A brief film interview with a traditional — very traditional — sword maker of today.
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Schedule and Reading Change
If you look at the Schedule Page, you’ll see that I’ve adjusted the schedule for the remainder of the semester. I’ve taken the last two books off the reading list and replaced them with Anne Imamura’s Re-imaging Japanese women. Like the books I took off the list, Imamura’s collection is available as an ebook through the Library. This allows me to push the discussion of Chushingura back to Thursday so we can talk about what’s expected for the remainder of the semester.
Lying About Nuclear Weapons
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A brief commentary on maps and ideas
It’s only 2 and a half minutes long, and most of it’s about Japan.
Jomon-era Ceramic Sculpture Exhibit
A new traveling exhibit on Jomon-era “dogu” sculptures highlights the evolving debates about culture and physical remains, etc.
Shrine Ropes
In the Amaterasu eclipse story, the gods use a rope to draw her out of the cave. Ropes have a long tradition in Shinto as symbols of divinity and authority. Often you see ropes as part of Shinto shrines, as in this sacred tree:
You see a similar rope as part of the ceremonial garb worn by Sumo Yokozuna — the title is usually translated “Grand Champion” but literally means “horizontal rope”!
There are some truly extraordinary shrine ropes, though, created as part of massive community festivals:
Finals Week
I’ll be in my office in the morning from 10-12 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and Friday afternoon until about 3. If you want to pick up graded tests and papers, that’s the time to do it. If you want to check your grade, you can come in, or send me an email.
If you want your graded final back, you can give me a self-addressed stamped envelope with your final, or come get it in the Fall — I don’t throw these things away for years.
Remember: your final essays are due in my office no later than 2 pm on Friday the 15th.
Shifting Topics, and some fun
Due in part to the difficulties with the reserve reading (there are more copies available at the History Department main desk now), we’ve pushed some of our discussions back. We will be discussing Chushingura on Tuesday, as well as the Ikegami chapters related to it (10, 11, 12). You can find the handout study guide to Chushingura here.
On a lighter note, Samurai swords can be dangerous, especially if you buy them from TV shopping channels.
Next Papers due Election Day
The assignment for the next papers, on Heike and Conlan, is now up. It’s a little different, but you have a fair bit of freedom, so enjoy it!
Harakiri is Here!
Interlibrary Loan came through: Harakiri is here, and I have arranged for a History Graduate Assistant to show it. The first half will be tomorrow, Tuesday the 30th; the second half will be next Thursday, October 9th.