Rising Sun

"Americans are eager to sell. It amazes the Japanese. They think we're committing economic suicide." (pg. 45)

I should have known better than to doubt Michael Crichton. Rising Sun looked, on the face of it, like an outdated and middle-ranked thriller. Despite the author's reputation, it certainly wasn't one of his most praised works and, what was more, it has been regularly accused of being a racist, or at least a reactionary, polemic. Even leaving aside my scepticism about that last point, as we're in a 'boy who cried wolf' situation regarding accusations of racism nowadays and it usually just means someone's said something interesting or mildly controversial, I had read that the book sacrificed its plot and characters for clumsy show more digressions into economics and anti-Japanese slurs.

All of which is complete bollocks. I ended up doing a complete 180 degrees on my impressions of Rising Sun, going from complete scepticism (picking up the book in a why-the-hell-not moment, more than a year after buying it in a charity shop) to being completely engrossed in its plotting and its purpose. It is a fine piece of thriller-writing – as you would imagine from someone who had just finished writing Jurassic Park – and it has a substantial message besides.

I won't go into that message too much, because, by God, Michael Crichton will, but suffice to say it's about the Japanese economic influence on America. "Business is war" to the Japanese, as Crichton repeatedly says (pg. 152), and his novel goes into shady and ruthless Japanese corporate practices, predatory investment strategies, the collusion and weakness of American regulators and businesses, and ultimately the almost wholly negative effect this has on the working man, the American taxpayer. "We don't make things anymore," one character laments (pg. 217), and though we've long been conditioned by our bought media and our political betters to scoff at this train of thought, it's a legitimate viewpoint. In the Fifties, a single paycheck could support an entire family and a house (pg. 109), and that just isn't the case anymore. And it's not an 'aw, shucks, what can ya do?' dilemma; Crichton shows how this is because of very definite economic and corporate practices.

Trade deficits, purchasing power, corporate takeovers and the like might not sound like the most compelling ingredients for a thriller, but Crichton leans heavily on the ruthlessness and the high stakes of the game and it's often arresting to read. Even if it's sometimes an over-simplification, there's a sort of thrill you get from thinking you're getting the skinny, the inside scoop. And as for this 1992 book being outdated, well, consider that accusations of racism are thrown at some of the characters to silence and intimidate them (which is about as contemporary as it gets in 2020), or that you could replace every mention of 'Japan' with 'China' and get something completely up to date, and even more concerning.

Aside from the stimulation these ideas provide in Crichton's pages (and the polemical asides and info-dumps are much more naturalistic and entertaining than most reviewers allow), Rising Sun is just a cracking good thriller. Crichton's writing style, even when discussing a difficult concept, is clean and simple, and the pages fly by. The murder of the young woman in the offices of a Japanese corporation is, commendably, kept front and centre throughout: the reader cares about the mystery and it's not just an excuse, a starting gun, for Crichton's story. There are some stellar plot twists, and the importance of Japanese cultural mores allows for some original dynamics between characters (as well as being something of a crash-course in Japanese etiquette). The characterisation is better than your average thriller, though I felt the protagonist, Peter Smith, was not very credible as a detective – he always seemed to be slow on the uptake. This, however, is in large part because of his role as an audience surrogate. He asks simple questions and has things explained to him because someone has to perform that role, if the reader isn't to lose their way.

Ultimately, however, it's the message that decides whether Rising Sun succeeds or fails, and whether it endures into our own times. Though its sun seems to have been eclipsed by Crichton's more well-known works, the labels of 'controversial', 'problematic' and particularly 'racist' are deeply unfair. The book is a provocative and well-written thriller that delivers an earnest and important message about American decline. Far from being racist, Crichton even raises the important point that most of this decline is self-inflicted (see my opening quote) and America needs to step it up, both in hard work and in countering its naivety and ignorance. "In no other country in the world… would you hear people calmly discussing the fact that their cities and states were sold to foreigners" (pg. 44). To which I can only say: Hello, America, greetings from England. It's just about the only point Crichton gets wrong. show less

This is very interesting book because of two things in general. First it is very fine crime story set in high tech world of 1990's. Characters are very well done especially Connor and Japanese businessmen involved in the incident.

