As Japan is in the middle of reforming its immigration system and the permanent residency requirements for foreigners, a 72-year-old man from South Korea was arrested by the local authorities for overstaying in the country for a few decades already, according to a VnExpress news report. The suspect admitted he overstayed and supported himself with different jobs locally and how exactly he entered Japan will surprise you.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
A 72-year-old South Korean man has been arrested in Japan for allegedly overstaying his tourist visa for more than 26 years, police said.
Shizuoka Prefectural Police announced on Aug. 26 that the man had entered Japan illegally and continued to live in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Police said they received a tip about the man in June and subsequently arrested him.
He originally entered Japan in September 1993 on a 15-day tourist visa, using his brother’s passport because he hoped to find better-paid work in the country, as reported by ANNnewsCH.
The man is believed to have remained in Japan since his arrival 26 years ago.
Because visa overstaying was not a criminal offense in Japan until February 2000, when a revised immigration law took effect, police arrested him on suspicion of overstaying from that point onward, according to the Japan Times.
The suspect has admitted to the allegation, telling investigators that he supported himself by working various day jobs.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the person who informed the local police about the overstaying foreigner should be rewarded? Does this news make you feel concerned about the potential presence of illegal aliens in your local community? Do you think Japan has what it takes to find all of the overstaying foreigners, apprehend them and eventually deport them? If ever the suspect gets deported, do you think he could adjust to life in his native South Korea?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
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 Focus on Kevin McHale – It has been more than thirty years since Kevin McHale retired from the NBA. McHale was one of the premier power forwards of the NBA in 1980s and even though he won the Sixth Man Award and three NBA championships with Celtics (he formed the nucleus with Larry Bird and Robert Parish), he has been overlooked in discussions about the most notable power forwards of the league. McHale was also declared as one of the greatest NBA players ever. That said, now is a good time to revisit NBA history with focus on McHale and what he achieved.
#2 NiGHTS into Dreams…revisited – Way back in 1996, Sega released NiGHTS into Dreams… which was a very ambitious Sega Saturn video game made by the same key creators behind the popular Sonic games on Sega Genesis. Back in the old days, Sega was in a bind as it faced tough competition from Nintendo and Sony. That said, the company really had to make an exclusive game that is of very high quality, fun-filled gameplay and ambitious creative designs. That said, I encourage you all to watch the retrospective video about NiGHTS into Dreams… below.
#3 Ashleigh Burton reacts to The Animatrix – When it comes to entertainment in the year of 2003, The Matrix entertainment franchise really left its mark with the two hyped sequels The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions but also with the video game Enter The Matrix and the animated anthology The Animatrix. Released between the two live-action movies, The Animatrix featured several animated short stories of the Matrix universe done by different creators and each had different styles of art and visual concepts. The Animatrix also was designed to expand and explain the lore that delighted the fans while helping newcomers get oriented efficiently. As of this writing, there are several YouTube reaction videos about The Animatrix and the one that entertained me the most was that of Ashleigh Burton. Go watch her reaction video below.
#4 Japan opposes Islamic immigration – Let us be very clear here. Massive Islamic immigration is causing a lot of trouble in countries that accepted it. In Japan there is an obvious rise of criminal acts, public nuisance and other forms of problems caused by Islamist foreigners there. There were already rape acts committed by Pakistani men, a dumping of garbage committed by a man from Turkey and more. It is also obvious that the Muslim foreigners in Japan have no respect for Japanese culture, rules and social norms. As such, the Japanese opposition against the Islamist foreigners is real and only growing. Watch and learn from the video below.
#5 You, Me and the Movies react to Alligator (1980) – As a very young boy, I saw the 1980 film Alligator on a rented Betamax tape. I saw it alone during my first viewing, and later got a few friends to watch it with me on my second viewing. Alligator was one of those monster movies (AKA creature features) inspired by Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as several movie producers hoped to cash-in on the 1975 film’s popularity and the box office trends of the time. Alligator has its own charm and entertainment value, and you can discover more by watching the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies below.
#6 Woke WNBA Slammed by NBA Legends – When the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) first launched in 1997, there was excitement and hope for the development of women competing in professional basketball. Today, the WNBA remains an enduring financial failure as it never came close to the NBA in terms of mainstream importance. Worse, the WNBA has turned woke and it is very accepting towards biological males who identified themselves as women. The transgender and social justice diseases are deep in the minds of the people leading the WNBA which led to the growing madness. Recently, the WNBA’s hypocrisy has been exposed and already there were NBA legends who expressed their opinions against the screwed-up league. Watch and learn from the video below.
