Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers rescued a Chinese national and apprehended two foreign suspects, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The police received an emergency call which led to the rescue.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Police rescued a Chinese national after receiving a 911 emergency call and arrested two of his compatriots who allegedly held him captive in Parañaque City on Dec. 27.
The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the victim as Zhenhai, a Chinese national, who was rescued at around 10:40 p.m. inside a condominium unit in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque City. The suspects were identified as Haoxin, 38, and France, 37, both Chinese nationals and residents of Pandacan, Manila.
According to police, a duty officer at the Parañaque City Police Station Tactical Operations Center received a call through the 911 emergency hotline reporting that a Chinese national was being held against his will and threatened at gunpoint for allegedly refusing to pay a P25,000 debt, which he claimed he did not owe.
Personnel from the Parañaque City Police Station Niño Substation immediately responded to the report, leading to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the two suspects.
Recovered from the suspects were a 9mm caliber pistol without a serial number, one magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese nationals kidnapping their fellow people and detaining them within the city? Do you think criminal activities in Parañaque involving Chinese nationals will only get worse over the next six months?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Following the capture of socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela will turn over to America thirty million to fifty million barrels of oil which will benefit people of both nations, according to a news report by Newsmax.
For the newcomers reading this, Maduro ruled Venezuela for more than a decade and his predecessor was none other than the demon Hugo Chavez. Maduro brutalized his fellow Venezuelans and is responsible with the intense deterioration of their national economy. Under Maduro, Venezuela cooperated with the terrorist state of Iran, Communist China and Putin’s Russia. Maduro is also involved in drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from a Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Venezuela is turning over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, with proceeds he said will benefit both the Venezuelan people and Americans.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, just days after he authorized U.S. military action to remove socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela.
“I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,” Trump said in the post.
“This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” he added.
Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president Monday. Rodriguez indicated she would cooperate with Washington.
“I have asked Energy Secretary Chris Wright to execute this plan, immediately. It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States,” Trump concluded his post.
Before the arrest of Maduro, Venezuela’s oil sector was a shadow of its former self despite holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves — estimated at over 300 billion barrels.
Decades of socialist mismanagement, expropriation of foreign assets, and U.S. sanctions decimated output, which fell from over 3 million barrels per day in the early 2000s to roughly 1 million barrels per day by 2025.
Sanctions forced much of the crude trade underground and shifted exports mainly to China, with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) struggling to generate cash revenue. Production bottlenecks, lack of investment, and aging infrastructure kept Venezuela’s oil influence weak on global markets.
For additional insight about Venezuelan oil and what it means to America and the world, watch the selected videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? With Maduro on trial in America, are you confident that he will be found guilty on each and every charge against him? Do you think the announced high amount of barrels of Venezuelan oil will be a big economic boost for America? Do you think China, Russia and terrorist state Iran are panicking now that they lost their access to Venezuela’s oil? Do you think it is a matter of time before the military hardware of Russia, China and Iran in Venezuela will get dismantled?
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers arrested an armed man who pointed his gun at a person whose cry for help drew the attention of nearby bystanders, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Authorities from the Parañaque City Police arrested a man allegedly under the influence of liquor after he pointed a gun at an online seller for no apparent reason on Christmas Day.
The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as Christian, 25, a resident of Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City. He was apprehended at around 12:14 a.m. on Dr. A. Santos Avenue, in front of Hontiveros Compound, Barangay San Antonio, Parañaque City.
Police said the 22-year-old victim, an online seller, was walking in the area when the suspect suddenly approached her and, without provocation, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at her.
The victim cried for help, drawing the attention of nearby bystanders. The suspect attempted to flee but was immediately restrained and arrested.
Recovered from the suspect was a .22-caliber revolver loaded with five live rounds of ammunition, found inside a dark brown sling bag.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did armed individuals cause trouble on members of your local community? Do you think there are still several loose firearms within Parañaque?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Supergirl 1984 Revisited – As some of you might know by now, there is a new standalone Supergirl movie from James Gunn’s DCU coming out this year. The first trailer attracted many millions of views on YouTube and yet people are divided over it as they noticed many elements of James Gunn’s cinematic style (note: Gunn is NOT the director of the upcoming movie) in it. Some long-time Supergirl fans and comic readers don’t like the modern portrayal of the character since she appeared in James Gunn’s Superman. Times like these, it is nice to revisit the 1984 Supergirl movie that starred Helen Slater. Watch the retrospective video below.
