After my primary retailer of Kiseru informed me that he could no longer sell internationally, the search began for a new recommended source. I eventually found Medwakh.com, which has an excellent selection of Japanese Kiseru and tobacco, but also specializes in Arabic Medwakh pipes and Dokha tobacco.

For those unfamiliar with Dokha, here is a short history/explanation by Bassem Chahine, owner of Medwakh.com:

Dokha is a traditional Arabic tobacco, traditionally mixed with herbs, spices, dried flowers, and/or fruit, which has been smoked in the Middle East for over 500 years. Some dokha blends, especially the more traditional type blends from Iran and Turkey, may also be mixed with the leaves and bark of various indigenous plants. Dokha comes in hundreds of strengths, flavors, and brand names. The main strengths offered by most sellers are cold (barid), warm (daffi), and hot (har). Many vendors also offer moderating strengths in these three ranges, usually designated as an 'over-cold', or an 'extra-hot'. These designations refer to the actual harshness of the tobacco, not necessarily to the amount of 'buzz' a blend may impart. Generally speaking, the harsher a blend, the more 'buzz' it may impart, but there are many warm and over-warm blends that have been specifically developed to give the user maximum laf raas (Arabic for 'head spin').

Unlike hookah tobacco, dokha is not cured with molasses or honey. Dokha tobacco, a type of tobacco found only in the Middle East, is extremely high in nicotine content and is harvested, dried, and processed with that feature in mind. Dokha tobacco is not harvested and cured like western tobaccos, but is usually cut, transported, set to dry in the sun, and processed into various blends all in a span of mere days, or at most weeks. This expedited process is possible, of course, because dokha is cured and processed in areas where the daily temperature can reach 135+ f. Degrees daily with a humidity of less than 8%. No chemicals, preservatives, or enhancers are used in the processing of traditional dokha blends, just natural additives. Flavour additives fall into two general categories, savory and sweet/fruit. The traditional dokha blends are mostly savory, and flavored with a wide variety of spices, herbs, and dried flowers, all used to enhance the very distinct flavours and notes of the different dokha tobaccos. The more modern blends are patterned after hookah tobacco, and are heavily flavoured with fruit, mint, or clove, and often meant to cloak the actual tobacco taste and soften the harshness.

There is some typical cultural confusion as to the genesis of dokha and the small pipes, called medwakh or midwakh, it is traditionally smoked with. Coastal Arabs claim to have invented both the medwakh and the various tobacco mixes smoked in them. The Iranians (Persians then) say that both the pipes and original herbal smoking mix originated in the Gilaki area of northern iran in the 1400's or earlier. The original Iranian smoking mix was a mixture of various fire and sun cured non-tobacco leaf, small dried powdered flowers, bergamot oil, fig leaf, and almond/pistachio oil. This mix can still be found in that area of Iran today. The small pipe used to smoke this mixture was ideal for sailors to use while at sea, and gradually the use of this smoking mix and pipe made its way up and down the Caspian sea. As tobacco was introduced into the Middle East in the 1500's, the Iranian smoking mixture was fortified and eventually replaced with various blends of dokha tobacco. During the next few hundred years in the Ottoman Empire various attempts were made to stop and outlaw the smoking of all tobacco consumption in public and private, which ironically led to the popularization of dokha tobacco and the medwakh with the general Arab public.

The small inexpensive pipe (medwakh) and extremely potent easily cured tobacco became the ideal 'stealth' smoking method. Heavily fortified with spices, the familiar smell of tobacco wasn't as easily recognized. Such a small amount was smoked at a time that very little 'second hand smoke' was produced to attract unwanted attention, or stain ones clothes and fingers. In the worst case scenario, the inexpensive pipe and small amount of tobacco could simply be dropped and walked away from without attracting a large amount of attention, or incurring a large monetary loss. As Arabic cultural views on the use of tobacco gradually relaxed, and hookah smoking became the preferred method for tobacco consumption, the popularity of dokha waned, except with the sailors who had originally introduced it. As it was impractical for those at sea to use a hookah, the medwakh and dokha remained popular with sailors and in the coastal areas they would trade and eventually settle in. This is why today dokha in the Middle East is found almost exclusively in the UAE, home to the Middle Eastern sea trade and sailors for the last 2000 years or more.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have already ordered a camel-bone medwakh pipe and the hot dokha tobacco. I'll report back soon.

