Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The trial of Ratko Mladic will be sweet music to the American agenda, the “Muslim victim card,” to cover-up the international terrorist ratlines which allowed terrorists to enter Bosnia, to cover-up the role of the Bosnian Muslim leadership in allowing Srebrenica to happen; and so forth. Therefore, the trial of Ratko Mladic is aimed at shaming the Bosnian Serbs and to pin all the blame on one side. Irrespective of the guilt of this individual this distortion is beyond what is reasonable because it is based on covering-up the real events of what happened. Indeed, the BBC today, like other major agencies, will mention the slaughter of 7,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica but ignore the 3,500 Orthodox Christians who were slaughtered by Muslim forces before this event took place. These massacres apply to killing Orthodox Christians in and around Srebrenica, irrespective if they were little girls to old and elderly people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIrjffmjQg0  Four part series: with quotes and interviews with important Bosnian Muslims individuals in power and who were based in Srebrenica.

It is this usual “good” versus “evil” whereby the mass simplicity of many media outlets not only shames the international media, but it makes you doubt everything that you read. For example, when terrorists in Iraq strike, the BBC states clearly that terrorists have struck. However, when terrorists strike in Syria then the BBC casually hints that “the opposition claims that it is the responsibility of the Syrian army.” Of course, such manipulation of language is part of the problem and the simplicity of outsiders who ignore whole histories and why such hatred exists, is just thrown away. The same also applies to the real motives behind the conflict in the first place.

Indeed, it is “pure colonialism” whereby the histories of the “hated” are belittled and the past is re-written by individuals with an agenda which is far from liberal. Therefore, all history must be forgotten in order to dehumanize the Serbs and the same applies to massacres committed against the Serbian people.

Before, focusing on Srebrenica, Ratko Mladic, and historical realities, some clarity must be given. All sides in the Bosnian conflict committed atrocities irrespective of religion or in the name of different ethnic nationalist movements. Therefore, many Catholics were massacred, many Muslims were massacred, many Orthodox Christians were massacred and you also had internal Muslim massacres which emanated around the border zones of Bosnia and Croatia.

Also, without a shadow of a doubt and despite the complex nature of Srebrenica and the final events which took place; it is clear that thousands of Muslims were killed by Bosnian Serbs who desired revenge. This fact can’t be glossed over no more than can the massacres against the Orthodox Christians of Srebrenica and the surrounding region by Bosnian Muslim forces. Either side, or international media outlets which desire to gloss over this reality and distort to the point of propaganda, merely shame the victims and themselves for spreading hatred.

Is this new, sadly not because all civil wars are brutal and massacres will take place on all sides. During World War Two the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on the civilians of Japan and did horrendous carpet bombing. The British likewise did carpet bombing against Germany. Similarly, Japanese and German forces massacred many civilians. War crimes of course depend on the writ of the victors. Therefore, the slaughter of killing hundreds of thousands of civilians in Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and the carpet bombing of Tokyo is deemed to be “humanity.” After all, did the individuals who ordered Nagasaki, Hiroshima, and the carpet bombing of Tokyo, face war crimes?

Srebrenica and quotes from powerful individuals

The UNPROFOR commander, French General Philippe Morillon, recounts that “the Serbs took me to a village to show me the evacuation of the bodies of the inhabitants that had been thrown into a hole, a village close to Bratunac. And this made me understand the degree to which this infernal situation of blood and vengeance [...] led to a situation when I personally feared that the worst would happen if the Serbs of Bosnia managed to enter the enclaves and Srebrenica.”

“I feared that the Serbs, the local Serbs, the Serbs of Bratunac, these militiamen, they wanted to take their revenge for everything that they attributed to Naser Oric. It wasn’t just Naser Oric that they wanted to revenge, take their revenge on; they wanted to revenge their dead on Orthodox Christmas.”

On February 12, 2004, Philippe Morillon testified at The Hague Tribunal that Bosnian Muslim forces under Naser Oric “engaged in attacks during Orthodox (Christian) holidays and destroyed villages, massacring all the inhabitants. This created a degree of hatred that was quite extraordinary in the region.”

Indeed, it is reported that approximately 3,500 Orthodox Christians in and around Srebrenica had been killed by Muslim forces during the brutal conflict. This applies to beheadings, individuals being burnt alive, and other ghastly and brutal torture methods. Therefore, the 5,500 plus Muslim fighting unit under Naser Oric was famous for its brutality and clearly the hatred on both sides in this part of Bosnia was unique. After all, Muslim forces loyal to Fikret Abdic had been allies of the Serbs on the border areas of Bosnia and Croatia in the western area. These Muslim forces fought against Alija Izetbegovic because they didn’t follow his Islamic aspirations.

Srdja Trifkovic who is an historian comments that “It is often pointed out that Srebrenica was an UN “protected zone,” but it is seldom noted that the enclave was simultaneously an armed camp used for attacks against Serb villages in the surrounding areas. Muslim General Sefer Halilovic confirmed in his testimony at the Hague Tribunal that there were at least 5,500 Bosnian Army soldiers in Srebrenica after it had obtained the “safe haven” status, and that he had personally arranged numerous deliveries of sophisticated weapons by helicopter.”

The importance of the above quote is that the Muslim General Sefer Halilovic acknowledges the sizeable Bosnian Muslim armed forces in Srebrenica and that sophisticated weapons were delivered. This was a strange “protected zone” which not only allowed the Bosnian Muslim units to slaughter Serbians in surrounding areas but it also enabled re-militarization. Of course, the same process is now happening in Syria whereby the opposition obtains more external military support, while at the same time the central government is lambasted for being militarist. It is not only blatant double standards but it is the direct covert participation of outside forces, who then manipulate the media in order to distort the “real picture” on the ground.

Srdja Trifkovic also comments that “During the Bosnian war between May 1992 and July 1995, several thousand Muslim men lost their lives in Srebrenica and its surroundings. Most of them died in July of 1995 when the enclave fell unexpectedly to the Bosnian Serb Army and the Muslim garrison attempted a breakthrough. Some escaped to the Muslim-held town of Tuzla, 38 miles to the north. Many were killed while fighting their way through; and many others were taken prisoner and executed by the Bosnian Serb army.”

Philippe Morillon further testified that the crimes committed by Bosnian Muslim forces were “extraordinary” and made the Serbs’ desire for revenge to be“inevitable.” This does not justify the events that took place once Bosnian Serbian units took control of Srebrenica because like Srdja Trifkovic comments “Many were killed while fighting their way through; and many others were taken prisoner and executed by the Bosnian Serb army.”

However, the media neglect of the massacres against Orthodox Christians in and around Srebrenica – and such leniency taken against Bosnian Muslim individuals who committed such crimes – not only leaves a sour taste – it is a falsification of history and covers up many untold stories which helps to dehumanize the Serbians. It also negates to share responsibility where it belongs – this applies to all parties who committed massacres. This also includes the United States and CIA which conveniently “overlooked” 8,000 of the most brutal and fanatical Islamists to enter Bosnia on false passports in order to slit the throats of Orthodox Christians.

Major-General (Ret) Lewis Mackenzie who is a retired Canadian general also raises serious doubts about so-called “good” and “evil.” In his article called “The real story behind Srebrenica.  The massacre in the UN ‘safe haven’ was not a black and white event,” which was published in The Globe and Mail (July 14, 2005), he clearly highlights neglected facts behind the “real” Srebrenica.

Lewis MacKenzie comments that “As the Bosnian Muslim fighters became better equipped and trained, they started to venture outside Srebrenica, burning Serb villages and killing their occupants before quickly withdrawing to the security provided by the UN’s safe haven. These attacks reached a crescendo in 1994 and carried on into early 1995 after the Canadian infantry company that had been there for a year was replaced by a larger Dutch contingent.”

