Tokyo Covid-19 infections reach a new high of 224: Yes, Yuriko Koike, the nightlife! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) entered Japan in the middle of January. However, in Tokyo, the highest reported day for new infections is July 9. Once more, just like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the…
Torrential rain leads to roughly 60 deaths in Kyushu and Central Japan also hit Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The torrential rain that first hit Kyushu is now engulfing parts of central Japan. In total, approximately 870,000 people have been told to evacuate in southwestern and central Japan. Heavy torrential rain first…
Zen Buddhist art of Japan: Hakuin Ekaku and teacher of all Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) revived Rinkai Buddhism in Japan because his roots never left him. Indeed, he was a holy Buddhist preacher who connected easily to ordinary people. Therefore, he understood the complexity of Buddhism in the countryside and…
President Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19: Brazil deaths reach 66,000 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil notified the public that he had tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19). Of all the political leaders in the world, he is the most outspoken against the potency of the coronavirus. Despite…
Japan in obvious 16.2 percent Covid-19 related decline in household spending in May Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan hit household spending in May. Thus the 16.2 percent downturn from twelve months earlier isn’t a surprise. After all, in all nations engulfed by the coronavirus crisis,…
Kyushu deaths are mounting after torrential downpours especially hit Kumamoto Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Heavy torrential downpours in Kyushu are believed to have killed at least 40 people. At the moment, the news is sketchy and the declaration of deaths is slow. However, based on confirmed deaths reaching 22 and the…
Mexico reaches 30,000 Covid-19 deaths and high infection rate continuing Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Mexico reached a grim 30,000 coronavirus (Covid-19) deaths and with little sign of abating. Indeed, in the last 24 hours, 6,914 new cases have been reported. Therefore, high numbers of deaths are being recorded daily. In total,…
A torrential downpour in Kyushu leads to at least 15 deaths in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times A torrential downpour led to 200,000 people being evacuated in Kagoshima and Kumamoto prefectures in the region of Kyushu. It is known that at least 15 people have perished. However, this figure may increase…
Tokyo Covid-19 cases on the rise: Yuriko Koike and the maddening angle Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike took over a vibrant city that improved dramatically based on the legacy of Shintaro Ishihara (1999-2012). However, her tenure since 2016 is extremely bland outside of grand statements. Shockingly,…
Japan poetry and Okura (660-733): Influence of Confucianism and East Asia Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamanoue no Okura (660-733?) lived a dynamic life by the standards of the day. Of course, many areas of his life remain shrouded in mystery based on the passages of time. Therefore, it isn’t fully known if he…
The Democratic Republic of Congo and five million people uprooted Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is extremely severe. This relates to ethnic massacres, religious atrocities, and an infrastructure that barely exists in parts of the country. At the same time, Ebola and…
Tokyo Covid-19 cases reach high of 107 since early May: Blasé Yuriko Koike Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo is once more gaining momentum. Yet the blasé approach of the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike continues. Hence, the nightlife and sex entertainment hosting areas of Tokyo are…
Ethiopia fears fresh violence after 81 killed during Oromo protests Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ethiopia is multi-ethnic and multi-religious thus any outbreak involving ethnicity or religion – or a fusion of both – can spread quickly. Hence anger in Oromia after the death of Hachalu Hundessa (Hacaaluu Hundeessaa) is witnessing…
Japan needs pragmatism on Hong Kong issue: Geopolitics of Northeast Asia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan should focus on pragmatism and the geopolitical reality of Northeast Asia. Of course, the new Hong Kong security law is draconian. However, Japan must not be dragged into the…
Art of Japan and Torii Kiyonaga: Images of serenity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Many individuals in modernized nations often look back to an imagined time of serenity. Of course, the reality is most likely different. Yet aspects of cultural identity and continuity appeal. Therefore, irrespective if art emanates from China, France, Japan, or…
Iran sentences the activist Ruhollah Zam to death: Murky dealings! Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Iran fears any challenge to its power concentration, thus alternative ideas are deemed anti-revolutionary. Yet in Iran nothing is revolutionary. On the contrary, the leading Shia clergy pull the strings. Therefore, the privileged…
Tokyo Covid-19 cases increase to 60 and once more 50 percent related to nightlife Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo witnessed its highest number of new coronavirus (Covid-19) infections on Sunday since early May. Thus with 50 percent linked to hosting bars and other areas of nightlife, then why is this…
Over 500,000 deaths from Covid-19: Americas and Southeast Asia under strain Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The grim milestone of 500,000 deaths from coronavirus (Covid-19) was surpassed officially in the last few hours. It remains to be seen what the final death toll will be. However, the signs are ominous for many…
Japanese tenth-century poetry: Mibu no Tadamine and the Middle Kingdom (China) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine reached his height during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. It is known that he was active in the Heian court between 898-920. Therefore, one can imagine his world through the…
