Nippon TV – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 117

January 7, 2026January 8, 2026carlocarrasco

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.

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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 @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japanese Language Proficiency Could Become A Requirement For Permanent Residency

December 26, 2025December 20, 2025carlocarrasco

If you intend to move into Japan with migration in mind, you better learn their language fast as the proficiency in Japanese language could become a new requirement for permanent residency, according to a news release 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 is considering adding Japanese language proficiency to the requirements for permanent residency, sources close to the matter said Thursday, in anticipation of a rise in future applicants.

The idea is expected to be included in proposals for new requirements to be compiled by a ruling Liberal Democratic Party panel by April 2027, when an amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act comes into effect.

The revised law also allows for permanent residency to be revoked if the holder intentionally neglects public obligations, such as paying taxes.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign residents in Japan stood at a record 3.96 million as of the end of June, with permanent residents comprising the largest group at around 930,000, or 23.6 percent, of the total.

Currently, a foreigner applying for permanent residency must have resided in Japan for at least 10 years and provide evidence of having the means to support themselves, among other requirements.

Given an expected increase in permanent residents in the future, additional requirements such as Japanese language proficiency and mandatory participation in programs that teach community rules, as well as raising the required minimum income have been discussed.

Stricter rules for part-time work by international students are also being reviewed to prevent them from working more hours than permitted. Currently, students may work up to 28 hours per week in jobs outside their designated status if granted permission by immigration authorities.

The government is considering shifting to a screening process that evaluates academic performance and other factors when giving permission to work, rather than granting permission upon arrival in Japan.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you know anyone who intends to migrate to Japan in the near future? How many friends or relatives do you have who are proficient already with the Japanese language?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan’s Green Tea Exports Reach Highest Level In Over 70 Years

December 21, 2025December 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Have you been buying green tea products imported from Japan lately? Japan achieved a major milestone this year as its green tea exports in the first ten months of 2025 (January to October 2025) have reached the highest level in more than seventy years, according to a news release by Kyodo News. There is still more that could be achieved as the year comes to an end.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news release of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

Japan’s green tea exports in the first 10 months of this year reached the highest level in over 70 years on the back of the booming overseas market for matcha powder and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, government and industry data showed Saturday.

Tea exports between January and October grew 44 percent from the same period last year to 10,084 tons. The United States was the top destination, importing 3,497 tons in the 10 months, followed by Taiwan, Thailand and Germany.

Green tea exports have been increasing for nine consecutive years, reflecting the growing overseas popularity of Japanese foods among health-conscious consumers.

Despite rising overseas sales, annual shipments remained below 10,000 tons after peaking at 11,553 tons in 1954, partly as Chinese tea grew in popularity.

Despite sluggish green tea demand within Japan, tea leaf prices have been rising in recent years in line with falling production.

In 2024, Japan produced about 74,000 tons of tea leaves, more than 10 percent less than a decade earlier, amid declining demand for sencha used in brewing and an aging farming population.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have been consuming green tea products from Japan over the past six months? If you did, what products are those and what were their brands?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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AI-Generated Images Continue To Deceive People

December 9, 2025December 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Images created with artificial intelligence (AI) applications that got shared on social media continue to fool people. It is unfortunate because AI is so accessible through apps and online, people can use them and create fake stuff that easily capture people’s attention.

For starters, look what happened in Japan when someone used generative AI to create a fake image about a bear on a road, shared it online and scared the local community. This was during the time when bear attacks in Japan increased.

Recently, deception caused by AI-generated imagery took its toll in parts of Southeast Asia. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the technology article of VnExpress.net. Some parts in boldface…

When Thu saw a viral video purportedly showing a woman and her grandchild trapped in floodwaters in central Vietnam, she almost shared it until some things made her pause.

Thanh Thu first encountered an AI hoax last month when she believed a photo showing dozens of people clinging to rooftops during flooding in Thai Nguyen Province in the north was real. The grainy quality made the picture convincing at first glance.

“But on closer look, it made no sense as multiple helicopters were hovering just above the water yet not rescuing anyone,” she says

That experience made her more cautious. So when she saw the new flooding video, she examined it again and noticed the grandmother’s face was blurred and distorted, while nearby people appeared calm, chatting casually with water only reaching their knees.

“The footage was heart-breaking at first and gave me a strong urge to share it, but I realized in time that it was AI-generated just to attract views,” the 28-year-old in HCMC says.

In recent months, her social media feeds have been filled with photos of friends posing in destinations around the world, their faces retouched to look like models. But when she noticed that photos from various friends had identical settings, with only their faces changed, she realized the images were AI-generated.

