Japan Health Minister apologizes for the large party despite Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese minister in charge of Health, Labor, and Welfare apologized deeply for 23 officials enjoying a late-night farewell party despite the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Thus Tamura Norihisa apologized profusely for betraying the trust of the…
Saitama tourism: Buddhism and connecting with culture in Chichibu Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Chichibu in the prefecture of Saitama is approximately 85 minutes away from the central parts of Tokyo. Hence, if you seek to fuse mountain landscapes, spirituality, outdoor sports connected to mountains and rivers, and a slower pace…
Over 100 reported killed in another bloody day in Myanmar Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Myanmar is reaching an extremely dangerous period since the ousting of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. For bloodshed is increasing to unimaginable levels. Therefore, with over 100 reported deaths in the last 48 hours, regional…
Poetry of ancient Japan enriched by the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The eighth-century Japanese scholar and poet Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) belongs to the cultural world that was inspired by the Middle Kingdom (China). From a very young age, he showed exemplary skills suited to the world of academia. In this…
Myanmar crisis continues unabated: 270 deaths since the military crackdown Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the military coup in Myanmar against State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, the daily deaths of protesters and bystanders by the state apparatus have become the norm. Thus, the death toll since the coup took…
Japan in recent Covid-19 upturn again Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The ebb and flow of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan is showing another upturn after coming down from highs earlier in the year. At the moment, apart from Sendai, the figures aren’t alarming to the sense of the previous few months. However,…
Ethiopia confirms ethnic massacres in Tigray and the involvement of Eritrea Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Ethiopia confirmed for the first time that the armed forces of Eritrea helped during the conflict in Tigray. Also, the leader of Ethiopia admitted that ethnic massacres had taken place. The Ethiopian…
Saitama tourism: Chichibu Shinto shrine and richness of history Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park in the prefecture of Saitama attracts a plethora of tourists. Other angles related to culture, religion, and so much more, means that Chichibu is a great base to explore this part of Japan.…
Tokyo News: Tokyo Governor Koike says internal Covid-19 vaccines are national security Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis began in Japan on January 16, 2020. Since then, not one single Japanese company is providing a coronavirus vaccine for usage. This is a far-cry from nations including America, China, Germany,…
Suspected Islamists kill at least 137 in Niger: Sahel region needs support Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Suspected Islamists have killed at least 137 people in the latest massacre in Niger. Islamists rarely claim responsibility for attacks in the border areas between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Therefore, with Islamist terrorist…
. Increasing suicide among schoolchildren in Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The number of schoolchildren committing suicide in Japan increased once more to 479 deaths in 2020. Thus a familiar depressing statistic was announced concerning childhood deaths in 2020. Yet, despite recent years witnessing new increases, it appears that little…
Saitama tourism: Hodosan Shinto Shrine in Nagatoro Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Hodosan Shinto Shrine in Nagatoro is a great place to connect with spirituality and nature in Saitama prefecture. Thus, despite the lore of boating, whitewater rafting, and enjoying spectacular views from Mount Hodo; the spiritual angle of Hodosan…
Tokyo News: Expensive and Soulless Tokyo Olympics bars overseas fans Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Overseas sporting lovers have been banned from watching the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in Japan. Hence, the most expensive and soulless Olympics in history will take place later this year. Therefore, for the International Olympic Committee (IOC)…
Tokyo tourism: Ryusenji (Meguro Fudo) Tendai Buddhist Temple Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is a mega-city known for being ultra-modern. However, among the hustle and bustle of life, the old world still ticks based on architecture, history, spirituality, and various cultural angles related to art, ceramics, and so much more.…
Japan mimicking America and following the China containment policy Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is mimicking America to the extreme when it comes to Washington’s containment policy of China. Hence, the recent meetings between senior American and Japanese officials in Japan resulted in the same anti-China mantra. Security talks in…
Japan is mulling Covid-19 vaccination travel passports Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese government is mulling the issuing of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination passports for international travel. Similarly, the European Union (EU) is touting a similar policy and other nations outside of this trade bloc. However, with vaccinations obviously in their infancy…
