The Wind and the Lion

  Last night, I watched "The Wind and the Lion" (1975, USA, Japanese subtitles, recorded on an external hard drive connected to an AQUOS, broadcast on NHK BS "Premium Cinema" on September 30, 2025).

 President Roosevelt looked exactly like the real thing. I didn't take notes, but there were many great quotes. 

 The president was strangely pro-Japanese, practicing archery and judo and praising the evil spiritualism of Admiral Togo Heihachiro, but it was his strong leadership and negotiating skills (political and diplomatic skills) at the Portsmouth Conference (and the process of setting it up) that allowed Japan to "win" the Russo-Japanese War.

 At first, I thought the attitude of the widowed mother and her two children was due to "Stockholm syndrome," but I later realized that this was not necessarily the case (I think the impression will vary depending on the viewer).

 In the opening scene (where an American home is attacked by a group of brutal outlaws, apparently based on a real incident that occurred in 1904), they seem like an outrageous bunch, but as we watch, the relationships between diplomats, the military, and politicians, American electoral democracy, the intentions of European powers seeking colonial domination, and the pre-modern (but still unchanged today) mixture of hereditary rule by charismatic religious figures and tribal politics all become intricately intertwined, making it difficult to know which side is right.

 This is probably one of the messages the filmmakers are trying to convey. It's also one of the reasons why American films are so interesting.

 The horse battles are also impressive. The star actors are really riding horses, and the scenes of intense horse battles, falls, and horse toppling are very impressive. This is one of the highlights of American films made from before the war until around the 1970s. Filming such scenes would probably be extremely difficult today. 

 In modern times, if a leading actor becomes injured and is unable to perform in the middle of filming, the losses can be enormous (in the past, it might have been possible to get away with it by saying, "Professional actors shouldn't complain," or "Injuries are part of a stuntman's job," but that's no longer the case), and I think the horses are a major issue.

 Many horses must have been injured during the filming of old Westerns, but it was practically impossible, both in terms of financial cost and effort, to treat them at a veterinary clinic and continue to raise them as pets, like dogs and cats, so the injured horses had no choice but to be put down. There's no way a rancher would lend out a horse that was good enough to be used as a stud for the filming of a horse race. Regardless of whether the horse meat could be sold, it's practically impossible to keep an injured horse alive. Even the very wealthy wouldn't be so compassionate in "raising" them. 

 In this respect, it's the same as racehorses in horse racing. Horses that are injured and can no longer run are put down.

 While this may have been a common sentiment in the past, in modern times, especially in developed countries, with increasing social and political pressure from animal rights groups, it seems difficult to use horses in filming as disposable objects.

 Right now, it's sports day season in Japanese villages. While it has nothing to do with the film mentioned above, I used to hate the horse-riding battles that teachers forced me to participate in at my elementary school (all boys were required to participate).

 The issue of horse-riding battles at sports days during Japan's totalitarian forced labor mobilization, like the "group gymnastics" issue and the "follow the crowd" issue, is a topic I'll discuss separately at some point, as it clearly illustrates the unique characteristics of Japanese villages and the true nature of the Japanese people.

"Stockholm Syndrome"

 Amid extreme fear and anxiety, this psychological mechanism leads people to feel empathy, sympathy, and even gratitude toward the perpetrator who holds their life in their hands. 

 This is thought to be a psychological defense mechanism in which victims seek to achieve emotional stability by building a psychological connection with the perpetrator.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_and_the_Lion

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_viento_y_el_le%C3%B3n

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Lion_et_le_Vent

Der Wind und der Löwe

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (15/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (15/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

【Tax Reductions and Low-Cost/Free Rentals for Chongryon-Related Facilities】

［Relief of Property Taxes for Chongryon-Related Facilities]

 Lawsuits have been filed across the country challenging the illegality of tax reductions and exemptions granted by local governments to Chongryon-related facilities.[98] Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled that "Chongryon-related facilities have no public benefit and are therefore illegal," and in fiscal year 2015, for the first time, tax reductions and exemptions were abolished in all municipalities with Chongryon-related facilities, resulting in regular taxation (the Chongryon-Related Facilities Local Tax Reduction and Exemption Issue).

Similar lawsuits have also been filed against some facilities related to the Korean Residents Union in Japan, with the ruling stating that "Mindan facilities have no public benefit and that tax exemptions are illegal."

[Low-Cost/Free Leasing of Land for Korean Schools]

 Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, leased 7,850 square meters of city-owned land to the Hyogo Korean School Corporation for the Amagasaki Korean Elementary and Junior High School for approximately ¥280,000 per year (approximately 1/100 of the city's standard rent of approximately ¥29 million). In 1966, when the Hyogo Korean School took over the operation of a branch of an Amagasaki municipal elementary school attended by Korean residents in Japan, the city agreed to lease the land to the school for ¥10 per tsubo per month, a rate that continued for over 40 years. In 2011, the city was criticized for its incommensurability with other city-owned land rents, and renewed the contract, leasing the land for approximately ¥2.6 million per year until 2025.[99] 

 A city official stated that the lease "may have been viewed as a kind of subsidy (for Korean residents in Japan)," but the reasons for this are unclear. A representative of the Hyogo Rescue Association criticized the move, saying, "Continuing to rent out the land at such a low rent for no reason can only be called 'preferential treatment.'"[8]

 Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture, has been found to have rented approximately 4,150 square meters of city-owned land to Hyogo Korean School for approximately 40,000 yen per month, about one-twentieth of the market price, for the site of Itami Korean Elementary School.[100] 

 In addition, when Itami Korean Elementary School was founded, it provided a wooden, single-story school building of approximately 400 square meters, as well as desks and other equipment, free of charge.[100] According to the standard rent for city-owned land, this works out to 745,600 yen per month.[100]

 In 2011, it was discovered that Osaka City had been leasing 4,957 square meters of city-owned land to the Osaka Korean School Corporation, which operates the Nakaosaka Korean Elementary School, free of charge for approximately 50 years since 1961. The City’s Contract Management Bureau responded, “Due to historical reasons, the land has been leased free of charge. We are currently in negotiations to charge a fee or purchase the land.”[101] 

 In 2013, Osaka City filed a lawsuit in the Osaka District Court, demanding the removal of all structures on the school grounds, the return of the land, and the payment of 1,244,000 yen per month from April 1, 2014 until the school was vacated.[102] On February 28, 2017, the school agreed to purchase the city-owned land for 342 million yen and pay approximately 20 million yen in land usage fees from January 2013 to the end of March 2017.[103]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (14/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (14/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

【Receipt of Public Assistance Benefits and Receipt Rates】

 According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's 2020 "Survey of Residents," of the total number of households headed by Japanese nationals (54,471,321 households[88][89]), 1,571,226 households[90][91] received public assistance, representing a 2.88% public assistance recipient rate. Meanwhile, of the total number of households headed by Korean or South Korean nationals (200,549), 28,966 received public assistance, representing a 14.44% recipient rate, approximately five times higher than that of Japanese households. By nationality, this rate is also higher than that of Filipino households (2.96%), Brazilian households (0.09%), and Chinese households (1.6%).[92][93]

The Public Assistance Act, enacted in 1950, targets "nationals living in poverty." Even though the Supreme Court's Second Petty Bench ruled in July 2014 that "foreigners are not entitled to receive public assistance under the Public Assistance Act,"[94] over 40,000 foreign households continue to receive public assistance. This is because a notice issued in May 1954 by the Director-General of the Social Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Welfare entitled "Regarding Measures for Public Assistance for Foreigners Living in Poverty" provided "temporary" protection for Korean and North Korean nationals who lost their Japanese citizenship under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, for humanitarian and security reasons.

