Episode 25: The Modern Druids and the Bat — The Invisible Irresponsibility of the Japanese Bureaucracy Body:
Welcome back to the underground bunker of Bakuro-cho . In Julius Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico (The Gallic Wars), we learn of a highly privileged class among the Celts: The Druids . They were exempt from military service, paid no taxes, and held absolute authority. Yet, their most fascinating trait was their strict prohibition against writing down their core doctrines. By relying solely on unwritten "oral traditions," they monopolized information and completely evaded accountability. Today, in the 21st century, this ancient tribe still thrives in the heart of Tokyo. We call them the Japanese Bureaucrats —specifically, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). 1. The Magic Spell of the Druids: "Administrative Directives" The modern Druids do not govern by passing strict, debated laws through the national legislature. Instead, they use a bureaucratic magic spell called Tsutatsu (Administrative Directives/Circulars). For example, providing welfare b...