Saitama tourism: Heirinji Buddhist Temple and adorable compound Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The adorable Buddhist compound of Heirinji (Heirin-ji) in the prefecture of Saitama is a real treat. This relates to the Heirinji Rinzai Buddhist Temple and the delightful woodlands that surround the ancient graveyard. Therefore, the sense of the…
America and Japan in usual anti-China mantra under Biden and Suga Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The former leader of Japan, Shinzo Abe, could contain anti-China hawks during his leadership. However, it is noticeable under Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that the Japanese Foreign Ministry is enacting a hawkish policy aimed at…
Myanmar in a spiral of death without any plan B Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The spiral of death in Myanmar that followed the military coup against State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi is beyond rationality. After all, is this what the military coup leaders wanted? Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief…
Japan bypasses Covid-19 emergency by utilizing new phrases Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan is never-ending. Despite this, the best the central government and local governments can do is to issue new phrases. Therefore, a new State of Emergency isn’t being declared to negate greater financial responsibility…
Flash floods kill many in Indonesia and Timor Leste Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Flash flooding is known to have killed at least 50 people in Indonesia and Timor Leste (East Timor). The severity of the situation and threat to livestock means the final death toll is likely to be higher. Landslides,…
Japan bypasses Emergency: Parts of Hyogo, Osaka, and Miyagi under new measures Sawako Uchida and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Daily infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) are increasing in parts of Japan once more. However, unlike past declarations of a State of Emergency, new measures have been announced outside this declaration. Therefore, fresh confusion abounds concerning…
Covid-19 daily infections highest in Osaka: Olympic torch relay in jeopardy Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times In the last few days, daily infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) have been highest in Osaka rather than Tokyo. Thus with neighboring regions to Osaka, including Hyogo facing a fresh crisis, fears persist throughout the Kansai region.…
Saitama tourism: Buddhism and connecting with culture in Chichibu Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Chichibu in the prefecture of Saitama is approximately 85 minutes away from the central parts of Tokyo. Hence, if you seek to fuse mountain landscapes, spirituality, outdoor sports connected to mountains and rivers, and a slower pace…
Myanmar crisis continues unabated: 270 deaths since the military crackdown Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the military coup in Myanmar against State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, the daily deaths of protesters and bystanders by the state apparatus have become the norm. Thus, the death toll since the coup took…
Saitama tourism: Chichibu Shinto shrine and richness of history Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park in the prefecture of Saitama attracts a plethora of tourists. Other angles related to culture, religion, and so much more, means that Chichibu is a great base to explore this part of Japan.…
Saitama tourism: Hodosan Shinto Shrine in Nagatoro Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Hodosan Shinto Shrine in Nagatoro is a great place to connect with spirituality and nature in Saitama prefecture. Thus, despite the lore of boating, whitewater rafting, and enjoying spectacular views from Mount Hodo; the spiritual angle of Hodosan…
Tokyo tourism: Ryusenji (Meguro Fudo) Tendai Buddhist Temple Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is a mega-city known for being ultra-modern. However, among the hustle and bustle of life, the old world still ticks based on architecture, history, spirituality, and various cultural angles related to art, ceramics, and so much more.…
Japan is mulling Covid-19 vaccination travel passports Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese government is mulling the issuing of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination passports for international travel. Similarly, the European Union (EU) is touting a similar policy and other nations outside of this trade bloc. However, with vaccinations obviously in their infancy…
Tokyo tourism: Todoroki Valley and the natural flow of Buddhism and Shintoism Sawako Utsumi and Kanako Mita Modern Tokyo Times The Todoroki Valley in Tokyo is a nice quaint walk to connect with nature. Indeed, the close proximity to Jiyugaoka and Futako Tamagawa means budding tourists can enjoy the amazing contrasts with the Todoroki Valley.…
Japan utilizes America, Australia, and India to lambast China during the Quad summit Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan utilized the Quad summit with America, Australia, and India to lambast China. Indeed, this is a familiar tactic while all nations maintain strong economic ties with China…
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…
Remembering the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami: South Sanriku Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times March 11, 2011, will always be a day of mourning throughout Japan. This concerns the deaths of just below 16,000 people but with this figure being higher because over 2,500 remain missing. Hence, over 18,400 lives were…
Tokyo tourism: Gotokuji Buddhist Temple, cats, and legend of Maneki Neko Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times If you feel like quiet spiritual contemplation and you have any type of connection with cats, then Gotokuji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo is a great place to visit. This concerns the historical importance of this Buddhist temple and compound…
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 tourism: Ikegami Honmonji Temple and Nichiren Buddhism Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Ikegami Honmonji Temple in Tokyo is a great place to connect with spirituality because of the connection with the holy Buddhist priest Nichiren Shonin (1222-1282). Indeed, depending on your route, it is worth visiting the Senzokuike Pond…
Tokyo tourism: Senzokuike Pond, Nichiren, and the backdrop of Shintoism Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Senzokuike Pond (Senzoku-ike) is a lovely place to visit in Tokyo. Indeed, the relaxing pond is enhanced by the Buddhist and Shinto angles related to history and the scenery. Thus, Shinto shrines and themes dot…
Tokyo News: The Covid-19 State of Emergency in Tokyo environs to continue Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) State of Emergency will continue until March 21 in Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama. This comes into line with the wishes of all regional leaders who…
Tokyo News: Government may extend the Stateof Emergency in Tokyo environs Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese government is mulling the extension of the State of Emergency by two more weeks in the environs of Tokyo. This includes Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama. Infections from…
Myanmar and more deaths after anti-coup protesters are attacked by security forces Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The crisis in Myanmar is increasingly turning violent after the military coup against the leadership of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi. Thus at least 18 people have been killed in the last 24…
Deaths decline in Japan last year concerning Covid-19 convulsions Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international convulsions from the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis are extremely different for many nations. In the worst-case scenario, life expectancy suffered based on the number of coronavirus deaths in many nations including America, Belgium, Brazil, and the…
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…
At least two die in Myanmar after more protests against the military coup Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Protests against the military coup in Myanmar are continuing in various parts of the country. Hence, with news that at least two protesters have been killed by the police, the fear is that…
Japan news: Covid-19 deaths surpass 7,000 but infections continue to fall Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan began on January 16 last year. Yet deaths remained relatively low in the first nine months. Thus by the middle of September, below 1,500 people had died. However, in recent…
Tokyo News: Nikkei reaches 30 year high of 30,000 while ordinary people in Japan are struggling Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is nearing 2.5 million deaths. However, for absolute capitalists, it is a great time to make a literal money killing. Hence, in Japan, and in…
Art of Japan and Rinpa inspired art in modern times Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese contemporary artist, Sawako Utsumi, produced an adorable art piece based on rinpa (rimpa). In the past, Utsumi also heavily focused on Sakai HÅitsu (1761-1828) concerning rinpa. However, in her latest rinpa art piece, the emphasis is on…
Japan must foster its own approach to the Myanmar crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan must foster its own independent approach to the Myanmar crisis while working with the United States of America, the European Union (EU), and regional nations. It seems likely that sanctions will be…
Myanmar coup leaders face increasing protests Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup in Myanmar against the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi – and her political allies – is triggering increasing protests. Hence, the internal convulsions of the military coup are still unfolding. Protests denouncing the military coup continue…
