CULTURAL AMNESIA

The JAPANESE, among other groups of nations and cultures, suffer from what has been called 'CULTURAL AMNESIA', a condition in which all things painful, distasteful,etc. are ignored for a more conforming and comfortable appearance. The formalization of all segments of Japanese Life seldom allows for intrusion or invasion of ideas that would upset 'the smooth flow' of life and society. Even the criminal has his 'place' and his 'honor'!

THE NIPPON MUSLIM ASSOCIATION

According to what little information I have THE NIPPON MUSLIM ASSOCIATION was formed in 1943,if not before, and, as such, possibly, if not probably, is the foundation for the elaborate network of modern ISLAMIC terrorism in various Far Eastern areas...since the Japanese Intelligence operated prior to WWII to facilitate the destruction of Colonialism via nationalistic approaches....

ZEN ENLIGHTENMENT BEGINS WITH A SINGLE SLAP!

थे इन्फ्लुएंस ऑफ़ जें ओं मर्तिअल ARTS

In my personal library, I have a few books by Westerners on Japanese culture and on Zen Buddhism which I became acquainted with while in college years ago and which,on and off, I have delved into the various books from time to time that have appeared since then, and I find some of interest, especially those of those Westerners who have shaved their heads, taken up tea ceremonies, even judo and karate, not to mention Ninjutsu,etc, and have entered monasteries devoted to one or another branch or sect of Zen, and who have sometimes gained interesting insights into themselves and have lived ' monastic' life....both men and women have done this. I have to add that the attraction of Oriental and Asian religions is nothing new for the West, that since the early days of discovery of ancient scripts and masterpieces, especially from India, Westerners of all kinds have taken to Vedanta, Yoga, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and the like and have become adherents and devotees of many sects, organizations, ashrams, and followers of numerous 'saints', 'gurus', 'swamis', 'lamas', etc. and also lived in India and Tibet, Nepal,etc. as monks,etc. while these days many do not go to those lands anymore but embrace the monastic life in the US, for example at similar institutions set up for such purposes.....and have also written some interesting accounts,etc. The same is true for many Westerners who have embraced Sufism, Christianity, Catholicism,etc. in that many have had 'peak' experiences and 'mystical' yearnings and have written about such or received some minor publicity for their efforts, which they are often quite willing to share with the reading public who will not, or seldom ever, enter these realms from their everyday existences for various reasons...despite an interest in such esoteric and arcane subjects..... The general public will remain satisfied with those fraternal organizations and charitable groups and standard religious groups, churches and other centers of 'worshop' and not venture except perhaps to slide shows, lectures, and demonstrations,etc. However, there is a large body of literature dealing with Zen and its relation to various martial arts, many of which have been written by practitioners of martial arts as well as prominent teachers and instructors, some of whom have lived and studied and worked in Japan and other Asian areas and who are versed in other cultural aspects and quite often speak the languages of these countries, like Japanese or Chinese,etc. The impetus for all of this comes as a result of WORLD WAR TWO and slow but steady progress that martial arts have undergone since their early introduction by returning US servicemen, that is, as far as the US is concerned. However, various groups of martial arts have since that time sent their members and teachers abroad so that nearly every country in the world now has a judo, karate, kungfu, tae kwon do, etc. group....and along with this has been attached the religions, in some cases very intensely, of Zen, Buddhism and Taoism.......of which more will be discussed further when time permits.

KAMI NO MICHI

SHINTO which is roughly translated as THE WAY OF THE GODS WAS A PREHISTORIC,PRE-BUDDHIST form,which is not concerned with ethics and morals but which requires prayers, purifications and ceremonies(rituals and rites),all of which tend to center around birth and marriage, so that THERE IS NO JAPANESE WHO CANNOT CLAIM TO BE DESCENDED FROM THE GODS, and more importantly, especially for martial artists and Japanophiles, NO FOREIGNER THAT CAN BE.

JAMES MISTOSE GRANDMASTER OF KENPO

JAMES MITOSE was a fascinating and most controversial person who,in Hawaii where he was born according to all records, began teaching a system which has become known as KENPO and also as KEMPO with avarious appended names, such as KENPO-KARATE, KENPO-JIU-JITSU,etc. He wrote a book that has been disssected and analyzed by various groups in an effort to locate and understand the origins of his 'family' system that he claimed to have learned, studied, and been taught in Japan at a 'family shrine'. His life showed both a 'light' side and a 'dark' side and descriptions of this abound and, as might be expected, divided practitioners and scholars into two camps with very few finding themselves in the middle. Contradictions in his 'spiritual' life, his 'marital life', his 'professional' life, and his 'martial' life exist that cannot be easily brushed aside by any group seeking to study his system as it is or to trace the origins of his system or style. The practical aspects of KENPO/KEMPO are not in much dispute, that is, the actual techniques for practice, study, and self-defense and other related aspects but while this is the case, the man himself remains elusive and controversial, largely due to the fact he died in Folsom Prison, as he was convicted of murder, conspiracy, and extortion. The records exist but take much time and money to access on this trial and conviction. Though he remains an enigma to most who try to trace the origins of Kenpo and his term of the art as KOSHO KENPO, some things can be surmised about him from various descriptions if not from his book and students,etc. many of whom are now passed away.

YAKUZA ARTICLE IN MAXIM MAG FOR MEN

Now on the stands is the magazine, MAXIM which has an interesting article on the Yakuza and is excerpted from the book TOKYO VICES which looks like a good read for all Japanophiles and Bushido Bullshiters, and Zenists,etc. We have not heard the last of the Yakuza and our government still continues to play games internationally with unusual groups and governments.