Dogs and Demons highlights

7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights

1/5

These are the interesting sections I noted from reading the book "Dogs and

Demons":

As Karen van Wolfren documented in The Enigma of Japanese Power in Japan's

political system the actual exercise of power is mostly hidden

pg 10

kata from martial arts apply to modern life

pg 30

kirei both lovely and neat and clean

pg 33

"What's the difference between torturing a bonsai and torturing the landscape?"

pg 37

Wakon Yosai -Japanese Spirit, Western Technology

pg 40

Ministry of Construction has its own anthem - The Utopia Song. "Asphalt blanketing

the mountains and valleys ... a splendind Utopia"

pg 50

When, towards the end of 1987 black limosines began lining up each afternoon in

front of Madame Onoe Nui's house in Osaka the neighbours thought little of it. The

cars disgorged blue-suited men carrying briefcases who dissapeared inside not to

emerge till the next morning. Nui operated a successful restraunt but she hadn't

expanded her opening hours. If fact the men from the Industrial Bank of Japan were

getting stock advice from Nui's toad whose head they pattted. Nui channel the Toad

who at one point controlled more the $10 billion making it's owner the worlds largest

individual stock investor (and bank borrower). However it only lost around 10% as it

issued buy and sellcalls unlike other institutions who lost more like 50-60%.

pg 78/101

Misistry of Finance arranged for companies to buy and hold each others shares. The

average review period for OTC listing in Japan was 5.7 years!

pg 83

The Law of No Suprises comes first in my personal Ten Laws of Japanese Life.


2/5

pg 87

tatemae(an official stated position) and honne(real intention). True forms are more

real than reality.

pg 104

So common is the staging of fake news reports that it even has its own name yarase

literally meaning "made to do it".

Uwasa no Shinso ("The Truth Behind the Rumors") - defunct magazine

http://www.ojr.org/japan/stories/060823mcnicol/

pg 113

Dorei, the manager of Japan's nuclear power program knew about 70kg of missingplutonium but didn't tell anyone about it. They claim it's gathered in pipes and

coveyers but claim they don't know where exactly or how to remove it.

pg 116

Japanese unemployment rate is a fraud. Would be 2-4% higher if measured like US.

pg 123

Japan's Environmental Agency reported spending 11 trillion on anti-global warming

projects. Most actually went on constructing and maintaining roads about 1/120

actually spent.

pg 124

There is a second Zaitobudget controlled by the MoF which amounts to as much as

60% of official budget.

Japanese surgery often requires bribary

pg 135

Joho Sakoku(a closed country for information)

pg 126

amakudari(decended from heaven)

pg 133

To see the reality of today's Kyoto, take the elevator to the top of the Grand Hotel

near the railway station and look round 360 degrees.pg 172


3/5

kuyoand tsuka(atonement tomestones) for animals and objects that humans had

thrown away or harshly used.

pg 174

Cultural Ministry has restored many temples to perfection but not for living in.

pg 179

Rigid Floor Area Ratios (Tokyo average < 2:1) but no zoning or buried cables

pg 196

The "Special Snow" school of thought were Japan's trade negotiators in the 1980's

asserted that "Japanese snow is unsuitable for foreign skis"pg 198

New Japan does not like trees.

pg 201

Singapore: try the drive from Changi Airport into downtown to see the Garden City.

pg 203

a "wartime economy operating in peacetime"

not really a large population density, the problem is land use.

pg 207

Contrast places (in Bangkok): wooden latices and tree lined enterance to Sukhotai

Hotel, gardens of Inter-Continental or Hilton, coffee in the vaults of the Hyatt in

Bangkok or view skyline in Westin Hotel.

pg 211

Only two attractive hotels in Tokyo: Park Hyatt and Four Seasons.

pg 212

Orochi loop highway in Yokota, Izumo.

pg 218

Rediculous amount of cultural halls and museums and weird buildings and big things

(there is a list)pg 224/226


4/5

Ware Tada Take Shiru"I know only what is enough"/"I know the limits and that is

enough" http://www.flickr.com/photos/37539119@N00/494752835/

pg 229

Theory of Opposite Virtues: People and Nations praise what they lack. GB "fair play",

Soviet Russia "equality", USA "moral standards", France "l'amour", Canadians

"being distinct".

pg 231

Rythm:jo, ha, kyu, zanshin(introduction, break, rush, full stop)

pg 232

63 kilo gold nugget at Tsuna, Hyogo

pg 237

Midnight run debt evasion show - "The Midnight Run Shop"

pg 270

Universities are backwards

pg 274

Takes an average of 30 years to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

pg 275

Outlying fiefs were almost independant states, Shikoku's Iya Valley not in

government control until 1920

pg 283

kumi(group)

pg 287

Textbooks not allowed to mention pizza by ministry "Pizza is not a set menu for a

family".

juku(cram schools)

pg 296

toho kyokai(refusal to attend school)pg 297


5/5

Uinversity four years of play

pg 299

Toudai is a shambles by European or American standards

pg 300

Ikenobo Senno essay on ikebana in 1542

pg 316

Dejima Island in Nagasaki Harbour for Duch and Chinese 1600-1869

pg 344

Strange Things About the Japanese (TV show) hosted by Beat Takeshi

pg 350

Jalpak (Japan's own package holiday)

pg 369

zoro-yaku(one after another medicines).

Japan has two drug inspectors

pg 373

Documents

Dogs and Demons highlights