The call of faith in the heart of Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The faiths of Buddhism and Shintoism dot the Japanese landscape. Meanwhile, the impact of Confucianism and Taoism can be felt – and other ideas that have guided this nation throughout its history. Therefore, when visiting Tokyo, the…
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…
PM Kishida appoints Hayashi to the dismay of Abe and Aso: Foreign Minister and China Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, is showing early signs of self-belief. Henceforth, the appointment of the new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was met with dismay by two ex-leaders of Japan.…
Japanese Buddhist poetry from centuries ago Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The holy Buddhist monk Jien (1155-1225) followed Tendai Buddhism. Naturally, with the passages of time and the political power dynamics of the day, it is important to enter his world. However, for Jien, “All the flowers are but the flower of the law”…
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.…
Tokyo tourism: Buddhism in ultra-modern Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The faiths of Buddhism and Shintoism dot the Japanese landscape. Meanwhile, the impact of Confucianism and Taoism can be felt – and other ideas that have guided this nation throughout its history. Therefore, when visiting Tokyo, the spiritual dimension is…
Tokyo Olympic Committee shamelessly plugs the Olympics on March 11: Earthquake and tsunami Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The tenth anniversary of the brutal Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, took place today. However, the President of the Tokyo Organizing Committee, Seiko Hashimoto, shamelessly sought to exploit this tragic…
Tokyo News: Tokyo Olympics looks set to be held without overseas spectators Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to various sources, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics look set to be held without overseas spectators. At the moment, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) isn’t confirming this. However, with the coronavirus (Covid-19) State…
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.…
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…
Tokyo News: Osaka Covid-19 deaths higher than Tokyo despite fewer infections Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The speed of each 1,000 deaths from coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan is increasing. Similarly, the speed of each 100,000 news infections is increasing compared to the first ten months. Therefore, several parts of Japan are under…
Tokyo News: Small minority support the Olympics being held this year Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times An important NHK opinion poll for the profligate 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in 2021 highlights little support. Indeed, given the increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo and throughout Japan, it…
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…
Japanese poetry of bygone days and the influence of China Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine reached his height during the late ninth and early tenth centuries. It is known that he was active in the Heian court between 898-920. Therefore, one can imagine his world through the prism…
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,…
Islamists massacre Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Eve Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Christians in the village of Pemi, in the state of Borno, were attacked on Christmas Eve in northeast Nigeria. Once more, Islamists killed Christians at random and then set fire to a church. It is being reported that…
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: Homeless to be offered hotel rooms over New Year period in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, and others within the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) are seeking to provide solace to vulnerable people during the New Year period. Therefore, from December 21 until January…
Tokyo News: Tokyoites hit by Covid-19 related poverty visit consultations by trade unions Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The National Confederation of Trade Unions is extremely concerned about growing poverty caused by the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. This relates to people losing their jobs and others surviving on a reduced income. Of course,…
High daily Covid-19 deaths continue unabated in Europe Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The coming festive period in Europe remains tainted by high daily deaths from the coronavirus (Covid-19). Indeed, despite the optimism surrounding new vaccines, it is abundantly clear that deaths will continue to flow for many months – at the…
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