Crime in Japan is down but Child Abuse and Domestic Violence continues to rise Chika Mori and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Criminal offenses in Japan have decreased by 10.7 percent according to the National Police Agency. This is in line with decreasing crime rates for the last sixteen years that have fallen each year.…
Art of Japan and the Zen Buddhist holy man Mokuan Reien Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Middle Kingdom (China) enticed the thirteenth century born Japanese Zen priest, Mokuan Reien, based on various religious and cultural factors. Of course, the role of China was extremely important for Japanese high culture, religion, philosophy, and other…
Art of Japan and the delightful art of Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850) was born during the Edo Period and while he passed away well before the Meiji Restoration of 1868, it is clear that Western art was increasingly encroaching during the later period of his lifetime. Of…
Japanese Art and the influence of Katsukawa Shunshō (1726-1793) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist called Katsukawa Shunshō isn’t particularly famous outside of Japan. Indeed, even in Japan, he is hardly among the first individuals to think about when focusing on artists during the Edo Period. Yet, Shunshō’s legacy is extremely rich…
The historic Shokozan Tokei-ji Buddhist Temple in Kamakura: Protector of women Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kamakura is famous for many adorable Buddhist temples and other important historical realities based on the past importance of this amazing part of Japan. The beauty of Kamakura – for Tokyoites and tourists alike –…
Terrorist attack in Tokyo after car hits eight people: The shadow of Aum Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo witnessed an act of terror when Kazuhiro Kusakabe, 21 years of age, deliberately drove into pedestrians in the fashion district of Harajuku. It is known that one person is in serious condition,…
Happy New Year from Modern Tokyo Times: Ending of Heisei Era and demographic needs The nation of Japan will witness the end of the Heisei Era in 2019 based on the abdication of Emperor Akihito on April 30. Hence, with Emperor Akihito serving the nation with grace and wisdom throughout the Heisei Era, a new…
Alfred Sisley through the eyes of a contemporary Japanese artist: Cultural warning Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Alfred Sisley painted many adorable landscapes through the medium of impressionism. Yet, to many individuals with limited knowledge of art, his name remains relatively unknown in comparison with other impressionist artists. However, this doesn’t distract…
Japan to increase its Cyber Defense: NATO and CCDCOE Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is finally waking up to the importance of increasing the Cyber Defense of this nation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is especially concerned about protecting the Japanese Self Defense Forces and other important areas…
Nikkei index in Japan declines by 5% in one day: The long shadow of America Noriko Watanabe and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Nikkei index in Japan fell by 5% based on mainly external factors. Despite this, if the internal fundamentals were sound then irrespective of events in America the fall would have been…
Military option enhanced in Japan based on the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is focused on the modernization of the armed forces. This is based on the changing geopolitical landscape and having various territorial disputes with several regional nations…
Poetry of Japan and influence of the Middle Kingdom: Abe no Nakamaro (698-770) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The eighth-century Japanese scholar and poet, Abe no Nakamaro (698-770), belongs to the cultural world that was inspired by the Middle Kingdom (China). From a very young age, he showed exemplary skills suited to the world…
Quad Restrictions: Addressing PRC Investment Concerns in the Indo-Pacific By: Ashley Feng, Sagatom Saha The Jamestown Foundation Washington has recently taken a tougher tack to growing inbound investment from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by strengthening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), but its security partners in the PRC’s backyard…
Nissan scandal involving the under-reporting of 5 billion yen in income: Ghosn and greed Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Chairman of Nissan Motor Co., Carlos Ghosn, is being investigated for the alleged underreporting of some 5 billion yen in income over a period of five years. If the Tokyo…
Cyber-security minister in Japan isn’t keen on using computers: Abe and cronyism Chika Mori and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times The minister in charge of cyber-security in Japan, according to reports, has never bothered to use a computer during his working life. Obviously, following on from this, he doesn’t know much about the in-depth…
Sanctions against Myanmar are “Nonsense” claims the Ambassador of Japan Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar, Ichiro Maruyama, is adamant that international sanctions against this country are “utter nonsense.” Hence, Japan believes, like other regional nations, that supporting Myanmar is the best process to solving the situation…
Prime Minister Abe of Japan meets President Xi of China: A wary eye remains Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan is on a visit to China in the hope of improving relations. This notably applies to the economic approach because Abe, just like President Xi Jinping, is…
Japan hopes America will not pull out of INF treaty with the Russian Federation Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is extremely concerned about indications that America may pull out of the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) with the Russian Federation. Of course, for Japan, this would be a dramatic…
Myanmar should utilize its geopolitical importance: Positive ties with China, India, and Japan Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Myanmar is far from isolated despite the efforts of many Western and Islamic media outlets. Equally, Myanmar doesn’t need any moral lambasting from nations that sell military arms to Saudi…
Russia accuses Japan of “megaphone diplomacy” over military drills in contested waters Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation have extremely cordial relations based on friendship. However, elements inside the Japanese Foreign Ministry remain negative towards the Russian Federation,…
Japan and Mekong nations of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to strengthen ties Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan and five nations connected to the Mekong Delta have agreed to strengthen ties throughout this important geopolitical region. Once more, for Myanmar, it highlights that this nation isn’t isolated throughout Asia…
Ito Shinsui opened up the “old mirror” of Edo and early Meiji art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ito Shinsui (1898-1972) is one of the greatest twentieth-century artists to emanate from Japan. Despite his early adorable landscapes, Shinsui is extremely famous because of his art related to depicting beautiful ladies (bijin-ga). In other words,…
PM Shinzo Abe of Japan says that the United Kingdom would be welcome to join the TPP Noriko Watanabe and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan notified the United Kingdom that this nation would be welcomed to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after leaving the European Union (EU). This will…
Art of Buddhism in China and Japan: The shadow of Liang K’ai (1140-1210) on Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The path of Buddhism in China and Japan knows many roads because of various sects. Equally important, the thought patterns of Buddhism and cultural impact are extremely diverse in China and Japan.…
Japan to welcome State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar and discuss bilateral issues Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan invited State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar to discuss important issues between both nations. At the same time, the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit will…
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s nearly all-male Cabinet doesn’t look good for a modern society Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The new Japanese Cabinet is like a virtual all male members club and does little for the image of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Of course, the under-representation of women in politics in…
Trump highlights the threat of tariffs that forced a U-turn by Japan unlike the weakness of Obama Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Donald Trump of America is highlighting his “tariff diplomacy” by forcing recent concessions from Canada and Japan respectively. Of course, Trump understands the need to “give and take,”…
Myanmar to allow visa-free visitors from Hong Kong and Macau following on from Japan and South Korea Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Political leaders in Myanmar are keen to open up the nation to visitors from all over the world because of the natural beauty of this nation and the richness of…
Bilateral talks on tariffs between America and Japan agreed by Trump and Abe Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan agreed to enter bilateral talks with America based on economic pressure from President Donald Trump. The tradeoff, so to speak, is that proposed high tariffs on auto…
Art of Japan and Kano Michinobu (1730-1790) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kano school of art blessed Japan for many centuries after the founding fathers were born in the fifteenth century. However, like all traditional art forms, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 and endless modernization would eclipse the longevity of Kano artists. Despite…
President Trump of America and Prime Minister Abe of Japan to hold a summit next week in New York Noriko Watanabe and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times President Donald Trump of America and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan will hold a summit next week in New York. This meeting will take place on the…
PM Shinzo Abe of the LDP is re-elected to serve the third term as the president of the ruling party Chika Mori and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the clear favorite to be re-elected the president of the ruling LDP and he duly obliged. Hence, Abe will serve a third…
