Kabuki Shojo | Japanese news, culture, and all things anime

Pachinko Madness!

Most people are familiar enough with the bizarre mixture of pinball and slot machine that is a Pachinko machine. They theory behind these popular Japanese gambling devices is that the operator launches a pile of balls into the machine that then bounce downwards, via the powers of gravity, to slide into holes at the bottom. The object of the game is to land balls in certain holes. Victory provides the operator with more balls, which they can then exchange for stuff from the parlor’s gift shop. Gambling is frowned upon in Japan, so no direct cash can be handed out to the fortunate ones. The gifts can, however, be exchanged for cash at little back-alley establishments that run only slightly above the legal radar.

There are several grades of Pachinko machines. Some are easier, but only provide small prizes. Others are very complicated, but have much larger payouts. This Japanese gambling craze is only slightly more mind-numbing that the slot machines that the Western world uses as its addiction, with little control over the outcomes other than pressing a button and watching the show. Well, watching balls bounce around is a slight bit better than watching reels turn, I suppose. Or at least a good deal more hypnotizing.

The phenomenon of pachinko has become a regular gambling addiction in Japan. Many people line up to get into the parlors as soon as they open their doors, seeking to grab a ‘hot’ machine. On a good day, one can take home a day’s wages from their wins. Unfortunately, just like gambling in all other areas of the world, pachinko has deep-seated connections with organized crime in Japan - i.e.: the Yakuza. They use them as fronts for other activities and no doubt make sure that the machines don’t pay out too much, lest their profits decline.

Pachinko is one Japanese cultural element that is spreading out from the island nation to take its place in the Western and Asian worlds. They are growing in popularity, using the hypnotic power of the bouncing balls to drive people into paying their hard-earned cash to participate. While everyone should take some time to visit a pachinko parlor at least once and get a feel for the atmosphere, everyone should just as quickly run away if they feel the balls sucking their brain into oblivion and causing their wallets to become lighter.

Meguro Parasitological Museum

The Meguro neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan contains one of the most unique and potentially stomach-turning tourist attractions in the country - the Meguro Parasitological Museum. Feel like seeing an exhibit featuring some of the strangest and most disgusting creatures that live inside of other creatures? Check out this museum and you won’t be disappointed. Meguro is the only museum of its kind, devoted to nothing more than the parasitical form of life.

The ground floor starts off with maps of Japan so that you can get a good look at what parasites are to be feared in what regions of the country. Once you head upstairs, the real fun begins. There are photographs and specimens of more than 45,000 different kinds of parasites. Many of these are quite graphic and I do not recommend taking this tour on a full stomach. Meguro pulls no punches when it comes to showing exactly what these oft-malevolent creatures are capable of. The highlight of the museum is an amazing 30-foot long tapeworm (the largest in the world), no doubt pulled from the guts of some very unfortunate man or beast.

Best of all, when you’re done getting sick all over yourself, you can go get a replacement t-shirt at their gift shop. They have all sorts of wonderful parasite-themed items for you to blow your cash on. T-shirts are available, as are such items as key-rings and birthday cards. Nothing shows grandma you care more than a parasite-themed card.

Oddly enough, the museum is wildly popular with those crazy Japanese couples. It is known for being one of the hotspots for bringing a date, though I have trouble understanding why. Perhaps being surrounded by parasites is supposed to get one prepared for married life?

Whatever the reasons, Meguro is anything but boring. As one of the most interesting and unique things to do in Tokyo, tourists should give it a shot at least once, even if they don’t make it all the way through with their lunch still intact.

Kudo

AKA "Daido Juku"

Kudo (formerly known as Daido Juku) is a very intense Japanese Mixed Martial Art, based on a combination of Kyokushin Karate and Judo. It was initially created by Kyokushin fighters who liked the idea of tough, full-contact, “knockdown” Karate, but felt that the Kyokushin rules against head strikes were too restrictive.

They developed a special protective helmet and began allowing full-power strikes to the head. They also included throws and submissions, although Kudo rules emphasize stand-up fighting by forcing the fighters to return to their feet if a submission hold is not achieved almost immediately after a fall.

