Arson, Japan’s favorite pass time
Arson a disproportionately large worry in Japan?
whatjapanthinks.com, 2006/Nov/19, by Ken Y-N
Here’s one of these goo Ranking surveys that leaves me scratching my head rather a lot. This time it’s on fire prevention… here in Japan, the second answer is not putting out rubbish the night before so as not to tempt arsonists….
It’s no mystery to me; traditionally arson is a favorite thrill in Japan.
Why?
The dark side of the Wa/harmonious life in Japan is that Japanese people live painfully repressed lives, and trash arson is a spontaneous release of inhibitions. While coming home late and dead drunk, arson is the favorite act of passive-aggression for repressed Japanese. It’s as common as a drunk kicking over a trash can just for the hell of it in the Real World(tm).
However, you have to remember MAJORITY of home fires are arson in counties such as Canada and the States. Ask any fire fighter or insurance adjuster in Japan or the Anglo-world: Most arson-related fires are listed as an “unknown cause.” The reasoning is that without 110% proof of arson, home owners need to get on with their lives.
In order, the three top causes of fire in Japan are: arson, improperly discarded cigarettes, and gas cooking stoves. Note the redundancy since improperly discarding a cigarette is the favorite method of arson in Japan.
Put this on your calendar: March 29th is Arson Day in Japan. The 29th of March is when Japan’s favorite Japanese psycho-babe of all time, Yaoya Oshichi, started the Great Tokyo Fire at Sugamo Temple while crazy-in-love. Her punishment was execution by fire in 1683 when she was seventeen. Oshichi’s sad love story has been recounted in many kabuki dramas and traditional theater.
Yaoya Oshichi (やおやおしち), beloved psycho-babe arsonist of Japan (放火犯美人)
BURN BABY BURN!
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November 20th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Here’s the Kabuki storyline of Yaoya Oshichi.