Australia and Japan agree on a historic Defense Pact Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed in principle to a significant Defense Pact. Of course, China isn’t happy about events. However, democratic nations need to focus on strengthening their respective…
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…
Japan will not sign the United Nations Nuclear Ban Treaty based on geopolitics Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is protected by the nuclear umbrella of the United States. Hence with Northeast Asia being a major area of competing militaries that have nuclear weapons, then naturally Japan refuses to join the…
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…
PM Suga of Japan to visit Vietnam and Indonesia: Anti-China hawks need silencing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claims to want to preserve the mantle of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe. Yet, some individuals in his Cabinet appear more hawkish towards China and the Russian Federation. Therefore, if…
Japan protests after China patrol incursion: Early test for PM Suga Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan is facing his first geopolitical test after two Chinese patrol ships entered the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. This comes shortly after recent anti-China stances according to political elites…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
Japan to mark the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima while protected by US nuclear umbrella Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan will mark the 75-year anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Like usual, an extremely solemn reminder of the brutality of war. However, many words relating to joining…
Japan is hoping that America and China will take a more diplomatic stance Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The increasing stoking of the fire by America and China is worrying many in Japan. After all, the coronavirus (Covid19) crisis and economic convulsions are horrendous enough – so Japan doesn’t need more…
U.S. military reaches 201 Covid-19 infections in Okinawa since July 4 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The July 4 celebration by the military personnel of the United States (U.S.) is backfiring in the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in Okinawa. Hence political reverberations on the size of the armed forces of America…
America, Australia, and Japan in Naval Exercises in Asia Pacific waters Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of Australia, Japan, and the United States are currently holding trilateral naval exercises in the waters of the Asia Pacific. Thus democratic nations are showing commitment toward the freedom of sea-lanes throughout the…
Okinawa already burdened by U.S. military bases now fears Covid-19 crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It is known that approximately 100 infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) have hit several military bases of the United States (U.S.) in Okinawa. This will increase internal discontent in Okinawa because this part of Japan is…
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,…
Japan needs pragmatism on Hong Kong issue: Geopolitics of Northeast Asia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan should focus on pragmatism and the geopolitical reality of Northeast Asia. Of course, the new Hong Kong security law is draconian. However, Japan must not be dragged into the…
Japan is pragmatic about Hong Kong: China versus Australia, Canada, US, and the UK Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom have rebuked China over Beijing’s proposed security law in Hong Kong. Thus some voices have been raised by the pragmatic approach of…
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…
U.S. Embassy in Tokyo warns Americans about coronavirus and hints at suspicions Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan appears to be entering a new phase of increasing daily coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. Naturally, people in Japan are worried about this. Hence the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is also monitoring events carefully. Therefore,…
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…
How Can Japan Boost Its Cyber Defenses Ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? Aleksandra Arsic – Special Guest Kommando Tech The legendary Nigerian Prince scheme may not be as popular as it once was, but we are not yet in the clear when it comes to cyberattacks. On the contrary, cyberthreats seem to be growing…
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…
Coronavirus and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics: 8 new cases in Tokyo and more nationally Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The clocking is ticking to the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan. However, with eight new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Tokyo, then the concern is increasing. At the same…
The first death in Japan from coronavirus (Covid-19) while internal infections increase Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is witnessing the gradual increase in internal cases of coronavirus (Covid-19), with thirty-three know cases. Of course, for individuals stranded on the cruise ship Diamond Princess in Yokohama, then currently…