#7 Premium Corn Craze in Japan – Have you ever tasted corn imported from Japan? The Japanese love corn and the harvesting of corn in their country is a significant industry on its own. As such, it is not surprising that the selling of corn sourced directly from local farmers is highly pursued by locals. Japan also has several varieties of corn ensuring consumers with different tastes have something to enjoy. Watch and learn from the video below.
#8 1980s Cartoons Revisited – The way my life turned out, the 1980s will always be the most memorable decade of cartoon series (note: anime is exempted, including those that got translated for the West). The 1980s is the very decade that has significant cartoon titles like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Transformers, and so much more. The said decade also has its share of other animated series that failed to attract a massive audience and ended up being obscured and forgotten. To enjoy the nostalgia of 1980s cartoons, watch the videos below.
Starting October 1, the fees for residence permit procedures for foreigners in Japan will be hiked officially as a result of the approval by the Cabinet yesterday, according to an NHK World news article. This new development is part of the revision of the immigration control act of Japan and was set in motion over a month ago.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article NHK World. Some parts in boldface…
Japan’s government has decided on a series of fee increases for residence permit procedures for foreign nationals.
The move was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will go into effect on October 1 in line with a revision to the immigration control act.
The fee to obtain a permanent residence permit will be raised from the current 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars, to 200,000 yen, or more than 1,250 dollars. The procedure can be carried out only in person.
The current fee when renewing or changing residence status is set at 6,000 yen, or about 38 dollars, at an official counter and 5,500 yen, or about 35 dollars, online.
For a stay of up to three months, the charge at both counters and online will be raised to 10,000 yen, or about 63 dollars.
For a one-year stay, the fee will be raised to 33,000 yen, or over 205 dollars, at a counter, and 27,000 yen, or about 170 dollars, online.
The fee for a stay of five years or longer will be raised to 75,000 yen, or about 470 dollars, at a counter, and 65,000 yen, or more than 400 dollars, online.
The government says it will reduce the fees for applicants facing financial difficulties, including those designated as refugees.
Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi told reporters that the fee hikes are necessary to ensure that the policy is implemented to promote an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you convinced that there will be no stopping the hike of the mentioned fees from taking effect on October 1? Do you think the increased fees are insufficient from a financial viewpoint? Do you think this latest immigration control move by the current government can effectively alter the direction of permanent residency in Japan? Do you think people from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and other Muslim-majority nations will be discouraged from going to Japan for work and residency?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The number of cashless payment services for children in Japan is growing and already parents have the means to check their kids’ spending history and balances using digital means, according to a news article by Jiji Press.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of Jiji Press. Some parts in boldface…
Cashless payment services for children are increasingly available in Japan, allowing parents to check their children’s balances and spending history through an app to prevent excessive spending.
They are also attracting attention as a financial education tool that helps children learn how to manage their allowances and spend money systematically as Japan becomes increasingly cashless.
In July, Seven Bank began offering a prepaid card and a dedicated app for children aged 6 or older. Parents can load their children’s allowance onto the card via the app and review their spending history.
Notifications are sent whenever the card is used. The app has a feature to send money to children as a reward for achieving goals, such as completing chores.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is your opinion about having more cashless payment services for children? Do you think the said services will help them become more financially literate and also more disciplined on handling their money?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that it will ensure the Philippines will benefit a lot from the ambitious Pax Silica project as they negotiate with the United States on the final framework, according to a GMA News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday said it will ensure that the Philippine side, negotiating with the US on the final framework agreement to hit the ground running for the Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, will push for a deal that would be most beneficial for the country.
At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, BCDA President and CEO Joshua “Jake” Bingcang said that the government is eyeing to sign the comprehensive framework agreement for the Pax Silica initiative with the US by November.
However, Bingcang admitted that “negotiations can always take longer,” noting that the target signing “is not cast in stone as long as the two [parties] will come up with mutually agreed arrangement.”
Nevertheless, the BCDA chief said the Philippines is pushing for terms that would “most beneficial sa’tin (to us)” as negotiations for the framework deal are ongoing.