In Hanoi, Hoang Viet, 27, has also been fooled by AI-generated content. A nature enthusiast, he once spent more than an hour watching a TikTok video about a supposed “rainbow mushroom” and even took notes for research. “Later I did more research and asked experts only to find out the species does not exist at all,” he says.

He recalls being frightened by clips of “sea monsters revived” or wild animals jumping on trampolines, all low-quality videos resembling security footage but drawing tens of millions of views. “All of them were fake.” After these experiences, he now cross-checks any information using reliable news sources or academic materials before accepting it as true.

The rise of tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo 3 and Runway this year has caused a surge in AI-generated images and videos, from staged travel photos to recreated images with deceased relatives.

According to digital transformation expert Dr. Dinh Ngoc Son, AI-generated content is designed to exploit emotions and curiosity. “Sensational or unusual information always spreads faster,” he says. “As AI improves realism, the spread becomes stronger, creating an emotional whirlwind that is difficult to control.”

He says authenticity and digital ethics have become major challenges. As generative AI advances, the line between real and fake is becoming increasingly thin. He cites fabricated flood rescue clips and deepfake news anchors as examples.

In July Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that a couple in Kuala Lumpur drove 300 kilometers to a tourist destination only to find it did not exist and had been entirely produced by AI. “When users share such content without verification, it distorts public perception and undermines trustworthy information platforms,” Son says.

Cybersecurity specialist Ngo Minh Hieu, known as Hieu PC, says many people unknowingly expose personal data by uploading their photos to AI-powered editing apps. “With just a smartphone, anyone can create AI products,” the founder of the “Anti-Scam” project says. “While many use them for fun, scammers increasingly exploit them to deceive those who are less tech-savvy.”

At a national seminar on online fraud prevention in late October, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung warned that criminals are taking advantage of AI and deepfake technologies to defraud citizens. On Oct. 28 anti-scam platform Chongluadao.vn issued a new alert about fraudsters using AI to manipulate e-commerce livestreams.

They take real sales videos, modify the sellers’ appearances to look physically disabled or ill, and re-upload them to solicit purchases from sympathizers. Scammers also create dozens of fake accounts to leave emotional comments, leveraging the bandwagon effect to deceive more viewers.

As someone who once bought products on livestreams of disabled people out of sympathy, Thu says the AI scam leaves her increasingly bewildered. “Now, when even images of those people can be faked, I do not know what to believe.”

To combat AI-driven misinformation, Son says joint action is needed from individuals, society and authorities. Individuals must improve their fact-checking skills, while the journalism and education industries should strengthen digital media literacy, he says.

Very clearly, AI has no soul and AI applications are being used for the wrong and irresponsible reasons. Not only are there tech users who use AI to make images or videos to grab people’s attention, there are criminals, fraudsters and scammers who use AI to steal money or information. This should remind you that technology can be abused a lot and affect people negatively.

*An example of AI-generated imagery. (credit to VnExpress.net)*

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you able to tell if a video you saw is generated by AI? Do you think a lot of people are abusing AI to grab people’s attention and increase their social media followers? Is your local government unit using AI through public services? Do you know anyone who became a victim of scammers who used AI?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 112

December 3, 2025November 27, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 GoodBadFlicks Examines Cheersploitation Movies – Recently YouTuber GoodBadFlicks posted a video examining a certain sub-genre of film involving cheerleaders…Cheersploitation. Before the explosion of raunchy comedy movies in the 1980s, there were sex comedy films involving cheerleaders released in the 1970s. GoodBadFlicks’ video features five movies of the Cheersploitation sub-genre which you should see.

#2 The Odd City In Skyrim – Like many gamers, I bought and played Skyrim (Xbox 360 version specifically) on launch day in 2011, and it was easily the most immersive role-playing game of the 7^th console generation. There is one particular city that always felt odd to me which is Markarth. Recently I saw this particular video on YouTube that explains in detail why Markarth stood out so differently from all other cities and towns of Skyrim, and there definitely is something dark behind its legacy which makes exploring it a very intriguing experience for gamers. This is a reminder about Todd Howard’s team taking creative risks that worked and it is an experience you won’t get in Starfield. Watch the video below.

#3 Japanese Food In Ibaraki Prefecture – Ibaraki Prefecture is located in the Kanto region of Honshu in Japan. Even as Ibaraki Prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, its local food joints offer certain meals that are not available in Tokyo itself. Recently, Nippon TV visited the place and examined why locals travel there to try out the standout food. Watch and learn from the video below.

