@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ However, Hotei-san is his band and he frequently plays with a different array of
We’ll probably never see them go head to head, so it’ll remain one of those unanswerable questions. Attached is one of my favourite of his videos 「カラス」in which he and mental drummer Tatsuya Nakamura (中村達也) go to town.. this is why to me Hotei wins.
@ -30,50 +30,16 @@ However, one of my travel partners from the trip has just recently shared his ph
Without a doubt my highlight of the trip to *Kanazawa* was sharing a hotel with athletes\performers from the Japanese Wrestling Association! Sitting in a lobby waiting for friends to arrive, surrounded by very muscular but relatively short angry looking Japanese men, reading newspapers and sipping tea was priceless.
Nestled in the hills above rural Hidaka-mura (日高村) in Kōchi prefecture lies the Kiriyama Tea Farm (霧山茶業組合) run by the Nakayama (my in-laws!) and Yano families.
@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Thing to realise above everything else I think is that whilst the TV coverage (s
---
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/qb1.jpg"alt="2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/qb1.jpg"alt="2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake"></span>
</dl>
In just four weeks, the __2:46 Quakebook project__ has turned an idea first voiced in a single tweet, into a rich collection of essays, artwork and photographs submitted by indivdiuals around the world, including people who endured the disaster and journalists who covered it.
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Stay up to date on the latest news using the twitter hashtag [#quakebook](http:/
### Extract from #Quakebook – Encouragement
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/qb2.jpg"alt="Photo by Kiyomu Tomita"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/qb2.jpg"alt="Photo by Kiyomu Tomita"></span>
Having visited Japan for a month in 2006, then lived in Okayama for a year between 2009 and 2010 and furthermore having had a life-long fascination with Japanese history and culture, I have experience of reading a great number of travel guides and books about this fascinating country. The one observation I would make of these books is that they are mostly dry, humourless, rinse and repeat guides highlighting the same places to visit and peddling the same experiences, and whilst there is absolutely a place for these books they fail to capture an important aspect of Japan, namely the fun, adventure and humour of everyday life in this curious country.
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/ssu1.jpg"alt="Japan, Funny Side Up"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/ssu1.jpg"alt="Japan, Funny Side Up"></span>
</dl>
[Amy Chavez](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-chavez "Amy Chavez - HuffPo") breaks the mould with this collection of articles and observations from her many collated years of living in Japan and it struck a chord with me on almost every page. My personal favourite section was the chapter which describes the delights of transportation in Japan and as I read I reminisced about being in very similar situations during my time living in Japan. I loved travelling through Okayama on a local bus as each corner turned would uncover small surprises. This is an alternative guide to Japan and it focuses on aspects of Japanese culture and life that most of the mainstream travel books miss out on, it doesn’t try to cover the same old well-trodden path, it presents new information for the Japan enthusiast to feast on in a very light-hearted, amusing and sometimes surreal way.
@ -22,35 +22,12 @@ In just a few days time when Golden Week starts a bunch of my friends will meet
These are just a few of the snaps I took on my various visits to the island, they represent some very happy memories.. I’ll be back on the sandy beaches wearing my cow-patterned shorts, supping an ice cold beer and watching Manchan dance before long!
<dl>
<table><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj1.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj1.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj2.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj2.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj3.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj3.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj4.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj4.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj5.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj5.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj6.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj6.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj7.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj7.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj8.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj8.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj9.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj9.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj10.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj10.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj11.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj11.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj12.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj12.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj13.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj13.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj14.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj14.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj15.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj15.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj16.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj16.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj17.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj17.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj18.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj18.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj19.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj19.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj20.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj20.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr><tr>
<td><ahref="/images/sj21.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj21.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj22.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj22.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td><ahref="/images/sj23.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj23.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
<td><ahref="/images/sj24.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/sj24.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></td>
</tr></table>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj1.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj1.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj2.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj2.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj3.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj3.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj4.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj4.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj5.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj5.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj6.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj6.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj7.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj7.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj8.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj8.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj9.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj9.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj10.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj10.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj11.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj11.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj12.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj12.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj13.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj13.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj14.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj14.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj15.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj15.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj16.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj16.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj17.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj17.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj18.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj18.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj19.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj19.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj20.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj20.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj21.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj21.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
<spanclass="album-thumbs"><ahref="/images/800/sj22.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj22.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj23.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj23.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a><ahref="/images/800/sj24.jpg"><imgsrc="/images/250/sj24.jpg"alt="Photo of Shiraishi Island"></a></span>
@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Through the eyes of this samurai otaku there was, and indeed is no finer directo
I have just finished watching, not for the first time, perhaps the most comedic of the great Kurosawa films and I feel the need to share the love that I feel for these movies. The film I speak of is *The Hidden Fortress* (隠し砦の三悪人, *Kakushi toride no san akunin*) which was released in 1958.
