France is Re-thinking its anti-Syria Stance: Hezbollah or Takfiri and Sectarian Barbarity? Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of President Hollande in France sadly joined the anti-Syria alliance against secular Syria. This witnessed secular France allying itself with sectarian and Takfiri sponsoring nations, most notably this applies to Qatar, Saudi…
Attackers Kill American Writer at Bangladesh Book Fair by IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism A Bangladeshi-American writer who endured threats from Islamists over his secular views was hacked to death in Dhaka late Thursday, reports say. Avijit Roy, 42, was a naturalized American living in Georgia. He was a frequent critic of radical Islamic…
Japanese Art in the Meiji Period 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 reforms and…
Egypt’s President Calls for Arab Coalition Against ISIS Investigative Project on Terrorism Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi wants a unified Arab front to combat ISIS terrorists. “The need for a unified Arab force is growing and becoming more pressing every day,” said Sisi in a televised speech on Sunday. He acknowledged that Jordan and the…
Tani Buncho and Japanese Art: Impact of Chinese Culture Despite Isolation Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the history books it is stated that Japan in the Edo period was cut off from the outside world but the old ways persisted and certain daimyo maintained aspects of past trade depending on geography. Therefore, culture,…
Ikebana and the Richness of Japanese History and Culture 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…
Without Lips Teeth Feel the Cold? Chinese Support for Russia in the Ukraine Crisis Publication: China Brief By: Clark Edward Barrett The Jamestown Foundation Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, China has been remarkably forthright in its consistent opposition to the imposition of sanctions against Russia following the country’s annexation of Crimea in March…
America and Turkey to Train another Terrorist Force against Syria: Iran must Counter in Iraq Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times America knows full well that international jihadists and various terrorist forces have utilized NATO Turkey in order to kill in Syria. Not content with this, NATO powers now support financing another proxy…
PM Abe of Japan Shames Dead Japanese Nationals by Welcoming Qatar Noriko Watanabe, Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe appears to be mocking the Japanese nationals that were beheaded by ISIS (IS – Islamic State) because he welcomed Qatar with open arms. However, it is…
Art of Japan and Keisai Eisen: Sorrow and Strength at a Tender Age Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) learned 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…
China’s “Server Sinification” Campaign for Import Substitution: Strategy and Snowden (Part 2) Publication: China Brief By: Clark Edward Barrett The Jamestown Foundation Since 2009, the Chinese government, in cooperation with state-run and private firms, has conducted an import substitution campaign in its computer server market, which is currently dominated by U.S. information technology (IT) companies…
President El-Sisi of Egypt Orders Strikes Against ISIS after Christians Killed in Libya Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt immediately met the leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church after hearing about the barbaric murders of 21 Coptic Christians. El-Sisi expressed his deep sorrow to Pope Tawadros…
Samurai Taira no Tadamori: Art and Folklore in Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japanese art and folklore depicts Taira no Tadamori (1096-1153) most favorably because this notable samurai feared nothing in this world. Likewise, within the rich world of Japanese folklore and spirituality Tadamori also didn’t fear the unseen world of dark mysteries.…
Sweden Grapples with Rising Extremism Publication: Terrorism Monitor By: John C. K. Daly The Jamestown Foundation Placid constitutional monarchy Sweden used to be perceived as largely immune from Islamist terrorism; even Osama bin Laden, in a videotaped speech in November 2004, said: “Before I begin, I say to you that security is an indispensable pillar…
Chad Attacked by Boko Haram Terrorists: Nigeria and Roles of Chad and France Paul Joseph Nzeribe, Lielit Kebede and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Regional nations are now helping Nigeria in its war against the Takfiri Islamist group called Boko Haram. However, true to the nature of Boko Haram then this terrorist organization is…
Japanese Art and Nationalism: The World of Yokoyama Taikan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yokoyama Taikan (1868-1958) was born in the prefecture of Ibaraki but he moved to Tokyo in 1878. This period of history in Japan would witness many events because time didn’t stand still during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods of…
Burkina Faso: Nine Months to Complete the Transition International Crisis Group EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Blaise Compaoré’s resignation on 31 October 2014, the day after a historic insurrection, came as no surprise. Growing old and out of touch with reality, his regime has given way to an uncertain transition, led by a military-civilian government…
Oda Nobunaga and Cultural Impact in pre-Edo Period: Kano Eitoku Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In modern Japan the importance of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and his legacy remains extremely strong even today. After all, he laid the foundation stone for the future centralized Japan despite certain limitations during the Tokugawa period. However, often the…
China-Iran Military Relations at a Crossroads Publication: China Brief Volume: 15 Issue: 3 By: Joel Wuthnow The Jamestown Foundation Formal military relations between China and Iran made a series of strides in 2013 and 2014. These included high-level leadership visits and unprecedented port calls involving the two countries’ navies. This article seeks to place those…
Shia Houthi in Yemen and Consolidation of Power based on Stability Salma Zribi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yemen is currently witnessing momentous times because the Shia Houthi movement is now intent on consolidating its power in the short-term. Of course, it is currently impossible to focus on the long-term ambitions of this…
Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria target Boko Haram: Fresh Massacre in Cameroon Paul Joseph Nzeribe, Lielit Kebede and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to reports the army of Chad claims to have killed several hundred Boko Haram Takfiri Islamists in Nigeria. Yet despite the initial euphoria based on the armies of Cameroon, Chad and…
Japanese Photography of Women in Meiji Era and Taisho Era Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo News The photography of Ogawa Kazumasa in this article is based on images of Japanese ladies in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. In each image you will find nothing revolutionary nor will you find a “hidden mystery.”…
Syria and the Gulf and NATO Islamist Terrorist Sponsored Networks Helmut Joachim Schmidt, Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Cold War and the disintegration of Yugoslavia witnessed murky dealings by political elites in Washington and London respectively. Afghanistan became a rallying point for creating and molding not only Sunni Islamic terrorism…
Japan Art, Spirits and Fusion by Hirosada: Kasa-Obake, the One Legged Umbrella Ghost Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japanese folklore is full of fascinating spirits that have a wide variety of power. Some spirits and ghosts may be extremely dangerous, while others may be much less harmless. Thereby they are represented in many different…
Sudan and South Sudan’s Merging Conflicts International Crisis Group EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Neither the peace agreement that ended Sudan’s second civil war (1983-2005) nor South Sudan’s 2011 independence brought stability. A difficult divorce that included a border conflict, an oil shutdown, then brief cooperation, has been followed since December 2013 by a new phase…
