"Haru's New Year" (Canada, 2018)

Viernes, 6 de marzo de 2026: 

 Last night, I watched the following movie in my Washitsu room.

 It was recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3) connected to a DIGA (2017 model). It aired on BS12 on January 31, 2026, at 8:40 PM. SATURDAY SHORT THEATER "Haru's New Year" (Canada, 2018, 19 minutes long, original language in English and Japanese, with Japanese subtitles for the English portion).

 We Japanese are not good at foreign languages. In Major League Baseball, the Olympics, and the Soccer World Cup, participants from countries other than Japan, young players and middle-aged and older staff, communicate normally with players, staff, and referees from various countries. 

 On the other hand, whenever I see Japanese people, they stick together only with other Japanese people and are unable to communicate with people from other countries. They turn their faces towards the ground or the feet of the other person (Japanese people cannot make eye contact with others), and only shake hands almost silently and expressionlessly. In interviews, coaches and athletes from other countries, even those from non-English speaking countries, routinely answer in English, but Japanese people speak in Japanese.

 Even on the international political stage, in Japan's case, even the Foreign Minister cannot speak English. At gatherings of world leaders such as the G7 and G20, Japanese politicians are always isolated, sitting alone with their heads bowed, or simply smiling and silently turning their faces away in greeting (which gives the impression of rudeness...).

 People of foreign descent born and raised in Japan (those with one or both parents having roots in countries other than Japan) also become typical "Japanese." Koreans, Chinese, North Koreans, and people from Southeast Asian countries often excel at foreign languages, displaying remarkable "foreign language talent" from a Japanese perspective. However, Koreans and Chinese residents in Japan, born and raised in Japan, become "ordinary Japanese." People of Indian, Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, Filipino (many of whom marry into rural Japanese farming families), and Thai descent, when they are born and raised in Japan, become "ordinary Japanese." Even those who are Caucasian or Black in appearance, when born and raised in Japan, develop the same level of foreign language proficiency as "ordinary Japanese."

 This is a truly puzzling phenomenon. I am unable to provide a linguistic, cognitive, anthropological, sociological, or genetic analysis.

 Some believers in "linguistic nationalism" might say, "That's fine," but the fact remains that Japanese people stand out. Above all, the limited opportunities for them to utilize their talents (singers, actors, etc.) are a great waste.

 A long-standing historical analysis suggests that "because Japan has no history of colonial rule, Japanese people are poor at acquiring foreign languages." However, this theory has not yet been scientifically proven (based on historical and linguistic comparisons with countries that have experienced "colonial rule").

 There is no evidence that Russians or the various ethnic groups of Central Asia are proficient in Mongolian. Ordinary Filipinos do not speak Spanish. In the "foreign dynasties" where northern nomadic tribes ruled the Han Chinese, a "Sinicization policy" was almost always adopted (the ruling ethnic group "assimilated" the ruled ethnic group).

 While there is a connection between "colonial rule" under modern imperialism and linguistic "assimilation policies" (ethnic cleansing policies under the pretext of civilization), many cases cannot be explained solely by this.

"SECURITY" (2016, USA)

Miércoles, 25 de febrero de 2026: 

 I watched the following movie in the evening in my Japanese-style room.

 It was connected to a DIGA (made in 2017) and recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3).

 It was broadcast on BS Nippon Television from 7:00 PM on July 30, 2022. It was "SECURITY" (2016, USA. English, Japanese subtitles) in the Saturday 7pm Western movie section.

 It was interesting.

 Firm will. Moral conviction. Proficient skills. Ingenuity. Leadership. Insight backed by experience. Strong perseverance.

 With these qualities, even a small, elite force can survive against overwhelming military force.

"THE STING" (1973, USA)

 Martes, 24 de febrero de 2026: 

 That night, I watched the following movie in my Washitu room.

 It was recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3) connected to a DIGA (manufactured in 2017). It was broadcast on terrestrial TV TOKYO from 2:45 on January 29, 2023. SATURDAY CINEMA "THE STING" (1973, USA. Japanese dubbing).

 It was incredibly entertaining. Just as expected.

I had seen it quite a while ago, but I couldn't remember the content or the plot, so it was like watching it for the first time.

"RIO GRANDE" (1950, USA)

Jueves, 19 de febrero de 2026: 

 In the evening, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3) connected to a DIGA (made in 2017). It was broadcast on NHK BS Premium (BS103) from 13:00 on May 6, 2022.

Premiun Cinema "RIO GRANDE" (1950, USA. Original language: English. Japanese subtitles).

