Mozambique and useful humanitarians in the shadow of Islamists Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamists are involved in various conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and in other parts of the world including the Caucasus. Similarly, religious terrorist attacks in Europe belong to the same Takfiri mindset. However,…
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…
Ebola in the DRC threatens to spread to the Republic of Congo Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatening to spread to the Republic of Congo (ROC). This applies to the border areas of the Equateur province in the…
Japan art and Sakai Hōitsu: Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) created a delightful triptych that is referred by the title Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms. Interestingly, Hōitsu completed the three motifs when he was 60 years old. The reason why this…
Iran hangs Navid Afkari who denied any wrongdoing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Iran ignored international appeals and instead hanged a young wrestler on flimsy charges. Navid Afkari, 27 years old, pleaded his innocence after being forced to confess earlier under torture. Of course, for Iran, irrespective if…
Bahrain recognizes Israel similar to the UAE: Geopolitics and the Muslim Brotherhood Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Bahrain – just like the United Arab Emirates recently – is to normalize ties with Israel. This will further strengthen Israel in the Arabic speaking world, while also highlighting the need…
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 –…
Review of Ellery Queen’s Japanese Mystery Stories Special Contribution: Renae Lucas-Hall Originally published by Tuttle in 1984 under the title Ellery Queen’s Japanese Golden Dozen, this cover features a watchful detective smoking in Tokyo’s back streets with Japanese street signs, red lights, and lanterns in the background. Crime fiction is very popular at the moment…
Over 900,000 Covid-19 deaths and little sign of decreasing Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is continuing unabated in terms of deaths and infections per day. Hence, over 900,000 deaths from coronavirus internationally. Therefore, the international situation remains bleak. Indeed, in parts of Europe, infections are increasing once…
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…
Pakistan Christian sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another verdict in Pakistan will rock all minorities because the fear of blasphemy weighs heavily. Hence, the sentence of death passed on Asif Pervaiz is a firm reminder of institutional religious discrimination in Pakistan. Asif Pervaiz, a Christian…
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…
Lowest Covid-19 daily infection numbers in Tokyo for 2 months Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo began properly in March despite the first known case being the middle of January. Since then, it appeared that Tokyo – and Japan in general – had overcome the crisis by…
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.…
PM of Sudan signs an accord to separate religion and state Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdalla Hamdok, signed an accord to separate religion and state. In a nation led by Islamic Sharia law for decades – and that ultimately led to the division of Sudan…
Adachi hostess cluster in Tokyo related to at least 100 Covid-19 cases Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis continues in Tokyo despite recent infections, on the whole, coming down. Yet, with 211 new confirmed cases on Thursday, concerns remain that the situation isn’t out of the woods yet.…
Record heatstroke deaths last month in Tokyo Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times August in Tokyo culminated with 187 deaths from heatstroke. This is a record number since figures began to be collated in 2007. Therefore, adding to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, the deadly heatstroke also took many lives. In Japan, the rainy…
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.…
Early Japanese Heian poet: The autumn, especially, is lonely Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine belongs to the early Heian poetry scene in Japan. Sadly, not much is known about his actual birth and death. Hence, little is known about the things that reached his heart during his early…
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…
Iran and father gets only 9 years for beheading his daughter Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The oppressive Islamic Republic of Iran arrests women for not covering-up and speaking freely, persecutes Muslim apostates, the Baha’is reside in fear, and females are betrayed by bias within the Sharia legal system. Therefore, the…
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…
Colombia massacres keep on mounting Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Increasing levels of violence in Colombia this year are setting off alarm bells. This is based on the fragility of this nation over many decades. Therefore, in parts of the country, the centralized state is but a figment of the imagination.…
Japan art and Tanaka Hōji: Taoism, Hōitsu, and Jurōjin Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tanaka Hōji (1812-1885) was born in the Edo period (1603-1868) and died in the Meiji era. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 is known for the modernization of Japan. However, for Hōji, he belongs to the traditional art…
Belarus standoff continues while Moscow and Washington appear restrained Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Lukashenko of Belarus is using the state apparatus in the hope of quelling opposition forces and that protests will decline. Of course, this might be wishful thinking on his part. Internationally, unlike Ukraine, it appears that…
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…
The Philippines hit by terrorist attacks in Jolo Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A twin terrorist attack hit Jolo in the province of Sulu in the Philippines. It is known that at least 14 people were killed in both attacks including soldiers. Therefore, the armed forces of the Philippines are on…
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…
