Japan welcomes in 2022 with grimmer demographic news Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan will welcome 2022 with grimmer demographic news regarding the next generation. This concerns the lowest number of adults aged 20 since the government began to take records in 1968. According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, the number of…
Tourism in Nagano and Jigokudani Monkey Park Kanako Mita and Hiroshi Saito Modern Tokyo Times In the prefecture of Nagano, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is a great place to watch Snow Monkeys(Japanese Macaques) bathing in a natural onsen (hot spring). From a photographic point of view, the winter season from December to March is amazing. Of course,…
Osaka clinic arsonist and murder suspect of 25 people dies Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The brutal murder suspect of the Osaka Clinic fire died today from injuries that occurred from his act of murder. In total, the suspected arsonist and murderer, Morio Tanimoto, killed 25 people after deliberately setting fire to…
Buddhism and the Japanese calligrapher Sugawara Mitsushige: Bodhisattva Kannon Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The inscription of the Japanese calligrapher Sugawara Mitsushige dates the scroll to 1257. Thus the start of the brief Shoka era. Also, in this period of Japanese history, the famous Buddhist monk Nichiren (1222-1282) spread new ideas and reinvigorated Buddhism…
Afghan females protest for rights in Kabul: Warning shots heard Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times A small protest of several dozen brave Afghan women demanding rights in Kabul was met by warning shots from the Taliban. Hence, a minor protest like this highlights the approach of the new ruling elites of Afghanistan. …
Japan art and influence of China: Sakaki Hyakusen and Buddhism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakaki Hyakusen (1697-1752) was heavily influenced by the Middle Kingdom (China). Indeed, some believe that he was of partial Chinese descent. Irrespective of this, this notable Japanese artist focused on a broad array of art forms.…
Lebanon and President Aoun hints at closer ties with Gulf Powers Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Lebanon is blighted by increasing poverty, high unemployment, and the infrastructure is under enormous strain because of many complex factors. However, certain internal forces are bent on serving the interests of Iran rather than Lebanon.…
China and Japan Defense Ministers hold frank talks on Tokyo’s request Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi held frank talks with the Minister of National Defense from China. Wei Fenghe, the Minister of National Defense, is a general in the People’s Liberation Army. Kishi hails from a…
Sudan tensions erupt again after protests in Khartoum Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan reinstated Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok last month. This happened after mounting internal and international pressure. However, with the military still having power mechanisms to alter the path to democracy, many in…
Japan poetry and a life blighted by ill-health: Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The final years of the life of Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) were filled with pain and long-lasting suffering. Ultimately, his life was cut short from the ravages of tuberculosis and other ailments that stemmed from this. Shiki understood the frailty…
Islamists kill many in Burkina Faso and Niger Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Islamic terrorists have killed many once more in Burkina Faso and Niger. Recently, Burkina Faso and Niger launched military operations against Islamist forces. Apparently, during these military operations, they killed approximately 100 terrorists. However, Sunni Islamic terrorists affiliated…
Japan art and Hishida Shunsō: A life cut short Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hishida Shunsō (1874-1911) hails from Japan. He was born during the Meiji Period that witnessed momentous changes throughout society. However, if you focus on the art of Shunsō, tranquility flows naturally in his art. Shunsō sadly died at a relatively…
Russia condemns NATO and US: You expanded NATO to the east – Japan and South Korea Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation under President Vladimir Putin is increasingly agitated by the United States and nations that are blindly following Washington – from Japan to the United Kingdom. China also is increasingly…
Japan fears rapid increase in Omicron Covid-19 variant Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is worried about the growing presence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant. This concerns the gradual increase in detected cases. Therefore, with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in nations including South Africa and the…
Japan art and Gyoshu Hayami (1894-1935) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Gyoshū Hayami (1894-1935) lived during a period of modernization in Japan. At the same time, the political arena was highly explosive – from extreme nationalism to loyal communist supporters. However, in the art of Gyoshū, you feel the richness of culture,…
TPLF armed forces to leave other regions of Ethiopia Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The conflict in Ethiopia pitting the central government against the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – and involving others on both sides – seems set to be turning again. For several weeks ago, the TPLF and the Oromo…
