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jameseckman's review
4.0
The court scene is so bizarrely different in Japan compared to America that your first reading about it will boggle you. The personal details in these accounts would never come out in the US and they are a fascinating window into some aspects of Japan that are outside of the usual cherry blossom story. While I've read about it before, this is the first time I've read detailed reports on how the lay judges work. I've served on many juries and I'm jealous that my Japanese counterparts can ask questions! Also covered to some extent is police interrogation and prison life. While it's hard to to verify the reality of it, the Japanese do seem to be intent on reforming criminals if possible and this maybe one factor behind Japan's low crime rate. Another is decent basic education for everyone and the absence of ghettos, there are many forces in the US that are anti-education, especially for minorities, public schools I went to in the 60's had libraries and nurses, in the 90's those same schools forced pupils to share textbooks because of budget cuts and the nurses and extra books were long gone. Japan as a country has issues, this book covers some, but it certainly is thought provoking.
I did find it amusing that Murphy, an Irishman, found the Japanese welfare system a bit cruel and bureaucratic, don't move to the US, you will have nightmares worthy of Kafka!
I did find it amusing that Murphy, an Irishman, found the Japanese welfare system a bit cruel and bureaucratic, don't move to the US, you will have nightmares worthy of Kafka!
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