The Japan That Can Say No

Rating:
Summary: Japanese Stateman Writes Book Full Of Campaign Promises
Review: The reason you should read this book is to become familiar with Japan's hostilies towards the US, and maybe to learn a bit about the trade and military agreements between the two countries. Mostly, the book is too vague to convincingly defend Ishihara's points of view, which makes me think it was just written to get an edge during an election, merely echoing popular Japanese sentiments.

Rating:
Summary: My, what a decade can do!
Review: This book was a blast from the past. He wrote this when the Nikkei was at its peek. Now it is testing 20 year lows. First among equals seems like a dream now when most expect China to leave Japan behind in this century. While his predictions were way off, the substance of his arguments were valid then and remain valid today. He was the leading critic of Japan's centrally controlled economy. He was their leading advocate for trade liberalization. I wonder what happened to him. His critique of US industrial organization fell on open ears in corporate america, who reformed, but it is too bad that his critique of his domestic economic policy fell on deaf ears. Japan refused to change and they continue on their decade long recession.

Rating:
Summary: What happened to him?
Review: You wonder what happened to him? He is the Governor of Tokyo!