 As it is a film from 76 years ago, there are a few scenes that may be problematic in terms of content when viewed from a modern perspective, but it was an interesting "period drama."

 I was amazed by the scene in which the recruits are made to ride horses "Roman-style" (whether this is true or not, but they place one foot on each of the horses' backs and gallop, making them jump over fences just like in equestrian competitions). The sense of speed is achieved by editing frame by frame, so it probably isn't as fast as in real life, but they really did it.

 The frames were moved so quickly that it was hard to tell whether it was the actors themselves or stuntmen doing the tricks (although it may have been edited that way intentionally), but the scene where one horse fails to jump over a fence and nearly falls over, and the actor quickly jumps off the backs of two horses lined up next to each other, was actually done by the actor himself. This is a location shoot that would be unthinkable today. 

 If the same thing were done today and the actor were seriously injured, it's unclear whether the insurance company would pay, and the production company could also be sued by the actors for huge damages.

 This type of acrobatic feat may have been a way for cavalry soldiers to test their bravery, but it's unclear what use it would be in fighting indigenous peoples or the Mexican army.

 The use of irrational and unreasonable "training," including abnormalities like the one described above, as a way to demonstrate bravery and endurance was also common in Japan's former Imperial Army.

 At the time this film was made, indigenous peoples were still considered savages and it was still thought that they should be exterminated by civilized white military forces, but today, the battles against indigenous peoples in Canada, Australia, the United States, and other countries are seen (in Asia) as a holocaust by white people.

"VILLAGR OF THE DAMNED" (1995, USA)

Sábado, 21 de febrero de 2026: 

 That evening, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room.

 It had been recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3) connected to my DIGA (manufactured in 2017). It aired on TV Tokyo from 1:40 PM on June 13, 2022. It was an afternoon roadshow of "VILLAGR OF THE DAMNED" (1995, USA).

 I saw this film a long time ago, but I didn't remember the content, plot, or even the faces of all the cast members, so it was like watching it for the first time.

 Children who have turned into monsters attempt to reverse the power dynamics in society by exacting harsh punishments on adults who violently oppress and control them, or who commit immoral acts driven by selfish desires.

 I watched it thinking it was an entertaining sci-fi horror film, but it could also be called a "social reform film."

 Female epidemiologist: "You've read Conan Doyle, haven't you? Holmes once said, 'When you have eliminated all possibilities, what remains is the truth, no matter how absurd it may be.'"

"ARMED RESPONSE" (2017, USA)

Martes, 10 de febrero de 2026: 

 I watched the following movie in the evening in a Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on a USB-HDD (registration number 3) connected to a DIGA (manufactured in 2017). It was broadcast on BS Nippon Television from 7pm on January 28, 2023. It was "ARMED RESPONSE" (2017, USA, English, Japanese subtitles) on the Saturday 7pm Western Movie Screening program.

 It was interesting. As expected. I watched it thinking it was a near-future sci-fi horror movie. I'm not a fan of sci-fi or horror movies, but once I understood the story towards the end, it became interesting.

"The Sweeney" (2012, UK)

Sábado, 7 de febrero de 2026: 

 This night, I watched the following movie in my Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on a USB HDD (registration number 3) connected to a DIGA (manufactured in 2017).

 It was broadcast on BS Nippon Television from 7:00 PM on September 17, 2022. It was "The Sweeney" (2012, UK, English, Japanese subtitles), a Saturday 7pm Western movie screening.

 It was interesting.

 There was a scene in which an intense car chase unfolded in a "residential area" where a large number of large trailer homes were lined up in neat rows.

 The residential area, with what appeared to be around 100 trailer homes, was lined up neatly, with space between each one, along a wide, orderly road. It didn't look like a demolition yard or a junkyard.

 However, there was not a single resident, and it felt devoid of life. I don't know whether abandoned trailer homes were collected and lined up in vacant land for a movie shoot, or whether a residential area designed for trailer homes was evacuated and the items left outside cleared away to be used for filming, but I don't think it was in London.

 In Japan, there are no "residential areas" made up of rows of trailer homes.

 There are "Yakiniku restaurants" (with private rooms) made up of many tiny "trailer homes" towed by bicycles. There are also many "Karaoke booths" (with private rooms) made up of many truck containers.

 However, as far as I know, there are no accommodation facilities or rental properties in Japan that are collections of "trailer homes."

 In Japan, there are strict regulations under the Hotel and Inn Business Act, the Minpaku Act, the Land and House Lease Act, the Fire Service Act, and numerous other health and hygiene-related laws, rules, and ordinances, making it difficult to create a "village" of simple, affordable accommodation or rental properties made up of many "trailer homes."

