Jake Adelstein's Blog, page 94

Shafuu 101–Choosing a company for the new generation

Learning Japanese business culture is always a hot topic for those looking to deal on this side of the Pacific, but little do many know that Japanese young adults are almost just as confused by the the traditions and hype surrounding the complex world of Japanese shafuu.

In Japan, corporate culture amongst established companies is not something that is organically developed or that reads from the pages of a self help book. Traditionally there have been two kinds of companies: 体育会系...

All eyes on Hatoyama–his fashion, at least

At a charity fashion show in Dec. 2009 (via Mainichi)

While Prime Minister Hatoyama's approval ratings continue to sink, it seems attention paid to his sense of style is at an all-time high, as most recently pointed out by this article by CNN correspondent Kyung Lah.

Hatoyama, whose wife garnered almost more attention than he did during the election last year with her "Venus" and "eating the sun" statements, has always dressed a little unusually–though we have to wonder if Miyuki is the one...

Upcoming event: End Modern-day Slavery

Heads up to all our Japan-based readers!

For its latest event, Polaris Project will host author Jake Adelstein and other representatives for an evening on Thursday, May 27 to speak on issues related to human trafficking and crime in Japan.

Place: Tokyo 21c Club, near Tokyo Station

Time: 7-10pm

Entry: ¥5,000 (Soft drinks and a light buffet will be served)

RSVP is required in advance as seating is limited to 90 people

Please RSVP to events@polarisproject.jp

Click here to view the flier.

About Polaris ...

Anticlimactic weekly roundup

Excuse us for the lull, but it was the sunniest Golden Week in 25 years, and while Jake was out doing the rounds in New England and soaking up more juicy content for a future report, the JSRC base back in Japan was getting our fill of vitamin D for the spring.

As the rest of the country was on vacation during the first half of the week, there was not a lot to be missed. And with the DOW and Greece pulling unforseen tricks out of their sleeves, the latter half will likely be spent avidly...

Fuzoku Friday: Desire proves profitable option in real estate sector

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Upcoming Event: An education on the way of the journalist

For those in the area, the University of New Hampshire will be hosting Jake Adelstein this Thursday, April 28, from 7-9pm.

Tokyo Vice: An Education on The Way of the Journalist

An evening with Jake Adelstein, investigative journalist and author of Tokyo Vice

Thursday, April 29 7-9 p.m

Richards Auditorium

(Murkland Hall G115)

Jake Adelstein has experienced the dark side of Tokyo's urban culture and emerged to tell the tale in Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Starting ...

Not a good week for the big guys

The stolen Peko-chan mascots, from the Sankei News site

In unusual yakuza-related news, April 23 saw the sentencing of an ex-Yamaguchi-gumi higher up for a crime that's worth a chuckle. According to Sankei News, You Inaba, 43, was sentenced to six years in jail for stealing 10 "Peko-chan" statues from Fujiya stores between May 2008 and February 2009 in Wakayama, Osaka and other cities. When laying down the charges, prosecutors said that Inaba "has had a huge effect on society because of the...

Fuzoku Friday: Girls with unhappy parents more likely to do compensated dating: Aichi police survey

The Asahi Shinbun posted an article about a survey done by the Aichi Prefectural Police regarding enjo kosai, or the practice of school girls exchanging companionship and sexual favors for money and gifts. According to the article, the survey focused on 100 girls between the ages of 13-19 who had been caught participating in deai-kei online dating sites.

Nearly 70%, or 67 girls, said that they would never want to create a family environment like their parents have compared to 18% of 100 girls ...

And now for something hairy: A new gizmo and a short story about body hair and Tanuki (badger dogs)

How much body hair is enough?  How much is not enough? Why is it good to have plenty on your head but not on your legs? Why do American adult films have a prevalence of women with completely shaven pudenta? Why do Japanese women tend not to shave their pubic hairs?

What started me on this chain of serious pontification, was a tweet from one of my favorite journalists covering Japan, Hiroko Tabuchi. (@hirokotabuchi if you want some good japan related tweets to read).  The tweet in question...

Yakuza and Pushing Their Buttons

I was going to visit a former yakuza boss in the hospital, a few weeks ago. He was dying of lung cancer and the doctor had given him a few weeks.  I called up Mr. Green-river, still a mid-level gang boss and we agreed to go visit him together, since we both were friends with him. I decided I'd go to Mr. Green-river's place with Mochizuki-san, former yakuza boss. Mochizuki-san is still working for me as a driver and bodyguard.

Anyway, he drives us to Mr. Green-river's condominium in a fancy...