Ninja Dojos in Japan [Archive] - Kendo World Forums

pgsmith

30th August 2006, 10:09 AM

Just to save time, the user is looking for a "Ninjutsu Dojo" Fukuoka, Japan.
Actually Kenzan, it may be you that is surprised. While I don't practice any of those arts, there are three separate large organizations, all based in Japan, that teach ninjutsu as a part of their curriculum. They are the Bujinkan, the Jinenkan, and the Genbukan. They are all somewhat related to each other, and teach from the same root systems. In addition, some of the koryu still teach ninjutsu as a part of their sogo bujutsu. Ninjutsu simply refers to "stealth techniques" or "spy techniques". It is the association with many wierdos on both sides of the Pacific that have given anything "ninja" a bad name.

That about exhausts my knowledge of the subject.

Kenzan

30th August 2006, 10:17 AM

Actually Kenzan, it may be you that is surprised. While I don't practice any of those arts, there are three separate large organizations, all based in Japan, that teach ninjutsu as a part of their curriculum. They are the Bujinkan, the Jinenkan, and the Genbukan. They are all somewhat related to each other, and teach from the same root systems. In addition, some of the koryu still teach ninjutsu as a part of their sogo bujutsu. Ninjutsu simply refers to "stealth techniques" or "spy techniques". It is the association with many wierdos on both sides of the Pacific that have given anything "ninja" a bad name.

That about exhausts my knowledge of the subject.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!????????
:spchless: :puzzled: :confused2 :eek: :scared:

The next sound you hear will be that of my jaw dropping....
Wow..didn't know that!
:scared: :surprise: :ninja:

neko kenshi

30th August 2006, 10:20 AM

Actually Kenzan, it may be you that is surprised. While I don't practice any of those arts, there are three separate large organizations, all based in Japan, that teach ninjutsu as a part of their curriculum. They are the Bujinkan, the Jinenkan, and the Genbukan. They are all somewhat related to each other, and teach from the same root systems. In addition, some of the koryu still teach ninjutsu as a part of their sogo bujutsu. Ninjutsu simply refers to "stealth techniques" or "spy techniques". It is the association with many wierdos on both sides of the Pacific that have given anything "ninja" a bad name.

That about exhausts my knowledge of the subject.

But they wouldn't just teach a gai jin, would they?

David

30th August 2006, 10:26 AM

It's true. In fact, they were just giving a documentary on Japanese martial arts on Discovery today, and they had a segment on Ninpo. They visited a dojo in Japan and everything. It was really interesting. And yes, they did have a few gaijin students. In fact, two of them were nanadan. Alot of sensei care more about dedication then they do about heritage.

Kuri

30th August 2006, 10:31 AM

When I was in Osaka, I went to check out a class from Bujinkan, and the teacher was a gaigin. Think he was an Aussie (don't remember), and all the students were gaijin :ninja:

Kenzan

30th August 2006, 11:10 AM

Just to be clear:

You should think you are "Gaikokujin." Which is the elegant and polite term for a person from another country in Japan.
"Gaijin" is used when you are being looked down upon, as if to say: ALIEN!!!
Sorry if that's off topic...
Shitsure shimasu!

Kuri

30th August 2006, 12:28 PM

xvikingx

30th August 2006, 01:11 PM

when they think you don't understand the language, they show their true colours.
No truer words were spoken.
Sorry, this is off topic but I have to throw my 2 in while I can.
I use gaijin with friends and family, but take offense when called that by strangers (which can easily reach double digits on any given day). Even if it's not used with malace, I still don't like being called sub-human. Human = Japanese, anything outside of that = gaijin.

Moving closer to the subject at hand... In response to Neko kenshi
At all of the dojos I have visited/practice at, I have never been denied the chance to practice simply because I am not Japanese. In fact the Japanese usually won't outright exclude you, they just make being around extremely tough so you quit on your own accord. I have only practiced at one dojo where I was made to feel like an outsider(which is why I don't practice there anymore).
If you can't speak Japanese well that may be another story. They may feel it's a waist of time and not want to be bothered.