#4 You, Me And The Movies React To Spawn (1997) – 1997 was not exactly a fun year for superhero enthusiasts when it comes to movies. The movie star-heavy Batman & Robin was terrible and it remains as one of the worst superhero movies ever. Also in 1997, a live-action movie of Spawn was released and even though it took itself seriously (note: creator Todd McFarlane had creative input on the film and his own company was part of the production), it gathered mixed reaction from the fans and very negative feedback from film critics. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted a reaction video about Spawn which strangely was more entertaining than the movie itself.

#5 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid Reaction Videos – If you have seen a lot of buddy cop movies from Hollywood, have you seen a Western buddy film? Once such film was 1969’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid which starred the late Robert Redford and the late Paul Newman. The movie was critically acclaimed and it was for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” 34 years after its release. As such, it is not surprising that the film became a subject of many YouTube reaction videos and posted below are a few I selected for your enjoyment.

#6 Jennifer Lopez And The Scammers In Music – A few decades ago, Milli Vanilli was exposed as a scam and the public backlash was so intense, the fans destroyed the music records they previously bought. For the newcomers reading this, Milli Vanilli was a duo of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus who danced and NEVER used their voices in their songs (note: it was all done by others in secret under German music producer Frank Farian). Back in those times, it was normal for music fans and consumers to expect genuine vocal performances from musical artists. As time passed, standards have changed and the musical scam of Milli Vanilli suddenly became the new normal in modern entertainment as more singers today were exposed to be frauds and pretenders (lip-syncing behind vocals produced by others). Watch and learn from the video below.

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Truancy Goes Up In Japan Again

November 24, 2025November 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Truancy – the action of staying away from school without good reason – went up again in Japan as confirmed by a government survey, according to a news article by Nippon.com. This problem has been going on for more than a decade now and it should spark discussions about what it would take to keep more students attend their classes with the future in mind.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Nippon.com article. Some parts in boldface…

Ongoing Rise in Nonattendance – A survey on problematic behavior and nonattendance of schoolchildren by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology found that a record 353,970 students refused to attend school for 30 days or more during the 2024 school year. This was an increase of 7,488, or 2.2%, from the previous year and marked the twelfth consecutive annual rise. Compared to a decade earlier, nonattendance has risen 5.5-fold for elementary school students and 2.2-fold for junior high school students.

Looking at nonattendance by education level, there were 137,704 elementary school students (up 5.6% from the previous year) and 216,266 junior high school students (up 0.1%), which accounted for 3.9% of enrolled students.

The most common causes schools found for nonattendance were “lack of motivation,” at 30.1%, followed by “breakdown in routines” (25.0%), “anxiety or depression” (24.3%), “poor academic performance and regular failure to submit homework” (15.6%), and “friendship issues other than bullying” (13.2%).

The disruption to routines during the COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have lowered the barrier to nonattendance, while parents and guardians have also become more open to it as a necessary form of recuperation.

The Nippon.com article includes graphs for visual references. I encourage you to visit the article by clicking https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02594/

This development reminds me of a particular quote by the late Ray Walston as teacher Mr. Hand in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The words were as follows:

What is this fascination with truancy? What is it that gets inside your heads? There are some teachers in this school who look the other way at truants. It’s a little game that you both play. They pretend they don’t see you. You pretend you don’t ditch! Now, who pays the price later? You!

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Is truancy/absenteeism a huge problem in your local community or in your city right now? If you are a parent who plans to migrate to Japan soon, do you intend to have your child enrolled in schools there? Do you think the long-term trend of absenteeism in Japan will be reversed in the near future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bear Attacks Causing Harm And Spreading Fear In Japan

November 19, 2025November 11, 2025carlocarrasco

In case you missed the news and videos spreading throughout social media, encounters with bears in Japan have been rising recently and already there were people who got injured and the affected local communities are not gripped with fear. Already a high-level government meeting (ministerial) was held focused on the bear attacks. Elements from the local communities and government units respectively responded to the attacks.

To get started, watch and learn from the selected YouTube videos from Nippon TV below.

In its news report, NHK referred to the unfortunate series of events a bear crisis and it emphasizes the fear that people in local communities are experiencing. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the NHK report. Some parts in boldface…

Bears are rarely out of the headlines in Japan these days because they keep straying into urban areas. Attacks are rising, and a record 13 people have died this fiscal year alone.

A traditional-style inn had an uninvited guest on Friday in the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata. The bear wreaked havoc, damaging the interior and forcing the family owners to flee.

Sasaki Kazuo says he saw the animal earlier in the week and decided to close for winter earlier than planned. He said, “Bears have probably roamed near the inn before, but they never entered the building.“

Local hunters shot the animal under an emergency order.

