Japan tourism and Shintoism: Samukawa Shinto Shrine in Kanagawa Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a busy world full of uncertainty, the beauty of nature and the mystery of faith are equal places to refresh the soul. Hence, the Samukawa Shinto Shrine (Samukawa-Jinja Shrine) in Kanagawa – within easy reach of Tokyo…
Japan and record $490 billion stimulus package: Debt and right target? Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan announced a record $490 billion (55.7 trillion yen) stimulus package. Hence, this economic policy is aimed at assisting the weak economy, helping smaller companies that are struggling with debts, families with children, and…
Japan extends minimal State of Emergency: Osaka crisis and carefree slowness Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced the extension of the coronavirus (Covid-19) State of Emergency. Thus the next extension will continue in Hyogo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo until the end of May. However, with increasing daily…
Osaka News: Osaka Governor Yoshimura may extend Covid-19 emergency Sawako Uchida and Kanako Mita Modern Tokyo Times Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura of Osaka is considering extending the State of Emergency after the ending date of May 11. This is based on daily infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Osaka regularly hitting over 1,000 in the recent period.…
China and South Korea rebuke Japan over planned nuclear plant water into the sea Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China and South Korea have rebuked Japan over plans to release nuclear plant water into the sea. Of course, the nuance in Japan is releasing “treated water.” However, this isn’t fooling China…
Tokyo News: Tokyo more reluctant than Aichi, Hyogo, Kyoto, and Osaka in lifting Covid-19 emergency Chika Mori and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The government State of Emergency concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis officially lifts on March 7. However, the prefectures of Aichi, Hyogo, Kyoto, and Osaka have requested the lifting of the State of…
Japan News: Increasing daily Covid-19 deaths in Japan but a downward infection curve Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Japan reached a new daily high of 119 deaths from coronavirus (Covid-19) yesterday. However, in the last week, a definite downward trend of daily coronavirus infections is happening throughout Japan. Thus, the new high…
Tokyo News: Covid-19 infections signal a downward curve in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times In the last few days, a downward coronavirus (Covid-19) curve is gradually emerging in Tokyo. This is linked to the current State of Emergency that covers Tokyo and other parts of Japan. Therefore, the lowest Saturday figure…
Japan News: PM Suga wants to fine people but 15,000 people waiting for Covid-19 treatment Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is increasing in terms of deaths in recent weeks. Thus, the strain on the disjointed health care system in tackling the coronavirus crisis is increasing.…
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,…
Art of Japan and the continuing flow of Rinpa art Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ishizaki Kōyō (1884-1947) was born into a wealthy family in the prefecture of Toyama. During his lifetime, he witnessed the modernization of the Meiji period, the liberalizing period of Taishō, and the nationalist period of Shōwa.…
Fast-tracking of Avigan is on the books in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The fast-tracking of Avigan (favipiravir) in Japan for Coronavirus (Covid-19) appears to be on the books. This relates to the Japanese government seeking to approve Avigan for treatment in November. Avigan is used for influenza but the speed…
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 and its first wave of subsidies to help companies leave China: Covid-19 supply chain Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) economic convulsions will continue for a long-time to come. Of course, the size of the crisis depends on each individual nation. However, for Japan, it became apparent that…
PM Abe of Japan to fast track virus-related drugs in the fight against coronavirus Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The highly developed nations of Asia have largely avoided the horrendous death tolls of other parts of the World. Hence, the death toll remains low in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.…
Robots in Tokyo to be used to protect from coronavirus in special hotels Chika Mori and Kanako Itamae Modern Tokyo Times Robots are to be utilized in the fight against the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Tokyo. This applies to patients with minor symptoms of coronavirus and for asymptomatic patients. Thereby, reducing the burden on…
Japan to discuss extending the state of emergency: Tokyo infections are falling Kanako Itamae and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency is officially scheduled to end on May 6, after the Golden Week period. Thus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold an important meeting about extending the current state of emergency. Signs…
Japan media in “teetering over coronavirus” but the majority of prefectures have few deaths Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is rather unique because it appeared that the situation had been contained. Hence, despite coronavirus first being detected in the middle of January, it seemed by…
Tokyo Governor and the nighttime coronavirus: Bars and restaurants can stay open until 8 pm Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In recent weeks, in parallel with the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the coronavirus (Covid-19) is gradually spreading. Of course, cynical voices note the coronavirus entered Japan in the middle of January.…
Deaths in France, Italy, Spain, and the UK is 75,000 compared to 450 people in the modern Asia Pacific Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis emanated in Wuhan and then spread throughout China. In time, China got on top of the first wave of coronavirus. However, what is…
Ecuador death toll from coronavirus is horrendous in the environs of Guayaquil Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Ecuador is reeling from the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Guayaquil and throughout the province of Guayas. Indeed, while the statistics state not so many deaths, the images coming out of Guayaquil tell…
Aichi in Japan declares a state of emergency after central government exclusion Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Governor Hideaki Omura of Aichi appealed to the central government to be included in the list of areas covered by the state of emergency. However, despite deaths in Aichi representing roughly 20 percent of…
Tokyo witnesses a gradual rise in confirmed coronavirus infections Kanako Itamae and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is witnessing a gradual increase in daily coronavirus (Covid-19) infections. Thus, in the last three days over 500 people have added to the roughly 1,900 people infected in Tokyo. Thankfully, only 100 people have died from the…
Japan to assist companies in leaving China: Coronavirus economic convulsions Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to assist Japanese companies in leaving China. This new policy is part of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) convulsions. Therefore, from the European Union to Japan major…
Regions in Japan request people in coronavirus hit areas to refrain from movement Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The limitations of the state of emergency ushered by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are creating internal tensions. This relates to Yuriko Koike, the Tokyo Governor, seeking greater clarity so that she can lockdown…
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