Japan LDP leadership battle: Sanae Takaichi and nationalism Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The stepping down of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga means that an internal battle within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is ongoing. Several candidates are in the running. Therefore, the factional angle will come into play like usual. However,…
Torrential rain in Japan causing deaths from Nagasaki to Nagano Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The prefectures of Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Saga have especially been hit by long-lasting torrential rain. However, unlike yesterday, these four prefectures are now under an emergency “warning” rather than the “heavy rain emergency warning” that…
Japan in emergency rain warning covering Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Saga Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan issued an emergency rain warning to the prefectures of Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Saga. This comes at a time of daily high numbers for coronavirus (Covid-19) in Japan and during the heatstroke season. Therefore, many…
400 meter hurdles Olympic gold and World Record for Sydney McLaughlin Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The 400-meter hurdles for women looked mouth-watering beforehand concerning the recent performances of two Americans and one Dutch lady. Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin representing America are athletes of sublime class. This applies to records broken by…
Yui Ohashi wins a second Olympic gold for Japan in swimming Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times Yui Ohashi won her second swimming gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Unlike her first gold medal, this time she fought back bravely to win her second gold after coming from behind in a pulsating 200-meter…
Japan wins first-ever Table Tennis Olympic gold after beating China Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan won its first-ever table tennis gold medal at the Olympics after Jun Mizutani and Ito Mima beat Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen from China. The amazing mixed doubles final went all the way to the last…
Burkina Faso is a neglected crisis: Vast numbers need help Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The recent massacre of over 160 people in Burkina Faso by Sunni Islamists is a grim reminder of the daily suffering of so many people. Hence, the number of internally displaced refugees in Burkina Faso is…
Japan concerned by Vietnam news of new hybrid India and UK Covid-19 variant Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Japan is concerned by news emanating from Vietnam about a new hybrid variant of the coronavirus (Covid-19). According to the government of Vietnam, this concerns variants that were first acknowledged in India and the…
Flash floods kill many in Indonesia and Timor Leste Kanako Mita and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Flash flooding is known to have killed at least 50 people in Indonesia and Timor Leste (East Timor). The severity of the situation and threat to livestock means the final death toll is likely to be higher. Landslides,…
Tokyo tourism: Ryusenji (Meguro Fudo) Tendai Buddhist Temple Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tokyo is a mega-city known for being ultra-modern. However, among the hustle and bustle of life, the old world still ticks based on architecture, history, spirituality, and various cultural angles related to art, ceramics, and so much more.…
Tokyo tourism: Gotokuji Buddhist Temple, cats, and legend of Maneki Neko Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times If you feel like quiet spiritual contemplation and you have any type of connection with cats, then Gotokuji Buddhist Temple in Tokyo is a great place to visit. This concerns the historical importance of this Buddhist temple and compound…
Contemporary Japanese artist: Time reflected through art and culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In another stunning art piece by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, she focuses on a classic by Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829). However, in her reflection, the dynamics change in relation to the color scheme, meaning, and the bird is now…
Tokyo Covid-19 daily infections come down over the holiday period Sawako Uchida and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times Daily coronavirus (Covid-19) infections in Tokyo have come down in the last three days. Indeed, the 59 daily infections announced today are the lowest since late June. However, caution remains because of the extended holiday period of…
“Go To Travel to include Tokyo but Covid-19 concerns remain Sawako Utsumi and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The “Go To Travel” campaign will finally witness Tokyo joining the club in Japan. However, fears remain because the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Tokyo is ongoing. Indeed, in the last week – and with bars and other…
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan to resign Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is to announce his resignation later today because of ill health. Speculation had already emerged before his two recent visits to the hospital that he wasn’t well. Therefore, with past health issues leading to…
Japanese contemporary art and stunning trees Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi focuses on various art themes related to European and Japanese art. In this article, the focus is on five delightful trees that highlight the beauty of nature. Each setting is different and the same relates to the…
