A Japanese artist who bridged the pre-Edo and start of the Edo Period Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Kano Sanraku (1559-1635) witnessed the power processes of the centralization of Japan that ultimately led to the unification of this nation under the Tokugawa Period of 1603-1868. Naturally, the art world of Japan…
Is Avast taking the lead in safeguarding crypto-wallets? Horace C. White Modern Tokyo Times Within One Year, Avast Safeguarded Over 253,000 Cryptowallets For many crypto-asset investors out there, seeing their digital currencies in tact is all that matters. Indeed, they tend to pay less attention to who does what to shield their coins from unscrupulous…
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…
Typhoon Faxai hits Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Tokyo, and the surrounding region Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Typhoon Faxai hit vast swathes of Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Tokyo, and other parts of the Kanto region in Japan. It appears that Tokyo escaped the worse of the typhoon despite major cancellations of the transport system,…
President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation says, “G7 is no good without India and China.” Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation seeks a genuine multipolar world that takes away the centrism of America, along with the supporting role of fellow nations belonging to the…
Japanese Poetry interwoved in the principles of Buddhism and Confucianism Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The early life of Yamanoue no Okura (660-733?) remains shrouded in mystery. Hence, speculation of his birth, be it Paekche in Korea or in Japan is open to debate. Irrespective of this, it is clear that Okura served Japan…
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…
Cyberattacks and NotPetya ransomware Horace C. White Modern Tokyo Times Mondelez vs. Zurich case turn the spotlight on insurance companies Much as the widely reported NotPetya malware attacks are gradually disappearing from the headlines, its aftermath still holds sway. Apparently, the Mondelez vs. Zurich Case has become a constant reminder that several companies are still…
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,…
Over 60 killed by ISIS in Sunni Islamist attack targeting the Shia in Afghanistan Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Once more the hand of Sunni Islamism struck against innocent Shia Muslims who are deemed “infidels” and worthy of butchering in Afghanistan. Of course, for the Shia, such brutality is often…
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 Buddhist poet of bygone times: Buddha, the way of Shintoism, and culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Buddhist poet Saigyō Hōshi (birth name Satō Norikiyo) was born in 1118 and passed away in 1190. He was a man of passion, virtue, contemplation, and a soul that wandered places of religious importance.…
Hong Kong demonstrators need to avoid playing into the hands of China Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The centralized Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is worried about losing power concentration over Hong Kong. Equally, statements emanating out of America and the United Kingdom are angering China. This notably applies to Nancy Pelosi…
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…
At least 42 die in Libya after airstrike hits many civilians attending a wedding ceremony Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another fresh massacre occurred in Libya after at least 42 civilians attending a wedding were killed in the South-Western part of this nation. The airstrike (drone strike) was committed by forces…
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…
PM Dmitry Medvedev of Russia rebukes Japan over his visit to the Kuril Islands (Northern Territories) Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, sharply rebuffed negative comments emanating from political elites in Japan. After all, in the eyes of Medvedev, how can he be…
Japan tourism and the Shokozan Tokei-ji Buddhist Temple in Kamakura Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Kamakura is famous for many adorable Buddhist temples and other important historical realities based on the past importance of this amazing part of Japan. The beauty of Kamakura – for Tokyoites and tourists alike – is…
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,…
At least 23 perish after a brutal attack against a Kyoto Animation (KyoAni) studio in Japan Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Latest reports about the brutal attack against a Kyoto Animation studio indicate that at least 23 innocent people have been brutally killed by one individual. The animation studio, KyoAni, was…
Buddhism and Japan Art: The influence of the Middle Kingdom Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Zen Buddhist priest Mokuan Reien was born in the thirteenth century in the land of the rising sun. Like many Japanese Buddhist holy men – artists and people of culture – the Middle Kingdom (China) was the…
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 Zen Buddhist poetry by Sesson Yūbai and the impact of the Middle Kingdom (China) Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The notable Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, Sesson Yūbai (1290-1346?), witnessed the richness of culture during his stay in the Middle Kingdom (China) and the darkness of the ruling elites who imprisoned him. Hence, his…
Heavy rainfall in Japan is lashing down on Kyushu Kanako Itamae and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Heavy rainfall is continuing to lash it down in two prefectures in the Kyushu region of Japan. Hence, more than one million people have been told to evacuate in parts of Kagoshima and Miyazaki because of serious worries…
New mass protests in Sudan is met by violence from the military Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Mass demonstrations have once more broken out in Khartoum and in other parts of Sudan despite the threat of death. Indeed, the latest demonstrations show that people will not be crushed despite the horrendous…
US and North Korea relationship is given a positive jolt after Trump meets Kim in North Korea Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Donald Trump of America broke unprecedented ground by meeting the leader of North Korea inside this secretive nation. Kim Jong-un, looking more relaxed than in past encounters with…
The tyranny of the state apparatus in Iran that crushes dissent and freedom Murad Makhmudov, Chika Mori, and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Iran continues to use the state apparatus in order to crush countless demonstrations that break out from time to time – or individuals who question the validity of theocratic oppression. Hence,…
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,…
Skynet surveillance system in China: Friend or foe? Horace C. White Modern Tokyo Times China’s Skynet places all of its citizens under surveillance In an effort to build a perfectly controlled society, China has developed a surveillance system that will monitor everyone living in the country. According to the Chinese authorities, Skynet surveillance system will…
Changing dynamics of Japanese art during the Meiji era Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Utagawa Sadahide (Gountei Sadahide) witnessed the first years of modernization in Japan that emerged after the 1868 Meiji Restoration. Yet, prior to this dramatic period in Japanese history, the artist Sadahide depicted aspects of Western encroachment. Indeed, while many spectrums…
Samurai Tadamori (1096-1153) in Japanese art and folklore Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Taira no Tadamori (1096-1153) was a famous and notable samurai who was loyal to the Taira clan. In Japanese art and folklore, he is depicted favorably based on his many attributes that were so important in this period of Japanese history.…