Katayama Satsuki has questioned the continuation of this temporary measure 50 years after the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea. She points out that South Korea only grants basic living assistance to foreigners who are "married to a South Korean national (including divorced or widowed) and raising a minor with South Korean nationality (including during pregnancy[95])," arguing that this provision violates the principle of reciprocity in the context of globalization.[96]

Fraudulent Receipt of Benefits

Foreigners are eligible for welfare benefits if they hold a residence status under the Immigration and Refugee Act, such as permanent resident, long-term resident, or have a Japanese spouse. Applicants are generally screened in the same way as Japanese nationals. However, while Japanese applicants are investigated to determine whether they have parents or relatives who can provide financial support, it has been pointed out that in the case of foreign nationals, it can be difficult to trace their family register, which has led to lax screening.[97]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (13/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (13/15)

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October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

【Social Security】

 Welfare Benefits for Elderly Foreigners (Disabled) Residents in Japan

After the Supreme Court's decision regarding the lack of pensions for disabled residents in Japan, the Japanese government demanded welfare benefits (the name varies across regions) from local governments. This request was made to local governments to provide benefits equivalent to the Old-Age Welfare Pension and Basic Disability Pension, which were provided to elderly Japanese residents who were unable to qualify for the National Pension System in 1961 (Showa 36) due to their advanced age. 

 This was done in 1986 after the nationality clause in the National Pension System was abolished (1982), and transitional measures were established to provide benefits to "resident foreigners who were already over 60 years of age and therefore unable to qualify for membership." The monthly payment amounts, roughly equivalent to the amount for Japanese residents receiving the Old-Age Welfare Pension, range from 5,000 to 30,000 yen (in the case of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture), and are paid to applicants who meet the requirements.[87]

 Like the Old-Age Welfare Pension, these welfare benefits are available to foreign residents who were unable to qualify for the National Pension System and are not exclusive to special permanent residents. In many cases, poor elderly foreign nationals who were eligible to join have been provided with welfare assistance (see #Receiving Welfare Assistance).

 Eligible recipients are primarily those who meet all of the following requirements (details vary by municipality).

　　Born before April 1, 1926 (Taisho 15).

　　Registered as a foreigner in Japan before January 1, 1982 (Showa 57).

　　Have been severely mentally or physically disabled before January 1, 1982 (in the case of disability welfare benefits).

　　Not receiving welfare assistance.

　　Not receiving a public pension.

　　Income for the previous year was below a certain amount (amount varies by municipality).

 (Note that elderly welfare benefits and disability welfare benefits cannot be received at the same time.)

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (12/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (12/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

National Center Test for University Admissions: Korean as a Foreign Language Subject

 Trends in Average Scores for Foreign Languages ​​on the National Center Test for University Admissions

According to Osamu Miyajima, the average scores for Chinese and Korean on the foreign language written section of the National Center Test for University Admissions from 2002 to 2006 were approximately 20 points higher than those for English.[84] 

 Miyajima pointed out that while the National Center Test adjusts scores if there is a difference of 20 points or more between average scores for the same subject, foreign language subjects are exempt from this adjustment. He stated that this fact would undoubtedly provoke mixed feelings among many Japanese test-takers who find it difficult to choose a language other than English.[85]

 In response, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) explained that test-takers in languages ​​other than English are primarily native speakers, such as foreign residents and those with study abroad experience, and that adjusting the difficulty level is impossible due to the large differences in test-takers.[86]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (11/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (11/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Criminal Reporting

 In crime reporting, some media outlets use only the alias of suspects of Korean or Chinese nationality in cases where they are Korean residents in Japan, rather than their real name. For example, the Asahi Shimbun chooses whether to use the alias or real name when reporting suspects on a case-by-case basis.[68][69][70]

 Makoto Sakurai, chairman of the Zaitokukai group, argues that reporting using aliases is a privilege for Zainichi Koreans.

 Japanese and other foreign criminals not only face legal challenges, but also face social sanctions when their crimes are widely publicized through media coverage. However, some media outlets, such as the Asahi Shimbun, conceal the nationality and real names of Korean residents in Japan and report crimes using pseudonyms, granting them special exemption from social sanctions. (Quoted from Makoto Sakurai's book, "Japan First Party Manifesto.") [Page number needed]

In response to this, Yoshimichi Noma argues in his book that if a person uses a pseudonym, the publication of their pseudonym in the newspaper would cause greater social damage than the publication of their real ethnic name.[71]

 Tadanobu Bando, a former interpreter for the National Police Agency, argues, "The reporting of crimes committed by Chinese people is becoming a situation that can only be described as suppression of free speech." "Even when it's clear that a crime was committed by a Chinese person, the only reporting is that they're Asian foreigners. This is abnormal."[72]

 Choi Seok-young points out that when a heinous crime occurs, some people baselessly suspect that the perpetrator is Korean because the media has continued to report the perpetrator's alias, and argues that if real names had been reported from the beginning, such incidents could have been prevented.[73]

 In 2017, in the case of a 19-year-old Chinese boy murdering his Japanese stepfather in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Kyodo News concealed the fact that the perpetrator was Chinese.[74] Only some media outlets reported the perpetrator's nationality.[75][76]

 In 2017, in the case of a woman murdered by an unemployed Chinese man she did not know in Miyota Town, Nagano Prefecture,[77] the Asahi Shimbun concealed the perpetrator's real name and reported only his alias.[78]

 In 2017, in the case where the fourth largest amount of methamphetamine ever was seized in Ibaraki Prefecture, a Japanese, a Dutch, and a Chinese national were arrested. The names of the Japanese and Dutch suspects were reported in the media, but the names of the two Chinese suspects were not.[79][80][81] Some media outlets simply stated that the perpetrators were foreigners, without even reporting their nationalities.[82][83]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (10/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (10/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Exemption from the Obligation to Carry Certificates Following Changes to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, etc.

 The "New Residence Management System," which was enacted by government ordinance in 2009 and partially revised the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Basic Resident Register Act, abolished the Alien Registration Card and issued new Special Permanent Resident Certificates without the alias (common name). At the same time, foreign resident registration began, and the alias was entered in parentheses in the name field.[67] There is no obligation to carry the Special Permanent Resident Certificate.[31]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (9/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (9/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Abusive Use of the System in the Era of Easy Name Changes

 Until a 2013 notice restricting such changes was issued, it was easy to change the alias on one's Alien Registration Card.[55]

 As a result, in September 2000, a Korean man in Japan was arrested for abusing this system by obtaining approximately 30 health insurance cards with different names and purchasing and selling a large number of cell phones.[56] In November 2013, a Korean resident in Japan was arrested on suspicion of fraud and violation of the Act on Punishment of Organized Crimes and Control of Crime Proceeds (Concealment) for allegedly using numerous aliases to defraud and resell approximately 160 smartphones, tablets, and other devices.[57] 

 The case was discovered during an investigation following a report from a ward office that became suspicious of his frequent alias changes.[58] The charge of concealment under the Organized Crime Punishment Act applies to cases in which organized crime groups, terrorist organizations, and others conceal criminal proceeds.