One interesting aspect of Kudo is that the sport recognizes the inherent advantage of a standing fighter over a downed opponent, a factor the UFC completely neglects. In Kudo, a fighter can earn points by miming strikes or stomps against an opponent who has already been knocked down. The result looks a little odd, but it's a good balance between realism and safety. In a real fight, if one fighter is knocked down while the other one is still standing, the result is usually that the downed fighter is mercilessly stomped. By forbidding this type of attack, the UFC and other MMA franchises have taken a big step away from the reality of violence.

Kudo fights often have a quality of almost breathtaking brutality about them. While this may not match the idealized view many hold of the martial arts, it would be difficult to imagine a more realistic art for gaining genuine fighting skill.

Dekotora – Japan’s light-shows on wheels

When people think of Japan, truckers probably aren’t the first thing that springs to mind. But they are there like in any modernized country, hauling loads and keeping the movement of goods going so that businesses can do their thing. Japan, however, has a unique breed of trucker that you can’t find anywhere else – those that pimp out their rigs with some of the most audacious and ridiculous decorations that can be conceived of. The practice is called dekotora (‘decoration’ plus ‘truck’) and it can be quite a sight to behold.

As legend has it, the practice of dekotora spawned from a trend of Japanese trucker films that came about in the mid-70s. One movie in particular, Truck Guys, involved a hero who drove around in a crazy-decorated truck and got into adventures. The Japanese dekotora truckers of today are supposedly the product of these movies.

A lot of time and money goes into this art form. Anything that you can think of is potential for a rig enhancement. Spoilers, running boards, paper lanterns and luggage racks are just a few examples. Basically, whatever will add bulk, project outward or look gaudy makes a good decoration. Most of this stuff either glows in the dark or lights up at the trucker’s command. Add to the mix some giant, colorful murals across the sides of the trailers, a vomit-inspired splash of bright paints and some chrome, silver and gold and you have the complete package.

These things are some seriously nutty-looking trucks. The closest comparison I could hope to make would be a Las Vegas casino on wheels or the movie Road Warrior on LSD. What makes it even more interesting is that these trucks aren’t purely for show. These are the actual work trucks that these people use to go about their daily business.

Lately, the dekotora posse has been getting into trouble with the law. The powers-that-be are trying to declare the decorated trucks as non-street legal due to their bright lights being a hazard to other drivers. I can understand that, but I’m guessing the primary motivation comes more from uptight Japanese drivers not wanting to see these rolling light-shows cruising down the highway and upsetting the pristine concrete landscape.

On a side note, a lesser version of dekotora has come about called dekochari. This involves the same obsession with bright lights and eye-sore decorations, but the process is instead done to a utility bike.

In America people like to add their chrome rims and lower their cars or trick them out with bouncing suspensions. In Japan they take it to a whole new level. Godspeed dekotora truckers and keep doing what you do best.

Kyudo

Japanese Archery

Before the term “bushido” (literally “the way of the warrior”) was ever invented, samurai warriors used the term “kyuba no michi” to describe their way of life. The meaning of this phrase is “the way of the bow and the horse,” reflecting the fact that the early samurai were elite mounted archers rather than swordsmen. Spearmen and musketeers came to dominate the Japanese battlefield, with the sword in a largely symbolic role as “the soul of the samurai.” But the early importance of the bow was never quite forgotten, and archery is still one of the surviving Japanese martial arts.

“Kyudo” or “the way of the bow” is a “budo” discipline, in other words a martial art practiced for purposes of self-cultivation. Contrary to popular opinion, though, it has no particular connection to Zen Buddhism. That notion was promulgated by a German man named Eugen Herrigel, who studied Kyudo briefly in Japan under a somewhat eccentric master of the art. Herrigel's master had actually founded his own religion, and his references to his personal religious concepts were not clearly understood by Herrigel, who wrongly assumed they referred to Zen.