“It’s a business contract, normally it is favorable to the host country,” he said.
Bingcang said the government has also made clear that the project will operate under the BCDA’s governing legal framework and applicable investment laws.
“It would be covered by two Philippine laws —the BCDA law and CREATE MORE so the incentives provided will be covered by these two laws,” he said.
“Never in that initial arrangement that we are going to adopt anything other than the two laws,” he added.
Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.
The Philippines in April officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, cementing its place among other 23 global signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The BCDA chief earlier clarified that the Pax Silica hub is not envisioned as a cluster of hyperscale data centers but as an industrial hub that would include the manufacturing of semiconductors and microchips used in computers, laptops, electric vehicles, and other technologies.
Bingcang said that through Pax Silica, the Philippines and its partners see an opportunity to process raw materials domestically instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BCDA will be able to secure an agreement with the Americans to ensure the Philippines will benefit from Pax Silica economically? Do you realize Pax Silica’s potential to boost manufacturing jobs and the processing of raw of materials in the Philippines?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
It is clear that Russia is the newest regional problem for Japan. Not only have their ties been strained since 2022, tension intensified as Russia conducted a missile test off the group of islands claimed by Japan, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Etorofu Island (referred by the Russians as Iturup) which drew backlash from the Japanese.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Russia’s Pacific Fleet said Thursday it has conducted a missile test off a group of Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands amid an intensifying row over the disputed territory following President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit there last week.
While it was unclear exactly when the test was carried out, the announcement comes after the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Akira Muto over Japan’s protest against Putin’s trip to the area.
Putin visited Etorofu Island, the largest of the four islands collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, on Aug. 13.
The naval fleet said a unit equipped with the Bastion surface-to-ship missile system conducted the test. The system is deployed to Etorofu.
The guided missile cruiser Varyag, the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, also took part in the missile test along with the Omsk nuclear-powered submarine, the fleet said.
The test simulated an attack on enemy vessels and succeeded in hitting all the intended targets at a range of at least 300 kilometers, according to the fleet.
“We cannot tolerate moves (by Russia) to strengthen military power on the four northern islands because they go against our country’s stance (on the territories),” Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters Thursday during his visit to Oman.
A senior ministry official revealed Friday that Japan had lodged a protest with Russia shortly after Moscow notified Tokyo that it would conduct the missile exercise during the week beginning last Sunday.
Japan says the islands, which also include Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, were illegally seized by the Soviet Union soon after Japan’s surrender in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945. Russia claims the action was legitimate, saying the islands became part of its territory as a result of the war.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Russia’s military activity in the Pacific is the first sign of more disturbances that will affect Japan and possibly the rest of Asia? Do you anticipate China or North Korea will get involved in the Russia-Japan conflict at sea? Do you think the tension with Russia will negatively impact the economy of Japan?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire statement of the US State Department by Secretary Marco Rubio. Some parts in boldface…
The Trump Administration has been clear: the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.
In furtherance of the diplomatic campaign we launched last month to address the ICC’s abuses of power, I am designating two ICC officials – President of the ICC, Tomoko Akane of Japan, and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal – pursuant to Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court.” These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
The ICC has repeatedly attempted to assert authority over nationals of the United States and other countries that have not consented to its jurisdiction or ratified the Rome Statute. This sets a dangerous precedent for all nations.
Our whole of government campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to national sovereignty will be sweeping and we expect more countries to join our campaign by ending their funding and participation in this politicized and unaccountable court. The ICC’s ability to target American nationals and those of other non-States Parties must end. The Trump Administration stands ready to take additional measures, if necessary, to systematically dismantle the ICC until it is incapable of threatening American sovereignty.
Japan’s reaction – Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae described the sanctions against ICC president Akane as “very unfortunate.” She told reporters that her government will deal with the situation by “continuing communication with relevant nations including the United States.” Japan is known to have supported the ICC for many years already.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support the US sanctions against the two ICC officials? Do you think other nations that are in conflict with the ICC’s encroachment and abuse of power will support rally behind the United States and support sanctioning of officials? If you live in a nation which has a working justice system, are convinced that the ICC is unnecessary?
