Dogs and demons : tales from the dark side of Japan / Alex Kerr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kerr, Alex, 1952-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Japan--History--1989-.

Japan.

History.

Japan--History--1945-.

Japan--Economic conditions--1945-.

Economic conditions.

Industries--Japan--1945-.

Industries.

Physical Description:

xi, 432 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Hill and Wang, 2001.

Summary:

In Dogs and Demons, Alex Kerr chronicles the many facets of Japan's recent, and chronic, crises -- from the failure of its banks and pension funds to the decline of its once magnificent modern cinema. He is the first to give a full report on the nation's endangered environment -- its seashores lined with concrete, its roads leading to nowhere in the mountains -- as well as its "monument frenzy, " the destruction of old cities such as Kyoto and construction of drab new ones, and the attendant collapse of its tourist industry. Kerr writes with humor and passion, for "passion, " he says, "is part of the story. Millions of Japanese feel as heartbroken at what is going on as I do. My Japanese friends tell me, 'Please write this -- for us.'"

Contents:

1 The Land: The Construction State 13

2 Environment: Cedar Plantations and Orange Ooze 51

3 The Bubble: Looking Back 77

4 Information: A Different View of Reality 103

5 Bureaucracy: Power and Privilege 132

6 Monuments: Airports for Radishes 145

7 Old Cities: Kyoto and Tourism 161

8 New Cities: Electric Wires and Roof Boxes 190

9 Demons: The Philosophy of Monuments 218

10 Manga and Massive: The Business of Monuments 236

11 National Wealth: Debt, Public and Private 254

12 Education: Following the Rules 282

13 After School: Flowers and Cinema 307

14 Internationalization: Refugees and Expats 335

15 To Change or Not to Change: Boiled Frog 358.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 387-419) and index.

ISBN:

0809095211

OCLC:

44727781