Time to confide

[Imagawa Tomoe]

At the end of September I plan on going to my first event in my Japanese garb (what I've created so far, anyway), and I'm actually nervous as hell.  I'm not sure if it's like this in stateside kingdoms, but here in Drachenwald there seems to be a good number of people who flat-out do not approve of the concept of Japanese personas in the SCA.  I've wanted to have a Japanese persona ever since I started (I've been a viking for years), but I'm concerned that by making this switch, I'm going to upset some people. 

I want to do what makes me happy in the SCA, but I don't want to ruin others' medieval experience, either.  Have any of you ever had similar experiences and/or feelings?  How did you deal with them?  Did you ever have fears that were ultimately unfounded?

[Saionji Shonagon]

Been there: wodefordhall.com/japanesething.htm

As an addendum to the article above, Number One Naysayer won a tourney which made him Prince of a Principality. I went to his Investiture in Japanese court dress, found myself a spot down front on the side aisle and stayed on my knees in "shin" for the entire duration of the ceremony as a reminder that I was just as much a member of the populace he would rule as anyone else. Every event during his reign that I attended, I attended in Japanese dress. (I was still doing Anglo Norman at that time). In that time, His Nayness was always cordial with me - and we have since managed to become friends, but I spent six months inwardly gritting my teeth and feeling like each event was a political statement. It may have been, as someone - a fighter with an early Irish persona - gleefully decided that I was "sticking it to the Man" and that made the sort of person he wanted as a friend.

Portraying a Japanese at the highest level of my abilities was - and still is - the best defense. Over time it gained respect. Two years ago I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel for my study of Japanese arts and culture in the West Kingdom, the oldest, and in some ways the most hidebound of kingdoms.

This attitude is rightly the naysayer's problem. It shouldn't have to be yours. That said, most people will write things in forums that they are too polite to say to you in person. The one or two times someone has said it in person, they've been polite about expressing a personal opinion - and listened respectfully when I explained that I was doing something I genuinely loved.

I should also mention that there's a gentleman somewhere in England who alternates between a late period English persona and a Japanese one. I believe he is sometimes on this forum as "maredudd."

Best of luck. I hope you dazzle them!
Saionji no Hana, OL, West Kingdom

[Imagawa Tomoe]

Yeah, Edward Boreham! I haven't had the honor of meeting him in person, but he's a member of House Brighthelm. I know of a few folks here in Drachenwald (including myself, four) who have an interest in Japanese personae, but we are pretty scattered, sadly.

Thanks for the link. It's sad, though, how harsh people can be to each other online about something as trivial as how one chooses to portray their pre-1600 persona.

[Saionji Shonagon]

The fact is that east Asian personae in the SCA are thin on the ground in most places - which is why the ability to network with the Tousando and Facebook etc. is so useful. It also means we have to have the fortitude to do what we do because we are a minority and we sometimes have to deal with people who say "You can't do that in the SCA."

People are entitled to their opinions. If you can sail through with the attitude of "We will just have to agree to disagree," that helps. As mentioned previously, I've managed to develop friendships with people who didn't think I should do what I do, and I've even been able to change some minds along the way.

[Lash]

something to remember my friend part of being a warrior is knowing when to pick your battles . if people don't like Japanese personas its their right to believe that just as it is your right to play the way you want to . If they are a true SCA group then they cannot bar you from doing anything you choose to do as long as it isn't illegal or immoral. the sca is a 501c that cannot restrict membership or attendance of anyone who can legally attend events.
now in some cases , very rare , a king will banish someone from his royal presence at events that he or she is attending but that is really rare. As articulate and genuinely honest as you sound,along with your desire to not impune on others game, leads me to believe that you wouldn't give cause for that kind of censure.
Be the best Bushi you can be . Follow the code of Bushido in everything you do and if that isn't in your belief system then follow your own because they all have merit .
There is a book called '' the 4 agreement '' by John Ruiz ( www.miguelruiz.com/ ) that's another great way to live.
I was doubly cursed for being Japanese persona and being Ronin ( mercenary low base sword for hire ) but i didn't allow the curmudgeons as i call them to bring me down . I smile and carry their chairs or whole kits for them ( as you should for your elders regardless if they like you or not) or volunteer for everything with a smile.
Don't let them get you down as we are here and every where to be an island of calm . except sat night midnight bacon then its a feeding frenzy!. or Saionji-sensei's House of Cheerful Monkey's who steal your sake!!
if you need bolstering you can find me on facebook Cennedy Mcphail. just let me know your from tousando.
YIS
Lash
aka '' That Guy! of the west''
Lord Shintaro Masashige Minamoto.

[yumehime]

Someone recently showed me an early SCA flyer. It invited all to come to an event, but also said you could dress a fairy.

history.westkingdom.org/Year1/Fliers/FirstEvent.jpg

Note that it also says "outre-mer" (overseas) and "in witch swords were used".

If you want to go purely by the founding flyer, Japan is a place overseas from Christendom where swords were used. whether or not it was ever made an official SCA rule that Japan is included is another matter.

I have heard some argue that due to the lack of travel, it would be unlikely that a Japanese person would meet a European person. In a group were a woman in a bog dress can chat with a woman in high court Elizabethan garb and they can join the same feast as Mongolians and Vikings, probable travel did not factor into out time limits.