A smug, pro-post-modernist article that mentions Mishima dismissively (almost in a bitchy way, actually), yet more or less summarizes the fears Mishima expressed about the “spirit” (or psychology) of a castrated Japan a few decades ago. He warned that Japan would become known for “the chrysanthemum” or Ikebana and, well, other “cute” stuff.
The author should know that American young people have also accepted that “there are no absolute answers to anything.”
It’s called relativism. They teach it in universities and on MTV. It could also be called overactive empathy, emotionalism, indecisiveness and fear of taking a stand. If you don’t bother with drawing lines, you can busy yourself with buying Manga and playing video games and chatting on Facebook while Rome burns.
Tags: adbusters, chrysanthemum, Kenzaburo Oe, Ryu Murakami, Takashi Murakami, yukio mishima
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