Second is the whole talk about racism in this book. I think people need to learn the difference between the meaning of words "nationalism" and "racism". In my opinion Crichton is a staunch nationalist. It is interesting how people got concentrated around his portrayal of Japanese company doing business in America that they completely skipped the very unfavorable depiction of money grabbing American society that is willing to sell everything for a short term gain without thinking about the future. It is very show more clear how he feels about American industry losing its captains and primacy in the world because it is much easier to be a lawyer or banker and shuffle paper and play with stocks with someone else's money. Gains are high, risk is rather low (basically people who hired you are at risk) - whats not to like, right? Except that industry slowly decays until majority of goods is produced in some remote sweatshop. Which is all fine I guess for big-money-makers but in general when proverbial object hits the fan then it becomes very obvious that multiple countries are so interconnected that one wrong move and everybody goes to the bottom. Picture of America is anything but flattering in here but interestingly everybody went over this (which is even more disturbing to me).

Was Crichton wrong at the end? I guess he was but only in location of far eastern country (China anybody?) but again him being staunch nationalist that is expected and don't forget he wrote the book at specific time period when Japan was dominant. And keep in mind this is work of fiction.

Now lets look at Japanese - I don't get what is so wrong with depiction of them in this novel. They are big company ready to do whatever is necessary to achieve their goal. If this was American or any other company (Baldacci's Total Control comes to mind) nobody would say anything. They have different approach to business but this is due to cultural differences - and believe me there are definitely differences between the way West and East approach business. I wonder if book "Doing Business with Germans: Their Perception, Our Perception" in which American businessmen are instructed what to avoid when dealing with Germans (stick to business and skip all the familiarity, patting and talking about personal matters, be precise and specific etc) would also be marked as racist? Crichton's nationalism is reflected in his admiration for the way Japan society works and plans. Especially in regard to education and securing the foothold in the foreign markets from the start, knowing that it will pay out in the long run. Basically Crichton is wishing American economy had a same view of the future and its own work-force.

Japanese company in story is presented as an economic empire willing to obtain additional (and very crucial) piece of the world market. And if they have to work in individualistic America that cherishes money over everything else of course they will utilize every means possible to achieve their goals. When caught they will obey the word of the law but the aim is not to get caught. Therefore all the machinations are nothing so groundbreaking, nothing that was not seen in any other novel that has big business and multinational companies as its subject.

Story is good with sufficient number of twists to keep reader wandering what is going to happen. If you like a good thriller give it a try. show less

A slow story, hopelessly dated and full of racist propaganda and dire ridiculous warnings. As a person raised during the era when "we had all best learn Japanese" (according to some), I can at least remember this time.
If you're too young to remember the cola wars, this book is best skipped. A sort of nationalist alarmist fabric with a rather dull and lackluster plot laboriously tacked onto it, it has none of the things I like about Crichton.

Enjoyability The narrator is a bit of a bore, playing the common role of 'stupid cast member who asks questions so the writer can demonstrate his respected and valuable knowledge that he worked hard to achieve." It's annoying, but it worked. The tough cop, Connor, is entertaining, playing Holmes to the narrator's Watson, and is the ultimate fusion character for those who like a story with a little this culture is dumb and the other is better. Connor embodies the wisdom, patience, and panache of the Japanese culture, but retains his aggressive, individual, law-enforcing American disposition that makes you wish he worked in your neighborhood. The only thing that could have made him better are Jedi Powers.
Literary skill - What does show more Crichton write that he doesn't write well? The story is indicative of Crichton's art - he is the action packed professor lecturer. You don't get taken for a ride, you get schooled. Teaching on Japanese culture and business practices fill the book. The technological 'wow' is kind of like being in Disney's "World of Tommorrow" (No suprises, just outdated technology.) The story seems timeless, a warning to those who would sell the future of America to the highest bidder.
Worldview - Paranoid Mystery-Driven Angst.
Originality - Written in '92, the high tech flash of this book does not overshadow the plot, like some books do, with deus ex machina plot effects. Like a good mystery writer, he tells you everything, hoping that the pages are turning so fast that you miss the details as they emerge. I was snowed, even after seeing the movie a few years ago. The plot was A+.
Tragedy - Ah... the angst that we felt at the dawn of the Clinton years. America still stands, years later, but you will read this book... and worry for your children. Who is out there, plotting our demise? Who is selling America? Who holds the strings of our politicians?
Offensive language - This ruined the book for me. Unnecessary, Repetitive, Annoying, Pointless repetition of the F word. So 90's. Did I ever think that was cool? I challenge you to look back at some of the movies you saw in high school... (If you were in high school in the 90's like me, that is...) and analyze the dialogue. Vapid, meaningless, annoying profanity. Was this a good book? Yep. Was it full of useless cursing. Yep. Is it beneath Crichton? Yep.
Graphic sexual content - The plot revolves around a sexual indiscretion with a "woman of questionable character." There is some indecency, not a book for young readers by any stretch of the imagination.