 In response to recent frequent incidents of Chinese tourists causing trouble in private lodgings, the Takaichi administration is preparing to submit a bill to strictly regulate private lodgings.

 In American movies and dramas, characters are often shown living in American trailer houses. In most cases, the residents describe their current living conditions as "terrible" or "miserable," describing them as being in dire straits and miserable predicaments. This sense differs from that of the average Japanese person.

 Recently, I watched an NHK historical documentary that showed people living carefree lives in numerous trailer houses scattered across the vast wilderness along Route 66, working seasonally at a gigantic Amazon warehouse.

 The program portrayed the trailer home dwellers as people in a pitiful situation, one step away from homelessness.

 However, this sense is very different from my own.

 The American trailer house life has always been something I've long aspired to. I was thinking of buying a large plot of land cheaply in the countryside, building a trailer house, generating my own electricity with solar panels, digging a well or drawing water from a nearby river, and growing vegetables in a home garden, all while living like a "weekend cottage."

 Japan does not have the vast wilderness areas of the United States, Canada, or Australia; it has little flat land, is mostly mountainous, and is heavily populated. Because Japan gets a lot of rain, plants grow quickly on any type of land, and "nature" regenerates. Naturally, there are also problems with "pests" such as insects (hornets, ticks, chiggers, etc.), wild birds, reptiles (poisonous snakes), amphibians (leeches, etc.), bears, deer, Japanese serow, foxes, martens, weasels, wild boars, and raccoon dogs.

 Japan is a world of mountains, cliffs, and valleys everywhere, so there are problems with transportation, communications, landslides caused by earthquakes, and (along the coast) tsunamis.

 Transportation costs are high in Japan, so living a "dual-base" life, frequently commuting back and forth between your home and a vacation home, can be quite costly.

 Living a leisurely and "elegant" trailer house life is difficult in Japan.

 On the other hand, trailer houses are treated as movable property in Japan, not real estate, so they are not subject to fixed asset tax and city planning tax, and there is no need to apply for building confirmation under the Building Standards Act. Because trailer houses do not have engines and are non-propelled machines, they are not subject to the same registration system as cars and motorcycles (automobile tax, automobile weight tax, automobile registration tax, vehicle inspections, and regular inspections are all unnecessary). Because trailer houses are not "real estate," there is no need to apply for ownership preservation registration. Legally, setting up a trailer house is simply the act of placing an "object" (movable property) on land, so there are no administrative procedures, taxes, or anything else. This is its greatest advantage.

 However, Japan's roads (especially in rural areas) are narrow and winding, with many mountains, rivers (bridges), and valleys, making it extremely difficult to tow a large trailer house with a large truck, as seen in American movies and dramas.

 Land with used trailer homes on it (trailer houses are treated as "movable property" in Japan, so even if the occupant thinks of it as a "home," it is sold as "land" rather than as "used house") occasionally appears for sale on online real estate sites.

 However, as mentioned above, Japan faces a number of unique and inconvenient issues, including the land, location, local conditions, transportation and communications, disaster prevention measures, boundary disputes with neighboring properties, water (high private water costs), abnormally high neighborhood association fees (a breeding ground for fraud), and mysterious (illegal) charges for various reasons.

 As a result, I still haven't been able to realize my dream of living the "trailer house life."

"Look Up, Ron" (2022, USA) & "Lone Wolf McQuade" (1983, USA).

Viernes, 23 de enero de 2026: 

 This evening, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on the built-in HDD of a DIGA (made in 2017). It was broadcast on BS12 from 9:00 PM on January 10, 2026. SATURDAY SHORT THEATER "Look Up, Ron" (USA. 2022. 16-minute feature length. Originally in English with Japanese subtitles).

 The protagonist is a real-life motivational speaker. A documentary film. A wonderful work.

 Next. It was recorded on a USB HDD connected to a DIGA (made in 2017). It was broadcast from 1:40 PM on June 16, 2022. Terrestrial TV. TV Tokyo. Afternoon Roadshow "Lone Wolf McQuade" (1983, USA).

 It was interesting. As expected. I'd seen this movie quite some time ago, but had completely forgotten the story. The location shooting, which involved risking one's life, including that of stuntmen, was very impressive.

"TOM CLANCY'S WITHOUT REMORSE" (2021, USA)

Samedi 27 décembre 2025:

 Night. Japanese-style room. DIGA (2017 model) connected, recording on USB-HDD (registration number 2). Broadcast on TV Tokyo from 1:40 PM on December 23, 2025. Afternoon Roadshow "TOM CLANCY'S WITHOUT REMORSE" (2021, USA).

