Yoshikawa Eiji (吉川栄治)

                                               

            Yoshikawa Hidetsugu  (吉川英次) or known as Yoshikawa Eiji was born August 11^th, 1982 in Kanagawa prefecture which is now is part of Yokohama. Because the situation of his family, he had to drop out from school and looking for job when he was eleven years old. After he was 18, after a near fatal accident working at Yokohama dock, he move to Tokyo and become an apprentice in a gold lacquer workshop. He spends his spare time which is not much, with reading and writing haiku and story. He joined a poetry society and started writing comic haiku under the pseudonym “Kijiro.”

            In 1914, with The Tale of Enoshima, he won first prize in novel-writing contest sponsored by publisher Kodansha. He joined Maiyu Shimbun (Maiyu Newspaper) in 1921, in the following year he began publishing serialization, starting with “Shinran” (親鸞).

            He married Yasu Akazawa in 1923, the year of the Great Kantō earthquake. In this situation he decide to be a professional writer. In the same year he published stories in various periodicals published by Kodansha, who recognized him as their number one author. He used 19 pen names before settling on Eiji Yoshikawa. He first used this pen name with the serialization of Sword Trouble, Woman Trouble. His name became a household word after Secret Record of Naruto was serialized in the Osaka Mainichi Shimbun (Osaka Daily Newspaper), from then on his writing became much more popular.

In the early 1930s, his writing became introspective, reflecting growing troubles in his personal life. But in 1935, with the serialization of Musashi, about famed swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵), in the Asahi Shimbun, his writing settled firmly into the genre of historical adventure fiction.

Upon the outbreak of war with China in 1937 the Asahi Shimbun sent him into the field as a special correspondent. At this time he divorced Yasu Akazawa and married Fumiko Ikedo. During the war he continued writing novels, and became more influenced by Chinese culture. Among the works of this period are “Taiko” and his re-telling of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

At the end of the war he stopped writing for a while and settled down to enjoy a quiet retirement in Yoshino (present-day Oumeshi) on the outskirts of Tokyo, but by 1947 he had started writing again. His post-war works include New Tale of the Heike, published in the Asahi Weekly (1950), and A Private Record of the Pacific War (1958). On September 7, 1962, he died from cancer-related complications.

FUNKIST - Snow Fairy

FAIRY, WHERE YOU GOING
Hikari zenbu atsumete
Kimi no ashita terasu yo

OH YEAH! kikoeten no kako no koe wa?
OH YEAH! karetatte sakebu kara
OH YEAH! kikoeru made kimi no kokoro ga
OH YEAH! OH YEAH!

Tsuki to taiyou no haitacchi
Wasuremono wanai desuka?
Okashii na kimi ga inai to
Hoshii mono sae mitsukaranai

SNOWING sunao ni
Egao ni nareta no wa
Futari yorisoi
Kasane atta "jikan" ga aru kara
FAIRY, WHERE YOU GOING
Hikari zenbu atsumete
Kimi no ashita terasu yo

OH YEAH! namiuchigawa ni ukabeta kanjou
Itsu no manika orenji sae
Shiroku kawatteku kisetsu
OH YEAH! bokura futari mitsumeteta RAINBOW
Ima wa omoide no naga de
Nanairo ga yuki ni kawaru

Fushigi dana kimi ga warau to
Boku wa sukoshi dake tsuyoku narerunda

SNOWING konna ni
Hitori furueteru kimi no
Soba ni yorisoi
Tsutsumi komu koto mo dekizu ni
FAIRY, SLOWLY BUT SURELY
YOU'RE WALKING YOUR WAY,
HANG IN THERE!

Warau koto sae
Wasureteta boku ni
Mahou wo kakete
Egao hitotsu de
Subete wo kaeta
Kimi wa boku no FAIRY

SNOWING sunao ni
Egao ni nareta no wa
Futari yorisoi
Kasane atta "jikan" ga aru kara
FAIRY, WHERE YOU GOING
Hikari zenbu atsumete
Kimi wo terasu yo

SNOWING sunao ni
Egao ni nareta no wa
Kimi dakara
Kimi to datta kara
SNOWING FAIRY
Kimi ga kureta hikari
Zenbu atsume sakebu yo
SNOW FAIRY

DON'T SAY GOODBYE

Manga

               Manga is actually refers to a style of cartoons originating in Japan. They usually are published in installments, and depending on their form, can be up to several hundred pages long. Many different genres are available, so they are popular with people of all ages and backgrounds. Known for their in-depth plots and characters, these well-respected works have been drawn for hundreds of years, although the modern version developed starting in the mid-20th century.

                First of all, though an outsider might think Japan get comics from the West, this is not true. Japan has been making cartoon art for a very long time (there are humorous ink drawings of animals and caricatured people from hundreds of years ago, bearing striking resemblances to modern manga). True, some aspects of manga are taken from the West (Osamu Tezuka, the "father" of modern manga, was influenced by Disney and Max Fleisher), but its main features, such as simple lines and stylized features, are distinctly Japanese. It may be that Chinese art had more influence than Western.
               Manga is thought to have started centuries ago with Chojugiga ("The Animal Scrolls"), drawn by Kakuyu (1053 - 1140), but it didn’t really begin to develop as a full narrative form until the work of Hokusai Katsushika (1760 - 1849). The real boom started after the end of World War II.
               Kanagaki Robun and Kawanabe Kyosai created the first manga magazine in 1874: Eshinbun Nipponchi. The magazine was heavily influenced by Japan Punch, founded in 1862 by Charles Wirgman, a British cartoonist. Eshinbun Nipponchi had a very simple style of drawings and did not become popular with many people. Eshinbun Nipponchi ended after three issues. The magazine Kisho Shimbun in 1875 was inspired by Eshinbun Nipponchi, which was followed by Marumaru Chinbun in 1877, and then Garakuta Chinpo in 1879. Shōnen Sekai was the first shōnen magazine created in 1895 by Iwaya Sazanami, a famous writer of Japanese children's literature back then. Shōnen Sekai had a strong focus on the First Sino-Japanese War.

Typical Japanese Lifestyle and Everyday Living

Climate and weather

Kashiwa City and Nagareyama City are located in Chiba Prefecture, which has a relatively moderate climate throughout the year. However, please be aware that during the mid-summer, the temperature can still climb well in excess of 30 degrees Centigrade, which, compounded with typically high humidity, can create the uncomfortable conditions associated with the hot summer. Also, snow falls in Chiba Prefecture during the mid-winter months.
Air conditioners, fans and heating stoves will help to comfortably control the temperature inside your residence.
From summer to autumn, Japan experiences several typhoons (tropical storms) every year. It's best to be prepared for these storms by storing an emergency kit (with flashlight, batteries, food, water, etc.) in an accessible place. Also, you should familiarize yourself with your nearest local emergency shelter.