Japan Art and a radiant moon at nightfall in distant times Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Kamisaka Sekka (1866-1942) illuminated the world of Rinpa (Rimpa) art during a period of momentous changes in Japan. This relates to liberalism, nationalism, militarism, modernity, technology, and sweeping changes that altered the landscape. However, by focusing…
Japan art and the Reflection of Time: Hōitsu and the Persimmon Tree by Utsumi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In another stunning art piece by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, she focuses on a classic by Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829). However, in her reflection, the dynamics change in relation to the color scheme, meaning,…
President Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19: Brazil deaths reach 66,000 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil notified the public that he had tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19). Of all the political leaders in the world, he is the most outspoken against the potency of the coronavirus. Despite…
Japan needs pragmatism on Hong Kong issue: Geopolitics of Northeast Asia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan should focus on pragmatism and the geopolitical reality of Northeast Asia. Of course, the new Hong Kong security law is draconian. However, Japan must not be dragged into the…
Brazil reaches 50,000 Covid-19 deaths: Americas overview Sawako Utsumi and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) death toll in Brazil is now 50,608 and with few signs of abating. Confirmed cases have also surpassed one million. Hence, the coronavirus crisis is extremely potent in this country. Yet despite the severity of the crisis…
UNHCR requests support for the Sahel based on ethnic and religious violence Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The UNHCR is calling for international support to assist people fleeing ethnic, religious, and criminal violence. This notably applies to the central Sahel and Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Equally, concerns remain for Chad…
Hungary praises cooperation in Central Europe: Visegrad and reaching out Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Prime Minister of Hungary praised regional cooperation throughout Central Europe. At the same time, Viktor Orbán expressed his hope in furthering ties to a greater level with Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. Hungary is in the…
The UK reaches 40,000 official Coronavirus death: 48,000 on death certificates Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus official death toll is now 40,261 in the United Kingdom (UK). However, this shockingly high figure is still underestimated. After all, up until May 22, it is known that 48,106 people have Covid-19…
Kenyan police kill 26 in Covid-19 curfew but no international outcry Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Several nations have witnessed police killings over coronavirus (Covid-19) curfews in Africa. This notably applies to Kenya and Nigeria. However, unlike the wealthy nation of America, it appears that these lives don’t matter. Authorities in…
1.5 million Venezuelan refugees face severe hardship: Exacerbated by covid-19 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The economic situation under President Nicolás Maduro is a disaster for ordinary citizens. In recent years, millions of Venezuelans have fled the country because of extreme poverty, a crumbling health care system, unemployment, and an array…
Contemporary Japanese artist and the delightful Barnard Castle in a fresh light Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi fluctuates from Japanese related themes to landscapes, European art, and various religious angles. In her latest art piece titled the Artistic Light of the Ruins of Barnard Castle, she focuses on…
Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia to ease border restrictions: Covid-19 success Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The governments of Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia hope to ease border areas by the middle of June. This is based on containing the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis with respective success. Currently deaths per million are…
Nicaragua deaths from Covid-19: Burials at night and the fog of politics Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Nicaragua is extremely foggy based on the political angle. Thus, despite the death toll seeming low in Nicaragua, the fear persists that this isn’t the real picture. Officially, 17…
Indigenous fears of high Covid-19 deaths in border areas of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Fears are increasing in the tri-border area between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru that indigenous communities face a high death toll. This relates to the coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis. At the same time, the…
Japan lifts the state of emergency in 39 out of 47 prefectures on decreasing Covid-19 Sawako Utsumi and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announced the lifting of the state of emergency to the majority of the country. Hence, 39 out of 47 prefectures were lifted from the state of…
Japan to discuss extending the state of emergency: Tokyo infections are falling Kanako Itamae and Sawako Utsumi Modern Tokyo Times The state of emergency is officially scheduled to end on May 6, after the Golden Week period. Thus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold an important meeting about extending the current state of emergency. Signs…
