Tokyo News: Small minority support the Olympics being held this year Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times An important NHK opinion poll for the profligate 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in 2021 highlights little support. Indeed, given the increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo and throughout Japan, it…
European Union and China poised to sign a significant investment deal Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A major investment deal between China and the European Union (EU) looks set to be signed in 2021. If so, EU business companies would gain important access to the lucrative Chinese market. Therefore, optimism is…
Tokyo News: Profligate Tokyo Olympics set to become the most expensive in history Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games look set to become the most expensive in the history of the Olympics. Yet, the ultra-modern city of Tokyo doesn’t need the games to develop…
Russians allegedly hack United States agencies: FBI and SVR Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States government confirmed that major institutions have been hacked by highly efficient hackers. It is believed that a state entity is behind the latest cybersecurity threat. Hence, like the recent hacking of FireEye, suspicions are…
Major cybersecurity firm FireEye likely hacked by Russian SVR: FBI investigates Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It appears that Cozy Bear (APT29) has hacked into FireEye. Thus the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America is assisting FireEye with this sophisticated breach. Therefore, the Russian Federation angle of the Foreign Intelligence…
Nikkei above 26,000 in high not seen since 1991: Japanese worry about Covid-19 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese stock market in Tokyo reached 26,000 but the Nikkei isn’t painting the real picture of the economy. Instead, wealthy financial institutions and investors are making a killing out of government stimulus…
China, Japan, and South Korea sign the mega trade bloc RCEP Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China, Japan, and South Korea – along with twelve other nations – signed the mega trade bloc called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Hence, the largest free-trade bloc in the world cements the Asia-Pacific.…
Teleworkers face increased hacking in Japan during Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to Kaspersky Labs, a gradual increase of cyberattacks is happening during the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis that involves telework in Japan. Hence, greater security and vigilance are needed by organizations and individuals alike. Major cities in Japan have…
Tokyo and Covid-19: Will workstyle changes impact greatly? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is impacting internationally to various degrees. Economies and development are enormous throughout the world. Similarly, the same applies to the death rate from coronavirus and a plethora of important issues. In all major developed…
US firm alleges China hacking Japan Covid-19 projects: Skepticism is needed Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga needs a calm head because these days China is being blamed for countless things. Often, without clear evidence that it is related to state involvement. According to an information security firm…
Japan to support the United Kingdom joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Recently the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan, in principle, signed an important trade deal. Of course, for the UK, this comes at an opportune time because of ongoing issues with the European Union (EU). It is…
Travel between Japan and South Korea to restart similar to Singapore Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of Japan and South Korea have announced the restart of travel between both nations. Hence, the business communities of both nations and other forms of travel will resume on Thursday this week. South…
Fast-tracking of Avigan is on the books in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The fast-tracking of Avigan (favipiravir) in Japan for Coronavirus (Covid-19) appears to be on the books. This relates to the Japanese government seeking to approve Avigan for treatment in November. Avigan is used for influenza but the speed…
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…
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 –…
Japan and its first wave of subsidies to help companies leave China: Covid-19 supply chain Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) economic convulsions will continue for a long-time to come. Of course, the size of the crisis depends on each individual nation. However, for Japan, it became apparent that…
Japan in obvious 16.2 percent Covid-19 related decline in household spending in May Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan hit household spending in May. Thus the 16.2 percent downturn from twelve months earlier isn’t a surprise. After all, in all nations engulfed by the coronavirus crisis,…
Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia to ease border restrictions: Covid-19 success Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The governments of Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia hope to ease border areas by the middle of June. This is based on containing the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis with respective success. Currently deaths per million are…
Japan in recession unsurprisingly given the economic convulsions of Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The economic convulsions of coronavirus (Covid-19) and declining economic activity mean nations face enormous uncertainty. Hence, Japan was already braced for the announced recession, just like other major economies. Of course, 2020 was meant to be…
PM Abe of Japan to fast track virus-related drugs in the fight against coronavirus Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The highly developed nations of Asia have largely avoided the horrendous death tolls of other parts of the World. Hence, the death toll remains low in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.…
Economic help extended in Tokyo to support the curtailment of coronavirus Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike announced further support to the business community in the capital of Japan. At the same time, in a win-win situation, the economic angle will also assist in containing the coronavirus…
Israel sends humanitarian aid from Wuhan to Europe: Assisting against coronavirus Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The city of Wuhan in China is infamous for being the epicenter of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that is sweeping across the world. Yet, the international airport serving Wuhan is also highlighting the fact that…
Japan to assist companies in leaving China: Coronavirus economic convulsions Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to assist Japanese companies in leaving China. This new policy is part of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) convulsions. Therefore, from the European Union to Japan major…
Japan to focus on Avigan, Futhan, and other drugs to fight coronavirus Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is putting important emphasis on medicines to fight coronavirus (Covid-19). Hence, Abe’s administration is being tasked with supporting a possible breakthrough. Therefore, reports are specifically focused on Avigan…
Japan to widen entry ban on America, China, South Korea, and the majority of Europe Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is entailing nations to ban entry to foreign nationals. This situation is evolving all the time. Hence, Europe is now the main continent in terms of…
Abe fears for the Japan economy if Tokyo is forced to lockdown over coronavirus Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is witnessing more coronavirus cases. Hence, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his fear of a lockdown on Tokyo. Therefore, despite the coronavirus (Covid-19) entering Japan by the middle of January, it…
EU coronavirus fault lines over Italy’s demand for a “European recovery bond” Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus crisis is highlighting the deep divisions that exist inside the European Union (EU). This reality will likely set off new EU convulsions based on the limited response of this bloc. Therefore, during…
Tokyo Olympics all but over this summer after Canada pulls out and others to follow Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are all but over with the announcement by Canada that they will not participate. It seems only a matter of time that Australia and other…
Tokyo Olympics: Abe and Olympic Committee imply capitalism over coronavirus crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appear to be focused on capitalism and profits before the reality of the international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Thus, despite over 8,000 people already…
Japan contraction before the coronavirus black swan equates to economic woes Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was optimistic that his economic policies alongside the intended increase in tourism and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games would enable a rebound. Of course, Abe knew that the sales tax hike…
Northeast Asian powers of China, Japan, and South Korea face major economic coronavirus problems Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of China, Japan, and South Korea have respective issues related to territorial disputes. Despite this, all three nations are part of an integrated economic chain that accounts collectively for just…
Cyber attack fears in Japan ahead of the Tokyo Olympics according to the Bank of Japan Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Bank of Japan is calling on financial companies to be fully aware of possible cyber threats in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games this summer. Indeed, in a…
