I am re-reading Alex Kerr's "dog and demon, the falling of modern Japan". I read it a couple years ago, but it seems very right to read it again since I am living in Tokyo. I am particularly interested in the chapter about architecture. Kerr critised that Japan is bulldozing the old wooden houses in the name of mordernization. The city becomes a solid concrete jungle, with electricity poles and wires hang around, air conditioners and atennas on the roof tops. I am not sure why the wires are not underground, but a couple of laws (haven't been amended since 60s) such as heavy inheritence tax, dwelling interior utilisation law and sunlight laws force the land owners to construct buildings the way they are today.
What I observe are that Japanese are not keen in making changes if things run fine the way they are. A little of inconvenience and ugly roof top are not such a big deal if we can manage a peaceful living. It is more so in terms of public service related issues.
I guess it is not uncommon in a mature, stable society. But it is very true that Japanese goverment has a lot of baggage. There are too many people's livings mingled into this web of government machine. Could this be Japanese style of socialism?
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