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 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb – When it comes to movies about the Cold War and the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb stood out with its very unique presentation backed with memorable performances by Peter Sellers and George C. Scott. The film was a satire about the Cold War tensions between America and Russia, and it gave moviegoers a unique look as to what could have happened behind the secured government offices and how each nation communicated with each other over the hotline. Kubrick’s film is so significant, it got featured in many movie reaction videos on YouTube and I had fun watching Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video. Go watch it now!
#2 Behind the Scenes Making of Resident Evil (1996) – It has been over thirty years since Resident Evil was first released and today it has grown into a multimedia entertainment franchise still driven by video game productions. Although many video game publications published a lot of articles about the original game from 1996, none of them captured the behind-the-scenes making at Capcom which the YouTube video below features. Even if you are not a Resident Evil fan, I still encourage you to watch it as you can learn a lot about the process, the hard work done by the Japanese and insight shared by Shinji Mikami.
#3 The Multi-million Dollar Theft With Fake Coupons – Over a decade ago, someone in the state of Arizona started an illegal operation using fake coupons which grew so dramatically, it became a shadow enterprise and two more people got involved. The operation of multiple fake shopping coupons robbed corporations several millions of Dollars and the one who started it got so rich she even bought herself many luxury vehicles. To find out the details about this true crime story, watch the video below and pay close attention.
#4 Austria Fought Back Against Islam – Massive immigration that includes Islamists who are obsessed with conquering new nations is very clearly dangerous and even toxic. With so many illegal aliens/immigrants and Muslims in Europe, it is clear that the future of the Europeans is looking more uncertain as time passes. Among them is Austria which boldly made changes to prioritize its own people and preserve its rich culture by pushing back hard against Islamists. Already there were Islamic scandals that were uncovered there in Austria. Watch and learn from the Fall of Nations video below.
#5 The Fall of BuzzFeed – Remember how popular BuzzFeed was? Even though a lot of people got lured by them, I never trusted BuzzFeed and I was never interested with their videos and other online gimmicks. BuzzFeed was also a very questionable participant in journalism no matter what they did to gain credibility. Fortunately for the world, BuzzFeed collapsed and deservedly so. To find out why, watch MAGAmark’s video below.
#6 Record-breaking Rainfall Hits Chiba Prefecture in Japan – Apart from being vulnerable to earthquakes which is connected with being located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan also has its share of struggles with immense rainfall and flooding. Recently, record-breaking rainfall hit Chiba Prefecture causing a lot of flood and hardship for the Japanese. If you were a constant visitor to Japan, was there ever a time when you got caught in heavy rain and flooding there? Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#7 Role-playing Games About 1990s Anime – Believe it or not, there are indeed role-playing games (RPGs) based on anime properties that were popular in the 1990s. Of course, a lot of those anime-based RPGs were released only in Japan and some of them became playable with English translations through digital patches, emulation and fan-made translations. If you are into retro gaming, anime, RPGs and the 1990s, watch the Gaming Broductions video below.
#8 Assorted Pacific Rim Reaction Videos – When Pacific Rim was released in cinemas worldwide in 2013, I never bothered to watch it in the local cinema. Here in the Philippines, there was a lot of pre-release buzz that Manila would appear in the movie and so many local film buffs got excited. The movie eventually grossed over $400 million worldwide through theaters and a lot of people enjoyed its high-quality visuals, intense battles and the special attention to detail invested on the size and scale of the locations. The movie has been featured in several reaction videos and posted below are the entertaining ones to watch.
#9 Ranting for Vengeance Slams Video Essay Slop on YouTube – It is not a secret that YouTube is filled not only with artificial intelligence (AI) slop but also video essays made by individuals who arrogantly think of themselves as experts and wise creators. In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance slammed the video essay slop on YouTube and explained in detail what kind of people created those videos, what their agenda and why people should not allow themselves to be influenced by them. I encourage you to watch the video below now.
#10 Shallow Focus is a Disease in Movies – There is a new trend that has influence the production of movies in Hollywood (AKA Commiewood) for many years now and it has literally become a disease which made the viewing of movies undesirable. The disease is shallow focus which occurs when the area of sharpness in front of a camera lens is very narrow which results in blurry backgrounds. Shallow focus is being abused in modern-day filmmaking and it is only getting worse. That said, I encourage you all to watch Rowan J Coleman’s video below and share it to as many film buffs as possible.
