Thursday May 17, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Debunked atomic bomb book selling on Amazon

Arts & Culture Mar. 03, 2010 - 06:40AM JST ( 17 )

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17 Comments

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tkoind2Mar. 03, 2010 - 09:00AM JST

There seems to be a cycle of deception with this guy. His degree is not listed, donations not listed and facts not verified. Does anyone else see a pattern here? Seems the shadow of doubt is pretty dark over this guy.
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gogogoMar. 03, 2010 - 09:23AM JST

Can't understand this, people complain about facts surrounding the war but Japan doesn't even teach that Japan surrendered in schools.
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PepinGalargaMar. 03, 2010 - 10:39AM JST

There are other historical accounts that have been embellished or even fictionalized in order to sell books. As long as the author is up front with regards to what is fact or fiction, then things should be okay.

A phrase of "names may have been changed to protect the innocent" is not an excuse to invent people who didn't exist.
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SiouxChefMar. 03, 2010 - 10:42AM JST

Education: Long Island University B.A., 1975, M.S., 1977; Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, Ph.D. 1982.

He acknowledges that he did not receive a Ph.D. from the university yet his website still states the opposite. Based on his response, it sounds like his dissertation was rejected and he decided he'd call himself "doctor" anyway.

Creepy.
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SiouxChefMar. 03, 2010 - 10:57AM JST

Here's more on this author's apparent history of fraud/deceit:

http://jamescameron.blogspot.com/2010/02/fraud.html
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stevecpfcMar. 03, 2010 - 11:10AM JST

He sounds like the type my old gran would call a bad egg.
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biculturalMar. 03, 2010 - 12:03PM JST

gogogo, uh ... yes they do.
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gogogoMar. 03, 2010 - 01:56PM JST

bicultural: nah they just teach the war ended, nothing about the actual events, even the government thinks historical photos are photoshoped.
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TumbleDryMar. 03, 2010 - 04:59PM JST

gogogo: yeah... except the one from Hiroshima.
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HeyLarsMar. 03, 2010 - 10:09PM JST

Does Cameron care more about the truth or making movies that sell? I hope you are not having difficulty with that question. Of course he supports the guy whose book he might make into a movie one day, a movie that will sell despite not being true, just like all the others.
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umedayoMar. 04, 2010 - 02:12AM JST

Sioux chef- i read that link, I loved it!
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jeffreyMar. 04, 2010 - 10:33AM JST

gogogo at 09:23 AM JST - 3rd March Can't understand this, people complain about facts surrounding the war but Japan doesn't even teach that Japan surrendered in schools.

This news story isn't about Japan per se. The story is about the veracity of the book, not about how Japan teaches history.

gogogo at 01:56 PM JST - 3rd March bicultural: nah they just teach the war ended, nothing about the actual events, even the government thinks historical photos are photoshoped

Ever been to Hiroshima? Didn't think so because if you're a haku-jin you can't get through a visit to the Peace Park without being hit up by a middle school or high school student with a petition to ban nuclear weapons. I even encountered this years ago in Kyoto of all places.

Sad story as this guy has made the rounds here and received glowing reviews from the NYT among others. Not sure why people like this think they can get away with it or why their publishers are so careless. Then again, most publishing houses are shadows of their former selves in terms of general editors and staff.
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sf2kMar. 04, 2010 - 10:40AM JST

Sioux Chief, great link
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stirfryMar. 04, 2010 - 04:29PM JST

Sioux Chief, great link

agreed
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itsmeagainMar. 06, 2010 - 09:01AM JST

This book is pure fiction. The book not only lacks logical thought flow, but there are frequent lapses in event progression. In addition, it becomes clear that the author has his very own ideas about nuclear physics, radiation, and science, all of which amount to sheer bunk. Clearly he is a believer of sensationalism, and he uses this to represent fact. Thank goodness I did not spend good money on the book and was able to get it from my local library.
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bigfujiyamaMar. 06, 2010 - 11:43AM JST

@gogogo

Remember what is in the government approved textbooks and what teachers actually teach is very different.

The teaching union has a long history of fighting with the ministry of education. I know a few history teachers who include themes about Nanking and other taboo subjects in their curriculums.
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LowlyMar. 06, 2010 - 02:13PM JST

ditto to bighujiyama

govt and ground are diferent in jpn.

also though, they lost a very painful war in a humiliating fashion. the conquerors have their motives for making themselves look good and right, and the losers have their motives for trying to preserve self-esteem. it&s a complicated situation.

This book is just another aspect of history that is/is not true depending who you ask and how they feel about it. (yes, yes, the facts in the bk may be wrong, but the feelings o the winners about winning and the feelings of the losers about losing will filter any facts and non-facts further).