Japanese Meiji Art and Onset of Change (1868-1912) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Meiji Period (1868-1912) was very dynamic in many ways because new thinking, modernization, radical change, and a plethora of other factors, altered the cultural landscape in all major cities. However, the countryside often ticked to a different beat despite important…
Yatsenyuk’s Call for Putting Ukraine Back on NATO Path May Be Kiev’s Last Card James George Jatras Deputy Director, AIU AIU American Institute in Ukraine Today Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk announced that he was sending the Verkhovna Rada (just dissolved earlier this week under decree from President Petro Poroshenko) a bill to revoke Ukraine’s…
Tokyo Times in Nakameguro: A Very Stylish Fashion District Michel Lebon and Hiroshi Saito Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is a vibrant capital city for fasthion because you have so many fashionable areas to visit and enjoy throughout this ultra-modern city. Nakameguro is one of the smaller fashion districts whereby the fashion angle appeals greatly. Therefore,…
Yoshu Chikanobu and Japanese Art: Culture and Change Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoshu Chikanobu (Toyohara Chikanobu) lived between 1838 and 1912 and much of his art highlights the changing nature of Japan. The opening up of Japan after the Meiji Restoration provided many new dreams for Japanese citizens but it also was the…
Europe is Exporting Takfiri Barbarity to Iraq, Somalia and Syria Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Syria continues to face a civilizational war because Takfiri indoctrination, Gulf petrodollar terrorism, international jihadists, sectarian forces and the intrigues of major NATO powers are threatening this secular state. At the same time,…
Buddhism and Negoro-ji in Beautiful Wakayama: Japanese Culture, Religion and Tourism Kanako Itamae and Michel Lebon Modern Tokyo Times Japan is blessed with amazing nature and the historical and cultural reality of this unique nation means that you have so many stunning places to visit. Wakayama prefecture is located in the Kansai region and throughout…
Japan Art and the Allure of Paris: Yasui Sotaro Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955) was born in Kyoto and he is famous for yoga (Western-style) portraiture. It is clear that this talented individual understood his vocation because he pursued a career in art despite his family desiring a more commercial career. Therefore, from…
Arrival of Humanitarian Convoy in Eastern Ukraine and Upcoming Poroshenko-Putin Meeting: Is a Real “Game-Changer” in the Offing? James George Jatras Deputy Director, AIU AIU American Institute in Ukraine Up to now, the Kiev administration under President Petro Poroshenko has placed all its eggs in the basket of achieving a short-term military victory over insurgents…
Siege of Mecca, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria: US and Gulf Destabilization Policies Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the 1980s the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and some other nations began to fund Sunni Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan. This meddling came hot on the heels of the…
Tokyo Times in Stunning Mount Takao-san Olivier LeCourt and Hiroshi Saito Modern Tokyo Times Japanese tourism is internationally famous because of many different angles. This applies to the rich traditions of Japanese culture which can be found throughout this nation. Therefore, images of the Japanese tea ceremony, kabuki, ukiyo-e, Buddhism, Shintoism, Japanese gardens, kimono and…
ISIS power in Iraq based on the Takfiri, Terrorist and Sectarian go ahead against Syria Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Gulf and NATO powers have collectively enabled al-Qaeda affiliates, an array of Takfiri sectarian forces and other terrorist organizations to flourish throughout parts of North Africa, the Middle East and other…
Buddhism and Art of Japan: Sengai Gibon and Sesshu Toyo in Opposite Directions Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sesshu Toyo (1420-1506) and Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) are two famous individuals in Japanese history. However, despite belonging to the same Rinzai school of Buddhism both individuals had hugely different views of art and the faith they…
Aggressive Propaganda Helps Islamic State Lure Followers Away From Al-Qaida by John Rossomando IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism Battlefield success by the Islamic State, formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), may be translating into a competition with al-Qaida for brand loyalty among jihadist recruits. These successes have intelligence experts worried. Al-Qaida…
Fashion News in Tokyo: Fred Segal to Consolidate in Japan Hiroshi Saito and Michel Lebon Modern Tokyo Times Fred Segal opened its first flagship store in Japan last year and now it appears that 2014/2015 will be based on consolidating this hip brand. Indeed, the power of American fashion can be felt deeply within the…
Syria and Support of Al-Qaeda and FSA by Gulf and Western Powers: Kashmir and Bosnia Jibril Khoury and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kashmir, Kosovo, Libya and in other parts of the mainly Islamic world, or where you have Muslim and non-Muslim fault-lines, appears to have one binding factor. This…
Japanese Ladies in Ukiyo-e Art and Modern Tokyo Ladies in Traditional Dress Tomoko Hara Modern Tokyo Times Ukiyo-e art in Japan focused on many themes during its “golden period” in the Edo period and this was replicated during the Meiji era. Therefore, the world of old Japan comes alive visually within many areas of ukiyo-e…