Be aware of mold

The months of June and July are known as the "rainy season" in Japan.
Even when the rainy season is finished, summer in Japan is typically hot and very humid. Therefore, it is easy for mold to grow.
Exposure to mold is unhealthy. Therefore, be sure to open your windows on clear days, try to have good ventilation, wipe off condensation from the inside of windows and doors, and use moisture removal goods, such as a dehumidifier, to prevent the growth of mold.

Drinking water

Generally, it is not a problem to drink tap water in Japan. However, if you don't like the local water smell or taste, it's best to boil your water, use a water purification system, or buy bottled mineral water.

The traditional lifestyle without shoes inside a building

In almost all Japanese homes, you step up to enter from the front door area after you take off your shoes. Sometimes, you will wear room shoes (slippers) inside the house, but you should take off these slippers when you enter a tatami (Japanese straw mat) room. Nowadays, at most offices, you don't have to take off your shoes to enter, but there are still a few traditional businesses in which you have to take off your shoes.

Bathroom and toilet

Pay attention to the traditional Japanese etiquette when taking a bath, especially when you visit someone's house or a public bath.
Wash and rinse off your body, before you enter the bathtub.
Do not wash your body inside the bathtub. To use soap, you should come out of the bathtub first, then wash and rinse your body outside of the bathtub.
Traditionally, in Japan, the hot water in the bathtub is not changed after every person takes a bath. Do not unplug the bathtub to let the hot water out. When you finish your bath, leave the hot water in the bathtub.
In Japan, there are 2 styles of toilets (so-called "Japanese style" and "Western style"). If you use the "Japanese style" toilet, you will have to squat. Except for toilet paper, please do not flush any other foreign objects, such as sanitary napkins or the cardboard core of the toilet paper roll.

Restaurants

At most Japanese and Chinese restaurants, chopsticks are usually served. If you can't use chopsticks, please don't hesitate to request silverware.
In most restaurants and bars in Japan, even where only alcohol is served, there is no system of paying for individual drinks or snacks, one at a time. You simply pay your total bill when you leave the restaurant or bar at the cash register.
Typically, in Japan, there is no system of tipping for service, but nowadays, many hotels and a limited number of restaurants will include a prescribed service charge (normally a percentage of the total) on your bill.

Shopping

In Japan, when you purchase goods or use the money transfer service at the bank, you have to pay the Japanese 5% consumption tax.
The 5% consumption tax is included in the price shown on the price tag of any item for sale in Japan. (The listed price reflects the total cost of the item and the sales tax.)
For most shopping, you should usually plan to pay in cash, but nowadays, a limited number of places, such as hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets, accept credit cards.
You can cash a personal check only at the bank where the check was written or at the bank in which you have your own account (in your name). In Japan, you cannot write personal checks for purchases.

(source: http://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/housingnavi/en/living_in_japan/custom.html)

Anime (アニメ)

Japanese word for cartoon and animation. In Japan, "anime" refers to any and all animation or cartoon - regardless of the genre, style, or nation of origin. Outside of Japan the word "anime" has come to refer specifically to animation of Japanese origins, or animation of a particular style (see below). Because of this, it is pronounced the Japanese way: "a-nee-may".

While it is clear that the word anime derives from a western term, there is some debate as to its exact origin. One very common interpretation is that it comes from the French term for cartoon, "dessin animé", which translates literally to "animated drawing". However, others believe it's simply a contraction of the word "animation" as pronounced in English.

While the French origin is perhaps the most widely spread theory, it may simply be a myth related to the popularity of anime in France in the late 70s and the 80s which was so spectacular it even led to some French-Japanese co-productions. But animation in Japan has existed for longer than that, and the full word for animation there is アニメション (animeshon) which follows the English pronunciation, not the French one. Combined with the fact that Japanese have a habit of incorporating English words into their language much more often than other western languages, this makes a strong case that "anime" is actually the short form of the Japanization of the English word "animation."

There is much controversy as to whether or not the label "anime" can be extended to non-Japanese animation that looks like Japanese animation. Whether or not the label can be extended to non-Japanese animation depends largely on the technical definition of "anime" that one chooses to accept:

Defined by origin: Defining "anime" as animation produced in Japan allows for a fairly black and white application of the label. The only gray area occurs with co-productions that may have had a portion of their animation, and/or scripting produced outside of Japan.

Defined by style: Defining "anime" as a style of animation that originated in Japan is much more complicated, however this definition would allow animation produced outside of Japan, but conforming to the defined "style" to be called "anime." It is difficult to determine if this "style" should be determined solely on drawing style (ie: Big eyes, small mouth, pointy hair), if it should include editing techniques (Japanese animation typically makes more use of "cuts" and "camera angles" than most non Japanese animation), and whether the narrative or storytelling style should be included in the definition. Perhaps the biggest pitfall of this definition is that, due to the wide variety of Japanese animation, regardless of any style based definition, there will always be Japanese animation that would not fit the definition, creating a scenario where some Japanese animation would not be anime.

According to Anime News Network publisher, Christopher Macdonald, "On Anime News Network, we define anime based on the origin of the animation. If it is primarily produced in Japan, it is anime. It should be clear, that by adhering to a definition that defines non-Japanese animation that mimic common anime styles as 'not anime,' Anime News Network does not endorse the notion that these 'anime-style' works are in any way inferior to animation produced in Japan."