Please say Hello to Medwakh.com.

Medwakh specializes in Arabic pipes and tobacco, but they also have an excellent selection of Japanese Kiseru pipes and sell the traditional Japanese Koiki tobacco.

I (very) recently ordered both a pipe and tobacco from Medwakh to see how reliable they were. I am pleased to say that my order was shipped within one day (everything I ordered was "in stock") and I received tracking numbers for my shipment.

I already possess my personal quota of Kiseru, and I have a nice collection of (Turkish) Meerschaum pipes, so I was very intrigued by the Arabic "medwakh" pipes and tobacco predominantly sold by Medwakh.com. I (of course) indulged myself and bought one camel bone pipe and a good deal of the house special of "hot dokha" tobacco. I will let you know my impression/experience in a later post.

For those unfamiliar with Arabic Dokha tobacco, I posted a brief description here, written by Medwakh.com owner Bassem Chahine.

If you are interested in Kiseru pipes and tobacco, or more broadly ethnic smoking experiences, SaruDama can now fully recommend Medwakh.com

Genre: Traditional Folklore Mystery Horror
Author: Natsuhiko Kyogoku (1994)

review in one breath

After Sekiguchi runs across a strange story he intends to publish for his supernatural-fueled tabloid, he soon finds it contains more horrific truth than he can wrap his head around. With the help of his clever and well-read friend Kyogokudo, he delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, a trajectory which will have him questioning his sanity, metaphysics and the overlap of Reality with the supernatural realm. This was the first novel by one of Japan's up and coming Mystery/Horror authors, Natsuhiko Kyogoku.

Ju-on: Kuroi Shoujo
[The Grudge: Girl in Black ]

Genre:Supernatural Horror

review in one breath

Young Fukie is suddenly stricken with a mysterious malady and is rushed to the local hospital for examination. Though her situation appears to be stabilizing, those coming into contact with her soon find themselves at the mercy of a dark, malignant power.This new Ju-on film is one of two made for the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Ju-on's original appearance.

Ju-on: Shiroi Roujo
[The Grudge:Old Lady in White ]

Genre:Supernatural Horror

review in one breath

When the Yokota family discovers a sprawling home on the market for a rock-bottom price, they can't resist and quickly move in. Little do they realize that their new dream home was once occupied by the infamous Saeki family and the locus of a horrendously malevolent curse on all who enter. This new Ju-on film is one of two made for the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Ju-on's original appearance.

The Big Tits Dragon: Hot Spring Zombies vs Strippers 5
[Kyonyu doragon: Onsen zonbi vs sutorippa 5

Genre:You guessed it! Tits, Zombies and Strippers!!

review in one breath

Sombrero-wearing tough girl stripper Rena has returned from Mexico only to find herself baring her wares in a seedy little strip joint in podunk Japan. And if the non-existent tips and octogenarian oglers weren't enough, Rena and her nudie compadres soon discover that the abandoned hot spring resort next door is littered with flesh eating ZOMBIES! Behold as our Breast-Baring Babes Battle the Brain-Eating Undead!

Legends of the Poisonous Seductress: Okatsu the Fugitive
[Yoen Dokufuden: Okatsu Kyojo Tabi]

Genre: Early Pinky Violence

review in one breath

Poor, beautiful Okatsu! It seems no matter what film she is in, violent men are after her HOT BODY and are willing to do anything to get it! Here (again) her noble father is murdered by a libidinous scoundrel who just happens to be a top local politician. In order to exact her violent revenge, Okatsu is going to have to dig deep into her bag of feminine wiles and WHOOP-ASS. This is the third film in the early Pinky Violence trilogy "Legends of the Poisonous Seductress" and is directed by Nobuo Nakagawa.