 Koreans in Japan operate ethnically-affiliated financial institutions, such as Shogin Credit Union (Shogin) and Chogin Credit Union (Chogin), at which numerous accounts were opened under aliases, borrowed names, or false names and used fraudulently. In connection with the Kansai Industrial Bank credit union's breach of trust case, Lee Hee-geun, then chairman of the bank, withdrew funds from accounts he had opened at Kansai Industrial Bank and other city banks under his own name and under the alias "Yoshio Hirata" shortly before the bank's collapse. He deposited the funds in Shinhan Bank, where he was also chairman at the time, and transferred approximately 3 billion yen to South Korea. This was allegedly an attempt to conceal his personal assets to avoid seizure.[59] Even after his imprisonment, Lee Hee-geun remained in his positions as honorary chairman of Shinhan Bank and a standing advisor to the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan).[60]

 Furthermore, during Shinhan Bank's internal dispute in 2010, the use of accounts in the names of Korean residents in Japan became an issue.[61][62] In connection with the collapse of Chogin Bank, a bank affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), in the late 1990s, it was discovered that numerous fictitious accounts had been opened under aliases and used to send money to North Korea and fund political activities in Japan.[63][64] 

 In 2006, the Supreme Court ruled that a Korean pachinko parlor owner who had opened an account under a fictitious name at Chogin Tokyo and deposited the funds in the account, ordered the government to use public funds to cover the 4.18 billion yen in tax evasion funds that had become time-barred.[65]

 As such, the combination of the ease of changing one's common name and ethnic financial institutions that accept borrowed names, aliases, and fictitious accounts has created a breeding ground for crimes such as tax evasion and fraudulent remittances. Meanwhile, it is said that only organized crime groups with strong ties to the Korean community, such as gangsters, were able to open such accounts at ethnic financial institutions.[66]

 The case in 2013 that led to stricter rules on name changes was a mobile phone resale case in which a Korean national who had changed his common name six times and was being arrested for reselling mobile phones was arrested. In response to this, on November 15th, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications clarified the general prohibition on changing common names, stating, "We have tightened the requirements for foreigners when they enter their common names, and as a general rule, we will not allow changes." The man had changed his common name by falsely claiming that "someone with the same common name has done something bad" or "I'm a musician. There is someone with the same name in the industry" [7].

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (8/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privileges for Koreans Living in Japan (8/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Common Name/Legally Binding Common Name

→See also "Common Name"

Generally, a common name refers to a legally binding common name used by foreigners in Japan. Unlike common names used by Japanese people (pen names, stage names, or married names), a common name can be used in private legal documents such as contracts, as well as official procedures. This allows foreigners to have two legally binding names: their real name and their common name. (Japanese people are not permitted to have legally binding aliases other than their real names, and those who use aliases to create legal documents may be charged with fraud or forgery.) Legally binding aliases are available to all foreigners upon registration, so they are not exclusive to Korean residents in Japan. However, according to a 2013 survey by Mindan, 70.9% of Korean residents in Japan at Japanese workplaces or business partners use only their real names, compared with 17.8% who use only their real names.[54]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (7/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Koreans in Japan (7/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Military Service

In South Korea, the four major obligations of citizens are national defense, tax payment, education, and work. Military service, particularly in the area of ​​national defense, is considered the "most important and sacred duty" for Korean men. Therefore, stricter restrictions are expected for overseas Koreans. While Koreans living in Japan who have naturalized to Japan are exempt from military service because they no longer have Korean nationality, "Korean residents in Japan who maintain their Korean nationality" are treated "basically the same as those who have emigrated to other countries."[46] Second-generation Korean men residing overseas are exempt from military service even if they engage in profit-making activities such as employment or business start-ups in South Korea or remain in the country for an extended period of time.

However, those who return to South Korea with the intention of permanent residence or who "reside in South Korea with Korean resident registration" are subject to military service.[47] Incidentally, the term "second-generation overseas Koreans" in relation to military service also includes second-generation or later Korean nationals, such as "third-generation residents in Japan."[48]

There is a "second-generation overseas Korean" system, which exempts those who left Korea before the age of six to live abroad, those born outside Korea, those who "lived outside Korea until the age of 17 and acquired Korean citizenship or permanent residency," and those who have attended elementary, middle, or high school in Korea for three years or less from military service. According to the Kanagawa branch of the Korean Residents Union, second-generation overseas Koreans between the ages of 25 and 37 are warned that they will be subject to military service obligations if they obtain a "second-generation overseas Korean" stamp in their passport at a Korean embassy or consulate overseas before entering or leaving Korea.[49] Furthermore, even if they have completed the procedures for overseas Korean nationality, if they stay in Korea for a total of three years or more between the ages of 18 and 37, or if they stay in Korea for a total of 90 days between the ages of 7 and 17, they are not considered second-generation overseas Koreans and are subject to military service obligations.[50] In North Korea, both overseas Koreans and the children of returnees from overseas are exempt from military service in peacetime.[51] As of 2021, the Military Service Act Enforcement Decree stipulates that "anyone who resides in South Korea for three years or more is obligated to serve in the military." Related groups have called for changes to this law, such as an "alternative military service system," arguing that military life would be difficult for people whose native language is not Korean. [52]

Criminal Law

See Special Permanent Residents #Partial Exemption from Deportation Conditions

Special permanent residents are subject to more strict conditions for deportation than other residence statuses. They are sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than seven years, and the Minister of Justice determines that Japan's important interests have been harmed.

In his book "Youth at Korean High School: Why We Were Violent," Asahi Shimbun journalist Kim Han-il claims that while attending Korean schools, they repeatedly committed crimes such as assault, assault, and robbery against Japanese people, some even going so far as to steal employees' pay packets for large sums of money. However, even when they were arrested by the police, they and the teacher who called them in tried to shift the subject to a political issue by saying, "It's the Japanese government's fault for forcibly taking us Koreans," and the police officers kept quiet and turned a blind eye.[53]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (6/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Koreans in Japan (6/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Deportation Statistics

From 1978 (Showa 53), when statistics on the deportation of treaty permanent residents were compiled, to the end of 1990 (Heisei 3), 85 Korean treaty permanent residents were subject to deportation procedures. Of these, 55 were granted special permission to stay, and the remaining 30 were issued deportation orders.[42] Nineteen were actually deported under Article 6 of the Special Act, and 16 were deported separately under Article 24 of the Immigration Control Act. In the five years up to the end of 1990, two treaty permanent residents and one special permanent resident were deported; one was sentenced to 15 years in prison for murder, and two were deported for repeat violations of the Stimulant Control Act. However, special permanent residents would not be deported under the same conditions.[42]

In addition, a total of 19 treaty permanent residents were deported, and in the ten years up to the end of 1990, 16 treaty permanent residents and special permanent residents with Korean nationality were deported (8 under the Special Act and 8 under the Immigration Control Act). The numbers were: 12 in 1981 (5 under the Special Act and 7 under the Immigration Control Act), 1 in 1985 (Special Act), 1 in 1986 (Special Act), 1 in 1987 (Special Act), and 1 in 1988 (Immigration Control Act).[41]

Meanwhile, in the late 1970s, the government attempted to deport 20 Korean residents in Japan who had committed crimes to South Korea, but the South Korean government refused to accept them.[43][44] According to the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, the first two Korean nationals were deported in 1978, and 17 more were deported by 1988. It is unlikely that they would have been deported to North Korea, with which Japan has no diplomatic relations, and it is more likely that they were deported to South Korea.[43]