Herrigel's book “Zen in the Art of Archery” was so popular in the West that its influence eventually spread back to Japan, leading to the creation of various “spiritual” Kyudo organizations, some of which then attracted many Western students because their combination of archery and spirituality fit those students' preconceptions perfectly. It's an odd case- Herrigel basically got it wrong, yet his mistake became reality over time!

Tsukiji Fish Market

Normally one might not consider a fish market as a top spot for tourism, what with the stink and all, but the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo has the distinction of being the largest fish market in the entire world. The Japanese love their fish and an estimated 2000 tons of seafood products are sold at this market every day. It is located in central Tokyo and is actually one of the most famous attractions in the city. Every year it becomes more popular and has gotten to the point now where the sheer amount of people is causing serious issues with overcrowding.

The market is divided into two primary areas: the inner market and the outer market. The inner market is where all the wholesale business in conducted, with hundreds of small fish stands all crammed into one crowded area. There is a hustling and bustling atmosphere to the inner market as people rush about, loading carts full of fish for business or personal use.

Also within the inner market is the world famous tuna auction. Hundreds of giant tuna make their way through the auction, which is so popular that they even give tours to visitors who wish to see it in action. The numbers of visitors per day are limited to 120 people, however, and one is required to sign up on a first-come first-served list if they wish to participate in the tour.

The outer market is the more touristy area, with retail shops and restaurants. This is where the smaller vendors set up their stalls and cater to individual customers without a need for bulk. It is much easier for the average person to shop in the outer market.

When visiting Tsukiji, tourists need to be aware of a few things or run the risk of getting into trouble. The market may be entertaining, but it is also a primary place of business for tens-of-thousands of businessmen and countless average citizens. Before 9 a.m., the market is completely off-limits to visitors. Also, there are many rules that are expected to be followed when visiting the markets, such as wearing proper shoes and not bringing young children along. Tourists are general encouraged to stick to the outer market where they aren’t as likely to get in the way.

Still, regardless of the rules, if you’re really interested in seafood or just want to get a view of the hectic stream of activity which permeates the market, then Tsukiji might be a good stop for anyone visiting the Tokyo area.

Japanese animal cafes

Get your cute and coffee on

Another trend of Japanese culture, and one that the U.S. should adopt, is the practice of mixing cafes with pet stores. Well, that’s not exactly the complete story, but pretty close. There are cafes where people go not only to enjoy a drink or something to snack on, but to hang out with cats as well. These businesses charge an hourly fee to play with their animals, of course. In my personal opinion, cat cafes have to be one of the best ideas in the world.

The cafes are usually designed to be comfortable settings, such as a living room. The cats are then allowed to run free and patrons allowed to pet or play with them. Usually, rules apply, such as customers not able to disturb cats when they are sleeping and not allowed to play with a cat if it expresses its discontent. But other than a few basic guidelines to make sure the animals are treated properly, customers are free to enjoy the company of these furry felines.

Outside of Japan, people may not understand why this trend has reached the point where there are more than 150 cat cafes operating in Japan. The main clientele for such businesses tends to be younger professionals, who often live in apartments that are either too small to own a pet or where landlords don’t allow pets. Many also work long hours, which means leaving a cat alone for most of the day. Cat cafes allow proxy pets for these types of people, where they can get the visiting time they want without the added responsibility. Cats were just the beginning of the trend, and now there are cafes which provide customers with access to dogs, rabbits and even reptiles.

In a world where people often buy pets and then decide they don’t want them later, an animal cafe is a great alternative. The pets are guaranteed a place to live for as long as the cafe stays in business, and they are always treated well. Some places even put forth an effort to educate their customers about the animals, in case they should want one of their own in the future. Instead of putting animals in shelters and then euthanizing them when they don’t get adopted, we should open up these cafes worldwide and help to save a few lives while providing a stress-reducing environment for those who need it.

Iaido

Sword-Drawing Art

If you've ever seen the movie Sanjuro by Akira Kurosawa, you've seen a fictionalized version of iai in action. What is iai? It's the samurai equivalent of a Western gunslinger's quickdraw skills. The iai expert is supposed to be able to draw his katana in a blinding flash on a moment's notice, dispatching ninja assassins or his lord's enemies in the blink of an eye.

