Prime Minister Suga showing early nationalist signs Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is showing early nationalist signs even if not overtly. Hence, it is striking that several members of his Cabinet and policies announced seem to have a nationalist slant. Of course, some of this is natural…
The poetry of bygone times in old Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The highly esteemed poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro comes from old Japan. He is deemed to be one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals based on his prominence in volumes 1 and 2 of the highly acclaimed Man’yōshū. Therefore, this waka poet who belongs…
Art and poetry: The last throes before the ghost of time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A lifetime of friendship becomes distant. Moments of confusion grow from minutes to days. Loved ones often erased. The river once flowed and reached my heart. Now the flow is lost. Art hangs on many walls, like eyes…
One Million Covid-19 deaths and infections remain high Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is now responsible for one million confirmed deaths. In truth, the real figure is likely much higher. Therefore, the return to normal is far away because deaths and infections blight countless nations. The one…
Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia needs to warn Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are nothing new in recent times. However, with Armenia announcing a general mobilization and imposing martial law, this time the situation appears more dangerous. Both nations have blamed…
PM Suga of Japan and President Xi of China talk by phone Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China held their first talks by phone since Suga became the new leader of Japan. Unsurprisingly, both leaders promised to foster closer relations…
North Korea apologizes to South Korea over the recent killing Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, made a rare apology to South Korea over the recent killing of a South Korean citizen. He made the apology to show his sincerity in what appears to be a…
Sanctions likely to be lifted in Mali once Interim President takes office Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appears to be winning trust regionally. Thus ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is showing signs of compromise. At first, ECOWAS had tried to…
Tokyo Covid-19 daily infections come down over the holiday period Sawako Uchida and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Daily coronavirus (Covid-19) infections in Tokyo have come down in the last three days. Indeed, the 59 daily infections announced today are the lowest since late June. However, caution remains because of the extended holiday period of…
Trillions of dollars laundered by financial institutions: Drug cartels to terrorism Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Allegations are emerging over enormous money laundering scandals covering the period 1999-2017. More than likely, this is only the tip of a much bigger iceberg. However, once more, the image of banks and multinational financial…
Japanese art, the impact of Paris, and the shadow of war: Kanokogi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Takeshiro Kanokogi was born in the prefecture of Okayama. Luckily, for Kanokogi, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 opened up culture and society. Therefore, he had the opportunity to focus on different artistic themes and to…
Belarus crackdown prompts Hackers to release info of security forces Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Lukashenko of Belarus is using the state apparatus against opposition forces. This applies to mass arrests and other methods of coercion. At the same time, the Russian Federation is increasing its support of Lukashenko. However,…
Japan and diplomacy with China: Australia, India, Japan, and America to meet Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Miniter Yoshihide Suga is the new leader of Japan. Thus, the meeting between senior officials from America, Australia, India, and Japan in Tokyo early next month will be analyzed carefully. It is known…
“Go To Travel to include Tokyo but Covid-19 concerns remain Sawako Utsumi and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The “Go To Travel” campaign will finally witness Tokyo joining the club in Japan. However, fears remain because the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo is ongoing. Indeed, in the last week – and with bars and other…
A slight weekly increase in Covid-19 cases in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times In the last few weeks, the numbers of coronavirus (Covid-19) daily infections have come down in Tokyo from fresh highs in August. Yet, this week, a slight daily increase from the week before is creating concern. Hence, the…
Mozambique and useful humanitarians in the shadow of Islamists Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamists are involved in various conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and in other parts of the world including the Caucasus. Similarly, religious terrorist attacks in Europe belong to the same Takfiri mindset. However,…
Yoshihide Suga announced the official Prime Minister of Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoshihide Suga is the new prime minister of Japan after obtaining 314 votes in the Diet out of a possible 462. Of course, today was a formality because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) opted for Suga on…
Japan reaches 80,000 centenarians but Covid-19 deaths are low unlike in Europe Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In parts of Europe, many elderly people died in care homes, nursing homes, and throughout society from the coronavirus (Covid-19). This notably applies to Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. However, Japan,…
Yoshihide Suga to become the next Prime Minister of Japan Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, was elected the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hence, it is a formality that he will become the new leader of Japan. The sudden resignation of Prime…
Ebola in the DRC threatens to spread to the Republic of Congo Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatening to spread to the Republic of Congo (ROC). This applies to the border areas of the Equateur province in the…
Japan art and Sakai Hōitsu: Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) created a delightful triptych that is referred by the title Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms. Interestingly, Hōitsu completed the three motifs when he was 60 years old. The reason why this…
Iran hangs Navid Afkari who denied any wrongdoing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Iran ignored international appeals and instead hanged a young wrestler on flimsy charges. Navid Afkari, 27 years old, pleaded his innocence after being forced to confess earlier under torture. Of course, for Iran, irrespective if…
Bahrain recognizes Israel similar to the UAE: Geopolitics and the Muslim Brotherhood Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Bahrain – just like the United Arab Emirates recently – is to normalize ties with Israel. This will further strengthen Israel in the Arabic speaking world, while also highlighting the need…
Japan and the UK sign a trade deal but eyes are on Trans-Pacific Partnership Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United Kingdom (UK) and Japan, in principle, have signed an important trade deal for the UK. For Japan, the real focus is on continuity and not having supply related issues –…
Review of Ellery Queen’s Japanese Mystery Stories Special Contribution: Renae Lucas-Hall Originally published by Tuttle in 1984 under the title Ellery Queen’s Japanese Golden Dozen, this cover features a watchful detective smoking in Tokyo’s back streets with Japanese street signs, red lights, and lanterns in the background. Crime fiction is very popular at the moment…
Over 900,000 Covid-19 deaths and little sign of decreasing Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is continuing unabated in terms of deaths and infections per day. Hence, over 900,000 deaths from coronavirus internationally. Therefore, the international situation remains bleak. Indeed, in parts of Europe, infections are increasing once…
Japan survey says 80 percent of children caught Covid-19 from parents Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A minor survey of early findings by the Japan Pediatric Society is providing early indicators about children and the coronavirus (Covid-19). Of course, the initial survey only relates to roughly 300 children – so still…
Pakistan Christian sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another verdict in Pakistan will rock all minorities because the fear of blasphemy weighs heavily. Hence, the sentence of death passed on Asif Pervaiz is a firm reminder of institutional religious discrimination in Pakistan. Asif Pervaiz, a Christian…
Typhoon Haishen less deadly than feared Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Typhoon Haishen is known to have killed two people and left four individuals missing. At the same time, approximately 100 people were injured by the brutal typhoon. However, this is a lot less than originally feared. During the height of the…
Lowest Covid-19 daily infection numbers in Tokyo for 2 months Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo began properly in March despite the first known case being the middle of January. Since then, it appeared that Tokyo – and Japan in general – had overcome the crisis by…
Typhoon Haishen hits Japan: Over 500,000 homes without power Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Typhoon Haishen is passing through Japan and causing havoc throughout the region of Kyushu. The Yamaguchi prefecture is also feeling the forces of the typhoon in the Chugoku region of Honshu. In total, over 500,000 homes have been…
Typhoon Haishen to hit Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Typhoon Haishen is expected to generate huge waves around the coastal areas of Kyushu in Japan. Thus Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki are bracing for extreme winds, torrential downpours, mudslides, and other negative factors later on Sunday and early Monday.…
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