This book is causing all types of trouble in Japan right now. Written by an Australian journalist named Ben Hills, Princess Masako: Prisoner of the Chrysanthemum Throne tells the story of Crown Princess Masako in a way that the government finds disrespectful and inaccurate. On Monday, Random House Australia was served with a letter from the Japanese government stating, in much more eloquent terms, that the book was full of shit.
Ben Hills, on the other hand, responded with what we Japanese call "gyaku gire." Literally meaning "reverse anger," that's when you respond with rage to someone else's discomfort.
Hills said: "I regard this as an attempt by the Japanese government to suppress and censor my book, and I think it is absolutely outrageous."
I haven't read the book, so I don't really know where I stand on this. I wouldn't be surprised if Hills pulled one of those dirty journalistic moves that lack cultural and professional integrity that has made my profession among the top 5 most hated professions in the world, but I also
wouldn't be surprised if the government is overreacting in a desperate attempt to thwart any badmouthing of the Imperial family. While rumors of Princess Masako's mental breakdown and birthing difficulties have been whispered among housewives throughout the country, the press has continued to display reverence and respect for the Emperor's descendants.
Either way, I bet now that the book has gotten so much attention, it's going to sell pretty well and Hills is going to be happy in the same way OJ Simpson was happy when he wrote If I Did It.
Funny how the Japanese government is complaining about "disrespectful and inaccurate" information in books... Have they checked their history textbooks lately?
Posted by: ForeveR | February 15, 2007 at 03:42 AM
I cannot help but to feel sorry for princess Masako herself. Public rows like this does not help her situation at all.
Posted by: Peter | February 15, 2007 at 04:48 AM
I agree 100% - Hills' marketing people should be getting some fat bonuses.
Posted by: Ken | February 19, 2007 at 02:12 AM
Hills is definitely the winner in all of this. Instead of being the guy whose book spirals down to oblivion in a slow trickle of mediocre Amazon reviews, he gets to be the man who told the Truth They Don't Want You to Know. Fantastic for sales.
Posted by: Peter | February 19, 2007 at 06:11 PM