Japan art and Watanabe Shikō: Kano and Rinpa art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Watanabe Shikō (1683-1755) produced many stunning art pieces during the eighteenth century in Japan. Yet, aspects of his life remain extremely sketchy and difficult to put together. Despite this, his legacy remains potent today in modern Japan among art lovers and…
Anti-Russia Kishida visits Vietnam: Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Agent Orange by the US Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is the most anti-Russia leader in living memory. Hence, during his recent – and ongoing – trips abroad, he can’t wait to ply the anti-Russia angle at the…
Guinea and ECOWAS: 39-month transition Noriko Watanabe and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is alarmed by recent military developments in several ECOWAS nations. Hence, Guinea responded to pressure being put on by ECOWAS – along with internal discontent – by announcing a 39-month transitional period – before the…
Japan Zen Buddhist art and Kogan Gengei Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kogan Gengei (1748-1821) was a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk who resided during the Edo Period. His life revolved around the teachings of various Zen Buddhist holy men and delving into the scriptures and writings connected to this faith. Artistically, Kogan – like…
India is steadfast to Russia: America, the EU, Japan, and the UK Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times India remains steadfast to the Russian Federation despite the efforts of America, the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Hence, like the vast majority of nations in Africa, Asia, and South America…
Japan art and Natori Shunsen: kabuki yakusha-e actor pictures Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Natori Shunsen (1886-1960) was an esteemed Japanese woodblock printer. He is known for his amazing portraits of kabuki actors. However, his own tragic ending of his life – and his wife – was equally dramatic and devastating as the greatest of kabuki…
East African Community lays the foundation for DRC multinational force Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The East African Community (EAC) recently accepted the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into this organization. EAC partners concern Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Therefore, with major ethnic and religious faultlines…
Anti-Russia Kishida: weak Yen, debt soars, but military spending in new high Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is ushering in a period of economic and geopolitical ineptitude. Thus, the weakening yen, an endless mountain of debt, price increases, and other important issues…
Japan contemporary artist and homage to Hendrick Avercamp Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a contemporary Japanese artist who hails from northern Japan. Utsumi’s art is heavily influenced by European, Japanese, and religious themes. Equally, she creates her own individual art pieces concerning landscapes, ideas, and religion. Numerology and religious connotations are also…
Japan and Fukushima: Pacific water concern to releasing contaminated water into the sea Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced at the Fourth Asia-Pacific Water Summit that Japan would help to solve water-related issues that blight the region. However, the same Kishida is fine with releasing radioactive water from…
Arabs kill hundreds of non-Arab Massalit in Sudan: Darfur massacre Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to officials from the United Nations and several aid groups, hundreds of mainly non-Arab Massalit (Masalit) people have been killed by Arab militia fighters in Darfur. This part of Sudan was ravaged by the…
Japan art and Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770): Ladies and style Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770) became the most potent artist depicting beautiful ladies (bijin-ga) in the 1760s. Initially, Harunobu was inspired by Nishikawa Sukenobu. However, in time he developed his own distinctive style. Harunobu was instrumental in Nishiki-e (multi-colored woodblock printing). This new multi-colored woodblock…
Nigeria oil blast kills at least 110 people Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times A devastating oil explosion in southern Nigeria is known to have killed at least 110 people. The latest tragedy highlights the chaotic nature of Nigeria because Sunni Islamists slaughter people every year, ethnic massacres erupt at any moment, and…
Japanese art and fusions of mythology, religion, philosophy, and ghosts Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The richness of Japanese art is a treasure to behold. This concerns the impact of Chinese art on the land of the rising sun – to the extremely indigenous and diverse artistic world of ukiyo-e, which depicted anything from adorable landscapes,…
America threatens Solomon Islands: Biden admin and Japan Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Solomon Islands is an independent nation. However, the behavior of America is extremely hostile and threatens consequences concerning strengthening ties between China and the Solomon Islands. Therefore, the same President Joe Biden administration that lambasted the Russian…
Japan boat capsizes in Hokkaido environs: 26 aboard Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times A Japanese tourist boat capsized during a trip that took in the stunning scenes of the Shiretoko Peninsula – off Hokkaido. The boat had 26 people on board, including two children. Therefore, Japan launched an immediate search and rescue…
