Congo: Ending the Status Quo International Crisis Group OVERVIEW The November 2013 defeat of the M23 armed group raised the hope that, after almost two decades of conflict, fundamental change and stabilisation were possible in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region. This was the result of a rare convergence of interests between…
Lebanon and Nasrallah: Hezbollah is Breaking Down the Shia-Sunni Divide Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The conflict in Syria remains unresolved because the United States wants to bleed everyone to death. At the same time, Turkey and feudal kingdoms in the Gulf, for example Qatar and Saudi Arabia, refuse to give…
Yumeji Takehisa and Japanese Art: Complexity of Life Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In all nation states you have elites which control and often abuse power based on “special interests” and “secrecy.” Many individuals feel like “fodder” because so many dreams never materialize for the majority of people. This is the reality of life…
Mexico: Upheaval and Paralysis By Mary Speck | @speckmary International Crisis Group “Mexico cannot go on like this”, President Enrique Peña Nieto said on 27 November, addressing the country from the National Assembly. Most Mexicans would agree, yet Mexico remains embroiled in a political crisis over the disappearance of 43 students, apparently at the hands…
Japan Should Strengthen Ties with the Russian Federation Galina Zobova, Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan should implement a major policy shift based on strengthening ties with the Russian Federation. If not, then only China will gain from Japan’s obsession with placating America. However, the…
Keisai Eisen and Art of Japan: Shogetsu Pond and the Mirage of Life Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If one views the stunning image of the View of Shogetsu Pond by Keisai Eisen, then only images of tranquility, order and a nation at peace comes to mind. It appears that nature, order and a…
Boko Haram, Islamic State and the Archipelago Strategy Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 24 By: Jacob Zenn The Jamestown Foundation This paper will explain how in northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram can be understood as currently operating between the tamkin (authority) and khilafah phases of jihadist methodology, while in northwest Nigeria, it is currently in…
FARC is Putting Pressure on President Santos of Colombia Michiyo Tanabe and Helmet Joachim Schmidt Modern Tokyo Times FARC have announced a very important unilateral ceasefire thereby putting more pressure on President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to follow suit. The conflict in Colombia is responsible for the deaths of over 200,000 people based on…
Art of Japan and Ito Shinsui: A Foot in Both Worlds Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is a notable twentieth century artist from the land of the rising sun. This applies to the amazing sophistication and grace of so many art pieces. Also, Shinsui didn’t negate the rich traditions…
Azerbaijani-Serbian Relations Booming Thanks to Mutual Interests Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 11 Issue: 223 December 15, 2014 06:25 PM Age: 6 hrs By: Huseyn Aliyev The Jamestown Foundation On December 10, a delegation from the Serbian National Assembly, led by parliamentary speaker Maja Gojkovic, visited the Azerbaijani capital of Baku (Azernews.az, December 10). During…
PM Abe of Japan Obtains A Perfect Parliamentary Result Kanako Itamae and Pierre Leblanc Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, called for a snap election based on strengthening his position within the land of the rising sun. This reality applies to a duality, firstly to highlight the ineffectiveness of the opposition…
Japanese Art and Samurai Taira no Tadamori Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Taira no Tadamori (1096-1153) is depicted in a prestigious way in Japanese art because this notable samurai was widely respected during his lifetime. Tadamori also played a very important role in the consolidation of the Taira samurai clan within the Imperial Court.…
Finland Points the Way Ahead for Japan towards Russia: Remember Kosovo? Galina Zobova, Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan should focus on the stance taken by Finland towards the Russian Federation in the field of economics, geopolitics, trade, friendly relations and by adopting a neutral policy –…
Takfiris Kill in Kenya and Nigeria: Christian Leaders and Indigenous Islam Must Fight Back Lielit Kebede, Nuray Lydia Oglu and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Takfiri Islamists keep on butchering in Kenya and Nigeria and clearly central forces in Nigeria can’t contain Boko Haram. Kenya currently isn’t on the level of daily massacres like…
Kamisaka Sekka and Art of Japan: Changing Sands and Rimpa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) lived in a very dramatic period in the history of Japan. He was too young to remember the ending of the Edo Period because the Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868. Despite this, art in…
Tensho Shubun and Impact of China: Zen Buddhist Priest in 15th Century Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Artists in old Japan highlight the power and influence of China. At the same time, the uniqueness of Japanese culture also shines through because of specific elements that existed and influenced artists. In modern Japan…
Georgian Chechens Increasingly Play Key Roles in Both Islamic State and Its Rivals Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 11 Issue: 217 By: Mairbek Vatchagaev The Jamestown Foundation After the followers of Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) organization (sedmitza.ru, June 30), some of the rebel forces opposed to Syrian…
Iran should focus on Shia Day and not Jerusalem Day: Takfiris, Sponsored Sectarianism and Killing the Shia Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Islamic Republic of Iran is entering a very dangerous period because the changing reality of the Middle East is increasing in its hatred towards the Shia. Of course,…
A Coup Ordained? Thailand’s Prospects for Stability International Crisis Group EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On 22 May, for the twelfth time in Thailand’s history, the army seized power after months of political turbulence. This is not simply more of the same. The past decade has seen an intensifying cycle of election, protest and government downfall, whether at…
Foreign Policy of Japan: No Warrior Benkei in Sight therefore China and Russia are Essential Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the post-World War Two period it is abundantly obvious that America predominates when it comes to the foreign policy of Japan. Indeed, the relationship, despite having some ups and downs, continues to blossom…
Japanese Art and Culture: Ono no Komachi, Poetry and Myths Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The waka poet, Ono no Komachi, is a noted poet in Japan. This reality is abundantly clear because Komachi is numbered within the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals in the land of the rising sun. Komachi, according to tradition, was born…
The Maldives-Syria Connection: Jihad in Paradise? Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 12 Issue: 22 By: Animesh Roul The Jamestown Foundation The Maldives, the Muslim-majority archipelago country in the Indian Ocean, is going through a tumultuous time, facing increasing Islamist activities at home, an exodus of radicalized youth to join the jihad in Syria and a growing…