Japan's Historical Places Part 4

KAIRAKUEN

Historic Garden Famous for 100 Kinds of Ume (Japanese Apricot) Trees  

 

Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a huge garden covering 127,000-square meter (31.4-acre) that was created by a feudal lord who reigned over this area in the Edo period (1603-1868). The garden is characterized by its exquisite design that makes great use of surrounding natural features; for example, neighboring Lake Senba is used as a pond, which is a key feature of traditional gardens. Kairakuen is considered to be one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan, along with Kenrokuen in Ishikawa Prefecture and Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture.  
The name "Kairakuen" means "a garden to enjoy with people." The 9th lord Nariaki Tokugawa who completed the garden not only used it for himself, but also opened it to the public, a pioneering idea that lead to the development of parks. Historical records show that people came here in spare moments from work to play music, sing, have tea ceremonies, and fish in Lake Senba while enjoying the beautiful landscape.  
Kairakuen is also famous for its ume (Japanese apricot) flowers; about 3,000 trees of over 100 species of ume trees cover half of the site. Since the flowering season varies from early January to late March, flowers are in bloom throughout the garden during these three months. It is said that Nariaki ordered the many ume trees to be planted because after people had enjoyed the flowers, the fruits could be preserved as food in case of emergency. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

KAMAKURA

Ancient City Full of Historical Interest and Flowers  

Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is where the first military regime of Japan was formed, replacing the previous reign by the imperial court and aristocracy. This regime, called Kamakura Bakufu, was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147-99) in 1192. Yoritomo moved Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a leading Shinto shrine in the area, into the center of the city and modeled the city after Kyoto, comparing the shrine to the Imperial Palace in the center of Kyoto. The road called "Wakamiya Ooji" which runs directly from the shrine to the coast was built during this early period of the city's construction and is still the city's main street today.  
In the 18th century, Kamakura had already become a popular tourist spot. The city was fairly close to Edo (present-day Tokyo), which was already a big city at that time, and many citizens of Edo visited Kamakura to worship at the temples and shrines or to visit the historic sites.  
  
Kamakura City today has the quiet, civilized atmosphere of an ancient city. The city is scattered with many temples and shrines, among which are to be found temples built by men of power in the 13th century when the city flourished as the political center of the nation. Many temples and shrines are also famous for their seasonal flowers, the best-known of which are the cherry blossoms of Kenchoji Temple, narcissi and ume (Japanese apricot) flowers of Zuisenji Temple, and hydrangeas in Meigetsuin Temple. Another of the major attractions of Kamakura is the bronze Great Buddha of Kotokuin Temple, which is a National Treasure. This huge statue standing 11.3 meters (37.1 feet) high, made also in the 13th century, sits in the open air and is regarded as a symbol of Kamakura. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

 

The Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese tea ceremony is called Chanoyu, Sado or simply Ocha in Japanese. It is a choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea, called Matcha, together with traditional Japanese sweets to balance with the bitter taste of the tea. Preparing tea in this ceremony means pouring all one's attention into the predefined movements. The whole process is not about drinking tea, but is about aesthetics, preparing a bowl of tea from one's heart. The host of the ceremony always considers the guests with every movement and gesture. Even the placement of the tea utensils is considered from the guests view point (angle), especially the main guests called the Shokyaku.

History of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

Drinking of green tea was known in China from the fourth century. Tea plants didn’t grow in Japan until the first seeds were brought from China during the Tang dynasty (China 618-907), when relations and cultural exchanges between the two countries reached a peak.

In the eighth century the first mention of a formal ceremony involving the drinking of tea is found. However, at this time it probably didn’t look much like the tea ceremony we know these days. Also, during the eighth century a Chinese Buddhist priest wrote a book on the proper method of preparing tea. The book was called “Cha Ching” and taught the correct temperature of hot water and the use of tea vessels. It is said that today’s style of the tea ceremony evolved largely through the influence of this book.

During the Nara period (Japan 710-794) tea plants were grown in Japan and mainly consumed by priests and noblemen as medicine. Toward the end of the Tang dynasty in China, the drinking of tea was going through a transformation from medicine to beverage, but due to deteriorating relations between the two countries this transformation did not reach Japan till much later. The Japanese were forced to mold and cultivate their own traditions and culture around the tea. Tea was a rare and valuable commodity from the Nara period to the Heian period (794-1192) so rules and formalities were based on this concept. Had tea been native to Japan or more readily available, it is almost certain that the tea ceremony would not have been created.

Kamakura period in Japan.

In 1187 Myoan Eisai, a Japanese priest, traveled to China to study philosophy and religion. When he came back, he became the founder of Zen Buddhism and build the first temple of the Rinzai sect. It is said that he was the first one to cultivate tea for religious purposes, unlike others before him who grew tea for medicinal use only. He was also the first to suggest and teach the grinding of tea leaves before adding hot water. A Sung emperor named Hui Tsung, referred to a bamboo whisk used to whisk the tea after hot water was poured over it in his book Ta Kuan Cha Lun (A General View of Tea). These two methods formed the basis for the tea ceremony as we know it today.

Some hostility was created among monks who didn’t like Eisai’s newly introduced religious ideas which he had imported, but the Kamakura shogunate, who were among his first converts, helped him succeed in enlisting protection. In 1211, Eisai was the first to write a treatise on tea in Japan. In his treatise, Kissa Yojoki (Tea drinking is good for health) Eisai suggested that the drinking of tea had certain health benefits and cures for; loss of appetite, paralysis, beriberi, boils and sickness from tainted water. According to him it was a cure for all disorders, so this perhaps was the main reason that the Tea Ceremony gained such popularity.

Tea in the thirteenth century and the Samurai

Tea started to spread outside of the Uji district where it had mainly been grown since the beginning. But by now popularity and so demand was growing rapidly and called for plantations all around Japan. The samurai class, who loved everything about the Sung dynasty including the Tea ceremony, embraced it wholly and caused even greater popularity of the ritual preparation of green tea.

In 1333, the Kamakura shogunate fell which led to civil wars in the whole country. A new class of people came into existence, the Gekokujou (parvenus). These nobles whose extravagant lifestyles attracted much attention from the public, often held tea parties for their friends called Toucha. In this game the guests were tested on their abilities to distinguish between Honcha (genuine tea) and other tea. Soon betting accompanied these games and great valuable prices were presented to winners which added to the excitement of the game.

Originally the guests were given ten cups of tea, but this number increases to twenty, thirty and eventually one hundred cups per person. If there was a great number of people attending the party, it would have been impossible to provide every guest with one hundred cups. Although followed procedures are unknown, the guests probably passed cups from one the next. This technique of passing around tea bowl probably explains why only one tea bowl is used during today’s Tea Ceremony.

However strange this habit of sharing might seem to us now, it probably has its roots in the Samurai class. The Samurai had strong family ties, and when the family would gather on important occasions, it was custom for the lord to take the first sip of Sake from a large cup and then pass it among his retainers as a reaffirmation of their close bonds.

Tea ceremony during the Muromachi period

During the Muromachi period, Japanese architecture went trough a transformation from the formal palace style adopted in the Heian period, to a simplified style used by the Samurai. The next transformation was from Samurai style to the Shoin style which used elements of temple architecture. For the tea ceremony some of the Shoin design details were adopted, such as the alcove (Tokonoma), the pair of shelves (Chigaidana) in the side of the alcove, and the side-alcove desk (Tsuke-shoin). Of course Taami mats were used to cover the floor in the Shoin style.

