Colombia and 145 activists killed in 2021: Young indigenous activist killed this year Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another 145 people in Colombia were killed in 2021 concerning their respective human rights activity. Every year people are killed for speaking up for the dispossessed and communities who suffer at the…
Saitama tourism and Buddhism: Delightful Chichibu Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Chichibu is a great place to visit. This concerns refreshing the soul, connecting with nature, walking in the mountains, enjoying outdoor sports, shopping for cultural items, and browsing around this lovely part of Saitama. Also, the landscape, irrespective of whether…
Dutch winter landscapes based on Hendrick Avercamp by Japanese artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi adores Dutch art. This concerns the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries because this period was a Golden Age concerning the number of esteemed Dutch artists with unique styles (all inspired by Dutch and Flemish Renaissance…
Japan maintains tight border controls concerning the Omicron variant Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is maintaining tight border controls concerning the Omicron Covid-19 (coronavirus) variant that is highly infectious. Hence, Kishida said Japan would preserve its policy until late February and then review the situation. Since…
Tokyu Railways serving the Tokyo area wants to hike prices by 12.9 percent Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The economic coronavirus (Covid-19) convulsions are especially hitting railway companies throughout Japan. This notably concerns the worst-hit areas, for example, Osaka and Tokyo. Hence, Tokyu Railways, a major private operator serving the Tokyo region,…
PM Kishida mulls quasi-emergency concerning Covid-19 in 3 prefectures Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is mulling a quasi-emergency concerning the coronavirus (Covid-19) in three prefectures. Other prefectures are likely to follow if current daily coronavirus infections keep on increasing. The three prefectures of immediate concern are Hiroshima, Okinawa,…
PM Hamdok resigns in Sudan: Internal crisis is growing Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The political paralysis gripping Sudan is continuing. At the same time, ongoing protests remain against the military and civilian elites who supported the initial coup under the auspices of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Therefore, despite the reinstatement…
Japanese art and the majesty of the sky Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the four Japanese art pieces selected in this article, the passage of time is irrelevant. Hence, three artists are from the “past” while the other is “now.” However, irrespective of time, art will continue to create joy, passion, wonder, and…
Japan welcomes in 2022 with grimmer demographic news Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan will welcome 2022 with grimmer demographic news regarding the next generation. This concerns the lowest number of adults aged 20 since the government began to take records in 1968. According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, the number of…
Osaka clinic arsonist and murder suspect of 25 people dies Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The brutal murder suspect of the Osaka Clinic fire died today from injuries that occurred from his act of murder. In total, the suspected arsonist and murderer, Morio Tanimoto, killed 25 people after deliberately setting fire to…
China and Japan Defense Ministers hold frank talks on Tokyo’s request Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi held frank talks with the Minister of National Defense from China. Wei Fenghe, the Minister of National Defense, is a general in the People’s Liberation Army. Kishi hails from a…
Sudan tensions erupt again after protests in Khartoum Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan reinstated Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok last month. This happened after mounting internal and international pressure. However, with the military still having power mechanisms to alter the path to democracy, many in…
Japan poetry and a life blighted by ill-health: Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The final years of the life of Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902) were filled with pain and long-lasting suffering. Ultimately, his life was cut short from the ravages of tuberculosis and other ailments that stemmed from this. Shiki understood the frailty…
Super Typhoon Rai kills at least 100 people in the Philippines Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Super Typhoon Rai is leaving utter devastation behind after hitting the Philippines on Thursday. Winds reached 120mph (195km/h) at their height of strength. Therefore, approximately 300,000 people fled the worst-hit areas. The current death toll is…
Osaka fire kills many in a suspected arson attack Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times A suspected arson attack in Osaka, Japan, is believed to have killed 27 people. The fire broke out at a psychiatric clinic and was extinguished within 30 minutes by the fire brigade. However, in this short time, it…
South Korea in Covid-19 surge: Vaccine immunity waning among the elderly Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in South Korea is reaching a critical period. Hence, with daily infections surpassing 7,000 for the first time, the health care system is coming under enormous strain. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, said,…
