Inspiring Samurai

[Date Saburou Yukiie]

I would like to post a picture I found digging through my old box-o-pics...
I thought it quite inspiring, and wanted to post it to show that people can look not period on the field, but can raise the bar even when they are not trying to!
This is Sir Ogami akira at a Pennsic, probably 15 years or more ago. Note the oak spear shaft...

Date

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

Its my misfortune that I did not meet Sir Ogami earlier in my SCA career. He would have had a great influence on me then.

In the Outlands, the Clan Genji came and went while I was focused on finishing college and starting a career. It is said that they presented a very authentic appearance on the field, but again, I cannot say I was greatly influenced by them.

Now, when it comes to authenticity on the field, I am inspired by Date Saburou Yukiie and learn from the words of such men as Sir Vitus and Jehan de Pelham.

They lead by example, setting the tone of 'getting it right' and cause me to reread the translations of Japanese armour works, examine the Gakken books, and read and request clarification from AJ Bryant. I've collected numerous photographs of Daimyou54's offerings. And I can now examine Jo's gorgeous photographs.

These gentleman and these sources have caused me look at my efforts with a new and critical eye.

[Takeda Sanjuichiro]

I too wish that I had met him (Sir Ogami) earlier in my time in the SCA, I feel it would have been a big benefit to my learning.


However, I consider myself very lucky, I had the opportunity to join the SCA in the same group as Kuji Kaoni Musashi. While at the time I was more interested in Scandinavian history and culture (I got better) I did enjoy learning about Japanese history, armor, weapons, etc., so much so I found myself studying it for my enjoyment of it alone. It was not until I had left the Midrealm and wound up in the East Kingdom, that I really thought about it, and realized I knew more about Japanese culture, than Scandinavian... so I traded my straight sword for one with a proper curve

Since that time I haven't looked back. I am now blessed with having good friends and teachers (Ii-dono and Hirazumi-dono) in my group, who are excellent resources, mentors, cohorts in crime, and inspiration to go above and beyond in my projects and studies.

Without the people who have helped me I would not have accomplished what I have, and more than likely not have the same level of inspiration to strive for better.

-Takeda

[raycornwell2]

I am glad to have so many inspiring warriors to look up to, who put such an effort out there, to show us younglings how it is done. Let us all hope that the standard for SCA armor and quality of reenactment keeps continuing to climb, with the help of such talented members.

[hiro]

Well here in An Tir, I pretty much have to look at the pictures you all post to get inspired, as there are very few Nihonjin personas here, and really no experts that many of you seem to be.

Once at Estrella War, I heard to fighters talking about my armor as I was walking by, and overheard this.

"Hey look, it's a samurai. I wonder where he is from?"
"He is from An Tir."
"How do you know? Do you know him?"
"No, but he's a samurai fighting with a viking round sheild."

oh well

[Takeda Sanjuichiro]

hiro said:

Well here in An Tir...

If all goes as tenatively planned I will be out to visit friends in An Tir for 12th Night.

-Takeda

[Saionji Shonagon]

As I think back on it, it's probably not surprising that the person who got me into the SCA was Sir Tanaka Raiko. While perhaps not the most authentically minded player in the world, his honor, dedication to service and warped sense of fun certainly appealed to and inspired me to go to my first event. "What do you think?" he said to me at the end of the night. "I think I need a name." I answered.

