Tokyo News and Covid-19: Japanese political voices raise doubts about the Tokyo Olympics Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics are scheduled for later this year after being postponed last year. However, the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is increasing in severity. This relates to infections and…
Japan News: 100 daily Covid-19 deaths and 1,000 critically ill for the first time Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan reached two negative milestones concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis today. This applies to reaching 1,000 critically ill patients and just over 100 daily deaths. Therefore, after more than one year of…
Two million Covid-19 deaths internationally and little sign of ending Sawako Utsumi and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The grim milestone of two million deaths from coronavirus (Covid-19) occurred in the last few hours. Hence, while hope is being put on vaccines that haven’t been fully trialed for long-term effects – nor is the longevity…
Japan News and Covid-19: Hyogo, Kyoto, and Osaka to join the State of Emergency Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese government looks set to abide by the requests of the prefectures of Hyogo, Kyoto, and Osaka in joining the State of Emergency. This is based on the growing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis…
Tokyo News: Minimalistic State of Emergency in Tokyo and surrounding prefectures Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama have been put under a minimalistic State of Emergency. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga stated that the emergency period will last from January 8 to February…
Japan News: Tokyo and national Covid-19 crisis is increasing Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is at its highest level in early 2021. This is based on daily new highs in various parts of Japan. Hence, with 6001 national infections yesterday, it is clear that the…
Tokyo News: High new infections once more before the minimalistic State of Emergency Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo and the neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama are preparing for a minimalistic State of Emergency related to the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. This is based on the leader of Japan,…
Tokyo News: Tokyo and border linked prefectures request Covid-19 State of Emergency Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is worse now than at any other time. Despite this, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is heavily focused on the economic angle rather than declaring a state of emergency.…
Japan News: PM Suga and tourism and the Olympics while more Covid-19 highs Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The recent leadership of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Japan is one of lack of compassion when it comes to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. Similarly, the same can be said of Tokyo Governor…
Tokyo News: Covid-19 daily high of over 1300 based on inaction Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo is at its height now based on local government and central government inaction. Instead, the focus in the last few months is solely the economy. Therefore, daily new highs…
Japan News: The Japanese government does little to contain Covid-19 so anti-foreign nuance Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The growing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is overwhelmingly internal. Despite this, an increasing anti-foreign nuance is happening among politicians and the media. Hence, it appears that by clamping down on foreign nationals,…
Tokyo News: Profligate Tokyo Olympics set to become the most expensive in history Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games look set to become the most expensive in the history of the Olympics. Yet, the ultra-modern city of Tokyo doesn’t need the games to develop…
Japan and India support a free and open Indo-Pacific region: China isn’t boosting allies Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of China isn’t creating further divisions in Northeast Asia or the Asia Pacific region. However, Japan is constantly upping the ante by endless bi-lateral – and multi-lateral – power plays…
Tokyo News: Majority support Olympics to be canceled or postponed Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times According to a survey by NHK, the majority of people support the Olympic Games and Paralympics to be postponed once more – or canceled outright. This latest survey highlights the struggle ahead for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government…
Russians allegedly hack United States agencies: FBI and SVR Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States government confirmed that major institutions have been hacked by highly efficient hackers. It is believed that a state entity is behind the latest cybersecurity threat. Hence, like the recent hacking of FireEye, suspicions are…
Major cybersecurity firm FireEye likely hacked by Russian SVR: FBI investigates Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It appears that Cozy Bear (APT29) has hacked into FireEye. Thus the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America is assisting FireEye with this sophisticated breach. Therefore, the Russian Federation angle of the Foreign Intelligence…
Over 170 dead from Yellow Fever in Nigeria Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yellow Fever is responsible for over 170 deaths in Nigeria since an outbreak was confirmed last month. The death toll is high because only 530 suspected cases have been reported. Therefore, the fear is that the crisis will…
Japan Covid-19 serious cases reach a new high Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The number of serious coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Japan reached a new high today. This is following on from recent fresh infection highs in several parts of the nation. Therefore, the national government and local governments hit hard…
Art and poetry: The last throes before the ghost of time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A lifetime of friendship becomes distant. Moments of confusion grow from minutes to days. Loved ones often erased. The river once flowed and reached my heart. Now the flow is lost. Art hangs on many walls, like eyes…
Japan Covid-19 daily infections hit over 1,000: Tourism and psychological war Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times New infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan broke the daily number of 1,000 for the first time. This is despite the coronavirus entering Japan in the middle of January. Alarmingly, the prefectures of Aichi, Okinawa,…
Zen Buddhist art of Japan: Hakuin Ekaku and teacher of all Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769) revived Rinkai Buddhism in Japan because his roots never left him. Indeed, he was a holy Buddhist preacher who connected easily to ordinary people. Therefore, he understood the complexity of Buddhism in the countryside and…
Art of Japan and poetry: Above the withered fields a bat flits 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…
Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia in possible border openings: Covid-19 crisis Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) devastated parts of Europe including Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. However, others throughout the Baltics, Nordic nations, and Visegrad Group have dealt with the crisis to a higher degree. Sweden…
Japan thanks Taiwan for donating two million masks: Taiwan to help nations Chika Mori and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan is a very dynamic leader. Hence, it isn’t surprising that Taiwan is reaching out to help nations under stress. This applies to the international struggle against coronavirus (Covid-19). Japan thanked…
Increasing deaths from coronavirus in Indonesia including young children Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The fear of coronavirus (Covid-19) is increasing in Indonesia based on mounting deaths. However, the vastness and remoteness of many parts of this nation mean the true extent isn’t known. Yet, it is widely perceived that…
Eternal poetry of Japan: In the heart that loves the blossoms, the wind is already blowing Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The poetry of Izumi Shikibu and other female poets in Japan during the same period highlights that women played an important part in aspects of Japanese high culture. Of course, in common with…
Coronavirus deaths over 30,000 in Europe: Lessons from developed Asia ignored Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis emanating from Wuhan in China is devastating nations in Europe. This obviously applies to the number of deaths. However, the economic angle, utter over-stretch of countless health care systems, unemployment, collapsing…
Abe fears for the Japan economy if Tokyo is forced to lockdown over coronavirus Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is witnessing more coronavirus cases. Hence, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his fear of a lockdown on Tokyo. Therefore, despite the coronavirus (Covid-19) entering Japan by the middle of January, it…
Japanese poetry and the recognition of death from tuberculosis Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The life of the Japanese poet Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) was short and blighted by ill health from a very early age. Hence, the words that flowed from Shiki were naturally impacted by the shadow of death. However, despite being…
The brutal tsunami of March 2011 and the Heroes of Otsuchi to fleeing dignitaries Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the memory of the “Fire brigade Heroes of Otsuchi” – and remembering how many so-called friends of Japan fled at the drop of a hat. The tragic events of March 11,…
Japan contraction before the coronavirus black swan equates to economic woes Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was optimistic that his economic policies alongside the intended increase in tourism and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games would enable a rebound. Of course, Abe knew that the sales tax hike…
Coronavirus crisis in Italy is increasing with deaths soaring Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is increasing at an alarming rate in Italy. This is witnessed by the death toll now reaching over 360 people. At the same time, infected cases have now passed over 7,300. Therefore, the…
