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  -3

  goddogJul. 22, 2011 - 07:16AM JST

  And? I do not get it!

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  0

  some14someJul. 22, 2011 - 07:26AM JST

  And? I do not get it!

  Chirashi-Samurai - a kind of leaflet to attract customers.

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  JonathanJoJul. 22, 2011 - 08:20AM JST

  Nice get up. Try boarding a plane dressed like that.

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  6

  JonathanJoJul. 22, 2011 - 08:22AM JST

  Is that a Samurai sword, or is he just pleased to see you?

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  SerranoJul. 22, 2011 - 08:24AM JST

  Those samurai guys really looked silly, didn't they?

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  5

  tkoind2Jul. 22, 2011 - 08:46AM JST

  Samurai Guy: "Come to my shop!! Great deals to be had."

  Shopper: "No thanks."

  Samurai Guy: "See this sword? Don't make me ask you again."

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  MariaJul. 22, 2011 - 08:59AM JST

  Hope that's not a real sword...

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  3

  plasticmonkeyJul. 22, 2011 - 09:04AM JST

  What a fine tradition. How about in the U.S. if Walmart used GI Joe outside its stores to lure customers? Or an SS storm trooper in Germany? A knight in shining armour outside Tesco in England? For a peace loving country, Japan sure loves its warriors.

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  1

  paulinusaJul. 22, 2011 - 09:12AM JST

  Historically correct oufit or bought from the costume dept. at Don Quixote?

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  1

  marcelsJul. 22, 2011 - 09:13AM JST

  Must be so hot in that heavy looking uniform,imagine when it hits 35 again!!

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  FoxieJul. 22, 2011 - 09:34AM JST

  Once upon a time Japan was a country with strong samurais....we need to get that spirit back nowadays. Obviously, if I would see a samurai, I would go to that shop right away. No doubt about it.

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  tkoind2Jul. 22, 2011 - 09:41AM JST

  Foxie, you must be kidding. You really want feudalistic warrior thinking to come back.

  People like to romanticize Samurai, knights in armor etc... but they forget the reality of history. The Samurai where not Spiderman waiting to rescue the girl next door from danger. They were political warriors who put Japan through hundreds of years of infighting, slaughter and destruction.

  They were an elite class that helped repress the workers and the poor. And they often did so in extreme and violent ways. Samura, knights... all the same tools of military and political power.

  So just what part of this are you wishing to have return?

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  Zenny11Jul. 22, 2011 - 09:42AM JST

  If I meet him, the 1st thing I would do is take the sword and adjust it into the proper wearing position and correct facing of the Blade/Edge.

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  2

  FoxieJul. 22, 2011 - 09:51AM JST

  tkoind2, you missed one part, the most important one and the one I was thinking about: The samurai were not mercenary warriors, roaming Japan and fighting for whatever warlord would pay them. They were bound to a specific lord, or daimyo, and also** bound to their communities by duty and honor.**

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  tkoind2Jul. 22, 2011 - 09:58AM JST

  Foxie. Duty and honor that often put the interests of a few rich leaders over those of the people. Often with those leaders working to gain greater power at the point of a sword. Just look at the years of war and destruction carried out by Japan's Samurai class. We will never know how many famers and ordinary people were killed thanks to this infighting.

  You can try to romanticize history all you want, as often people only want to remember the good and romantic things from history. But life for ordinary Japanese during the Samurai age was one of subservience, subjected to random violence and war, political and social repression and all enforced by your romantic Samurai.

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  FoxieJul. 22, 2011 - 10:02AM JST

  tkoind2, you are taking this issue far too serious. I don't think that the samurai would haved poisoned their own communities.

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  tkoind2Jul. 22, 2011 - 10:16AM JST

  Foxie. Study your own history.

  Just saying, they are not the positive warm fuzzy, "we should go back to those days" things you think they are. There was a very hard and violent reality there. Nothing to be natsukashi over. Japanese need to think about becoming stronger for the future and not living in an unattainable and romanticized past. And that is what I take issue with for Japan's own good.

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  FoxieJul. 22, 2011 - 10:22AM JST

  I never said we should go back to those times. All I wanted to say is that we should use' the duty and honor aspect' in today's times. The past can be an inspiration for the future.

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  plasticmonkeyJul. 22, 2011 - 10:38AM JST

  Why do thugs with swords inspire you toward 'duty and honor'?

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  Skeptical HippoJul. 22, 2011 - 10:47AM JST

  What kind of a shop are we talking about here?

  The picture kinda reminds me of Asakusa and those guys out on the street trying to lure (foreign) tourists to ride on their rickshaws. Lots of samurai related items for sale in that area too...

  In Osaka there's the Spring Battle of Matsuyamachi, a samurai parade held after the vernal equinox every year when the Boy's Festival doll sale starts.