#2 The Katsu Phenomenon – When was the last time you had a fried pork cutlet for a meal? In Japanese cuisine, katsu is a popular dish of crispy, deep fried cutlets typically made with pork (tonkatsu) or chicken (chicken katsu) served with rice, cabbage and a tangy sauce. Tonkatsu itself is very common in Japan and Japanese restaurants here in my native Philippines offer it to customers. When it comes to pork-related meals I ate in my life, the tonkatsu is a standout meal. Katsu itself gained popularity around the world and it has become a food phenomenon influencing how deep fried cutlets are prepared and served to customers in different forms. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV feature video below.
#3 Ulysses 31 Revisited – Have you ever seen the early 1980s Japanese-French anime series Ulysses 31? I saw some episodes of it on local TV here in the Philippines in the early 1990s and it was a very unique type of anime with science fiction concepts and spectacle. Anyone who is familiar with The Odyssey will be able to related with it. Apart from being a joint production between Japanese and French entities, Ulysses 31 was ahead of its time and it never made an impact with American viewers not because of its quality but because of a costly mistake with the music and wrongful distribution in America. To learn more about Ulysses 31, watch the retrospective videos below.
#4 Rhetorical Thrill Replays The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Did you ever watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the cinema and somehow never replayed it? If you did, how much of the 2002 film do you still remember? YouTuber Rhetorical Thrill confirmed she saw it in the cinema once and has not seen the film in a very long time. That said, watch her reaction video below.
#5 American Woman Who Was Trapped In Iran – Iran is in the news lately. Many Iranians are protesting on the streets and they are strong defying the Islamic terrorist regime. Iran turned evil and twisted since 1979 and their loss to Israel during the 12-Day War of 2025 left their regime crippled. Speaking of Iran, have you learned about the true story of an American woman who was trapped in Iran (because of her abusive Iranian husband’s deception) and could not leave the country without her daughter? The true story that led to the production of the 1991 movie Not Without My Daughter (starring Sally Field) is revealed in detail in the video below. I encourage you to watch it.
#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Avengers Movies – There was a time when Marvel Studios released great superhero movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had really entertaining flicks released from 2008 to 2019. After the release of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU went downhill as Marvel Studios and Disney proceeded with a very woke direction which turned away a lot of the fans who enjoyed the superhero movies of 2008-2019. That being said, now is a good time to look back at The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame through the reaction videos of Ashleigh Burton posted below. These are from the days of glory of the MCU.
#7 You, Me and The Movies React To Rocky III – Starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky III was a crucial turning point of its film franchise. The first two movies were dramas with boxing matches as the payoffs and conclusion. In Rocky III, the tone shifted more towards action with a strong focus on changing Rocky himself as he faces his toughest opponent yet. YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video of the 1982 movie and you can see for yourselves how it impacts them.
#8 Wild Arms Retrospective – In 1997, I played Wild Arms on the PlayStation. It was Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony which turned out to be fun and adventurous while maintaining strong focus on three main characters (note: they are the only characters you get to play). Two years later, I played Wild Arms 2 but never managed to finish it. The Wild Arms game franchise is turning thirty this year although it has been many years since the last game was released. To discover more about the PlayStation-exclusive JRPG series, watch the retrospective video below.
#9 Trump In 2025 – A lot has happened since Donald Trump returned as President of the United States on January 20, 2025. Apart from implementing changes to reshape America in ways that the Democrats and the Satanic Left do not like, Trump made his nation’s presence felt strongly in the international community. Not only did Trump’s tariffs compel nations to negotiate, America helped Israel with the 12-Day War by dropping massive bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s nuclear sites. This was followed by Trump’s military operations against Islamic terrorists and narco-terrorists. To find out more, watch and learn from the in-depth video below.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers apprehended a man who hit his nephew using a Samurai sword, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The weapon was fifteen inches long.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a 55-year-old man who attacked his nephew with a samurai sword after being reprimanded for making a loud noise on New Year’s Day in Parañaque City.