 It was interesting. As expected.

 It's an entertainment film, but it has a realism that makes the viewer think, "This could actually happen."

 Russia has long had a strong image as a nation who doesn't follow the rules and behaves arrogantly, but conversely, it is also an easily exploitable "villain."

"The Naked Spur" (1953, USA)

Jueves, 25 de diciembre de 2025: 

 In the early hours of the morning, I watched the following film in my living room.

 It was recorded on a USB HDD connected to SHARP AQUOS. It was broadcast on NHKBS (BS101) from 1:00 PM on October 31, 2025. Premium Cinema "The Naked Spur" (1953, USA. Original language: English, Japanese subtitles).

 It was interesting.

 "It doesn't matter how you die. Choosing how to live is more difficult." (playing a wanted criminal).

 There was a scene in which a group of completely innocent Blackfeet people were massacred. Indigenous peoples were still treated in this way in 1950s Westerns, but this was more in line with reality in the 19th century.

🎅 Merry Christmas 🎄 "MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET" (1994, USA)

Mercredi 24 décembre 2025: 

 I watched the following movie in the living room at night.

 It was recorded on an external HDD connected to a SHARP AQUOS. It aired on TV Tokyo on August 25, 2024, from 2:45 a.m.

 SATURDAY CINEMA "MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET" (1994, USA, dubbed in Japanese).

 I'm sure I'd seen this movie on TV a long time ago, but I had completely forgotten the story, the plot, the faces of all the cast members, and even the title, so it was like watching it for the first time.

 This movie is the kind of entertainment we show children on Christmas Day. I think I also watched it as an entertaining Christmas movie back in the day.

 However, watching it now as an older person, my perspective changes a little.

 Santa Claus, a symbol of dreams, hope, peace, and prosperity, is having a fun time with a child. Then the "adult world" intrudes. This "adult world" is a world of filthy desires: money, ambition, power, status, jealousy, conspiracy, and words and actions that unfairly (sexually) degrade people. A world of hope for the future must be protected from this evil world through "justice, fairness, and democracy."

 Furthermore, the story also involves the unique issue of "American Justice" (judicial democracy, democratic justice). (From a Japanese perspective, this is interesting, as these procedures and situations would not exist in the Japanese judicial system.)

 

 These issues are portrayed humorously, resulting in a film that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age or religion.

 In the end, "justice, fairness, and democracy" triumphs. However, once the game is decided, without lingering hardship, the two sides demonstrate sportsmanship and return (move forward) together to the American world of shared values, ideals, practices, and dreams. 

 This is perhaps the ideal of the American world.

 This film can be said to embody such American ideals in a Christmas dream.

 Asia is a world of "resentment." Asian countries have to found and support their people and nations based on the modern "myth" of "resentment." This makes it difficult for us to engage with "Asia."

 The "Asia" we live in is such a distorted world, and watching this film made me feel envious. 

 "Asia" faces in the opposite direction to America.

"WILD WILD WEST" (1999, USA)

 Lunes 22 de diciembre de 2025: 

 I watched it at night in a Japanese-style room.

It was recorded on a USB HDD connected to a DIGA (made in 2017). It aired on TV Tokyo on September 6, 2021, from 1:40 PM. It was part of the Afternoon Roadshow "WILD WILD WEST" (1999, USA).

 It was interesting.

 The footage shows a steam locomotive running on the transcontinental railroad in America in 1869.

 I was amazed that a steam locomotive from that period has been preserved in working order.

"PERFECT" (Canada. 2022)

Mercredi 17 décembre 2025: 

 At night, in the Japanese-style room (Washitsu), I watched the following short film.

 Recorded on the built-in HDD of a DIGA (manufactured in 2017). Broadcast on BS12 from 9:15 PM on December 13, 2025.

 SATURDAY SHORT THEATER "PERFECT" (Canada. 2022. 25-minute feature. Original language: English, with Japanese subtitles).

 A satirical film that humorously depicts extreme content.

 Raising the "perfect human seed" is all the rage.

"The perfect soulmate," "the perfect family," "the perfect boyfriend," and "the perfect asshole."

 If someone decides they don't like the "perfect human" they've raised from the seed they purchased, they immediately eliminate him and raise the next "seed." While presented as a fun comedy, it also poses profound philosophical questions.

 To give an example from old Japanese anime, the androids created by Dr. Gero in "Dragon Ball" (who modified flesh-and-blood humans to resemble his ideal) are similar. After absorbing androids 17 and 18, "Cell" gained absolute strength and became a "perfect being" who ruled the Earth. The Saiyans (and Mr. Satan) stood up against him (Cell Game).