The Samurai nobles made it their hobby to perfect the way of decorating the alcove, the shelves in the side alcove. The Shoin desk became fixed, with the aim of arranging a small number of utensils and articles in a way that was aesthetically and functionally.

After some time, the Shoin was used to serve tea ceremonially by the Douboushuu. All the utensils used by them came from China and were placed on a large utensil stand (Daisu).

Murata Shukou : The Founder of Chanoyu

When people of other classes became interested in the tea ceremony enjoyed by the Samurai class, they started having small tea gatherings in smaller and less lavish rooms which were appropriate to their status. From this the small room called Kakoi came into existence.

One of the best designers of smaller tearooms was a Zen priest called Murata Shukou. He later became known as the father of the tea ceremony because the etiquette and spirit of tea were originated by him. At the age of eleven he entered into priesthood at Shoumyou Temple until he was twenty. Ten years later he returned to priesthood at Daitoku-ji Temple under the monk and teacher Ikkyuu Soujun to practice Zen meditation. Later he was rewarded for his profound understanding of Zen and received a diploma signed by the Chinese monk Yuanwu. After this, he spend the rest of his days in his tea room in Nara to perfect the tea ceremony, and give lessons to anyone interested in learning the art. To all his students he tried very hard to instill the true spirit of simple, Zen-inspired tea.

Another important procedure initiated by Shukou, was that he himself would serve the tea to his guests. He preferred the intimate and personal atmosphere of a small room which could fit five to six people. The four-and-a-half-mat room that he had devised to create a more tranquil atmosphere during the tea ceremony had its origins in the Zen philosophy he had studied in Kyoto at Daitokuji Temple.

In a letter to his favorite pupil, Harima no Furuichi, Shukou outlined his own basic concept of the art of Chanoyu and his personal philosophy of aesthetics. He wrote about the idea of refined simplicity, or Kakeru, and about the importance of understanding the aesthetic qualities of sober-colored pottery from Bizen and Shigaraki. From his letters it can also be learned that he took great pains to study the best method of combining Chinese and Japanese tea utensils.

Toward the end of the Muromachi period, the tea culture reached its peak, and tea devotees were given different titles to distinguish their relation to the art. Chanoyusha was the name given to a professional teacher of the tea ceremony like Shukou. A Wabi-suki was a teacher distinguished by three particular qualities: faith in the performance of tea, an ability to act with decorum befitting a proper master, and excellent practical skills. Finally, the Meijin not only met all the qualities of a wabi-suki, but was a collector of fine Chinese tea utensils as well.

Types of the Japanese Tea Ceremony

Throughout the year there are various kinds of ceremonies which have specific names according to the time of day, the occasion of the tea ceremony or the season in which they are held. The first tea ceremony held in January is called Hatsugama 初釜, which translates to “first kettle.” This is the only time when a teacher will prepare tea and a meal for his or her students. Usually the teacher will only give guidance to the students, so this is a very unique event for both the students and the host.

Akatsuki-no-chaji / 暁の茶事 / dawn tea ceremony in winter

This is the dawn tea event held in the early morning of a cold winter day to enjoy the breaking of dawn in the tearoom. It is truly an amazing experience to be in the tearoom and drinking tea while the sunlight slowly starts coming through the small windows and the tea utensils start to appear different then just before in the candle-light.

Yuuzari-no-chaji (Yûzari-no-chaji) / 夕ざりの茶事　/ early-evening tea ceremony held in the warmer months

Opposite from the Akatsuki-no-chaji, here one can experience going from daylight to candle light. It feels as if the normal world fades away and one is entering into the mystical world of tea. Somehow this experience brings you closer to fellow tea worshippers who are in the same room.

Asa-cha / 朝茶　/ early-morning summer tea ceremony

Asacha tea gathering is held in the cool morning of the hot summer. Tea ceremonies or just Keiko (practice for students of tea) in summer are really hard since the burning coal in the brazier and the hot tea don’t really help escaping the soaring heat of Japanese summer.

Shoburo / 初風炉 / first use of the portable brazier in the year (may)

This Shoburo tea event celebrates the first use of the Furo (portable brazier) in the New Year of tea. On our modern calendar that would be around May. Japanese love to do everything officially with lots of ceremonial speeches and gestures, so this has also influenced the tea ceremony.

Shougo-no-chaji (Shôgo-no-chaji)/ 正午の茶事 / midday tea ceremony

Kuchikiri-no-chaji / 口切の茶事 / tea ceremony celebrating the breaking of the seal on a jar of new tea (November)

Tea leaves which are harvested in spring are store in a jar which is then stored in a cool place. These days that might be in or around the teahouse or cooling cellar. Long ago this jar with new leaves was stored in the ground or in the mountains to keep it cool. Around the November 7 or 8, the new season of tea begins and the Ro is used for the first time indicating the start of the winter season. At this time, to celebrate the beginning of a new season of tea, the seal of the jar with new tea plucked in spring is broken and the new, fresh tea is used for the first time. Breaking this seal of the jar is called Kuchikiri. It is accompanied by a full tea ceremony or Chaji with a meal, Kiocha, and Usucha.

For this New Year of tea, the bamboo in the fences and gutters is renewed, the Tatami mats are changed and the Shoji (sliding screen doors) are newly papered. The tea event (Chaji) in this season of both Kuchikiri and Kairo (opening of the hearth) begin at noon and continue for about 4 hours with Kaiseki cuisine, thick tea and thin tea. This “Ro shogo no chaji” is the most formal tea event and is also the basic model for the Japanese tea ceremony.

Nagori-no-chaji / 名残の茶事 / tea ceremony honoring the last remains of the year's supply of tea and to see out the warm months before winter sets in (October)

In the October month at the end of the autumn season, when there is only a little tea left in the jar opened during the Kuchikiri ceremony, we feel sadness from parting (Nagori) with this tea. It is also the time of nature’s seasonal decline, letting go of the old in anticipation of the new.

Yobanashi / 夜咄 / winter-evening tea ceremony

This evening ceremony follows the Kuchikiri tea ceremony and is to celebrate the long winter night. Yobanashi starts therefore in the evening to enjoy a tea ceremony at night in a dark tea room with candle light. Usually there are some candles or lanterns in the garden as well to allow the guests to wash their hands at the Tsukubai and to view the objects in the Machiai corner.

