Truth. It keeps cropping up between the cushions of Our Man's sofa. Not least in the last three posts' headlines - True lies on the Mean Streets of Abiko (a true story, by the way, that happened to an elderly dogless neighbour) and something else TRUE and another Blah blah blah true thing (sorry, lost the will to hunt for the post or the url to link to, so you're on your own if you wanna figure out what the hell Our Man is on about. But why should you? Discuss.)
You may not know it if you haven't been doing your revision, but the Yomiuri Shimbun (think Pravda with its own baseball team) has been having puppies calling for the head of all those pesky cheaters who ingeniously used mobile telephones to jump over the stultifyingly boring translation exam hurdles used to weed out the kids who can handle the high-pressure tedium that passes for Japanese business life and those who cannot.
Turns out one of the kids busted for using his mobile to download a translation (which he managed to do with a non-smartphone, texting left-handed under the desk in record time, smart kid) had lost his dad a year earlier, done poorly in the first round of tests, and was desperate to get in to one of the elite Japanese universities that folk here are under the illusion guarantees you success or happiness and easy lays.
But actually, between thoughts of suicide, this kid from Sendai just wanted to provide for his mum. (The facts without the background, are here in English).
So you can understand the pressure on the kid. Anyway, rather than let the poor bastard off for his rather ingenious, brave, yet desperate move, the university set the cops on him for 偽計業務妨害...fraudulent interference in someone's duty.
Dunno about you, but rather than bang him up, Kyoto Uni should give him a place based on merit, originality of thought and sheer bloody mindedness.
Wait a minute, Our Man has a great idea... you know, the kid's tenacious, rebellious, with a heart of gold, and a prodigious typing speed... he's got all the qualities that would make a brilliant reporter.
You raised the nation's cockles and then backpedaled to revel in the kid's suffering... here's your moment to do the right thing... GIVE HIM A JOB.
How about it, Yomiuri Shimbun?
Anyway, this 7-11 Bordeax red sure is good.
4 comments:
the Yomiuri, eh? Last time I checked its header it said "Some News, With Fear and Favor".
A similar argument I made to my native wife, who took the Party line, of course. I did not know the kid's personal life, but I did tell her he had more imagination than the drones among whom he was taking the test. Just the imagination his society lacks just as its protector is declining, and E.Asia is getting more dangerous...
Excellent idea, but does the Yomiunchi have any history of doing the right thing?
Well, the Yomiunchi did give Our Man a job when he needed one. The place, though clearly evil, is staffed with some decent folk though.
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