Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2012
READ OUR LIPS: NO NEW TAXES
Regarding “Taxing the Floating World” (The Last Word, Dec 2): I can see legalizing all kinds of casinos could help raise taxes, but prostitution and drugs? Sorry you lost me there. I for one am glad Japan is strict on drugs, that there aren’t any “classes” of drugs, they’re just all illegal. If you do them, you’re an idiot and deserve to be put away.—Charltzy
I agree. Make drugs and prostitution legal and tax them. That way they will both become safer. Drugs can be monitored by the government and made in proper pharmeceutical laboratories instead of some dirty bathtub of a third-rate chemistry flunky… and prostitutes can get regular check ups for AIDS and other STDs. What we do with our bodies should be a private matter and none of the government’s business. Of course, the rules for driving while intoxicated should apply. It’s not your world… It’s ours.—chichigord
Why are these supposedly victimless-crimes illegal in the first place? Japan’s history of prostitution was heavily reliant on poor women earning money for their families, sometimes having been directly sold into the job. Do you imagine a lot of middle- or upper-class women becoming prostitutes? And who would then turn to soft drugs as a release more often? Who would be more likely to waste their money on gambling at a chance to escape through a big win? Those with less money and less opportunities, in every case. In fact, legalizing any and all of these treads on the same ground: a system set up to keep the poor in denigrated positions while allowing the rich to indulge at their expense. I’m sure many people would advocate legalization in the name of personal responsibility and civil liberties. However, to do so ignores the reality of a modern capitalist life, and the ramifications for society at large.—Jeff Light
It’s already happening, might as well get much needed taxes.—@305Asia
Yes. Vice can save the country.
—@jakeadelstein
GOING SOFT?
Is Don Morton well? The incisive, intelligent and highly literate film reviews of Don Morton have been the highlight of Metropolis for me and I expect many others over many years now. They have also coincided quite remarkably with my taste. But did I spot TWO positive reviews of romantic comedies in one issue recently? And surely there has been a sharp slump in the number of “Don slams” over the last few months? Is The Don in love? Are the critical faculties in decline? Or perhaps there really has been a sharp rise in the number of good films (I have not had chance to see many recently). If the latter, fine, but otherwise let me take this opportunity to thank him for years of excellent guidance and amusement and wish him well for the future.—John Sunley
EXPAT WIFERY
I’ve been living as an expat wife for almost two years and have NEVER heard of the Tokyo American Club until I read this article… does this mean I’m therefore excluded from the stereotype?
METROCOMMUNITY GROUP OF THE WEEK
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