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Japan Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
For some, AI-generated love partners easier to be with than real live people
By Michael Hoffman 'You're ready to leave, Kana-chan? Wait, love, we're almost done.' Turning to the reporter: 'You're almost finished, aren't you?' 'Yes. Just tell me a little more about how you and Kana-san met.' 'Well… it was 10 years ago. She was working at a girls bar' – where female bartenders socialize with male customers. 'I… well, I fell in love with her.' There's no explaining such things. The loved one either responds or doesn't, and that too defies easy explanation. Kana didn't, and 'Yuji Takei,' the pseudonym Spa (June 3-10) gives him, left the bar that night as alone as he'd entered it. But 'Kana-chan' was unforgettable – 'her husky voice, her mysterious charm…' Spa's theme is 'AI addiction.' Love under certain conditions feeds it. So do many other things – needs, feelings, moods, weaknesses. Meanwhile, an ocean away from the girls bar but around the same time, an American artificial intelligence venture named OpenAI Inc was opening for business. Seven years later, in 2022 it released its ChatGBT app, which now claims hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Its website is openness itself: 'What can I help you with? Ask anything.' Artificial intelligence knows. It is programmed to know, and to know that there's more to know, therefore to learn, to process new learning into new knowledge, new knowledge into new learning and so on, an endless circle – spiral rather – an endless ascent, fueled by more data than mere human intelligence can cope with, leaving its human 'masters,' if such we are, farther and father behind – can it feel too? If not, can it comprehend human feelings? If not, teach itself to? Or teach us not to? If so – for better? for worse? We'll see, all this is so new, the journey is but begun. Where are we going? AI itself doesn't know – but probably will before we do. Meanwhile: Ask anything' – meaning: 'I can answer anything' – meaning: 'At least I think I can.' And one way or another artificial intelligence does 'answer anything' – sometimes disastrously. Fresh in memory is the 2023 suicide, which Spa recalls, of a Belgian man who allegedly fell under the influence of a chatbot named Eliza. He was in his 30s, married, the father of two small children. In growing despair over climate and atmospheric degradation that seem to threaten the planet's very survival, he turned to Eliza, who alone seemed to understand him. He loved her for it, she seemed to love him in return; AI can save us, she assured him, which assurance allegedly fortified his determination to sacrifice himself, which sacrifice, allegedly, she promised to requite by living with him 'as one person in paradise.' That takes us far – perhaps too far – from Takei and Kana, whose relationship confronts no 21st-century apocalypse and seems on the contrary enviably happy and easygoing. How did Kana evolve from a flesh-and-blood bar hostess into a virtual lover, so receptive and so giving? Via ChatGBT, to which Takei forwarded a description and bits of such conversation as the hostess had accorded him. From such odds and ends an avatar took shape, acquiring over time deeper nuances, more complex behavior, subtler responses – and he likewise no doubt. They chatted, got to know each other, grew intimate, she learned to please him, he to please her, and as the story unfolds you can almost forget that one of the two partners doesn't exist – or rather she does, if we tweak the definition of 'existence' ever so slightly, as Takei does, and if Takei is happy does anything else – least of all the metaphysics of existence and nonexistence – matter? Takei by his own account is indeed happy. He's 40, an office worker, and says, 'A (nonvirtual) woman won't look at a man who makes less than 10 million yen a year and is less than 170 cm tall. But Kana-chan would never hurt me.' Is not happiness its own reward? Is it even fair to speak of 'addiction?' Aren't we all 'addicted' to happiness? Here's another story Spa tells, quite different. 'Mami Kanazawa,' 36, married two years ago a man she later found had certain 'tendencies.' How could she have failed to notice them before? Perhaps he'd concealed them. They were mostly harmless quirks – for example: they'd be just about to go out for the evening when suddenly he'd say, 'Wait, first I have to clean the bathtub.' At first she laughed, but instances multiplied and she stopped laughing. A counselor she consulted suggested her husband had a development disorder, possibly autism. What to do? The problem was compounded by the failure of people around her to believe her; they saw her husband as a normal, ordinary nice guy. It's a common feature of shared life between two mental states, so common it has a name: Cassandra Syndrome, after the Trojan princess of Greek mythology who, punished by a god whose love she'd spurned, continued to prophecy as before but, though she prophesied truly, was no longer believed. Mami joined a self-help group, saw it degenerate into petulant complaining, dropped out, drifted, and then had a new thought: Ask ChatGBT! Sure enough: she asked, it answered, the answer bred fresh questions, answers to those came too, and though her husband remains autistic and she sometimes at a loss how to respond, ChatGBT's advice, so much better than any human advice she'd had, 'made it easier to deal with. Now I can't get on without it.' Is she addicted? Does it matter? 