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Most pregnant woman work every day through the 1st and 2nd trimester, at actual jobs. She…
Posted in: Meisa Kuroki cancels appearance at March 4 event for fans
serendipitious, I am only human and civilized enough to have compassion and smart enough to have…
Posted in: Official defends secrecy over worst-case nuclear disaster scenario
Of six categories measured, California-based Apple ranked top in financial performance, products & services, vision &…
Posted in: Apple dethrones Google as company with most respected image in eyes of consumers
Obviously he took the cabbie's cell phone to prevent him calling in the theft right away.…
Posted in: Passenger robs taxi driver, then steals cab in Ibaraki
What a sad end for a "Gangster" - getting gunned down in a cheap-as-chips family restaurant.…
Posted in: Former gang member shot dead in Denny's restaurant in Chiba
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Airurandojin
OneForAll,
I believe you’re referring to the kamazani rei - turning and bowing to the Kendo shrine at the end of the hall. In any martial art, etiquette is central to maintaining the time-honored spirit. In Japanese martial arts, this typically means bowing and a measured display of humility and gratitude. Some modern dojo (i.e. MMA) may slacken the rules a bit; however, most serious martial artists will tell you that it’s in your best interest to bow in their dojo and show proper respect for authority and tradition.
In regards to the significance of the shrine itself, some have a picture of the original sensei who founded the school, perhaps a scroll of some importance to his clan. I've been to places with Kamidana, flags, calligraphy scrolls on the wall, or nothing. You bow at every place upon entering regardless of what's there. That's always been constant. Etiquette is what bowing is about. It’s not akin to worshiping an idol or a person as most westerners might correlate because of our Judeo-Christian background (at least not for most). Like most things it’s about what’s in your heart I think.
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Airurandojin
God I love kendo. Perhaps the least practical of the Japanese Martial Arts. But there's so much history and tradition. When you slip on your kendo bogu, even if you're skills may be completely tragic, you still feel like Miamato Musashi, Honda Tadikatsu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, John Blackthorn. In comparison western fencers are a bunch of va-jay-jay's.
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Airurandojin
Talking too much, constantly asking "are you okay?", talking repeatedly of an ex, or others that you've dated before, and... oh yeah, leaving your bottle of ruffies on the dashboard (they hate that).
Posted in: What are some first-date mistakes to avoid?
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Airurandojin
Pelosi will say whatever Pelosi has to say to get positive press and a majority vote in her district. She reads a poll and opens her mouth. But polls change. Her kind makes me ill (whatever party they may be affiliated with).
Posted in: Pelosi says CIA misled her on waterboarding
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Airurandojin
Looks like Endo's showing the ref how he eats corn on the cobb, but the ref, he isn't having any of it.
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Airurandojin
Say what you will, but that boy is a national treasure and America's greatest contribution to the world after Velcro and the tic-tac.
Posted in: Zac Attack
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Airurandojin
Aso kind of has the "dirty old man" look going for him.
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Airurandojin
What's with our Cherry Blossom Queen?
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Airurandojin
Looking forward to the Polyester USA awards
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Airurandojin
They should make a movie and star Ken Watanabe as the Yakuza Apple Bandit.
Posted in: Yakuza hard hit by economic downturn
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Airurandojin
Anyone notice how short those girls all? Barely reach the guys' chest!
Posted in: Star Trek
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Airurandojin
Well I think it's funny. There's quite a bit of pressure to get married in Nihon what with the drooping population (hence a bra?), the low percentage of marriage, and more men choosing to stay single. It's just a way of poking fun at themselves... in that weird Japanese sort of way lost on many westerners.
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Airurandojin
As nice balcony and pretty face will always be popular because they imply fertility and vitality. But have you noticed the American perception of beauty has infected the worlds. Not that I'm complaining mind you.
Posted in: What do you think about the "look" of women chosen to represent Japan in Miss Universe pageants, such as this year's Miss Universe Japan Emiri Miyasaka, and past winner Riyo Mori and runner-up Kurara Chibana?