Thrill-seeking, terror-pleasure and rebellion in today's Japan

"Perhaps Japanese society is simply too peaceful, too secure and too over-regulated and this may explain the fascination in Japan - and also in Western countries for horror movies. Mass audiences, especially bored teenagers, want to experience the thrill of being scared witless and merging their enjoyable screams with hundreds of other kids screaming in a crowded, but secure, cinema. This is ersatz-terrorism because it is a game of make-believe and because it is perfectly safe."