KhawMengLee

30th August 2006, 02:03 PM

Kenzan, I'm only using the term gaijin as was used by most people in Japan around me, in conversations. You are absolutely correct, but when they think you don't understand the language, they show their true colours. This is a whole other thread.

Hehehe...my sis and two of her friends caught a cab once in Australia. They started talking in Malay about the driver whom one of them thought was cute. My Sis got dropped off first, then another girl and finally, the one that thought the guy was cute was last. The cabbie then just casually started talking to her in malay...it turned out that his wife was Indonesian(we speak a very similar language)...hahaha...man, that was embarressing.

fifthchamber

30th August 2006, 03:09 PM

To be honest, although the Genbukan, Bujinkan and Jinenkan are all accepted fairly generally as Ninja dojo they are not the only ones here..They are also mostly based in Kanto and for Kyushu there is nothing like these organisations there..As for teaching Gaijin (And lets not get hung up on this..It means foreigner..And I am one so it's pretty fair to use it for me..Shortening it to Gaijin doesn't mean much to me..Either way I'm NOT Japanese)..Yeah. They do. In fact, they've made a lot of money from the Gaijin and have far more dojo in the States than here in Japan...
As for Ninja related stuff in Kyushu..Hell, he's got the Taisha Ryu..But I won't tell him that..
Regards.

ScottUK

30th August 2006, 07:14 PM

Bring on the Koga Ryu - I would train there... :D

euclid

30th August 2006, 09:22 PM

Bear of Doom

31st August 2006, 02:28 AM

I read an interesting article a week ago or so which basically claimed that ninjas never really existed, there isn't a lot of historical evidence to suggest that they ever DID exist. Of course, those who are into this sort of crap will make the argument that they concealed themselves so well that there are no references to them in historical records, but hey, whatever you want to believe.

I have little doubt that there were a special class of fighters specifically trained in espionage and covert ops, but the modern image of the ninja (if they ever existed) is likely made up entirely.

Of course, I don't have a whole lot of interest in it and haven't done much research to see if the article holds any weight, but it seems a likely scenario.

Ha! Becareful when you go to bed tonight mate ... you don't know who might be waiting :evil:

I'm going to faint, it's almost as bad as saying Santa Claus don't exist! Don't try to convince me on that either.

On a serious note though, aren't there historical records of Daimyo's funding ninja villages for their own use? I'm pretty sure they existed ...

Ignatz

31st August 2006, 02:35 AM

A good lesson, let us not be so quick to make fun of things. That being said, my toilet is still ninjer free after all this time.

euclid

31st August 2006, 02:52 AM

Ha! Becareful when you go to bed tonight mate ... you don't know who might be waiting :evil:

I'm going to faint, it's almost as bad as saying Santa Claus don't exist! Don't try to convince me on that either.

On a serious note though, aren't there historical records of Daimyo's funding ninja villages for their own use? I'm pretty sure they existed ...

I couldn't really say, I've never seen any references to ninjas, or perhaps the ninjas stealthilly came into my apartment and whited out all the parts where they were mentioned.

Could happen.

:cheeky:

KhawMengLee

31st August 2006, 02:54 AM

I have no doubt that shinobi/ninja/spies existed...but probably less to the degree of the black suited tree climbing shuriken throwing variety hollywood has nursed us on.

I kinda compare it to Terry Pratchett's take on assasins being killers with ego. Dressed stylishly in the finest velvety black clothes...which is utterly useless for camouflage unless you happen to be in a pitch black room with no lights and no windows.

************************************************** ******

On the subject of modern day ninjas/shinobi, during the leadup to the invasion of Malaya and the Fall of Singapore, many such operatives were working in Malaya at the time.

Villages were often visited by travelling Japanese barbers and dentists. When Singapore fell it was suddenly discovered that all those guys were officers in the Japanese army. Good ole' Toshi the Barber often turned out to be Colonel Toshi.

