Feather Pluckers

 

The Japanese have no respect for logic, let alone common sense or the ability to think of rational, thoughtfully considered solutions (& responses) to what are, to be frank, issues that rank pretty low on the complexity scale. The kindest way to put it is that the Japanese and common sense aren't even casual acquaintances. On the odd occasion when their paths actually do cross, it's more akin to Captain Crunch stumbling into Carmen Miranda on the Antarctic ice-sheet.

 

You can observe this deficiency everyday, anyplace in the country, whether it is at a convenience store, grocery store, post office, bank, pharmacy, restaurant, or even at your random choice of signal controlled crosswalk. If you can't get out of the house to observe first-hand, no worry - you will have no shortage of opportunity to see it every time you chance upon the television news.

 

Logic and rational argument are simply not values which hold high currency in Japanese society, where the supreme priority, above everything else, is maintaining social cohesion, be it through the fostering of blatant and ridiculous lies, the numbing of public opinion, the promotion of absurd excuses, the practice of state sponsored alcoholism, 本音, 建前, embracing corruption as a core value, and so on.

 

The Japanese react very poorly to criticism. However, being scolded by a Japanese is, to paraphrase the late Sir Geoffrey Howe, akin to being savaged by a dead sheep.