Planet Tokyo - Asahi Breweries

Planet Tokyo audio | #1 SAMURAI [CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE]  Samurai - Satsuma clan Boshin War period, circa 1867 [source wikipedia] Samurai military nobility & officer cast medieval & modern Japan originally 'bushi' (to attend upon) middle & upper echelons of warrior class usually associated with a clan & their lord trained as officers in military tactics & grand strategy followed rules, known later as:  bushidō samurai numbered less than 10% of Japan's pop. their teachings in today's Japanese martial arts & modern life Kabukimono or hatamoto yakko 1573-1603 AD 'Strange Things' or 'the Crazy Ones' from 'kabuku' - to slant or to deviate composed of:  ronin or samurai or men who worked for samurai families in peaceful times who formed gangs ronin 'wave man' - 'vagrant' - 'wandering man' term originated re serf who fled master's land later used for samurai who had no master samurai with no lord or master Japanese feudal period:  1185 - 1868 AD masterless from death or fall of his master (or upon loss of master's favour or privilege) Samurai Bushido Shoshinshu   (the Code of the Samurai) eg. to commit seppuku Japanese ritual suicide - disembowelment upon loss of master one who chose not to honour code was on his own meaning:  to suffer great shame Ronin, like other samurai, wore two swords also carried bo (to 6ft staff), & walking stick (yumi) weapons, depend on ryu (martial arts school they are from) in Edo period shogunate rigid class system & laws large increase in ronin in prior ages, samurai able to move b/w masters & have occupations could marry b/w classes but in Edo period samurai were restricted forbidden another master without master's permission samurai could not legally take up a new trade looked for other ways to make living with swords ronin who sought steady employment became: mercenaries guarded trade caravans; or bodyguards for merchants Others became criminals, highwaymen, or joined organised crime served as hired muscle for gangs, gambling rings, brothels, protection rackets petty thieves, muggers thugs, bullies, cutthroats, vagrants Kamakura & Muromachi periods warriors held lands that they occupied whereas, ronin was warrior who had lost lands small-scale wars in Japan in this time opportunities for ronin to serve new masters Later Edo period bond between lord and samurai was loose some left masters & sought new lords many served a succession of masters some even became daimyo (powerful feudal lords dai 'large' - 'myo' for 'myoden', private land subordinate only to Shogun most powerful feudal rulers 10th Century to mid 19th Century Shogun general - ie military commander hereditary military dictator in Japan 1192 to 1867 shoguns were de facto rulers of Japan although nominally appointed by Emperor as formality held almost absolute power over territories, via military means shogun's office or administration = shogunate known as 'bakufu' = tent office / government https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun kabukimono flamboyant dress, vibrant colours short kimonos with light weights in hem velvet lapels wide obi (sash) elements of European clothing or women's kimono used as cloaks kabukimono uncommon hairstyles & facial hair left to grow long  katana https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckrycABiJDE katana traditional Japanese samurai swords curved, single-blade, slender, circular or squared guard long grip to accommodate two hands thrust in belt-like sash (obi) victory depended heavily on fast response times sharpened edge facing up intended to: strike target in a single motion usually paired with smaller companion sword pairing is known as: the daishō only samurai could war daishō representative of: social power and personal honour of samurai companion swords: smaller wakizashi traditional Japanese sword cases = koshirae https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana Kabukimono or hatamoto yakko 1573-1603 AD fancy hilts large square tsuba rounded or squared grip on sword round thing that would probably steady the grip / it is at base of sword grip, before blade look like a big button with a hole in the centre (for the sword) have pretty, ornate designs red scabbards, longer than normal scabbards are sword holders they're beautiful - many different designs, depending on culture some kabukimono (ronin or samurai) extremely long kiseru as weapons kiseru = Japanese smoking pipe traditionally used for smoking kizami finely shredded tobacco resembling hair rod with metal ends, extremely long kiseru could be carried as weapon status symbol for the owner, elaborately engraved commoners were prohibited to carry