This film was ‘famously’ the inspiration for George Lucas in telling the Star Wars story from the viewpoint of the droids, R2-D2 and C3P0. In *Hidden Fortress* these roles are played by luckless, greedy, squabbling wasters Matashichi and Tahei and it is through these characters that the comedy element of the movie is beautifully delivered.. that will be the only time either are referred to in the same sentence as the adjective beautiful!
@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ I present this series in no particular order, the fact that Jessie Roberta Cowan
Jessie was more commonly referred to as Rita and her married name is Taketsuru. Rita is referred to as the mother of Japanese whisky being co-founder of the Nikka Whisky distillery along with her husband Masataka who is also known as the father of Japanese whisky. The creation of Nikka was truly a partnership as without Rita’s connections which she had built up teaching English, Masataka would never have found the financing to build his own distillery.
I was going to research and write my own story of Rita’s life as I may well do for future posts in this series, however I found an article on The Japan Times called [The Rita Taketsuru Fan Club](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2010/11/28/general/the-rita-taketsuru-fan-club/#.VDUh9fldVz4 "The Rita Taketsuru Fan Club") which I’ve plagiarised parts of instead! The following excerpts are from a story by [Jon Mitchell](http://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-jon_mitchell/ "Jon Mitchell") it is a very well written piece and I heartily recommend reading the full article.
@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ __Their meeting in Scotland:__
> In the following months, the Cowans’ finances dwindled until, in 1919, they realized they needed to act fast if they wanted to keep the bailiffs from their family home in the town of Kirkintilloch some 12 km northeast of central Glasgow. So it was then they decided to take in a lodger.
> The man they chose was 25-year-old Masataka Taketsuru. The Hiroshima native had recently been sent to Scotland by the managers of the drinks company for which he worked. Many decades earlier, Japanese manufacturers had cracked the secrets of European beer and brandy, but one skill still eluded them — the art of making whisky. They’d tried to emulate its taste with spices, herbs and honey, but all to no avail.
@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ __In 1923 they moved to Japan:__
> While these were undoubtedly difficult times for the Taketsurus, photographs show the pair totally at ease with one another and themselves. Rita clutches a parasol and leans against her husband while Masataka grins confidently at the camera — they appear to be a thoroughly modern couple, thoroughly in love.
> By 1923, word had spread of Masataka’s research trip to Scotland and he was hired by Shinjiro Torii (the founder of the Suntory group) to help build a whisky distillery in Yamazaki, Kyoto Prefecture. Rita was happy that her husband would finally have an opportunity to put his hard-earned skills into practice, and for the next six years she taught English while also honing her own Japanese abilities.
@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ __On the creation of Nikka after unsuccessful periods working for profit-driven
> Without Rita’s connections, he would never have been able to realize this dream. Since 1924, she’d been teaching English to the wife of Shotaro Kaga — the founder of a successful securities company. When Kaga heard of Masataka’s plans, he and two other investors agreed to back the project, and the creation of Masataka’s company, Dai Nihon Kaju (later shortened to “Nikka”).
> Upon learning where he was planning to build his distillery, the investors almost changed their minds. But Masataka insisted that there was only one place in Japan with ready access to the barley, peat, coal and water that were vital for Scotch whisky production. That place was Yoichi, a town located in the country’s most inhospitable and underdeveloped island, Hokkaido.”
@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ __Legacy:__
> “Masataka outlived his wife by 18 years, and today the two are interred together on a hillside near the distillery. Walking through the town, I’m delighted to discover that the woman who’d once been ostracized as a potential enemy of the state has since left her indelible mark on the landscape — Yoichi’s main thoroughfare is named “Rita Road” and a kindergarten she helped to establish still bears her name.
