India and the Russian Federation to strengthen ties: Putin to meet Modi Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation values its relationship with India. This feeling is reciprocated. Hence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India will welcome President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation with open arms. Therefore,…
Mali massacre of bus passengers by Islamists and UN compound hit Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Sahel is blighted by several brutal Sunni Islamist terrorist organizations that think nothing about burning people alive on buses, torturing, and doing other brutal deeds. Hence, the latest massacre by Islamists against innocent bus…
Japan art and Yanagisawa Kien: Edo artist influenced by Buddhism, China, and Confucianism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Yanagisawa Kien (1703-1758) had a firm spiritual and philosophical soul. Thus the words of Confucius and the faith of Ōbaku-shū Zen Buddhism molded Kien greatly. Kien was a noted Nanga School (bunjinga) artist.…
Burkina Faso and Islamists are heaping sorrow on 1.3 million internally displaced Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamist terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso are never-ending. Thus even refugee camps aren’t places of safety. Therefore, terrorist groups including al-Qaida, ISIS (Islamic State – IS), and common criminality are utilizing this chaos…
Japan art and the individualism of Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799) lived during the Edo Period. Various opinions exist concerning his background. However, irrespective of this, Rosetsu was blessed with an independent artistic spirit. He felt deep tragedy throughout his adult life. This concerns the…
Australia-China Tensions Simmer Amid Trade War and AUKUS Publication: China Brief By: William Yuen Yee The Jamestown Foundation Introduction In a speech about the impact of the ongoing trade war with China on Australia, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that the “economy has shown itself to be highly resilient” (Department of the Treasury of Australia, September…
Japan denies entry to foreigners from nations of new Omicron Covid variant Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times According to various news sources, a diplomat who flew from Namibia to Japan brought in the first known case of the Omicron coronavirus variant. As usual, the government of Japan will implement bans on foreign…
Uganda with DRC support bombs ADF Islamists in eastern DRC Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Recent terrorist attacks in Uganda by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have upped the military urgency of this nation. Thus, Uganda announced that it bombed the Islamist ADF inside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The…
Japan art and bijin-ga (beautiful ladies) of the Edo Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Bijin-ga art in Japan refers to various forms of “a beautiful person.” However, in the Edo Period, the terminology mainly applies to “beautiful ladies.” Therefore, the bijin-ga art of Eishōsai Chōki is firmly based on depicting beautiful ladies in…
Japan border controls tightened on new Covid variant first noted in Botswana Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is tightening border controls in Japan concerning the new coronavirus variant that is raising enormous anxiety. Hence, tighter border controls have been announced for nations connected with Southern Africa. Therefore, tighter…
China, India, and Russia voice concern about Afghanistan: Humanitarian assistance and drugs Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The nations of China, India, and the Russian Federation belong to the RIC format. Hence, the three members of the RIC (Russia, India, and China) uttered concern and alarm over the situation in Afghanistan. The…
Japan art and self-portrait while dying: Iwasa Matabei (1578-1650) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Iwasa Matabei (1578-1650) was born during the warring period of the sixteenth century. This period eventually culminated in the Edo Period (Tokugawa Period). Edo began in 1603 and was replaced by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Interestingly,…
Australia sends troops to the Solomon Islands: Chinatown attacked again Sawako Utsumi and Kanako Mita Modern Tokyo Times The tense situation in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, has led to Australia sending troops to this country. Thus troops deemed peacekeeping are hoping to quell the situation after two days of rioting in Honiara.…
China and Russia to increase military drills in Northeast Asia: Japan geopolitics Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation will take part in military drills with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members for the first time in early December. At the same time, the Russian Federation and China will…
Erdogan Fosters Anti-Western Sentiment in Turkey by Hany GhorabaIPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism The Nov. 1 assault on an American sailor by Turkish nationalists reflects the anti-western sentiment prevailing in Turkey fostered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During a stop in Istanbul, the sailor was surrounded by a dozen or more members of a pro-Iranian neo-nationalist…
Bus accident kills 45 in Bulgaria: Passengers mainly from North Macedonia Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times A tragic bus accident in western Bulgaria led to the deaths of at least 45 people. Among the dead include 12 children. The accident happened in the early morning in the environs of the village of Bosnek.…
Japan art and the intriguing Hanabusa Itchō (1652-1724) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Hanabusa Itchō (1652-1724) was born during the Edo Period. He is known for having a lovely artistic free spirit. Hence, while originally being inspired and taught in the classical Kano style, Itchō would abandon this art form and…
Sudan coup leaders reinstate PM Abdalla Hamdok: Tensions remain Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan and other military personnel behind the coup against Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok succumbed to internal and external pressure. Thus Hamdok was reinstated after a deal was agreed between different political parties and the…
