Nigeria oil blast kills at least 110 people Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times A devastating oil explosion in southern Nigeria is known to have killed at least 110 people. The latest tragedy highlights the chaotic nature of Nigeria because Sunni Islamists slaughter people every year, ethnic massacres erupt at any moment, and…
Japanese art and fusions of mythology, religion, philosophy, and ghosts Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The richness of Japanese art is a treasure to behold. This concerns the impact of Chinese art on the land of the rising sun – to the extremely indigenous and diverse artistic world of ukiyo-e, which depicted anything from adorable landscapes,…
America threatens Solomon Islands: Biden admin and Japan Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Solomon Islands is an independent nation. However, the behavior of America is extremely hostile and threatens consequences concerning strengthening ties between China and the Solomon Islands. Therefore, the same President Joe Biden administration that lambasted the Russian…
Japan Buddhism and Tōrei Enji (1721-1792): Art and calligraphy Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tōrei Enji (1721-1792) was a prominent and esteemed Zen Buddhist monk of the eighteenth century in Japan. He understood the complexity of religion and philosophy in his native country. Thus he desired to build bridges between the complex forces of…
Anti-Russia Kishida and the usual grovel to America: China, Kurils, and amnesia Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The two constant themes of the first six months of the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan are his endless anti-Russia statements and depressing economic results. However, despite the Yen reaching a…
South Korea angered by Japan and ruling LDP: Yasukuni Shrine Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once more important politicians within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) pay homage to Yasukuni Shrine. This is despite the positive overtures of the President-elect of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, promising to improve ties with Japan. …
Japan art and Tsuchida Bakusen: Sado Island and Nichiren Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tsuchida Bakusen (1887-1936) was known for Nihonga style art. Hence, despite his father wanting him to be a Buddhist monk, he chose the art world. Therefore, the art world was lucky he chose this path because he created many stunning art pieces.…
Anti-Russia Kishida: Debt, nationalism, and Yen hits 20-year dollar low Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, is the most anti-Russian administration in living memory. Hence, the debt mountain never gets tackled – and the yen to dollar rate just hit a 20-year low…
Art of Japan and Ohara Koson: Kacho-ga and birds Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Ohara Koson (1877-1945) is famous for Kacho-ga art. This literally refers to images of birds and flowers. Thus Koson illuminates nature concerning animals, birds, flowers, insects, and plants – while utilizing the changing seasons. Koson also created art concerning…
Japan and South Korea hope to mend ties under Yoon’s leadership Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The President-elect of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, will take up office next month. He is known to want to mend ties with Japan. Likewise, with Japan taking an increasingly anti-Russia stance under Prime Minister…
Art of Japan and Shibata Zeshin: Beauty of simplicity Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artistic beauty of simplicity is illuminated by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891). However, despite the simplicity of these art pieces in this article, several mysterious angles still appear. Therefore, the creativity of the imagination is a wonder to behold. Zeshin is famous…
Mali kills French-Tunisian GSIM terrorists after airstrikes Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The armed forces of Mali claim to have killed several French-Tunisian Islamist terrorists in the forest environs of Ganguel. This concerns two airstrikes to flush out terrorists belonging to GSIM (the Group to Support Islam and Muslims). Henceforth, despite simmering…
Decades of LDP mismanagement in Japan: Mega debt to declining population Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is blighted by over three decades of endless political mismanagement. This is down to the “political family chairs” of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hence – over three squandered economic decades later concerning…
Japan art and flow of Europe: Fujishima Takeji Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Fujishima Takeji (1867-1943) fused various art themes to produce a plethora of exquisite art. Hence, the yoga (Western-style art) artworks by Fujishima naturally fuse impressionism and romanticism. Fujishima also developed a deep respect for the Art Nouveau art movement. Thus he was…
Japan art and Tōshi Yoshida: Calm Before the US carpet-bombing storm Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Tōshi Yoshida (1911-1995) was the son of a distinguished artist. His father, Hiroshi Yoshida, was deeply respected for his Shin-Hanga art. However, his son would eventually focus on the Sōsaku Hanga art movement. Tōshi suffered…
U.S. and Japan in naval exercises near Korean Peninsula: Japan Nationalism Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times America and Japan are holding naval exercises for the first time since 2017 concerning the environs of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea is bound to deem this negatively. However, despite North Korea being opposed: for America…
