Naomi (book)

http://www.amazon.com/Naomi-Junichiro-Tanizaki/dp/0375724745/

I am reminded of this book now that my family returned from a trip to Japan.  I wasn't able to go because I got sick just before the trip.  But my wife and I lived in Japan over 20 years ago and my wife was able to compare and take good pictures.  When we lived in Japan over 20 years ago, it was a great country with a great culture.  Now it is just another modern cultural cesspool.  Japan had no cultural immune system.

The book "Naomi" was written in 1924 and the brilliant author saw the threat that modern culture posed to Japan, and particularly how western culture ruins women.  Not only are the ideas in the book brilliant, but the book is exceptionally well written.

Also worthwhile by this author are his essay In Praise of Shadows and the movie based on his book The Makioka Sisters.

Life in Japan these days is dark and dreary. Most Japanese are probably sick of life in Japan, but are afraid to speak of it. Its work culture along with its constant obsession over brand name goods are destroying the nation. Young girls whore themselves out to men just for money along with some paltry clothes and trinkets that they can show off. Mongers, whether foreign or domestic, are starting to completely corrupt Japanese society with their disgusting ways, even though it was already corrupt. Absolutely disgusting beyond belief if you ask me. Its nationalism is only superficial at best, more like false pride if I had to describe it. Most of the world is a modern cultural cesspool, it's only a matter of time before the world truly destroys and hopefully renews itself. People won't listen, there is no use convincing them. For now, there is no hope other than to become depraved or in despair. But humanity itself refuses to learn from its mistakes, being drawn into modern culture. I suspect modern technology as the one of the many roots of modern culture. Smartphones and the worship of postmodern technology, coupled with hedonism have already replaced religion as a belief system. It spreads fast, like a festering cancer that will destroy the entire body which can never be completely cured of it. This is what is driving me to madness, as I try to keep composure in an already evil world. The things that people love and take for granted are the things that are truly enslaving humanity. An oppressive dictator is the least of their worries. The other solution is to be completely ignorant and blind to all the evils in the world, but at least I won't be driven to insanity. Japan is starting to retreat away from their chiefly middle class society, with a redivision of the poor and the wealthy. The younger generations are being robbed of their future. But other neighboring countries such as south Korea have fared worse than Japan, especially when at least 1/4 of Korean women end up as prostitutes.