The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as Jerome, who was arrested at around 8:00 a.m. at his residence in Barangay Don Galo.
Police said the suspect and his 25-year-old nephew, who were living in the same house, figured in a heated argument after the victim asked him to keep the noise down as some relatives were resting following the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The suspect allegedly became furious, armed himself with a samurai sword, and attacked the victim. However, family members were able to intervene and prevent further harm.
Responding police officers, with the assistance of barangay watchmen, subdued the suspect and recovered from him a 15-inch-long samurai sword.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that some people in your local community might be possessing dangerous weapons such as swords, spears, grenades and arrows? Do you think violent crimes in Parañaque will somehow get worse this year?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
As Japan struggles with economic challenges, an aging population, immigration and filling up the gaps of its workforce, an influential business lobby called for a stronger role by the government on issues related to foreign residents, according to a Kyodo News article. It should be noted that new rules regarding foreigners will be announced this month.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s most influential business lobby has urged the government to show stronger leadership on issues concerning foreign residents and enact a “basic law” on policies related to non-Japanese as they become a growing part of the labor force and society.
The Japan Business Federation called for the establishment of a permanent headquarters led by the prime minister that will compile policies related to foreigners across agencies and ministries, saying a ministerial meeting launched by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November was positive but insufficient.
The federation, also known as Keidanren, pointed out in a set of proposals released in mid-December that issues remain under the current framework regarding the effectiveness of medium- to long-term policymaking.
“A framework in which strong political leadership can be exerted is needed,” the group said.
It highlighted the need for a new ministerial post dedicated to foreigner-related policies with the authority to recommend that other agencies and ministries carry out investigations or formulate new rules.
The federation stressed that Japan is at a “turning point,” with steps to promote the smooth integration of foreign workers and their families into society essential, particularly with regard to education and social services.
With Japan’s population shrinking, the number of foreign residents will likely continue to rise beyond 2030, the group said.
It also noted “public anxiety and a sense of unfairness” in Japan, prompted by media reports that some foreigners were engaging in illegal activities and not complying with rules.
The House of (Councilors) election in July saw increased support for a populist party that campaigned on a “Japanese First” platform.
Takaichi, known for her conservative views, set up the ministerial meeting to demonstrate a stricter approach to foreigner-related issues, saying the government is seeking to “build a safe, secure, orderly, and inclusive society for the (Japanese) people and foreigners living in our country.“
As in a previous set of proposals released in 2022, the federation called for a shift in mindset from “passive acceptance of foreigners” to “strategic acquisition of foreign talent.”
It suggested placing more focus on the quality as well as quantity of foreigners accepted, including clearly defining what kind of human resources the country is hoping to attract from overseas.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the central government of Japan will be able to come out with new rules on foreigners that will make sense socially and economically?
What happened this past weekend was very surprising, was executed very efficiently and the result is the fall and capture of Venezuela’s dictator Nicolas Maduro. This is the latest US military operation executed by President Donald Trump and his administration. Maduro is now in America and will be tried in court. The justice that the people of Venezuela have been dreaming of will eventually manifest. Trump also announced that America will run Venezuela until a transition of power can occur.
For the newcomers reading this, Maduro and his very wicked predecessor Hugo Chavez are collectively responsible for the downfall of Venezuela. Having ruled Venezuela for more than a decade, Maduro brutalized his fellow Venezuelans and is responsible with the intense deterioration of their national economy. Under Maduro, Venezuela cooperated with the terrorist state of Iran, Communist China and Putin’s Russia. Maduro is also involved in drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. Months ago, America started encountering vessels from Venezuela filled with illegal drugs. The dangerous gang Tren de Aragua was eliminated at sea.
To put things in perspective, watch the YouTube videos posted below and pay close attention to the details.
Already Venezuelans are cheerful and relieved with the fall of the dictator. It easily the most positive turn of events in their lives. Venezuelans are also thankful to President Trump. Watch and learn from the video below.
With Maduro and his wife in US custody, the effort for justice will begin soon. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from a Newsmax report. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump said Saturday that U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a military operation, announcing they are being transported to the United States to face criminal prosecution in what he described as a decisive blow against international drug trafficking and regional instability.