Fast forward a few years. At the time I was Viscount Gaius Auklandus' lady and he wanted to squire a young man with whom I was friends. James had come around to the conclusion that being medieval Welsh was not really working for him and decided he wanted to pursue a Japanese persona. As his knight's lady, I figured it was only proper that I take sufficient interest that I could hold up my end of the conversation, offer support and at least make sympathetic noises if all else failed. Gaius could not attend Pennsic 28, thus it befell that James and I ended up spending a fair bit of that war together. True story: I was headed to the pay phones near the Cooper's Store when I hear my name called. I look up and see James hanging over the railing waving at me. I see a man next to him of a certain height and build, balding, bearded, glasses and a flash of black, red and gold surcote. I dash around the corner to the stairs thinking, "The bastard told me he wasn't coming!" even as my mind clicks, "Hair's too dark. Glasses are the wrong shape." Which is how and when I met Effingham, yet another member of SCA Generic Male Type 7B. ;-> (That sucking sound you hear is Jehanne de Wodeford, Anglo Norman jongleur being pulled into a distinctly Japanese riptide.) James consults with Edward and informs me that his new name is Fujimaki Tosaburou Hidetora, explains the derivations and I laugh because Hidetora means morning tiger and James is SO not a morning person. I get dragged along to a class on court protocols that makes my brain hurt. She Who Is In Front of What? Left of Whom? (Suck, suck, suck.)

Fujimaki gets his AoA that November and Kass McGann happens to be at the event, so I aim him at her. They go from 0 to fast friends in eight seconds and suddenly turn to me and cry in unison "You're coming too, right?" Turns out there's a Japanese themed event in a couple of months. "I'm going to have to make clothes, aren't I?" Kass says, "It's really easy. Go to my website." Makiwara makes her first appearance in February 2001.

James no longer plays in the SCA due to health issues. I would ask you to invoke the higher power of your choice on his behalf as he waits for a heart transplant. He probably doesn't know it, but he's my main inspiration for doing Japanese. He's a very intense, dedicated person and I shudder to think what he could do with a circulatory system that actually works. He wanted to do so many things and he wanted to do them right, so early on, I decided that if I was going to go along for the ride, I was going to try to get it right too. Only suddenly I found myself a continent away and going for that ride alone.

Or maybe not. I found plenty of like minded maniacs to ride along with, if not in the kingdom I currently live if, at least through sca-jml and Tousando. I get my inspiration from all of you. I get inspired by the newbies and the sewing impaired too: I wouldn't have written the kosode page if I hadn't heard so many cries for help. A crazy kid tears up a washing machine and gives me two words to write a poem with - then turns around and writes a better poem (which he insists isn't one).

We're all students. We're all teachers. I think that rocks.

Saionji

[raycornwell2]

A crazy kid tears up a washing machine and gives me two words to write a poem with - then turns around and writes a better poem (which he insists isn't one).

You honor me, Sionji.

Thank you for sharing this bit of history, makes me even more eager to join up. I am fighting the very structure of my life and the people around me. But I will make it. Being a part of something like this is what I have dreamed of all my life.

[Saionji Shonagon]

You honor me, Sionji.

It's only the truth.

You'll find a way. You already have.

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

raycornwell2 said:

Being a part of something like this is what I have dreamed of all my life.

A word of warning, Ray.

The SCA is a game. Similar to sports, when taken seriously, this game can deeply influence your life - for better or worse. But it shouldn't become your life. School, jobs, love, family ... there are many things that should take priority over the game.



Having said that, there are some professional armourers who serve the SCA. Mr. Bryant's bliss took him to Japan where he apprenticed in an armour shop. And Mykaru's out their trying to do both. But that can be a hard row to hoe.

[raycornwell2]

Otagiri, I understand what you are saying, and I am wary of the warning.

What I am trying to say, is that I have always wanted to be apart of a group of people that actually learn and share and enjoy the study of midieval history.

What I was also try to say, in less words, was, that my life is geared towards working from sun up till sun down. I roof, I repair docks, I cut trees, work on machinery, I construct buildings, I homestead(and that involves too much to list).Family is all important to me. I spend all my time towards helping my perents and multitude of siblings get through some tuff times... I don't even get paid for my work (family bussiness), most of the time, because of morgage duties.

~History flash~ ...Prepair for a long "short story"

Basically, to make a long story as short as I can, let me give the rundown...