Legends of the Poisonous Seductress: Quick draw Okatsu
[Yoen Dokufuden: Hitokiri Okatsu]

Genre: Early Pinky Violence

review in one breath

Beautiful Okatsu must summon her inner killer to avenge an attack upon herself and the brutal murder of her father. This will involve being sold into prostitution, hunted by a huge mob, and leaving a trail of dead bodies behind her. Good thing she's a kick-ass sword master! This is the second film in the "Legends of the Poisonous Seductress" trilogy, directed by early j-horror maestro Nobuo Nakagawa.

Legends of the Poisonous Seductress: Female Demon Ohyaku
[Yoen Dokufuden: Hannya no Ohyaku]

Genre: Early Pinky Violence

review in one breath

The beautiful performer Ohyaku has had a rough life, but when she encounters the young thief Shinkuro it seems her fortunes have finally changed. However, things quickly turn from elated to horrified when a local magistrate uses a botched robbery as an excuse to brutally kill her lover and imprison her within Japan's most notorious jail. Only through her stunning beauty and fixation on vengeance will Ohyaku possibly be able to escape her shackles and exact a revenge worthy of coming from a Female Demon!

Kaidan Hebi Onna
[Snake Woman's Curse]

Genre: Kaidan Social Commentary

review in one breath

When young Asa loses the lives of her father, mother and even herself at the hands of a cruel land owner, the cry for justice is loud enough to literally wake the dead. This relatively "modern" ghost tale is as much a warning against rousing angry spirits as it is against inhumane socio-economic conditions. The film is the final "kaidan" of the 1950-1960s collection by early j-horror maestro Nobuo Nakagawa and showcases his decades as a premiere ghost-story teller.

Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan
[The Ghost of Yotsuya]

Genre: Traditional Kaidan

review in one breath

Unscrupulous ronin Tamiya Iemon lies and kills to obtain the woman and future he desires, all the while feigning to be an upright and noble samurai. But when he causes the painful and sorrowful death of his once beloved wife Oiwa, her ghost vows justice and vengeance. This is a retelling of Japan's most classic horror tale brought to you by one of SaruDama's favorite directors, Nobuo Nakagawa.

Maid's Secret
[Maido no Himitsu]

Genre: Epic Maid Battle between Sadists and Masochists!

review in one breath

Harumi and Misuzu are both after the same guy Keita but each takes a wildly different tact at getting him. Harumi, believing Keita prefers to be served, dons the outfit of a Maid and spends the next year practicing subservience at an Akihabara Maid Cafe populated by nerds and otaku. Misuzu suspects that Keita wishes for a stronger woman and so she throws herself headlong into the role of a Dominatrix. By the time Keita gets around to deciding who he likes best, he'll not only be exhausted but stuffed as well!

Female Slave Ship
[Onna Dorei-sen]

Genre: War Hero Despite Defeat

review in one breath

The year is 1945, months prior to Japan's ultimate defeat in WW2, and military lieutenant Sugawa is sent on a critical mission to deliver micro-fiche war plans to Tokyo from his base in Malaysia. But while flying over Chinese waters his plane is shot down and he is taken aboard a ship bound for Shanghai to deliver its merchandise - a ship filled with Female Slaves kidnapped from Japan. Will he abandon the women to pursue his main objective? Or will he fight foes, spies and pirates to save these women against all odds?

Bounty Hunter Vixens: Treasure of Lust
[Jorou Insatsu Rashin Kenbu]
aka Ninja Vixens 7

Genre: Sexy Ninjas versus Formidable Villain

review in one breath

Femme Fatale Rio takes on her biggest bounty yet when she attempts to bring the infamous Rage and his Haze Gang to justice. Alongside her Sexy Sensei Lotus and her goofy sidekick, they unknowingly infiltrate and take long hot baths in the enemies lair. Will Rio and her compradres realize their predicament before they are ambushed? Tune in boys and girls!

