The Suppression of Information

In the past we have discussed how, especially during the Meiji Era, it
would not have been wise for survivors of the Shinsengumi to discuss
their early careers and likewise many of their children, family and
friends would likely not talk about Boshin War related topics in front
of outsiders. For example FUjita Goro would probably keep his opinions
within his circle of close friends and some of his Aizu related
associates.

In our modern times you would think that we all should be comfortable
with tackling these issues as long as we were careful in citing our
resources (to prevent plaigiarism, encourage transparency and develop a
traceable paper trail), refrain from outright lying or racism etc.

In other words we thought that if we maintain a degree of integrity we
would be "safe".

This is not the case.

There is a *B*ook about the *S*hinsengumi. { I'll call it and the
author "BS" for short}

I cannot name the writer of the book nor the researcher who accurately
pointed out egregious errors in that text out of respect to both
parties involved. I ask this post stay here on our mailing list as
well.

The reason is because "BS" exerted pressure on a separate community to
ensure that the errors in the text, presented in a post, were DELETED.

This is a good day for us fans that a researcher from our ranks
was "honored" to garner the attention of BS in such a way!

The writer of that post, in an effort to protect this community also
asked me, a mod here, to delete a thread. I deleted the thread which
had 21 related messages attached to it. You see who knows what BS will
do next? Will BS try to intimidate us poor consumers of manga, anime
and movies? (^_^)

WE BOUGHT BS, WE SUPPORTED BS, WE LINK TO BS AND YET WE CANNOT
CRITICIZE IT? Odd. For BS to blatantly "fanboy" over the founding of
the Meiji Era, this person sure acts "feudal". Ain't that ironic?

If you go to a movie, pay for the ticket, watch the movie, aren't you
allowed to praise it, slam it say it was "so-so"?

I had a front row seat to a case involving free speech so yes "I get
it", the value of the speech should not be judged, just that it should
be allowed. However LIES and SLANDER and RACISM should not be
tolerated. Such things should be labeled as "lies, slander and racism"
and not "this is my glorious free speech" in other words don't elevate
trash to something higher. There is a time and place for everything
and even those who sell pornography put it in a place out of the reach
of minors. In other words people exercise self-censorship.
Is it right for BS to try to censor someone who OWNS THE BOOK and put
money in his/her pocket? I don't think so!

In this matter, the researcher NEVER LIED NOR SLANDERED BS…instead the
researcher went point by point through a section of BS.

And yet the review was SUPPRESSED by BS!

In other words a little known truth or differing information was
SUPPRESSED.

You see "BS" (and yes I chose this acronym on purpose) is feeling
awfully intimidated that someone else who can read Japanese was able to
find errors and cases of revisionism in the work.

"BS" had an intro claiming that it cannot present a wholly factual
account.

So if someone else, a researcher, found errors in "BS" and also found
conflicting information, shouldn't BS be happy that someone was able to
add to the work?

Nope. BS is scared. BS even failed to use the standard book in
English, Conrad Totman's COLLAPSE OF THE TOKUGAWA SHOGUNATE (which
discusses Aizu, the Shinsengumi and even the Mimawarigumi). To even
overlook this book shows BS is choosing what should be presented to
further a certain point of view. OR BS is utterly clueless on how to
do research. TOtman's work is THE BOOK you go to about the bakufu my
friends. The sources used for BS were remarkably limited as well given
the fact that there are in fact some interesting books written on the
Shinsengumi in Japanese.

BS was never even peered reviewed. Look carefully, a FAMILY MEMBER
REVIEWED THE MANUSCRIPT (BS has a different pen name---but they are
family I assure you). Unless that family member has a strong command
of the history, or language then it would be more suited for the work
to be reviewed by historians (yes there are a couple of professors who
even specialize in the shogunate still very much alive).

WHy was BS never peer reviewed, and why weren't these specialists
consulted to suggest other sources? Can it be because BS is BS?

BS was so intimidated by a review by a careful researcher he asked and
got the censorship he WANTED even though he should've argued with the
Japanese texts which were cited as having different information.

BS thought it was logical to "SHOOT THE MESSENGER".

In the real world, books are reviewed very critically. Anyone here who
has read a review of a work of non-fiction or even fiction knows that
glowing reviews are rare. Usually reviews are mixed. I guess BS is
not part of the real world and has never read how academics (for the
sake of the discipline) will point out even the smallest errors in
another work (that's why it's called PEER REVIEW).

Book go through multiple printings like 1st 2nd or 3rd edition and the
author kindly notes in the intro the correction of errors. All this is
common practice. Authors don't go around saying "Oh no! Someone
caught my screw up…I must ask the forum owner to delete my work." No
professional does this!

What do we make of all this nonsense?

It seems to me that BS cannot argue with the FACTS presented in the
review and chose the easy (or rather COWARDLY) way out: and that
is "delete it please".

My friends this is just a taste of the suppression, twisting of the
truth and revisionism which has plagued not only the history of Japan
but of all humanity.

The more they sweep things under the carpet, the more YOU SHOULD DO
EVERYTHING TO break their brooms (preferably over their heads). (^_^)
(I'm just kidding)

Again I really had to vent about this issue publicly because I find it
to be very fascinating. That person cannot get mad at me for posting
this unless he/she admits that the work is in fact the referenced "BS"
I noted in the rant above. HA!

I'd like to hear the writer insist "My work IS BS. I must now try to
scare these little fans and keep them quiet for having the brains to
prove me wrong. DEAD WRONG."

Shame on this writer from benefiting from the $upport of Shinsengumi
fandom and then turning around and attacking one of us for pulling the
mask off this book!