Exemption from fingerprinting and submitting a photograph upon entry

Currently, all foreigners aged 16 or older entering Japan, including general permanent residents, those born and raised in Japan, orphans left behind in China, and people of Japanese descent, are required to submit fingerprints and photographs. However, special permanent residents, along with "foreign nationals, individuals seeking to engage in activities that qualify for the status of residence of 'diplomats' or 'official', and individuals invited by the head of a national administrative agency," are exempt from these requirements.[45]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (5/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Koreans in Japan (5/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Limited Deportation Requirements

　

 Special permanent residents are subject to deportation only in the following cases. Unlike other visa statuses, which are subject to deportation upon criminal conviction, deportation is only applicable to those guilty of crimes equivalent to inciting foreign aggression. "Virgin special permanent residents with sentences exceeding seven years" are not subject to a uniform procedure; they also require "certification by the Minister of Justice," and cases in which they are subject to deportation are extremely limited. Kim Hee-ro, a known violent criminal, was not deported by the Japanese government or judiciary, but voluntarily returned to Korea, attracted by the South Korean government's declaration of support and the public opinion in South Korea that viewed him as a hero.[2] After receiving a life sentence, he was released on parole in Japan in September 1999 and moved to South Korea.[35]

 Persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment or more for crimes related to civil strife, foreign aggression, diplomatic relations, or crimes against a foreign head of state, diplomatic mission, or its embassy.

 Persons who have been sentenced to imprisonment or more for crimes against a diplomatic mission or its embassy, ​​and who have been determined by the Minister of Justice that their criminal acts have harmed Japan's important diplomatic interests.

 Persons who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or more than seven years for other crimes, and who have been determined by the Minister of Justice that their criminal acts have harmed Japan's important diplomatic interests.

 Under the Employment Measures Act, when a non-Japanese national seeks employment in Japan, they must submit their residence card to the employer, who then notifies Hello Work of their status. However, special permanent residents and foreigners with "diplomatic" (i.e., diplomats) and "official" (residents staying and performing duties at the behest of their home country's government) statuses are exempt from this requirement.[36][37] According to Close-up Gendai, the Ministry of Justice states that special permanent residents are "a residence status granted in consideration of historical circumstances, and not a privilege."[38]

 In addition to special permanent residents, similar discussions are sometimes held regarding the second and third generations of Japanese left behind in China, descendants of Japanese who emigrated to former Manchuria and other areas. Even if arrested or prosecuted, they are not deported because both parents are Japanese. In some cases, they themselves hold Japanese nationality. While other foreign mafias are being wiped out one after another through arrests and deportations, anti-social forces centered on the second and third generations of Japanese left behind in China, such as the Nuraken, are said to be expanding their influence within Japan.[39]

 Foreigners who are eligible for deportation from Japan are subject to certain conditions, including "conviction for a drug offense, involvement in prostitution or illegal entry, or other offenses sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than one year" (Article 24 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Immigration Control Act"). However, this does not necessarily apply to general permanent residents (and their spouses), special permanent residents (and their spouses), foreigners who are the spouses and children/specially adopted children of Japanese nationals, and long-term foreign residents. Furthermore, the conditions for special permanent residents are limited to "those who have been convicted of the crime of rebellion, the crime of inciting foreign aggression, the crime of aiding foreign aggression, or who have been sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than seven years, and who the Minister of Justice determines have harmed Japan's vital interests" (Article 22 of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of Persons Who Have Renounced Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Act")). Therefore, their status is extremely well protected[40][41], and there have been no reported cases of special permanent residents being deported under the provisions of the Special Act. On the other hand, some people, like Kim Hee-ro and Heo Young-jung, choose to return to South Korea at their own request, even if it means losing their special permanent residence permit.

 As a result of the conclusion of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea, treaty permanent residents were only permitted to those with South Korean nationality from 1966 until the beginning of 1991, when the system was changed to special permanent residence. However, the grounds for deportation for treaty permanent residents (Article 6 of the Immigration Control Special Act Incidental to the Implementation of the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Korea regarding the Legal Status and Treatment of Republic of Korea Nationals Residing in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the "Special Act")) were stricter than those for special permanent residents who were subsequently changed, and also targeted those who had been sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for three years or more (excluding those with suspended sentences) for violating the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Act, etc. with the intent of profit, or those who had been sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than seven years for violating Japanese laws and regulations. In addition, Koreans and other ethnic Koreans in Japan who did not choose treaty permanent residence (mainly Korean nationals who had renounced their Korean nationality under the Peace Treaty and their descendants, who were granted special permanent residence permits in 1991) and who did not have permanent residence permits, were granted special permanent residence permits (Supplementary Provision 7 of the Immigration Control Act (Act No. 85 of 1981)) from 1981, and were subject to deportation procedures in accordance with the Immigration Control Act, just like regular permanent residents.

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (4/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Koreans in Japan (4/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Resident Tax Halved in Some Areas

In the late 1960s, Iga City, Mie Prefecture, through negotiations with the former Ueno City (now Iga City) and the local Mindan (Mindan) and Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan), began a measure to halve the resident tax payments of Korean residents in Japan without enacting a bylaw, and this measure continued until 2006.[23]

Prior to the 1980s, when Korean residents in Japan through the branches of these organizations came to the counter, section chief-level staff, rather than general staff, would directly accept their applications and grant resident tax reductions. At the time, many people refused to pay taxes because they were victorious nations or because they were not granted the same rights as Japanese people, making collection difficult. It is said that Ueno City (now Iga City) also wanted to collect at least half the amount.

The case in question arose when a former Korean resident in Iga City sought advice because his resident tax would increase upon naturalization, and the former director of the Iga City General Affairs Department responded by urging him to give half of the money to him, and he embezzled it without paying it. Between 2002 and March 2004, the former Korean resident paid approximately 18 million yen to the director of the General Affairs Department in resident tax[24], making him a so-called high-income earner. Furthermore, naturalization would mean he would lose his right to tax reductions (the eligibility for tax reductions was determined solely by his status as a Korean resident in Japan, or Japanese). This led to coverage in weekly magazines and the media criticizing the resident taxpayers. Masahiko Katsuya criticized this as a "typical example of exemption privilege." At the time of its discovery, it was discovered that of the 400 Korean residents residing in Iga City, approximately 50 had utilized this system to receive tax reductions, excluding those employed by companies and subject to withholding tax. [25]

Special Permanent Resident Measures and Comparison with Other Resident Statuses

Comparison with Ordinary Permanent Residents

Special permanent residents are subject to special measures, including the re-entry period, deemed period, whether or not they will be denied landing upon re-entry, deportation requirements, whether or not they are required to provide personal identification information during landing inspections, and the type of identification card they are issued. Special permanent residents are exempt from the permanent residence permit requirements for ordinary permanent residents, which include "good conduct" and "independent livelihood." Forced deportation of special permanent residents is limited to "acts that seriously damage national interests, such as crimes of rebellion or incitement of foreign aggression." Forced deportation of those sentenced to life imprisonment or imprisonment for more than seven years is also limited to "cases that harm Japan's vital interests."[26]

Number and Breakdown of Special Permanent Residents

→See "Special Permanent Residents" for details.