Japan to provide more economic support to Afghanistan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is concerned about the economic crisis and the infrastructure of Afghanistan after the Taliban took power from the American-backed government of President Ashraf Ghani. The former president of Afghanistan fled the nation –…
Kurdish prisoner executed in Iran: Family told he is in his grave Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Islamic Revolution of 1979 culminated in the power concentration of ruling Shia theocratic elites and the political system that is part of the state apparatus that rules by fear. Countless numbers of people…
Japanese art and Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) isn’t the most famous of artists in the land of the rising sun. Despite this, he compiled some notable cultural art pieces. Hōji witnessed enormous cultural, political, and social convulsions throughout his life. Initially, he belonged to…
Super Typhoon Rai kills at least 100 people in the Philippines Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Super Typhoon Rai is leaving utter devastation behind after hitting the Philippines on Thursday. Winds reached 120mph (195km/h) at their height of strength. Therefore, approximately 300,000 people fled the worst-hit areas. The current death toll is…
Japan to reduce Covid-19 booster waiting time for the most vulnerable Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is determined to reduce the Covid-19 (coronavirus) booster vaccine timetable to six months from the planned eight months. This notably concerns the most vulnerable groups. Therefore, Japan is requesting more…
Bataclan Trial Highlights France’s Ongoing Security Challenges by Hany GhorabaIPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism French police last foiled an ISIS plot last week for a knife rampage during Christmas celebrations, showing the country remains under constant threat from terrorists. The two men arrested had ISIS propaganda in their Paris homes. The arrests came as the country…
Osaka fire kills many in a suspected arson attack Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times A suspected arson attack in Osaka, Japan, is believed to have killed 27 people. The fire broke out at a psychiatric clinic and was extinguished within 30 minutes by the fire brigade. However, in this short time, it…
Japan art and culture: Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615), Buddhism, and China Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) lived and breathed Buddhism, high culture, the arts, and the richness of Chinese culture. Yūshō was a lay Buddhist priest who fused the arts, ethics, faith, philosophy, and other aspects of Japanese high…
Imperfect return of PM Hamdok backed by Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and the US Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The agreed reinstatement of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok – former senior United Nations (UN) official – was welcomed by the Quad for Sudan group. This consists of America, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab…
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for booster shots sanctioned in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan officially sanctioned Moderna Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine to partake in the booster program. Pfizer Inc and BioNTech have already begun the booster program in Japan. Novavax Inc is also hoping for its Covid-19 vaccine shot…
Belarus opposition gets long prison sentences: Draconian leadership of Lukashenko Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Belarus remains firmly under the grip of the draconian leadership of Alexander Lukashenko (Alyaksandr Lukashenka). Hence, the announcement of heavy prison sentences against leading opposition forces was expected. America, the Russian Federation, and the European Union…
Japan art and the fusion of ideas: Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artists Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) was born during the first century of the Edo Period. However, his early life is like a jigsaw with many missing pieces. Therefore, differences of opinion have emerged about Watanabe. Irrespective of this,…
Japan wants to improve evacuation missions after the Afghanistan debacle: US failure Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) only managed to evacuate one Japanese national after the Taliban quickly overrun the American-backed government of Afghanistan. Not only was Japan caught off guard by events, but the same…
Burkina Faso and Niger kill roughly 100 Islamist terrorists Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In two weeks of military operations between Burkina Faso and Niger, it is reported that they have killed roughly 100 Islamist terrorists. Hence, the recent joint initiative will increase anti-terrorist operations between both nations. Sunni Islamist terrorists…
Art of Japan and Ikeda Koson: Hinoki Cypresses Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ikeda Koson (1803-1868) died in the year that modernization would take place in Japan. He belongs to the dying world of the Edo Period that was replaced by the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Hence, his earlier life was…
Japan art and rinpa: Buddhism and high culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times One of the most distinctive art forms in Japan is the delightful cultural art of rinpa (rimpa). This art movement developed in Kyoto in the early Edo Period of the seventeenth century. Therefore, the two founding fathers – Hon’ami Kōetsu and…
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