I would also agree that economic factors are at least one of the primary factors in crime, and also that cultural differences can exacerbate these problems. This doesn’t concern me as much as some of the implications of Jamie’s statements, however.

Specifically, if Japan is to be admired for being “vigilantly monocultural” and pursuing a “Japan for the Japanese” policy, how are western societies supposed to learn from it? Are immigrants in places like Europe, Australia and North America to be subjected to the erasure of their ‘mother cultures’ and forced assimilation? Or should they simply be deported en masse?

Jamie’s site has been very helpful, and his posts and comments elsewhere indicate to me that he would likely condemn either of these possibilities. I would just like to draw attention to the conclusions that one might draw based on these statements. When different cultures encounter each other conflicts can occur, but just as there are poor communities with low crime, there are also numerous examples of multi-cultural communities, cities and even regions where harmony was the order of the day; and when conflict did break out, it was often a consequence of the chauvinist policies of national elites.

For example, what would happen if you were to be attacked in the street? (It happens although the Japanese tell you it doesn’t.) Well, a good idea is to NOT defend yourself! If you do, you will be charged with assault… this happens whatever the circumstance – 5 Japanese people attack you or 5 non-Japanese. Any action at all is an assault… if you prosecute you will be prosecuted.

And please don’t bother looking into Labour Law ’cause the neat system is NEVER supported… everything will be hushed uo and ignored.

In Japan you keep quiet. And keep the lie alive. Safe country… just so long as it never happens to you.

I think it’s obvious that poverty is one of many contributing factors to crime rate, but I don’t believe it’s the main one. I’m sure they are examples of incredibly poor communities in the world with very low crime rates – and I’ll bet you they are also mono-cultural.

And who said Japan has no economic disparity? Take a ten minute where I live in Kyoto and you’ll go from the fashionable rich neighbourhoods through middle class and into the high rise poor areas. They have just as much disparity as England. It’s not the money – it’s the fundamental cultural differences between people that create tension, and crime.

I do actually believe that everyone in the world *could* live together in peace and be considerate to one another, but only if we all agreed to a new global culture and eradicated religious inclinations. They the only thing between us would literally be the colour of our skin, which is a pretty retarded thing to discriminate against.