Comments on: John Burnham Schwartz and an All Too Common Problem

By: RTN

RTN — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:10:56 +0000

I enjoyed the article, Marie. For exactly those reasons I stopped reading any English original fiction on Japan. I can’t hack the Orientalism and fetishism anymore. If I need some of that, I’ll go back and read Clavell’s Shogun. At least he was a decent writer who didn’t claim that living in Japan for a year or two (and often doesn’t speak the language) makes him an expert on the culture.

By: Marie Mockett

Marie Mockett — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:27:43 +0000

Christ, you people. Focus on the freakin’ article as a whole and not the last paragraph.

By: ghoti

ghoti — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:29:38 +0000

(my layover in narita airport gave me a superior vantage point )

Well, strictly speaking, an astronaut in orbit has a superior vantage point. We like feet on the ground here.

By: Edward Chmura

Edward Chmura — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:46:04 +0000

Thank you for saying what I have been wondering about for the past few days, norwegianwood.

I also can’t figure out why, if these people detest Japundit so deeply, they are so familiar with what it going on in our comments.

By: norwegianwood

norwegianwood — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:25:43 +0000

“People sometimes ask me why I continue to post on Japundit. They point out that I’m the only female contributor…”

Wouldn’t being the only female contributor to this site make you want to stay and represent that even more? It’s great that you write for Japundit–thanks for continuing to post here! I wish there were more female bloggers on Japan.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:41:20 +0000

“Apparently, none of the thousands of Japanese expats living in America recognize the Princess either.”

This could be solved by not living in a place like New York.

By: esotericlarity

esotericlarity — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:18:11 +0000

no overoften, i’m not above admitting what i write.

By: Marie Mockett

Marie Mockett — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:10:38 +0000

That’s my point, overoften. It most definitely is not beneath me. I’m very proud of Japundit. It shows all facets of Japan and doesn’t reduce everything to a breathless metaphor.

By: overoften

overoften — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:47:31 +0000

I’m not looking to start an argument with either of you, but here, genuine questions.
Marie, enjoyed your post. But re. your last two paras – has someone told you that writing for this fallen, bawdy blog is beneath you? Or am I reading that wrong?
And esotericlarity – “bs filler” of OTHER sites, right?

By: Marie Mockett

Marie Mockett — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:18:14 +0000

“now back to the book from what i see written it seems that you have, like me, fallen into the trap of reading some hack’s five minute view of japan (my layover in narita airport gave me a superior vantage point )”

Hahaha! Well, the press people keep talking about how he lived in Japan . . . in the 80s.

Thanks for the kind words. And I swear I’m not that old!

By: esotericlarity

esotericlarity — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:16:04 +0000

…People sometimes ask me why I continue to post on Japundit…

and they just got pwned

marie, its good to see someone like you on japundit. you’re an inspiration, i can’t wait until i’m old enough to feel ways about stuff and junk that i read (or possibly don’t).

seriously though why follow the marxist/bloggist theory the quantity has a quality all its own? you show through you posts that nothing substitutes for time and interest. this allows you to rise above the general bs filler and actually write stuff that is worth reading.

now back to the book from what i see written it seems that you have, like me, fallen into the trap of reading some hack’s five minute view of japan (my layover in narita airport gave me a superior vantage point ). like many other niche products they have a group of hardcore fans who fill invariably invite you to join in their siren song, you escaped on scathed. hope you find more books like the teahouse one i vaguely remember.