Communities across the region are worried. Some parents in Iwate Prefecture have asked school buses to drop their children off as close to home as possible.

Taxi and school bus operator Sugimoto Shutaro said, “Buses can’t use narrow roads, so keeping children safe is a challenge.”

The flurry of sightings and attacks has left many people wondering why. Experts say the bears are probably hungry, and leaving their natural habitat in search of something to eat.

Koike Shinsuke, a professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, said, “They could be roaming a wider area because acorns, which are their main food source in autumn, may be in short supply along with other nuts too.“

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you aware that even small bears are capable of chasing and attacking tall people in close encounters? Have you ever experienced facing an actual bear in person? Do you know that powerful attacks by a bear could cripple you or even end your life?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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AI Eyed For Integration Into Philippine Government Operations

November 9, 2025November 2, 2025carlocarrasco

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) recently held in South Korea, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., stated that his administration is pursuing artificial intelligence (AI) and integrate it across the agencies of the Philippine government sooner than later, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

President Marcos said his administration is determined to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) across government agencies “as much as we can, as soon as we can,” warning that waiting too long would mean missing out on opportunities for innovation and efficiency.

“You’re missing a chance if you wait,” Marcos told reporters here on Saturday evening, Nov. 1.

“AI is going to come. Parang alon ‘yan, eh. Kahit anong gawin mo, mababasa ka (AI is like a wave — no matter what you do, you’ll get wet),” he added.

The President said the Philippines must quickly learn how to use AI “in the best, secure, and benevolent way” to serve the public, warning that failure to adapt could leave the country behind.

“If you do not learn how to swim, if you do not learn how to use AI properly, may iwanan ka talaga (You’ll be left behind),” he said.

According to Marcos, AI’s rapid evolution makes it necessary for governments to study and apply the technology carefully.

“What AI can do one month ago is different from what AI will be able to do one month from now. That’s why people can’t quite understand it — it learns,” he said.

He described AI as “such a powerful tool” that could transform governance, public service, and economic competitiveness.

“You must take advantage of it as quickly as possible. You have to learn how to use it as quickly as possible,” the President said.

He added that other world leaders in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) share the same sense of urgency.

“That’s one of my big takeaways from APEC. All the other leaders as well — they recognize how quickly AI will overwhelm us if we do not learn how to handle it properly,” he said.

Not a one-size-fits-all approach – Asked whether he plans to issue a directive guiding agencies on AI adoption, Marcos said it was too early to impose a blanket policy.

“It’s not yet clear what AI you use for government,” he said.

“Each department has a slightly different AI. We have to learn — we’re still studying,” he added.

The President said the government intends to consult both local and international experts to identify which applications of AI are most useful and which areas require caution.

“We have to talk to the experts — the whole world — and find out what does it do well, what doesn’t it do well,” he said.

Still, Marcos emphasized that AI adoption must be people-centered, helping Filipinos rather than replacing them.

In my opinion, using AI for governance and public service still looks uncertain. Considering how powerful or sophisticated AI has gotten today, it can be prone to abuse by the government. Worse, there is no guarantee right now how to protect human users from getting overwhelmed in the event that AI becomes self-aware and turns rogue against humanity. Just two years ago, GMA Network came up with fake sportscasters (both generated by AI) which caused some controversy here in the Philippines and only reminded people that AI has no soul and no humanity. Apart from being harmful to human workers in the business world, lots of AI applications made errors that affected users in varying ways. AI is currently not so effective in Japan in relation to finding solutions to their rice production problems. Watch and learn from the videos below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think AI will really be helpful with regards to governance and public service? Do you think Congress should first make a new law and a series of rules covering AI? What safety measures should be taken to protect people in case rogue AI happens? Do you think the AI move is a convenient strategy of the administration to keep people’s attention away from the flood control corruption scandals and the weakening economic growth of the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 108

November 5, 2025October 30, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Jim Shooter Remembered – I am a long-time comic book reader and I can say out loud that modern day superhero comics are NOT worth pursuing anymore. So many woke activists, LGBTQ activists and rabid feminists have entered the comic book industry and they made superhero comics worse. That being said, what happened in recent years in superhero comics only made me revisit not only the comics of previous decades but also focus on the late Jim Shooter (1951-2025) who has a legacy of great creativity as well as big involvement on the business side of comic book publishing. He was the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics for almost a decade. I recently saw this particular YouTube video about Shooter’s prediction of the industry collapsing and I can say it is very compelling to watch. Go watch the video below.