Japan denies entry to foreigners from nations of new Omicron Covid variant Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times According to various news sources, a diplomat who flew from Namibia to Japan brought in the first known case of the Omicron coronavirus variant. As usual, the government of Japan will implement bans on foreign…
Sudan coup leaders reinstate PM Abdalla Hamdok: Tensions remain Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan and other military personnel behind the coup against Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok succumbed to internal and external pressure. Thus Hamdok was reinstated after a deal was agreed between different political parties and 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…
Japan to allow people to mix third Covid-19 vaccine shot Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The country of Japan was massively behind other G-7 nations in the vaccine shot rollout. However, Japan is now moving ahead. Therefore, nations including America, France, and the United Kingdom are falling behind because a sizeable minority…
Covid-19 numbers in Japan continue to decline Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The Japan coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis reached new highs throughout the Tokyo Olympic timeframe. Numbers then began to decline before the ending of the Paralympics. Since then, new daily coronavirus cases have tailed off. Yesterday, Japan announced no daily deaths from…
Tokyo train attacker had planned outside attack first: Desires the death penalty Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The 24-year old male behind the recent train attack in Tokyo had contemplated an outside attack in a busy part of the capital city. However, his mind then swayed to another recent train attack in…
Tokyo knife attack on Keio Line then fire set on the train carriage Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times A young male branded a knife on the Keio Train Line in Tokyo. At least one person is in critical condition. It is known that 8 to 10 people were injured in the ensuing…
Ethiopia crisis: Tigrayan forces claim to take a strategic town in Amhara Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The conflict in Ethiopia is escalating again in Tigray and other joining areas. Henceforth, with Tigrayan forces claiming to have taken the town of Dessie in the region of Amhara, Ethiopian central forces and allies…
Japan election looms but apathy rules the day! Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Japan isn’t meant to be governed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decade after decade. Instead, Japan is meant to be a thriving democratic nation. However, in over six decades, the LDP usually emerges as the…
Sudan in crisis after the military coup: PM Hamdok arrested Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A State of Emergency in Sudan was declared by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. This declaration took place after the armed forces arrested the civilian leadership. Therefore, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok – and other civilian leaders of…
State of Emergency in Ecuador: “One enemy and that is drug trafficking” Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador announced a State of Emergency concerning drug trafficking and violent murders. The State of Emergency will be enforced for 60 days throughout the country. However, special attention will focus on…
Japanese Buddhist poetry: Saigyō, nature, and solitude Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The young Saigyō Hōshi (birth name Satō Norikiyo) was born to a noble family in Kyoto. However, the cultural dynamics were shifting because Buddhism was increasingly being questioned during his period of life – despite Buddhism remaining potent. Therefore, with Saigyō living between 1118-1190,…
Myanmar needs a National Salvation government: Neither side can win, only more suffering! Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Myanmar needs a National Salvation government to overcome the horrendous internal convulsions that threaten this nation-state. Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Defence Services (before the coup against State…
Poland decries EU threat of economic blackmail: Endless Visegrad disrespect Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Poland is adamant that its dispute with the European Union (EU) should be discussed in a democratic approach and not a diktat. This diktat, implied by the behavior of the European Commission, concerns the non-approval of €57…
Japanese poetry: Highly esteemed Hitomaro from 7th to early 8th century Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kakinomoto no Hitomaro (Hito-maru from the Heian era and onwards) is regarded as one of the greatest Japanese poets to have blessed this country. His name is mentioned alongside Fujiwara no Teika, Iio Sōgi (Inō Sōgi), and Matsuo Bashō.…
North Korea and South Korea military modernization: Japan watching developments Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The military modernization of the Korean Peninsula is increasing once more to a higher level. Hence, with the ruling party in Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), seeking to double Japan’s military budget if re-elected on October…
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