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…
The ethics of Confucius and the Japanese artist Tanomura Chikuden Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tanomura Chikuden (1777-1835) lived during the Edo period in the land of the rising sun. From a young age the teachings of Confucius appealed greatly during his young adulthood, therefore, Tanomura Chikuden thought heavily about becoming…
US and Japan trade talks set back after fresh tariffs imposed on China: Beijing today, Tokyo tomorrow? Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Important trade talks between America and Japan have been delayed a few days after fresh tariffs imposed on China. Hence, scheduled talks planned for September 21, will now be…
The timeless Japanese anime classic: Princess Mononoke Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese anime film Princess Mononoke is a timeless classic. Indeed, aspects of the Muromachi period (approximately 1336 to 1573) become visual despite the film being based on fiction. This notably applies to Japanese folklore and the demise of…
Putin of Russia suggests the signing of a peace treaty with Abe of Japan Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation hinted strongly to Japan that both nations should sign a peace treaty without any preconditions. This fact emerged after President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation met Prime Minister…
Art and Poetry: Typhoons and earthquakes take asunder to this cold earth In a flash, all love that was embraced was over The beauty of the child, the lady, the male, the grandparents, all gone No time to say goodbye or to protect The chanting Buddha, the prayer to Christ, the longing of the…
Death toll reaches 39 after the 6.7 Earthquake hit Hokkaido: 1 person still missing Chika Mori and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The death toll from the deadly 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Hokkaido is now 39. However, with one more person still missing, then sadly it looks like the number will reach 40. Therefore,…
Typhoon Jebi kills at least 6 people in Japan with fears that the death toll will rise Kanako Itamae and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times One of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in 25 years is known to have killed at least six people. The fear is that Typhoon Jebi will account for…
Japan is awaiting Typhoon Jebi with apprehension after recent natural disasters Kanako Itamae and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Typhoon Jebi is expected to reach landfall tomorrow in Japan in and around parts of Central and Western areas of this country. After recent natural disasters based on the weather, from floods and landslides to many…
Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) and Japanese art: Centralization and continuity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) witnessed the power processes of the centralization of Japan that ultimately led to the unification of this nation under the Tokugawa Period of 1603-1868. Naturally, the art world of Japan also witnessed new art…
French art of the le Nabi très Japonard Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Pierre Bonnard is known for his love of Japanese art. Despite this, the actual cultural impact of the land of the rising sun remains open to debate outside of art. However, he wasn’t nicknamed le Nabi très Japonard (the…
Japan needs to listen to the people of Okinawa: U.S. base and Central Government threat Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The majority of the United States military bases in Japan are located in Okinawa, rather than mainland Japan. This enormous discrepancy when related to land size and population factors is viewed…
Japan’s Foreign Policy: China and Russia are essential because no warrior Benkei in sight Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the post-World War Two period, it is abundantly obvious that America predominates when it comes to the foreign policy of Japan. Indeed, the relationship, despite having some ups and downs, continues to blossom based…
Millions of Japanese Children face Poverty: Yet, Japan supports $1 Billion for International Children Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan pledged $1 billion dollars to support the development agenda of the United Nations (UN) last year and other projects continue to persist in helping international nations in 2018.…
Japan art and the window of Nagasaki in the Edo period: Chinese Artist Shen Quan (Nanpin) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The window of Nagasaki in Japan enabled the Chinese artist, Shen Quan (Nanpin), to enlighten several important Japanese artists for roughly two years during the relative isolation of the land of the rising…
At least 94 dead from the brutal heat wave gripping Japan: Precautions for children Kanako Itamae and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The death rate in Japan keeps on growing because of the brutal heat wave that isn’t abating. Once more, like other natural tragedies that have hit Japan, the elderly are especially at risk.…
Japan art of the twelfth century: Annual rites and ceremonies Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The twelfth-century Japanese artist, Tokiwa Mitsunaga, resided in a world of power politics related to blood and prestigious holy Buddhist temples. Sadly, the passages of time and the tragedy of fire means that originals perished. At the same…
The heat wave is responsible for many deaths in Japan after highs in excess of 40 degree Celsius Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The heat wave in Japan is still not abating with temperature highs in excess of 40 degree Celsius. It is known that at least 30 people have perished…
Japan and EU trade deal is a sign that both entities oppose protectionism and Trump’s America First Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The signed economic agreement between Japan and the European Union (EU) will account for roughly 37 percent of all international trade in terms of value. Equally important for Japan,…
Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781) and Japanese art: Richness of the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Soga Shōhaku (1730-1781) is a very intriguing artist because he wasn’t conventional. Equally important, Shōhaku did not follow the artistic trends of the Tokugawa Period. Instead, he was adamant that his artistic soul should dictate the style…
At least 217 die after floods and landslides hit Japan with the elderly especially suffering Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The death toll now stands at 217 after severe floods and landslides his Western and Southwestern Japan. Yet, with at least 20 known people still missing, then most likely the…