  Nice picture included here: http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/ofc/201007/

  If you're into this kinda stuff, you should definitely check out the Soma Nomaoi which is a samurai festival in the northern Japan area of Fukushima with parades, horse races, mock battles, and wild horse catching.

  Another one is Nikko's Grand Festival of Spring. A samurai procession honouring Tokugawa Ieyasu, Japan's first Shogun, who was buried at Toshogu Shrine in 1617. Over 1000 men, lion dancers, musicians and Shinto priests take part.

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  -2

  SerranoJul. 22, 2011 - 10:54AM JST

  I still say they look silly.

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  -1

  anglootakuJul. 22, 2011 - 11:08AM JST

  Samurai outfit, fake katana sword, all made in China, Priceless for everything else there's Mastercard.

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  -2

  tkoind2Jul. 22, 2011 - 11:13AM JST

  "The past can be an inspiration for the future."

  Hopefully an inspiration not to be natsukashi, but one to learn and avoid past mistakes. We don't need so much Samurai sentiment in Japan today as we need common sense and a willingness to apply it to policy and practice. We can save the other sentiments for when the common sense work is done.

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  0

  Hawaii_KaneJul. 22, 2011 - 11:36AM JST

  Think that out fit was in a video game I played. Maybe he's advertising for a video game shop?

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  1

  ReformedBasherJul. 22, 2011 - 11:38AM JST

  Foxie, don't worry. Some of us know exactly what you mean. I think you are right.

  Zenny, are you talking about the fellow closest? Not sure what you mean by his sword position but if you mean the way the blade is facing, it looks like a tachi which would "normally" be slung blade down to cut from horseback. Katana came later.

  His suneate are incorrectly tied though, at least as far as I have been taught. The bottom cord should be knotted at the back as it might come undone while walking through grass, etc.

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  FoxieJul. 22, 2011 - 12:03PM JST

  Thanks ReformedBasher. Maybe tkoind2 should visit the Samurai School in Aizu-Wakamatsu, it is a really great learning experience.

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  ReformedBasherJul. 22, 2011 - 12:34PM JST

  You're welcome Foxie.

  I'm familar with the school and it's famous students. My boys are taught in a less intensive way but it makes them sons to be proud of. I'd do the same for daughters if I had them too.

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  choiwaruoyajiJul. 22, 2011 - 02:24PM JST

  The samurai nearest the camera appears to be wearing an enormous cod-piece...

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  0

  papasmurfinjapanJul. 22, 2011 - 02:27PM JST

  This is the cool-biz version. Wait till you see their warm-biz one.

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  1

  NoripinheadJul. 22, 2011 - 02:37PM JST

  They look kind of cool. Sounds like a fun job to dress up and go back in time. Good for the tourists too.

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  0

  NoripinheadJul. 22, 2011 - 02:40PM JST

  The photographer also captured a typical anachronistic moment -- the guy speaking on a 21st century cellphone and the punk rocker dude with the purple hair in the background. Nice contrast there.

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  -1

  gaijinfoJul. 22, 2011 - 03:38PM JST

  Once upon a time Japan was a country with strong samurais.

  Well, at least they thought they were strong. Those strong samurais really only fought other samurais. It's hard to tell how they'd stack up against warriors of other countries. One might look at modern day sports as an example.

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  oberstJul. 22, 2011 - 03:49PM JST

  4 Good| Bad Zenny11Jul. 22, 2011 - 09:42AM JST

  If I meet him, the 1st thing I would do is take the sword and adjust it into the proper wearing position and correct facing of the Blade/Edge. ......................................

  actually he's wearing a tachi so the samurai dude is correct

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  1

  steve@CPFCJul. 22, 2011 - 04:02PM JST

  Must be a yawnfest sitting round a table with all the samurai and Japan experts here.I doubt those dressed in this ridiculous attire know or care to know what it stands for or how it should look.

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  0

  calm downJul. 22, 2011 - 04:12PM JST

  A couple of Iga ninjas squaring off against a tribe of Koga ninjas would have me inside his store,swords and star knives,yeah,I'll buy whatever youre selling.

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  Lizzy MogilJul. 22, 2011 - 07:49PM JST

  i think he is cute.. I like his sword too ;)

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  BurakuminDesJul. 23, 2011 - 01:47AM JST

  Those samurai guys really looked silly, didn't they?

  Yes - they did look comical - but they were effective killing machines for their time. If they could kill rivals - their main purpose - I'm sure they didn't mind people sledging their attire!

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  HonestDictatorJul. 23, 2011 - 06:55AM JST

  I think in order for this to be more effective, they need a larger group of samurai with a general and banners on their backs shout "chaaaaarge" at anyone that walks in the opposite direction of the store.

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