Speaking at a Saturday afternoon press conference aired live on Newsmax and Newsmax2, Trump accused Maduro of overseeing a massive criminal enterprise responsible for drug trafficking, violence and instability affecting the United States.
“The illegitimate dictator, Maduro was the kingpin of a vast criminal network responsible for trafficking colossal amounts of deadly and illicit drugs into the United States, as alleged in the indictment, he personally oversaw the vicious cartel known as cartel de las Olas, which flooded our nation with lethal poison, responsible for the deaths of countless Americans, the many, many Americans, hundreds of thousands over the years of Americans died because of him,” Trump said.
Trump said Maduro and his wife were taken into custody during a U.S. operation in Venezuela and are currently being transported by ship.
“Maduro and his wife will soon face the full might of American justice and stand trial on American soil.”
In the same Newsmax report, Trump also mentioned that there is overwhelming evidence of Maduro’s crimes which will be presented in court.
Overseas, Israel commended America for the successful operation that led to Maduro’s capture. This is not surprising as Venezuela is allied with the terrorist regime of Iran and other Islamic terrorists. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…
Israel lauded the American operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday.
In a post on X/Twitter, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote, “Israel commends the United States’ operation, led by President Trump, which acted as the leader of the free world. At this historic moment, Israel stands alongside the freedom-loving Venezuelan people, who have suffered under Maduro’s illegal tyranny.“
Sa’ar added that the Jewish state “welcomes the removal of the dictator who led a network of drugs and terror” and that it hopes democracy would return to Venezuela and that the two countries would be able to resume friendly relations.
“The people of Venezuela deserve to exercise their democratic rights. South America deserves a future free from the axis of terror and drugs,” Sa’ar concluded.
Netanyahu congratulates Trump on capture of Maduro – Later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated US President Donald Trump.
“Congratulations, President [Donald Trump] for your bold and historic leadership on behalf of freedom and justice. I salute your decisive resolve and the brilliant action of your brave soldiers,” the Prime Minister’s Office quoted Netanyahu as saying in a post to X.
Israeli NGO of retired senior security officials see Venezuela op. as warning to Iran’s regime –Earlier, the Commanders for Israel’s Security, an NGO of more than 550 retired senior officials from the IDF, the Mossad, the Shin Bet, the police, and the Foreign Service, also welcomed the operation, seeing it as a warning to the Iranian regime, Israeli outlet Maariv reported.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is your reaction to the American military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of dictator Maduro? Do you think it is only a matter of time before the remnants of Maduro’s administration will collapse and get overwhelmed by the Venezuelans who have long been hungry for freedom and the return of democracy? What do you think Iran, Russia and China will do now that their ally Maduro has fallen?
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will meet again with US President Donald Trump specifically in the United States in the spring, according to a Kyodo News article. The upcoming meeting will also by Takaichi’s first official visit to America as Prime Minister.
For the newcomers reading this, the Prime Minister first met with Trump in Japan last October. The said meeting happened not so long after Takaichi was elected to her position. For the upcoming meeting in the United States, the stakes are high for Prime Minister Takaichi as her nation has been dealing with tension from Communist China.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday that she and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to work toward meeting in the United States in the spring, with the aim of further strengthening the alliance between the two countries.
Takaichi’s plan to make her first visit to the United States since taking office in October, confirmed during their phone call, comes at a time of strained relations between Japan and China, and ahead of Trump’s possible trip to Beijing in April to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“At the start of the new year, I consider it extremely significant that I was able to exchange words directly with President Trump and confirm the strong partnership of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Takaichi told reporters following the call.
Takaichi said she and Trump agreed to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as cooperation among like-minded countries, including in the three-way partnership also involving South Korea.
She said their discussion was mainly about the region, without elaborating as to whether it had anything to do with China specifically.
According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, the conversation lasted about 25 minutes, during which Trump, who met with Takaichi in October in Tokyo, invited her to visit the United States.
In late December, Takaichi said she was exploring a visit to the United States for another meeting with Trump early in the upcoming year, with Japanese officials proposing late March for her trip to Washington.
Late on Friday night, Takaichi said she had conveyed her congratulations to Trump on the United States marking in 2026 the 250th anniversary of its independence.