Hatsugama / 初釜 / boiling of the first kettle tea ceremony

This meeting is seen as something very special. Hatsugama is the only time when the tea teacher him or herself prepares tea for all her students. In most cases this tea ceremony is a complete Chaji meeting with Kaiseki meal, Nakadachi breaks, and the whole ritual done the way it was learned during classes. It is impossible to teach the whole Chaji at once, therefor it is always broken up into practicing how to prepare Usucha, Koicha, and arranging the charcoal in Sumidemae. Only this time will the whole ritual be performed by the tea teacher with some help of his or her students. It is an opportunity to meet all the other students whom might be studying on different days and for the teacher to point out some of the details about the flow of a full Chaji meeting. Tipical for this meeting is the festive mood, exquisit cuisine, and the curved braided willow branches hung in the alcove.
(source: http://japanese-tea-ceremony.net/types_ceremony.html)

Younha - Houku Boshi Lyric

Yozora wo miage hitori houkiboshi ho mita no
Isshyun de hajikete wa kiete shimatta kedo
Anata no koto omou to mune ga itaku naru no
Ima sugu aitai yo dakedo sora wa tobenai kara

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba
Sora kakenuke tonda iku
Donna ashi-ta ga kite mo kono omoi wa tsuyoi
Dakara houkiboshi zutto kowarenai yo

Ama ga futte iyada to boyaiteita toki ni
Anata ga ii itta koto ima demo oboeteru
Ama no ato no yozora wa kirei ni hoshi ga deru
Sore wo kangaeru to ame mo suki ni nareru yone to

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba
Afureru hikari furasu yo itsumo
Kanashii toki yozora miru anata ga
Egao ni naru youni motto kagayakitai

Anata ha itsumo hitori nanika to tatakatteru
Soba ni iru koto shika atashi ni wa dekinai kedo

Moshi atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba
Sora kakenuke tonde iku kitto
Kanarazu todoku kono isshun no hikari de
Anata no ima terashi sora wo megurou
Atashi ga houkiboshi ni nareta naraba
Kitto soba ni ite ageru donna toki mo

Japan's Food Recipes 1

Okayu 
 

Okayu (rice borridge) is easy to digest, so people in Japan commonly eat it when having a cold or so on. This is a basic recipe to make plain okayu. Various ingredients such as chicken and radishes can be added if desired.

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Japanese rice (short grain rice)
• 3 cups water (adjust the amount of water based on your preference)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• for toppings (optional):
• chopped green onion
• sesame seeds
• umeboshi (ume pickles)

Preparation:

Wash Japanese rice and drain. Put water and rice in a heavy bottomed pot or earthenware pot. Leave it for about 30 minutes. Cover the pot and put it on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to low and cook the rice for about 30 minutes. Stop the heat and let it steam for about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Serve into individual rice bowls. Put toppings, such as chopped green onion, sesame seeds, or/and umeboshi if you would like.

 

 

 

Hinachirashi 

                         

It's a kind of chirashizushi (scattered sushi) which can be served for Japanese Girl's Day celebration. It's good to use various toppings for this sushi. Be creative and make sushi appealing to kids.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups prepared sushi rice
• 8 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1/2 large carrot
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp mirin
• 2 eggs and 1 tsp sugar, beaten
• 2 Tbsp sakura denbu (seasoned fish powder) *optional
• 2 Tbsp white sesame seeds
• a half bunch of nabana (rape flowers) or green vegetables

Preparation:

Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in 3/4 cup of warm water. Cut carrots into thin flower-shaped pieces. Remove shiitake mushrooms from the water and slice them thinly. Put the water in a pan and heat on low heat. Put shiitake slices and carrot pieces in the pan. Add soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in the pan and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Make fine scrambled eggs and set aside. Boil nabana in a pan and cool in cold water. Chop boiled nabana finely. Mix sesame seeds in prepared sushi rice. Serve the rice on a large plate. Sprinkle simmered shiitake mushrooms. Further, sprinkle scrambled eggs, carrots, boiled nabana, and sakura denbu over the rice.

 

 

 

How to Make Sushi Rice

Prep the Sushi Rice

And the first ingredient is of course sushi rice. A special medium-grain rice, it's beautifully pearlescent. We're going to need 2 cups of that. Very important we're going to rinse that in a strainer very well for a few minutes, and then we're going to let that drain and dry for 1 hour.

Cook the Sushi Rice

After an hour pour, the rice in a heavy bottomed pot with a lid, and add 2 1/4 cups water. Bring that to a simmer and set you timer for 10 minutes. So we're going to cook that covered for 10 minutes on low heat.

Mix the Rice Vinegar

While we're waiting I'm going to get the rice vinegar ready. I have 1/4 cup of seasoned rice vinegar. You can make your own by using a 1/4 cup of regular rice vinegar, 1 1/2 tbsp of sugar, and 1 tsp of salt. Mix it until it dissolves.

Cool the Sushi Rice

So when the timer rings, turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 10 minutes. All right we're going to need something to fan the rice with. I just use this folder. After the 10 minutes pour it on a tray and drizzle over the rice vinegar a few teaspoons at a time. We're going to use 4 tablespoons all together.

Using the tip of a fork, we're going to fan and fluff, and fan and fluff so all the grains kind of dry and cool. They should be sticky, but separate. I'm going to drizzle over the rest of the rice vinegar. The fanning also gives the grains a cool shine, and a perfect texture if done correctly.

Sushi Rice Texture

Once that's been fanned and cooled, it's ready to work with. Now here's the key to how you know you have perfect sushi rice. You can form it into any shape you want, but when you go to bite into it, it just collapses.

So you want it to hold a shape for when you are making something like a California roll like I have here. You want it to hold together so you can eat it, pick it up with chopsticks, but when you bite into it you want it to just crumble, so it has that nice light airy texture.

And that it! Sushi rice - so easy to make. By the way, sushi is the name of the rice preparation. Sushi is not raw fish. Raw fish is what you put on sushi. I'm glad we got that cleared up. I hope you give this a try. Roll some sushi, and enjoy.  

Japan's Historical Places Part 3

Imperial Palace

Site of Edo Castle with Remaining Moats and Stone Walls  
The Imperial Palace sits in the center of Tokyo, on the site of the Edo Castle where the Shogunate (the government established by the military class) was located in the Edo period (1603-1868). Except for January 2 and the Emperor's Birthday (currently December 23) when public is allowed to the Imperial Palace to offer their congratulations, the general public are not allowed to enter the Emperor's residence. However, the gardens of the palace such as the Outer Garden (Kokyo Gaien), the East Garden (Higashi Gyoen), and Kitanomaru Park have been maintained as parks, and today these public gardens provide places of recreation and relaxation for the citizens of Tokyo.  
Ieyasu Tokugawa became the first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603 and started rebuilding the Edo Castle as a symbol of the political and economic center of the nation. Rebuilding continued through successive generations, and by 1710, under the reign of the 6th Shogun Ienobu, the castle had become the largest in Japan surrounded by double moats and with an area that extended about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from east to west and about 3.9 kilometers (2.4 miles) from north to south. Several of the original turrets and gates remain as they were or have been restored to their original state, and the stone walls and moats remain mostly intact.  
  