Ninja Vixens: Devilish Angels
[Kunoichi Nimpoden: Tenshi to Akuma]
aka Ninja Vixens 3

Genre: Sexy Ninja fights Boobs and Beasts for JUSTICE!

review in one breath

After defecting from her clan of ninja assassins, curvaceous Anju now wanders the back roads killing bad guys as a rogue bounty hunter. But hot on her (hot) tail is Orchid, her buxom rival and former fellow assassin, with the intent of making Anju pay for her insubordination. To survive and avenge her past, Anju will need every trick and wile hidden up her cleavage!

Attack Girls' Swim Team versus The Undead
[Joshikyoei hanrangun]

Genre: LESBO Bikini Babes slaughtering the Zombie Horde!

review in one breath

Poor young Aki *barely* gets acclimated to her new school and the hot bods of her pals in the girl swim team before a strange virus erupts causing all hell to break loose. Fortunately, while blue-veined viral teachers are decapitating students with classroom paraphernalia and then devouring them, Aki and her new best friend Sayaka decide to kick some Zombie Butt, just as soon as they strip down and enjoy some pre-Zombie LESBO fun!

Executive Koala
[Koara Kacho]

Genre: Bruce-Lee-Martial-Arts Musical involving an Axe-Wielding-Psycho-Killer Salaryman who happens to be a 6- Foot Tall Koala.

review in one breath

Tamura is a highly successful and functional business manager at his beloved pickle company. Everything he touches in the realm of business turns into success to the company's great delight. The only things he seems to have going against him are (1) he is a huge, towering fuzzy Koala in an otherwise wholly human world, and (2) he suffers from frequent memory lapses. Oh, and every time his memory fails, a grisly murder occurs. Just a coincidence, right?

Sayemon found no trouble in his household. Peace and contentment reigned. He enjoyed life accordingly, by feasting and so forth. 'Oh that such a life could last!' thought he.

But fate decreed otherwise.

One day, to encourage the art of fencing amongst his vassals, the Daimio summoned all his people and ordered them to give an exhibition in his presence. After the younger vassals had performed, the Daimio gave an order that Harada Kurando and Hira Gundayu should have a match. To the winner, he said, he would present a gold image of the Goddess of Kwannon.

Both men fenced their best. There was great excitement. Gundayu had never done so well before; but Harada was too good. He won the match, receiving the gold image of Kwannon from the hands of the Daimio amid loud cheering.

Gundayu left the scene of the encounter, boiling over with jealousy and vowing vengeance. Four of his most faithful companions left with him, and said they would help him to waylay and assault Harada that very evening. Having arranged this cowardly plan, they proceeded to hide on the road which Harada must traverse on his return home.

One day it came to pass that the poverty-stricken appearance of Kazuye and her mother, returning as usual from praying in the temple, aroused the mirth of a party of roughs, who proceeded to insult them. A handsome young samurai, Okawa Jomoyemon, happened to come along. Drawing his sword, he very soon put the roughs to flight. Having done this, and bowing low, he asked whom he had the honour of serving.

O Kazuye answered for her mother, and quickly recognised that this handsome youth was just such as she had longed to meet, so that he might fall in love and wish to help her in seeking out the murderer of her father. Therefore, not unnaturally, she encouraged him; and he fell in love with her. In the meanwhile an old friend of Kazuye's father, feeling great sorrow for her, had found a place for her in Prince Hosokawa's household; and there she won such favour in the eyes of the Prince (or, as the title then was, Daimio) that the other maids began to be jealous.

otakumag.com

Genre: Japanese Culture, Art, Manga and Film

review in one breath

The latest issue of Otaku Magazine is now available. This one is entitled "Play" and focuses on the themes of players and play in all its manifestations. I've been a fan of Otaku Mag since I first ran across it a year ago. Its dedication to Japan-inspired art and technology is thoroughly entertaining, and its glossy visual presentation sets a very high standard for underground publications.

