The 47 Ronin: Kitty Goes Commando

SUMMER IS FINALLY HERE!! Back to Kitty cata-blogging. Actually, this post has been sitting on my desktop waiting for some formatting and linkage, but in noticed that this particular mascot had versions in two different regions so that made things both confusing and fascinating. Thanks to the internet angels. The version that I have in my collection is from the Kansai region, but there are two "seasonal" version that appear in the Kanto region. The actual story will explain the reason for the region-straddling Kitty.

Following the civil war amongst the various daimyos, Japan was moving towards reunification and the reestablishment of a centralized, imperial government. For the working warrior, that meant that politics and diplomacy were replacing the battlefield and bureaucracy was becoming the weapon of choice. Trying to fully define the meaning of being a warrior during this time was wee bit removed from the usual "good soldier" routine. The tried and true warrior was in need of a revamp or a total recall. Following story is what Kitty refers to as to total recall of bushido.

Because of the years of civil war, the ruling shogunate liked to keep a very tight leash on various daimyos by ordering them to live alternate years in their ruling domain, and in the capitol of Edo, close to the Shogun... where he could keep a wary eye on them. This was known as Sankin kotai. It was during one of these alternate living stints that the story begins.

The daimyo of Ako (Lord asano Naganori) was ordered to receive envoys from the royal court. To ensure the reception befit the stature of the shogun's envoys, a master of protocol (Kira) was assigned to instruct Asano on proper court etiquette.

The long and short of it is the two fellas did not hit it off. Kira was rude, Asano was stoic until he couldn't take it anymore. Asano took a swing at him (albeit with his sword). Needless to say this was a big no-no during a period when the changing face of government was doing its best to weaken its potential rivals. Even though Kira survived the attack, Asano was sentenced to death by the legendary seppuku or ritual suicide).

In addition to his death sentence, Asano's land would be confiscated and his samurai ordered to disperse - to become masterless samurai. This did not sit well with Asano's loyal samurai back in Ako and they vowed vengeance.

AKOH CASTLE, HYOGO PREFECTURE

In all versions, Kitty appears as Oishi Kuranosuke, the leader and driving force behind the act of the 47 ronin. In the more dramatic retelling of the story, Oishi took on the role of a drunken womanizer as part of the plan to lull Kira into a false sense of security. I'm sure Kitty doesn't hold much with such dramatic license. She wears the the coat of the Edo fireman and bears the family crest of Lord Asano.

As the story goes, 47 of Asano's most loyal samurai set into motion a long term plan to avenge their master. They dispersed and pretended to be living as drifters, gamblers, drinkers and trouble-makers. After two years, their "activities" as ronin were convincing enough to put the ever-paranoid Kira at ease. Now it was time to set the plan in motion.

On a wintery morning, disguised as Edo firemen, the ronin marched their way to Kira's compound. They found Kira hiding in a charcoal shed and offered him the choice of dying in a manner befitting his stature (in other words, seppuku) but he would not respond. Let's just say, the ronin helped Kira meet his end and took his head back to their master's grave at the Senjaku-ji temple to let him know he had been avenged and his family's honor restored.


Kitty (as Oishi) carries the drum that will signal the attack on Kira's compound. Her fellow ronin have been instructed to split into two groups (half in the front, half in the back). Once in place, Kitty bangs the drum and the battle begins

In Hollywood, the story would end here with honor restored and the warriors riding off into the sunset. Unfortunately, this is Japanese-Warrior theatre (the stuff of Kurosawa and John Ford) and the vengeance is just act II. The climax is the ethical quandry that arises when honor conflicts with laws of order. On the side of honor, the ronin had remained faithful to their master and to the code of bushido. However, they had disobeyed the laws of the Shogunate. There was a great deal of public sympathy for the ronin so the Shogunate needed to show that their rule was still absolute, but not without respect for sentiment for their acts as warriors.

Like their master, the ronin were sentenced to death by seppuku --meaning that they would be mortally punished for their defiance of the laws, but would recognized and honored as true samurai. Their bodies were laid to rest in front of their master's tomb in Sengaku-ji.

To this day the act of these samurai are honored every year on December 14th at Senjaku Temple in Tokyo (which probably explains the two regional versions of this legendary Cat).


The story of the 47 Ronin inspired a number of classic kabuki, bunraku plays in addition to modern movie and televsion adaptions. The latest rumor? Keanu Reeves as Oishi. Oi! I prefer Kitty. She understands and demonstrates cultural context in this adapted watercolor of a ronin.

Back-to-School Interruptus

Once again its Fall and I was caught in the spell of going back to work. Needless to say, I completely forgot Tsukimi this year and a number of happy fall rites. Fortunately there's still time for Thanksgiving!