The East Garden marks where the keep of the castle that housed the central government offices and the residence of the shogun stood. Although the buildings of the keep were destroyed by fire in 1657, their structural ruins remain. The Outer Garden to the southeast of the palace is spacious, and looking toward the palace from the garden's side of the main gate, you can still see the remaining Fushimi Turret, a watchtower of the old castle, over the double-arched stone bridge. In Kitanomaru Park on the north side, there are various public facilities such as Nihon Budokan (martial arts stadium, also used for other sports and cultural events), the National Museum of Modern Art and Science Museum. The park is also famous for its cherry blossoms in spring.


 Shuri Castle


Ruins of Castle with Strong Chinese Influence, Unique to Okinawa 

Shuri Castle, whose ruins remain in Naha City of Okinawa Prefecture, is said to date back to the 12th century or earlier. After several hundred years of rivalry between warlords, Okinawa islands were unified as the Ryukyu Kingdom in the early 15th century. For 450 years thereafter, Shuri castle had been the palace of the King of Ryukyu. Being an independent kingdom situated between Japan and China, Okinawa, then Ryukyu, Shuri Castle developed in an architectural style different from that of castles in mainland Japan. Reflecting Okinawa's active exchange with China in the 14th century, Chinese influence can be seen in the construction techniques of the castle. From the 18th century when the region came to have relationships with Japan, Korea, and other neighboring countries, some buildings were built reflecting the architectural styles of these countries. 
The castle boasted a 60,000-square meter (71,754-square yard) compound at the peak of its prosperity. Just before the Second World War, it still covered 46,000 square meters (55,011 square yards) with maximum axes of 400 meters (1,312 feet) from east to west and 270 meters (886 feet) from north to south. The castle complex at that time was surrounded by solid stone walls, and many national-treasure class buildings including the symbolic Seiden (main pavilion) and the Shurei-mon (the second gate) soared imposingly. During the war, however, not only those buildings but also the stone walls were completely demolished. Today, the Kankai-mon (the main gate), the Shurei-mon, the Seiden, and other buildings have been restored to their original state, and the site has been made into a historical park.

The Shurei-mon is best known as an architectural structure unique to Okinawa and is sometimes referred to as a symbol of Okinawa. The gate is the second one along the route up to the castle, while the first and main gate stood lower, having the same shape and size as the Shurei-mon: The two gates also used to be called "Ue no Torii" (the upper gate) and "Shita no Torii" (the lower gate) respectively.

Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html

Samurai

Samurai (侍 or sometimes 士) is a common term for a warrior in pre-industrial Japan. A more appropriate term is bushi (武士) (lit. "war-man") which came into use during the Edo period. However, the term samurai now usually refers to warrior nobility, not, for example, ashigaru or foot soldiers. The samurai with no attachment to a clan or daimyo was called a ronin (lit. "wave-man"). Samurai were expected to be cultured and literate, and over time, samurai during the Tokugawa era gradually lost their military function. By the end of the Tokugawa, samurai were essentially civilian bureaucrats for the daimyo with their swords serving only ceremonial purposes. With the Meiji reforms in the late 19th century, the samurai were abolished as a distinct class in favour of a western-style national army. The strict code that they followed, called bushido, still survives in present-day Japanese society, as do many other aspects of their way of life.

Etymology of samurai

The word samurai has its origins in the pre-Heian period Japan when it was pronounced saburai, meaning servant or attendant. It was not until the early modern period, namely the Azuchi-Momoyama period and early Edo period of the late 16th and early 17th centuries that the word saburai became substituted with samurai. However, by then, the meaning had already long before changed.

During the era of the rule of the samurai, the earlier term yumitori （弓取り）  was also used as an honorary title of an accomplished warrior even when swordsmanship had become more important.Kyujutsu （弓術）/ Japanese Archer, is still strongly associated with the war god Hachiman （八万）.

Samurai Picture

Samurai

Picture above of Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. Photograph by Felice Beato.

Japan's Historical Places Part 2

      Eiheiji Temple

The Center for Training Zen Priests with 750-year Tradition 
The Zen sect of Buddhism places its foundation of ascetic practices in silent contemplation called za-zen (Zen meditation). In Zen meditation, one sits up right, drives any distracting ideas away, and concentrates his attention to attain the ideal state of supreme enlightenment in a perfect serenity of mind. Priest Dogen (1200-54) studied the Soto sect, a school of the Zen sect, in China and introduced it to Japan. And in 1244, he opened Eiheiji Temple in the mountainous site in Fukui Prefecture as a place for training and education of Zen monks. Stepping through the main gate into the temple precincts surrounded by Japanese cedar trees, some of which are said to be about 600 years old, one can feel stillness and tenseness which could not be felt in the midst of boisterous and worldly life. The spirit of Zen taught in Eiheiji Temple has been inherited successively. As a result, the temple now has 15,000 branch temples and approximately 8 million followers in Japan. 
 
Today in Eiheiji Temple, over a hundred trainee monks from all over the country are working hard every day in training. They wake up at four in the morning and go to bed at nine in the evening. In their waking hours, they lead well-regulated life of Zen meditation, reading sutra, and every-day duties such as cleaning, following austere disciplines. Everything in daily life is part of training. The temple also accepts those who want to temporarily practice Zen meditation only with advanced permission. If accepted, one can experience three to seven days of training that follows the daily schedule of regular trainee monk.( Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)



       Todaiji Temple
Repository of Cultural Treasures Including the World's Largest Gilded Bronze Buddha  
  
