Bubonic Plague Deaths in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mongolia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The bubonic plague conjures images in the head of vast deaths from distant centuries. However, while no longer the potent killer disease of the past, people are still becoming infected and dying each year.…
Japan in new Covid-19 infection high thus curtailing the Obon holiday for many Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Japan recorded a new high in daily coronavirus (Covid-19) infections of 1,597. Thus the important Obon holiday (August 13-16) will be curtailed by many Japanese people – even if not declared by the central…
Japan to mark the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima while protected by US nuclear umbrella Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan will mark the 75-year anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Like usual, an extremely solemn reminder of the brutality of war. However, many words relating to joining…
Aichi to declare a Covid-19 State of Emergency from August 6 Sawako Utsumi and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The prefecture of Aichi will declare a State of Emergency between August 6 and 24 based on increasing coronavirus (Covid-19) infections. This notably applies to Nagoya and the surrounding region. Therefore, this will affect many Japanese…
Fragile Lebanon hit by a huge explosion in Beirut with many dead and injured Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Lebanon is extremely fragile because of the economic and political crisis. On top of this, the sectarian dynamic, foreign intrigues, extremely sizeable Palestinian and Syrian communities, cronyism, and other…
Art of Japan and the fusion of ideas by Kanzan Shimomura Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kanzan Shimomura (1873 to 1930) is a famous artistic son of Wakayama. Thus, the spiritual and cultural dimension of his art is blessed by the natural traits of Wakayama. Equally important, he was born into a family known…
Japanese Art and Yumeji Takehisa: The sadness will last forever Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The internationally esteemed Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) died tragically after shooting himself. He took many hours to die but when all hope was lost he famously said, “The sadness will last forever.” Yumeji Takehisa (1884-1934) equally died relatively young…
Covid-19 in Japan is increasing in many prefectures: Folly of encouraging tourism Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Since coronavirus (Covid-19) entered Japan in the middle of January, the majority of the country escaped the crisis. Hence, 34 out of the 47 prefectures escaped the worst of events. Indeed, some prefectures recorded no…
Over 1,500 daily Covid-19 cases in Japan: New highs for Aichi, Fukuoka, and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times New high infection rates of coronavirus (Covid-19) occurred in several parts of Japan. Thus with 1,578 new infections, it is clear that early August is crucial in containing the crisis. In Tokyo,…
Tokyo in possible new Covid-19 state of emergency: Re-run of Yuriko Koike Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo reached a new daily high of coronavirus (Covid-19) infections yesterday. Thus with 367 new cases and July being the worse month in terms of new infections, then the numbers are threatening a new state…
Japan art and Sakai Dōitsu: His heart belonged to the old world Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Sakai Dōitsu (1845-1913) was born during a very revolutionary period in Japan. This applies to the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912). However, Dōitsu firmly belongs to the rich world of rinpa (rimpa) art. Hence, while Dōitsu witnessed…
Japan Covid-19 daily infections hit over 1,000: Tourism and psychological war Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times New infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan broke the daily number of 1,000 for the first time. This is despite the coronavirus entering Japan in the middle of January. Alarmingly, the prefectures of Aichi, Okinawa,…
Iran in Covid-19 fatigue with at least 16,000 deaths: The Middle East Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Iran is extremely persistent. Officially, the current death toll is 16,147 and showing little signs of abating. However, the real death toll is probably much higher. Iran was hit…
Covid-19 daily infections in Japan just below 1,000: Aichi, Gifu, Kyoto, and Okinawa Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Japan for new infections is worse in July than at any other time. This statistic is grim because the first known coronavirus case was in the middle of…
Japan is hoping that America and China will take a more diplomatic stance Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The increasing stoking of the fire by America and China is worrying many in Japan. After all, the coronavirus (Covid19) crisis and economic convulsions are horrendous enough – so Japan doesn’t need more…
Increasing deadly attacks in Darfur in Sudan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In the past few weeks, more deadly attacks have erupted in the Darfur region of Sudan. Hence, with ongoing political changes in Sudan, the fear is that intrigues seek to destabilize at such a delicate moment for this country.…
