Oh

[flemmings]

Seidensticker is dead. Rather an unlikable git in many ways, but still, an institution. And he died in Tokyo, which is devotion. If I had a worrisome medical condition at an advanced age, I'd come home to where there are western doctors. They at least are accountable. Japanese doctors are regarded as God, and think themselves God, and like God reserve the right to slay their worshippers without repercussion.

(Spellcheck suggests 'Seidensticker' wants to be any of Sadistic, Hedonistic, Modernistic, Dynastic, Sternest, Stochastic, Statistic, Stylistic. All of the above, say I, though I need to look up Stochastic.)

Comments

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

The obit says he wasn't married and left no children. I have to say, parts of the Tokyo Diary made me go hmm when I read it.

Ah well. No business of mine, but his alone.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Is this Tokyo Diary the one he kept while translating Genji, first published as Genji Days?

And anyway, yeah- as a sunny day in May and no particular secret. But his generation didn't talk about it openly.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the title I meant. Mind like a sieve. Thanks.