Do you find life overwhelming? You might have a kindred spirit. Chiikawa, a hamster-like puffball that cries a lot, is the star of a new Japanese blockbuster. And while some might prefer other Japanese kawaii (cute) creations such as Pikachu or Hello Kitty, Chiikawa has conquered East Asia not only through cuteness, but by capturing the anxious mood of our time.

Chiikawa certainly is a welcome distraction from the risks of nuclear warfare. Shared dread of annihilation led American and Soviet leaders to pause and seek better ways to manage nuclear arsenals during the cold war. Our latest Telegram column, however, examines a worrying new problem: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are insufficiently horrified by their own nuclear firepower.