The Narrator Has His Epiphany - "I was tired. I climbed the stairs to my apartment and went inside. It was quiet, with my daughter gone. I got a can of Coke from the refrigerator and walked into the living room, but my back hurt when I sat in the chair. I got up again, and turned on the television. I couldn't watch it. I thought of how Connor said everybody in America focused on the unimportant things. It was like that situation with Japan: if you sell the country to Japan, then they will own it, whether you like it or not. And people who own things do what they want with them. That's how it works. (p.388)

Price - $0.25 Union Public Library Discard Pile. Got to love the Library! show less

The late, great Michael Creighton has written a murder mystery here but he has also taken the opportunity to use this theme to express his own personal commentary about Japanese competition with America in the world of business competition. This is not the only novel in which he voices editorial commentary within he scope of the book’s plot, and I almost suspect that he wrote this book for the specific purpose of advocating his views within the scope of a novel.

I’m not really a fan of the murder mystery genre - that’s my wife’s domain, so I really don’t feel very comfortable rating this book from that aspect. But I am very comfortable within the field of politics and this book is loaded with it. And I love books that make me show more think deeply about ideas and beliefs I have held - and this book certainly did that as well. And for that, I gave it a fourth star. And that is what my review will focus on.

I have been an advocate of free trade for some time now. I still am, but this book has really caused me to realize there is more to this than I have previously considered. There are certain business practices that are illegal for American companies to pursue, but high foreign countries do not seem to be restrained by, putting American companies at an unfair advantage. “Japanese companies and the Japanese government target specific industries, which they take over. Industry after industry, year after year. While we sit around and spout off about free trade. And the Japanese don’t believe in fair trade at all. You know, there’s a reason the Japanese love Reagan. They cleaned up during his presidency.” (P. 229). What’s not fair about it? They’re closed to us. We’re open to them. This was dramatically illustrated a little later when described Oklahoma State University alumnus oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens’ attempt at a hostile takeover of a Japanese company called Koito which is an auto parts maker. “A few years ago, T. Boone Pickens bought one-fourth [20.2%] of the stock of a Japanese company, but he couldn’t get on the board of directors. Japan is closed.” (P. 281). This is confirmed by an article from the Los Angeles Times of June 30, 1989, in which Pickens declares “You invest freely in my country, the United States, … yet I invest in Japan and am excluded. Trade and investment opportunities between our two countries are simply not a two-way street.”

A couple of years later T. Boone Pickens was so frustrated with Japan he decided to get out entirely. “… I’m not interested in being a 26 percent owner in a company in which I have no influence.” (Seattle Times, June 9, 1991).

If a multibillionaire like the late T. Boone Pickens can be totally frustrated by Japan, what chance has anyone else? Then Creighton states, “… if you sell the country to Japan, then they will own it, whether you like it or not. And people who own things do what they want with them.” (P. 388).

Well, that’s certainly food for thought. I’m not sure I agree with the sentiment. After all, I own my house yet I can’t do just anything I want with it. Also, it’s been about 30 years now since the book was copyrighted and, as of February 3, 2022, according investopedia.com, the USA is ranked #1 with a 24.67 percent share of the global market, China is #2 at 17.39 percent, and Japan is #3 at 5.97 percent. To this individual who admits to being uneducated in the world of international economics, this seems to indicate that Japan has yet to overtake us. However, as of January 21, 2020, according to the U.S. State Department, Japan has invested some $480 billion in our economy and employs some 860,000 Americans in various jobs. Is this good or bad? I’ll let you decide that. show less

There's an old saying in Japan. Or at least I assume there is; people have been living there for over 30 000 years, I'd say they've been slacking if they haven't come up with a saying in that time. I don't know any old Japanese sayings because most of what I know about Japan is based on watching anime and Japanese horror films and reading manga, so all I know for sure is that all the men have huge crazy hair, all the women have huge crazy breasts, and every problem is solved by playing children's card games. Quite how much you know about Japan and more to the point where you are on the Japanophilia scale will probably have a not inconsiderable impact on your enjoyment of Rising Sun.