#2 The Matrix Resurrections Revisited – When The Matrix Resurrections was released in 2021, I never bothered to watch it at all. To be clear, I saw the first three Matrix movies a long time ago and when it was announced that a sequel would actually be made, I was never interested nor intrigued. As such, I checked the movie through varied videos on YouTube and posted below are references that should interest you even if you are not a Matrix fan. By the way, when was the last time you saw Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss together?

#3 Where To Have Burger Steak In Japan – When you think about Japan as your next destination as a traveler, do you think about having very meaty meals there? Recently, Japanese Food Noodles posted a video about five Japanese food joints that serve burger steaks and side dishes to customers. In the video below, you can find out what those food joints are and you can enjoy watching how the food is prepared.

#4 Greta Thunberg Hilariously Mocked – Greta Thunberg, the climate change zealot and active partner-in-crime of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, was hilariously mocked in an Israeli satire program. As it is a fact that Thunberg and her woke activist pals attempted (for a 2^nd time) to reach Gaza WITHOUT ANY HUMANITARIAN AID at all, it is clear that they did it to generate buzz on social media and on the corrupt mainstream news media while serving Hamas. As such, the satire of Thunberg and her woke pals is a smart move and well-timed. Watch the Sky News Australia video below.

#5 Police Academy Revisited – What could be said about the 1984 comedy Police Academy? Apart from being a hilarious film, it was one of those very low-budget movies that struck gold with moviegoers grossing almost $150 million worldwide. To this day, Police Academy continues to entertain YouTubers and film buffs who were born after the movie was released. There are also some notable details about how the film was made, who made it in the cast and why it still is significant. Watch the selected videos below…

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Trump and Takaichi Reaffirm US-Japan Alliance in Tokyo

October 29, 2025October 29, 2025carlocarrasco

United States President Donald Trump and new Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae met in Tokyo yesterday and officially America and Japan reaffirmed its alliance, according to the English news report of NHK and other sources.

For the newcomers reading this, Takaichi was recently elected as the new Prime Minister of Japan while Trump arrived from Malaysia where he presided the formal signing of a peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, and reached trade agreements with some Southeast Asian nations. Trump and Takaichi both attended the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from NHK’s English news report. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and US President Donald Trump are taking part in a series of talks and appearances during their first summit in Tokyo.

Takaichi welcomed Trump at the State Guest House in Tokyo Tuesday morning. They received a salute from a ceremonial guard of honor with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces. Soon after, the two leaders sat down for their first face-to-face meeting.

Takaichi said, “I am determined to restore Japan’s dynamic diplomacy to protect Japanese national interests. I am ready to promote further collaboration between Japan and the United States toward our shared goal of achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific. I want to realize a new golden age of our Japan-US alliance in which both nations become stronger and more prosperous.“

Trump said, “I have always had a great love of Japan and a great respect of Japan, and I will say that this will be a relationship that will be stronger than ever before, and I look forward to working with you and on behalf of our country. I want to just let you know anytime you have any questions, any doubt, anything you want, any favors you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there, we are an ally at the strongest level.”

The two leaders have signed documents to cement a deal reached as a result of tariff talks.

Trump meets abductee families – After the meeting, Trump met families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea.

He said, “I met the families before, and I’m with them all the way, and the US is with them all the way, and with Japan and the prime minister.“

Trump also said he’s had the issue in mind since meeting late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. He told the families the US will do everything in its power to help.

Japan’s government says at least 17 Japanese nationals were kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and ’80s. Five of them returned in 2002, but what happened to a dozen others remains unknown.

Takaichi seeks to strengthen security, economic ties with US – Ahead of the meeting on Tuesday morning, Takaichi wrote on X that she is looking forward to “having a fruitful discussion on how we can further strengthen our great Alliance.”

Trump has complained that the burden for security shouldered by US allies is insufficient. The measures include revising three national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, by the end of next year.

Japan had been aiming to increase defense spending and related expenditures to two percent of the GDP in fiscal 2027. Takaichi will likely tell Trump that Japan will instead achieve that goal in the current fiscal year.

Takaichi wants to use the occasion to build a personal relationship with Trump. She is also hoping to enhance bilateral cooperation across a wide range of fields, including security and economy.

For additional coverage of Trump’s visit in Japan, watch the selected YouTube videos below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you feeling confident that US-Japan relations will improve under Trump and Takaichi? Considering the geopolitical interests of both leaders, do you think US-Japan will help turn the tide against Communist China with regards to disputes on the sea of Southeast Asia? Do you think illegal immigrants, the LGBTQ mob, the woke extremists and Islamists are now feeling uneasy about invading Japan and America?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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