sharp weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiseru often very violent, rude cutting down people to try a new sword incidents of violence common eg. in cities Edo & Kyoto wrestling & dancing in streets common  fighting with other gangs at night thought modern yakuza originated from groups of kabukimono others believe yakuza origins in:  machi yakko (private police) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabukimono https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daimyo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C5%8Dnin Bushido 'the way of the warrior' way of samurai life anologous to concept of chivalry in Europe samurai code of conduct frugality loyalty martial arts mastery honour until death Bushido from Neo-Confucianism influenced by Shinto & Zen Buddhism allowing violent existence of samurai to be tempered by wisdom & serenity developed: 1500s to 1900s possibly dating back to 10th Century Nabeshima Naoshige daimyo of Hizen 1538 - 1618 proved himself in battle 1570 assisted Takanobu at Saga Castle which was surrounded by 60,000 Otomo clan army versus Naoshige only 5,000 suggested night raid on enemy camp & successfully routed them inherited position from Takanobu (on death) "... it is shameful for any man to die without having risked his life in battle, regardless of rank ..." Seppuku (stomach cutting) Japanese ritual suicide / disembowelment originally reserved for samurai part of bushido honour code either voluntary, not to fall into enemy hands (torture) or as capital punishment for serious crime or bringing shame/dishonour performed as part of elaborate ritual before spectators plunge short blade (tanto) into abdomen from left to right, slicing abdomen open ritual standardised 17th century prior to standardisation, ritual much more painful on standardisation, kaishakunin ('second') appointed duty of kaishakunin to behead the ritual suicide agent at moment of agony kaishakunin is called 'kaishaku' ('nin' is person) suicide ritual agent spared prolonged death ritual is preserved in modern martial art:  iaido ritual varies, depending on fencing school all have steps in common: 1.  sit or stand close enough with katana to strike 2.  if seated, movements are ritualised 3.  when samurai performs seppuku he returns tanto dagger back to its place kaishakunin uses katana to strike back of neck of dying samurai Katana double handed grip for: precision & strength to cut must be precision controlled, cutting only half neck of samurai Intent to: leaving skin to hold head attached to body in single slash of katana Kaishakunin slowly, silently shakes blood on blade of katana movement known as:  chiburi katana returned to scabbard (movement called noto) while kneeling towards samurai corpse remains kneeling position as sign of deep respect to samurai in state of zanshin (total awareness) before standing & bowing to samurai corpse Execution Seppuku - some rituals no disembowelment just movement of dagger, stick or fan across stomach followed by beheading kaishakunin then becomes execution & seppuku becomes beheading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaishakunin jigai = suicide modern Japanese for suicide:  jisatsu https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabeshima_Naoshige [ALL SAMURAI INFO FROM WIKIPEDIA] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8t0KTOeMPw Last Samurai Samurai Class Abolished 1867  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSgAAlE_4oc I'm liking all this samurai stuff.  It seems brave and admirable, but I don't think I'd make a good samurai.  I couldn't do the seppuku and I'd probably run away if attacked, but it must be really exhilarating to handle beautiful weapons quickly and effectively. Not sure how much samurai info I'll remember.  Don't yet have a feel for Japanese. The names of things are difficult for me. But I'll remember:   katana. Normally, I don't drink (even socially) ... which is just as well, because alcohol and me is not a good mix. Felt like I drink today, when I saw one being cracked open.  Looked inviting, and I like bubbles.  Having an Asahi Breweries beer (apparently, one of 4 largest Japanese brewers, founded in Osaka in 1889).   Tastes very light, even to a non-drinker.  Nice, though.   I'd planned to watch a heap of videos, but I'm not sure I can catch up with everything I want to watch. Attention span isn't what it should be; I can only handle small bits of info ... and I like pictures a lot.  LOL Dinner's easy, so it doesn't matter if I wind up pissed:  Thai Chicken Green Curry pre-cooked (frozen).  Just need rice and it's good to go after defrost and heat, and dollop of my fabulous home-made yoghurt.