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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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.…
Potent weather systems to hit parts of Japan Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is warning people that two potent weather systems are threatening parts of the country. This applies to Southwest and West Japan. Therefore, local governments have been put on high alert and to monitor the situation.…
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…
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan to resign Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to announce his resignation later today because of ill health. Speculation had already emerged before his two recent visits to the hospital that he wasn’t well. Therefore, with past health issues leading to…
Aichi ends the Covid-19 State of Emergency Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Hideaki Omura, the Governor of Aichi, lifted the coronavirus (Covid-19) State of Emergency based on the reduction of infections. Hence, the State of Emergency between August 6 and 24 appears to have halted the crisis. The main concern is Nagoya…
PM Shinzo Abe visits hospital again thus raising concerns about his health Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In recent times speculation about the health of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was raised before his recent hospital visits. Thus, with Abe visiting the hospital twice in the last week, concern naturally increased. Flashbacks…
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…
Tokyo Covid-19 infections and mounting heatstroke deaths Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times New infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) are averaging just over 250 in the last week in Tokyo. This is a reduction on previous weeks despite new infections reaching 339 in the last 24 hours. However, heatstroke deaths in the capital are…
Japan art and Sukenobu (1671-1750): Women from all walks of life Modern Tokyo Times Lee Jay Walker Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750) was based in the cultural city of Kyoto and he became famous for his own distinctive artistic style. Thus his rich depictions of women appealed greatly to kimono makers. However, while the imperial city of…
Increasing serious Covid-19 cases in Osaka and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The number of serious coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Osaka and Tokyo are on the rise once more. Hence, the local governments of Osaka and Tokyo need to step up the protection of the most vulnerable. In truth, the…
Over 50 heatstroke deaths reported in Tokyo with Japan under intense heat Noriko Watanabe and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Heatstroke deaths are continuing to mount in Tokyo and throughout other parts of Japan. It is known that at least 27 people have passed away in the last week in Tokyo from heatstroke. Therefore, fears…
Japanese political system and keeping it in the family Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Apathy in Japan towards the political system is ingrained because of rotating political chairs. Thus, the usual dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) continues, despite some minor breaks from power. Hence the hereditary political class just…
Japan Covid-19 infections are high but stable: New high in Kanagawa Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is a continuous ebb and flow. This applies to new highs and concerns in early August. Therefore, a far cry from the optimism of most of May and the middle…
Heatstroke fears in Japan with the added pressure of Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The season of August always brings fear about heatstroke fatalities and hospitalization during this part of the year in Japan. Of course, certain areas are normally hit more than others. However, vast swathes of Japan suffer from…
Japan in new Covid-19 infection high thus curtailing the Obon holiday for many Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Japan recorded a new high in daily coronavirus (Covid-19) infections of 1,597. Thus the important Obon holiday (August 13-16) will be curtailed by many Japanese people – even if not declared by the central…
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…
Aichi to declare a Covid-19 State of Emergency from August 6 Sawako Utsumi and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The prefecture of Aichi will declare a State of Emergency between August 6 and 24 based on increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) infections. This notably applies to Nagoya and the surrounding region. Therefore, this will affect many Japanese…
Covid-19 in Japan is increasing in many prefectures: Folly of encouraging tourism Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Since coronavirus (Covid-19) entered Japan in the middle of January, the majority of the country escaped the crisis. Hence, 34 out of the 47 prefectures escaped the worst of events. Indeed, some prefectures recorded no…
Over 1,500 daily Covid-19 cases in Japan: New highs for Aichi, Fukuoka, and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times New high infection rates of coronavirus (Covid-19) occurred in several parts of Japan. Thus with 1,578 new infections, it is clear that early August is crucial in containing the crisis. In Tokyo,…
Japan Covid-19 daily infections hit over 1,000: Tourism and psychological war Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times New infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan broke the daily number of 1,000 for the first time. This is despite the coronavirus entering Japan in the middle of January. Alarmingly, the prefectures of Aichi, Okinawa,…
