A Couple Questions Stemming from 'Dogs and Demons'

[AssKissinger]

Hi. How are you? I recently read Dogs and Demons which Taro donated to my book club library. I have a couple questions about it.

1) Kerr writes that

In the 1990's, the Ministry of Education forced national universities to dismiss foreign teachers, including those who had been in Japan a long time, and the hire new teachers from abroad on short-term contracts.

I remember sitting next to a Japanese women's studies professor on an airplane who was talking about that. Does anybody know anybody who was actually laid off because of this? What a fucking bummer! Geez.

2) He says that when people get surgeries here it's common place to slip 100,000 to 200,000 yen in an envelope to the doc on the sly. I had never heard of that one so I asked some Japanese people and it is indeed true. Although it my be on the wane. So my question is...what the fuck is up with that?

[FG Lurker]

I don't think Number 1 is quite correct. It is certainly a common practice (unfortunately), but it seems to be at the University's whim. You can read more about it here: clicky link

Ian

[canman]

Its especially bad up here in the country side. My friend is a neurologist and he told me that he often gets gifts sent to him at his office and home. I thought ok the usual Osebo and Ochugen stuff right. He said no things more like a rolex, envelopes full of cash. One patients father sent him 500 000 yen. He returned it. But it does happen. I'm sure there must be some kind of policy against accepting gifts, or maybe there isn't I'm not sure.

[AssKissinger]

But why do they do it? TIJ?

[dingosatemybaby]

Dingo's wifey-wife is a doctor. The cash gift business has pretty much dried up in the past ten years. But she still gets an occaisional two or three MAN yen.

[canman]

Haven't you noticed you can't turn around without giving somebody money. Baby is born give them money, kid starts school or kindergarten give them money. Of course New Years and Obon give them money. Graduate from school give them money. Get married give them money. Go on a trip, give them money. Build a house give them money. Die give them money. Take out their gallbladder, give them money.

[AssKissinger]

Dingo's wifey-wife is a doctor. The cash gift business has pretty much dried up in the past ten years. But she still gets an occaisional two or three MAN yen.

Damn, first in the other thread you mentioned you transferred 200 grand to a bank account and now it turns out your wife's a doctor. You are NOT fucked! BTW, do you mind telling us what part of Japan in you're in. canman says it's still going on up in Aomori.

[dimwit]

My wife is a doctor too, and the practice is quite common. I know of situations where the patient died of, a let us say an embarrassing cause, and the patients' family has slipped the doctor money to find a more dignified cause of death.

[American Oyaji]

I'd say THAT is very Japanese.

Canman, any truth to what AK just said, cuz I'm thinking of returning for good.

[American Oyaji]

I'd say THAT is very Japanese.

Canman, any truth to what AK just said, cuz I'm thinking of returning for good.