Cameroon, Chad, and Nigeria to alter fight against Islamist terrorists: Instability in Africa Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times After the reported death of Aboubakar Shekau, the former leader of Boko Haram, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) is altering the terrorist tactics on the ground. Boko Haram is a regional…
Art of Japan and Sanraku: Pre-Edo period to early Edo and anti-Christianity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) was a Japanese artist who lived during the pre-Edo era (Tokugawa Period) and the early Edo Period (1603-1868). Hence, bloodshed and issues with power concentration and regional dynamics were second nature for Sanraku. Indeed, he…
Uganda kills Islamist ADF terrorist recruiting cleric after the recent attack Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) commit terrorist attacks and massacres in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This terrorist group originates in Uganda. Therefore, after the recent suicide bombings that hit Kampala, the…
Japan and record $490 billion stimulus package: Debt and right target? Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan announced a record $490 billion (55.7 trillion yen) stimulus package. Hence, this economic policy is aimed at assisting the weak economy, helping smaller companies that are struggling with debts, families with children, and…
United States drug overdose deaths reach 100,000 in 12 month period Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States (US) hit the unenviable statistic of 100,000 drug overdose deaths during a 12 month period. This concerns the period April 2020 to April 2021. Therefore, perennial internal social issues are neglected year after…
Japan to allow people to mix third Covid-19 vaccine shot Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The country of Japan was massively behind other G-7 nations in the vaccine shot rollout. However, Japan is now moving ahead. Therefore, nations including America, France, and the United Kingdom are falling behind because a sizeable minority…
The Internationalization of the Belarusian Political Crisis Not Working Out in the West’s Favor Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Grigory Ioffe The Jamestown Foundation The political crisis in Belarus is far from over. Its internationalization along the lines of a geopolitical tug-of-war between Russia and the West began well before the current showdown over Middle…
Pakistan and religious minorities: Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and others feel betrayed Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times In Pakistan, a Parliamentary Committee rejected an important bill to protect religious minorities. This concerns non-Muslim women being forced to convert to Islam after being abducted by Muslim males. Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and religious minorities including…
Art of 12th century Japan: Mitsunaga and a glimpse into the ending of the Heian Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokiwa Mitsunaga will always be remembered for his artistic work concerning the Annual Rites and Ceremonies (1173) in twelfth-century Japan. Equally significant, it provides a glimpse into the ending of the Heian Period because…
Japan Covid-19 fully vaccinated nearing 75 percent: G-7 political factors Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The number of fully vaccinated people from coronavirus (Covid-19) continues to accelerate in Japan. Thus, unlike the earlier period when Japan lagged behind America and the United Kingdom – and countless other nations – the opposite applies concerning…
India faces possible US sanctions over S-400 air defense systems from Russia Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times India will procure S-400 air defense missiles systems from the Russian Federation and other armaments concerning India’s national security. However, the administration of President Joe Biden of the United States might put sanctions on…
PM Kishida appoints Hayashi to the dismay of Abe and Aso: Foreign Minister and China Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, is showing early signs of self-belief. Henceforth, the appointment of the new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was met with dismay by two ex-leaders of Japan.…
Sudan and new ruling council led by General al-Burhan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan is ignoring the demands of the international community. Hence, he installed himself as head of the new transitional council. The same new transitional council was appointed by al-Burhan. Therefore, the democratic…
Ethiopia crisis: TPLF forces accused of raping women in the Amhara region Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Disturbing reports of military fighters belonging to the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) raping women in the Amhara region of Ethiopia are emerging. This comes at a time when the TPLF and other anti-Ethiopian…
Presidential candidate in South Korea expresses doubt of any military alliance with Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States would like Japan and South Korea to mend ties and for both nations to be part of the containment of China. However, many political elites in South Korea have reservations…
Covid-19 numbers in Japan continue to decline Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japan coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis reached new highs throughout the Tokyo Olympic timeframe. Numbers then began to decline before the ending of the Paralympics. Since then, new daily coronavirus cases have tailed off. Yesterday, Japan announced no daily deaths from…
PM Kishida in anti-China Human Rights post: Japan and anti-Armenian Turkey can’t let go Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Newly elected Prime Minister Fumio Kishida seems set to follow the anti-China mantra of his predecessor Yoshihide Suga. This is witnessed by the new human rights post that is specifically…
Iraq assassination attempt against PM al-Kadhimi fails Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, survived a sophisticated assassination attack. It is known that an armed drone laden with explosives tried to kill him. Seven security guards protecting al-Kadhimi were injured in this brazen assassination attempt. Immediately,…
Art of Japan and Hishida Shunsō: Nature and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hishida Shunsō was born in 1874 and died in 1911. Hence, his life was cut short because of ill health. However, the rich legacy of Shunsō continues today. Interestingly, a few years before he died, he painted a stunning Buddhist…
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