This issue is being published as a limited release, so if you are interested in ordering it, I recommend you do so quickly. The issue is expected to sell out soon. For info on ordering and the new issue's contents, keep reading.

Space Amoeba
[Gezora, Ganime, Kameba: Kessen! Nankai no daikaiju]

aka "Yog Monster from Space"

Genre: Alien-Spawned Giant Seafood!

review in one breath

An unmanned space flight to Jupiter mysteriously changes route and crashes near a remote pacific Island, bringing with it a mind-controlling alien parasite. But before it can realize its plan to take over Earth, it will have to move up the food chain, starting with squid, crabs and turtles, all the size of skyscrapers and hell-bent on munching the local population. This is the last non-Godzilla film by the Grand-Daddy of Kaiju, director Ishiro Honda!

Under the Carp Banner
[Koinobori hatameku shita ni]

aka "Molester: Obscene Peeping"
[Chikan Waisetsu Nozoki]

Genre: Pinku-Erotic Social Commentary

review in one breath

In Under the Carp Banner renowned/notorious director Kazuhiro Sano creates an impressively explosive clash between Japan's contemporary social momentum and traditional sensibilities, all under the umbrella of an independent erotic (pink) film. While chocked full of sex scenes, this film clearly demonstrates Sano's highly valued contribution to the intellectual trajectory of independent Japanese film and easily justifies his place amongst the "Four Kings of Pink".

Bounty Hunter Vixens: Carnal Enchantment
[Jorou: Ensatsu Rataiken]
aka Ninja Vixens 8

Genre: Ninja bOObies and Magical Swords!

review in one breath

After young little Iris watches a seductive buxom witch steal her beloved father's head (!), she picks up his kick-ass demon-killer sword and never looks back. Now, many years later, she is a BOUNTY HUNTER VIXEN, hell-bent on getting the bad guys (and gals). But when she again crosses paths with the shapely, head-pilfering sorceress and her horny zombie horde, it seems she may have finally met her match.... Until, that is, she befriends a hunky Shinto priest and his nubile sister. This is the EIGHTH in the Ninja Vixen series and proves yet once again that plot and quality are irrelevant as long as nekkid bOObies are involved.

Melancholia
[Merankoria]

Genre: DNA-fueled Doppelganger Slasher

review in one breath

Mirai's life suddenly seems headed into the crapper! First, her father throws himself in front of a train, then she has to move in with some increasingly strange relatives, then she starts seeing creepy things to the point of a nervous breakdown, and finally her best friends start showing up bloody red and DEAD. And then the real weirdness starts! This is a made-for-TV horror flick directed by Z-Grade maestro Ezura Takaaki.

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Sophisticated Lolita Shibuya Sound

Kahimi Karie is an exemplar representative of the ultra-hip "Shibuya-kei", the unique blend of jazz, hip-rock and 60's kitsch prevalent in Tokyo's Shibuya/Harajuku district. Other Japanese bands in this genre include Pizzicato 5 and Fantastic Plastic Machine. Unlike these others, however, Kahimi's vocal style, which is simultaneously childish and seductive, sky-rocketed her to instant stardom, resulting in several gold-hit singles and several albums. Not only does she maintain her superstar status in certain contemporary sub-culture scenes, but soon youth and geeks throughout the globe will be mesmerized by her charms through her lyrical role in the latest Japanese (read international) video games.
]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_music/kahimikarie.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_music/kahimikarie.shtml Japanese Music Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:50:51 -0600

Cibo Matto - Viva! La Woman

Nippon-esque Urban Trip-Hop

The band Cibo Matto was formed by Miho Hatori and Yuka Honda following their move from Japan to New York City. Their wholly unique and hypnotic trip-hop music is immediately addictive. Sophisticated beat and arrangements are intertwined with quirky yet eerily profound food-themed lyrics sung by Miho in her cutesy Japan-English girl's voice.
]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_music/vivalawoman.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_music/vivalawoman.shtml Japanese Music Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:34:09 -0600 In the reign of the Emperor Engi, which began in the year 901 A.D., there lived a man whose name has ever since been celebrated on account of his beautiful writings, poetic and other. He was the Emperor's great favorite, and consequently he was the strong man of the day; his name was Sugawara Michizane. Needless to say, it was not very long before, with all these things in his favor, he was the head of the Government, living in luxury.