> After 15 minutes, I arrive at the Taketsurus’ grave. The gray lozenge of stone is lit pink by the setting sun, some fireflies flare brightly and the air smells of freshly-mown grass. In the valley below, I spot the red rooftop of the distillery.
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/card2.jpg"alt="Welcome to Kōchi"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/card2.jpg"alt="Welcome to Kōchi"></span>
</dl>
I consider myself very fortunate to be married to a hachikin (はちきん), a strong (mentally, physically, emotionally, alcohol-ly) woman from Kōchi prefecture in Shikoku. Not least of all because our relationship has introduced me to breathtaking Kōchi countryside, the exceptionally accepting and very friendly people of the prefecture, a couple of ancient drinking games and a famous samurai about whom I have learned much and have much more to learn.
@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ I consider myself very fortunate to be married to a hachikin (はちきん), a
Moreover, one of the unexpected bonuses of our relationship was (and still is) the introduction to Tosa-ben (土佐弁), or the Tosa dialect. Tosa is the ancient name for the province of Shikoku that is now modern day Kōchi prefecture. Despite being very lacklustre in my attempts to speak and/or learn standard Japanese, I was surprised to discover that I find Tosa-ben fascinating, infinitely more so than textbook nihongo.
There is something about speaking a Japanese dialect that is a good leveller, though not suitable for many situations the ‘bens’ are affected versions of casual Japanese and so speaking to someone in Tosa-ben or any dialect brings everybody down or up to the same level. As a non-native Japanese ~~speaker~~ stumbler, I’ve long struggled with applying the relevant level of politeness to my specific environs and generally resultantly cobbled together a hotch-potch of casual form, polite form and uncustomary stuttering when I communicate.
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Unfortunately, like most language related knowledge or memory, if you don’t us
By way of a disclaimer, as I’ve hinted at above, my standard Japanese is pretty poor and I’m a beginner in the ways of Tosa-ben.. so this series of posts probably shouldn’t be relied on as a serious study resource.
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/card4.jpg"alt="Kōchi Castle.. not relevant but I like castles."></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/card4.jpg"alt="Kōchi Castle.. not relevant but I like castles."></span>
</dl>
Before we get on to mentioning any Tosa-ben however, a wee story. On my first visit to meet the in-laws in Kōchi we visited a lot of family friends and extended family. lot’s of people were eager to meet me and to gauge my opinion of their hometown etc. One of the visits was to Mr Tequila‘s mother, who was a lovely lady who promptly provided us with tea on our arrival. After finding out that I was interested in learning more Tosa-ben she presented me with a gift! 「龍馬・土佐弁かるた」- a card game called Ryōma Tosa-ben karuta (no idea what the last word means). Sakamoto Ryōma is a very famous and very influential samurai in the intricate weave of Japan’s history.
@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ The card game consists of a CD and 2 sets of 45 cards, reading cards (読む札)
When I’ve asked my hachikin how its played I’ve been told its really easy, you match one card with the other.. That certainly sounds easy but for someone who hasn’t ever played the game before it isn’t a particularly thorough description.
So for over two years I’ve sat with this much appreciated gift that I haven’t been able to play with even once. Then just last night when I was positioning the box for a photograph, I discovered that the instructions are printed on the side of the box. Here they are in full.
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/card2.jpg"alt="Welcome to Kōchi"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/card2.jpg"alt="Welcome to Kōchi"></span>
</dl>
I consider myself very fortunate to be married to a hachikin (はちきん), a strong (mentally, physically, emotionally, alcohol-ly) woman from Kōchi prefecture in Shikoku. Not least of all because our relationship has introduced me to breathtaking Kōchi countryside, the exceptionally accepting and very friendly people of the prefecture, a couple of ancient drinking games and a famous samurai about whom I have learned much and have much more to learn.
@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Unfortunately, like most language related knowledge or memory, if you don’t us
By way of a disclaimer, as I’ve hinted at above, my standard Japanese is pretty poor and I’m a beginner in the ways of Tosa-ben.. so this series of posts probably shouldn’t be relied on as a serious study resource.