 The brutality of "Sōkatsu", a left-wing group (such as the Japanese Red Army and the Revolutionary Marxist League (Kakumaruha sect) that upholds ideals (perfection), is well known (see the Asama-Sanso Incident).

 Everyone knows that purges in communist countries are extremely brutal. The perpetrators have no sense of guilt.

 For humans, "perfection" means conforming to an "ideal," and "ideal" means the "right way of being." The "right way of being" means conforming to established norms. Beings that are "imperfect" are "wrong" and "do not conform to the norm," and therefore must be denied their existence. Killing living things that should not exist (imperfect living things) is the right thing to do as a human being, and is also a natural right to live a better life.

The exercise of this "right" leads to incredibly brutal acts.

 Since a "perfect self" cannot exist, ultimately, one must eliminate oneself. Or, one must destroy all of humanity.

 The final words of the film (in the TV announcement) are likely what they mean.

 We may be living in this way, unconsciously.

"November 1st" (UK, 2019)

 Jueves, 13 de noviembre de 2025: 

 In the evening, I watched the following short film in a Japanese-style room.

 It was on an external hard drive connected to a DIGA (Panasonic BLU-RAY RECORDER, manufactured in 2017). It was broadcast on BS12 from 8:15 PM on October 2, 2025.

 SHORT FILM THEATER "November 1^st" (UK, 2019. 25 minutes long. Original language: English, Japanese subtitles).

 An excellent film. As we'd expect from a British film. The lead actress's acting skills are on par with those of a master actress, making her seem like someone truly mentally ill due to PTSD. The structure is also superb. Britain continues to produce excellent short films.

 The film is set in America. The protagonist suffers from PTSD and takes tranquilizers (sedatives). It made me think that perhaps psychotherapy is more important than medication.

 Will avenging one's grudge and finding satisfaction allow one to get one's life back? Will the death penalty for the perpetrator bring solace to the victims' relatives, allowing them to live the rest of their lives in peace and meaning?

 This film delves into issues both old and new.

 The following are some of the death sentences and executions that made headlines this year.

 The incident in which 36 people were killed at Kyoto Animation astonished Japanese anime fans around the world.

Incendie criminel de Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation arson attack

Japan: Man sentenced to death for Kyoto anime fire which killed 36

25 January 2024

in Singapore and Tokyo

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68090388

　※ In February of this year (2025), the defendant withdrew his appeal, and the death sentence handed down in the first trial was upheld.

Hanging of Zama Killer is Japan’s First Execution Since 2022

Society Politics Jun 27, 2025

 The execution of serial killer Shiraishi Takahiro on June 27, 2025, was Japan’s first use of capital punishment for nearly three years.

 He murdered nine people in 2017 in Zama, Kanagawa.

 From August to October 2017, Shiraishi lured victims to his apartment after getting to know them via social media. He sexually assaulted and strangled them before taking their money and dismembering the bodies. 

 The execution is the first since that of Katō Tomohiro on July 26, 2022, for a 2008 stabbing spree in Akihabara, Tokyo.

(© Jiji.)

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02460/

Japan executes 'Twitter killer' who murdered nine

27 June 2025

BBC News, Singapore

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y05dk2p92o

Bangladesh's ousted leader Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

18 November 2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwvg99e8vdo

UN experts condemn 'staggering scale' of executions in Iran

30 September 2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgn078zlgro

【Breaking News】 Masanori Aoki (34) Sentenced to Death [Nagano, Nakano City Four-Person Murder Case] ​​Nagano District Court Lay Judge Trial | TBS NEWS DIG

Shinetsu Broadcasting Co.

October 14, 2025 (Tue) 14:07

 The Nagano District Court handed down the death sentence in a lay judge trial for the murder of four people, including a local resident and a police officer, in Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture.

 Masanori Aoki (34), a farmer from Nakano City, is accused of using a hunting rifle and a knife to murder four people, including two female neighbors who were out walking near his home and two male police officers who responded to the scene, on May 25, 2023.

 Both the prosecution and defense argued that Aoki's motive was influenced by delusions that he had been called "Botti" or "Kimoi," meaning "alone."

https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/2226885?display=1

Excerpt

【Robert Badinter】

Principled figure behind France's abolition of the death penalty inaugurated in the Panthéon. He will die in 2024.

October 10, 2025, 6:49 AM

[Kyodo News, Paris] 

 On October 9th of this year, Robert Badinter, a key figure in France's abolition of the death penalty in 1981 and who passed away in February 2024 at the age of 95, was enshrined in the Panthéon, France's national hall of fame in Paris. He was praised as "a man who inherited the spirit of the French Revolution" (Presidential Office) for promoting fundamental reform.