“The Bosnian Serbs might have had the heaviest weapons, but the Bosnian Muslims matched them in infantry skills that were much in demand in the rugged terrain around Srebrenica. As the snow cleared in the spring of 1995, it became obvious to Nasar Oric, the man who led the Bosnian Muslim fighters that the Bosnian Serb army was going to attack Srebrenica to stop him from attacking Serb villages. So he and a large number of his fighters slipped out of town. Srebrenica was left undefended with the strategic thought that, if the Serbs attacked an undefended town, surely that would cause NATO and the UN to agree that NATO air strikes against the Serbs were justified. And so the Bosnian Serb army strolled into Srebrenica without opposition.”

General Morillon comments bluntly about the Muslim warlord called Naser Oric because he states that “Naser Oric was a warlord who reigned by terror in his area and over the population itself. I think that he realized that these were the rules of this horrific war, that he could not allow himself to take prisoners. According to my recollection, he didn’t even look for an excuse. It was simply a statement: One can’t be bothered with prisoners.”

The brutal civil wars throughout the former Yugoslavia led to the ethnic cleansing of Serbians in Krajina. However, not only was nothing done about this, the Croatian forces who did this had been backed by America and other nations during the conflict. Indeed, all sides, irrespective of religion or ethnicity had used similar methodologies in their areas of power. Also, the ghosts of past Muslim SS Units who supported Nazi Germany alongside Croatian fascists, was still etched into the memory because the events of World War Two were never reconciled under communist rule after the war. Therefore, with this, and the Ottoman Muslim past of enslaving young Orthodox Christian boys and then converting them to Islam – then the fear was not based on myths or on distant memories. On the contrary, the divisions within the former Yugoslavia were witnessed by the surviving elderly generation on all sides whereby histories meant different things.

Lord Owen supports the comments of General Morillon because on page 143 of his book, Balkan Odyssey, the respected Lord Owen comments that “On 16 April I spoke on the telephone to President Milosevic about my anxiety that, despite repeated assurances from Dr. Karadzic that he had no intention of taking Srebrenica, the Bosnian Serb army was now proceeding to do just that. The pocket was greatly reduced in size. I had rarely heard Milosevic so exasperated, but also so worried: he feared that if the Bosnian Serb troops entered Srebrenica there would be a bloodbath because of the tremendous bad blood that existed between the two armies. The Bosnian Serbs held the young Muslim commander in Srebrenica, Naser Oric, responsible for a massacre near Bratunac in December 1992 in which many Serb civilians had been killed. Milosevic believed it would be a great mistake for the Bosnian Serbs to take Srebrenica and promised to tell Karadzic so.”

Lewis MacKenzie states that “two wrongs never made a right, but those moments in history that shame us all because of our indifference should not be viewed in isolation without the context that created them.”

Many Bosnian Muslim figures also point the finger at Alija Izetbegovic because clearly the power of the Bosnian Serbs in this period was much reduced after the arming of both the Bosnian Muslim forces and military of Croatia. Indeed, how is that Alija Izetbegovic sent Bosnian Muslim forces to crush Muslims loyal to Fikret Abdic in the west – yet, he did nothing apart from notify the Bosnian Muslim military leaders in Srebrenica to abandon this area before Bosnian Serbs entered?

By glossing over the massacres of 3,500 Orthodox Christians in and around Srebrenica; the role of the United States in turning a blind eye to 8,000 international Islamists (some members who did September 11 had learnt much in Bosnia); the actions of the Bosnian Muslim leader, Alija Izetbegovic, in abandoning the Muslim enclave; and other important factors. It entails that Srebrenica is being manipulated for all the wrong reasons and that the dehumanization of the Serbians is a convenient way for Western powers to gloss over the reality on the ground. It also suits the Bosnian Muslim leadership which abandoned the enclave despite fighting against fellow Muslims in the west.

In a past article by one of the writers of this article, it was stated that “… it is clear that “the real Srebrenica” is not being told and the same applies to the “hidden Islamic jihad” which took place during the civil war and how ex-President Bill Clinton gave the green light to Islamists from all over the world to enter Bosnia.”

“Srebrenica should be remembered but it should be remembered in its duality and this applies to thousands of innocent Orthodox Christians and Muslims who were killed by both sides.  It also should be remembered that Bosnian Muslim forces had slaughtered thousands of Christians first in the surrounding region of Srebrenica and that the “safe haven” was abused. Military generals from the international community who were in Bosnia state this clearly, and Morillon testified in court.”

The over simplification of major media outlets shames the mass media in general because the same cover up and lack of basic facts, are still being told by major international media agencies. Indeed, the coverage and headlines in some media outlets is bordering on anti-Serbian racism. Also, to gloss over the events of what happened prior to the Bosnian Serbs entering Srebrenica is not merely shoddy journalism, it is open manipulation and propaganda.

If healing is to take place in Bosnia between the various communities which share two entities, then all sides must acknowledge that massacres took place within each community. The alternative is that “hatred” will be manipulated by extremist Bosnian Muslims and likewise, extremists in the Bosnian Serbian community will manipulate the open bias towards them. Tens of thousands of individuals were killed on all sides and if the next generation is to rebuild then it can only rebuild under a fair and honest approach.

Ratko Mladic may or may not be a war criminal depending on different opinions; however, if he is a war criminal then where are the Bosnian Muslim war criminals? For that matter, where are the American war criminals which dropped Agent Orange over Vietnam and so forth? This is the problem because leading powers can bomb nations in distant lands because nothing ever happens. After all, they control all the power mechanisms. Therefore, one hundred thousand Iraqis are allowed to be killed because of failed policies because leading nations will not be held accountable.

Also, from the point of view of Ratko Mladic, if 3,500 Orthodox Christians were killed despite Bosnian Serbian units trying to contain the Bosnian Muslim units; then how many Orthodox Christians would have been slaughtered by Naser Oric and Muslim units if the Bosnian Serbian units had not been able to contain the Muslim forces to a certain degree?

Given the statement by General Morillon that Naser Oric had commented that “One can’t be bothered with prisoners” and then times this by the massacres that units did under him; then clearly Ratko Mladic is viewed differently by segments of the Bosnian Serbian community who were protected by units under him. After all, if Naser Oric and Bosnian Muslim units had been able to kill thousands of Bosnian Serbs despite the armed forces of the Bosnian Serbs in eastern Bosnia.  Then it is clear that units under him would have killed untold numbers if they had been given a free reign and this applies to beheadings and burning people alive.

It is clear that hatred in this part of Bosnia was unsurpassed compared with other areas and this is based on the brutality of both sides. Also, Bosnian Muslim leaders point the finger at the Bosnian Muslim leadership in Sarajevo which abandoned the Muslim enclave.  It is clear that many events are extremely murky and have been covered up in order to suit several important agendas.

Professor Muhamed Filipovic, Bosnian ambassador to the United Kingdom (1994-96), commented that Alija Izetbegovic had given the Bosnian Serbs the green light to enter Srebrenica. He states that “Serbians are going to be allowed to enter Srebrenica” before they did without any Muslim units fighting. This was ordered by Alija Izetbegovic because of an agreement with the Bosnian Serbs.

Hakija Meholjic, former Srebrenica police chief, states that “We saw the treachery. Both by Alija Izetbegovic and by the international community – There are just good and bad people in every nation. Alija was a bad man.”

It is therefore essential that all areas surrounding the reality of what happened in and around Srebrenica is debated openly, irrespective of the “bad light” that may ensue on both the Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Serbian leadership. It is known that thousands of innocent Muslims and Orthodox Christians were killed by both sides. Also, senior figures within the Bosnian Muslim leadership in authority, and within Srebrenica, make it clear that Alija Izetbegovic sacrificed Srebrenica. He also did this despite knowing the brutal reality of what Bosnian Muslim forces had done prior to the Bosnian Serbs entering.

The ongoing war crime of Ratko Mladic won’t address these important areas and instead “a whitewash” awaits the final verdict. Therefore, the role of major media institutions in ignoring the enormous complexity of Srebrenica is nullifying the real issues of what happened, both prior, during, and after the Bosnian Serb units entered Srebrenica.

