Hmmm, as discussed in a previous post, it seems that the J-Goverment got a bit annoyed about a book written by an Aussie chap.

Well, possibly in a major infringement of ‘freedom of speech’, the Japanese publisher Kodansha has now decided not to publish to the book in Japan.
Pressure from the Japanese goverment? Kodansha claims that during the translation process, it spotted numerous errors (and just like the Japanese government, did not explain what those errors were). What’s suprising to me is why they would get the rights to publish the book, after presumably getting someone to read it first… and then afterwards say it was full of mistakes. For all we know, they could be right. I certainly wouldn’t be suprised that the book is somewhat over-enthusiastic about some points… BUT, something smells fishy to me.

Yuko was speaking to me about it, after she’d been reading posts on Mixi (and popular Japanese social chat network thing, kinda like MySpace). A lot of people are talking about it, but because Japanese TV is not explaining what was discussed in the book, nobody really understands why the book has been dropped. Nobody is able to be left to form their own opinion.

Following on…

Ahhh, cute mascots. The Japanese solution to most PR issues.

Well, it may work in Japan, not sure the Iraqi’s will be as impressed.
According to Shotaro Yanagi, a Defense Agency official:

Prince Pickles is our image character because he’s very endearing, which is what Japan’s military stands for. He’s our mascot and appears in our pamphlets and stationery.

Umm, how can ANY (not just the Japanese) miltary be “endearing”?

However, a Japanese psychiatrist and author, Rika Kayama said

This could only happen in a country that is so open to immaturity. Authorities here feel it’s easier and less threatening to use characters to get the public to accept them, rather than explain the facts.