Changing dynamics of Japanese art during the Meiji era Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Utagawa Sadahide (Gountei Sadahide) witnessed the first years of modernization in Japan that emerged after the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Yet, prior to this dramatic period in Japanese history, the artist Sadahide depicted aspects of Western encroachment. Indeed, while many spectrums…
Suspension of Extradition Bill in Hong Kong but full cancellation is needed Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam, announced the suspension of the extradition bill that is despised in vast numbers in Hong Kong. Despite this, her distractions seem rather blasé and not based…
PM Abe of Japan returns from a pointless visit to Iran: Middle East quagmire Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returns to Japan after a pointless visit to Iran that made him look out of touch. Once more, the Japanese Foreign Ministry that is aloof about the real…
Japanese Buddhist poetry and the shadow of life: Henjō (816-890) and Sōgi (1421-1502) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Two short poems by two Buddhist holy men who hail from Japan say much about the shadow of life and the memories that are left behind. It matters not that both poets come from very…
President of Taiwan says “all like-minded friends” stand with the protestors in Hong Kong Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of China under the current leader Xi Jinping is known for re-closing Christian churches, ruling Muslim subjects by fear in Xinjiang, continuing its firm grip over Buddhist Tibet, mass surveillance,…
Japan and the pension debacle: Political elites fail to understand ordinary people Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It is well and fine for political elites to provide international support to countless nations while running an enormous public deficit. After all, they don’t fear the pension debacle that awaits ordinary people because…
The footsteps of death followed the Japanese poet Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) 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,…
Capitalist Big Brother in Japan: Yahoo Japan to Mizuho FG and George Orwell Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The privacy of information is endlessly being crushed just like freedom on social media. George Orwell in 1949 published a powerful book titled Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984). Sadly, the ramifications of his words are…
Japanese artist and her colorful and spiritual nuance of Maurice Utrillo Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi is a delightful contemporary Japanese artist who hails from northern Japan. In her latest art piece, she focuses once more on Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955). However, as usual, her nuance to the original by Utrillo is reshaped…
Kurz ousted in Austria despite strong European election showing Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria was ousted in a no-confidence vote brought on by the shenanigans of the far-right political party, the Freedom Party (FPO). This happened because the FPO – that is still smarting by Kurz…
President Trump to enjoy his state visit to Japan and meet the new Emperor Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times President Donald Trump of America will enjoy his state visit to Japan based on the friendliness of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Equally important, and a great honor for Trump, the leader of America will be the…
Arakida Moritake (1473-1549) and Japanese poetry: Iio Sogi and Shintoism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In time, the poet Arakida Moritake (1473-1549) became the symbolic head Shinto priest of the prestigious Inner Ise Shrine. Hence, with the Shinto faith meaning so much to Moritake, one can only imagine the inner-peace this provided. After all,…
Sōami (1472-1525) and art of Japan: Aesthetics, Buddhism, and the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist, Sōami, is known for an array of areas linked to high culture in the land of the rising sun. Hence, he is strongly linked to Japanese aesthetics and the power of high culture that…
Art of Japan in the sixteenth century and the sword and the brushstroke Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Eitoku (1543-1590) says much about the various dynamics of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period and the warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). This applies to the growth of Japanese art and culture despite the warring period…
The last throes before the ghost of time for Judy Doggett Walker 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…
Japanese art and power concentration: Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) belongs to a time of major change in Japanese society. Hence, he witnessed the power processes of centralization under several warlords. This culminated with the emergence of the Tokugawa Period that lasted from 1603 to 1868. Therefore,…
Ebola stalks the Democratic Republic of Congo with over 1,000 deaths being reported Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Countless ethnic issues and a plethora of different militias that stalk the country blight the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). At the same time, enormous poverty, a weak centralized state, lack of health…
Democrats in Hong Kong demonstrate against a dangerous proposed extradition law with China Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The most potent recent demonstration to shake Hong Kong emerged based on proposals for an extradition treaty with China. This comes at a time when Christian churches are being closed in China; Muslims…
Japanese art and the brief artistic life of Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Shigeru Aoki (1882-1911) blossomed quickly but family problems and then tuberculosis would soon take him from this world. Hence, the promising artistic flower of Aoki parted before even reaching 29. This sad reality means that…
Poetry: Virtue and hope crushed by this cold earth Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In this cold earth are times of my yesteryear Once signs of hope and passing the family key Never to know that the small patter of feet would be taken from thee Age bedeviled my body and mind…
Sterilization of people deemed “unworthy and unfit” from conservative Japan to liberal Sweden Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan acknowledged the brutality of forced sterilizations that inflicted vast numbers of people between 1948 and 1996. Hence, compensation will now be given to victims who suffered greatly…
Japanese female poetry of Izumi Shikibu of the tenth and early eleventh century 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 of aspects of Japanese high culture. Of course, in common with much of the…
Suspected Islamist terrorist attack against Christian Churches and hotels kill at least 207 in Sri Lanka Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It isn’t uncommon for Islamist terrorist attacks to kill Christian worshippers during holy periods including Easter and Christmas. Yesteryear was Egypt but today it is Sri Lanka. Hence, just like…
US and Japan affirm Cybersecurity ties: Japan’s non-Northeast Asian fixation and Russia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan claims that he desires to solve the protracted territorial dispute with the Russian Federation. Yet, many within the corridors of power in Moscow dispute the sincerity of Japan.…
Japan tourism: The giant Buddhist statue at Nihon-ji Temple and Mount Nokogiri Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The adorable landscape of this part of Chiba from the lovely ropeway is a treat in itself. Yet, while the views initially soak up the hidden energy of the tourist, this is soon replenished…
Tokyo gardens and tourism: Rikugien Garden in Komagome Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times If you are a Tokyoite or one of the countless numbers of tourists visiting Tokyo, then it is important to enjoy gardens and other areas related to quiet contemplation. Hence, the garden of Rikugien is one of several…
China pledges strong support of Myanmar: Western nations need to open up! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Myanmar is on the path of strengthening democracy under the State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet, after mass propaganda about the crisis in Rakhine, many Western nations have…
Buddhism and Sengai Gibon: Buddhist contemplation and artistic outreach Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The inner-soul of Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) was always multidimensional and the flow that linked all fusions was Buddhism. Artistic wise, we will never know the real capabilities of Sengai because his art and writings were based on simplicity, enticing…
Poetry: The ending of life on this cold earth for Judy Doggett Walker Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once, you gave life to me Hence, when a child, you were my tree of life A rock, a shining beauty, a pure heart I felt protected in my early years Little tears and no…
Japanese poetry: The devoutly Buddhist Emperor Shōmu and Yamabe no Akahito Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yamabe no Akahito belongs to the world of eighth-century Japan when Nara was the cradle of high culture in this nation. In truth, the jigsaw of his life is extremely difficult to piece together. Hence, his relationship…
The death penalty for defaming Mohammed in Brunei and for being homosexual: Phobia? Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Brunei will introduce the death penalty for various crimes in accordance with Islamic Sharia law, the Hadiths, and the Koran. This will include the death penalty for adultery, defaming the…
Tokyo tourism: The delightful Kiyosumi Garden in Tokyo Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is a mega-metropolis that is home to vast numbers of people and growing numbers of international tourists visit the capital city of Japan. Hence, having such a high population and vast numbers of skyscrapers, then gardens and open spaces play a…