These modern day Shinobi were actually mapping a way to travel down to Singapore by bicycle as quickly as possible. They also marked off lumber yards, rice stockpiles, etc (they placed mirrors on the roofs of such key installations so that the bombers would not destroy these buildings).

Thailand claimed neutrality and basically let the japanese army cross its territory right up to our back yard. The Japanese armed forces commandeered every bicycle it could and this force literally rode down the peninsular on premapped courses.

When the British blew up bridges to slow the advace, the army merely took a quick detour to the nearest premarked lumber yard and would get a bridge up and running in a few hours.

Quite brilliant from a tactical standpoint...

Darknails

31st August 2006, 05:26 AM

Ninja is not meerly a myth. They're simply trained assasins called in a different language. Imagine a Japanese hear the word "secret agent" for the first time without knowing any English. The degree of exoticness is perhaps comparable ha ha. On wikipedia you can find historical references.

What I do know is that the Iga (伊賀) and Koga (甲賀) provinces are the origin of Ninjatsu, and the two clans were rivals to each other. In fact one can find in the books that some well-known samurais have ninja backgrounds, the best example is Hanzo Hattori (服部半蔵), a samurai serving Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) in the Edo period. He was a ninja from the Iga clan.

You can read about him on http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9C%8D%E9%83%A8%E5%8D%8A%E8%94%B5
and the links therein about ninja. If you can read Japanese, that is.

Of course I don't know about the authenticity of the modern Ninjatsu as people know outside Japan. The training of stealth techniques doesn't seem to fit the modern style of living and the society. How do you practise poisoning someone for example? Or wack a handful of sand into someone's eyes? The true ninjatsu or ninja is perhaps best unknown.

pgsmith

31st August 2006, 05:36 AM

In fact one can find in the books that some well-known samurais have ninja backgrounds, the best example is Hanzo Hattori (服部半蔵), a samurai serving Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) in the Edo period. He was a ninja from the Iga clan.
Please show me any reference in a history book to this particular statement. I have heard it before, but no one can place a reference to it. They actually have this written at the Ninja museum in Japan, but they had no references there either.

Never use Wikipedia as a reference. Please be aware that anyone can place whatever they wish in Wikipedia, whether it is accurate or not.

Niten Ninja

31st August 2006, 07:32 AM

They're simply trained assasins called in a different language.

Number of recorded assassinations by secret ninja types... zero. Number of assassinations made by heavily armed samurai... I don't know... but far higher.

What I do know is that the Iga (伊賀) and Koga (甲賀) provinces are the origin of Ninjatsu, and the two clans were rivals to each other.

... ... ... not really, Iga was for a long time a sort of semi independent area run by the local families... Koga was I believe in a similiar situation. Although technically different areas they seem to have in fact been fairly intermixed. As to being the origin of ninjutsu... that's like aking for the origin of kenjutsu... too difficult.

He was a ninja from the Iga clan.

I always liked Karl Fridays' description of "ninja" as a job description. I doubt Hanzo could be called a ninja anymore than Oda Nobunaga could be called an Infantry soldier.

How did the thread starter find one thread on ninjutsu but miss probably the largest forum on E-budo with the words "NINJUTSU" written on it?

Darknails

31st August 2006, 08:36 AM

Please show me any reference in a history book to this particular statement.
I read about him in the biographies of Tokugawa Ieyasu by 山岡荘八 and Takeda Shingen by 井上靖, the former based on the historical books 三河物語 and 信長公記 and the latter on 甲陽軍艦. I have no clue what they're called in English, or even translated at all.

I have heard it before, but no one can place a reference to it. They actually have this written at the Ninja museum in Japan, but they had no references there either.

Never use Wikipedia as a reference. Please be aware that anyone can place whatever they wish in Wikipedia, whether it is accurate or not.
Sorry that I disagree with this point of view. You seem to forget also that it's peer reviewed by much more experts than a book (which anyone can publish) or a peer-reviewed journal (which involved usually only two referees and lots of politics).

I guess that the debate can go on, but I'm not very interested in continuing to dicuss this topic, as well as not being an expert in japanese history, I'm far away from being qualified to answer this...