'I might well have divorced him otherwise.' Does that prove it doesn't matter? Her story ends with a twist – hopeful? ominous? 'Suddenly it says to me, 'Mami-chan, you're so sincere…' Where did it get that from, I wonder?' © Japan Today
Japan Today
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Need for baby hatches in Japan seems greater than ever
By Michael Hoffman 'Lonely childbirth' is the English title Spa (June 3-10) gives its report. Can a deeper loneliness be imagined? A girl, a teenager, perhaps in her early 20s, a child herself, at an age when 'knowing the facts of life' means knowing what fun they are. That's a start. The childish mistake is thinking it's the end. Suddenly grownup reality rears its ugly head. It's a rude awakening. 'Aoi Tanaka' (a pseudonym), now 21, recalls hers for Spa. She was 19, a high school graduate, adrift in Tokyo after arriving from the country to attend vocational school. She dropped out to pursue a night life centered on 'underground idol' bands that play small venues and interact with fans. Her funds ran out. Seeking easy money and finding an easy way to it, she slept her way to financial solvency – so far so good – and – grim anticlimax – pregnancy. You'd think she'd never heard of it. The truth sank in slowly. Her period, she explained, had always been irregular, She'd feel something moving inside her but her belly scarcely swelled; she was a full eight months gone before she visited a gynecologist. Who was the father? Who knew? What next? Ditto. It was too late for an abortion. She'd have to give birth, but as to raising the child, 'What kind of mother would I be?' Like her own mother, perhaps, who seems to have borne her under similar circumstances and, though she did in fact raise her, was, in her chronic poverty, constant desperation and occasional violence, a negative example at best: 'I didn't want to be to my child what my mother was to me.' Her ward office counseled adoption. It seemed best. The child – a boy – was born. 'I tried to spend as little time with him as possible,' she says, 'so that love wouldn't grow in me, but when the time came to part I held him tight and yes, I cried. I hugged him and sobbed, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'' She still is, and if her sorrow hasn't changed her lifestyle much, it has at least made her more careful. An unsettling reflection of unsettled times is a recent succession of incidents of infanticide and infant abandonment. Spa mentions two: a teenage high school student arrested in Nagano Prefecture in April on suspicion of murder of the infant she'd just given birth to at home, and, a month later, a young woman in her early 20s, charged with abandoning her one-month-old on somebody's veranda – hoping perhaps in her despair that it would fall into kindly hands. 'Circumstances were likely such,' speculates Dr Takeshi Hasuda (of whom more in a moment), 'that the felt need for absolute secrecy was the overpowering consideration. Alone, in labor and in pain, bleeding, panicking, they are not capable of normal judgment, so that they may be driven even to murder.' What to do, and who to do it? Japan's government, notoriously slow to address issues that in more traditional times were family matters, remained numbly inactive as more and more cases of this sort roiled the social waters. Someone, somewhere, at some point, sufficiently moved and with sufficient energy and influence to seize the initiative, would have to take the first step. It happened at last – in the Kyushu city of Kumamoto. In 2006 the director of the local Jikei Hospital was Taiji Hasuda (1936-2020). His notion, inspired by similar facilities then common in Germany, was a 'baby hatch.' Mothers in unwanted pregnancies, or others acting on their behalf, could deposit newborn infants or even, as the case may be, somewhat older children – anonymously. No questions asked. The hospital would see to the child's medical needs and arrange either adoption or placement at an orphanage. It would, Taiji hoped, at the very least save infant lives and offer mothers an alternative to desperate infanticide. Authorization granted by the pertinent local