Southeast Asia: Crucible of Indigenous Survival Special Contribution: Gideon Sim The misleading portrayal of Southeast Asia as an oasis of economic growth and calm in global media belies the boiling over of ethnic tensions and discontent. From Mindanao where Philippine government forces extrajudicially kill indigenous Lumad and Moro minorities; to West Papua where the Indonesian…
Art of Japan and Ishizaki Kōyō: His early path was set Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Ishizaki Kōyō (1884-1947) hails from the prefecture of Toyama in Japan. He was the fifth born son of a merchant family. Therefore, from a very early age, his path was set and secure. Kōyō studied under…
Turkey increased military sales six-fold to Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Military sales by Turkey to Azerbaijan have increased six-fold this year. Alongside this, Turkey is utilizing international Islamist terrorists just like in Northern Syria and more recently Libya. Therefore, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – and Turkey’s historical animosity…
Japan protests after China patrol incursion: Early test for PM Suga Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan is facing his first geopolitical test after two Chinese patrol ships entered the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. This comes shortly after recent anti-China stances according to political elites…
Balkans / Europe / Geopolitics / Middle East / Military news / Religious persecution / Syria / Terrorism
Armenian losses mount in Nagorno-Karabakh: NATO Turkey, terrorism, and France Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Under President Erdogan of Turkey, this nation continues to meddle against the Arabic speaking and regional Christian world. It matters not if upsetting Gulf states by supporting Qatar and its role in backing the Muslim Brotherhood,…
2011 tsunami hit Minamisanriku to open a Memorial Park Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The tragedy of March 11, 2011, will never be forgotten because of the sheer brutality of the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011 Tohoku Earthquake). Indeed, the convulsions of the potency of the earthquake triggered the tsunami that…
Brutal rape and murder of a two-year-old girl in Pakistan Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to the charity Sahil in Pakistan, approximately 1,500 children have been raped in the first six months of this year. Hence, the latest murder and rape of a little girl aged two highlights a major…
Typhoon Chan-hom threatens to hit swathes of eastern and western Japan Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese Meteorological Agency is warning that Typhoon Chan-hom is approaching more outlying areas of Japan. This relates to eastern and western areas of Japan after passing through southern areas. At the moment, Typhoon Chan-hom is…
Art of Japan and time in a new light: Hōitsu and the Persimmon Tree by Utsumi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In these two adorable art pieces by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, a different slant to the original by Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) emerges. In her reflection, the color narrative takes center stage.…
Travel between Japan and South Korea to restart similar to Singapore Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nations of Japan and South Korea have announced the restart of travel between both nations. Hence, the business communities of both nations and other forms of travel will resume on Thursday this week. South…
Japan art and the Edo artist Katsukawa Shunshō Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Katsukawa Shunshō was blessed with an independent artistic spirit. Of course, he understood the commercial angle of ukiyo-e but Shunshō wasn’t afraid to go against the grain. Outside Japan, Shunshō isn’t particularly famous but he produced many stunning art pieces. Indeed,…
Fast-tracking of Avigan is on the books in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The fast-tracking of Avigan (favipiravir) in Japan for Coronavirus (Covid-19) appears to be on the books. This relates to the Japanese government seeking to approve Avigan for treatment in November. Avigan is used for influenza but the speed…
Covid-19 deaths and infections in China are estranged: Why mainly Hubei? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Over one million people are known to have died from coronavirus (Covid-19) internationally. However, the initial epicenter of Hubei province in China remains an enigma. Therefore, while Wuhan in Hubei is synonymous with the coronavirus,…
The Japan government to shoulder all Covid-19 vaccination costs Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan had its proposal by the Health Sciences Council approved. This relates to providing free coronavirus vaccinations (Covid-19) to all people who reside in Japan. Therefore, Japanese and foreign residents…
DRC and another sex scandal involving the WHO during the Ebola crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Various organizations within the United Nations (UN) – just like charities and humanitarian groups outside the UN – have been involved in countless sex scandals and the rape of children. Hence, even during the…
Prime Minister Suga showing early nationalist signs Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is showing early nationalist signs even if not overtly. Hence, it is striking that several members of his Cabinet and policies announced seem to have a nationalist slant. Of course, some of this is natural…
The poetry of bygone times in old Japan Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The highly esteemed poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro comes from old Japan. He is deemed to be one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals based on his prominence in volumes 1 and 2 of the highly acclaimed Man’yōshū. Therefore, this waka poet who belongs…