Darknails

31st August 2006, 08:44 AM

A good lesson, let us not be so quick to make fun of things. That being said, my toilet is still ninjer free after all this time.
D'you think so? Do you reeeeeeeally think so?
:bandit:

T.Lee

31st August 2006, 09:08 AM

ha, im just replying in this thread because i just realized we have a TMNT icon!

:bandit:

tgsfg

31st August 2006, 11:59 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhhkgMu7adk

maybe?

David

31st August 2006, 12:22 PM

That's kind of like what I saw on Discovery, except different sensei.

Kenzan

31st August 2006, 12:57 PM

Ye...GODS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFfhxVmdXZ4&mode=related&search=

You could tell me that this make you live forver, and I'll still say..
This just aint raight....

Kenzan

31st August 2006, 01:11 PM

The BBC is really quite excellent I must say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InlQtTMK5Ys&mode=related&search=

David

31st August 2006, 01:53 PM

Ye...GODS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFfhxVmdXZ4&mode=related&search=

You could tell me that this make you live forver, and I'll still say..
This just aint raight....

Jesus... I'm stuck between awesome and just plain crazy.

And that part at the end is just plain wrong. The guy's popping one off right on camera!

fifthchamber

31st August 2006, 04:26 PM

The discovery channel program focused on Tanemura Shoto, an ex student of the man shown in the Youtube clip above. The Youtube clip shows the Bujinkan groups take on Ninjutsu and the Discovery Channel showed the Genbukan groups take on the same..
What you make of it all is your own call...I never said I believed any of it..The Bujinkan is known here in Japan for being rather Nihonjin-less but that's no reflection on the training..Just the popularity...
I'd second Niten Ninja's take on it all. A job description of various samurai at various times and called various things by various people..It's all variety..
Regards.

Niten Ninja

31st August 2006, 06:07 PM

I read about him in the biographies of Tokugawa Ieyasu by 山岡荘八 and Takeda Shingen by 井上靖, the former based on the historical books 三河物語 and 信長公記 and the latter on 甲陽軍艦. I have no clue what they're called in English, or even translated at all.

Why would a biography of Takeda Shingen have a section on an Iga samurai?

You seem to forget also that it's peer reviewed by much more experts than a book

You know, alot of history books are read through by other experts and are created using older texts, wikipedia on the other hand... the experts must be too busy to bother.

Darknails

31st August 2006, 06:27 PM

Why would a biography of Takeda Shingen have a section on an Iga samurai?

You know, alot of history books are read through by other experts and are created using older texts, wikipedia on the other hand... the experts must be too busy to bother.

:)

-------------------

watanabe2k

2nd September 2006, 06:09 AM

This was from e-budo, and when I saw it, I literallly sprayed my screen with beverage liquid..

http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34892

:D

Just to save time, the user is looking for a "Ninjutsu Dojo" Fukuoka, Japan.
Man is HE in for a surprise!
LOL :D

Actually I use to live in Fukuoka, and I remember me and my dad went to a Ninja Mura (Village). It's like a amusement park kind of place, and they have games like carnivals in the US, except instead of throw the ball and knock over bottles, it was throw the ninja star and hit target.

I should send him directions to that place, and have one of my friends ready there with a camera to take the stunned guys picture as he sees kids running around pretending they are in a Ninja village! :evil:

Kenzan

2nd September 2006, 11:59 AM

Actually I use to live in Fukuoka, and I remember me and my dad went to a Ninja Mura (Village). It's like a amusement park kind of place, and they have games like carnivals in the US, except instead of throw the ball and knock over bottles, it was throw the ninja star and hit target.

I should send him directions to that place, and have one of my friends ready there with a camera to take the stunned guys picture as he sees kids running around pretending they are in a Ninja village! :evil:

Been there, Done that.
BUT...IT's..AN..AMUSEMENT..PARK!!!!

Not some "Hey, wanna be a NInja?" Dojo.
Shiteru?

