What the title said...you know...I'm not... One thing I quickly learned and have been reminded of verbally many times is that Japanese people really don't have any respect for people who think it's cool to own a katana.
Really, they look at a foreigner carrying around their souvenir with the thought of "it's a stupid gaijin." Lots of us from America and other Western countries, there is something to admire about the beauty of the samurai culture. For many of us, it is what attracts us to Japan. We watch anime, read books, hear legends... And some create this dream of becoming their own samurai. Why not? Beyond deeper cultural understanding, most foreigners believe that same myth of knights as they do with samurai. You know, the fact that the rank is handed down from one generation to the next? I'm just laughing at that thought. So, while on a trip to Miyajima - a beautiful island with a beautiful shrine - I came across a shop with a particularly interesting umbrella. Its handle was plastic, but looked very similar to a katana handle. Why not? It looked cool. So I bought it and carry it whenever I can. It is a really cool novelty! Already five times it has been mistaken for a sword while its length is sheathed in black. I had to pull it out and explain that it was not a sword. But this is where I learned another thing. Swords might not be cool...but something convenient that looks like a sword? That's sugoi! I've met at least five shop keepers who have thought my umbrella was a katana. But then when I showed them they were in awe and thought it was so cool. I have to agree, it looks neat and it helps keep the rain off. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI studied abroad at Okayama University from October 2014 to August 2015 Archives
September 2015
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