Art and poetry: The last throes before the ghost of time Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times A lifetime of friendship becomes distant. Moments of confusion grow from minutes to days. Loved ones often erased. The river once flowed and reached my heart. Now the flow is lost. Art hangs on many walls, like eyes…
One Million Covid-19 deaths and infections remain high Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The international coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis is now responsible for one million confirmed deaths. In truth, the real figure is likely much higher. Therefore, the return to normal is far away because deaths and infections blight countless nations. The one…
Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia needs to warn Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are nothing new in recent times. However, with Armenia announcing a general mobilization and imposing martial law, this time the situation appears more dangerous. Both nations have blamed…
PM Suga of Japan and President Xi of China talk by phone Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China held their first talks by phone since Suga became the new leader of Japan. Unsurprisingly, both leaders promised to foster closer relations…
North Korea apologizes to South Korea over the recent killing Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, made a rare apology to South Korea over the recent killing of a South Korean citizen. He made the apology to show his sincerity in what appears to be a…
Sanctions likely to be lifted in Mali once Interim President takes office Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appears to be winning trust regionally. Thus ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is showing signs of compromise. At first, ECOWAS had tried to…
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…
Trillions of dollars laundered by financial institutions: Drug cartels to terrorism Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Allegations are emerging over enormous money laundering scandals covering the period 1999-2017. More than likely, this is only the tip of a much bigger iceberg. However, once more, the image of banks and multinational financial…
Japanese art, the impact of Paris, and the shadow of war: Kanokogi Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The artist Takeshiro Kanokogi was born in the prefecture of Okayama. Luckily, for Kanokogi, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 opened up culture and society. Therefore, he had the opportunity to focus on different artistic themes and to…
Belarus crackdown prompts Hackers to release info of security forces Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Lukashenko of Belarus is using the state apparatus against opposition forces. This applies to mass arrests and other methods of coercion. At the same time, the Russian Federation is increasing its support of Lukashenko. However,…
Japan and diplomacy with China: Australia, India, Japan, and America to meet Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Miniter Yoshihide Suga is the new leader of Japan. Thus, the meeting between senior officials from America, Australia, India, and Japan in Tokyo early next month will be analyzed carefully. It is known…
“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…
A slight weekly increase in Covid-19 cases in Tokyo Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times In the last few weeks, the numbers of coronavirus (Covid-19) daily infections have come down in Tokyo from fresh highs in August. Yet, this week, a slight daily increase from the week before is creating concern. Hence, the…
Mozambique and useful humanitarians in the shadow of Islamists Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamists are involved in various conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and in other parts of the world including the Caucasus. Similarly, religious terrorist attacks in Europe belong to the same Takfiri mindset. However,…
Yoshihide Suga announced the official Prime Minister of Japan Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yoshihide Suga is the new prime minister of Japan after obtaining 314 votes in the Diet out of a possible 462. Of course, today was a formality because the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) opted for Suga on…
Japan reaches 80,000 centenarians but Covid-19 deaths are low unlike in Europe Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In parts of Europe, many elderly people died in care homes, nursing homes, and throughout society from the coronavirus (Covid-19). This notably applies to Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. However, Japan,…
Yoshihide Suga to become the next Prime Minister of Japan Kanako Mita and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times Yoshihide Suga, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, was elected the new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hence, it is a formality that he will become the new leader of Japan. The sudden resignation of Prime…
Ebola in the DRC threatens to spread to the Republic of Congo Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is threatening to spread to the Republic of Congo (ROC). This applies to the border areas of the Equateur province in the…
Japan art and Sakai Hōitsu: Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese artist Sakai Hōitsu (1761-1829) created a delightful triptych that is referred by the title Snow, the Moon, and Cherry Blossoms. Interestingly, Hōitsu completed the three motifs when he was 60 years old. The reason why this…
Iran hangs Navid Afkari who denied any wrongdoing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Iran ignored international appeals and instead hanged a young wrestler on flimsy charges. Navid Afkari, 27 years old, pleaded his innocence after being forced to confess earlier under torture. Of course, for Iran, irrespective if…