Boon

6th September 2006, 08:52 AM

I believe that hollywood did come up with the stereotypical image of ninjas. But I also believe ninjas did exist. Maybe they used totally diffrerent techniques to what we percieve as an assasination. I don't believe they used swords and throwing stars, but probably made potions, poisons and booby traps.

xvikingx

6th September 2006, 09:37 AM

I believe that hollywood did come up with the stereotypical image of ninjas.
EEERRRNNN!!! Try the Japanese film industry. On a side note, if you want to check a cool old ninjer movie check out "Shinobi-no-mono"

I don't believe they used swords and throwing stars.
I just got back from Gifu, while there I saw a really cool collection of old shuriken (throwing stars), iron face masks, chainmail, bombs, and other ninja thingys. Unfortunately at the end they displayed a ninja-to that looked like they bought from one of those martial arts supply stores that sell American flag print hakama and what not.
:ninja:

Boon

6th September 2006, 06:00 PM

Anjin-san

7th September 2006, 02:30 PM

Human = Japanese, anything outside of that = gaijin.

So you want them to call you Japanese?

xvikingx

7th September 2006, 08:28 PM

So you want them to call you Japanese?

Missed the point I see. I wouldn't expect you to get it anyways.

fifthchamber

7th September 2006, 10:15 PM

I don't think it's that bad..I mean, gaijin means "outsider", and I am. So why should I moan about being called one?More especially when a -san is added..Mr. Outsider..Fairly okay in my books..
Now, just before ya launch into an essay on me, I am not so in love with Japan that I don't notice the people not sitting next to me on trains or staring at me..But then, I don't really care enough to get offended by it...I smell better than most of the other men on the trains and if they want to sit next to sweat well, more power to em'...I get space on trains so packed the others can't breathe..
I get your point, but there's no need to moan about being called a Gaijin. We are. Moan about the real rascism such as Housing costs being higher or being banned from pubs because you're not Japanese..That's bad..Being a foreigner?Ain't really a big deal on that score.
My regards.

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 10:21 AM

I get your point, but there's no need to moan about being called a Gaijin.

Who's moaning? I threw my two cents in about something kenzan said at the beginning of this thread. Nothing more. You then told me how you felt, and I quietly respected that. If it doesn't bother you, fine. Don't get on my case because I strive for something a little better. What you have failed to grasp(maybe you have not, I don't know) is that gaijin is not simply just foreigner or outsider, especially when they add -san or -sama to it. That word embodies a whole attitude, some of which you have already described.
No, I don't want to be called Japanese, and I sure as shit don't want to be called gaijin. I would like to be called Leiv, because that is who I am. However I know that no matter how long I live here I will be nothing more than a gaijin to the majority these of people.
I also don't need a smartass coment from a tourist like anjin-san. You're here to play; a year, two years tops as a JET and you go home more worldly. I am here to make a life. This is my home now.

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 11:14 AM

And mine too..But that doesn't change my attitude to this.
Anyway..There was a thread that we are derailing slightly with all this flaff..Maybe we should all say "whatever" and leave it there..
Oh, Leiv, I don't believe I got on your back about this, and if you feel that way then I apologise. What I said was not intended to offend you or make anything more than a comment of my own personal opinion on this.
As an aside, I don't think anyone has actually called me "Gaijin" to my face..But I can understand what you mean, Tokyo is a little more cosmopolitan in either case, not by much but enough to keep most people in check..And JET contracts top out at three years..What you do after is up to you.
My regards and apologies.

ScottUK

8th September 2006, 11:26 AM

I don't think anyone has actually called me "Gaijin" to my faceI got called gaijin by an old lady after being in the country for three days. She just pointed me out to her family and then waved, so I guess there was no malice to it... :)

Anjin-san

8th September 2006, 12:23 PM

My comment was more to do with the distinction that anything not Japanese is subhuman. I was just wondering if it was you making that distinction, or if that was a generalisation about Japanese peoples attitude towards foreigners.