The number of special permanent residents has been declining due to naturalization in Japan. According to Toyo Keizai Nippo, a newspaper run by Korean residents in Japan, the decline in the number of special permanent residents is due to an increase in naturalizations outpacing deaths. Until the 1980s, the average number of Korean residents in Japan was 3,000-5,000 per year. However, this number began to increase in the 1990s, reaching 10,000 for the first time in a single year in 1995. Since then, the number of naturalized Korean residents in Japan has been declining, ranging from 5,000 to 4,000 in the 2010s.[27][28] As of the end of 2024, the total number of special permanent residents was 274,023, broken down by nationality (270,560 Koreans, 1,013 Taiwanese, 881 Americans, 644 Chinese, and others).[29]

Originally, only Koreans and Taiwanese were considered to have renounced their nationality under the Peace Treaty. Therefore, the majority of special permanent residents who are "renouncers of Peace Treaty Nationality" and "descendants of those who renounced their nationality" also have these three nationalities. If both parents hold different nationalities other than Japan, their adult children may choose a nationality other than Korean or Taiwanese. Regardless of this, if one parent is a special permanent resident, they can apply for special permanent residence permission.

This special permanent residence status is permanently inherited by special permanent residents and their descendants through bloodline; ordinary permanent residents cannot apply for special permanent residence permission.

Comparison of Special Permanent Resident Statuses with Other Residence Statuses, Various Measures, and Exemptions

Special permanent residents are eligible for the following measures. However, depending on the type of residence status, the same measures are also applied to foreign nationals other than special permanent residents. (Here, "long-term resident foreigners" refer to foreigners with long-term residency in Japan, such as general permanent residents, special permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals, and spouses of permanent residents.)

There is no expiration date on their stay, and they do not need to renew their stay (special permanent residents, permanent residents, and highly skilled professionals (category 2)).[30]

With the exception of some civil servants, there are no occupational restrictions (long-term resident foreigners).

They are eligible to apply for welfare assistance (long-term resident foreigners).

"Descendants of those who renounced their nationality under the Peace Treaty," i.e., descendants of special permanent residents, can apply for special permanent residence permits.

The re-entry permit period is extended from three years to four years, and from four years to five years.

Special permanent residents are not required to carry their "Special Permanent Resident Certificate" at all times.[31]

When entering Japan, fingerprint and photograph screening is exempt (other visa statuses are exempt from similar procedures: foreign nationals under the age of 16, those with "Diplomatic" or "Official" visas, those invited by the head of a national administrative agency, and those equivalent to "Diplomatic," "Official," or "Guests of a Head" visas).

However, when using automated gates for re-entry, passport and fingerprint screening is required, just like for Japanese nationals. [32][33][34]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (3/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Korean Residents in Japan (3/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

Regarding the reduction and exemption of income tax, corporate tax, and fixed asset tax for the Korean Federation of Commerce and Industry in Japan

 On November 29, 1998, the Sankei Shimbun reported on the "Agreement" between the Korean Federation of Commerce and Industry in Japan and the National Tax Agency. This agreement was published in the "Chongryon" handbook published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan in 1991, and is commonly referred to as the "Five Articles of the Oath" because it consists of the following five points:

 All tax issues for Korean merchants and industrialists will be resolved in consultation with the Korean Chamber of Commerce.

 Regular, fixed-rate membership fees for commercial associations will be recognized as deductible expenses.

School operating expenses will be resolved proactively.

Expenses for travel to third countries for economic activities will be recognized as deductible expenses.

All ongoing court cases will be resolved through consultation.

 This agreement was reached on August 6, 1976, through the mediation of Japan Socialist Party member of the House of Representatives, Takazawa Torao (later the party's vice chairman). Based on this agreement, the Korean Federation of Commerce and Industry (Chongryon) claimed that it had established collective bargaining rights, which were not recognized for ordinary taxpayers. It has called on merchants and industrialists affiliated with the Chongryon to, in principle, not file tax returns or respond to tax audits individually, but to use the Chongryon-affiliated Chamber of Commerce as the contact point.[16]

 According to "The Truth About Anti-Korean Wave! The Privileges of Koreans in Japan: From the Roots of Taboos on Koreans to Pressure from Ethnic Groups and the Social Life of Korean Intellectuals in Japan!", the "Shoko Shimbun," published by the Korean Chamber of Commerce, claims that there was an "agreement" regarding taxes between the Korean Chamber of Commerce and the national tax authorities. Furthermore, the Korean-language pamphlet "Chongryon," published by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan in February 1991, states, "Chongryon fought tenaciously to correct the unjust tax offensive by the Japanese authorities and to fairly resolve tax issues. As a result of these efforts, a five-point "agreement" regarding the resolution of tax issues was reached in 1976 between the Korean Residents in Japan Federation of Commerce and Industry and the Japanese National Tax Agency. The basic content of the agreement is that all tax issues of Korean merchants and industrialists in Japan will be fairly handled through an agreement between the Korean Chamber of Commerce and the Japanese tax authorities."[17][18] Since around 2007, Korean Chamber of Commerce officials have been repeatedly arrested for violating the Tax Accountant Act.[18][19][20][21][22] In 2014, a National Tax Agency investigator who had been entertained by Chamber of Commerce officials, including dining in Gion, Kyoto, and taking a trip to South Korea, was arrested on suspicion of violating the National Public Service Act (confidentiality obligation) for leaking the schedule of a tax investigation in advance.[18]

 Until 2012, Osaka City had granted tax exemptions, including property tax, to facilities associated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). However, in the same year, Osaka City's audit committee recommended that the exemption be an overreach of discretion. As a result, Osaka City abolished the exemption for Chongryon-related facilities from the following fiscal year, 2013, and imposed tax only for the fiscal years 2009 to 2012. However, Chongryon filed a lawsuit against the revocation of the exemption. 

 In 2018, the Osaka District Court dismissed the case, ruling that the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan is a "political organization supported only by a small portion of Korean residents in Japan, and the facility cannot be considered a community center-like facility for foreign residents in Japan," thereby supporting the Osaka City government's argument.[14]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (2/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Privileges for Korean Residents in Japan (2/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

 Tax exemptions for certain local residents and those affiliated with ethnic organizations

 Tax collection through ethnic organizations

→See also "Five-Point Agreement"

 The following are examples of tax deductions that have been made against self-employed Korean residents in Japan through the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), an ethnic organization for Korean residents in Japan. The Korean Federation of Commerce and Industry in Japan (formerly the Federation of Korean Residents in Japan), which was affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and represented self-employed individuals in the pachinko, real estate, finance, and restaurant industries, reached an agreement with the National Tax Agency in 1976, establishing collective bargaining rights. Regarding the taxation of Korean residents in Japan, Chongryon and the Federation of Korean Commerce and Industry argued that "the right to tax originally belongs to the Republic (North Korea) but that they are simply paying taxes to Japanese authorities in accordance with Japanese law" and that "Japanese tax law should not be mechanically applied, ignoring the historical circumstances of colonial rule." The "Chongryon" document published by Chongryon in 1991 includes the "Five-Point Agreement" between the Federation of Korean Commerce and Industry and the National Tax Agency. This was later referred to by the Sankei Shimbun as "privileges for Korean residents in Japan regarding tax payments." [3] Osaka City had previously offered tax exemptions to Chongryon-related facilities within the city, but these were abolished in 2012 as part of corrective measures against the exemptions. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) filed a lawsuit, claiming that the tax exemptions had been suddenly revoked without reasonable grounds after a long period of time. However, in 2018, the Osaka District Court upheld the Osaka City government's corrective measures, stating that they had restored the original tax obligation, and dismissed the lawsuit.[14][15]

 Based on the "agreement" that established the right to collective bargaining over taxation, which the Federation of Korean Commerce and Industry (FCOI) did not allow for ordinary taxpayers, the FCOI urged Korean residents in Japan not to file tax returns or respond to tax audits individually, but to use "chambers of commerce under the FCOI" as a contact point. Marcus Noland, a former economist at the U.S. government's National Economic Council, wrote in a 1995 investigative report that "Japanese government officials informally acknowledge that Chongryon-affiliated companies are receiving tacit approval for special preferential treatment from the Japanese National Tax Agency."[3]

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (1/15) -The dark side of Japanese villages

 Excerpt, Tentative translation

Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan (1/15)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

October 14, 2025 edition

As of that date, there are no pages in languages ​​other than Japanese and Korean.

