Professional Documents
Culture Documents
February 2008 Volume 12 Number 2: WWW - Hanako.co - Uk
February 2008 Volume 12 Number 2: WWW - Hanako.co - Uk
uk
1 - February 2008
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As of April 2008 the UK government will bring into force a law that will ban the sale and use of
Japanese swords. This ban will however have various categorise that will take into consideration
for collectors and Martial Artists.
The ban is aimed mainly at the cheap nasty wall hangers that are bought as decorative items and
not essentially at the more expensive versions that martial artists tend to buy and use.
I myself have taken some interest in this proposal, mainly because I do own many swords
including several antiques. I have also in the past on and off sold many swords.
There is n need for a panic by people in the UK to get rid off their swords. If the law falls within
the criminal Justice act you will be allowed to keep all the swords you own with out any worries,
The following information has been taken form the UK Government web site. I will public more
as and when I manage to get further information.
Press Releases
2 - February 2008
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Public safety is our greatest priority. Samurai sword crime is low in volume but high in profile and I recognise it
can have a devastating impact. Banning the sale, import and hire will take more dangerous weapons out of
circulation, making our streets safer.
We recognise it is the cheap, easily available samurai swords which are being used in crime and not the genuine,
more expensive samurai swords which are of interest to collectors and martial art enthusiasts. As such as we are
putting forward exemptions for these groups.
Knife crime and sharp instrument homicides have remained stable, while violent crime has fallen by over a third in
the last nine years. It is already illegal to have a samurai sword in a public place but I want to restrict the number of
dangerous weapons in circulation to enhance community safety.
The consultation proposes exemptions for groups such as the To-ken Society of Great Britain and the British Kendo
Association. These exemptions would cover genuine collectors swords made in Japan before the existing licensing
regime came into force in 1953 or those made by licensed Japanese swordsmiths since that time. It also suggests that
specific weapons used in martial arts or samurai swords used in sport should be exempt. It is the sale, import and
hire of all cheaper imitation samurai swords the type of weapon that is used in violent crime and which is not made
in Japan under licensing arrangements which would be banned.
Notes to Editors
1.
2.
Source:
http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/samurai-sword-ban?version=1
Shidoshi Database
http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/bujinkan/index.html
3 - February 2008
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4 - February 2008
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KYOKETSU SHOGE
The name of the Kyoketsu Shoge expresses the meaning of running freely, jumping through the
mountains and fields.
The length of the rope should be from one hand to the other, with the arms out stretched. Use this to control the
ropes distance.
The Kyoketsu Shoge is also known as a Shinobibundo
It is important to use Taijutsu.
Use it like a Jutte, then throw the rope so that it wraps around the Kote, and Tsuka. Also hold the ring and throw the
blade.
SEPPUKU
Ritual Suicide
Seppuku, (Sape-puu-kuu) the Japanese formal language term for ritual suicide (Hara-kiri (Har-rah-kee-ree) is the
common language term.), was an integral aspect of feudal Japan (1192-1868). It developed as an integral part of the
code of bushido and the discipline of the samurai warrior class.
Hara-kiri, which literally means "stomach cutting" is a particularly painful method of self-destruction, and prior to
the emergence of the samurai as a professional warrior class, was totally foreign to the Japanese.
5 - February 2008
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6 - February 2008
7 - February 2008
6 Jan - The first session of the year. To start with Paul explained that he wished to cover all
aspects of Togakure Ryu this year that he has been shown and that on Sundays we will cover the
Although suicide is deplored in Japan today, it does not have the sinful overtones that are
common in the west. People still kill themselves for failed businesses, involvement in love
triangles, or even failing school examinations, death is still consider by many as better than
dishonour.
All the matters relating to the act was carefully prescribed and carried out in the most meticulous
manner. The most conspicuous participant, other than the victim, was the kaishaku (kie-shahkuu), or assistant, who was responsible for cutting off the victim's head after he had sliced his
abdomen open. This was generally a close friend or associate of the condemned.
The location of an officially ordered seppuku ceremony was very important. Often the ritual was
performed at temple (but not Shinto shrines), in the garden or villas, and inside homes. The size
of the area available was also important, as it was prescribed precisely for samurai of high rank.
privilege to execute the sentence on one's own body rather than to be a disgrace and die at the
hands of the public headsman.
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