Japan seeks restraint from America and Iran before the planned Self Defense Force mission Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan seeks restraint from America and Iran over the ongoing crisis between both nations. This rupture increased after America killed Qassem Soleimani, the Quds…
Japanese art, culture, and ghost stories: The influence of Shinto Chika Mori and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The endless winds of modernization and technological innovation is relentless in Japan. Hence, the religious dynamics of old Japan is but a ghost of its former self, just like the erosion of Christian influence in nations…
Myanmar is a distortion for Islamic and Western nations to hide their crimes: CHT, ICJ, and OIC Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Myanmar is seeking to stabilize the democratic path despite countless ethnic issues that beset this nation, the result of decades of authoritarian rule. At the same time, endless negative…
Contemporary Japanese art and the mirage of time in the bleak midwinter Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sawako Utsumi hails from northern Japan and in her latest landscape, you can depict the partial influence of Suzuki Kiitsu (1796-1858). Yet, unlike Kiitsu who focused on rinpa art, the latest stunning art piece by Utsumi is…
Japan and the new 1984 of corporate finance that suits the state apparatus 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 Art and Poetry: Typhoons and earthquakes take asunder to this cold earth Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In a flash, all love that was embraced was over The beauty of the child, the lady, the male, the grandparents, all gone No time to say goodbye or to protect The chanting Buddha, the…
Art of Japan and the Buddhist holy preacher Nichiren: Mystical landscapes Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In these art pieces by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, the theme flows from old Japan to the rich wisdom of the holy Buddhist cleric called Nichiren (1222-1282). In a sense, Utsumi is alluding to the rapidly…
France and the brutal murders of women by former or current partners Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international image of Paris conjures up stunning architecture, exquisite art, high culture, trendy fashion, and so much more. However, on Saturday, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris against the brutal reality…
Art of Japan and the entangled state Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The flow of human life comes and goes at the drop of a hat but observance and familiarity can make yesteryear seem like now. In the art piece titled “The Blossoming of Life” by Sawako Utsumi, you can also feel the changed…
Many protesters killed by the theocratic state in Iran Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Reports emanating out of Iran and in the wider international community are stating that many protesters have been killed. Yet, the true extent of the crisis is blurred by the theocratic state cutting off the internet and…
South Korea is intent on terminating GSOMIA and this bodes well for Japan Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan and South Korea are at loggerheads over history and other issues. Hence, with South Korea stating that it intends to terminate GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), then…
Contemporary Japanese artist and Utrillo in a New Transcendent Light Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The delightful contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi is once more paying homage to Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955). Like usual, the color scheme and hidden cultural meanings spring to mind. Therefore, the art piece titled “Utrillo in a New Transcendent Japanese…
Japanese Contemporary Artist and Hakone Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi recently produced another adorable art piece that focused on the natural landscape of Hakone. True to the nature of Utsumi, she bypassed the possibility of focusing on Mount Fuji that can be seen in parts of Hakone and…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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 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…
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…
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,…
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…
Japanese art through the lens of familiarity but in a changed entangled state Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The flow of human life comes and goes at the drop of a hat but observance and familiarity can make yesteryear seem like now. In the art piece titled “The Blossoming of Life” by Sawako Utsumi,…
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…
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…
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…
