I think Kerr is dead-on, too. I think a lot of the shitting on him is from 3kun types.

As for 3kun, as you pointed out, it’s got to be a gimmick, but it’s actually good for us if he wants to keep linking to us to call us fools. Fine by me. Anyone who comes here, goes to TPR, and goes to 3kun IIIKUNIII will see who roasted whom.

A lot of people like to shit all over Alex Kerr and his Dogs and Demons book, but I think that most of the stuff he says about the beauty of urban areas is dead on. Before coming to Japan, I had only been to the US/Canada/France and Monaco. I was pretty suprised at how hideous the cities in Japan were: powerlines everwhere, dirty concrete apartment blocks, seemingly no urban planning. After having visited China, I can appreciate how much better Japan is, but it still is vastly behind other first world nations when it comes to city planning and sustainable development. It wouldn’t kill the Japanese to start building insulated houses and apartments that could last more than a generation…

What’s up with the city managers of Kyoto? They have the biggest tourist attraction in Japan in the historical districts and temples, they’ve managed to convince even people who visit often that, contrary to the visual evidence, Kyoto is a well-preserved marvel, an island of beauty, yet they’ve been trying for decades to become Tokyo.
Kyoto tower is far and away Japan’s ugliest building. Kyoto station might be interesting in Marunouchi, but is just jarring in Kyoto. Now billboards and neon?
Are they just stupid? Do they not realize that their cash cow is history and scenery? Do they think they’re going to out-Tokyo Tokyo or out-Osaka Osaka? I really don’t understand this.

BTW, I noticed you got 3kun-ed. Welcome to the club.