The Fourth Episode

    "Oriental police set far smaller store by the criminal alibi than do Occidentals.... We know only too well what warped cunning is capable of ... and prefer to probe emotions and instincts rather than crack down highly glazed stories. This is undoubtedly explained by the difference in psychology of the two racial strains.... The Oriental is notoriously more suspicious than the Occidental, dealing with fundamentals rather than superficials.... Where the Western world is inclined to shout a lusty BANZAI! in acclamation of its more successful rogues, we cut off their ears, or put them in stocks for milder crimes, or behead them for major ones—but always pointing out by example (with true Japanese subtlety, perhaps?) the over-whelming ignominy of the punishment...."
    —From the Preface to the English edition of A Thousand Leaves,
    By Tamaka Hiero.