 Badinter served as Minister of Justice under the Mitterrand administration and achieved the abolition of the death penalty. He continued to work on the international abolition movement for many years until his later years. President Macron said at the ceremony on the 9th, "He lived a life of justice. He made humanity more free."

 To carry on Badinter's legacy, France will host the World Conference Against the Death Penalty in Paris in 2026.

 His books, translated into Japanese, include "Execution."

(Kyodo News)

https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/1688616

Excerpt

Iran reportedly executed at least 901 people in 2024, UN says

7 January 2025

BBC News

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ced8qw8q62jo

Japan death row prisoners sue government to stop hangings

29 November 2022

Getty Images Bars of a prison cellGetty Images

Hanging is currently the sole means of execution under Japan's penal code

Three death row prisoners in Japan are taking the government to court as they fight to end the practice of execution by hanging.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63791442

Public Execution of Murderer in Afghanistan. "Retribution" by Victim's Family

December 3, 2025, 9:12 AM Source: [Afghanistan, Asia/Oceania]

[December 3, AFP] 

 On December 2, the Taliban interim government in Afghanistan publicly executed a man convicted of murder and sentenced to "retribution" (i.e., to receive the same injury as the victim. In this case, the perpetrator shot the victim, so he will be executed by firing squad) for the crime. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, condemned the execution as "inhumane."

 Witnesses told AFP that the victim's family shot the man three times at a stadium in Khost, eastern Afghanistan, as thousands looked on.

 Authorities had called for people to witness the public execution on December 1.

 On the 2nd, before the public execution, Special Rapporteur Bennett stated on social media that such acts are "inhuman, cruel, and unusual punishment that violates international law" and "these practices must stop." (c)AFP

https://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3611906

Japanese version. Excerpt

"...All the Marbles" (1981, USA)

Lunes 8 de diciembre de 2025: 

 This night, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on a hard drive connected to my DIGA (made in 2017). It will be broadcast on NHKBS (BS101) from 1:00 PM on October 28, 2025.

 Premium Cinema "...All the Marbles" (1981, USA. Originally in English, with Japanese subtitles).

 It is co-starring famous actors from the "Columbo" and "Rocky" series.

 I'm sure I'd seen this film on TV a long time ago, but I'd completely forgotten the plot. At the time, I thought it was a female version of "Rocky," realizing an all-American success story.

 This may be the last time we make a film in which the "black" duo plays the villain throughout a battle between "white" and "black."

 When I watch this film now, I see it differently than I did back then.

 The behavior and actions of the "Tigers" (the name of the women's tag team) are a direct reflection of China in the Taiwan defense issue and Russia in the Ukraine war.

 "Black" is the complete villain. They have no sportsmanship whatsoever, and all they care about is winning or losing. Their only goal is to inflict pain on their opponents and achieve their own satisfaction. They don't follow the rules at all, and they have no sense of ethics. The back's staff bribe the referees. Neither the managers nor the wrestlers respect the opposing team. They are immersed in their own world, completely oblivious to those around them. They don't even show the bare minimum of respect necessary for the game to function. Their fighting spirit is driven by unjustified hatred for their opponents. They are a mass of selfishness. 

 They're willing to do anything. Anything goes.

 In contrast, the three members of the California Dolls play while thinking about how to fight within the "rules," or where and to what extent to go outside the "rules."

 The manager generously throws around "money" as an upfront investment, but does not engage in "buying" activities. He also gains the "people" on his side.

 While this is purely an entertainment film, it expresses American concepts of "war and business" and "justice and democracy" in an easy-to-understand way.

"THE ICE ROAD" (2021, USA)

Martes 9 de diciembre de 2025: 

 Tonight, in my Japanese-style room, I watched the following film.

 It aired on TV Tokyo from 13:40 on February 5, 2024. I recorded it on a USB HDD connected to a DIGA (made in 2017).

 Afternoon Roadshow "THE ICE ROAD" (2021, USA).

 It was incredibly entertaining. Truly an "indomitable man." The setting is Canada.

 Doctors who portray patients as "junkies." 

 Corrupt drug-addicted medical care due to insurance point savings and collusion with pharmaceutical companies. 

 The reality of insurance companies that are unwilling to pay insurance claims. 

 The thorough cover-up of accidents and scandals.

 A corporate culture that prioritizes profits over human life.

 All of these are issues that are problematic in Japan. "This is so Japan," I thought as I watched.