Kiev Elites in Ukraine given Green Light to Slaughter by NATO, EU, US and G7 Ramazan Khalidov, Ri Kuk-Chol and Michiyo Tanabe Modern Tokyo Times The elites within the Western block already took sides before events unfolded in the Ukraine. Indeed, just like Yugoslavia, but in reverse, one nation state was deemed worthy to destroy…
ISIS Bombing Masks US deeds in Syria: Rand Paul, US, ISIS Contradictions and Phony War Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS – now Islamic State IS) and America appear to be having a phony war. After all, if ISIS is all over the show…
Old Scores and New Grudges: Evolving Sino-Japanese Tensions International Crisis Group EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Enmity between China and Japan is hardening into a confrontation that appears increasingly difficult to untangle by diplomacy. Positions on the dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku island group are wide apart, and politically viable options to bridge the gap remain…
Modern Tokyo Times in Odaiba: Fashion and Tourism Sarah Deschamps and Tomoko Hara Modern Tokyo Times In Tokyo several places really stand out for being unique in style and this certainly applies to Odaiba. If this is your first visit to Tokyo then Odaiba is a must because of the stunning architecture on show. Also,…
Turkey is Isolated Regionally under Erdogan: Syria, Muslim Brotherhood and America Nuray Lydia Oglu and Hiroshi Saito Modern Tokyo Times The people of Turkey are struggling to come to terms with the divisiveness of the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main international henchman, Ahmet Davutoglu. In Turkey, according to Erdogan,…
Ikebana and Cultural and Historical Aspects in Japan Sarah Deschamps and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times The history of ikebana (living flowers) is extremely fascinating because it tells us a lot about aspects of Japanese culture and how the different thought patterns can be seen in art. Ikebana is also known by the name of…
Yazidis butchered, Alawites face the sword, Shia beheaded and Christians cleansed: Syria and Iraq Ramazan Khalidov, Michiyo Tanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times NATO Powers and Gulf nations have sponsored the destabilization of Syria from the earliest period and the consequences of such a brutal and barbaric policy is clear for all to…
Keisai Eisen and Japanese Art: Early Impact Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) learnt to be independent from an early age and he chose a path which was fraught with economic danger. In a sense, Keisai Eisen represents aspects of “the real Edo period” for individuals who resided in big cities in…
Ukraine: Poroshenko’s ‘Hail Mary’ Pass James George Jatras Deputy Director, AIU AIU American Institute in Ukraine For those not acquainted with American football, a “Hail Mary” pass is the desperation move of a losing team. The quarterback sends downfield all possible receivers, says a quick prayer, and hurls the ball high and far in the…
Murasaki Shikibu and Japanese Art: Rich Legacy of a Female Writer Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The most famous lady in Japanese history is Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki) and many ukiyo-e artists depicted this lady of knowledge and wisdom. It is difficult to get the real truth about Murasaki Shikibu because of documentation. Therefore,…
Ebola Nearing 1,000 Deaths and Fear Factor Increasing Noriko Watanabe and Paul Joseph Nzeribe Modern Tokyo Times The Ebola crisis looks set to soon surpass 1,000 people dying and sadly the dire situation isn’t showing signs of abating. Indeed, the economic and health care strains on nations like Liberia are clearly visible. At the same…
Japan Tourism and Jigokudani Monkey Park in Stunning Nagano Michel Lebon and Hiroshi Saito Modern Tokyo Times In Nagano prefecture you have the Jigokudani Monkey Park whereby visitors can watch Snow Monkeys (Japanese Macaques) bathing in a natural onsen (hot spring). The best season to watch from a photographic point of view is the winter…
Syria Needs Strengthening in Order to Strike ISIS: Iraq and US Schizophrenia Jibril Khoury and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad continues to fight bravely against sectarian and terrorist forces that are sponsored by outside nations. After several years of a brutal conflict sponsored by Gulf and NATO…
Tourism in Japan and Stunning Fukushima: Ura-Bandai, Abukuma Cave and Koriyama Tomoko Hara and Michel Lebon Modern Tokyo Times Fukushima is a stunning prefecture in Japan which is awash with amazing landscapes where people can escape the stresses of life. Koriyama is the commercial capital of Fukushima prefecture and for many tourists this city is…
Art of Japan and Bunjinga (Nanga): Edo Period and Influence of China and Korea Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Bunjinga school of thought ran deep within the literati of Japan during the Edo period. Bunjin (literati) artists trace their artistic roots to the literati of China during the Song Dynasty (960-1267). However, the differences between the Japanese…
Syria and the Armenian Issue: Turkey, Takfiris and Erdogan Nuray Lydia Oglu and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Turkey is a dangerous shadow under the leadership of Prime Minister Erdogan. This notably applies to the intrigues being played out in Syria by Turkey and how Erdogan is on the side of the Muslim Brotherhood…
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