Couple of questions about Japan

[byp]

Why would anyone carry a sword around?

1) lawn mowing
2) hair cutting
3) tooth picking
4) head hunting
want some more ???

 

[Golgo_13]

I'm wondering since when the Samurai era ended in Japan and are people still allowed to carry swords around in Japan or only in a certain part of the places? :?

With the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s citizens were forbidden to carry swords.

They can still own one and keep it at home. My grandfather had a few.

Some gangsters today have swords (you may have seen them in Yakuza movies) but they are not real Samurai swords.

 

[Hiroshi66]

Yes, don't get the impression that swords were banned. They were just banned for public use. People could still have them in their homes. I wish I had an American or European example, but I don't. :/

 

[Golgo_13]

A buddy of mine had a samurai sword custom made for him by an American swordsmith in Eugene, OR who was trained in Japan in traditional swordmaking.

 

[TimF]

How long does that usually take?

 

[Golgo_13]

How long does that usually take?

I'll ask him and get back to you.

How long does that usually take?

About a year. My buddy's took 15 months because he's a Kendo master and he had his own specifications.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

From What I've Heard....

Because its a tradition that should go on forever..Well, that's what I think. Also, I say the westerners are bad going to japan like that in the 1800's and ruined one of japan's major tradition =\

the way they cram people into the rush hour commuter trains, blood would flow if they were carring swords!!
The after work drinking bouts could get real messy and getting in & out of those small taxis would be a slow process. It would not be to practical to lug something so akward.

Frank

:?

 

[Hiroshi66]

I actually saw an NHK Newswatch story about a traditional sword maker in Japan who actually traditionally made swords. They are revered in modern japan, but only for look.

 

[Eve]

of course, you dont go around killing people. just hold it around and show off =\

 

[sky888]

how much does a fairly good sword will cost?

 

[Mike Cash]

Because its a tradition that should go on forever..Well, that's what I think. Also, I say the westerners are bad going to japan like that in the 1800's and ruined one of japan's major tradition =\

Get over it.

Do you also think that Americans should all wear a brace of pistols and have gunfights at the OK corral?

You would prefer that Japan were still a closed country? With the people living hand-to-mouth on subsistence agriculture? With extreme class stratification?

 

[Ewok85]

Beheading people and putting their heads on a fence was tradition in some places for a while. I guess bringing it back would help lower crime!

Traditions aren't forever, they get old (as the name suggests).

 

[Sinspawne]

... because you don't have the death penalty in Oslo?

Oslo is the capital of Norway. we dont have death penalty, you only get locked up for life.

I only read the headlines the night it happend, so i don't know why or who did it.. but it was gang related i think..

 

[Hiroshi66]

Norway doesn't have a death penalty? Well, its like that in much of Europe which hasn't been extremely influenced with American law studies. I'm sure Denmark, Sweden and Finland don't have it either.

 

[Sinspawne]

don't think they do

 

[Mike Cash]

Norway doesn't have a death penalty? Well, its like that in much of Europe which hasn't been extremely influenced with American law studies. I'm sure Denmark, Sweden and Finland don't have it either.

A good number of US states don't have the death penalty either. Just thought I'd toss that in.

Hiroshi66, since you are a scholar of Japan, are you familiar with the death penalty in Japan?

 

[Ewok85]

I saw a documentary on TV about Japanese prisons and how they carry out capital punishment in Japan. Quite interesting, I have even less enthusiasm to get in trouble with anyone there :S

 

[Mike Cash]

I've read three or four Japanese books dealing with the death penalty, and maybe that many more that deal just with prison in general. I concur heartily with your sentiment.

 

[TwistedMac]

sorry for going way off topic, but isn't that supposed to be "abroad" rather than "aboard"?

(didn't think this deserved its own thread)

on the topic i'll say "god i hate people that insist it was better in the old days when they only look at the romantic aspect of it"
that will be all

 

[Ewok85]

History is written by the victors, and they tend to leave the nasty bits out

 

[Hiroshi66]

Yes, indeed. I think Japanese prisons are the reason why Freedom House gave Japanese Civil Rights a 2 in Civil Rights. Which is basically an A-.

 

[jieshi]

I saw a documentary on TV about Japanese prisons and how they carry out capital punishment in Japan. Quite interesting, I have even less enthusiasm to get in trouble with anyone there :S

was that on foreign correspondent? on ABC? lol i got told about that but i missed it

 

[Hiroshi66]

I read my stuff online. But I think thre was a bit on ABC on Japanese Human RIghts.

 

[Ewok85]

That was the one. Looked at how day to day was very regimented, you work all day, march around, like robots. The hallways have a strip of carpet so the guards can walk down and not be heard. Alot of things like that and then they looked at the death penalty, how its carried out (hanging if you didnt know) and looked at a case of a man who was hung and the process leading up to that (you dont have a set date, so you don't know when it will happen).

 

[Mike Cash]

That was the one. Looked at how day to day was very regimented, you work all day, march around, like robots. The hallways have a strip of carpet so the guards can walk down and not be heard. Alot of things like that and then they looked at the death penalty, how its carried out (hanging if you didnt know) and looked at a case of a man who was hung and the process leading up to that (you dont have a set date, so you don't know when it will happen).

The manner in which the hangings are carried out is sort of interesting as well.

You may know that over the years, western executioners worked out a sort of formula for drop distance based on body weight. The idea was to apply sufficient force to ensure a quick snap of the neck, instantaneous unconsciousness, and a quick death.....while not applying sufficient force to rip the head from the body.

Japanese executioners don't bother with that.

Maybe the following will save me a little typing:

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