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/card4.jpg"alt="Kōchi Castle.. not relevant but I like castles."></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/card4.jpg"alt="Kōchi Castle.. not relevant but I like castles."></span>
</dl>
Before we get on to mentioning any Tosa-ben however, a wee story. On my first visit to meet the in-laws in Kōchi we visited a lot of family friends and extended family. lot’s of people were eager to meet me and to gauge my opinion of their hometown etc. One of the visits was to Mr Tequila‘s mother, who was a lovely lady who promptly provided us with tea on our arrival. After finding out that I was interested in learning more Tosa-ben she presented me with a gift! 「龍馬・土佐弁かるた」- a card game called Ryōma Tosa-ben karuta (no idea what the last word means). Sakamoto Ryōma is a very famous and very influential samurai in the intricate weave of Japan’s history.
@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ The card game consists of a CD and 2 sets of 45 cards, reading cards (読む札)
When I’ve asked my hachikin how its played I’ve been told its really easy, you match one card with the other.. That certainly sounds easy but for someone who hasn’t ever played the game before it isn’t a particularly thorough description.
So for over two years I’ve sat with this much appreciated gift that I haven’t been able to play with even once. Then just last night when I was positioning the box for a photograph, I discovered that the instructions are printed on the side of the box. Here they are in full.
@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Today I re-read Inazo Nitobe’s *Bushido* in preparation for writing up my appl
Whilst reading I came across this following quote which describes an eye-witness account from a western representative of a ceremonial suicide by disembowling known as *seppuku*.
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/seppuku2.jpg"alt="Seppuku – Ritual Suicide by Disembowling"title="Seppuku – Ritual Suicide by Disembowling"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/seppuku2.jpg"alt="Seppuku – Ritual Suicide by Disembowling"title="Seppuku – Ritual Suicide by Disembowling"></span>
</dl>
The article originates from A.B. Mitford’s *Tales of Old Japan*. It makes for fascinating reading, at least it does for a samurai otaku like myself!
@ -45,5 +45,5 @@ The article originates from A.B. Mitford’s *Tales of Old Japan*. It makes for
The quality of this article that I value the highest is the balanced way in which the activity is explained, rather than quickly assign the ritual as an act of brutal, bloodthirsty heathens Mitford gives a precise and respectable account of what he has seen and has attributed courage and honour to the samurai who has taken his life. For anyone interested in how modern Japan is influenced by their feudal past I’d enthusiatically recommend Nitobe’s book, his patriotic and passionate defence of bushido gives some indication as to why his portrait was printed on 5000 yen banknotes for 20 years (1984-2004).
<dl>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/seppuku3.jpeg"alt="Inazo Nitobe adorning the 5000 yen note"title="Inazo Nitobe adorning the 5000 yen note"></span>
<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center"><imgsrc="/images/700/seppuku3.jpeg"alt="Inazo Nitobe adorning the 5000 yen note"title="Inazo Nitobe adorning the 5000 yen note"></span>
@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ So there hasn’t been a great deal of activity on this blog for the past severa
With the initial stages of my year in Japan now very imminent I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do and see in my first 3 or so weeks of travelling prior to my arrival in Okayama on October 1st. There are a few places from my holiday in 2006 which I would like to revisit, such as Arashiyama.. this small town is still responsible for some of my fondest memories of Japan. Myself and my travelling companions stumbled upon Arashiyama whilst staying in Kyoto, Alexander wanted to see a bamboo tree forest and according to Mr. Google this was the place to satisfy his desire. However, little Arashiyama harbours greater delights than bamboo trees.. on our hunt we discovered a snow monkey sanctuary atop a small mountain, followed shortly by a very quaint, ramshackle little Buddhist temple atop the next mountain.. a very cool wide river adorned by traditional style boats and lots of gift shops. We were told that Arashiyama is a place where the Japanese like to go on holiday and not a massive amount of Western tourists make it to the town. It was stunning.. we did also find a bamboo forest so everyone was happy. It just so happens that I have a friend who is studying for a short while in Kyoto and a very helpful tutor from Okayama University who hails from Kyoto so a return trip to Arashiyama has a solid place in my makeshift itinerary.
