Japanese Art and Poetry of Yosa Buson: A bat flits in moonlight 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…
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…
Three people die after 6.1-Magnitude Earthquake hits Osaka Chika Mori and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Osaka just before 8 am this morning in Japan. Hence, the earthquake struck while adults and children were preparing for a busy day ahead. Sadly, three people perished, including a young 9-year-old-girl. Osaka – and…
Art of Japan and Nishikawa Sukenobu: From the Empress to Prostitutes Modern Tokyo Times Lee Jay Walker The Japanese artist Nishikawa Sukenobu (1671-1750) was based in the cultural city of Kyoto and he created a distinctive style. Indeed, his rich depictions of women appealed greatly to kimono makers. However, while the imperial city of Kyoto…
Japan Tourism and Stunning Wakayama: Ticking Clock of Buddhism in Koyasan and Negoro-Ji Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If visitors to Japan have time to connect with spirituality, then Koyasan and Negoro-ji are charming places to visit in Wakayama, where living Buddhism is still ticking strongly. Indeed, the prefecture of Wakayama…
Japanese Art and Narashige Koide: Nudes, Portraiture and Still Life Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoga (Western-style) portraiture art and expressions of still life by Narashige Koide remain deeply embedded when thinking about this artist. Koide continued to develop through his relatively short life because he died at the age of 43. Near the…
Kamisaka Sekka and Japanese Art: Rimpa and Culture despite Rapid Historical Changes Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If you view the sublime simplicity of art by Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) then it is difficult to image the enormous convulsions that hit Japan in this period. Indeed, the lifespan of this amazing artist witnessed many revolutionary…
Wakayama Tourism, Buddhism and Negoro-ji: Japanese History, Religion and Culture Tomoko Hara and Sarah Deschamps Modern Tokyo Times Japan is blessed with amazing nature and the historical and cultural reality of this unique nation means that you have so many stunning places to visit. Wakayama prefecture is located in the Kansai region and throughout this…
Osaka and Tokyo Fashion Vibes: Impact of Spain Hiroshi Saito and Jay Doggett Modern Tokyo Times Japan is internationally famous for luxury fashion and being accessible to a whole array of fashion trends. Mega cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Nagoya, and many others, are blessed with many buzzing fashion districts. The fashion angle from…
Wakayama Tourism and Kukai: Koyasan, the Richness of Buddhism and Old Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Kansai region is extremely diverse because you have countless places to visit and enjoy the uniqueness of Japan in this amazing prefecture. Therefore, it is nigh impossible to pick one special gem because you have so…
Narashige Koide and Art of Japan: Portraiture Art, Still Life and Vibrant Nudes Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoga (Western-style) portraiture art and expressions of still life by Narashige Koide remain deeply embedded when thinking about this artist. Koide continued to develop through his relatively short life because he died at the age of…
Sublime Japanese Artist Yasui Sotaro: Environment of Kyoto to Western Style Portraiture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The sublime Japanese artist Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955) lived during a time of momentous changes. He witnessed the dynamics of a new Japan that emerged after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that erased much of the Edo era.…
Ike No Taiga and Japan Art: Rich Legacy of China and Shattering the Myths of the Edo Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japanese art is very distinctive and contrasts greatly with classical European art. This notably applies to religious differences, environmental factors, culture, limited social interaction between both artistic poles – and other…
Japan Tourism in Nara: The Cradle of Japanese High Culture Tomoko Hara and Sarah Deschamps Modern Tokyo Times Nara is the birthplace where Japanese high culture began to flourish. In time, this would equally become embodied within the environment of Kyoto after the capital was moved to this imperial city. This amazing city is located…
Oda Nobunaga and Cultural Impact in pre-Edo Period: Kano Eitoku Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In modern Japan the importance of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) and his legacy remains extremely strong even today. After all, he laid the foundation stone for the future centralized Japan despite certain limitations during the Tokugawa period. However, often the…
Japanese Folklore and Famous Ghost Story: Botan Doro (The Peony Lantern) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The time is hundreds of years ago in old Japan when the forces of Buddhism and Shintoism were strong. Therefore, the supernatural and the real world were often connected and in the dead of night, where shadows went…
Japanese Art and Samurai Taira no Tadamori Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Taira no Tadamori (1096-1153) is depicted in a prestigious way in Japanese art because this notable samurai was widely respected during his lifetime. Tadamori also played a very important role in the consolidation of the Taira samurai clan within the Imperial Court.…
Kamisaka Sekka and Art of Japan: Changing Sands and Rimpa Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) lived in a very dramatic period in the history of Japan. He was too young to remember the ending of the Edo Period because the Meiji Restoration occurred in 1868. Despite this, art in…
Tensho Shubun and Impact of China: Zen Buddhist Priest in 15th Century Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Artists in old Japan highlight the power and influence of China. At the same time, the uniqueness of Japanese culture also shines through because of specific elements that existed and influenced artists. In modern Japan…
Japanese Art and Culture: Ono no Komachi, Poetry and Myths Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The waka poet, Ono no Komachi, is a noted poet in Japan. This reality is abundantly clear because Komachi is numbered within the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals in the land of the rising sun. Komachi, according to tradition, was born…
Yuzo Saeki and Japanese Art: A Rare Flower Cut Down by Tuberculosis in France Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yuzo Saeki was born in 1898 and died in 1928 at the tender age of 30 but despite his short time on this earth he left a rich legacy. He was born in Osaka which…
Art of Japan and Rich Influence of China: Tani Buncho Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the history books it is stated that Japan in the Edo period was cut off from the outside world but the old ways persisted and certain daimyo maintained aspects of past trade depending on geography. Therefore, culture, ideas,…
Wakayama and Japanese Tourism: Koyasan, Shirahama, Kumano Kodo & Kii Peninsula James Jomo and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times Wakayama prefecture in Japan is blessed with many amazing places to visit and the richness of culture and history can be felt throughout this lovely region. This notably applies to Wakayama Castle, Koyasan, Kumano Kodo pilgrimage…
Art of Japan and Ogata Korin (1658-1716) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The art of Ogata Korin remains potent because of clarity and his own unique ways. However, at one point it appeared that the winds of time would threaten his legacy and if this had happened, then Japanese art would have been the…
Japan Art and the Allure of Paris: Yasui Sotaro Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955) was born in Kyoto and he is famous for yoga (Western-style) portraiture. It is clear that this talented individual understood his vocation because he pursued a career in art despite his family desiring a more commercial career. Therefore, from…
Nishikawa Sukenobu and Japan Art: Kyoto, Politics and Women Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Nishikawa Sukenobu was born in 1671 and until his death in the middle of the eighteenth century, this stunning artist opened up aspects of the role of women in Japanese society. Also, with Sukenobu being based in Kyoto then this…
Japanese Tourism in Stunning Koyasan in Wakayama: Kukai and Shingon Buddhism Olivier LeCourt and Tomoko Hara Modern Tokyo Times Wakayama prefecture in Japan is blessed with stunning scenery throughout this adorable part of Japan. Equally important is the power of history, religion and culture in Wakayama because you have many national and regional treasures which…
Osaka and Tokyo Fashion News: Guess and Frank & Eileen Michel Lebon and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times Another year begins in the vibrant fashion scene of Japan and already in the first half of 2014 it is clear that many new changes have happened. This applies to brand expansions, new brands entering the Japanese…
