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 sell calls 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.

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 missing plutonium 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 Zaito budget 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

kuyo and 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

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

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