"THE PELICAN BRIEF" (1993, USA)

Martes 2 de diciembre de 2025: 

 In the evening, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room.

 It was recorded on an external HDD connected to my DIGA (made in 2017). It was broadcast on TV Tokyo from 1:35 PM on November 26, 2025.

 It was on the Afternoon Roadshow, "THE PELICAN BRIEF" (1993, USA). It was interesting.

 I had seen it once or twice on TV in the past, but it didn't feel old at all. It's hard to believe it's a film from 32 years ago. Even watching it now, it has such realism that it makes you wonder if it's based on a true story.

Go For Broke！ "二世／nisei" (USA, 2023)

 Lunes 1 de diciembre de 2025: 

 I watched the following film in the Japanese-style room that night.

 It was recorded on an external HDD connected to a DIGA (made in 2017). It will be broadcast on BS12 at 9 PM on November 29, 2025.

 SATURDAY SHORT THEATER "二世／nisei" (original title). Produced in the United States in 2023. 21 minutes long. Originally in English. Japanese dubbed version.

 This short film depicts one scene from a battle on the Italian front lines by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, an all-second-generation Japanese Americans team. It is based on a true story. It was made by the grandson of a unit member.

 It is an excellent film filled with tributes to his grandfather.

 The story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and that of Daniel Inouye (who does not appear in this film) are well known in Japan as well.  The movie "Go For Broke!" (1951, USA, black and white film) is famous, but I haven't seen it yet.

 The tactic of experimentally using units composed of prisoners of war from untrustworthy enemy countries as "vanguards" has been used in all countries since ancient times (even in ancient Rome). It was also commonly used in Japan during the Sengoku period (16th century).

 Additionally, Japan has not done this once since the Meiji Restoration. The Kantō (Kwantung) Army did have a "Mongolian" cavalry unit, but they were professional soldiers who had come to Japan of their own volition, hoping for Mongolian independence, and received specialized education and training at the Japanese Military Academy.

 I once saw footage in another documentary of President Truman gathering members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team after World War II, smilingly presenting them with awards and placing medals around their necks.

 It was President Roosevelt (FDR) who committed the worst atrocities in human history by depriving tens of thousands of Japanese Americans of almost all of their private property (it was "legal" because a "law" had been enacted by Congress. This "law" would not have been possible under modern legal principles, but modern law only applied to "humans" (i.e., white people), and modern legal principles had no bearing on animals. On the other hand, it was in line with the principles of "democracy"). FDR forcibly relocated them to a desert-like area and imprisoned them in concentration camps for four years. 

 FDR did not imprison German Americans or Italian Americans. Even the Italian Mafia lived in luxury (there is a scene in the movie "The Godfather" where they mock the Japanese military's "balloon bombs" while enjoying lavish meals.).

 Watching the video of the award ceremony above, I thought, "What a hypocrite!" He should have apologized a million times by kneeling down.

 However, as a politician, it was impossible for him to apologize to "Japanese Americans" at this time. The American public would have reacted strongly, which would have undoubtedly affected his approval ratings. No matter who he was, all he could do was smile and praise these people, who had been treated like expendable pawns, saying, "You did a good job！"

 President Reagan was the first to officially apologize. Perhaps it was because he was a "hawk" within the Republican Party that he was able to apologize to "Japanese Americans" (the American people).

 The internment of Japanese Americans is an important historical example that shows what can happen when "democracy" goes in the wrong direction.

 In addition, Japan did not forcibly relocate or deport "foreigners" such as Americans, British, Dutch, or Chinese, or imprison them in concentration camps. 

 Even during the war, Americans lived in Japan. To avoid indiscriminate urban bombing by U.S. military aircraft, they painted marks on the roofs of their homes indicating "This house is an American home." There are no known cases of Japanese people interfering with this.

"WALL STREET" (1987, USA)

 Sábado, 29 de noviembre de 2025: 

 Evening, Japanese-style room (Washitsu, Tatami). Recorded on a USB HDD connected to a DIGA (2017 model). Broadcast on TV Tokyo from 1:43 PM on April 8, 2024. 

 Afternoon Roadshow: "WALL STREET" (1987, USA). 

 A famous film that's now a classic. Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor. As expected.

 I can't remember how many times I've watched it.

 The sushi rice machine makes me laugh every time I see it. It's hygienic, but unthinkable in Japan. So American. 

 In the 1980s, when sushi was just starting to become popular, there was a debate in the US about the hygienic issue of making sushi rice (Syari) with bare hands.