Yukio Mishima and fusion of nationalism, the word, and the perfect death Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yukio Mishima wrote, “If we value so highly the dignity of life, how can we not also value the dignity of death? No death may be called futile.” This comment is poignant if you have never read…
340,000 deaths in the Americas: Central America, North America, and South America Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) death toll throughout the Americas is over 340,000. Hence, with most nations still in the spiral of death, one can only imagine the final death toll during the first wave. After…
U.S. military reaches 201 Covid-19 infections in Okinawa since July 4 Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The July 4 celebration by the military personnel of the United States (U.S.) is backfiring in the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in Okinawa. Hence political reverberations on the size of the armed forces of America…
Japan poetry and the Buddhist monk Jien: The suffering world Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Tendai Buddhist monk Jien (1155-1225) left behind a lasting legacy in the cultural and religious dynamics of Japan. This relates to his poems and historical accounts of the time alongside the Tendai Buddhist angle. Jien was born before…
Tokyo in a new daily high of Covid-19: Allowed to fester in sex areas and now spread Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once more many media outlets in Japan are over-stating falsehoods about the announcement of 366 new coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Tokyo. For it isn’t a shock because the coronavirus…
Japan Covid-19: Worrying signs in Aichi, Chiba, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Osaka, Saitama, and Tokyo Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The optimism of low new coronavirus (Covid19) cases between early May and the middle of June is now fading in Japan. Instead, major cities including Tokyo and Osaka have enabled the nightlife angle…
Tokyo Olympics and declining interest with two-thirds favoring no games next year Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times According to several polls, the gradual disinterest in the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics rescheduled for next year is increasing. Of course, the polls vary in size but all are showing an increasing lack of interest.…
Mali opposition says no to ECOWAS call for Unity Government Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Mali is fraying because of ethnic and religious massacres and an infrastructure that lacks cohesion. Thus a sense of foreboding and helplessness pervades throughout the country. Therefore, the June 5 Movement wants President…
Japan art and Buddhist Monks in the deep snow with a Shinto Shrine in the distance Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi utilizes the simplicity of an art piece by Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942). However, as usual, Utsumi provides her unique angle related to the backdrop of a Shinto…
Japan and its first wave of subsidies to help companies leave China: Covid-19 supply chain Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) economic convulsions will continue for a long-time to come. Of course, the size of the crisis depends on each individual nation. However, for Japan, it became apparent that…
International Covid-19 deaths reach 600,000: America, Brazil, India, Mexico, and the UK Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international death toll from coronavirus (Covid-19) will surpass 600,000 in the next twenty-four hours. Hence, the global economy and a return to normal remains distant even if some nations are in recovery mode.…
Tokyo in fresh high of new Covid-19 cases: All too predictable under Yuriko Koike! Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The new high of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Tokyo is all too predictable under the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. Hence, an increase prior to the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics…
New Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo raises deep concern Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another outbreak of Ebola in western parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo is setting off alarm bells. It is known that 53 confirmed cases have materialized. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) is…
Chinese art and Shen Quan: A brief period in Japan but a lasting legacy Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Edo Period (1603-1868) is known for keeping foreign people out and gradually closing the country. However, the past cultural bonds that shaped Japanese high culture preserved. Hence the small window of Nagasaki enabled a…
Tokyo Covid-19 alert increased to the highest level based on recent upturn Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis keeps on ebbing and flowing in Japan since the virus entered in the middle of January. Recently, after conditions got better in most of May and early June, the situation…
Okinawa already burdened by U.S. military bases now fears Covid-19 crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It is known that approximately 100 infections of coronavirus (Covid-19) have hit several military bases of the United States (U.S.) in Okinawa. This will increase internal discontent in Okinawa because this part of Japan is…
