Programmed to Chill

We pick up on the story of Yoshiko Kawashima in Shanghai; she left for Manchuria shortly after the Manchurian Incident. This is where she interacts with Emperor Puyi, and when Kawashima starts working for Ryukichi Tanaka of Japanese military intelligence. We discuss Kawashima's role in the Shanghai Incident, and then her role leading 'Vigilance Corps' in Rehe. To conclude, we discuss the nature of the state of Manchukuo. Songs: She Wonders Why by Whitey Smith Nighttime Shanghai Dance by Whitey Smith

Part 1 out of 3 You know I had to revisit the life of Yoshiko Kawashima, Japan's gender-nonconforming ethnic Manchu princess and spy. This episode sets the stage, discussing Kawashima's biological and adopted fathers, the circumstances surrounding her childhood, her inspirations, suitors, and the first indications that a legend was being contrived. We follow her life up to her marriage with a Mongol military officer - generally everything before she became famous. Song: Numb (Linkin Park cover) by Kuular

Today I'm joined by Rob McKenzie, the author of El Golpe: US Labor, the CIA, and the Coup at Ford in Mexico, to discuss the CIA's subversion of the international labor movement. He takes us through a crash course on modern US labor history and focuses on the American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD), a little-known organization that played an outsized role in geopolitics through its role in labor. Along the way we discuss James Jesus Angleton, George Meany, Jay Lovestone, the Reuther brothers, and meet several very interesting characters.  We discuss AIFLD's role in Guyana, Brazil, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Chile as setup to discuss the potentially revolutionary context of Mexico in the 1980s. That's when the strikes at Ford Cuautitlán led to a massacre due to the involvement of AIFLD and other actors. It's a great interview for an exceptional book. Links: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745345628/el-golpe/ Songs: UAW-CIO by Pete Seeger Luz y Sombra by Ry Cooder

Today we wrap up the story of Nisshō Inoue, picking up with his time in prison, where he received uniquely lax/privileged treatment. Interestingly, Inoue was placed in charge of Tenko at Kosuge prison, and met several notable inmates. Then, like with Alfried Krupp, we trace Inoue's first day out of prison; I argue that a person's first day out of prison says quite a lot about that person. Then we cover Inoue's new role/identity as advisor to Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe. After the war, Inoue was interrogated by SCAP upwards of 28 times, and met some very interesting SCAP figures. I sidetrack myself talking about the journalist Mark Gayn, who had some interesting interactions with Inoue. Then I cover the end of Inoue's life as a political fixer and old man perv. Finally, I reveal the hidden, occulted truth about prewar ultranationalist terrorism, including but not limited to Nisshō Inoue. Songs: Come Spy with Me by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Battotai, the Imperial Japanese Army March

Today we discuss Nisshō Inoue's many, many connections with ultranationalist terrorism, and the attacks he planned in with the Blood Oath Corps Incident. This was an extreme plan that, were it to have succeeded, would have assassinated 20 of the top zaibatsu executives and politicians in Japan. They managed to kill a central banker as well as a Mitsui executive. The high-profile trial allowed Inoue and his accomplices to present their case to the public. Finally, we discuss the fallout of the Blood Oath Corps Incident on Taisho democracy. Song: Runaway Horses by Philip Glass

Today we explore Nisshō Inoue's spiritual life, and watch his voyage into Zen Buddhism. We discuss his spiritual practice as an ascetic, and cover his dreams and visions. Did Inoue achieve enlightenment? Inoue made a number of prophecies, as well. Inoue's relationship to the Nichiren sect is discussed. Finally, we leave Inoue receiving post-enlightenment training. Songs: various tracks from Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters by Philip Glass outro - "Mishima / Closing"

Today's the first of four episodes on Nisshō Inoue. This episode covers his early life, including his family background and education, his wartime experiences, his probable recruitment as a spy, and his activities in Manchuria. Inoue also spied during WWI, then spied in Shanghai, and met Mitsuru Toyama.  Songs: Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us, by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Today we talk about a modern-day vice: video games, and I'm joined by Alex (@mrcheesepills), Kade (@kadelikesmusic8), CJ (@pussy___teeth) of the MINDGAMEZ (@MINDGAMEZpod) podcast. We discuss their podcast, our personal experiences with video games, good and bad. We also discuss our hopes and our paranoid fears for the medium. It's a great introduction to the boys and their show. MINDGAMEZ Links: https://anchor.fm/mindgamez https://twitter.com/MINDGAMEZPOD Songs: Four to Six - Math the Band Bitch I'm High - Ramirez

Today's about how Zen Buddhism was used to prepare people for Japan's imperial wars. We look at the example of Lt. Colonel Gorō Sugimoto, an officer in the Kwantung army who wrote a popular work on Zen and militarism, as well as the societal effects his legacy had on Japan. We talk about the spiritual fallout of Japan's loss of WWII, and how DT Suzuki knew the right parties to blame. We discuss which sects apologized for their wartime roles and which didn't, and how that's reflected in economic realities. Then we discuss corporate Japan's weaponization of Zen to discipline some of their employees, and who was studying this phenomenon. We cover Zen priests who wrote against this corporate Zen boom, and Zen Buddhism's ongoing popularity with Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, and some of the darker ties to intelligence.

Today we cover the Control and Imperial Way factions in Imperial Japan, and then get into Imperial Way Buddhism, Japanese Zen Buddhism's drift into nationalistic, militaristic territory. We discuss the Youth League for Revitalizing Buddhism, which sought to oppose this drift, and how it was undermined by the police state. Then we discuss Bushido and its interactions with Zen, and extensively quote DT Suzuki about the nature of Zen Buddhism and why it was so easily coopted by the state.  Song: Samurai Showdown by the RZA, w/ sample from Ghost Dog film