This means that the open manipulation of events suits both the Bosnian Muslim government and Western powers which played “a dirty game” during a brutal civil war. Irrespective of the final verdict against Ratko Mladic, it is clear that he is “a scapegoat” in many areas even if he was responsible for war crimes which led to the deaths of many Muslims.

PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO LINKS BELOW – MADE IN NORWAY AND WITH QUOTES FROM BOSNIAN MUSLIMS WHO ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIrjffmjQg0 Part 1 (please note starts after 30 seconds)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ac24F0opI Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnTpjYSPfI Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIX_nJE-IoE Part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJrNeZgnj7Y  Sky News – Hidden Islamists of Bosnia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lSRFC-jVPw　 (Islamists in Bosnia because of USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Islamist Alija Izetbegovic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03DQJ7skClg&feature=related　 (Islamists in Bosnia because of USA, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Islamist Alija Izetbegovic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyl5wxJPIQs　 (Muslim massacres of Christians)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/rival-muslims-battle-on-in-bihac-1422695.html　  (Inter Muslim fighting – Serbs supported moderate Muslims)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onbxpq3qI0c  (Henry Kissinger)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1w4p1J9fyg&NR=1 (Henry Kissinger)

http://moderntokyotimes.com　

Joachim de Villiers and Walter Sebastian

Modern Tokyo Times

The political stalemate in Greece means that a new election will take place and clearly the leader of the Syriza bloc, Alexis Tsipras, believes that the momentum is with him. This can be seen by his handling of the crisis because at all times he made it abundantly clear that he would not do any deals with any pro-bailout political parties. Therefore, despite not being the largest party in terms of seats won during the first election, it is clear that he believes that the Syriza bloc will make great strides during the next election, which will take place the following month.

President Karolos Papoulias had hoped to solve the political crisis in order to prevent a second election. However, political bickering and major divisions meant that it was impossible. The outcome of all this is another election and further political and economic uncertainty.

Yet, Alexis Tsipras firmly believes that an opportunity is opening-up for the left-wing Syriza bloc. Therefore, once the first election became a political stalemate and all the main political parties failed to form a coalition government.  Alexis Tsipras went on the attack and made it abundantly clear that not only would he shun pro-bailout political parties, but he also would attack outside meddling whom he believes are making the crisis even worse.

Therefore, Alexis Tsipras rebuked the European Union (EU) and Germany strongly for playing with the future of Greece. Similarly, he is against the austerity policies of the above because he believes that this will create more hopelessness and alienation. It is a message which is being received by individuals from all political persuasions. Despite this, it is way too early to know if this will lead to a major upturn in votes for the Syriza bloc during the next election, even if it appears most likely that they will increase their share of the vote.

Alexis Tsipras commented that Angela Merkel and the EU is “playing poker with European people’s lives.”  This is based on the strict austerity policies being espoused by the German Chancellor and the EU. In other nations like Spain with enormous unemployment and the newly elected leader of France, the logic of Alexis Tsipras will make sense. Yet, Merkel and the EU are adamant that Greece abides by its agreements in order to remain within the eurozone.

According to Alexis Tsipras the country of Greece is in the frontline in protecting the future of Europe. He states that if the “disease of austerity destroys Greece, it will spread to the rest of Europe.” However, for some European political leaders, notably the leader of Germany, it is individuals like him which threaten the power of the EU by not abiding by agreements which have been signed.

Alexis Tsipras also commented that “…the European leadership and especially Mrs Merkel need to stop playing poker with the lives of people.” However, to others who don’t share the same logic it is Alexis Tsipras who is “playing poker.” In a sense, this is the problem because the gap between supporters of the bailout and anti-bailout is enormous.  On top of this, no single political party is currently strong enough to break the impasse.

Michalis Argyrou, an economist, comments that “The leftist party’s economic program envisages new public sector jobs, nationalization, and all sorts of things – but no reforms…….These politicians, of all people, who see themselves as young and dynamic, are unable to come up with any alternatives and are promising their followers ideal conditions that are simply impossible.”

Therefore, with opinion so divided it waits to be seen if the second election will provide a political mandate for any individual party.

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Katsushika Hokusai is internationally famous because of the many adorable pieces of art that he produced. However, Hokusai also produced art which was extremely erotic because shunga (erotic art) was very popular, despite political constraints during periods of the Edo era. Yet, the art piece called The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife enters a realm beyond the boundaries of notable erotic art because of what it depicts.

Despite this, you have various opinions about the real meaning of The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife and it is important to grasp the bigger picture. Also, the ukiyo-e art form called shunga may appear strong for the universal time period but this is also complex. After all, different cultures will view certain areas much more different and morality is vague at best and at worse can merely mean censorship.

For example, in modern day Saudi Arabia a woman may be whipped if she shows part of her body despite being conservatively dressed from the point of view of other societies. At the same time, in Saudi Arabia old men of 40, 50, 60, and older, are allowed to marry young girls who are 8 years of age or a little older. This appears to be a clear contradiction but is sanctioned under Islamic Sharia law. Therefore, ethics, morals, virtue, and so forth, depends greatly on the norms of society and how individuals themselves view morality.

Also, for some individuals morality itself is a false concept therefore viewing The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife and understanding the real meaning of shunga is extremely complex. This applies within the context of Japanese culture and from the point of view of non-Japanese individuals, who may not fully understand the cultural norms of the day. It also applies to individuals in all societies whereby different thought patterns exist.

Hokusai’s thinking is complex and applies to a different era. However, art meant the world to him and he was clearly a very gifted individual. Indeed, shortly before he died Hokusai stated “If only Heaven will give me just another ten years…Just another five more years, then I could become a real painter.”

However, Hokusai was not only “a real painter,” he was a true great who inspired countless of artists in not only Japan but also internationally once his art became known outside of Japan. Ironically, the “real Hokusai” is less known to lay people who don’t fully know about his shunga art. Therefore, the image of Hokusai is often associated with classics like The Great Wave off Kanagawa, Fuji in Clear Weather, and other amazing pieces of art which belong to the set called the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

Re-focusing on The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife then clearly this image is beyond erotica because it depicts the power of female joy and sexuality. This applies to the lady in this art piece enjoying the sexual prowess of a fully grown octopus and a young octopus, which is learning and venturing into a new bliss. However, what is the real meaning behind the image?

In an earlier article I comment that “The image shows a lady who was deemed to be a shell diver (ama) with her legs wide apart while the fully grown octopus performs cunnilingus.  She is fully naked and her breasts and hairy pussy are visible and her body is clearly welcoming both the fully grown octopus and the small and younger octopus.”

“The eyes of the fully grown octopus are really striking because while performing cunnilingus on the lady it is clear that the eyes are fully focused on her face and pleasure and satisfaction belong to both.”

According to the story the small octopus is the son. Therefore, this enters another sexual dimension which is beyond erotica. After all, it is clear that the lady isn’t scared or in shock. On the contrary, she appears to be in sexual bliss and enjoying great pleasure from both.

Therefore, The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife is depicting an image whereby humanity and the animal world is in union. It doesn’t depict chaos, anger, hatred, fear, or confusion. This way of thinking could be deemed to represent aspects of Shintoism without the sexual imagery. After all, in the Shinto faith humanity and nature belong together and within unison. Given this, it could be that the image merely represents the natural beauty of humanity and nature, and that sexuality is nothing more than a diversion from the real meaning?

Danielle Talerico, a scholar, aims to put the image into an historical context related to the story of Princess Tamatori. However, in the story of Princess Tamatori the sea creatures are chasing her and in the end she dies from her wounds. In fairness to Danielle Talerico it is clear that Hokusai does state above the image that the octopus will take her to Ryujin’s undersea place of abode. Despite this, was Hokusai’s depiction in the original story?

