The evil eye

[Hiroda Ujio]

Last saturday I was invited to go along with a few of the guys from my house to Midrealm coronation. I was told that there was to be a few tournaments, so i took my armor. After concluding morning court, the powers that be opened the list field for fighting and inspections. While going up to get inspected as well as during inspection i got the stare-down from just about everybody in sight. Even the marshall's sat there and eyed me for a few minutes before one of them performed the inspection (i was the only guy waiting for inspections).

Is this a normal thing? Should i be prepared to accept that this kind of thing will happen every time i put on armor?

I know that some people aren't too keen on Japanese persona in the SCA. Just thought i'd share and see what people think about the subject.

[AJBryant]

Not having been there, I couldn't say what was going on. Maybe your armour is so gorgeous or so crappy that they were astounded.

But I've never seen such a thing in the Middle. Viscount Sir Raito and Sir Munenori, Baron Roaring Wastes, certainly never have had any problems.


Tony

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

HirodaUjio said:

Should i be prepared to accept that this kind of thing will happen every time i put on armor?

If you were the only one waiting for inspection, then your wait may not have had anything to do with your armour. It could have been they were waiting for more people, involved in their own discussion, ...

But the bottom line is that we are a minority in the SCA. We can (a) pretend that we aren't any different than Vikings or (b) rebel against the system and behave like the Horde or Tuchux or (c) try to do it better (see: tousando.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=armour&action=display&thread=1098466692 ).

I am a one year convert of (c).

I can tell you that the Hoteru-do was one of the best looking suits at our Sunday war practise and at our Thursday fighter practise. I had individuals come up and look who were sure that the dou was hardened leather and knights to complement the look. But, heck, I don't have laurels to rest on! Picked up scrap steel this morning and printed out some patterns this afternoon.

Heiho! Heiho! It's off to armour I go!


As to the bigger picture, I've been in my Barony longer than most of the current players. They don't give me any more crap then I give myself.

[Saionji Shonagon]

It depends on where you are. There were a number of people doing Japanese in the East and I was unaware of any negativity, however, in the West (at least in the central kingdom), there seems to be a perception of Japanese = fringie, especially since this is the Cradle of SCA Civilization and there's a certain level of First and Best chauvinism in the kingdom culture at large. I've had an SCA oldtimer tell me she doesn't believe Japanese belongs in the SCA. I've heard one complain on an e-list that people who create non-European arts should not get awards for their work no matter how good it is. (Does this mean we get to eject the Doumbekistan Drum and Drum Corps?) But I also got awestruck "Wows!" at the first Western event where I appeared in Japanese (I also have a European persona and "she" attends most events). I keep infecting e-lists with ensho-awase (Japanese poetry jams). It balances out.

Do what you love, don't let someone else rain on your parade.

Makiwara

[Saionji Shonagon]

Otagiri said:

I am a one year convert of (c).

I'm with you, Otagiri-dono!

I can tell you that the Hoteru-do was one of the best looking suits at our Sunday war practise and at our Thursday fighter practise. I had individuals come up and look who were sure that the dou was hardened leather and knights to complement the look. But, heck, I don't have laurels to rest on! Picked up scrap steel this morning and printed out some patterns this afternoon.


As to the bigger picture, I've been in my Barony longer than most of the current players. They don't give me any more crap then I give myself.[/quote]