A Book: Kushiel’s Dart : July 29, 2009

This is a fantasy story written in 2001 by Jacqueline Carey. Recently, it has been translated into Japanese and published here.

When I started reading, I thought I had bought the wrong book as the heroine was a courtesan. Reading further, I discovered that the story seemed to be about conspiracies in an aristocratic society. I can’t be absolutely certain because the first volume was divided in three parts, and currently only the first third has been translated into Japanese. Even so, the story is interesting.

I want to read the next one soon, but I don’t know when the other two parts will be released. I seem to need to read it in English, but it would be too difficult to read the story in it's original English language as there are too many coined words and "specialized" terms for physical pleasures. Therefore, the Japanese translation is more preferable as these terms have been translated into words more easily understood by Japanese readers.

Regardless, the amazing part of the story is the elimination of Christian morals. Japanese people originally don’t hold to the same kind of morals, so those who grew up in a Christian community would feel the story is more specific or unique than I do.

Thank you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushiel
http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/books.htm

Koir, thanks for correcting my English.

General Election

Prime Minister Aso dissolved the Lower House on July 21st to prepare for a general election to be held on August 30th.

As you may know, Japanese Prime Ministers change rather quickly. Mr. Aso took the seat of Prime Minister after the two previous Prime Ministers resigned.He was elected by members of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party). Most people can’t vote when a Prime Minister is elected, as it is the responsibility of ruling party legislators.

They elect their boss, and then drag him down. This would make them appear to outsiders as nothing more than a pack of wild dogs.

Japanese people don’t attempt coup d’états or assassinations. They are meek, docile, and quiet. I sometimes watch news stories on TV of people in other countries protesting against unfair treatment. If those energetic people immigrated to Japan, the country would be changed by their behavior. I think Japanese politicians may know that, so they ban immigration from other countries.

Thank you.

Koir : "Politics make strange bedfellows, but soon they get used to the same bunk."

That's an English saying that came to mind while I read your post. It refers to the fact that political interactions seem to combine different kinds of individuals with different viewpoints, but after a short length of time they all end up behaving the same way as previous politicians. Just a little insight, Yuri.

As for the post, I changed a few sentences completely to increase their readability (to my eyes at least) but still tried to keep the central concepts. Even without revision, your strong views on the subject are very clear. It is a valuable insight.

The troubles in Japanese politics are known to some extent even in the Western world. Scandals and quick falls from power seem to be the norm. However, the feeling that people only raise someone up in order to tear them down is a universal human trait. It puzzles me why that happens so often.

The only thing I can think of as a reason is people do so in order to get their views and their desires fulfilled over anyone else's; the direct connection to the power to shape the world as they see fit, without any difficulty or repercussions. When that doesn't happen, the only thing they can think of doing is destroying what they just raised to a higher position.

I suppose I could go on, but then it would become an unproductive rant.

A very informative post, Yuri. Have a great week!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_Democratic_Party_(Japan)
Koir, thanks for the revision and the comment.

Sleeping on the Train : July 16, 2009

Many Japanese people sleep while sitting on the train; some sleep while standing up. This may be hard to believe. One of my English teachers from the U.S. said he couldn't imagine it before he came to Japan, but then he saw people doing it every morning in Tokyo.
I’ve never seen people sleeping on the train outside Japan. I wonder what you think when you see people sleeping on the train. I’ve read that some foreign men have named it the “Japanese siesta”.
When I get on the underground train in New York, I tried to sleep out of habit, but then I remembered I wasn’t in Japan and woke up quickly.
Do you sleep on the train in your country?

Thank you.

Koir, thaks for correcting my English.