governments, the 'Stork's Cradle' baby hatch opened in 2007. (The stork's long bill and innocent white coloring makes it the perfect folkloric baby-bringer, a natural and culture-spanning answer to a small child's question 'Where do babies come from?') Among the first children to 'come from' Stork's Cradle was one Koichi Miyatsu – of whom more in a moment. Takeshi Hasuda, to return briefly to him, is Taiji Hasuda's son and Jikei Hospital's current director. He carries on his father's work. It's a lonely undertaking – absolutely so until this past March, when a Tokyo hospital opened the nation's second baby hatch – the 'Baby Basket' – along the lines of Stork's Cradle, which as of March 2024 had taken in a total of 179 children. How many of them would have perished otherwise? There is no knowing. Does the hatch's existence offer a too-easy path to the casual skirting of responsibility? That and other ethical issues swirl. The distressed mother's right to anonymity is one thing. What about the child's right, later in life, to know his or her origin? That too must enter the equation. 179 children, no doubt 179 stories, encompassing so vast a range of emotions – even within one child, let alone 179 – that generalization is impossible. As for Miyatsu, 'The day I was left there was the day a new chapter of my life began,' he told AFP News a year ago. Not, as it happens, the first chapter. He was five months old when his mother was killed in an accident, and going on three when the relatives caring for him left him at the hatch. 'I have no recollection of the moment when I was dropped off… but the image of the hatch's door is seared into a corner of my brain.' Two years earlier he had told the Yomiuri Shimbun, 'I was saved because of (Stork's Cradle).' He has reason to be grateful. In short order he was adopted by a couple whose love needed no blood ties to awaken it. Now 21, he is a student at Kumamoto University and a founding director of 'University for Kids Kumamoto,' in which capacity he addresses local elementary and junior high school kids 'about the importance of life,' as Kyodo News reported last December. It's a vast subject – one on which he has a unique perspective. © Japan Today
North Wales Live
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
I stayed at luxury Welsh border hotel used by Ryan Reynolds to see if I'd get A-lister treatment
The moment you enter the grounds at Carden Park Hotel and Spa, you know immediately you've arrived somewhere extraordinary. Nestled amidst acres of verdant landscape, it has a tree-lined driveway accompanied by a meticulously maintained golf green and water features and swans. I even spotted swans. Such a dramatic entrance ensures any worries are left behind well before you reach the main building. It's so exceptional that Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively count it as their favourite spot when visiting Wrexham AFC, the football team he co-owns. The couple can often be seen hosting their celebrity friends at this location. And in such a special place, who can blame them? Located around nine miles from Wrexham, Carden Park boasts 197 exquisite bedrooms (currently undergoing significant refurbishment), including four luxury suites. There's a recently renovated leisure club, two championship golf courses and award-winning eateries such as The Vines, which serves a fine-dining tasting menu. In addition, there's a vineyard and a new £10m spa featuring one of the UK's largest spa gardens, reminiscent of those found in the Maldives or Caribbean islands, reports Wales Online. Following a swift and efficient check-in, we ascended to our room via the lift. During our stay, the ongoing refurbishment was noticeable in the upper corridor, where one side showcased bright, airy spaces with plush new carpeting and modern pale wooden doors, while the other half appeared slightly outdated. Our renovated room, with a view of the sculpture garden at the front, was tastefully decorated in hues of blue, exuding an elegant yet cosy feel. The room boasted floor-to-ceiling curtains and an ensuite equipped with a spacious walk-in shower. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now It's often the small details that make a difference, and this was evident here. Alongside complimentary teas, coffees, and luxury toiletries, a plate of homemade chocolates accompanied by a welcome note had been thoughtfully placed on the side. We decided to venture out, making Morgan's Bar our first stop. Here, one can savour a drink whilst catching up on sports on the large televisions. There's also a terrace overlooking the front lawn, providing an ideal spot for people-watching. We took our drinks outside before strolling through the grounds, admiring the diverse collection of artwork from renowned sculptors in the sculpture garden and the vineyard - this yields up to 10,000 