More deaths in Myanmar: Military coup leaders in a cul-de-sac Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Reported deaths since the military coup in Myanmar have now reached at least 90 people. At the same time, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other politicians of the National League for Democracy (NLD) face…
Tokyo tourism: Todoroki Valley and the natural flow of Buddhism and Shintoism Sawako Utsumi and Kanako Mita Modern Tokyo Times The Todoroki Valley in Tokyo is a nice quaint walk to connect with nature. Indeed, the close proximity to Jiyugaoka and Futako Tamagawa means budding tourists can enjoy the amazing contrasts with the Todoroki Valley.…
Japan utilizes America, Australia, and India to lambast China during the Quad summit Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan utilized the Quad summit with America, Australia, and India to lambast China. Indeed, this is a familiar tactic while all nations maintain strong economic ties with China…
Pfizer jab in Japan: One in 4,900 with acute allergic reactions after Covid-19 jab Sawako Uchida and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The Health Ministry of Japan will discuss early results concerning the Pfizer vaccine jab. This is based on more cases of anaphylaxis reactions among health care workers being announced. Thus the current rate…
Tokyo tourism: Buddhism in ultra-modern Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The faiths of Buddhism and Shintoism dot the Japanese landscape. Meanwhile, the impact of Confucianism and Taoism can be felt – and other ideas that have guided this nation throughout its history. Therefore, when visiting Tokyo, the spiritual dimension is…
Tokyo Olympic Committee shamelessly plugs the Olympics on March 11: Earthquake and tsunami Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The tenth anniversary of the brutal Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, took place today. However, the President of the Tokyo Organizing Committee, Seiko Hashimoto, shamelessly sought to exploit this tragic…
Pfizer jab in Japan: One in 6,000 with acute allergic reaction in early results Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Japan is witnessing a much higher anaphylaxis reaction to the Pfizer vaccine jab than similar reports in America and the United Kingdom. Thus one in six thousand health care workers have reported various…
Brazil reaches new daily Covid-19 death high: 270,000 deaths Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Brazil reached a new daily death high from coronavirus (Covid-19) in the last 24 hours. This sums up the ongoing crisis in this nation because 270,000 deaths have now been recorded. Therefore, with endless high infection rates,…
Remembering the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami: South Sanriku Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times March 11, 2011, will always be a day of mourning throughout Japan. This concerns the deaths of just below 16,000 people but with this figure being higher because over 2,500 remain missing. Hence, over 18,400 lives were…
Tokyo tourism: Gotokuji Buddhist Temple, cats, and legend of Maneki Neko Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times If you feel like quiet spiritual contemplation and you have any type of connection with cats, then Gotokuji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo is a great place to visit. This concerns the historical importance of this Buddhist temple and compound…
Myanmar news: Second NLD member dies in custody Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The political crisis generated by the military coup in Myanmar shows no signs of abating. Indeed, with the second death of a member from the National League for Democracy (NLD) dying in custody, the crisis is increasingly becoming…
Tokyo News: Tokyo Olympics looks set to be held without overseas spectators Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to various sources, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics look set to be held without overseas spectators. At the moment, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) isn’t confirming this. However, with the coronavirus (Covid-19) State…
Tokyo tourism: Ikegami Honmonji Temple and Nichiren Buddhism Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Ikegami Honmonji Temple in Tokyo is a great place to connect with spirituality because of the connection with the holy Buddhist priest Nichiren Shonin (1222-1282). Indeed, depending on your route, it is worth visiting the Senzokuike Pond…
Germany and monitoring the AfD: Democrats and intel threaten democracy Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The intelligence community in Germany and the ruling political apparatus are seeking to monitor the Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party. Yet, this important opposition party is speaking up for many individuals who feel betrayed by…
Italy Covid-19 deaths reach 100,000: Heavy toll on the elderly Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) death toll will hit 100,000 in Italy within hours. Hence, like the United Kingdom with just under 125,000 deaths, the grim statistic of 100,000 deaths will be reached. Therefore, with deaths still remaining high…
Tokyo tourism: Senzokuike Pond, Nichiren, and the backdrop of Shintoism Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Senzokuike Pond (Senzoku-ike) is a lovely place to visit in Tokyo. Indeed, the relaxing pond is enhanced by the Buddhist and Shinto angles related to history and the scenery. Thus, Shinto shrines and themes dot…
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