For the last 5 years, I have been traveling around the country, with my family of 18 people, trying to find a home that would have us. When I was 17 (5 years ago), my father decided to move all of us into the country, on bare land, and become homesteaders. I was aprehensive, being young and happy with my social life in the city in california, but, I was forced into it. I emediately went to living in a pup tent for the fallowing year, in the middle of the wilderness, through every season, and that is when I started to engross myself into swordsmanship. To make a long story short, we did not make it, and a year later, in september we ended up being forced to move across country to Wisconsin, all of us in the covered back of a dodge truck. I did not have to go, and I almost didn't, but, I had to see to my family, all my brothers and sisters, without a home...
In wisconsin, we stayed through the winter in trailers and tents (I in a tent), and eventually got a job building a pole barn for a fellow (Anonymous), a noble peace prize nominee for his plant growth enhancer, sonic bloom. I lived there, working on the pole barn in the dead of winter, living on a front porch of an abandoned house, because the trailer my family was in was much too small for me and my brother, Brandon. I got used to wairing all my clothing at night, and every scrap blanket I could find. We tore down his log cabin, and then, as winter passed, we went to live with a friend of my fathers, in the northern end of wisconsin. Stayed there in tents, my brother married his 20 year old daughter in a barn, in the secrecy of night, and we had to flee, Because they had done so without the father's permission.
So, we were on our way back to California, and we ended up finding some land in the shasta county area (I am originally from humboldt county, in the redwoods), and we started building there. Again, I lived without power or water, or plumbing, but I was well used to it by this point. I found an old trailer that had been in a wreck, and one side had been completely peeled off, but it was better then a tent, so I made it my home for yet another year. We worked hard, got screwed a lot, and eventually got red flagged and had to leave our land, almost a year later. We moved back to humboldt county california, where I was originally from, and started to get back on our feet. Bussiness progressed, and we were making it good. I finally had the money to get a truck of my own, and I had found all my old freinds.
Then, winter came, and my father had decided to move my family back to wisconsin, to try home steading again. We were still living in a caravan type status, and so, as one of the three working adults in the family, I felt that I had to go, and help out. Hey, it's family.
So, in wisconsin, we failed, and failed, and failed. We worked, and worked, and never found a place to call home. I roofed all spring summer and fall, and did my armor craft and sword play in between. I made the japanese suit in this time, and used it a lot. Eventually, in september, my father found a place in missouri, and we have lived here in serprising comfort (for us).
We have electricity, a hand pumped well, no plumbing, but there is an old and small cabin on the property. We own a considerable stretch of raw land (about 40 acres), and are doing well, and prospering.
Some would look at our situation, and say, what a run of bad luck, and perhaps it was, but it has made us strong. I am capable of living off of my own hands, sleeping on the gravel, and surviving. I found ways to enjoy it, too. Swordsmanship has been my biggest tension release, and that is why, I am patient to make it work.

Sorry for such a long story, I tried to only include what was important to my point, which is that I know that there are more important things that "the game".
Of course, so much more had happened, but, that is just more history...

This reenactment, is my enjoyment, though, I have had little time to do much else besides a little armoring... and some bokken sparring by nightlamps.

[Otagiri Tatsuzou]

I'll STFU now....


While I've met people who've lived pieces of your life, no one I know has ended up with quite that much stuff in their bio.

I hope to meet you in person one day.

[raycornwell2]

But you have traveled to japan, and done things that I have dreamed of doing, with the martial arts training, and such. I also hope to meet you, some day. You and all the rest of the wonderful people here that I have begun to know.

It will happen, lest the life in me is taken away.

If you can't tell, I am a very focused person.

[raycornwell2]

And please forgive me, Date, for hijacking the thread!
Sorry!

[Saionji Shonagon]

While I've met people who've lived pieces of your life, no one I know has ended up with quite that much stuff in their bio.

Or clocked so much real-life "mileage" in a relatively short span. Wow.

It explains the glimpses of "old soul" though. ;->

S.