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9C%A8%E6%97%A5%E7%89%B9%E6%A8%A9

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.ja

https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Terms_of_Use

"Privilege for Korean Residents in Japan" is a term to criticize preferential treatment and systems for "special permanent residents of Korean descent in Japan," the Korean Residents Union (Korean Residents Association) (Korean Residents Union) (Korean Residents Association), and Chongryon-affiliated organizations (North Korean Residents Association) such as the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and the Federation of Korean Commerce and Industry in Japan. [1][2][3] However, some argue that the differences and treatment between special permanent residents and regular permanent residents are not "privileges" but "affirmative action." [4]

Overview

Foreigners with special permanent residency status in Japan are often criticized by the general public for unfair preferential treatment and special measures not available to "ordinary foreigners residing in Japan with regular permanent residency or other residence status." Examples include tax privileges related to organizations affiliated with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan [3], and the fact that while ordinary Korean nationals and other foreign nationals who are convicted of criminal offenses in Japan are subject to deportation after release, special permanent residents are effectively exempt from deportation [1][2].

Other practices that were criticized as privileges included the halving of resident taxes for special permanent residents in some areas[5], the easy permission to change common names[6][7], the "Five Points of Agreement" by the Korean Federation of Commerce and Industry[3], the exemption of fixed asset taxes for Chongryon facilities (the issue of local tax reductions for Chongryon-related facilities), and the free or low-cost leasing of land for Korean schools. Some of these were corrected after being reported in the media and became social issues, or were subsequently ruled "illegal" and improved[1][8][3]. Some are of the opinion that "special permanent residence" should be abolished and integrated into "general permanent residence" like other foreigners[9].

"Affirmative Action" and Anti-Integration

On the other hand, critics of the term "Zainichi Privilege"—which criticizes the differences between ordinary foreign nationals and those who support integrating it with "general permanent residence" (those who support the abolition of "special permanent residence")—have argued that it is not a "privilege" but rather "a relief measure established in response to various historical circumstances and the poverty caused by social discrimination," "affirmative action," and "a measure by the Japanese government to provide as stable a status as possible."[10][11] Noma argued that right-wing and conservative criticism constitutes "hate" and "anti-Korean sentiment" toward Korean residents in Japan, and that the hate speech and protests of the Zaitokukai in particular constitute incitement to hatred.[12] Kyodo News expressed concern that the discourse of "Zainichi Privilege" "promotes racism."[13]

The Cleverness of Swedish Diplomacy

 Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize

10 October 2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c1l80g1qe4gt

 This year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

 The Nobel Peace Prize sometimes displays the calculated and skillful tactics of Sweden's "peace diplomacy," surprising many around the world. This is also why the prize has long been described as "political."

 Once again, the Nobel Prize Committee demonstrated truly clever, or perhaps subtle, judgment and choice. It was so skillful that one wonders, "Was it saved up until this year for Machado to receive the award at this particular time, instead of awarding it last year?"

 As the US president said to her in a phone call, if she had been awarded the prize last year, it would have had a greater political impact, but she is a natural recipient and it would not be surprising if she received it at any time.

 That being said, there will be people all over the world who will have "sinister suspicions."

 It was only last month that the US president caused controversy by giving a "Nobel Prize-craving speech" at the UN General Assembly.

 It is rumored that US government sources are lobbying for the current president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. (This in itself is not a mean or greedy act, but quite normal. For example, documents later made public revealed that former Prime Minister Sato Eisaku also lobbied. Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung also lobbied, although former Presidents Carter and Obama did not.)

 Furthermore, it was only recently that the US government caused a stir by firing on a Venezuelan ship (a civilian vessel) as part of its "war on drugs."

 The timing is simply too good, and the compromise is so perfect, one cannot help but suspect, as noted in the BBC article above, that there may have been some "impurity" in the selection process or the reasons for the decision.

 The Nobel Prize, particularly the highly political Peace Prize, receives recommendations from anonymous influential people around the world and carefully considers the candidates. It is unclear whether the events of yesterday and today influenced the final selection.

 However, it is certain that the timing was perfect and the most suitable person was selected.

 In the past, the committee did not award the Peace Prize to former President Reagan (although it was rumored that Reagan intended to attend the ceremony.). Although Gorbachev received the award, it was not given to former President Bush (Sr.), who arranged the Malta Summit. On the other hand, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il both received the award at the same time, as did Mandela and the current South African president.

 Former President Carter received the award, but former President Bush (son) was not. His successor, former President Obama, was given the award before he had even done anything.

 It would not be unreasonable to think that the above selection and judgment, while not necessarily arbitrary, contain a diplomatic (political) message.

 This time, however, the circumstances are different. Russia continues to attack Ukraine, resulting in a steady stream of casualties. Russian military aircraft are repeatedly approaching the airspace of NATO member states such as Estonia and Poland, and Russian drones are violating their territorial airspace, relentlessly engaging in provocative acts.

 For Sweden, which was once a "neutral" country, NATO membership is now an urgent priority. In the current somewhat international situation, it is essential to avoid incurring President Trump's wrath.

 That said, from the committee's perspective, it would be unreasonable to award the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump.

 At this time, Ms. Machado was the ideal compromise.

"55 Steps"

 The news coverage of the Michinoku Memorial Hospital incident in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, reminded me of a certain movie.

 The movie is "55 Steps." It was produced in 2017 in Germany and Belgium. It's based on a true story. I previously watched it with Japanese subtitles. A masterpiece. A wonderful work.

 I thought it was an American film. After watching it, I was surprised to learn where it was made. The original language of the film is English. The lead, supporting, and other cast members are British and American. 

 This must be the global standard. Over half a century ago, Italians made English-language films in Spain using Mexican actors.

 While it's possible that Germans and Belgians are fluent in English, it's hard to imagine a Japanese person doing something similar.

 La couverture médiatique de l'incident de l'hôpital Michinoku Memorial à Hachinohe, dans la préfecture d'Aomori, m'a rappelé un film.

 Il s'agit de « 55 Steps ». Produit en 2017 en Allemagne et en Belgique, il est inspiré d'une histoire vraie. Je l'avais déjà vu avec des sous-titres japonais. Un chef-d'œuvre. Une œuvre magnifique.

 Je pensais que c'était un film américain. Après l'avoir vu, j'ai été surpris d'apprendre où il avait été tourné. La langue originale du film est l'anglais. Le personnage principal, les seconds rôles et les autres acteurs sont britanniques et américains.

C'est sans doute la norme mondiale. Il y a plus d'un demi-siècle, des Italiens tournaient des films en anglais en Espagne avec des acteurs mexicains.