Like several of Michael Crichton's books, Rising Sun show more is a vehicle for him to talk about an issue facing America or science within the trappings of a well-paced thriller. In [b:State of Fear|15860|State of Fear|Michael Crichton|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166695731s/15860.jpg|1749610] the issue was global warming and the inability of either side of the (non-)debate to discuss the matter calmly or rationally; in [b:Jurassic Park|12596223|Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park #1)|Michael Crichton|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315827012s/12596223.jpg|3376836] he discussed the dangers of wandering around a central American island full of bitey velociraptors without carrying a honking great gun; and in this murder mystery it's America's inability to cope with Japan's way of doing business. And like several of Michael Crichton's books, many people seem to take umbrage with the content without apparently having read the book. With State of Fear people bemoaned Crichton's global warming denialism, apparently ignoring the part where he says global warming is happening but deigned to question the current methods being used to tackle it; with Jurassic Park people complained that you can't really clone dinosaurs from the contents of mosquitoes stomachs, and that dinosaurs actually had feathers, apparently ignoring the part where he says it's a bad idea to wander around a central American island full of bitey velociraptors without carrying a honking great gun; and here in Rising Sun a common cry is that Crichton is racist, ignoring the fact that the book's message is that America and Japan have two very different ways of doing business, indeed America and Japan are two very different countries – but some people can't read “different” without assuming that means “better” or “worse” and so decide the message here must be a priori racist, ignoring the fact that, if anything, Crichton suggests the Japanese way is better and America needs to shape up or ship out, to use the vernacular.

Ignoring all these concerns which have nothing to do with elephants and thus are irrelephant, the novel is up to Crichton's typical high standard if full of the usual long speeches and modestly disguised diatribes on the issue in question. Since the issues in question are economic rather than scientific these soliloquies didn't hold my interest especially well, but the trappings that surround these artifices are a satisfying thriller in their own right. show less

There's an old saying in Japan. Or at least I assume there is; people have been living there for over 30 000 years, I'd say they've been slacking if they haven't come up with a saying in that time. I don't know any old Japanese sayings because most of what I know about Japan is based on watching anime and Japanese horror films and reading manga, so all I know for sure is that all the men have huge crazy hair, all the women have huge crazy breasts, and every problem is solved by playing children's card games. Quite how much you know about Japan and more to the point where you are on the Japanophilia scale will probably have a not inconsiderable impact on your enjoyment of Rising Sun.

Like several of Michael Crichton's books, Rising Sun show more is a vehicle for him to talk about an issue facing America or science within the trappings of a well-paced thriller. In [b:State of Fear|15860|State of Fear|Michael Crichton|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166695731s/15860.jpg|1749610] the issue was global warming and the inability of either side of the (non-)debate to discuss the matter calmly or rationally; in [b:Jurassic Park|12596223|Jurassic Park (Jurassic Park #1)|Michael Crichton|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1315827012s/12596223.jpg|3376836] he discussed the dangers of wandering around a central American island full of bitey velociraptors without carrying a honking great gun; and in this murder mystery it's America's inability to cope with Japan's way of doing business. And like several of Michael Crichton's books, many people seem to take umbrage with the content without apparently having read the book. With State of Fear people bemoaned Crichton's global warming denialism, apparently ignoring the part where he says global warming is happening but deigned to question the current methods being used to tackle it; with Jurassic Park people complained that you can't really clone dinosaurs from the contents of mosquitoes stomachs, and that dinosaurs actually had feathers, apparently ignoring the part where he says it's a bad idea to wander around a central American island full of bitey velociraptors without carrying a honking great gun; and here in Rising Sun a common cry is that Crichton is racist, ignoring the fact that the book's message is that America and Japan have two very different ways of doing business, indeed America and Japan are two very different countries – but some people can't read “different” without assuming that means “better” or “worse” and so decide the message here must be a priori racist, ignoring the fact that, if anything, Crichton suggests the Japanese way is better and America needs to shape up or ship out, to use the vernacular.

Ignoring all these concerns which have nothing to do with elephants and thus are irrelephant, the novel is up to Crichton's typical high standard if full of the usual long speeches and modestly disguised diatribes on the issue in question. Since the issues in question are economic rather than scientific these soliloquies didn't hold my interest especially well, but the trappings that surround these artifices are a satisfying thriller in their own right. show less