Job Discussion Forums

[cafebleu]

Unfortunately Japan has done its best to destroy its heritage of temples, shrines, castles etc. I always enjoy reading Japanese progaganda (often written by bootlicking Japan industry western writers) talking about `Japan`s love of nature` etc.

If the love of nature was genuine there would not be vending machines located near historical shrines, temples, etc. Sometimes in the countryside you can find a few nice historical places but often people dump trash such as cans near there or abandoned cars, scooters, and bicycles so it ruins the effect.

A word on Dogs and Demons - somebody called it a rant but really that is not true. A rant is not logical and it does not present undeniable facts so clearly. I found the book`s information on the Bubble Economy and the banks to be the clearest account I have ever read on what really happened and why the Japanese and anybody else who lives in Japan is paying the price.

Another book I recommend in Yakuza - have to look at it again to give you the author and publisher. It gives the true history of Japan - that of reaction against the feudal system and how it produced the criminal gangs that are known collectively as the Yakuza. It, too, explains why Japan`s economy is in steep decline and much, much worse than the Japanese would have us think. This is largely due to the tentacles of organised crime groups that control about 40 percent of the economy. The Yakuza are not just people that control pachinko, and loan money and supposedly leave ordinary Japanese alone. Everything they do affects each person here economically for the worse.

If the Japanese actually tried to do something about this extraordinarily high level of criminal control of their society they might be less preocupied with relatively minor criminal activity of a minority of foreigners in Japan. But xenophobia precisely appeals because it is irrational and it allows the Japanese to tout the myth that they are more honest than other people and thus superior to other people.

[Brooks]

the Yakuza book sounds good. I`ve got to read it sometime.

Other books that look interesting that I have yet to read are Cartels of the Mind by Ivan P. Hall and Japanese Higher Education as Myth by Brian J. McVeigh.
If anyone has read these books, please post.