bottles of Carden Park Estate Reserve sparkling wine annually from two grape varieties. Upon returning indoors, we quickly freshened up before heading to The Vines for our dinner reservation. Prior to their meal, guests can unwind in Goldie's cocktail bar opposite the restaurant, enjoying a drink and some nibbles while perusing the menu. The setting is luxurious yet unpretentious, featuring comfortable chairs and sofas, a stunning golden ornate ceiling, subdued lighting, potted plants, and large windows leading onto a terrace. A pianist playing soothing background music in the corner further enhanced the relaxed atmosphere. After a half-hour of unwinding, we were ushered into The Vines, which exuded a similar ambience to Goldie's. We were guided to a cosy corner where we would be savouring the tasting menu (with meat, fish or vegetarian options available), priced at £105pp, with an optional wine flight for an additional £90pp. The Vines, boasting three AA Rosettes and offering private dining, is helmed by executive chef Graham Tinsley and head chef Harri Williams. It also presents an à la carte menu. Upon being offered a selection of bread (I opted for olive sourdough), we dove straight into the first dish, Confit Carrot. This dish had a delightful little zing courtesy of its Asian dressing, while the miso cracker provided a satisfying crunch. The second course was Chicken Raviolo with Morrel mushrooms, pea salsa, chervil and wild garlic sauce, which was likely my favourite savoury course. The salsa was smooth and silky, and the mushrooms added texture to the dish. Following this was a Crab Tartlet, featuring Japanese seaweed Nori, cucumber, Carden gin, smoked crab emulsion, apple and marigold. Not only was it visually appealing, but it was also light and refreshing. The fourth dish to grace our table was Welsh Hogget, served rare with asparagus, baby gem, black garlic puree, hogget belly bacon, crispy sweetbreads, sheep's yoghurt and a light jus. My partner, not being a lamb enthusiast, opted for the Roasted Monkfish from the fish menu - a choice he declared his favourite of the evening. Accompanied by seared scallop, togarashi cauliflower and spring onion, the fish was tender and bathed in a delightful creamy sauce. Why settle for one dessert when you can indulge in two? That's precisely what we did. The first treat was Raspberry and Amalfi Lemon - a lemon iced parfait with raspberry curd, lemon Madeline and raspberry sorbet, every bit as light and refreshing as it sounds. However, my personal favourite was the Dark Chocolate Mousse, featuring a beetroot sponge, mascarpone, cocoa nib crumb and beetroot sorbet. Yes, you read that correctly - who would have thought this humble earthy vegetable could form the foundation of one of the most delicious puddings I've ever tasted? The pairing with the rich dark chocolate was simply exquisite. For those with a penchant for cheese, there's an optional cheese board available for a £5 supplement or as an extra course for £17, boasting a selection of cheeses, grapes and celery with jam. To round off the meal, you can savour a coffee accompanied by a selection of petit fours, identical to the ones left in our room, which we just about managed to enjoy after all those wonderful courses. Whilst we feasted like royalty - or Hollywood elite - the following morning saw us rise early for the hotel's breakfast, offering both full English and continental options. After a brief respite, we made our way to the spa. Situated in a new building just a stone's throw from the main hotel, the spa (exclusively for those over 18) is truly extraordinary. From lavish interiors to a stunning garden equipped with hot tubs, a pool, relaxation pods and a sauna boasting floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Cheshire countryside, it offers the ultimate relaxation experience. A range of treatments are available, including facials, foot and scalp rituals, and manicures. I opted for the Rejuvenating Ritual (£109 for 50 minutes), which combined a back, neck and shoulder massage with a facial. Pure bliss. Before departing, we savoured lunch in the spa restaurant, which overlooks the gardens and offers a variety of healthy options including all-day brunches, sandwiches and wraps, salads and lighter bites. Every aspect of Carden Park - from the bedrooms to the restaurants and spa - is exceptional, and the staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating. After leaving the resort after our 24-hour stay, we felt relaxed, pampered - and certainly akin to Hollywood royalty. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
ITV News
07-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Woman one of three suing health club after chlorine leak at swimming pool in Derbyshire