Being a tourist on the JET program, it's possible that I don't quite understand the issues you're having with the use of g word. I do know however that in the small amount of time I have been in Japan I've been referred to as gaijin more times than I can count, and my reaction to it is my choice to make. I have yet to hear it used in malice. There are reasons for and against being upset about it, but at the end of the day it's your own experience that counts. I personally keep things positive, to an extent play the role expected, and use the added attention a foreigner gets here to make friends. Your outlook may differ.

I sincerely hope that you work out whatever self-image issues you have about being a foreigner living here. Forgetting my long-term business plans in Japan, I would rather be happy here for two years than miserable for twenty.

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 12:39 PM

Well said.
And Scott..She probably had her eye on you for teaching English to her kids.."Oh look kids, there's a gaijin that we can go chat to and maybe I can convince him to teach you English for an hour each day while I shop"..
Or maybe not.
I am in complete agreement with Najaf on this one..I've been called far worse in English but there is no training better in the world than right here so I'll stay and be happy..I have been experimenting with a system of smiling at people on trains and so far it's been very positive..I have a new girlfriend anyway..Although I didn't meet her on a train..That would have been tacky...

Anjin-san

8th September 2006, 12:45 PM

I have been experimenting with a system of smiling at people on trains and so far it's been very positive..I have a new girlfriend anyway..Although I didn't meet her on a train..That would have been tacky...

On trains, buses, bars, restaurants, the street, the library, lawsons... life is good :)

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 01:38 PM

Don't do it in Lawsons..Nobody does it in Lawsons..It's dangerous to do it in Lawsons..And all the classiest Girls go to 7-11...But all the rest I agree with you...Heh..
Life is good..And summer was cold this year too, so I could smile and not look like a wet otter while I did it! Class!Maybe it's something to do with being a Tourist here...I dunno..

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 02:12 PM

Maybe we should all say "whatever" and leave it there..

That was the point of my last post(not very clear I guess). It's not like I go freaking ape-tits when someone calls me or refers to me as gaijin, I just personally don't like it. This is not a self-image issue. I am not walking around totally misserable here. The responses I have gotten to my comment have made much more out of this than there really is.
By the way, I didn't find anything you wrote offensive so there is no need to apologize.

One more thing; the place to find classy birds is Mr Doughnuts not your local konbini.:wink:

Anjin-san

8th September 2006, 02:16 PM

Maybe if you said hello to them you wouldn't have so much pent up agression eh?

KhawMengLee

8th September 2006, 02:17 PM

That was the point of my last post(not very clear I guess). It's not like I go freaking ape-tits when someone calls me or refers to me as gaijin, I just personally don't like it. This is not a self-image issue. I am not walking around totally misserable here. The responses I have gotten to my comment have made much more out of this than there really is.
By the way, I didn't find anything you wrote offensive so there is no need to apologize.

Hahaha...Gaijin...jeez, I usually get called "Marayshia"(Malaysia). I introduce myself as being Malaysian because the last time I said i was chinese the bar owner lady said "Chinese? You from China! You eat dog!" LOL

One more thing; the place to find classy birds is Mr Doughnuts not your local konbini.:wink:

I dunno man, when I talk to random japanese chicks in nihongo asking for help/directions they usually freak out and run...I think they either think I'm a scout or chimpara or some hentai bakemono...when I speak to them in engrish they are really friendly and helpfull...:eek:

KhawMengLee

8th September 2006, 02:24 PM

Now this guy (http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/23237/Idiot_In_Japan.html) gives gaijin a bad name.

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 02:33 PM

Maybe if you said hello to them you wouldn't have so much pent up agression eh?

Oh yes, that must be the reason for my apparent pent up agression. Thanks for the advice, but for some reason I don't think my wife would approve. I don't really like doughnuts anyways.

Anjin-san

8th September 2006, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the advice

Any time bro :)

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 02:37 PM

Right..So, no apology needed and back to the thread then?Or shall we all continue this one on regardless?Either are okay for me as they mean about the same to me in the long run...Although Ninjers are cooler..Gaijin are cool too..But less cool..Although a good claim could be made that most Ninjers in this world are Gaijin and therefore qualify for both these subjects..
Wait..I see, we could form this thread into one huge thread and be done with it all...
Mr Donuts eh? I'd look..But I get tempted by Pastries in this bloody country far too easily...I mean, by ladies..

