In one of the mind baffling things to happen of late, the popular Japanese internet BBS and forum, 2 channel, devoted a thread to me and the book. I suppose that I have fans in Japan and it also appears that I have a lot of people, some of them yakuza, who strongly dislike me. However, it’s nice to see the conflicting theories and opinions about the book in Japanese. It’s going to take some time for me to finish rewriting the book in Japanese and probably even longer to find a publisher in Japan who isn’t afraid of handling the book.
By the way, I was angered, a few days go, when someone posted my parent’s address on the thread, urging the Goto-gumi to pay them a visit. Not very nice. And also very typical of the low level of discourse that you often find on that BBS.
My favorite scratchings on the blog so far are the one’s accusing me of being a CIA spy, which I’ve heard before, but also allegations that I’m actually a pawn of the Yamaguchi-gumi top executives, paid off to get Goto out of the way. I’ve had some unpleasant things said about myself before, most of them deserved, but I don’t think anyone has ever accused me of working FOR the yakuza before. The person writing the blog did a nice job of collecting of what I’ve written in Japanese about the yakuza, about Goto-gumi, and what happened at UCLA. He’s also collected some supporting evidence and some of what others have written about the Goto-gumi and UCLA and myself as well. On the other hand, some of what is attributed to me, I didn’t actually write but that’s okay.
If you read Japanese, you will find some amusing sections which recreate some of the more heated exchanges I had with Goto supporters and anti-semetic conspiracy theory loving bloggers. It’s kind of a thrill to have that ultimate barometer of Japan subculture, 2 channel, actually devote a whole page to me and the book. I don’t know who put it up but thank you. どうもありがとうがございます。
Um, isn’t that a “thread” rather than a “sled”? 🙂 Whichever, kudos. Hope there’s a publisher courageous enough to handle the Japanese version (some surely must be used enough to bullets, halfbricks and speaker trucks to risk it?).
Thanks! I feel like a total idiot-because for a long time I’ve wondered “why does 2 channel call these things “sleds””—i should have figured that out. :).
If any Japanese publisher would do it, I would guess 宝島別冊。Thanks for writing in.
Congratulations on getting your own thread on 2ちゃんねる. It at least simulates what Japan might be like without 建前 and alcohol.
Thank you. Today someone posted my parent’s address with an invitation for the Goto-gumi to go visit them–not very nice. Sometimes the level of discourse there is pretty low. Well, at least I know the difference between “thread” and “sled” now.
What can you expect from a print journalist, you know?
I teach an organized crime class at a U S university and will be using some of your material in my lecture. Thanks for the contribution.
Jake-san, would you happen to know much about the connection between the yakuza and Pride FC? It is my understanding that an article in a Toyko newspaper exposed that Pride was being run by the yakuza. After that it was lights out for Pride. I beleieve this happened around 2006. Maybe you wrote the story, I don’t know. Any info would be much appreciated. I really liked the book. I hope you see Helena again one day.
Charles,
Thanks for writing. Actually, the article was in Shukan Gendai and the person writing it was also a yakuza himself. Basically, I think what you had was K-1, which allegedly has some dubious connections, knocking out their rival. I’m glad you like the book.
It would be nice to see Helena again. I still have a little ember of hope inside of me.