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7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights
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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.
7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights
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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
7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights
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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
7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights
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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
7/30/2019 Dogs and Demons highlights
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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