 S'il est possible que les Allemands et les Belges parlent couramment l'anglais, il est difficile d'imaginer un Japonais faire la même chose.

 La cobertura periodística del incidente del Hospital Conmemorativo Michinoku en la ciudad de Hachinohe, prefectura de Aomori, me recordó cierta película.

 Se trata de "55 Pasos". Se produjo en 2017 en Alemania y Bélgica. Está basada en una historia real. La vi previamente con subtítulos en japonés. Una obra maestra. Una obra maravillosa.

 Pensé que era una película estadounidense. Después de verla, me sorprendió saber dónde se había rodado. El idioma original de la película es el inglés. El reparto principal, secundario y demás es británico y estadounidense.

 Este debe ser el estándar mundial. Hace más de medio siglo, los italianos hicieron películas en inglés en España con actores mexicanos.

 Si bien es posible que alemanes y belgas dominen el inglés, es difícil imaginar a un japonés haciendo algo similar.

Doctors Covering Up a Murderer and the Brave Hospital Staff Who Blew the Whistle

 In the Michinoku Memorial Hospital case that came to light this year in Japan, the hospital director (a physician) and his younger brother (a physician) were arrested for concealing a murder that occurred within the hospital (a patient was stabbed to death with a toothbrush), explaining that the victim had "fallen," and issuing a death certificate listing "pneumonia" to the family (concealing the perpetrator). It was revealed that the brothers' cover-up was meticulously carried out.

 Following this, one horrifying story after another began to emerge. Patients were routinely physically restrained overnight by tying their hands and feet to their beds (without following any paperwork or other procedures, likely to avoid leaving any "evidence" behind). An elderly "doctor" suffering from severe dementia (who was unable to speak or sign) was forced to write death certificates, listing "pneumonia" as the cause of death for most patients. Nurses were threatened, telling each other, "There are plenty of people who can replace you." Rumors circulated that nurses who defy doctors would be prevented from transferring to other medical institutions. Other rumors emerged one after another.

 It certainly gives the impression of an abnormal hospital. 

 But when Japanese people, who are accustomed to the common sense of Japanese monkeys, read this news, would they have thought that out of the tens of thousands of medical institutions in Japan, this hospital was the only one with the above-mentioned conditions? Most Japanese people probably thought that this was just the tip of the iceberg, and that there were many other similar medical institutions.

 This incident came to light when a hospital employee blew the whistle on the police. Unfortunately for the defendant brothers, their crimes were discovered unexpectedly (in fact, both the hospital director and the younger brother have denied the charges to the police and prosecutors, and have also denied them in criminal trial).

 In a village full of Japanese monkeys, we Japanese are learning that it is almost impossible for humans to speak up. Occasionally, news reports emerge of whistleblowers filing lawsuits after suffering despicable and unfair treatment for their whistleblowing. 

 However, Japanese people who are willing to fight to that extent are extremely rare.

 Aren't there many Japanese people who believe that most "scandals" at Japanese medical institutions are covered up through false explanations and medical certificates? In reality, aren't there many people who know that medical crimes are rampant on a daily basis in this country? Aren't there many people who have had similar experiences or heard or seen similar stories? (People who have been hospitalized, their families, hospital staff such as nurses and mental health and welfare workers, etc.)

 As experts pointed out on "Close-up Gendai," which aired on terrestrial television at 7:30 p.m. on October 8, Japanese hospitals are "black boxes," and this "black box" is said to be a "necessary evil" (not a perception, but a statement), and hospitals like the one described above are by no means exceptional.

 In fact, this level of "scandal" and cover-up is not uncommon in Japan's medical institutions (in the Gunma University Hospital incident, it was only after seven people were killed during surgery that the police finally took action and doctors "began investigating"), educational institutions (the teacher who straddled a student who had collapsed from heatstroke during a kendo club activity and beat him to death was not charged with a crime, and still works for the Board of Education and receives a salary as a civil servant. The man who threw a girl who had just entered junior high school and joined the judo club with a judo technique, leaving her unconscious and in a vegetative state, was not charged with a crime and is still living a comfortable life somewhere, anonymously. are enjoying this. Does any Japanese person know of a case where a school properly "investigated" a student who committed suicide or was bullied to death?), nursing homes (in one case, nursing staff killed bedridden, immobile elderly people by throwing them out the window one after another, and in another case, the director of the nursing home "investigated" only after the third person was killed and the police finally got involved. In cases of elderly abuse in nursing homes and hospitals, patients' families secretly install tiny cameras to create "evidence," which they then take to the police, and the facility finally "investigates" it.). 

 This is an everyday occurrence and is completely normal.

 In my personal life, I have also had many experiences similar to those described above from Japanese monkeys (I'll write about them here someday when I feel like it. It's a pain to write about because I've experienced so many things...).

 What surprised me this time wasn't the "scandal" at the hospital or the unscrupulous doctor's cover-up, but the news that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had issued an "improvement order" to this hospital, marking the third such case nationwide.

 This is apparently the third such case in the past 80 years in this country with a population of nearly 130 million, one of the world's leading economies, and tens of thousands of medical institutions.

Doesn't this number seem far more frightening?

 From a young age, we "Japanese" are raised (almost silently) at home and at school to live as "monkeys who see nothing, speak nothing, and hear nothing" (the Japanese monkey's greatest virtue, "respect for harmony"). 

 The Japanese monkeys in monkey shows (a traditional Japanese art) never bare their fangs at their breeder.

"Silence is the golden age."

This is the typical way of life for "Japanese" people in Japan's monkey village, where many of the same faces gather.

The US President's Skillful Negotiating Tactics

 The US President's sudden tariff war is likely swirls of controversy within the US, but from the perspective of observers on the other side of the globe, his negotiating tactics appear to be exceptionally skillful.

 After suddenly making outrageous demands that confused the entire world, he also cleverly imposed a 90-day suspension to allow time for consideration.

 The choice of Japan, an ally and an Asian country, as the first partner in these outrageous tariff negotiations was also a success. When Japan was the world's second-largest country, the US and Japan were at each other's throats and engaged in fierce, tough negotiations under the Reagan, Bush (Sr.) administrations (Japan-US Structural Initiative), and Clinton administrations (numerical target setting). The intense negotiations between the two countries, which account for 30% of the global economy, attracted worldwide attention. Choosing this country first and then crushing it was a powerful example to other countries. The US president was also able to push ahead with a hard-line stance because Prime Minister Ishiba was a rival of former Prime Minister Abe and was disliked by the former prime minister; because Ishiba was part of a minority faction within the LDP and had a weak base within the party; and because the LDP had lost its majority in the House of Representatives election and was now a minority ruling party.

 It was also a clever tactic to make automobiles and rice the main topics of discussion just before the House of Councillors election. In Japan, rice prices were soaring and there was a serious rice shortage, and the ``rice riots'' were being dealt with by a ``rice minister.'' It would be tantamount to suicide for the LDP to make promises that would disadvantage the automobile industry and agricultural cooperatives just before a national election. At that time, the message was, ``You don't want to buy American rice, do you? If you don't want to be attacked over rice, show us something else!'' It was also clever how the US president presented the American people with a list of tariff rates he was demanding from each country, portraying himself as a fighter fighting for the interests of the American people. And when, in the midst of tariff negotiations with Japan, he psychologically intimidated them by posting on social media listing the outrageous tariff rates, it was also extremely effective. Everything was brilliant.