Somalia and millions face food insecurity Noriko Watanabe and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The United Nations is warning that Somalia faces famine concerning the ongoing drought. Thus six million people face food insecurity in this country – of these six million, four million are blighted by the drought in certain regions of Somalia. Therefore,…
Japan art and Shiba Kōkan: Western-style artist of the Edo Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Shiba Kōkan (1747-1818) hails from Japan. However, despite Japan being relatively isolated throughout the Edo Period, Chinese culture still was potent concerning high culture and other important areas of society. Also, windows of Western culture had minor gaps…
Endless massacres in Nigeria: 70 dead in the latest attack Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Nigeria is a land that is soaking in endless blood. The perpetrators of these massacres utilize ethnic or religious hatred – even if the government is using the traction of “armed gangs.” Therefore, the latest…
Japan poetry and Takuboku Ishikawa (1886-1912): Pyotr Kropotkin Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Takuboku Ishikawa died at a very young age from tuberculosis. He changed his earlier beliefs from naturalism to socialism in response to the environment he witnessed. Therefore, his idealism was still developing and adapting to the convulsions of the Meiji…
US seeks to bully India: Russia and New Democratic Order (EU and Japan) Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The colonial-minded nations of the United States and the United Kingdom – similar to the European Union (EU) – seek to bully and coerce independent nations. Hence, from Hungary (EU) to India,…
Japan art and Buddhism: Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sengai Gibon (1750-1837) was a holy Rinzai Buddhist monk from Japan. His art was based on the Buddhist ideals he held and was a way of reaching out to ordinary people. Hence, his thinking – and artistic ways – had no constraints because absolute…
Anti-Russia Kishida of Japan and Ukraine refugee stunt: Asian refugees? Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Millions of people in various parts of Asia are internally displaced. However, as usual, Japan isn’t known for providing them with full refugee status and eventual citizenship. Yet, anti-Russia Prime Minister Fumio Kishida – seeking to…
Japan poetry and Uejima Onitsura (1661-1738): Useless dreams, alas Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet, Uejima Onitsura (1661-1738), hails from the prefecture of Hyogo. However, it was Osaka where this esteemed haiku poet became famous. In a lovely poem, he wrote: Useless dreams, alas! Over desolate fields winds whisper as they pass. From 8 years of age, Uejima impressed many…
Immigrant tensions in South Africa lay with the ANC Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The African National Congress (ANC) continues to fail the poor of South Africa. From high unemployment, inadequate housing, and the endless stream of various ethnic African immigrant groups entering the nation. Therefore, recent tensions concerning undocumented immigrants are…
America claims national interests in military sales to Taiwan: China and Russia Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Joe Biden of America can’t stop destabilizing and meddling in the national security of other nations. Thus every continent has been deemed the backyard of America. This is despite the shambles of the…
Japan novelist and Doppo Kunikida (1871-1908) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese novelist and writer of poetry, Doppo Kunikida, was a thoughtful individual throughout his life. He also had a determined individual streak and gradually moved from romantic themes to the ideas of naturalism. Therefore, despite his short life, you can feel the…
UK, US, Japan, and NATO supply arms and money for Ukraine to kill Russians: Would they like? Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Imagine if citizens and soldiers of NATO nations and Japan were being killed in a war whereby the pro-Russian Federation umbrella began to supply military arms and…
Japan art and female artist Uemura Shōen (1875-1949) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese female artist, Uemura Shōen (1875-1949), was fully supported by her mother to become an artist. Historically, art was controlled by Japanese men. This wasn’t unique to Japan because it was a common thread in many cultures – not all. The…
South Sudan and ethnic and political differences: Peace agreement Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times South Sudan (Republic of South Sudan) should have ushered in a period of peace for the embattled ethnic and religious groups who faced Arabization and Islamization concerning the policies of past Khartoum elites. However, while South Sudan has an…
Japan art and Takeuchi Seihō (1864-1942): Kyoto artist Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Takeuchi Seihō (1864-1942) was born during the dying embers of the Edo Period. Hence, his world belongs to the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods of Japanese history. Seihō was one of the pioneers of the Nihonga art movement. From a young age, he adored…
Japan novelist and Haruo Umezaki: Sakurajima and nationalism under PM Kishida Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese novelist Haruo Umezaki (1915-1965) belongs to the Taisho (1912-1926) and the Showa (1926-1989) periods of Japanese history. However, like his war novella titled Sakurajima, it is the Meiji Period (1868-1912) that shaped Japan and set off future convulsions.…
Modern Tokyo News 