NATO Turkey is bombing the Kurds and others while helping ISIS break free in Syria Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times NATO Turkey is intensifying its attack against the Kurds and other ethnic groups in Northern Syria while the international community just watches. The nations of America, Iran, and the Russian…
Turkey offensive in Syria: Sheepish America, Iran, and Russia but Trump consistency Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Turkey is laying bare the respective self-interests of America, Iran, and the Russian Federation. Hence, while President Donald Trump is abandoning the Kurds on the ground after the failure of the…
Japanese artist and a delightful Dutch winter landscape based on Hendrick Avercamp Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The world of Dutch art in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries really appeals to Sawako Utsumi, who is a contemporary Japanese artist. Historically, the links developed between Japan and Holland (the Netherlands) are also extremely fascinating,…
Protests in Iraq leads to more bloodshed: Approaching 100 dead in Iraq Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The crisis in Iraq is intensifying with each new death and now just under 100 people have perished since security forces turned against protesters. In the latest clashes in Baghdad, it is known that…
Bangladesh and killing Buddhist monks and the followers of Hinduism Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In August this year, a Buddhist monk was found with his throat cut in Bangladesh. This happened after the Buddhist monk, Venerable Amritananda Bhikkhu, had traveled to Dhaka in order to obtain a visa. However, he…
Many killed in Iraq after security forces kill protestors Jibril Khoury and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Protestors in Iraq have been killed in several parts of mainly Shia areas of this nation. It is believed that at least 20 people have perished but the numbers are likely to be higher. Therefore, while…
Japanese art and homage to Yuzo Saeki via Paris: Illusion of time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Yuzo Saeki was born in 1898 but sadly he would pass away at the tender age of 30. Yet, despite the shortness of his life, Saeki is one of the most intriguing artists to…
Japanese Zen Buddhist artist and the influence of China 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 impacted greatly on…
TEPCO executives acquitted in Tokyo District Court over Fukushima Nuclear Plant crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The brutal earthquake that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, triggered the devastating tsunami that killed just below 18,500 people. Another horrendous consequence was the Fukushima reactor crisis after the tsunami devastated this nuclear…
At least 48 perish in Sunni Islamist terrorist attacks in Afghanistan Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times At least 48 people have perished after two brutal suicide terrorist attacks in Afghanistan by Sunni Islamists belonging to the Taliban. One terrorist attack was in the vicinity of the United States embassy in Kabul,…
A Japanese artist who bridged the pre-Edo and start of the Edo Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) witnessed the power processes of the centralization of Japan that ultimately led to the unification of this nation under the Tokugawa Period of 1603-1868. Naturally, the art world of Japan…
Japanese politics and the crushing of democracy: Yes, another Koizumi rises quickly! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Political apathy in Japan isn’t something new but in some recent elections just below 50 percent didn’t bother to vote – or, slightly over 50 percent did. Thus, the usual dominance of the Liberal…
President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation says, “G7 is no good without India and China.” Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation seeks a genuine multipolar world that takes away the centrism of America, along with the supporting role of fellow nations belonging to the…
Japanese Poetry interwoved in the principles of Buddhism and Confucianism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The early life of Yamanoue no Okura (660-733?) remains shrouded in mystery. Hence, speculation of his birth, be it Paekche in Korea or in Japan is open to debate. Irrespective of this, it is clear that Okura served Japan…
Islamization of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and West Papua: Endless power concentration Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The non-Muslim indigenous of West Papua (Indonesia) and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bangladesh) have been abandoned by the international community for decades, the result being enormous negative ethnic changes, Islamization, and cementing the rule…
Japanese art and the nuance of joy amid Northern English industrial landscapes Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, adores a plethora of different art styles fused from her native Japan and a mixture of European artists. This notably applies to the Dutch Masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth century,…
Art of Japan and Hōitsu through the eyes of modernity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the latest art piece by Sawako Utsumi, this contemporary artist focuses on the rinpa (rimpa) finesse of Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1828). Hōitsu, himself, adored Ogata Kōrin (1658-1716) and in time he revitalized the memory of Kōrin. This, in turn,…
Over 60 killed by ISIS in Sunni Islamist attack targeting the Shia in Afghanistan Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once more the hand of Sunni Islamism struck against innocent Shia Muslims who are deemed “infidels” and worthy of butchering in Afghanistan. Of course, for the Shia, such brutality is often…
Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar: If peace, then development to reach all Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The State Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, continues to strengthen democracy in this nation despite being blighted by countless internal and external problems. This applies to ethnic and religious forces that…
Hong Kong crisis: Carrie Lam warns of “Abyss” and China stresses “terrorism” Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The ongoing crisis in Hong Kong is unsettling the leader, Carrie Lam. Likewise, political elites in Beijing are dismayed by the longevity of the crisis in Hong Kong. Hence, Lam is now expressing her…
Japanese Buddhist poet of bygone times: Buddha, the way of Shintoism, and culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Buddhist poet Saigyō Hōshi (birth name Satō Norikiyo) was born in 1118 and passed away in 1190. He was a man of passion, virtue, contemplation, and a soul that wandered places of religious importance.…
57 perish from the heatwave in Japan but the 2020 Olympics to be held in the same period Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times At least 57 people have perished in the last week in Japan based on the horrendous heatwave. At the same time, over 18,000 people have been treated at…
Hong Kong demonstrators need to avoid playing into the hands of China Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The centralized Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is worried about losing power concentration over Hong Kong. Equally, statements emanating out of America and the United Kingdom are angering China. This notably applies to Nancy Pelosi…
Japanese art and Blackley Forest: The spirit of Judy Doggett Walker and fighting dementia Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist, Sawako Utsumi, was asked to pay homage to the late Judy Doggett Walker (1934 to 2019) who resided in Manchester, England. Of course, unlike other art pieces by Utsumi, this art…
At least 42 die in Libya after airstrike hits many civilians attending a wedding ceremony Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another fresh massacre occurred in Libya after at least 42 civilians attending a wedding were killed in the South-Western part of this nation. The airstrike (drone strike) was committed by forces…
India and Myanmar to strengthen military defense ties Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of China, India, Japan, the Russian Federation, and many others, all view Myanmar in a positive light. Hence, for various reasons each nation seeks to boost ties with Myanmar. Of course, the geopolitical importance of this…
PM Dmitry Medvedev of Russia rebukes Japan over his visit to the Kuril Islands (Northern Territories) Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, sharply rebuffed negative comments emanating from political elites in Japan. After all, in the eyes of Medvedev, how can he be…
Japan tourism and the Shokozan Tokei-ji Buddhist Temple in Kamakura Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kamakura is famous for many adorable Buddhist temples and other important historical realities based on the past importance of this amazing part of Japan. The beauty of Kamakura – for Tokyoites and tourists alike – is…
Abe and ruling political bloc wins Upper House election in Japan but voter apathy is high Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the ruling bloc partner Komeito won the majority of seats in the Upper House election that was contested. Hence,…
At least 23 perish after a brutal attack against a Kyoto Animation (KyoAni) studio in Japan Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Latest reports about the brutal attack against a Kyoto Animation studio indicate that at least 23 innocent people have been brutally killed by one individual. The animation studio, KyoAni, was…
Buddhism and Japan Art: The influence of the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien was born in the thirteenth century in the land of the rising sun. Like many Japanese Buddhist holy men – artists and people of culture – the Middle Kingdom (China) was the…
Japan touts national security in a spat with South Korea after high-tech restrictions Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan is issuing national security concerns in the latest spat with South Korea. While, in the opposite direction, South Korea once more is using historical war-time issues that need to…