This is doubtful and it appears that Hokusai is playing on the Princess Tamatori story in order to bypass any political constraints and because of other factors known only to Hokusai. Also, it is clear that Hokusai adored nature and the mystical power of Shintoism, which re-shaped the various sects of Buddhism in Japan. Both faiths were extremely powerful in his lifetime. In this sense, the sexual imagery may not be seen by Hokusai at all – however, this can’t be verified either way and this is speculation on my part.

Of course, the answer behind the reason may be extremely mundane. This applies to the economic factor because shunga was popular during his lifetime. Therefore, maybe the image is only about making money and is based on market forces?

In another article I stated that “Artists in Japan before Hokusai and after Hokusai have shown sexual scenes between females and cephalopods and within the lifetime of Hokusai another artist, Yanagawa Shigenobu, also created an image whereby a lady is being seduced and pleasured by an octopus.”

Alternatively, it may have been about market forces but Hokusai may have had a different agenda and this is plausible. It could be that Hokusai desired to make money from his work which he knew would be viewed to be shunga. However, within himself he was showing the unity of humanity and nature which always remained powerful to Hokusai. This is speculation, just like others who speculate, but the pure bliss of the experience leads many individuals to believe that the real meaning was much more powerful.

What do you think?

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Dragos Bratasanu, Lightman Consulting

Modern Tokyo Times

10 Strategic Paradigms for Advanced Corporate Efficiency and Success Intelligence (Part 2)

Part 2: On any given project, what gives you more problems, people or technology?

Is it possible to enhance (www.lightman-consulting.com) performance of a corporation, to increase profits, to skyrocket the sales, and in the same time remain in balance and keep a positive perspective? A large number of corporations believe this is a myth but recent studies show that actually the one cannot go without the other. You can achieve excellence in business as a leader, as a manager or entrepreneur by following one important rule: treat others, as you want to be treated by them. Especially, treat your employees, as you would want your supervisors to treat you. Napoleon Hill in his classic book “How To Sell Your Way Through Life” called it The Golden Rule. According to Hill, it is the only rule that can save companies, governmental organizations and even countries from collapse once they go down this path. It is very important to remember that Napoleon Hill wrote this principle after the economic crisis that hit America in the 1930s and it remained valid until this day, when history seems to be teaching us another powerful lesson.

“Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me, aiming their efforts at a certain goal” – Walt Disney

All business leaders openly recognize the importance of managing people within their organization but few go the extra mile of really understanding the psychological needs of their employees. Financial compensations are a good motivator to attract a person in your company, but are not enough to keep good people stay. Corporations today prefer to invest more into building hard skills, technical knowledge, project management skills rather than in what has become known today as soft-skills, leadership wisdom, proficient communication and team building. Unfortunately, failure to recognize the importance of soft skills leads to severe problems in the organization, high financial losses and devastating effects on personal health and relationships.

Let’s look over a few examples of how important it is for a business to balance the mind intelligence (IQ) with the emotional intelligence (EQ), to find the equilibrium between hard skills and soft skills and what are the consequences that follow when companies and organizations do not find this balance. These examples have been described in detail in Charlie Pellerin’s book, “How NASA Builds Teams”, a masterpiece of leadership wisdom and potential for corporations that want to thrive in the years to come. Dr. Pellerin, former Director of Astrophysics at NASA developed a successful system for measuring and enhancing the performance of teams by improving context management.

1.   During the period 1988-1998, a commercial Asian airliner had a crash rate of 17 times higher than the industry average. Investigators discovered that the root cause was the transference of the social hierarchy to the cockpit. The captain’s social status was so high in the minds of the co-pilots that nobody was able to communicate with him and the captain literally flew the plane by himself. No amount of individual training in flying skills would have helped. Now the company is safe because the relationships and the social environment have changed and there are two or three pilots with equal decision power. A typical plane crash involves seven consecutive human errors and these are rarely errors of knowledge of flying skills. These are errors of teamwork and communication.

2.   In 1986, NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger exploded immediately after launch, taking the lives of seven astronauts right under the eyes of their families and friends. Authorities investigated the technical causes of this tragedy and the conclusions were startling. Stephen Johnson from NASA wrote in 2008: “Frequently we find that failure effects and proximate causes are technical, but the root causes are social and psychological. My sense from experience is that 80-95% of failures are ultimately due to human error and miscommunication”

“Teams do not go physically flat, they go mentally stale” – Vince Lombardi (1913-1970), football coach for the NFL

Remember that the people involved in this project were world-renowned experts, Nobel Prize winners, very smart and talented engineers. They knew how to build a spacecraft, how to send it into orbit and bring it back safely. They’ve done it before. However, the pressures from management, and the leadership styles were so psychologically violent that engineers and scientists decided to launch the spacecraft anyway, although these technical problems were known in advance.

3. The Hubble Telescope is a masterpiece of technology and innovation. This 1.7$ billion satellite was built to take images of universe’s distant objects. After many years of design and engineering, the satellite was sent into orbit with a flawed mirror – an error that could have been committed only by an amateur with no experience. Extended investigations revealed that NASA’s management of its contractor had been so hostile that they would not report technical problems. They were simply worn out due to frustration, anger, threats and beatings.

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision…The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” – Andrew Carnegie

Deficient leadership skills, combined with deficient communication and ineffectual emotional management leads to important losses. As Dr. John Mather, NASA Scientist and Project Manager said, “Half of the cost of a project is socially determined”.

If these tragedies happen in the most brilliant teams of scientists and engineers in the world, may we imagine how much money, how many projects are lost by corporations due to emotional and psychological factors without even knowing it? The good news is that we now have the tools available to recognize, understand and bring creative solutions to these problems.

Today’s business environments around the world are encountering new problems that can be successfully solved only by using a new way of thinking, a totally unique intelligence. According to Ikujiro Nonaka, Professor Emeritus at Hitotsubashi University of Tokyo and Hirotaka Takeuchi, Professor at Harvard Business School, the corporations in the western culture operate on the philosophy that if a theory is not working, then something must be wrong with reality.

TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More – Unknown

Leaders that will thrive in the near future in our high-tech, fast-paced world will have to reach higher levels of understanding, communication and interpersonal reasoning. The corporations of the future will have to balance hard skills and soft skills, to balance the intelligence of the mind with the intelligence of the heart in order to be successful. Our current and future challenges require the discovery and application of new inner assets that will help leaders develop reliable, sustainable and balanced decisions and actions. As we will learn to develop the intelligence of our hearts and the equilibrium between thoughts and emotions, we will find the power to move beyond anxiety, worry and stress into a leadership style based on mutual respect, appreciation and friendship. We will learn how to deal with today’s business models in a healthy, balanced way, we will create successful leaders that will accelerate performance and will grow the company together with its people, not at the cost of its people.

“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it” – H.E. Luccock

Dr. David Pendleton, from the University of Oxford, one of the professors leading Oxford’s High Performance Leadership Program declared that “There is an increasing body of evidence that coherent organization do better than their misaligned counterparts. They outperform the market and bring out the best in their people. We believe they outperform the market because they bring the best in their people”

A recent study at Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management that involved interviews with executives at Fortune 1000 companies, found that compassion and building team-work will be two of the most important characteristics business leaders will need for success a decade from now.

The intelligence of your hearts can solve all these problems. Combine the intelligence of your mind with the power of your emotions through your heart and your health will rapidly improve, your performance will increase, your team will work together wonderfully towards fulfilling outstanding, out-of-this-world goals.

Dragos Bratasanu, Lightman Consulting

dragos@lightman-consulting.com　

Images belong to Lightman Consulting

Please visit www.lightman-consulting.com

Contact at contact@lightman-consulting.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2012/05/08/10-strategic-paradigms-for-advanced-corporate-efficiency-and-success-intelligence/ Part 1 – Lightman Consulting

Sarah Deschamps and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Tokyo is a very intriguing city which caters for so many different lifestyles. Also, within such a short space of time you can visit a wealth of diversity. This article provides a glimpse into the richness of Tokyo life by focusing on areas which appeal to people of all ages.