In American sushi restaurants, chefs began wearing gloves to make sushi rice. This sparked controversy in Japan. Food poisoning bacteria grow quickly in living organisms, and even the slightest cut on a fingertip can transfer the bacteria to the rice (Syari) or toppings (Neta). To thoroughly prevent food poisoning, it's best to wear gloves and a mask.

 However, this is unthinkable in Japan.

 So an American invented a machine that makes rice using the same kind of machine that makes soft-serve ice cream. What a great idea!

 In Japan, footage of a young President Trump criticizing Japan in a television interview in the 1980s is often shown. Watching this film now, you can see the strong resemblance between the protagonist and the current US president.

 I am concerned that President Trump will extend his relentlessly pragmatic, profit-first attitude to the issue of Taiwan's defense. I worry that the US president is trying to balance tariff negotiations with China against the issue of Taiwan's defense.

 This attitude is also reflected in the peace terms he presented to the Ukrainian president. Recently, he dismissed peace proposals from European countries, calling them "unrealistic."

 In the United States, the Republican-controlled Congress is working hard to enact Taiwan-related legislation, accelerating efforts to engage in Taiwan's defense, provide economic assistance to Taiwan, sell arms to Taiwan, and move toward official recognition of Taiwan's sovereignty. President Trump recently signed the Taiwan Assurance Act.

 While it is unlikely that the amendment of this law, which is part of the Budget Act, will dramatically accelerate U.S. Taiwan defense policy, it certainly represents a small step forward under Congress's leadership.

 The Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian government is cunning, and it could potentially use President Trump's tariff war to its advantage. It could potentially be used to its advantage, implicitly saying, "If you speak out about invading Taiwan or side with Prime Minister Takaichi, we will not make concessions in tariff negotiations. If you want to quickly conclude the tariff negotiations, score points, and gain reelection, you must recognize the Chinese government's sovereignty over Taiwan."

 The Chinese authoritarian regime will do anything to invade its neighboring countries.

 President Trump's sense of balance is being tested.

"SYNCOPE" (Switzerland, 2023)

 Domingo, 9 de noviembre de 2025: 

 In the afternoon, I watched the following film in my Japanese-style room (Washitsu).

 It was recorded on an external hard drive connected to a DIGA (made in 2017). It will be broadcast on BS12 from 9:05 PM on November 8, 2025.

 SATURDAY SHORT THEATER "SYNCOPE" (Switzerland, 2023, 21-minute feature, original English with Japanese subtitles).

 A crazed director who has become an "artistic demon" in pursuit of the perfect success of his own artistic expression, and dancers who dedicate themselves to surviving in the world of theater.

 From an outsider's perspective, the director's actions are criminal acts that constitute assault, coercion, and confinement, and are pathological behavior that cannot be justified.

 Repeated punching of the chest and stomach is extremely dangerous, and it is questionable how necessary it is in the pursuit of "artistic" expression.

 Because it is carried out under psychological coercion, it is not an act that can be justified (or its illegality eliminated) as "self-harm" or "consent of the victim."

 The problem (the theme of this film, the issue it raises) is that the victims are prevented from speaking out.

 An outsider cannot know whether it is because they are pursuing their dreams, or for practical purposes such as status, fame, or income, or because they are placed in a state of psychological coercion in an overwhelming relationship of dominance and submission, or whether it is some kind of addictive relationship.

 If we define art here as the "realism" that arises when people work desperately, risking their lives, in Japan it brings to mind the sword-fighting scenes in period dramas.

 Some time ago, in Japan, during the filming of a period drama, when the director was forcing the actors to use real Japanese swords instead of imitation swords, one actor killed another actor with a single blow. The director's "excuse" was published in newspapers at the time.

 Perhaps it was the same psychology as the young stage director who appears in the film mentioned above.

 It's not uncommon in Japan for a theater director to use violence against troupe members during rehearsals. You might think, "There are directors like that in every country, to some extent."

 However, what's unique about Japan is that these violent directors often receive public praise precisely because of their violent acts. I won't mention any names here, but even a nationally famous director (now deceased) proudly admitted to verbally abusing and physically assaulting troupe members during rehearsals. No one spoke out against this barrage of verbal abuse and violence (or, more accurately, no "voices" existed; they were muted), and everyone cheered (or, more accurately, they only made it seem that way. Perhaps it was because they were receiving money from sponsors, theater company managers, and other related parties... I'm not sure).

 I felt a strong sense of discomfort toward such "Japanese people."

 The above situation is not limited to the entertainment and sports in Japan (a surge in complaints of power harassment occurred just before the Tokyo Olympics), but is a phenomenon that is seen all too often in all fields.