Anti-US media bias: Discrimination in China, Cuba, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi, and Turkey Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The media in America, parts of Europe, and other areas of the world are highlighting discrimination and Black Lives Matter (BLM) to an extreme. Yet, unlike America that welcomed people from every continent in…
Mexico Covid-19 deaths surpass 25,000 and no sign of abating Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The death toll from coronavirus (Covid-19) and infections keep on increasing in Mexico. Indeed, both are underestimated and no signs of abating. Therefore, the grim milestone of 25,000 looks set to increase. Infections have now reached over…
Tokyo covid-19 cases increase: Yuriko Koike distracted and the heatstroke angle Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The number of infections from coronavirus (Covid-19) is increasing in Tokyo. This comes after five weeks of extremely low reported cases. Thus, while the numbers aren’t dangerously high, it is still a concern. Equally important,…
Should BLM change its name or is Arab slavery and ethnic massacres in Africa fine? Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States unlike most of Asia takes in black African Christians and people from all continents. However, how many black African Christians have been given citizenship in the last 50…
Japan tourism and Nara: The legacy of Buddhism and high culture thrives Tomoko Hara and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The delightful city of Nara is the birthplace of Japanese high culture and today this angle shines brightly. Hence, domestic and international tourists flock to this amazing part of Japan. Indeed, the region of Kansai…
K-Pop, BLM, and amnesia: Commercial savvy (Tibet, Xinjiang, and West Papua) Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times K-Pop emanates from South Korea and is a very popular music style that is followed in many parts of Asia and further afield. However, recently many powerful K-Pop groups are involving themselves in Blacks Lives…
Brazil reaches 50,000 Covid-19 deaths: Americas overview Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) death toll in Brazil is now 50,608 and with few signs of abating. Confirmed cases have also surpassed one million. Hence, the coronavirus crisis is extremely potent in this country. Yet despite the severity of the crisis…
Art of Japan and poetry: Above the withered fields a bat flits Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The poetic skills of Yosa Buson (1716-1784) are extremely legendary inside Japan despite the passages of time. Indeed, despite some notable art pieces by Buson, it is his words belonging to the world of haiku that stand…
Tokyo tourism and Akihabara: Anime, electronic goods, otaku, and maid cafe Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo News In Tokyo, the district of Akihabara is extremely independent and caters for a different experience. This relates to cosplay shopping, electronic products, maid cafe, otaku culture, and working space cafes to formulate new ideas. If your…
Russian Military Seeking to Counter Growing Chinese Role in Central Asia Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Paul Goble The Jamestown Foundation In March 2019, Dmitry Zhelobov, a specialist on China at Russia’s Urals Federal University, warned that Beijing was shifting from relying on soft power in Central Asia to using hard power. If Russia did…
Tokyo lifts Covid-19 business restrictions and people can travel freely in Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, lifted all business restrictions. Similarly, travel restrictions throughout Japan have been lifted. In other words, Japan is seeking to return to normal from the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. More…
Peru Covid-19 crisis is mounting despite government measures Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Peru is facing mountain pressure and convulsions from the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. At the same time, infections are extremely high for a population of roughly 33 million people. Currently, 7,257 deaths and over 240,000 known…
Japan art and Goshun (1752-1811): The richness of Chinese and Japanese high culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Matsumura Goshun (1752-1811) was brought up in a world where high culture was supreme. He was the eldest child of six children and born into a wealthy family. Therefore, from a young age,…
India loses 20 soldiers in a border clash with belligerent China: Covid-19 convulsions Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times At least 20 soldiers from India have died after border clashes with China in an area claimed by both. It remains unknown how many soldiers from China were killed in violent clashes. Reuters…
North Korea and South Korea tensions ratchet up: Moon Jae-in is in a spin Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times North Korea warned South Korea to reign in defectors who were spreading anti-Pyongyang propaganda. Hence, the liaison office designed for communicating between both Korea’s was blown up by North Korea in the…
Many soldiers killed in Mali after Sunni Islamists attack an armed convoy Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The ethnic and religious crisis in Mali is tearing the country apart. Only last week you had another ethnic massacre that killed many. This week it is a brutal Sunni Islamist insurgency responsible for…
Tokyo Governor Koike is enabling the sex entertainment area to threaten society with Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sadly, many traditional owned family companies have gone bankrupt because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo. At the same time, many Tokyoites are still waiting for the promised 100,000-yen from…
South Africa and woman found hanging from a tree and other murders Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Several highlighted brutal murders of women in South Africa are garnering public opinion about this horrendous reality. Of course, all nations have issues with rape and sexual abuse irrespective of the continent. Equally, the…