Within 9 minutes on the Yurakucho subway line you can visit the mega fashion district of Ikebukuro, the adorable Chinzan-so garden and relax at the Canal Café in Iidabashi. All three places can be visited by the Yurakucho train line and in total it only takes between 9 to 10 minutes in travel time. This amazing area provides amazing relaxation, the crème de la crème of fashion boutiques, the stunning garden of Chinzan-so, delightful Canal Café whereby individuals can enjoy gentle rowing, and so much more.

The Canal Café in Iidabashi is a great place to relax and enjoy the view provided by this elegant café. When the weather permits you will see people enjoying rowing, sitting outside, enjoying the lovely environment, watching the distant trains go by, and soaking up the delightful atmosphere

Also, individuals can enjoy Italian cuisine, Thai curry, and a host of other dishes. The Canal Café provides ample choice and this applies to dining inside, eating certain dishes outside via the spacious seating which is available, relaxing with a quiet drink, and for more daring individuals, then relaxing by rowing. Indeed, the choice angle and spacious sitting areas within the Canal Café, is most appealing and for this reason many Tokyoites enjoy the ambient atmosphere time after time.

The La Cucina restaurant provides delicious Italian food. Therefore, people can decide on a scrumptious meal or a more casual time. Either way, the relaxing nature of the Canal Café, the rowing angle, scenic background, and the spacious layout; means that it is a place which is well worth visiting.

For lovers of fashion then Ikebukuro is an amazing place to visit because this trendy district is going from strength to strength.  The east-side is extremely busy but the fashion angle on the west-side is developing nicely and you have a different feel to both sides of Ikebukuro. Also, the huge train complex is an enormous hub for fashion. Therefore, you will find amazing department stores which include Lumine, Tobu Department Store, Seibu Department Store, Esola, Marui, Parco, and so many other fantastic places to visit, either within the train complex, connected by underground passages (Marui) or within a one minute walk (Parco on the east side).

Of course, Tobu Department Store and Seibu Department Store cater for a wide variety of shopping and both stores focus heavily on their respective Ikebukuro base. The age range may vary at each department store but collectively individuals of all ages are served in Ikebukuro and this applies to stylish companies which provide real quality. This fact means that the fashion scene in this thriving district is blessed with top notch Japanese and international fashion companies, which caters for a vast spectrum of styles.

In Esola you have lovely boutiques which include Actuel, Amphi, Barbie Store, Beardsley Gallardagalante, Blue Bell Market, DouDou, Elleva, FRAMeWORK, Free’s Mart, Jolly Boutique, Muriel & Mercuria, Nuit et Jour Spick and Span, Opaque Clip, Royal Flash, and Turno Jeana. Esola is on the west side and is near to Lumine, Tobu Department Store, within easy reach to the trendy Ikebukuro Fukutoshin area, and within minutes from Marui. Also, you have a delightful art and crafts center in the same vicinity which is a must place to visit for Tokyoites and tourists alike.

Within the same Yurakucho subway line catchment area you have Edogawabashi where Chinzan-so is located. Of course, Ikebukuro is served by many train lines and is the second busiest train station in Tokyo. However, the Yurakucho subway line hub which applies to this article opens up all three areas which are connected by this underground train line.

Chinzan-so is one of the most adorable places to visit in the whole of Tokyo because the garden is extremely rich in history. The landscape and architecture highlights the refinement of Japan within such a compact area. Also, you have many restaurants within Chinzan-so in order to eat scrumptious food and the Japanese angle means that each place matches the scenic surrounding.

On top of this, you have an amazing hotel called the Four Seasons Hotel which is internationally famous (http://www.fourseasons.com/tokyo/) because of the sublime luxury that this company provides. The Chinzan-so based Four Seasons Hotel is located in such an amazing part of Tokyo, that a stay at this luxury hotel must rank high on the list of all individuals who adore quality in all directions. This applies to the stunning garden of Chinzan-so, the exquisite architecture, scrumptious food, richness of culture, and the majestic luxury of Four Seasons Hotel.

Turning back to the stunning beauty of Chinzan-so then in a previous article by Modern Tokyo Times it was stated that “Chinzan-so is a stunning garden in Tokyo whereby you can view the natural beauty of an amazing Japanese garden, beautiful architecture, elements of Buddhism, the magical world of Shintoism, and so much more. Also, unlike the vast majority of stunning gardens in Tokyo which close early this doesn’t apply to Chinzan-so therefore at night the garden is also extremely beautiful and you have many restaurants to eat scrumptious Japanese food. However, being Chinzan-so, then even the restaurants blend in with the natural environment and clearly this beautiful place would bless any major city in the world.”

Indeed, in Chinzan-so you also have a rich Taoist element. Therefore, the fusion of this philosophy, along with Buddhism and Shintoism, highlights the richness of this amazing garden. You also have a sacred 500 year old tree, a delightful waterfall, small Shinto shrine, Taoist images, lovely Pagoda, and so much more. This means that you can’t help but fall in love with Chinzan-so and the views at night are also extremely romantic because the garden is elegantly lit up.

Overall, the three places highlighted in this article show the richness of the lifestyle of Tokyo. After all, throughout this amazing city you will have countless catchment areas which are in easy distance because of the fantastic infrastructure of this high tech mega-city.

Chinzan-so and Four Seasons Hotel

http://www.chinzanso.com/english/

http://www.fourseasons.com/tokyo/   Four Seasons Hotel

http://www.chinzanso.com/english/restaurant.html

Canal Café

www.canalcafe.jp 

Fashion

http://www.esola-ikebukuro.com/

http://orizzonti.co.jp/category/actuel/

http://www.barbie-stores.com/

http://www.bluebellmarket.net/index.html

http://www.palgroup.co.jp/brands/doudou/

http://www.turnojeana.jp/

http://www.frees-mart.com/index.html

http://m-muriel.jp/index.html

http://www.elleva.jp/

http://www.frame-works.co.jp/index_n.html

http://blog-s.frame-works.co.jp/  Spick and Span official blog  

http://www.jolly-boutique.com/

http://www.world.co.jp/opaqueclip/

http://royalflash-jp.com/pc/home.html

Other Shops

http://www.loccitane.co.jp/shop/

http://www.unico-fan.co.jp/

http://www.aveda.co.jp/default.asp

http://www.laureloil.jp/

http://www.nonbrush.com/

http://gloccy.jp/

http://www.lunch8.com/

http://www.toffy.jp/

http://ameblo.jp/4ft-ikebukuro/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Awlaki Acknowledges His Radical Past

IPT News

Steven Emerson and Investigative Project on Terrorism 

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Alfred Sisley was an amazing Impressionist landscape artist who felt fulfilled by the art movement he followed. If individuals adore landscape art then Alfred Sisley must rank amongst the cream of the crop because throughout his career he produced vast numbers of amazing landscapes. Indeed, it would appear through his art that industrialization and the power of humanity over nature, was little more than the imagination. Therefore, through the eyes of Alfred Sisley nature was in the ascendancy but without the bias of any illusions.

Despite retaining British citizenship the life of Alfred Sisley was mainly spent in France. He was born in Paris (1839-1899) and was truly dedicated to painting amazing landscapes. Indeed, it is stated that Alfred Sisley was the most dedicated Impressionist who remained loyal to landscape art.

His parents were affluent during his childhood and being born in Paris then clearly the artistic power of this fascinating city must have impacted greatly on Alfred Sisley. When he reached eighteen he was sent to study business in London but this wasn’t the path that he desired for himself. Therefore, on returning to Paris he ventured into the world that was awaiting him and this applies to the world of art.

In 1862 he began to study at the Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts and in time he would become acquainted with Claude Monet, Frederic Bazille, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 ruined the prosperity of his father and soon the affluent times of his early years would become a distant dream because poverty would impact on Alfred Sixley during many periods of his life.