Japan Buddhism and Tōrei Enji (1721-1792): Art and calligraphy Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tōrei Enji (1721-1792) was a prominent and esteemed Zen Buddhist monk of the eighteenth century in Japan. He understood the complexity of religion and philosophy in his native country. Thus he desired to build bridges between the complex forces of…
Anti-Russia Kishida and the usual grovel to America: China, Kurils, and amnesia Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The two constant themes of the first six months of the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan are his endless anti-Russia statements and depressing economic results. However, despite the Yen reaching a…
Japan art and Yoshu Chikanobu (1838-1912): Military to art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Yoshu Chikanobu (Toyohara Chikanobu) witnessed much during his time on this earth. Artistically, it was also a time of internal momentous changes in Japan. Therefore, throughout his lifetime (1838-1912), the ending of the Edo Period to the dynamics of the…
South Korea angered by Japan and ruling LDP: Yasukuni Shrine Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once more important politicians within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) pay homage to Yasukuni Shrine. This is despite the positive overtures of the President-elect of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, promising to improve ties with Japan. …
Shia educational facilities attacked in Kabul by terrorists Noriko Watanabe and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Two attacks against educational facilities hit the mainly Shia Hazara area located in Western Kabul. The latest terrorist attack bears the hallmarks of ISIS (Islamist State – ISIS-K). NATO powers – ostensibly with America taking the senior role – were…
Japan art and Tsuchida Bakusen: Sado Island and Nichiren Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tsuchida Bakusen (1887-1936) was known for Nihonga style art. Hence, despite his father wanting him to be a Buddhist monk, he chose the art world. Therefore, the art world was lucky he chose this path because he created many stunning art pieces.…
Anti-Russia Kishida: Debt, nationalism, and Yen hits 20-year dollar low Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, is the most anti-Russian administration in living memory. Hence, the debt mountain never gets tackled – and the yen to dollar rate just hit a 20-year low…
Art of Japan and Ohara Koson: Kacho-ga and birds Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ohara Koson (1877-1945) is famous for Kacho-ga art. This literally refers to images of birds and flowers. Thus Koson illuminates nature concerning animals, birds, flowers, insects, and plants – while utilizing the changing seasons. Koson also created art concerning…
Japan and South Korea hope to mend ties under Yoon’s leadership Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The President-elect of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, will take up office next month. He is known to want to mend ties with Japan. Likewise, with Japan taking an increasingly anti-Russia stance under Prime Minister…
Sweden hit by Muslim riots after threat to burn the Koran Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Muslim riots have broken out in Sweden after a far-right politician threatened to burn the Koran (Quran). This isn’t the first time that riots have broken out about the desecration of the Koran and the…
Art of Japan and Shibata Zeshin: Beauty of simplicity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artistic beauty of simplicity is illuminated by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891). However, despite the simplicity of these art pieces in this article, several mysterious angles still appear. Therefore, the creativity of the imagination is a wonder to behold. Zeshin is famous…
Mali kills French-Tunisian GSIM terrorists after airstrikes Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The armed forces of Mali claim to have killed several French-Tunisian Islamist terrorists in the forest environs of Ganguel. This concerns two airstrikes to flush out terrorists belonging to GSIM (the Group to Support Islam and Muslims). Henceforth, despite simmering…
Japan art and Katsushika Hokusai: Eclectic mix Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is internationally famous. Thus artistic galleries highlighting his art are major attractions irrespective of the continent. Therefore, a nice eclectic mix of art by Hokusai was chosen for this article – from Mount Fuji to an…
Decades of LDP mismanagement in Japan: Mega debt to declining population Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is blighted by over three decades of endless political mismanagement. This is down to the “political family chairs” of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hence – over three squandered economic decades later concerning…
South Sudan and 1.3 million children are malnourished Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times South Sudan is blessed with important natural resources. However, ethnic and political instability continues to blight South Sudan – similar to ethnic and religious tensions that resulted in the loss of millions of lives in Sudan before the creation…
Japan art and flow of Europe: Fujishima Takeji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Fujishima Takeji (1867-1943) fused various art themes to produce a plethora of exquisite art. Hence, the yoga (Western-style art) artworks by Fujishima naturally fuse impressionism and romanticism. Fujishima also developed a deep respect for the Art Nouveau art movement. Thus he was…
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