The Battle Without a Name
In the note titled Exercise in Democracy, Yuichi Kishino provides further explanation and clarification of his activities, which he had mentioned in a tweet last year. The note, which is about 18,000 words long, delves into the motivations behind his activities, such as why he organizes Bon dances. It offers a comprehensive overview of his work. The full text of the note is available for free until June 16th. You can access it here(https://note.com/kishinoyuichi/n/na9f8aa25032e). The theme of the note is the "Nameless Battle," which takes place in a world where there is an Acceleration of relentless criticism towards targets that are deemed deserving of blame. This battle involves making a declaration of whether one aligns with or opposes this criticism, and the resulting approval or disapproval becomes visible. In a world characterized by division and disconnection, this battle aims to move the world even a millimeter in a positive direction, without aligning with either side. The Nameless Battle can be classified into two categories: Passive things and Active Things. Passive things refer to the sensations or impressions one experiences in the world they live in. On the other hand, the concept of "war" used to involve nations fighting against each other as enemies or allies. While wars in the past had their own complexities and contributed to the economic activities of various countries, the absence of major wars today has led to the need for alternative acts that drive the economy. This alternative act is not about drawing lines on a map and fighting over territories, but rather a direct reflection of economic activities based on the principles of competition between individuals. In other words, it is a manifestation of Neoliberalism within the capitalist system. Yuichi Kishino considers this battle a worthy one because the losers face dire consequences, and there is a passive tactile sensation of being conscripted and forced to fight without even realizing it. On the other hand, active things refer to the changing nature of human behavior due to social media, as mentioned in the manifesto of a concert. This is where the battle to resist comes into play. In this note, Yuichi Kishino primarily focuses on this active battle. Throughout recent discussions on Freedom of speech, there seems to be a prevalent context of resistance to acceleration. This can be observed in phenomena such as Anti-Intellectualism and Capitalism in the Anthropocene. Lastly, the note briefly mentions the current administration, likening it to Uniqlo, a popular clothing brand.