik)의 이야기를 그린다. 하민은 그 숫자가 '0'이 되면 엄마 은실(Jang Hye Jin)이 죽는다는 사실을 알게 되고, 이를 막기 위해 애쓴다. 영화는 가족애를 전면에 내세웠으며, 오는 11일(수) 개봉한다. ‘휴민트’는 블라디보스토크를 배경으로, 비밀과 진실이 뒤엉킨 얼음 바다에서 서로 다른 목적을 지닌 인물들이 맞서는 첩보 액션물이다. Jo In Sung과 Park Jung Min 등이 주연을 맡아 거친 액션과 인물 간 앙상블을 내세운다. 정통 사극을 찾는 관객에게는 ‘왕과 사는 남자’가 선택지로 제시된다. 1457년 청령포를 배경으로, 마을의 부흥을 위해 유배지를 자처한 촌장과 왕위에서 쫓겨난 어린 선왕 단종의 이야기를 담았다. 단종과 엄흥도의 실화를 바탕으로 재구성했다. 극장가는 설 연휴 기간 개성이 뚜렷한 한국 영화 3편이 동시에 관객을 만나면서 선택 폭이 넓어지고, 전체 박스오피스 규모도 커질 것으로 보고 있다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-09 11:09:00