In a sense, the wealthy childhood to later periods of poverty, resembled the power of France to his limited time he spent in Britain. This duality must have impacted greatly on Alfred Sisley. However, irrespective of what life threw at him, he remained faithful to the serenity of landscape art but without the angle of romanticism.

The monetary failings of his art did not dampen the spirit of Alfred Sisley despite this heaping pressure on himself and his family. Also, he had several patrons from time to time which enabled him to visit Britain and this support was greatly valued. He and his family moved to a small village near the forest of Fontainebleau. This proved to be a fantastic place to reside for Alfred Sisley because it suited his artistic theme.

Anne Poulet, art historian, comments that “…the gentle landscapes with their constantly changing atmosphere were perfectly attuned to his talents. Unlike Monet, he never sought the drama of the rampaging ocean or the brilliantly colored scenery of the Côte d’Azur.”

On the Alfred Sisley website (http://www.alfredsisley.org) it is stated that “Among the Impressionists Sisley has been overshadowed by Monet, although his work most resembles that of Camille Pissarro. Described by art historian Robert Rosenblum as having “almost a generic character, an impersonal textbook idea of a perfect Impressionist painting”, his work strongly invokes atmosphere and his skies are always very impressive. His concentration on landscape subjects was the most consistent of any of the Impressionists.”

This article only touches on the life of Alfred Sisley. However, it is hoped that the images will inspire people to dig much deeper in order to discover an amazing artist who blessed the art world.

http://www.alfredsisley.org

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Joachim de Villiers, Walter Sebastian and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

President Karolos Papoulias of Greece has begun crucial political talks with the three main parties of this nation in order to solve the current crisis. If he fails then another election will take place and given the severity of the economic and political situation, then this will put further pressure on all main institutions. The European Union (EU) is watching events and fears a possible major clash with Greece if anti-bailout parties win the day.

For the last few days all the main political parties tried to solve this delicate situation. However, the far-left Syriza political bloc, the socialist Pasok political party, and the conservative New Democracy (ND), have all failed to garner enough seats within respective coalitions. Therefore, the stalemate continues to threaten a fresh election which will most likely benefit anti-bailout political parties.

In this sense, the EU is hoping that Karolos Papoulias can break the chain of events and that soon Greece will have a national government to focus on the dire economic situation. The two main losers during the first election were ND and Pasok because their respective share of the vote plummeted. ND remains the largest party in terms of seats which were won. However, this was a hollow victory because in terms of power, then they have been reduced dramatically, and clearly a fresh election threatens to unleash further hemorrhaging.

European central bankers and Germany are adamant that the bailout conditions must be met. Yet, given the current political reality then this is “a poison chalice” because the rate of unemployment is alarming. Also, the austerity package and political assertiveness of Germany, is undermining the sovereignty of Greece and the same applies to European bureaucrats who appear to be dictating terms.

Of course, political opinion in Greece is deeply divided because some believe that the austerity package will enable this country to bounce back in the future. However, others believe that the conditions are unwarranted and creating more problems for the people of Greece. Irrespective of the way ahead, it is going to be painful either way because the crisis is very deep and you have no easy way out.

Alex Tsipras, leading figure within the left-wing Syriza bloc, is adamant that the bailout conditions are wrong because the various conditions are hurting the people of Greece beyond what is reasonable. Panos Skourletis, spokesperson for Syriza, commented that “It is obvious that there is an effort to bring about a government that will implement the bailout. We are not participating in such a government.”

In another article about the political and economic crisis in Greece by Modern Tokyo Times, it was stated that “If the power vacuum remains then Greece will be unable to obtain an international loan and the repercussions could mean bankruptcy. Also, powerful nations in Europe who support the German methodology will be at a loss because they believe that they are trying to help Greece overcome its dire economic reality. Therefore, another clash with EU leaders is on the cards unless the pro-bailout parties can form a government.”

Many EU countries are alarmed by events in Greece because if the bailout conditions are ignored by an anti-bailout leadership, then something will have to give way. After all, it appears most unlikely that European central bankers and Germany will climb down from their current position because they fear “a can of worms” whereby agreements can just be ignored.

Ethnos, a daily socialist newspaper, commented that politicians were now playing “Russian roulette” with the economy. Something will have to give way but for now it is difficult to predict which side will cave in. Also, if a fresh election is called and anti-bailout parties increase their respective power bases – then surely a major clash with the EU will emerge. If this happens, then this could ultimately lead to Greece exiting the eurozone.

For now, it is difficult to say which way the pendulum will swing.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Rhiannon Thomas

Modern Tokyo Times

Johnny’s Boys are everywhere in Japan. With squeal-inducing good looks and “talents” that seem to include everything from singing to radio presenting, these young pop idols dominate the entertainment industry, seeming to appear in every magazine, variety show, drama, movie and commercial aimed at women in the country.

Johnny’s Jimusho, or “Johnny and Associates,” is a talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. Since the company’s first success with Four Leaves in 1967, Johnny’s Jimusho has become a male idol factory, with almost every new band for the past 40 years being an overwhelming success. The most well-known Johnny’s band is SMAP, which has been successful since 1991, but groups also include the popular Arashi, KAT-TUN, News, Hey! Say! Jump! and Kinki Kids.

The Johnny’s idols work hard for their fame. As well as releasing new singles several times a year, the bands present their own variety shows on television (with the band Arashi presenting 3 every week as a group), host radio shows, do commercials, and star in popular drama series. They are also famous for putting on spectacular live shows, with coordinated dance routines and spectacular costumes.

The grueling life of a Johnny’s star starts young. The company has regular auditions to scout for good looking and talented young boys to join the trainee group, “Johnny’s Juniors.” Most members of Johnny’s join in their early teens, but some boys as young as 9 audition successfully. They are often put forward by eager parents or sisters who are obsessed with existing groups. If accepted, they go through a rigorous training program, where they learn dancing, singing, acting, public speaking, gymnastics and unique skills that could become their “trademark” after they have debuted.

In order to gain experience and exposure, the Juniors appear on the TV shows of established Johnny’s groups and work as backing dancers in concerts. Because of this, many young stars have fans even before they officially “debut”. If they are successful, the boys will officially debut as part of a band in their mid to late teens and stardom awaits them.

Because the company considers the idols to be incredibly valuable assets, they have very strict rules about where their images can appear. No pictures of the boys are allowed to appear online, even in promotional material for the TV shows in which they star. Fans who are eager for pictures of their idols must instead visit one of the many Johnny’s shops spread throughout Japan, where they can buy small photographs from recent tours and video shoots for 150 yen each. Unofficial idol shots also appear all over Japan, with a particular mass of them in the trendy shopping district of Harajuku.

Here fans can buy posters, key rings, stickers and fans with the boys’ images on them, as well as similar small photographs often taken by stalking paparazzi. If this isn’t enough for fans, there are also many magazines dedicated to the idols, full of interviews, photos and news, to keep the obsession churning. Really dedicated fans can even join official fan clubs for the groups, for 5000 yen a year, to get updates on the band and first chance to get tickets for concerts. For particularly popular groups, membership offers the only chance to attend concerts, with tickets allocated via a lottery system. Those who cannot win a ticket this way are forced to buy tickets from shops in Harajuku, where they often go for 20000 yen (roughly $200) or more.

However, despite their popularity, many criticize the idols as talentless hacks that are famous simply for their good looks and the company’s ability to throw them all over the popular media scene. Some of the bands, such as SMAP and Arashi, are so popular that Johnny’s can use them as leverage to maintain a monopoly over the entertainment business. If the company is unhappy that a network is featuring other young pop idols over the Johnny’s boys, they can threaten to boycott the station with their entire catalogue of groups – a guaranteed commercial disaster for the station involved.

