In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.


Still from Nobody Knows.

Sorry for the long break in blogging. Been a bit busy recently.

Saw two films recently: Nobody Knows (Dare mo Shiranai) and Zatoichi at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Nobody Knows is a more or less poignant film about four bastard kids who are constantly being abandoned by their mother. Eventually, they find themselves alone in this world and have to start fending for themselves.


Still from Zatoichi.

Zatoichi is a new film by Kitano Takeshi. He attempts to make a new 'episode' of a once-popular movie series about Zatoichi, a blind swordsman. I must say that the plot actually works, not usual in the case of Kitano. There are a few great-looking action sequences in the film, although I can't say the CG blood does much justice to the seriousness of death.

If you can, watch these films.

Other recent films I've seen: Kaidohmaru (Production IG), Fruit Chan's Hollywood Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, I tried some more Korean food. Bulgolgi is nice, though the ones I ordered always seem to be a little too spicy. I think I'm beginning to like Korean food. Reminds me of the time I started liking Japanese food. Does obsession always starts with food?

I won't be going to the Uni Games, because it's a pain in the ass to sign up as an RMIT representative. It's going to cost heaps anyway. What bugs me though is that I won't be considered a teammate of my friends who will be in the Melbourne Uni team.

But...

I just might make it into the Victoria Kendo Champs. There will be tryouts in our club tonight. I'm not too hopeful but I'm going to give it a shot anyway. It'll will be cool enough to participate even in the tryouts alone. In any case, Jimmy told me that Chiaki told him that you never know how good you are until you try. So just keep trying anyway!

Recent insight: This is from reading Yoshikawa Eiji's Musashi all over again. Whenever I go into a battle or a fight (shiai in my case), I should have a winning mentality. One should not go into a fight with a resignation to death. One should go into the fight with a strong will to live. Step into the arena and say "I will win" and believe in it.

According to Musashi's way of thinking, many samurai often make the mistake of believing in dying when going off to war, and so they simply accept their fate without doing all they can to live another day. In order to win the battle, a swordsman must commit all their energies to winning. Winning, in those times, equates to being able to live for another day.

If we bring this kind of concept into kendo, we can commit all our energies in winning our opponent and still maintain a high spirit. Only resign to death or to losing only when there is nothing else we can do.

There is a similar concept proposed in the Rurouni Kenshin TV series. I won't elaborate on it though. Anyway, Kenshin fans will know what I'm talking about: the will to live is stronger than anything else.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.