UCLA and the yakuza, and the Columbia University connection

This seems like a topic that needs investigation, especially in light of the liver transplants the UCLA medical center performed for two yakuza bosses, the connection of the Japan Foundation, and the connection to the disinformation being disseminated from academics on the staff at UCLA, perhaps in a collusive manner with so-called scholars affiliated with Columbia University , where the somewhat bigoted work of Como is sponsored by a somewhat unusual Shinto affiliated organization, and his work and that of Bialock would seem to jibe in its somewhat anti-Buddhist/Confucian bent.

In short, my take in the work of these individuals is that they attempt to downplay the role of reason in Japanese history and present an interpretation that is in one way or another aligned with some version of mystified mono-theism or otherworldly dependence, and dependent more on developments and activities of organized religion as such, as per Como's over-emphasis of "cultic practices", as opposed to historical figures and intellectuals, such as Prince Shotoku.

In my opinion, the above-named individuals are trying to promote the interests of questionable or even corrupt forms of organized religion (cults, etc.) from the hallowed halls of academia. Accordingly, they are acting to undermine the role of reason in their respective fields and in the understanding of history with respect to those readers who take their books into consideration in a less than critical manner. 


Anyway, I don't have anything more to post on this topic presently, so this will simply serve a a place holder, for future reference. Recent event would seem to indicate  that the connection of funding and research related to religion, in particular, needs to be scrutinized.

http://www.international.ucla.edu/japan/news/


The founder of the Japan Foundation, an individual connected to Kodama and the Moonies:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryoichi_Sasakawa