Todaiji, a temple complex in the city of Nara in Nara Prefecture, was built in the year 743. At that time Buddhism was at its height, and served as a state religion. The best-known relic at Todaiji Temple is its Daibutsu, a colossal statue that, with 15 meters (49 feet) in height, is the world's largest gilded bronze Buddha. It is housed in an all-wood building, the Daibutsu-den, 48 meters (157 feet) in height, the largest wooden building in the world. Within the precincts of the temple, aligned along one-kilometer north-south and east-west axes centered on the Daibutsu-den, are an array of other buildings, including halls and storehouses, seven of which are National Treasures. By virtue of being one of the major historical temples in Japan, Todaiji Temple also possesses many valuable cultural artifacts. More than 20 of these Buddhist statues and other works of art are National Treasures. The repository for them, Shosoin, lives up its name of the Treasure House of the World.  
Since it was built in 749, the Daibutsu has been repaired and renovated after damage incurred by earthquakes: even its head has fallen off once. The base of the statue that remains today dates from the 8th century, while the upper portion, including the head, was largely recast in the second half of the 12th century. Tragedy also befell the buildings housing it, especially the flames of war. After one burning in the second half of the 16th century the Daibutsu stood unsheltered for a century until the current Daibutsu-den was built in 1692. The most recent Daibutsu-den built in 1709, although impressive, is a shadow of the original structure, the width being about 30 percent shorter.  
Also built around the middle of the 8th century, the original Shosoin, which is an architectural treasure in itself, served as the repository for the temple treasure. It is made in the Azekura style, a log-house construction that is often seen in old storehouses: the walls, intersecting at corners, are built up of hewn logs laid horizontally on top of each other. Shosoin safeguarded a heritage of around 9,000 different objects that date back to the 7th and 8th centuries, and most of them are well-preserved, so they can be attributed and accurately dated. Numerous articles were presented from overseas, especially from Persia, China, and Korea. The artifacts give a flavor of the cosmopolitan culture of China in the T'ang dynasty (618-907), when there was contact between the civilizations of Asia along the Silk Road (the overland trade routes from China to the Mediterranean in premodern times). It is for this reason that Shosoin's significance extends beyond Japan and that it is called the Treasure House of the World. (Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

Bump of Chicken - Karma Lyric

Garasu tama hitotsu otosareta
Oikakete mou hitotsu okko chita
Hitotsu fun no hidamari ni hitotsu dake nokotteru

Shinzou ga hajimatta toki
Iyade mo hito wa basho wo toru
Ubaware nai you ni mamori tsuduketeru

Yogosazu ni tamotte kita te de mo
Yogorete mieta
Kioku wo utagau mae ni kioku ni utagawareteru

Kanarazu bokura wa deau darou
Onaji kodou no oto wo mejirushi ni shite
Koko ni iru yo itsudatte yonderu kara
Kutabireta riyuu ga kasanatte yureru toki
Umar ta imi wo shiru

Sonzai ga tsuduku kagiri
Shikata nai kara basho wo toru
Hitotsu fun no hidamari ni
Futatsu wa chotto ire nai

Garasu tama hitotsu otosareta
Ochita toki nanika hajiki dashita
Ubai totta basho de hikari wo abita

Kazoeta ashiato nado
Kidukeba suuji deshika nai
Shira nakya ike nai koto wa
Douyara ichi to zero no aida

Hajimete bokura wa deau darou
Onaji himei no hata wo mejirushi ni shite
Wasure naide itsudatte yonderu kara
Kasaneta riyuu wo futari de umeru toki
Yakusoku ga kawasareru

Kagami nanda bokura tagai ni
Sorezore no karuma wo utsusu tame no
Yogoreta te to te de furi atte
Katachi ga wakaru

Koko ni iru yo tashikani sawareru yo
Hitoribun no hidamari ni bokura wa iru

Wasure naide itsudatte yonderu kara
Onaji garasu tama no uchigawa no hou kara
Sousa kanarazu bokura wa deau darou
Shizumeta riyuu ni juu ji ka wo tateru toki
Yakusoku wa hatasareru
Bokura wa hitotsu ni naru

L'arc~En~Ciel - Daybreak's Bell Lyric

Nee konna katachi no deai shika nakatta no? kanashii ne
Anata ni shindemo ayamete hoshiku mo nai onegai
Unmei sae nomikomare shizumisou na umi e to

Negai yo kaze ni notte yoake no kane wo narase yo
Tori no you ni my wishes over their airspace
Musuu no nami wo koe asu e tachimukau anata wo mamoritamae
My life i trade it for your pain
Arasoi yo tomare!

Nee hito wa doushite kurikaeshi ayamachi wo kasaneteku?
Shinka shinai dare ni mo nagareru kono chi ga daikirai
Honnou de sabakiau dare no demo nai daichi de

Sumiwataru mirai ga kita nara kusabana mo heiki ni yadoru darou
My wishes over their airspace
Dare ga yuriokoshite warui yume kara samashite yo
Kanau no nara my life i trade it for your pain
Dore dake inoreba ten ni todoku?

Ima asayake ga unabara to watashi wo utsusu

Negai yo kaze ni notte yoake no kane wo narase yo
Tori no you ni my wishes over their airspace
Musuu no nami wo koe asu e tachimukau anata wo mamoritamae
My life i trade it for your pain
Furimukazu habatake kono omoi wo hakonde ano sora wo tondeku
Mirai wa dare ni mo uchiotosenai

Yui - Rolling Star Lyric

Mou gaman bakka shiterannai yo
Iitai koto wa iwanakucha
Kaerimichi yuugure no basutei
Ochikonda senaka ni Bye Bye Bye

Kimi no Fighting Pose misenakya

Yume ni made mita you na sekai wa
Arasoi mo naku heiwa na nichijou
Demo genjitsu wa hibi torabutte
Tama ni kuyandari shiteru
Sonna Rolling Days

Koronjattatte ii ja nai no
Sonna toki wa waratte ageru
Norikonda basu no oku kara
Chiisaku hohoemi ga mieta

Kimi wo tayori ni shiteru yo

Yume ni made mita you na suiito kurabu
Koibitotachi wa kakure ga wo sagasu no
Demo genjitsu wa aenai hi ga
Tsuzukinagara mo shinjiteru no Lonely Days

Oh yeah, yeah!
Tsumazuitatte Way to go
Yeah, yeah!!
Doro darake Rolling Star

Naru beku egao de itai keredo
Mamori ni iku tame ni shikata nai deshou

Kitto uso nante sou
Imi wo motanai no
All my loving
Sou ja nakya yatterannai

Yume ni made mita you na sekai wa
Arasoi mo naku heiwa na nichijou
Demo genjitsu wa hibi torabutte
Tama ni kuyandari shiteru
Sonna Rolling Days

Oh yeah, yeah!
Sou wakatterutte
Oh yeah, yeah!
Tsumazuitatte Way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Doro darake Rolling Star

Japan's Historical Places Part 1

Taga Castle Ruin 

Remains of a Castle that Played a Central Offensive and Defensive Role in the Violent Struggle to Unify the Nation
The ruins of Taga Castle are the remains of an ancient fortress located in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture in the center of Tohoku, the northeastern part of Japan.
It is particularly important as a historic site because the site is in a good state of preservation. Along with the remains of Heijo-kyo in Nara and the Fortress of Dazaifu, in Fukuoka, in Kyushu, Taga Castle ranks as one of Japan's three noted historic sites. It is a National Special Historical Site.