However, I have a liaison with a small yakitoriya in Osaka which will most likely be my first port of call. We visited this tiny little eatery as a result of our determination to be a little more adventurous than we had been and our efforts to avoid the easier picture menu restaurants. Our first attempt almost put our good efforts to bed after we accidentally stumbled into a Korean restaurant where the staff spoke no English, and only a little broken Japanese.. our combined Japanese skills amounted for very little and so after an awkward 15 minutes or so we left and found the warm and friendly yakitori bar. The owners of this place also spoke no English but exuded a welcoming warmth and us being able to point at any food we wanted in the bar top chiller was a definite bonus! On our first night a friendly Japanese family bought us a few jars of sake and enquired as to where we were from. We drank several biiru ate lots of meat on sticks combinations, a very good night was had.. so we went back the next day and got speaking to a very worldly Japanese man who seemed to have travelled to every English speaking country in the world at some stage. He translated for Mrs. Yakitoriya and she said that she loved us.. presumably as we couldn’t read the conventional menu and were eating the more expensive option whilst drinking a fair amount of beer and sake. At the end of that evening we asked a .. tattooed man .. to take a picture of us outside the bar with the owners and he complied and indicated on the way back in that he thought that I was Bruce Willis!
@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Absorbed in the novel as I was, I was led by occasional references to classical
Before I explain what IT was I am going to need to bring you up to speed on what kind of a person I am, this will not involve an in-depth minutely detailed description of the minor or indeed major events of my life, after all we all have places to be and things to be getting on with. I would rather sparingly expedite the relevant facts, that way I can let your imaginations paint a far more fascinating account of my character than the tedious truth would allow for. I have since the age of four been without religion, I was still at the time shipped off to Christian Sunday schools where we’d be told how cool Jesus was.. or something along those lines but, I was more or less sceptical on the whole thing from an abnormally young age. As I’ve grown up I am no less sceptical on any philosophy or religion which requires a “leap of faith” in order to justify against increasing amounts of empirical evidence which contradict the writings of such faith. I am and have always felt that I am inherently a good person however for the majority of my life thus far the gauge by which to judge such a claim has been the Christian morality that my society has evolved upon and I have longed for sometime to find a morality which is based on something a little more.. human. At the same time as being sceptical I am conversely very open minded on non-ecumenical matters and enjoy learning about unfamiliar people and cultures, even though I could never believe in a philosophy which attributes grand claims to a supernatural overlord I can understand that other people may have insecurities which may seem too great to handle personally and hence they find great strength in the notion that an omnipotent being has their back and will take care of these insecurities. I am however digressing, I must learn to pull in the reigns on this troubling habit. The fact of the matter is that from an early age I have felt somewhat alien in an inherently Christian society and as such I have long looked for a society where I could feel more naturally at home.
After many years of searching I found such a society, arguably several hundred years too late, but even nowadays the feudal moral code still provides a modern nation with a non-religious guide of good and bad. I am talking about Samurai, the Japanese equivalent of the English knights of the round table. These men were a warrior caste and they lived by an unwritten set of rules collectively known as Bushido, which shares several qualities with the European concept of chivalry. Whilst being influenced by Buddhism, Shinto and Confucianism it is primarily a non-religious set of rules by which the Samurai conscientiously lived their lives. Bushido promoted benevolence, respect, politeness as well as justice, honour and truth, there is no uber-saviour in the sky waiting to slap your ass if you break the rules but if a Samurai did not follow the rules of Bushido then they would not be accepted by their peers, they would not remain Samurai for long and chances are they would not remain… for long, additionally dishonour would sweep through the family like a tsunami through a small Pacific island. In Samurai and in Bushido I found that which I had been searching for many years and have become fascinated by them, the more I read, the more fascinated I become not only about Samurai but also Japan, both modern day and ancient, and as a result I am studying Japanese language at university. However, there has been one hangover from a Western upbringing that I have struggled to contend with, and that is to fully understand the Samurai attitude to death. Having read such classics as “Hagakure” by Yamamoto Tsunetomo and “The Book of Five Rings” by Miyamoto Musashi amongst others I understood that the Samurai has to be ready to react instantly in order to protect their master and in order to most effectively carry out this role they must put aside their own feeling of mortality, they must in effect live life as if they are already dead. I understood the concept completely, well almost, I understood the purpose but I could not comprehend how in practice this concept could be realised. How do you selflessly release your attachment to life but still continue to live? This question had been eating away at me for years but this was about to change.
jk
3 years ago