Things went well enough for a time; but the inevitable came at last. Not all the people agreed with Michizane's ideas or his politics. Secret enemies lurked at every corner. Among them was one particularly bad man named Tokihira, whose poisonous intrigues at Court were constant.

Tokihira held a Government position under Michizane, and hated him in his heart, thinking that if he could but arrange to get Michizane into the bad graces of the Emperor he himself might become leader of the Government.

Michizane was a man with whom little fault could be found, and so it came to pass that Tokihira was unable to find any cause for starting evil reports about him; but as time went on he became more determined to do evil in the end.

Yamato-dake no Mikoto had been successful at all events in suppressing the revolutionists known as the Kumaso in Kyushu. Being a man of energy, and possessing a strong force of trained men, he resolved that he would suppress the revolutionists up on the north-eastern coasts.

The World Sinks Except Japan
[Nihon igai zenbu chinbotsu]

Genre: Cornball Parody and Political Satire

review in one breath

Due to sudden tectonic shifts which only the half-crazy Dr. Tadokoro can explain, all of earth's land masses have sunk into the sea with the exception (of course) of JAPAN turning the island nation into the global relief center for the world's population. How will Japan handle its new role as the earth's only government? Directed by Kawasaki Minoru, this film is a parody of the widely popular "Japan Sinks" novel and films.

When first Rosetsu went to Okyo's to study he was, without exception, the dullest and most stupid pupil that Okyo had ever had to deal with. His learning was so slow that pupils who had entered as students under Okyo a year and more after Rosetsu overtook him. He was one of those plodding but unfortunate youths who work hard, harder perhaps than most, and seem to go backwards as if the very gods were against them.

I have the deepest sympathy with Rosetsu. I myself became a bigger fool day by day as I worked; the harder I worked or tried to remember the more manifestly a fool I became.

Rosetsu, however, was in the end successful, having been greatly encouraged by his observations of the perseverance of a carp.

Sins of Sister Lucia
[Shudojo Lucia: Kegasu]

Genre: Nymphomaniac NUNsploitation!

review in one breath

Poor little Rumiko! First she steals a trunk load of money from her dear ol' daddy, then she seduces her impressionable plaid-wearing English tutor, and then she stabs somebody with a knife. What's a loving father to do other than ship her off to a convent which, it turns out, is modeled after Sodom and Gomorrah rather than any Heavenly City. But tough little Rumiko isn't having any of it and soon she brings the entire Naughty Nunnery to their knees, so to speak.

Late Bloomer
[Osoi Hito]

Genre: Realistic Spiral into Despair and Violence

review in one breath

A cerebral palsied man gradually falls in love with one of his care takers, but the emotional elation it causes brings with it a deepening despair as the gap between his dreams and physical reality prove overwhelming. In the face of unrequited love and the dismal realization that fate has dealt him a terrible hand, his imaginations grow violent -- imaginations he soon acts upon. This is a truly unique film which is both uncompromising and unapologetic in its depiction of a fully functional heart and mind trapped in a physical cage.