Taga Castle was set up in the first half of the 8th century to expand direct control by the central government into the northern part of Japan. It was a military base, and became the center of administration and culture in the Tohoku region.
In 802, the front line shifted roughly 100 km (about 62 miles) further north to Isawa (present-day Mizusawa City, Iwate Prefecture), where another castle was built. Although Taga Castle retained its administrative functions, it was no longer the center for military activities. With its authority diminished, the Taga Castle slowly lost its importance.
Taga Castle was built on a hillside to take good advantage of the local topography. The precincts cover 102 ha (255 acres). At the center there was a 100-meter-square walled compound that contained old government office and around this were workshops and storehouses. The perimeter of the compound of an irregular rectangular shape measures 3.4 km (about 2.1 miles) and used to be surrounded by walls 5 m (5.5 yd.) high.
About a kilometer southeast of the ruins is the site of the temple that served the occupants of the castle. Near the southern front of the castle are the remains of what was a planned settlement.
At present, you can clearly see the restored foundations of the castle buildings at the site, which is maintained as a historical park. There is the Tohoku History Museum which has opened in autumn 1999.(Source : http://web-japan.org/atlas/historical/histr_fr.html)

Dazaifu Ruins

Western Fortress City that Played an Important Role as a Base for Diplomacy and Trade with Continental Asia 
The ruins of Dazaifu lie in Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, in the northern part of Kyushu in the southwest of Japan. Here on the southern slopes of Mt. Ono are the remains of what was once a walled city built in open fields. Along with the site of Heijo-kyo in Nara and the ruins of Taga Castle in Miyagi, it is one of Japan's three noted historical sites.
Before the fortress was built, a diplomatic office was established in 536 to receive and send domestic and overseas delegations.
In 663, the Dazaifu government office, known as Tofuro, was established. The central government made it responsible for supervising the whole of the Kyushu region in the southwest of Japan and handling defense against East Asian countries, and foreign relations with them. In association with this there was large-scale urban development. For example, a huge defensive embankment, 1.2 km (about 0.7 miles) long and 13 m (about 14 yd.) high was raised, and a fortress was built, surrounded by an earth and stone embankment that measures 6.5 km (about 4 miles) around the circumference. The city complex that was built was about one third the size of the later capital of Heijo-kyo in Nara.
For a while in the 8th century, as a center of political, economic, cultural, and religious life, the Dazaifu's influence rivaled that of the central government. After this peak, Dazaifu declined and by the second half of the 12th century it was famous in name only.
Today, the area around the ancient ruins has been made into a park.
Many historical ruins remain today such as the ruins of the embankment built in the 7th century and pillars from foundation stone that measure 1 m (1.1 yd.) across, and remind us how large the building in the center of Dazaifu was.
Moreover, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to the god of learning to whom many people pray for academic success.

Katana

Katana

Katana （刀） was a sword that used by Japanese warrior that called by Samurai （侍）and that sword also referred as Samurai Sword. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. 

Traditional katana is usually used made from a specialized Japanese steel called "Tamahagane" （玉は画ね） which consist of combinations of hard, high carbon steel and tough, low carbon steel.

Even katana known as a strong sword if mishandled in its storage or maintenance, the katana may become irreparably damaged. The blade should be stored horizontally in its sheath, curve down and edge facing upward to maintain the edge. It is extremely important that the blade remain well-oiled, powdered and polished, as the natural moisture residue from the hands of the user will rapidly cause the blade to rust if not cleaned off. The traditional oil used is choji oil (99% mineral oil and 1% clove oil for fragrance). Similarly, when stored for longer periods, it is important that the katana be inspected frequently and aired out if necessary in order to prevent rust or mold from forming (mold may feed off the salts in the oil used to polish the katana).

      

History of the Japanese Sword

Archaeological evidence indicates that swords have existed in Japan for its entire historical period. Short straight swords imported from China and Korea are among the earliest weapons found in historical sites around Japan. After 2000 B.C., when these swords first appeared, the Japanese began making their own swords. Around 700 A.D., Japanese swordsmiths forged the first of what are now considered the finest swords ever made.

The person considered responsible for vastly improving Japanese sword design and manufacture was a smith named Amakuni. Like others in his profession, he was responding to the huge demand for weapons made by local, provincial, and national leaders. Regional conflicts over land rights and issues of power continuously erupted, and, when not warring among themselves, the early Japanese were invading the Korean peninsula or China, or defending themselves against Korean and Chinese invaders. Any leader with a supply of superior weapons was at a great advantage, so a constant, long-term effort to find swordmakers improving the craft ensued. The most devoted smiths made the quest for the perfect blade into a lifetime pursuit, and men exist today who devote their lives to the art of swordmaking.

The long sword in Japan has seen three major incarnations, and for each type of sword exists a fighting style to match the blade's shape. The early blades, called chokuto or “straight swords,” tended to get longer as metallurgy techniques improved. Though not much is known about how these weapons were wielded, the extra length - without any significant increase in weight - certainly gave the fighter more reach. The handle size of these blades suggests that they were held in one hand. The two-edged blade suggests a thrusting and hacking style of fighting.

The first major change in the shape of the sword came during Amakuni’s time, a style perhaps created by Amakuni himself. Warriors found that, compared to a straight blade, a curved sword can be drawn from the scabbard more quickly and can provide a more effective cutting angle. Consequently, swordsmiths developed forging techniques to make a curved blade at least as strong as the earlier straight ones. These swords, called tachi, were extremely long, some nearly four feet, and were generally used by soldiers on horseback. The long, curved blade was ideal for a sweeping draw and slash against opponents on the ground or mounted upon other horses.

Later in Japanese history, most soldiers found themselves doing battle on foot, or engaging in individual combat against one another. For such men, the tachi were too long to be drawn or wielded comfortably, so a shorter sword was developed. This sword was the katana, and the katana is the sword that most practicianers of Iaï-Do systems use today. Katana are generally between two and four feet in length and, though curved, have a less pronounced arc than the tachi. They can be efficiently drawn from the scabbard into position for a horizontal, diagonal, or vertical cut, and the curve of the blade lends itself well to the efficient slashing cut characteristic of Iaï-Do.