Labor Pains at the D-Trip, #MeTooSFPolitics, and Political Samurai
The Labor Council raises a protocol spat with the new DCCC, now with progressives in opposition. More narratives of sex abuse in local politics emerge. Plus, some recommendations for diversion
The first meeting of a newly elected Democratic County Central Committee featured some fractious and extended debate between the new Mod Squad majority and remaining progressive members, and the leadership of the San Francisco Labor Council provided some drama that may continue through the election season. The four-hour meeting, held on a Friday evening in the basement of the State Building, was long and felt long, but at least it wasn’t dull.
A more complete report is now live at The Voice of San Francisco.
Abuse Culture Continues in Local Politics
Political Consultant Nadia Rahman has shouted out the quiet part about how personal destruction politics has fostered a culture of loyalty at any cost. In a city that prides itself on upholding values of diversity and equality, women are still paying the price:
“In this type of environment — maximum villainization — there is little collaboration. Instead, people protect their own. And if you are seen as disloyal in any way, you’re shaken down and voted off the island…Allies are aware of each other’s deepest political secrets and weaknesses. As a result, they become indispensable, valued beyond measure and reward each other for their loyalty.”
This comes in the wake of collective hand-wringing over further credible allegations of sexual abuse by TODCO operative Jon Jacobo making the light of day in The Standard, and now more allegations about other local bad actors are emerging on social media as well.
Meanwhile, Harvey Weinstein just got his conviction in New York thrown out over the most technical of technicalities, given the nature of the case. Fortunately, it’s highly unlikely that it will affect his convictions in California, and Weinstein isn't walking anywhere, pending a retrial.
And Now, More Relaxing Forms of Political Violence
Shōgun, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks's limited series based on the James Clavell novel, just dropped its last episode on Hulu this week. That means we can all now binge-watch it again in one sitting. And given the level of drama we’ll be seeing this political season, we will all have to.
But there’s also another samurai series with highly chewable political intrigue streaming now as well, and dropping its final ‘re-premiere’ episodes this week - but it’s very vintage and very hammy, and so may make for a less heavy distraction.
That would be Yagyū Ichizoku no Inbō, or The Yagyū Conspiracy, sometimes broadcast as Shōgun’s Samurai. It’s being streamed on the Ninja vs. Samurai YouTube channel, and the final two of 38 episodes drop this weekend.
The 1978 series stars Sonny Chiba, who was Japan’s answer to Bruce Lee for a time, and worked to develop the martial arts genre in Japan with his Japan Action Club. Quentin Tarantino fans will be familiar with Chiba, whose over-the-top bloodbath Streetfighter grindhouse films were lauded by Christian Slater in True Romance, and had an extra special cameo in Kill Bill, Part 1.
The series also stars Chiba’s ensemble of regulars from his other television shows, including Etsuko Shihomi (star of Sister Streetfighter), Yuuki Meguro (who wasn’t a martial artist, but routinely played the “faceman'“ of Chiba’s outfit; think Dirk Benedict in The A-Team), and the now internationally known Hiroyuki Sanada. At least one of those names should be familiar to Shōgun fans, as Sanada is the star of the Hulu series, and Meguro was part of the cast of NBC’s 1980 Shōgun miniseries.
Chiba’s ensemble stars as the Yagyū clan and Ura Yagyū cell of spies, who all work for the family patriarch Yagyū Munenori, the simultaneously ambitious and rectitude-driven inspector general for the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu.
In real life, Iemitsu was the grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, upon which Shōgun’s Yoshi Toranaga is based. His ascension also featured a deadly sibling rivalry, a considerable amount of bloody skullduggery to consolidate his power, and the institution of Japan’s sakoku policy of national isolation which lasted for over 250 years. The plotlines of Yagyū mostly reflect this history, with the heroes valiantly suppressing all sorts of intricate plots by decadent imperial court nobles or twisted corrupt daimyo, recalling the intrigue of the 1978 Kinji Fukusaku film upon which the series is based.
The teleplays nevertheless have a lighter touch than the film, with some episodes veering into stories involving occult or more prosaic crime themes. Chiba’s character, the prodigal son Yagyū Jūbei, becomes the central character and his growing disillusionment with his duty is the main story arc in the series.
And on top of it all, it’s free on YouTube. Enjoy.