Ninja Trick Knife
March 3rd, 2011Ninja – what won’t they think of next for their bag of tricks that they use to entertain and kill people with? While in Kyoto, a crafty ninja shows me his trick knife.
What my blog is about
This is a place to tell people about your blog - a short description for the folks who don't know how cool you are. If you do not want to use it, you can uncheck the 'Enabled' box under 'Blog Options' - 'Blog Intro' in your admin pages.Tokyo Hooters Plundered by Lusty Pirates!
March 3rd, 2011PIRATES PLUNDER TOKYO HOOTERS!!!
First Hooters in Japan boarded by Lusty Freebooters
Twere a lively wind that blew our scurvy sails westerly to’ards the fair shores o’ that earthly paradise known in many songs ‘n tales as Hooters. Hooters be ‘cross thar way from the Americas where they be known for their wings ‘n fierce love o’ the hootin’ owl. They be a-launchin’ a grand ship in strange new waters known as the Japons.
Me lusty hearties ‘n I boarded her midships ‘n ‘ad our fill o’ grub ‘n grog whilst our deadlights did feast’d upon the bounteous booty of yon hooterlicious wenches who shivered our timbers in a most pleasin’ o’ manners.
Cap’n Shag had brought wit’ ‘im the Cat-o-nine-tails ta maintain ship discipline. Afores we knows it, the wenches had the Cat ‘n were dishin’ out their own floggin’s ta ones another. A most pleasin’ sight ta be sure!
The wenches were o’ the most comeliness sorts ‘n our sails were a-taunt upon the mast. They did dance ‘n cavort ta their lusty hearrrrts’ content.
Not fer naught did they sing ‘n dance fer I did tell them twas the poxy Cap’n NoWay J’s birthday tho twere a good few weeks afters! Cap’n NoWay J were forc’ed ta flap ‘is arms like a seasick gull whilst the wenches sang ‘is ill-gotten praizes! Har! How he did threaten’d to keelhaul yours truly!
By the eve’s end, the spritely wenches ‘ad good reason ta know good cheer as Cap’n Shag deep in his cups carelesslee spoke – “Arrr!!! Keeeeep the change, me lass!” Thereby did the addled-pated Cap’n unbeknownst render’d unto them a tip ta the tune o’ 50 buckos. Twas a fair trade tho, booty fer booty specaillee az tweren’t me doubloons!
Arrrr!!! But by me black heart, good times twere had by all!
Tokyo Hooters photos
Plum Blossoms, Green Tea, and Pretty Geisha – Ume Matsuri in Kyoto
March 3rd, 2011To celebrate plum blossoms and Tenjin-sama, the god of learning, a festival is held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto where geisha serve visitors matcha green tea.
Since it was my birthday I thought I would have tea with those geisha as one does.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is a beautiful shrine especially during Plum Blossom season and when the geisha come but it hides a dark past of political manipulation, fear, guilt, and the need for appeasement of a vengeful spirit.
Setsubun 2009 – Japanese Devils, Celebs, Samurai, and Sumo
April 14th, 2009Setsubun is an old Japanese tradition going back to the Heian Period (794-1192) where Japanese drive bad luck or evil out of their homes by throwing beans.
The evil is represented by devils called Oni and often fathers will don an oni costume so their kids can pelt them with beans – ouch! In America, dads dress up like Santa Claus and get milk&cookies for their troubles!
At temples and shrines, they do a mame-maki where they throw beans and other things to gathering crowds. People go crazy trying to catch these beans.
Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese traditional events and for the last 4-5 years I have always gone somewhere to celebrate it. This year I started Setsubun a few days earlier by going to the small neighborhood of Shimokitazawa where they had the Tengu Matsuri. Tengu is a long nose goblin who protects the area.
On Setsubun I went to 4 places in and around Tokyo – Narita, Kanda Myojin Shrine, Hosen-ji Temple in Nakano, and Ashikaga in Tochigi. I saw sumo champions, Japanese celebrities, samurai, J-Pop stars, and fighting Buddhist monks.
I recorded the vlog part of the video around 3 in the morning because I had to catch a really early flight from Haneda to Hokkaido so I’m speaking low so as not to wake my neighbors. Plus I was tired!
For photos check here:
Modern Deadly Arts of the Samurai
April 10th, 2009The samurai were Japan’s elite warrior class of long ago – masters of many deadly weapons and stern possessors of martial fighting skills.
In Tokyo’s modern mecca of electronics and anime, Akihabara, the samurai have re-emerged as masters of a new deadly art.
Tokyo Youtube Hanami Gathering
April 10th, 2009The 2nd Annual Tokyo Youtube Hanami Party was held Sunday March 29th in Yoyogi Park.
A number of Youtubers located in Tokyo and elsewhere gathered in Yoyogi Park – the park next to the Goth Maids and the dancing Rockabilly Elvises.
Hanami is the Japanese tradition of gathering under cherry blossoms to eat, drink, and be merry.
We had KFC chicken, Krispy Kreme donuts, ramen, beer, and Chu-Hi.
Here people talk about what they like about the Hanami tradition.
Samurai Dave’s 2008 In Review – Travels, Events, and Festivals
January 13th, 20092008 was a busy year for this wayward wanderer though I didn’t travel much abroad due to the high fuel surcharge. I did however travel a fair bit around Japan going to a number of festivals. This is a photo montage of my experiences.
A Bit of Christmas in Japan
December 26th, 2008Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, it is observed in other ways.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas, one can find lines of Japanese standing outside of KFC for a little bit of the Colonel’s Christmas Chicken.
Christmas Cake is a popular item which sells for about 30-50 bucks at convenience stores. It’s also a term used to refer to women over 26.
For young couples, Christmas is a big date night and many of them go to love hotels.
Times must be tough at the North Pole as Santa Claus is forced to lay off his reindeer and resort to Public Transportation. While I was changing trains at a station in Tokyo, I came across Santa doing a milk run in Tokyo trying out the train system.
While Santa’s away, the reindeer will play. See a group of reindeer dance, sing, swear, drink beer, play pool, throw darts, and experiment with their sexuality while on leave in Tokyo.
Dasher gives a drunken rant about being stuck behind Rudolph of Red Nose fame for the last 70 years.
Here are some Holiday-related photos from Tokyo Decandance – a semi-monthly club event which is a melting pot of various subcultures in Japan. This is a photo montage of Tokyo Decadance’s Christmas event. Plenty of interesting folks and some cuties in XMAS outfits.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Fire on the Mountain – Mt. Kurama Fire Festival of Kyoto
December 13th, 2008Mt. Kurama in northern Kyoto comes alive with the fires of hundreds of torches some of them over 15 feet long requiring 4-5 men to carry them. It’s a very old tradition going back to the late 8th Century. The torches are used to guide spirits through the human world to their own world so they don’t stray and cause mischief. It’s a great festival with lots of energy.
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/rain-fails-to-dampen-japanese-fire-festival-spirit/
This from the first time I went in 2005:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2007/03/20/japanese-fire-festival-on-kyotos-mt-kurama/
A Tribute to Autumn
December 13th, 2008The following video is a photo montage of my favorite season – Autumn. The photos were taken over several years and come from four different countries: Japan, America, Germany, and the UK. I put in various quotes and poems about the Autumn season from various poets from different times and countries.
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/a-tribute-to-autumn/
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