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…
Japanese art and rinpa: Buddhism, Maple trees, and a lovely stone lantern Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The delightful school of rinpa (rimpa) art covers a notable art form that hails from Japan. Rinpa spans many centuries and in modern times this art form continues to represent Japanese high culture. Therefore, international and…
Brazil covid-19 deaths reach just below 43,000 with high daily infections Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Brazil is still showing no signs of abating. Thus with 42,720 deaths and high daily infections, the severity of the crisis is extreme. Therefore, for poorer sections in society, the economic…
Tokyo Governor Koike to run for re-election while people wait for 100,000 yen support Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a move expected, the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will run for a second term. This relates to the gubernatorial election that will take place on July 5. However, while she promises…
UNHCR requests support for the Sahel based on ethnic and religious violence Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The UNHCR is calling for international support to assist people fleeing ethnic, religious, and criminal violence. This notably applies to the central Sahel and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Equally, concerns remain for Chad…
Tokyo is moving closer to full economic and social normality from Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is moving closer to returning the capital to normality, even if caution remains. Koike lifted the warning on a possible major rise in coronavirus (Covid-19) based on recent low levels…
Russian Navy Prioritizes Tsirkon Hypersonic Missiles Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Roger McDermott The Jamestown Foundation Moscow’s political-military leadership places growing emphasis on long-range stand-off precision strike systems as a key element in its ongoing modernization program, complementing efforts to strengthen “pre-nuclear” deterrence and offering additional conventional capabilities. One emerging pattern is to equip Russia’s…
Japan art and Morimura Hōgi (1805-1862): High culture and continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Morimura Hōgi followed in the rich traditions of rinpa (rimpa) art and the cultural traits associated. This relates to art, poetry, the tea ceremony, and other areas of high culture. Hōgi belongs to the Edo period in Japan and…
Ethnic clashes, Christian pogroms, and Islamist terrorist attacks in Nigeria Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another Sunni Islamist massacre in northern Nigeria resulted in the deaths of at least 69 Nigerians. The village was completely razed by brutal Islamists in Faduma Koloram, in the Borno state. At the same time, many…
Japan and likely increased heatstroke deaths: Facemasks, hot summer, and Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese high summer isn’t in full flow yet but the fear of increased heatstroke deaths is very real. Of course, people often die from heatstroke in Japan during the height of summer. However, the…
Hungary praises cooperation in Central Europe: Visegrad and reaching out Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Hungary praised regional cooperation throughout Central Europe. At the same time, Viktor Orbán expressed his hope in furthering ties to a greater level with Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Hungary is in the…
