Japan and important factions supporting Suga’s bid for leadership Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The sudden resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe because of ill-health means a leadership battle inside the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hence, the ill-timing of Abe’s resignation equates to many lawmakers desiring continuity because of the economic…
The foreign policy of Japan in the post-Abe period: America, China, Mekong, and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The geopolitical challenges for Japan throughout Northeast Asia and the Asia Pacific are enormous. Thus with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigning then a challenging period will ensue. After all, unlike many other…
Iran and father gets only 9 years for beheading his daughter Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The oppressive Islamic Republic of Iran arrests women for not covering-up and speaking freely, persecutes Muslim apostates, the Baha’is reside in fear, and females are betrayed by bias within the Sharia legal system. Therefore, the…
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan to resign Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to announce his resignation later today because of ill health. Speculation had already emerged before his two recent visits to the hospital that he wasn’t well. Therefore, with past health issues leading to…
Colombia massacres keep on mounting Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Increasing levels of violence in Colombia this year are setting off alarm bells. This is based on the fragility of this nation over many decades. Therefore, in parts of the country, the centralized state is but a figment of the imagination.…
Japan art and Tanaka Hōji: Taoism, Hōitsu, and Jurōjin Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) was born in the Edo period (1603-1868) and died in the Meiji era. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 is known for the modernization of Japan. However, for Hōji, he belongs to the traditional art…
Belarus standoff continues while Moscow and Washington appear restrained Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Lukashenko of Belarus is using the state apparatus in the hope of quelling opposition forces and that protests will decline. Of course, this might be wishful thinking on his part. Internationally, unlike Ukraine, it appears that…
Aichi ends the Covid-19 State of Emergency Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Hideaki Omura, the Governor of Aichi, lifted the coronavirus (Covid-19) State of Emergency based on the reduction of infections. Hence, the State of Emergency between August 6 and 24 appears to have halted the crisis. The main concern is Nagoya…
The Philippines hit by terrorist attacks in Jolo Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A twin terrorist attack hit Jolo in the province of Sulu in the Philippines. It is known that at least 14 people were killed in both attacks including soldiers. Therefore, the armed forces of the Philippines are on…
PM Shinzo Abe visits hospital again thus raising concerns about his health Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In recent times speculation about the health of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was raised before his recent hospital visits. Thus, with Abe visiting the hospital twice in the last week, concern naturally increased. Flashbacks…
Japan art and Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755): Fusion of ideas Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Information about the artist Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) is relatively sketchy. However, it is known that he was gifted from an early age. Similarly, he was born in the cultural city of Kyoto during the Edo Period. Little is known about…
Ebola deaths and infections are increasing in the DRC Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The eleventh outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading throughout the Equateur province. This outbreak emerged with the ending of the tenth outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Sadly,…
Japan and South Korea and the GSOMIA merry-go-round: Japan should focus on China and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Korean Peninsula is divided between North Korea and South Korea because both Korea’s don’t trust each other. Thus with South Korea repeatedly turning against Japan when relations between both Korea’s…
800,000 Covid-19 deaths with little let-up in America, Brazil, India, and Mexico Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is now responsible for 800,000 known deaths. In the four nations of the highest number of deaths, the numbers keep flowing. Therefore, unlike the hardest-hit nations in Europe, the countries…
ECOWAS puts pressure on Mali but coup leaders say a transitional president Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup leaders in Mali are ignoring regional and international pressure about the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. However, they have declared that a transitional president will be chosen from inside the…
Tokyo Covid-19 infections and mounting heatstroke deaths Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times New infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) are averaging just over 250 in the last week in Tokyo. This is a reduction on previous weeks despite new infections reaching 339 in the last 24 hours. However, heatstroke deaths in the capital are…
One million internally displaced refugees in Burkina Faso Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Burkina Faso is under intense pressure from Sunni Islamic jihadists and ethnic tensions that blight this nation. At the same time, the infrastructure is extremely weak. Therefore, the number of internally displaced keeps on growing. In early 2019,…
Japan art and Sukenobu (1671-1750): Women from all walks of life Modern Tokyo Times Lee Jay Walker Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750) was based in the cultural city of Kyoto and he became famous for his own distinctive artistic style. Thus his rich depictions of women appealed greatly to kimono makers. However, while the imperial city of…
Increasing serious Covid-19 cases in Osaka and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The number of serious coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Osaka and Tokyo are on the rise once more. Hence, the local governments of Osaka and Tokyo need to step up the protection of the most vulnerable. In truth, the…
Mali mutiny is morphing into a coup after Political leaders held Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the June 5 Movement occurred in Mali endless protests have hit the capital. Indeed, even when ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) sought political dialogue, opposition forces refused to relent. Therefore, it isn’t…
Over 50 heatstroke deaths reported in Tokyo with Japan under intense heat Noriko Watanabe and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Heatstroke deaths are continuing to mount in Tokyo and throughout other parts of Japan. It is known that at least 27 people have passed away in the last week in Tokyo from heatstroke. Therefore, fears…
Belarus protests continue against embattled President Lukashenko Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Lukashenko of Belarus is coming under intense pressure to resign because of major protests and civil disobedience. The geopolitical angle of Belarus is also witnessing a less confrontational approach despite America and the European Union (EU) condemning the…
Japanese political system and keeping it in the family Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Apathy in Japan towards the political system is ingrained because of rotating political chairs. Thus, the usual dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) continues, despite some minor breaks from power. Hence the hereditary political class just…
Japan Covid-19 infections are high but stable: New high in Kanagawa Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is a continuous ebb and flow. This applies to new highs and concerns in early August. Therefore, a far cry from the optimism of most of May and the middle…
Malnutrition is stalking the Democratic Republic of Congo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is blighted by millions of internal refugees and many severe health issues. This applies to the bubonic plague, Covid-19, Ebola, HIV, Malaria, Measles epidemic, and other ills. Therefore, with ethnic and religious…
Japanese contemporary art and stunning trees Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi focuses on various art themes related to European and Japanese art. In this article, the focus is on five delightful trees that highlight the beauty of nature. Each setting is different and the same relates to the…
Belarus protests continue against Lukashenko: Geopolitical tightrope Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Protests are continuing in Belarus against President Lukashenko after the recent national election that activists claim is tainted. At the same time, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya immediately left the country fearing the power of the state apparatus. Therefore, the geopolitical tightrope…
Sunni Islamists take a key port in Northern Mozambique Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamists in Northern Mozambique have taken a key port in Mocimboa da Praia. This is another setback for the armed forces of Mozambique that appear bereft of how to tackle the growing Islamist insurgency. Therefore, regional…
Heatstroke fears in Japan with the added pressure of Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The season of August always brings fear about heatstroke fatalities and hospitalization during this part of the year in Japan. Of course, certain areas are normally hit more than others. However, vast swathes of Japan suffer from…
Belarus protests after President Lukashenko declared the winner once more Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Political tensions are running high in Belarus after President Lukashenko emerged victorious in the national election. Hence the announcement that he won 80 percent of the vote irked opposition groups who claim the result as fraudulent.…
Lebanon is in crisis while the Government resigns: The Geopolitical dimension Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The huge explosion that rocked Lebanon last week is known to have killed at least 200 people. Prior to this, the country was beset by economic, political, and social convulsions. Therefore, protests naturally followed the…
Japan Art and a radiant moon at nightfall in distant times Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) illuminated the world of Rinpa (Rimpa) art during a period of momentous changes in Japan. This relates to liberalism, nationalism, militarism, modernity, technology, and sweeping changes that altered the landscape. However, by focusing…
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