Kazuo Umezz's Horror Theater Vol 2
[The Present / Death Make]

Genre: Santa Slasher and Guppy Mantis Monster!

review in one breath

This is the third and last volume of the Kazuo Umezu Horror Theater collection and contains episodes five and six of the six-episode whole. Unlike the child-centric tales in volume 2, these two episodes are squarely aimed at adults, at least in terms of the horror and gore meted (meated?) out. In the first story, you better not cry, you better not pout... or Killer Santa will feed your BRAINS to his reindeer. In the second tale, a group of amateur clairvoyants gather to confront their inner demons, which may or may not turn out to be a giant fish-faced bug from Hell!

GeGeGe no Kitaro 2: Sennen Noroi Uta
[Kitaro and the Millennium Curse]

Genre: Youkai-filled Supernatural Thriller

review in one breath

GeGeGe no Kitaro is back! And this time he must solve the mystery of a 1000 year old curse exacting its toll on humans and monsters alike. In a more adult-centric episode, with a darker storyline, a myriad of creepy creatures and more mature special effects, this live-action version of Mizuki Shigeru's beloved manga character will not disappoint. This is the second live-action film directed by Motoki Katsuhide focusing on the exploits of the half-human, half-youkai Kitaro.

L: Change The World
[Death Note 3 ]

Genre: Non-Supernatural Crime Procedural

review in one breath

Picking up where the two Death Note films leave off, mastermind L has only 23 days to foil a global plot involving chemical weapons and thereby save the world! At his side throughout are Near, a 6 year-old mathematical genius and Mika, a genetically aberrational school girl. With evil-doers hot on their trail, the clock is ticking as L and his pre-pubescent sidekicks try to isolate the threat and create an antidote to the deadly weaponized virus. This is a spin-off sequel to the Death Note narrative and is directed by "Ringu" director Hideo Nakata.

Taking place in the ancient province of Tamba (contemporary Kyoto), the life of the beautiful maiden O-Sono seemed one of joy and hope. Only after death does her ghost betray any evidence that her truest heart had been elsewhere.]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/dead_secret.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/dead_secret.shtml Japanese Folklore Lafcadio Hearn Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:55:01 -0600 Recorded in Lafcadio Hearn's classic Kwaidan, The Dream of Akinosuke brings together several strands of traditional folklore around the central premise that even insects can manipulate and possess the human spirit. In the case of Akinosuke, he is literally whisked away for what seems to him decades on an adventure involving nobility, love and valor.

It is a wonderful story which simultaneously speaks of the fleeting nature of human experience and the value of upright character and honor.]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/dream_of_akinosuke.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/dream_of_akinosuke.shtml Japanese Folklore Lafcadio Hearn Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:22:27 -0600 In Japanese folklore the female demon (oni) Hannya figures prominently. Often depicted in traditional Noh and Bunraku plays using a wooden mask of a fierce and grimacing horned demon, this malicious entity may be Japan's most well-known demon.

You may even recognize this mask as being the symbol of darkest moral depravity in Onibaba.

An ancient legend recalls how the female Hannya persecuted all who attempted to pass through the Rashomon gate of Kyoto. A staunch samurai named Watanabe no Tsuna decided to lay in wait for the demon in order to slay it, until he was eventually persuaded by a beautiful young woman to escort her into town. As they travelled, Watanabe happened to glance over his shoulder and saw the young woman transforming into a terrifying demon. As the demon then laid hold of Watanabe, he quickly wielded his sword and cut off the monster's arm. As Hannya fled screaming, Watanabe carefully wrapped the severed arm and later hid it in a secured chest. ]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/hannya.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/hannya.shtml Japanese Folklore Mizuki Shigeru Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:29:19 -0600

This tale takes place in the Tokugawa/Edo Era (1615-1867) and centers on the fate of a feudal peasant farmer working for a powerful property owner of the Hatamoto clan. Feudalism, by its most basic definition, refers to a socio-political system wherein landowners allow tenants to occupy and agricult their land. These tenants have no ownership rights, but simply live on the land and there make their livelihood.

Such tenants (aka "vassals") thus found themselves in a notoriously bad situation should either hard times or a mean spirit befall the landowner, who had full power to either evict or heavily tax at whim any and all of his tenants. Historically, feudalistic eras, whether in Europe or Japan, have always ended in some form of peasant revolt.