The Philippines, which has been struggling with weak economic growth and high inflation, attracted 3.7 million international visitors in the first 7 months of this year, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.
Be mindful that the words “international visitors” includes both foreign tourists as well as Filipinos who are based abroad who happened to return to the country as “balikbayan”. For insight, the Philippines attracted 5.9 million foreign tourists in 2025 plus over half-a-million Filipinos from overseas which combines for 6.4 million international visitors for the year. For the first half of 2026, the nation attracted 2.9 million foreign tourists.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
The number of Philippine international visitors grew to around 3.7 million as of July, buoyed by more relaxed visa policies, with growing markets seen in China, India, and Taiwan, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT) on Friday.
DoT Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso cited the figure, noting a 4.25% increase in tourist arrivals compared to last year.
“From January to July this year, the Philippines welcomed approximately 3.7 million international visitors, representing a 4.25% increase in visitor arrivals compared to the same period last year,” Ms. Buensuceso said during the launch of the 4th Travel Sale Expo 2026.
“We are seeing good growth from markets like China at 67%, India at 34%, and Taiwan at 11.21% growth, buoyed in large part by more liberal visa policies,” she added.
The tourism Undersecretary also noted sustained growth trajectories from the country’s traditional foreign markets such as the United States of America, Canada, and Japan, driven by additional flights.
The country is also experiencing double-digit to triple-digit growth in international arrivals from our Southeast Asian peers, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Timor-Leste, due to the ongoing ASEAN Summit 2026 where the Philippines serves as the host country.
“These are encouraging signs, but let me emphasize that our goal is not simply to increase the number of arrivals,” Ms. Buensuceso said.
“Our real goal is to increase the value of tourism. We want tourism to create more jobs, attract more investments, and generate more opportunities that reach communities across the country,” she added.
The tourism industry contributed 8.1% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, down from 8.7% in the previous year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It also employed around 7.70 million Filipinos in 2025.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT is padding the numbers on tourist arrivals to avoid embarrassment in the near future? Do you think the Philippines will be able to surpass 2025’s 5.9 million foreign tourist count by the end of this year? Do you believe that hosting the ASEAN Summit is actually helping the Philippine attract more tourists from its Southeast Asian neighbors?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Etorofu Island, Japan is considering a measure against Russia in response, according to a news report by Kyodo News. The Japanese have protested against the visit and tension with Russia is heating up.
Etorofu Island is located off Hokkaido and Japan has claimed it even though Russia has control of it. Historically, Russia – then the Soviet Union – seized Etorofu after Japan surrendered way back in World War II. The Russians call the island Iturup.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japan is considering taking some measure against Russia, following President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Etorofu Island, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Friday.
Putin made his first trip to the Russian-controlled, Japanese-claimed island chain off Hokkaido as president or prime minister Thursday, drawing a backlash from Tokyo, which called it “totally unacceptable.”
“We are considering what step to take going forward,” the official told reporters. An additional sanction is believed to be under consideration.
The islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and by Russia as the Southern Kurils, have long been at the center of a territorial row between the countries. The visit came as ties between Japan and Russia remain strained amid Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Japan maintains that the island chain, consisting of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, was illegally seized by the Soviet Union soon after Japan’s surrender in World War II. Russia argues the seizure was legitimate.
On Thursday, the Japanese government summoned Nikolay Nozdrev, Russia’s ambassador in Tokyo, and lodged a strong protest over Putin’s visit, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japanese territory “both historically and under international law.”
According to the Russian government, Putin visited a fish-processing plant, a hospital and a school and met with local residents.
The territorial dispute has meant the two countries have never signed a peace treaty after World War II.
Under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s political mentor, Japan pursued closer ties with Russia in the hope of resolving the Northern Territories dispute. Abe met Putin 27 times during his tenure ending in 2020.
In 2018, the two agreed to accelerate peace treaty talks based on a 1956 joint declaration between Japan and the Soviet Union that called for the handover of two smaller islands — Shikotan and the Habomai islet group — after a peace treaty was signed.
The talks were suspended after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Prospects for resuming negotiations remain dim as ties have deteriorated following Japan’s participation in U.S.-led sanctions against Moscow.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the diplomatic relationship between Russia and Japan will remain strained for the foreseeable future? Do you consider Russia’s seizure of Etorofu Island illegal?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Author Carlo Carrasco 