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Post by Mutagen on Feb 14, 2007 10:41:28 GMT -4
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Post by Augustus on Feb 14, 2007 17:45:28 GMT -4
Not surprising. This is still a country that glosses over their role in WWII and anything they have done is toned done or conveniently 'forgotten' in their official history books.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 4:25:51 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2007 21:42:22 GMT -4
Read the Hills book, and was not impressed. I want my money back.
While his observations regarding the Imperial Family were quite spot-on, he divulged nothing we didn't know and haven't said already. It seemed to me that he merely elaborated on foreign news clippings. Nothing shocking, nothing new.
I did not care for his very apparent disregard and mockery for Shinto rituals (very disrespectful, I might add), and it really was not his place to criticize religion & lifestyle in Japan. I bought the book to read about serious gossip, not social commentary. And the back-handed snark and attempted humor contained was totally unnecessary.
He turned into an armchair psychologist by the latter half of the book, which was also unnecessary-if I want to read about clinical definitions of depression, I will go and look up DSM IV and consult a trained professional, thank you very much. But not from you, Mr. Hills, I don't need ten pages of psychological analysis.
His whole disposition reeked of an all-enlightened Westerner criticizing a culture he very clearly considers backwards and inferior in every way shape and form. I do agree with him that the gender-based bias/discrimination and patriarchial society is the source of all evil; however, he came off as very condescending and all holier-than-thou.
All in all, if you are new to the Japanese Imperial Family this might be the book to start; if you have been following the gossip for a while, this is a total waste of money. Kafka's description was perfectly spot-on.
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Post by Mouse on Aug 20, 2007 13:44:05 GMT -4
How does one become a member of the IHA, anyway?
And am I the only one who thinks a divorce would be the best thing to happen to Masako? Naruhito could remarry and sire heirs to his little heart's content. Little Aiko, meanwhile, would be off the hook. She could marry a commoner and live happily outside the royal gulag.
Really, I could see the Japanese monarchy being abolished altogether.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 4:25:51 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2007 23:21:15 GMT -4
How does one become a member of the IHA, anyway? And am I the only one who thinks a divorce would be the best thing to happen to Masako? Naruhito could remarry and sire heirs to his little heart's content. Little Aiko, meanwhile, would be off the hook. She could marry a commoner and live happily outside the royal gulag. Really, I could see the Japanese monarchy being abolished altogether. The IHA is made up of hereditary bureaucrats who mainly come from the kazoku, the royalty ranks that were established in imitation of European ranks (Duke, Count, Viscount, Baron, Earl, etc.) with Emperor Meiji who wished for a more westernized and modernized Japan, and who were abolished by McArthur. Almost all of them could trace their ancestor to noted figures in Japanese history (for example, the Ichijou, Nijou, Kujou, Takatsukasa families who are very close to the Emperor's family in terms of blood relations, and the Fujiwara family whose daughters birthed many emperors), so they are very, very proud of their background. Which is also the reason why they looked down on Empress Michiko and Princess Masako-they are "commoners." Unfortunately, divorce would not be an option. It is just not possible-it would be akin to admit that there is something wrong, and that is just done for the Japanese Imperial Family. The Japanese monarchy would not be abolished, not in our lifetime at least. They will do everything possible to preserve the Emperor's lineage. Though the young people hardly care for them, the people who still abide to traditions-the small percentage of staunch nationalists who hold the Emperor and the status symbol dear, and whose families also happen to be very powerful and influential in Japan. And you have to remember, Japan is a conformist society, where the nail that pops up is beaten down. So I doubt change will come any time soon, if at all. They don't exactly have a problem with an Empress; it's actually whom will come after her that has them up in arms about. In a patriarchial society, the Empress' son would have the surname of another family (btw, the Japanese Imperial Family does not have a surname--that's another story), and that cannot be allowed. The male heir must be born into the family, so to speak.
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Post by Sunnyhorse on Oct 14, 2007 11:59:33 GMT -4
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iClaudia
Sloane Ranger
"When love and duty are one, grace is within you."
Posts: 2,215
Mar 13, 2005 14:33:41 GMT -4
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Post by iClaudia on Oct 25, 2008 10:17:51 GMT -4
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Post by Mutagen on Jul 6, 2009 10:08:07 GMT -4
Read the Hills book, and was not impressed. I want my money back. While his observations regarding the Imperial Family were quite spot-on, he divulged nothing we didn't know and haven't said already. It seemed to me that he merely elaborated on foreign news clippings. Nothing shocking, nothing new. I did not care for his very apparent disregard and mockery for Shinto rituals ( very disrespectful, I might add), and it really was not his place to criticize religion & lifestyle in Japan. I bought the book to read about serious gossip, not social commentary. And the back-handed snark and attempted humor contained was totally unnecessary. He turned into an armchair psychologist by the latter half of the book, which was also unnecessary-if I want to read about clinical definitions of depression, I will go and look up DSM IV and consult a trained professional, thank you very much. But not from you, Mr. Hills, I don't need ten pages of psychological analysis. His whole disposition reeked of an all-enlightened Westerner criticizing a culture he very clearly considers backwards and inferior in every way shape and form. I do agree with him that the gender-based bias/discrimination and patriarchial society is the source of all evil; however, he came off as very condescending and all holier-than-thou. All in all, if you are new to the Japanese Imperial Family this might be the book to start; if you have been following the gossip for a while, this is a total waste of money. Kafka's description was perfectly spot-on. Sorry to reply so late, but I got sucked into reading Hills' book at the bookstore over the weekend. I'll give him credit for his writing and storytelling skills, but I agree with your take COMPLETELY. Some of his derisive comments about Naruhito and Japanese culture were really gross and seriously undercut his attempts to play the I'm so concerned card. I also did not appreciate the part where Hills basically ridiculed Naruhito's university thesis in comparison to Masako's, as if to strongly imply he was dumber than his wife. There were just a whole bunch of passages like that, where Hills un-self-consciously played into the "mighty whitey anoints himself savior of Japanese woman from Japanese men" canard, that really disgusted me.
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Xerox
Lady in Waiting
Posts: 363
Mar 23, 2007 21:59:04 GMT -4
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Post by Xerox on Mar 5, 2010 15:34:58 GMT -4
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hal9000
Guest
May 3, 2024 4:25:52 GMT -4
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Post by hal9000 on Mar 5, 2010 21:32:10 GMT -4
Poor little mite. Bullies are the lowest of the low. I hope those boys are punished, and I hope that she is supported when she gets back to school, and is able to give as good as she gets.
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