The Ghost of Sakura is an ancient Japanese ghost story revolving around the fate of a good natured tenant at the hands of a greedy and immoral landowner. It also involves the karmic expectation that justice is often meted out even from beyond the grave.

This is a rather long story, so give yourself enough time to enjoy it. The following text, including the introduction and the notes, is taken from Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford's Tales of Old Japan, dated 1910.

It is in the very same principle that Oshidori is an amazingly rich Kwaidan tale. Though short on words, it opens wide Japanese core intuitions regarding animism, reincarnation, karmic love, and noble suicide. All this in a very brief tale which raises more questions than it answers.]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/oshidori.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/oshidori.shtml Japanese Folklore Lafcadio Hearn Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:11:15 -0600 Some folk tales of the Japanese point toward a particular event or ghoulish monster which the reader, if lucky, shall never truly encounter. There are other tales, however, which are aimed at explaining phenomena that we mortals cannot possibly escape, and the following tale is precisely of this sort.

Perhaps more theological than superstitious this tale was contained in a "fragment" of a text happened upon by Lafcadio Hearn. The force of the tale is undeniable even to contemporary readers who are indebted to him for preserving it for Western audiences in his 1898 collection entitled In Ghostly Japan.

We here at SaruDama have been working hard (?) to improve your web surfing experience, so here are a few site upgrades you may be interested in:

1. You now (once again) have the ability to comment on reviews and posts, so let's hear your feedback!

2. I've (finally!) converted all of our 320 plus reviews into the new database along with meta data (such as year, director, categories and tags) to each. This allows for a much faster and efficient perusal of the site. For example, you can now click on the director's name on any review to access a list of all his/her films we have reviewed on SaruDama.

3. Our movie review index has been updated and enhanced. In addition to year and director, you can now search by genre and sub-genre. I've also streamlined the search engine to speed up search results.

4. The site's own Search function is now fully operational, meaning it will search through and return matching results from ALL of SaruDama's content.

5. I've upgraded the site to MT 4.23 in the hopes of increasing the site's speed and felxibility. So far so good.

6. I will be limiting the amount of Japanese unicode in my posts. It will result in a loss of some useful info (for those of you who read Japanese) but ensures that the browsers of most/all site visitors will be able to successfully render the web pages.

7. And lastly, I've noticed that some of the pages take a little too long to load due to the size of the logo images I am using. I will be optimizing these in the near future, so hopefully you will see a quicker response time.

That's it for now. As always, thanks for your interest in the site. I hope you find it all useful.

~ Sincerely, mongip

Juxtaposed her near-divine status is the character of Minokichi, an innocent and naive young man who although possesses a good heart inevitably displays the moral and mental fraility of humans. Giddily failing to uphold a promise he swore to, Minokichi foolishly brings himself once again face to face with a terrifying Death. ]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/yuki_onna.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/yuki_onna.shtml Japanese Folklore Lafcadio Hearn Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:32:11 -0600 The Tale of Rokuro-Kubi is simultaneously a hero legend and a ghost tale. Its main character is a well-known warrior-turned-priest whose many fearless exploits include this encounter with a particularly terrifying species of mountain demons, the rokuro-kubi.

Apart from informing audiences of the nature of these monsters, this is thoroughly an exhortation of bravery, steadfastness and calm wit of the classic samurai tradition. Readers will notice that although the warrior-priest is indeed characterized as pious and prayerful, it is nevertheless his fearless samurai skill which allows him to prevail in this tale.

The species of rokuro-kubi has been depicted in Japanese folk tales and folk art for centuries. The following story was recorded in 1903 by Lafcadio Hearn. It is notable that he dates this story as occurring 500 years prior to his writing. ]]> http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/rokuro_kubi.shtml http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_folklore/rokuro_kubi.shtml Japanese Folklore Lafcadio Hearn Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:13:28 -0600