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,…
Covid-19 daily infections in Japan just below 1,000: Aichi, Gifu, Kyoto, and Okinawa Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan for new infections is worse in July than at any other time. This statistic is grim because the first known coronavirus case was in the middle of…
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…
Yukio Mishima and fusion of nationalism, the word, and the perfect death Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yukio Mishima wrote, “If we value so highly the dignity of life, how can we not also value the dignity of death? No death may be called futile.” This comment is poignant if you have never read…
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…
Japan Covid-19: Worrying signs in Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Osaka, Saitama, and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The optimism of low new coronavirus (Covid19) cases between early May and the middle of June is now fading in Japan. Instead, major cities including Tokyo and Osaka have enabled the nightlife angle…
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…
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…
Tokyo in fresh high of new Covid-19 cases: All too predictable under Yuriko Koike! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The new high of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Tokyo is all too predictable under the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. Hence, an increase prior to the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics…
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 to assist internal tourism but Covid-19 increase in Tokyo brings fear Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese economy is reeling because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. However, with recent highs of new infections in Tokyo, is it wise to encourage internal tourism? It should be noted that for 34 out…
Torrential rain leads to roughly 60 deaths in Kyushu and Central Japan also hit Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The torrential rain that first hit Kyushu is now engulfing parts of central Japan. In total, approximately 870,000 people have been told to evacuate in southwestern and central Japan. Heavy torrential rain first…
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,…
Kyushu deaths are mounting after torrential downpours especially hit Kumamoto Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Heavy torrential downpours in Kyushu are believed to have killed at least 40 people. At the moment, the news is sketchy and the declaration of deaths is slow. However, based on confirmed deaths reaching 22 and the…
A torrential downpour in Kyushu leads to at least 15 deaths in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times A torrential downpour led to 200,000 people being evacuated in Kagoshima and Kumamoto prefectures in the region of Kyushu. It is known that at least 15 people have perished. However, this figure may increase…
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…
Art of Japan and poetry: Above the withered fields a bat flits Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The poetic skills of Yosa Buson (1716-1784) are extremely legendary inside Japan despite the passages of time. Indeed, despite some notable art pieces by Buson, it is his words belonging to the world of haiku that stand…
Tokyo lifts Covid-19 business restrictions and people can travel freely in Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, lifted all business restrictions. Similarly, travel restrictions throughout Japan have been lifted. In other words, Japan is seeking to return to normal from the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. More…
Tokyo Governor Koike to run for re-election while people wait for 100,000 yen support Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a move expected, the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will run for a second term. This relates to the gubernatorial election that will take place on July 5. However, while she promises…
Japan and likely increased heatstroke deaths: Facemasks, hot summer, and Covid-19 Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese high summer isn’t in full flow yet but the fear of increased heatstroke deaths is very real. Of course, people often die from heatstroke in Japan during the height of summer. However, 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…
Red Light Area again responsible for 7 out of 12 new Covid-19 cases in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is located in Shinjuku but the same district is also responsible for new coronavirus cases (Covid-19). This applies to the sexual entertainment district of Kabukicho in Shinjuku.…
Japan reports only 37 new Covid-19 cases with most in Tokyo and Fukuoka Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) downward trend continues in Japan with only 37 new cases. Once more, the majority of cases reported are in Tokyo and the prefecture of Fukuoka. With few cases throughout the…
Covid-19 cases in Fukuoka (Kitakyushu) and a small cluster in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency was recently lifted in Japan. Yet new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) are continuing despite the rate being low. Therefore, the focus is on the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka. Before focusing…
South Korea in new coronavirus spike: Japan watching events anxiously Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of South Korea announced the biggest increase in new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in seven weeks. Hence, it highlights the problem facing nations because clusters can easily emerge. Despite the international media lauding South Korea,…
PM Abe lifts the State of Emergency in Japan to cover the entire nation Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus crisis (Covid-19) state of emergency in Japan is now fully lifted. With infections so low and restrictions already lifted in 42 out of 47 prefectures, then it was expected. In…
The Covid-19 State of Emergency in Tokyo and remaining areas to be lifted Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency in Japan looks set to be lifted throughout the country. This especially applies to Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama. Therefore, the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in…