The idols themselves are also under the tight control of the company. The idols are not allowed to do anything that might damage their squeaky clean image, and there is an unwritten rule that idols are not allowed to have publically-visible girlfriends, so that they appear available to their legions of fans. Despite the intense hours that they work and the huge profits they create for the company, the idols are also not getting rich off their fame. Most of them are paid a base salary, with no rights to their music or image. They never see the royalties from their work. However, because the company is so powerful, they also have little chance of quitting and striking out on their own, as the company may threaten to boycott any networks that support a rebellious idol.

Through the years, Johnny’s has also been subject to more serious allegations. The founder and president of the company, Johnny Kitagawa, has been repeatedly accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with the stars. In the 1970s, the parents of one star sued him for indecent behavior, and the issue was settled out of court. In 1988, meanwhile, Koji Kita, a member of the band Four Leaves, accused Kitagawa of rape. Similar charges came from Junya Hiramota in 1996, but the accusations have had little effect on the popularity of Johnny’s Jimusho. As time goes on, the bands of Johnny’s Jimusho have only increased in popularity, dominating the entire male idol scene in Japan.

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Images from http://musikasian-kpk.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

Sarah Deschamps and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Tokyo is awash with amazing fashion districts throughout the entire city and the diverse nature of each district is complementing the entire fashion scene. Of course other major powerful cities like Paris, New York, Milan, Seattle, London, and others, are also famous for international fashion. However, it is difficult to surpass Tokyo because you have so many districts where fashion is the essential ingredient.

Tokyo is an international Mecca for fashion lovers because of the size of the economy of this ultra-modern city and the same applies to the enormous population of the Greater Tokyo region. On top of this, it is abundantly clear that many Tokyoites focus on fashion with a rare passion and this can be seen by the sizeable number of fashion districts to be found. Also, the crème de la crème of the international fashion sector firmly understands the importance of Tokyo. Therefore, you will find the most famous fashion brands in the world throughout this city in various locations.

The most popular and famous fashion districts in this vibrant city include Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku, Aoyama, Omotesando, Ikebukuro, Yurakucho, and the Ebisu to Daikanyama area. However, for other individuals they adore the independent and smaller feel of lesser known districts outside of Tokyo, but firmly known to Tokyoites.

These districts include Nakameguro, Jiyugaoka, Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji, Nakano, Koenji, and a few other smaller sized fashion districts. Daikanyama fits into both worlds but the closeness of Ebisu gives this smaller district a firm edge. Also, other districts like Roppongi, Odaiba, and Ueno, are extremely sizeable and have their own supporters who adore their respective unique angles. Ueno, for example, is a firm mixture of museums, mainstream and alternative fashion, and is known for other reason related to tourism.

In the adorable fashion district of Aoyama you have countless sophisticated boutiques to visit. This applies to the crème de la crème of Japanese and international fashion. Aoyama is chic, elegant, and so stylish. Therefore, throughout Aoyama you will find amazing fashion companies which include Gucci, Prada, Comme des Garcons, Donna Karan, Loveless, Michael Kors, 10 Corso Como, L’eclaireur, Vivienne Westwood, A Bathing Ape, Jil Sander, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Artisan, Stella McCartney, Cynthia Rowley, Paul Smith, Helmut Lang, Mark Jacobs, Tsumori Chisato, Costume National, Carbane de Zucca, Hanae Mori, Diane Von Furstenberg, Undercover, Design Works, Deuxieme Classe, and many other amazing fashion companies like Frapbois.

Alternatively, the world of Kawaii culture and different fashion subcultures is known internationally in districts like Harajuku and Shibuya. These famous areas are known for numerous independent fashion styles and attract the younger generation. However, both fashion districts are much more complex than this because you will also find internationally famous boutiques in both areas. It is this changeable mixture which is so appealing and this is why fashion in Tokyo is so rich.

The Aoyama, Harajuku, Omotesando, and Shibuya area is one mega fashion hub within easy reach of each other. Indeed, the main street in Harajuku links with Omotesando and these four amazing fashion zones have created one of the most hip fashion areas in the world. After all, the diversity of companies like 6%DOKIDOKI to Issey Miyake sums up the fashion scene of this amazing fashion hub – it is not only a complete shopping experience, but it is also a real eye opener to the diversity of the Tokyo fashion scene.

Omotesando Hills is an adorable shopping mall to visit because every boutique is stylish and elegant. Exquisite companies to be found within Omotesando Hills include Adore, Anterpima, Laurent, Zara, Tracy Reese, Betsey Johnson, Black Fleece, Escada Sport, Tour H. creer (Merveille H.), Yves Saint, Kiwa Sylphy, iliann loeb, Milly, Tiara, Apartment Department, Martinique Le Conte, Patrizia Pepe Firenze (Incontro), Oriental News and so many others. Also, within this shopping mall you have other types of shops which cater for different needs and you have many places to relax and enjoy delicious food or a nice coffee.

The fashion designer Sebastian Masuda, who owns the 6%DOKIDOKI brand, is reaching out internationally because of the kawaii theme and is chaotic Punk style. Sebastian Masuda sums up the daring Harajuku fashion scene because he doesn’t have boundaries. Instead, he constantly creates new styles and also in recent times he is becoming more involved in the music scene whereby he can highlight his artistic nature.

It also must be stated that the fashion scene isn’t just about the crème de la crème of famous boutiques, mainstream fashion, kawaii culture, and so forth. After all, in districts like Koenji and Shimokitazwa, and others, you have a thriving vintage fashion scene. Also, in Koenji you have the next generation of fashion designers who are plying their trade in the hope of making it in the future.

Overall, Tokyo is a buzzing city which is difficult to surpass when it comes to fashion.

http://www.dokidoki6.com/

http://www.smackyglam.com/

http://candystripper.net/

http://www.macaronic.jp/

http://www.omotesandohills.com/english/

http://www.adore2005.com/

http://anteprima.com/

http://www.ap-dp.com/

http://www.betseyjohnson.jp/

http://www.brooksbrothers.co.jp/fleece/index.html

http://www.erikonail.com/

http://www.escada.com/

http://www.iliannloeb.com/

http://www.kiwasylphy.jp/

http://www.lebois.jp/

http://www.maccosmetics.co.jp/

http://www.merveilleh.co.jp/

http://www.melrose.co.jp/martinique/index.html

http://ameblo.jp/oriental-news-omotesando/

http://www.incontro.co.jp/

http://www.melrose.co.jp/tiara/

http://www.pasdedeux.co.jp/

http://www.ysl.com/d/

http://www.commedesgarcons.org/

http://www.10corsocomo.com/  

http://www.cynthiarowley.com/

http://www.donnakaran.com/

http://www.frapbois.jp/

http://www.gucci.com/us/home

http://www.isseymiyake.com/en/

http://www.leclaireur.com/en/

http://www.paulsmith.co.jp/

http://www.prada.com/

http://www.tsumorichisato.com/index.html

http://www.stellamccartney.com/default/stores/Tokyo

http://store.costumenational.com/

http://www.viviennewestwood.co.uk/

http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/

http://www.zucca.cc/index.html

www.bape.com/    

AOYAMA SHOPPING LINKS TO HELP TOKYOITES AND TOURISTS

http://www.japan-hotels.ws/tokyo/aoyama/shopping.htm

http://www.aoyama-net.com/fashionmap/index.htm – Map of where the fashions companies are

http://tokyofashion.com/tag/aoyama/ 　 – Aoyama fashion

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Walter Sebastian and Jay Doggett

Modern Tokyo Times

The government of Spain effectively took control of Bankia SA this week in order to shore up the fourth largest bank in this country. Ironically, the same government of Spain may also need bailout funds in order to meet its requirements. This in itself highlights the seriousness of the economic crisis in Spain.

Germany, the engine of Europe, must be increasingly disillusioned because you have too many cogs in the machinery which are hindering the Eurozone. Indeed, with negative economic forecasts being predicted this year in so many nations, it would appear that the situation will get much worse before any type of corner can be turned. Therefore, it is clear that too many past governments in many European nations have not only mismanaged their respective economies, but they have gambled beyond their economic means.