She said they agreed this year should also be one that opens a “new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance” and that they will further deepen the wide-ranging cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.
If all goes smoothly, Takaichi’s upcoming trip will coincide with the U.S. capital’s well-known annual cherry blossom festival.
The festival commemorates the 1912 gift of cherry trees from Tokyo to Washington and the longtime friendship between Japan and the United States.
When Takaichi hosted Trump in Japan in late October, the two leaders affirmed their intention to jointly celebrate the 250th anniversary, and she confirmed Japan’s promise to give 250 cherry trees to the United States.
Takaichi and Trump last spoke by phone on Nov. 25, with the conversation taking place after his call with Xi and amid escalating tensions between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan.
China has been taking a hard-line stance against Japan since Takaichi suggested earlier that month that an attack on Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to Japan and warrant a response from its forces.
Trump, who also met with Xi in late October during his trip to Asia, has not made his position public on the ongoing tensions between Japan and China, which views Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control.
Trump has repeatedly said he has good relationships with both Takaichi and Xi.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What kind of developments do you think will manifest after the next meeting of Trump and Takaichi? Do you think the Trump administration will be able to maintain healthy ties with China and Japan even as the tension between the two Asian nations goes on? Do you think there will be more joint military exercises between Japan and America this year?
In light of the aggression of Communist China in the Pacific and security challenges coming from North Korea, the government of Japan set its draft defense budget for fiscal 2026 at a record figure of 9 trillion yen (estimated at $58 billion), according to a news article published by Kyodo News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s draft defense budget was set at a record 9.04 trillion yen ($58 billion) for fiscal 2026, the government said Friday, as the country faces increasing security challenges from China and North Korea.
The figure, including outlays linked to hosting U.S. military bases, eclipses the then record 8.7 trillion yen in the initial budget for the current fiscal year to March 2026. Fiscal 2026 marks the fourth year of Japan’s five-year 43-trillion-yen defense buildup plan.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi approved the same day a draft initial state budget for the year starting next April worth 122.3 trillion yen, also a record high, including defense and other expenditures.
Under the defense budget, 100.1 billion yen has been earmarked for building the “Shield” layered coastal defense system, which requires numerous aerial, surface and underwater vehicles. The spending on Shield comes at a time when many countries have been rapidly developing drone technology since the Russia-Ukraine war changed the nature of warfare.
With China in mind, 1.1 billion yen has been set aside to assess the use of long-endurance drones as a measure against airspace violations.
Japan plans to rebrand the Air Self-Defense Force as the Air and Space Self-Defense Force to enhance the country’s space capabilities.
Another 1.1 billion yen has been earmarked for acquiring equipment to monitor satellite interference.
The country has secured 30.1 billion yen to procure hypersonic guided missiles, which travel at above five times the speed of sound and are considered hard to intercept, as a means of counterattack.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the record defense budget of 9 trillion yen is sufficient to keep Japan secured from the threats of China and North Korea?
With countless challenges – both internal and external – affecting Japan every day, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is determined to make the nation stronger and more prosperous by implementing reforms, according to a Kyodo News article. The Prime Minister delivered her New Year’s statement.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday pledged to make Japan “strong and prosperous” by carrying out “necessary reforms” to address various domestic and global challenges.
In her New Year’s statement, Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, said her government is committed to building a nation where younger generations can believe in the future and live in hope.
Takaichi emphasized that Japan faces a shrinking population, rising living costs after decades of deflation, and what she described as “the most severe and complex security environment” since the end of World War II.
Globally, political and economic uncertainties are growing as “the free and open international order is being shaken and hegemonic moves are increasing,” she said, in an apparent reference to China’s escalating military activities and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Takaichi took office after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in early October, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who had announced the previous month that he would resign following the party’s heavy setback in the House of Councillors election in July.
With Takaichi’s Cabinet maintaining high approval ratings — well above those of her immediate predecessors — parliament is set to begin this year’s 150-day regular session on Jan. 23.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from the pending new rules on foreigners, what kind of social and economic reforms do you think Prime Minister Takaichi and her administration will come up with over the next six months? Do you think the government will be able to come up with new policies to encourage married couples to have more children?
Author Carlo Carrasco 