Alex in Wonderland

The 'problem' with living in Japan is that there is always so much to do. Especially since posting my previous blog entry, so many things (good things for the most part) have happened that I find myself too busy living life to write about it.

In a VERY small nutshell, I started a new job in April at Kansai University. Kandai, as it is often referred to, was established in Osaka in 1886, and is considered to be one of the top private universities in Japan. (www.kansai-u.ac.jp). The job conditions are great, and the facilities are second to none. To my great relief, I now have a tenured position which means no more sending my academic CV out in vain to bogus job openings, and bogus universities for that matter.

Although I’m an Assoc. Prof. in the Division of International Affairs, I don’t have to teach a single class of English! Another great bonus is the very strong kendo club, and an equally dominant naginata club. What more could I want? It has resulted in a significant change in lifestyle though. Kendo trainings start at 7:30 each morning! Out of the house at 6:00am, home at midnight…

Apart from that, I finally FINALLY published my Ph.D. thesis on April 1. What a mission. Years of rewriting to make it worthy of publishing. The Yomiuri Newspaper was kind enough to run an article on the book a couple of days ago. You can check it out at this link: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/book/author/20090512bk01.htm

It’s a Japanese book, but roughly translated the title goes something like, “The Bushi Ethos and its Development: Bushidō and the History of Social Thought”, published by Shibunkaku Shuppansha.

Most research of samurai culture and bushidō deals with the question of death as a central consideration. However, it is surprising to note how few studies really investigate the role of the martial arts in warrior culture in any significant detail. Even if it's touched upon, it's usually only a superficial analysis.

In the midst of mortal combat, what fears, emotions and exhilarations were experienced by bushi? The act of fighting in battle (and training for it) was in many ways a ‘religious experience’. I ask the question, 'as an important practical and symbolic medium for violence, what role did bujutsu play in their formation of a distinctive set of samurai values and raison d'etre?'

Even in the relatively peaceful Tokugawa period, the martial arts evolved along with the “taming” of the warriors. The study and practice of combat techniques still played an important role in the maintenance of their self identity and sense of uniqueness vis-à-vis other echelons of society. It gave them a sort of warm, fuzzy 'religious feeling', and a sense of meaning in their lives...Similar, I think, to the kind of satisfaction I get out of doing kendo.

By utilizing cultural anthropologist Clifford Geertz’s definition of a religion, I applied this theoretical framework to the bushi experience. My thesis was an attempt (hopefully successful) to devise a succinct definition for the nebulous and often misused term “bushidō”, and bujutsu plays an absolutely crucial role.

BTW, Geertz’s definition for religion is:
A system of symbols which acts to establish powerful, pervasive, and long lasting moods and motivations in men by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that the moods and motivations seem uniquely realistic... (Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures, p. 90)

If you go to www.amazon.co.jp and type in Alexander Bennett, it should appear on your screen. No, I don’t plan to translate it into English. In fact, I don’t want even look at it again for a long, long time…It was a hellish experience.

Now, back to living again. We’ve got the next issue of Kendo World to get ready.