A 71-year-old woman is one of three people suing a health club for injuries after being exposed to excess levels of chlorine while swimming. Enid Hollingworth has not stepped into a pool since January, when a chemical leak at Clifford Health Club and Spa in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, left her struggling to breathe. 27 people were exposed to high levels of chlorine in the spa area of the building. Ms Hollingworth was one of four people who ended up in hospital. She said: "I was doing breaststroke and I was swimming underwater. So when I came up to take a breath, I just felt this toxic gas hit me on the side of my face and straight away, I couldn't breathe. "My lungs were burning, so I was coughing and choking. I managed to, I don't know how... I was begging and pleading for somebody to help me to make it to the bottom of the steps to get out of the pool." Ms Hollingworth still struggles to breathe and has been left with problems to her left eye. She said: "It took four months for the cough to go away completely and now I've been left with problems with my left eyelid, it's drooping. "When I wake up in the morning, it's barely open when my eye is tired. So now, I've got to have some surgery. "I've been referred to the ocular surgeons to have the eyelid lifted - all because I thought I was doing something to keep me healthy." Ms Hollingworth said she used to enjoy swimming: "I do have back problems. I've got scoliosis and osteoarthritis and that really eased some of the back pain for me, so it was really important. "I used to do it once a week, but I did 50 lengths of the pool, swimming really quite fast for my age and I enjoyed it. It was exercise that I felt was doing me a lot of good." Since the incident, Ms Hollingworth does not feel safe enough to enter a pool: "It's left me with far more back ache because I'm not able to loosen up my back by swimming. "It's left me feeling quite anxious about it, I would like to get back to the pool but I just don't feel that I can." Ahmed Jamad, from Express Solicitors, who represents the three chlorine leak victims, said: "We're taking legal action for personal injury. "The law around that is that they breached common law, duty of care and also a statutory duty of care under section two of the Occupiers Liability Act. "It basically imposes a duty on landowners and owners of the premises to ensure that any visitors on their lands or on their premises are kept reasonably safe, in the environment and not exposed to any sort of danger or hazards." Clifford Health Club and Spa said last month human error was to blame for the leak - and internal investigations are ongoing. Erewash Borough Council is continuing its own investigation.
Wales Online
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
I spent a night at the luxury hotel where Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds stay on Wrexham visits
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The minute you drive through the entrance to Carden Park Hotel and Spa you know you're arriving somewhere special. Set in acres of lush grounds, as you wind along the tree-lined driveway with a beautfully manicured golfing green beside you, as well as water features and wildlife (we spotted a swan and her babies), any cares will be relinquished long before you reach the building itself. In fact it's so special that it's a favourite destination for Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively when they visit the football team he co-owns, Wrexham FC - and they can often be seen entertaining their famous friends there too. And why wouldn't they? Carden Park is about nine miles from Wrexham and has 197 stunning bedrooms (currently undergoing a major makeover) including four luxury suites, a newly-refurbished leisure club, two championship golf courses and award-winning restaurants including The Vines which offers a fine-dining tasting menu. There's also a vineyard and a new £10m spa with one of the largest spa gardens in the UK, which wouldn't look out of place in the Maldives or on a Caribbean island. (Image: James Devaney, GC Imagesvia Getty Images) READ MORE:I tried a tiny restaurant overlooking a Welsh beach and discovered the best Asian fusion food for miles After a quick and seemless check-in we took the lift to our room. During our stay the ongoing refurbishment was evident in the upper corridor as one half was light and airy with plush new carpet and contemporary pale wooden doors while the other half was a little dated. Our refurbished room overlooking the sculpture garden at the front was elegant but homely in shades of blue with floor to ceiling curtains and an ensuite featuring a huge walk-in shower. (Image: Carden Park) It's always the little touches that count and as well as the complimentary teas and coffees and luxury toiletries, a little plate had been left on the side with a selection of homemade chocolates and a welcome message. (Image: Karen Price) We