Iai is still widely practiced in the form of “Iaido,” a modernized martial art. As you can see from this video, Iaido as it is now practiced is not particularly fast. Instead, the emphasis is on smoothness and mental concentration. Iaido is more of a ritualized type of moving meditation than a method of combative swordsmanship.

Modern Iaido, however, derives from older arts known as Iaijutsu or Battojutsu, which were must faster and more combative. The word “iai” doesn't translate very well, but could be broadly summed up by the concept of “situational awareness.” The word “battto,” on the other hand, just means “sword-drawing,” which gets across the original practicality of the skill. Older styles of battojutsu or iaijutsu were focused on the ability to walk up to someone, draw your sword without warning, and cut him down. Then some styles started to focus on the ability to defend against this sort of attack, which is arguably not very plausible. Finally, modern swordsmen started to focus on perfecting the movements of sword-drawing as a form of personal cultivation. That's the origin of modern Iaido.

Japanese vending machine culture

To add one more strange and interesting cultural phenomenon to the list of things one might find in Japan, I now address the subject of vending machines. Japan has, per capita, the highest amount of vending machines in the entire world. Millions and millions of these things litter the streets of the country, and estimates put the total ratio of vending machines at one for every 23 people. It is not uncommon to find clusters of them on any given street corner or within places of business. In fact, it’s more unusual to find a machine standing alone. Any journey on foot down the streets of a city such as Tokyo will have you passing an endless stream of items being sold in this convenient manner.

What makes Japanese vending machines truly interesting, however, is not that there happen to be so many of them, but what you can buy from them. They don’t just contain the standard fare of products, such as sodas, snacks, cigarettes or condoms. All sorts of odd things that one wouldn’t normally think of as vending machine items are available for purchase. Just a few examples of what you can find are:

Beer, liquor, lingerie, pornography
Sneakers, ties and other items of clothing
Potted plants, flowers, umbrellas
Fruits and vegetables, instant noodles, eggs, fresh meat
Live lobsters!

Yes, pretty much any shopping that you might need to do can be done via these dispensers of practically everything.

It may seem odd, but there is a practical purpose to all this. For one, property values are very high in Japan, and particularly within big cities. Therefore, it is much cheaper to put what you want to sell into a machine and let people pick it up at their convenience. Also, there is such a high level of foot traffic on city streets that you’re guaranteed a steady stream of customers. Vending machines are a multi-billion dollar industry in Japan and now they’ve even come up with ways to pay for your items via your cell phone.

Japan is a world of vending machines. I suspect that this trend may end up spreading someday, though that would certainly mean bad news for those that work in customer service, having their jobs outsourced to mechanical devices.

Araki Ryu

Martial art of the Samurai foot-soldier

The Araki Ryu is a style of classical Japanese martial arts with a distinctly “rough and tumble” feel, an interesting contrast to the usual image of serenely elegant Zen swordsmen. The Araki Ryu's most well-known technique is probably the one where a man using a kusarigama wraps the chain of his weapon around his opponent's neck and uses it to yank him to the ground!

Schools that actually did have a connection to Zen, like the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, were very “high class” schools, with students like the shogun or high-ranking provincial lords. The Araki Ryu, by contrast, was associated with samurai foot-soldiers and with the “goshi” or country samurai, who were barely above the peasant class.

What this means, among other things, is that schools like the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu were more likely to be used by generals and officers, whose involvement in front-line combat was likely to be minimal. We know from historical records that the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu could be extremely effective in close combat, but it was not what the men on the front lines were generally using. If you want to get a glimpse of how the samurai in the thick of things really fought, the Araki Ryu is probably much closer.

The video shown here is in extremely slow motion. You can see how the strike with the naginata or halberd is made with extraordinary power. Even though the swordsman does manage to defend against the strike in this instance, it is obvious that an attack this powerful could burst right through a less than perfectly-formed parry, and this must often have happened on the battlefields of medieval Japan.

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