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 02:39 PM

And speaking on a personal level, my ex-wife was responsible for a lot of my pent up anger..But don't tell her that, I said the reason was Donuts to throw her off the scent..She went back home after that..

Kenzan

8th September 2006, 02:43 PM

Now this guy (http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/23237/Idiot_In_Japan.html) gives gaijin a bad name.

Yet further proof that all westerners are simply barbarians.
:D

That said,nn the reverse side of the coin,

7 words:
Gatsby Blonde Hair Dye, and
Eye Tape.

I'll say no more....
LOL

:D

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 02:45 PM

Any time bro :)

Although I tried, I am most certainly not your bro.

mingshi

8th September 2006, 02:46 PM

BTW did anyone read this article from the latest Newsweek?

The New Multi-Ethnic Japan (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14640269/site/newsweek/)

Is it really like that?

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 02:57 PM

Yeah..Pretty much..Politically foreigners still get sidelined..But economically things are starting to change..They have too..But like all things it's a slow process and starting fairly late in the game...It's an interesting place..
On a side note..Isn't Kaoru Miki mostly considered a girls name?Wierd choice..I'd have chosen something more butch..Like Brad..Heh..

Kenzan

8th September 2006, 02:58 PM

BTW did anyone read this article from the latest Newsweek?

The New Multi-Ethnic Japan (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14640269/site/newsweek/)

Is it really like that?

Quote:
But he still wonders why the Japanese government is largely indifferent to the problems facing foreigners....

My guess is:
~Because they have really bad B.O.?
:D

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 03:01 PM

Want really bad body odour?I know a few Japanese friends here who consider it a "girls thing" to wear deodorant..They also insist they sweat less..But it's eye wateringly bad to sit next too...It's only me that notices really, or at least, no one else says anything about it..
I get my Lynx sent over from London....The Japanese stuff is naff.

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 03:01 PM

On a side note..Isn't Kaoru Miki mostly considered a girls name?Wierd choice..I'd have chosen something more butch..Like Brad..Heh..

Nothings more butch than Kaoru (http://www.shochiku.co.jp/video/v00s/ks9333.html). Rent it if you get a chance.

fifthchamber

8th September 2006, 03:03 PM

Heh..Always on the look out for better films..

KhawMengLee

8th September 2006, 04:36 PM

Yet further proof that all westerners are simply barbarians.
:D

Nah, that guy was just a wanker. I thought it was funny how he was trying to talk his way out of it by saying the other guy assaulted him and ripped his shirt and then the Garbage dude just gave a quick few words recapping the situation and they moved to arrest him.

KhawMengLee

8th September 2006, 04:41 PM

Nothings more butch than Kaoru (http://www.shochiku.co.jp/video/v00s/ks9333.html). Rent it if you get a chance.

Is that Riki Takeuchi? He kicks major arse! I loved him in Dead or Alive 2: Birds. Sho Aikawa is damn cool too!

xvikingx

8th September 2006, 04:49 PM

Is that Riki Takeuchi? He kicks major arse!

It is, and he does. If you have not seen Kaoru-chan yet, see it now!

KhawMengLee

9th September 2006, 03:47 AM

It is, and he does. If you have not seen Kaoru-chan yet, see it now!

Have you seen Dead or Alive 2: birds? Apart from the crazy killing at the start and end the film has a very touching story about both the assasin's childhood...especially the bit about how as kids in the orphanage they used to love the end of year trips to the mainland because they got to eat Kitsune Udon...awwwww

Will check out Kaoru-chan soon:D

xvikingx

9th September 2006, 09:08 AM

Have you seen Dead or Alive 2: birds?

I've only seen a handful (out how many hundred:rolleyes: ) of the Minami Tei-o series and most of the Kaoru-chan series. I'll check out Dead or Alive 2 for sure.

gsx1100s

13th September 2006, 11:22 AM