The unemployment figure for young people in Spain is now approximately 50%. This shambles would make you believe that you were talking about a “Banana Republic.” However, instead of a distant land which is unheard about and where you have military and political power struggles – these figures, alarmingly, apply to Spain.

Spain is apparently in the process of overhauling the financial sector because of the current fiasco. Yet this fiasco was based on greed, easy credit, short-sightedness, bad lending, unreasonable property boom, and other usual hallmarks, which have been witnessed throughout history in countless other nations. The boom to bust theory must even be worrying pro-capitalists because the crisis in Spain is too familiar.

Economic growth in Spain for the first quarter in 2012 was negative because the economy shrank by 0.3%. This means that Spain is now officially in recession because this was the second negative quarterly contraction on the bounce. Therefore, the younger generation must be wondering about what to do because clearly the economy of Spain is in meltdown and government coffers are running thin.

The overall unemployment rate in this country is a staggering 24.5% and just like Greece, drastic measures and fresh political thinking are needed to save the day. However, it appears that neither country is blessed with a political system which is ready to meet such a crisis head on and take brave moves, alongside policies which will help the unemployed. Therefore, austerity measures by itself will not kick start anything in the near future and with the severity of the crisis being so high, it is clear that Spain is entering a very difficult period.  The same applies to Greece and a few other European nations and clearly this reality is weighing heavily on the Eurozone.

Brussels insists that massive austerity cuts must be implemented in Spain and Greece. However, for national governments taking such “strong medicine” isn’t easy and can lead to political turmoil at home if not managed properly. The new government of Mariano Rajoy is bearing the brunt of past governments, the rashness of the banking sector, individuals who took easy credit, property investors who believed that they could make a killing, and other vast areas of mismanagement.

Labor unions are warning against severe austerity cuts and with unemployment being so high then political discontent is growing. In Greece, this is enabling the far-left and far-right to grow in influence and given the past record of politics in the historical arena of Spain – then this could become worrisome if the crisis lasts for a reasonable timeframe.

At the moment Mariano Rajoy can push through austerity measures but if helplessness becomes the norm, then this may lead to more confrontations on the streets of Spain.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times 

Claude Monet was very important within French Impressionism and despite new artistic movements like Cubism and Fauvism altering the artistic landscape, he remained firmly committed to Impressionist art. Another major art theme which would shape Claude Monet was Japanese ukiyo-e because he was smitten by this art form when he witnessed it with his own eyes. Therefore, Claude Monet utilized these two powerful art movements and the upshot of this was stunning fresh art pieces which remain etched within the memory.

The Impressionist art movement altered the artistic world dramatically and created a new energy to art. However, for Claude Monet, and others, Impressionism was a philosophy which remained with him until parting from this world.

He was born in 1840 in Paris and died in 1926. Throughout his long life he created extremely stunning art which is internationally admired. From an early age Claude Monet adored art and in the early period he took lessons from Jacques-Francois Ochard. However, his early mentor who taught him about using oil paints was Eugene Boudin, a fellow artist, whom he met when still a teenager. Claude Monet and Eugene Boudin also benefitted from the influence of Johan Barthold Jongkind.

The year 1857 was very dramatic and full of sadness because Claude Monet’s mother died. From this period to the early 1860s he witnessed many highs and lows because other family members were opposed to his strong focus on art. In the early 1860s he served in the French army in Algeria and was meant to have stayed for seven years. However, after suffering from typhoid fever he was allowed to leave after two years because of the actions of his aunt and the reported prompting of Johan Barthold Jongkind.

Claude Monet in 1862 could once more fully concentrate on art but he wasn’t interested in following traditional art. He now became a student under Charles Gleyre in the dynamic city of Paris. In time he would meet powerful artists like Alfred Sisley, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Frederic Bazille. These artists were focused on new approaches to art and in time the Impressionist movement would radically alter the artistic landscape. Therefore, because of these individuals and others who were dedicated to new artistic concepts, a rich flow of art would galvanize the art world which remains vibrant today.

The 1870s was a very dramatic period for Claude Monet because the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871 and the revolutionary fervor which gripped Paris, led to many upheavals. During the same period he was touched by Japanese print making called ukiyo-e. This love affair would stay with him for the rest of his life. However, the death of his wife from tuberculosis in 1879 after several years of illness shattered Claude Monet because he doted on Camille Doncieux.

Turning back to the impact of Japanese art on Claude Monet the writer Don Morrison, Time Magazine, commented in his article (Monet’s Love Affair with Japanese Art) that “One day in 1871, legend has it, a French artist named Claude Monet walked into a food shop in Amsterdam, where he had gone to escape the Prussian siege of Paris. There he spotted some Japanese prints being used as wrapping paper. He was so taken by the engravings that he bought one on the spot. The purchase changed his life — and the history of Western art.”

“Monet went on to collect 231 Japanese prints, which greatly influenced his work and that of other practitioners of Impressionism, the movement he helped create. Under the new Meiji Emperor, Japan in the 1870s was just opening to the outside world after centuries of isolation. Japanese handicrafts were flooding into European department stores and art galleries. Japonisme, a fascination with all things Japanese, was soon the rage among French intellectuals and artists, among them Vincent van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Camille Pissarro and the young Monet. Perhaps for that reason Impressionism caught on early in Japan and remains ferociously popular there.”

While it is known that Claude Monet adored ukiyo-e you still have major debates about how Japanese prints influenced him personally. This topic is still up in the air to many art experts and the opinion varies greatly.

On the following website (http://www.intermonet.com/japan/) it is stated that “Art historians do not agree about this point: was Monet really under Japanese influence, or did he seek confirmations of his own research in Eastern art?”

“However, an attentive eye can establish interesting connections. The influence of the prints on Monet’s art can be noted in the subjects he chose, in the composition, in light……But Monet knew how to be inspired without borrowing. His paintings diverge, from the prints by many aspects. The Japanese artists liked to feature the anecdotic or dramatic moments, Monet concentrated on light, which was the very subject of the canvas – the object was no more than (a) medium to convey the plays of light.”

Art historians can either play up or play down the influence of ukiyo-e within the art of Claude Monet. However, he was clearly charmed by the ukiyo-e of individuals like Hokusai, Hiroshige, and Utamaro. This isn’t open to debate because not only did Claude Monet buy vast amount of ukiyo-e art prints but he also created a Japanese garden in his cherished home. He, and many other important Impressionists, was clearly inspired by many aspects of ukiyo-e.

The cultural dimension could never be bridged because of different thought patterns and factors behind both respective art movements. However, the richness of ukiyo-e and the freshness of this style did reinvigorate many artists in Europe and North America. Therefore, while the degree of influence may vary to respective artists who adored ukiyo-e, it is clear that new artistic concepts within ukiyo-e did inspire new thinking within many Impressionists.

Don Morrison comments that “Perhaps the greatest gift Japan gave Monet, and Impressionism, was an incandescent obsession with getting the play of light and shadow, the balance of colors and the curve of a line, just right — not the way it is in reality, but the way it looks in the artist’s imagination. “I have slowly learned about the pattern of the grass, the trees, the structure of birds and other animals like insects and fish, so that when I am 80, I hope to be better,” Hokusai wrote 16 years before his death at age 89. “At 90, I hope to have caught the very essence of things, so that at 100 I will have reached heavenly mysteries. At 110, every point and line will be living.” Monet spent the last decades of his life painting his water lilies, and then painting them again, until he lost his sight in quest of an elusive, transcendent perfection that might best be called Japanese.”

The love affair that Claude Monet found with Japan in his lifetime remains powerful in modern Japan. After all, without a shadow of a doubt Claude Monet is one of the most popular artists in this country. Therefore, the “love affair” worked both ways and this “spark” remains extremely bright today in Japan amongst art lovers.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1573943,00.html#ixzz1uXJiJOmX

http://www.intermonet.com/japan/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com