My overall opinion of this nine weeks is very high. I loved it! The best part was probably today, eating Ramen noodles with fake chopstick skewers and mixing the egg in with my rice. Epic. very, very epic.
Origami is waaayy harder than it looks. Since it took me forever to fold that crane, i will have to practice that outside of class until i can fold one from memory. furoshiki was also great!
I would like to try and squeeze in some Japanese abstract art! it would be awesome!
besides Manga...i don't think that reallly counts....sorry Nihon.
next year, work on....uhm...maybe find a Japanese person online and see what they say! haha the pronounciations were like right on...i think you're good, Senora. lo siento.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Last Tom Cruise
The Last Samurai was a very moving movie about the end of the Samurai in Japan...but it also portrayed their impact on their country and its leaders.
Japan is rising. It's diplomats are drunk with the brandy of the West, and seek to end the less modern Samurai who still won't get with the program. Tom Cruise plays a Lieutenant Captain...?? Who is captured by the opposing warrior armies and not harmed...for some reason.
He ends up living among the simple villagers, and later finds out that his caretaker, Taka, and her two sons, are the family of the warrior he killed.
"Now that's what you call ironic!" -Ragetti, POTC
This was a great movie to watch, just because we got to see those hakama! Overall, i liked it; it was cool seeing Japanese mannerisms and culture. Plus all the action scenes, spraying blood, and the super cool Japanese scenery, with the paper rice doors! Sam is a fan.
Tres Estrellas.
Bushido is Awesome Unless You're Defeated in Battle
Bushido! the way of the warrior. All Samurai live by this code, even the white ones who are actually Tom Cruise in disguise.
Living by this lifestyle means being totally loyal to the Emperor, even when he's a naive kid who can barely grow facial hair. Samurai are trustworthy and honest, and not interested in material things. Honor dominates everything they do. Oh and they also don't fear death. Sweet.
A less peaceful part of this code includes Seppuku or 'disembowelment.' this involves the shamed slicing a knife into his belly, spilling his guts before a friend cuts off his head. Apparently the disgrace is too much to bear. I will never understand this!
The Samurai creed includes such concepts as "I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents." "I have no magic power; I make personality my Magic Power." "I have no castle; I make my Immovable Mind my Castle." and " I have no friends, I make my Mind my Friend."
Bushido originated during the 9th and 12th centuries, from a warrior class of Samurai known as bushi. They later became a ruling class but died out. Bushido is not very present in our society today. You don't see a lot of people honoring others for no reason or disregarding material wealth. Okay definitely not that! I think it should be, if only a little. The world could use more quietness and peace and respect, and I think a lot of people today forget the significance of respect to friends, family, and peers.
Who knows? We might be able to benefit from the Samurai....
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