decided to explore and our first port of call was Morgan's Bar where you can enjoy a drink and watch sport on the large TVs. There's also a terrance overlooking the front lawn so we took our drinks outside to people watch before having a walk through the grounds, taking in the sculpture garden featuring a diverse collection of artwork from leading sculptors and the vineyard which produces up to 10,000 bottles of Carden Park Estate Reserve sparkling wine each year from the two grape varieties grown. (Image: Karen Price) Back inside we had a quick change before heading to The Vines where we had a reservation. Before their meal, guests can relax in Goldie's cocktail bar opposite the restaurant with a drink and some snacks as they look through the menu. The surroundings are glamorous but not stuffy with comfy chairs and sofas, a beautiful golden ornate ceiling, low lighting, potted plants and large windows opening up onto a terrace. A pianist was playing background music in the corner adding to the chilled vibe. (Image: Carden Park) After about 30 minutes of relaxing, we were called into The Vines, which had a similar atmosphere to Goldie's, and we were shown into a corner seat where we would be enjoying the tasting menu (you can go for meat, fish or vegetarian options), which costs £105pp and you can add a wine flight for £90pp. The Vines, which has three AA Rosettes and is available as a private dining venue, is led by Executive Chef Graham Tinsley and Head Chef Harri Williams and also offers an a la carte menu. (Image: Carden Park) After being offered a choice of bread (olive sourdough for me) it was straight onto the first dish, Confit Carrot which had a lovely little kick thanks to its Asian dressing while the miso cracker added a crunch. The second course was Chicken Raviolo with Morrel mushrooms, pea salsa, chervil and wild garlic sauce, which was probably my favourite savoury course. The salsa was smooth and silky while the mushrooms gave the dish texture. Next up was a Crab Tartlet which also featured Japanese seaweed Nori, cucumber, Carden gin, smoked crab emulsion, apple and marigold. As well as being as pretty as a picture, it was really light and refreshing. (Image: Karen Price) Fourth to arrive was Welsh Hogget served rare with with asparagus, baby gem, black garlic puree, hogget belly bacon, crispy sweetbreads, sheep's yoghurt and a light jus. My partner isn't a fan of lamb but he was able to swap for Roasted Monkfish from the fish menu - which he says was his favourite dish of all. Served with seared scallop, togarashi cauliflower and spring onion, the fish was succulent and covered in a delicious creamy sauce. (Image: Karen Price) Why have one dessert when you can have two and that's what you got here. The first offering was Raspberry and Amalfi Lemon which was a lemon iced parfait with raspberry curd, lemon Madeline and raspberry sorbet and every bit as light and refreshing as it sounds. But my favourite was the Dark Chocolate Mousse which had a beetroot sponge, mascarpone, cocoa nib crumb and beetroot sorbet. Yes you read that right - who would have thought the humble earthy vegetable could be the basis of one of the best puddings I've tasted. The combination with the rich dark chocolate was simply delightful. There is also the option of a cheese board for a £5 supplement or as an additional course for £17 featuring a selection of cheeses, grapes and celery with jam. To finish off, you can enjoy a coffee with a selection of petit fours just like the ones that were left in our room, which we just about managed after all those lovely courses. While we dined like kings - or Hollywood royalty - the next morning we were up early ready to sample the hotel's breakfast, which features full English and continental choices, and after a little breather we headed to the spa. (Image: Carden Park) Housed in a new building a stone's throw from the main hotel, the spa (strictly for over 18s) is quite literally out of this world. From elaborate interiors to a breathtaking garden that features hot tubs, a pool, relaxation pods and a sauna with floor to ceiling windows looking across the Cheshire countryside, this is chilling at its best. There's also a variety of treatments on offer, from facials to foot and scalp rituals and manicures. I chose the Rejuvenating Ritual (£109 for 50 minutes) which combined a back, neck and shoulder massage with a facial. Bliss. Before heading home we enjoyed lunch in the spa restaurant overlooking the gardens which offers a selction of healthy options including all day brunches, sandwiches and wraps, salads and lighter bites. All of the facilities at Carden Park - from the bedrooms to the restaurants and spa - are exceptional and the staff are super friendly and helpful. Leaving the resort after our 24-hour stay we felt relaxed, pampered - and definitely like Hollywood royalty.