 Meanwhile, Japan was pathetic, with the ruling party suffering a major defeat in the House of Councillors election, losing its majority in both houses for the first time since the founding of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Prime Minister Ishiba being dragged down. Everything was completely destroyed and it ended in disaster.

 As an old man, I can't help but think, "If we had had the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of the 1980s, this wouldn't have happened..."

The end

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/07/economy/trump-letters-tariffs

Trump announces new tariffs of up to 40% on a growing number of countries

CNN

 6 min read 

Updated 2:39 AM EDT, Tue July 8, 2025

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/22/business/japan-trade-agreement-us

Trump announces ‘massive’ trade agreement with Japan

CNN

 6 min read 

Updated 4:53 AM EDT, Wed July 23, 2025

Doctor Leaves Operating Room Saying "I'm Going to Pick Up My Bonus"

Doctor Leaves Operating Room Saying "I'm Going to Pick Up My Bonus" = Wuhan [Social News] 2011/08/16 (Tue) 11:50

 On the 12th, a doctor at Zhongnan Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University in Wuhan, Hubei Province, reportedly said, "I'm going to pick up my bonus," and left the operating room. The China News Service reported.

 According to a 61-year-old female patient, during an endoscopic surgery to remove an intestinal polyp, the doctor told a nurse, "I'm going to pick up my bonus," and left. The nurse instructed the patient, "The endoscope is inside you, so do not move." The doctor returned about 30 minutes later.

 According to the patient, the surgery, which should have taken about 30 minutes, took three hours, including when the doctor was absent. After the surgery, she developed a high fever of 39.3 degrees Celsius, and continued to experience anal bleeding for several days. Although pre-operative examinations indicated that four polyps would be removed, more than a dozen incisions were made.

 The doctor who performed the surgery explained, "The intestines are long and winding, so some polyps cannot be found during an examination. We are proceeding carefully with the surgery to ensure accuracy. The bleeding is due to the patient's hemorrhoids."

 When asked about how he had left the patient during surgery, saying he was going to collect his bonus, the doctor reportedly said, "If the surgery is long, I sometimes go to the bathroom. Three hours is still on the short side. I have performed surgery that took a whole day. On that occasion, I went to eat with the endoscope still inside the patient's intestine, and continued the surgery when I returned."

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2011/08/16 (Tue) 11:50:08 [Searchina] http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2011&d=0816&f=national_0816_082.shtml

 Sorry for sharing this old news article.

 This is no laughing matter, but it is a funny story, so I've reproduced it here.

 It may seem like a funny story, but the specific name of the university (hospital) is mentioned, so it's probably not a joke.

 I've always thought that when an "incident" like this becomes public, the "perpetrator" is interviewed, the newspaper reports it, and the article is then posted in Japanese on a major Japanese portal site (which is a foreign country), so I get the impression that freedom of the press and disclosure of information are more advanced in China than in Japan. 

 In Japan, stories of this magnitude would not be reported in the newspapers (unless it becomes a criminal case or civil lawsuit).

Osaka-Kansai Expo and the Ukraine War

  To date, I have not seen any articles in major media outlets, including newspapers, news agencies, and television stations in Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, that point out the historical causality between the Osaka-Kansai Expo (hereinafter referred to as "Expo 2025") and the Ukraine War. 

 Of course, I am not the only one who has checked all the news articles and television reports from media outlets around the world; I only come across a small portion of them in my personal life, so it may have already been pointed out somewhere. However, since I have not yet come across any, I would like to point it out here.

 It's not that big of a deal.

 On November 23, 2018, at the 164th General Assembly of the BIE, a vote was held to decide the host country for the 2025 International Registered Exhibition (or World Exhibition, or World Expos). It was effectively a one-on-one battle between Osaka and Yekaterinburg (Russia), with Osaka winning (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2025). 

 If Russia had won, the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 might not have taken place.

 This is because Russia has never hosted a registered exhibition (a "general exhibition" under the old treaty). Russia is very determined to host a registered exhibition.

 In fact, Russia took Dubai to a runoff vote at the BIE General Assembly held on November 27, 2013.

 Russia was also scheduled to run for the 173rd BIE General Assembly held on November 28, 2023 (though it withdrew its candidacy, prioritizing the war in Ukraine).

 Major developed countries such as the UK, France, the US, Italy, Germany and Japan have hosted expositions many times in the past (Osaka-Kansai Expo will be Japan's sixth, with three registered expositions (formerly known as general expositions) and three special expositions (now recognized expositions)), so it may be difficult to understand why they are hosting an exposition, but for Russia, hosting an exposition is a long-cherished dream and could be a golden opportunity to boost national prestige. It would also be an opportunity for the Russian president to impress upon the Russian people that he is a wise, powerful and absolute leader who will maximize the benefits for the Russian people and lead Russia back to becoming a superpower (remember "Putin's Olympics").

 I cannot imagine what kind of event "Putin's Expo" will be, but that in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. To varying degrees, expositions, like the Olympics and the soccer World Cup, are being used to boost national prestige, especially outside developed countries, and in a sense, they are being used to alleviate (potential) international discontent. It can also be said to function as a legal institutional device for disgruntled elements to let off steam.

 We still remember the time when the Russian president deliberately waited for the Beijing Winter Olympics, held in a friendly country, to close before launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This was an unprecedented way for a powerful nation to launch a unilateral, all-out war of aggression against a weak neighbor, timed to coincide with the end of a sporting event being held in a third country.

 It is unclear whether the Russian president feels he has owed the Chinese president a favor, but China must be grateful.

 China, too, has had a string of major national events planned, including the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2010 Shanghai Expo (a registered Expo), and the 2022 Winter Olympics, so there was no opportunity to invade Taiwan. Conversely, it can be seen that by gifting China with these events, it has curbed any unrest.

 countries that achieves outstanding economic development while its politics, administration, judiciary, and education remain largely unchanged inevitably faces structural internal contradictions and widens the gap between rich and poor.

 In such countries where a dictatorial regime is unable to even vent political anger, it becomes necessary to provide a compensatory sense of satisfaction to members of a social class who are dissatisfied, resentful, jealous, and feel unfair by helping them to identify with a "strong and great homeland."

 Experts from developed countries may see this satisfaction as a way for less oppressive social classes to be deceived by the illusions spread by authoritarian rulers and used for political mobilization. However, in today's world, where the majority of people still live with the nation-state as the core of their political identity, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the subjective satisfaction that comes from identifying with the glory of the nation increases social inclusion and brings about political stability. Rather, it is necessary for leaders of such countries to provide legitimate and productive means of promoting national prestige. It can also be said that providing opportunities for such means is desirable for international peace. 

 In countries like those mentioned above, even if their economies have developed rapidly and they have achieved a mass consumption society similar to that of Western countries, other aspects of their lives are not so easily changed; in fact, they often end up with a time bomb inside their own country.

 

 Now that so many Ukrainian citizens have been brutally murdered, their homeland has been destroyed, and millions have been forced to flee their homeland and become refugees, it is pointless to talk about "what ifs," but if Russia had won the Expo in 2020 or 2025 and "Putin's Expo" had been realized, there is a chance that the invasion of Ukraine might not have taken place.

 To the Ukrainian people enduring the flames of war, Expo 2025 was nothing more than a "useless, internationally insignificant, self-indulgent World's Fair" being held on the other side of the world, but if it had been held in Russia, the fate of the Ukrainian people might have been different.

 That's all.