Before I continue with more martial-art inspired kitties, I should at least announce the autumnal equinox with some kitties that I've wanted to post for awhile. In and of themselves, they look pretty ordinary. What catches my collector-mania is the artwork. As a result, I have a large collection of these kitties, so this may be the most image heavy post in a while.

Yuyake Kitty is a reoccurring part of Asunaro-sha's "promotional" series that screams back-to-school, or at least that's the feeling I get from these sun-tanned mascots and uniformed plushies. When I look at the artwork, it reminds me of the so-called magic hour of the day when dusk is approaching. It means that summer is ending and school begins. I feel the weight of my old nylon back pack, my blue, three-ring binder starting to rip the zipper stitches out because it never really fits in anything, and finally, noticing that the days are growing shorter and a little colder.


In this close up of a phone mascot, Kitty sports the classic Japanese school bag - a more expensive, but ergonomic and book friendly carrier.


Back from school (maybe a Friday) and ready to play. Looking forward to that weekend!


Ah...the weekends and that fresh, open feeling of a carefree morning.


Its Saturday, so let's do a little hula hoop then head over to the street vendors and eat some shaved ice.


These kitties also remind me of the joy of weekends. As a somewhat grown-up adult, weekends are all about catching up on all the things I couldn't do during the week. But when I was a youngling, weekends were a non-stop carnival. While I never learned how to use the hula hoop, I did do my share of pogo sticks, bongo boards and jump-rope.



The untanned plushies hide behind some garden harvests (eh, a little wimpy, but still trying)


I'm old enough to belong to a generation that had a neighborhood candy store that had a soda fountain. I bought all sorts of treats and candies like wax lips, Zots (precursor to pop rocks) screaming tiger tails (a type of long balloon that shrieked when you let the air out), Pixie sticks, Razzles and Fun Dip. If I was lucky and had a quarter, I might splurge and buy a can of soda or a blue Slush Puppy. My teeth hurt just thinking about all that sugar....



After a long week at school when Kitty finally comes home knowing that free days are coming her way, she likes to kick back with a cold Ramune and some of these egg biscuits/cookies


After a festive dinner, Kitty moves on to some hard partying with her can-walkers. You know I don't know what the name is for these things? I had a pair myself, but I just called them my-cans! Even after a big dinner, Kitty's can work out spikes her sweet tooth for a donut-like treat called karintou. The cakes are dipped in dark brown sugar.


Sugar-rush: In addition to some shaved ice, this phone mascot also features a small bag of suzu kasutera or bell-shaped cakes. I noticed this cute little cakes turn up on an episode of Star Trek Voyager - some kind of alien food that Neelix offered the Doctor. They're certainly cute, delicious and not at all alien.


On the healthier side of things, Kitty likes to round off her sweets with some roasted mame or beans. Broad beans, soy beans and peas are dry-roasted and offer a salty finishing note to her sugary day.


What makes Kitty such a pro with the hula hoop? Hot wasabi peas, dried like the roasted beans and coated with a crunchy wasabi coating.


I suppose after Saturday's overindulgence in sweets and spicy treats, Kitty brings it down a few notches. A peaceful Sunday is spent hosting a genteel tea party and the offering of tummy-settling hardtack biscuits.


Although the following youtube video is not kitty-related, its definitely one of those wonderful back-to-school ads that I love to see again and again!

Priceless

Kitty as the White TigerTigress of Kai, that is...

There she is, invading a classic painting of the Warlord Shingen Takeda
I saw Kung Fu Panda last weekend and its no surprise that I loved it. It rolled together my favorite subjects into a fuzzy, giant, tempura-battered futomaki of joy. It was a trifecta of cuteness, food and chop-saki humor. Let the recent Disney/Dreamworks box office smash be a yet another gentle nudge to the Asunaro designers to create a martial-art Kitty. Look how good a cat looks when they focus their ki/chi.


As I watched Tigress and then Tai Lung (a snow leopard) shake their tails in the movie
theater, I thought this was the perfect time to talk about Japanese Regional Hello Kitty's version of Shingen Takeda.


Her plushie doesn't quite pull-off the whole "tigress-warlord" thing. She looks a little sheepish and squished in her samurai gear, but still powerfully cute.
During the 16th century, Takeda was a powerful Daimyo or feudal lord over Kai and Shinano provinces (modern day Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures respectively). This was a time of constant conflict amongst the various Daimyos across Japan. The ruling government in Kyoto was losing power as the outlying territories were enjoying economic prosperity and a strong desire for power and independence. Takeda held a strategic geographical hotspot for the clans that wanted to supplant the current government and rule over all the feudal territories. Anyone to his "West" would have to get through him and his forces if they wanted to enter Kyoto.

Takeda was a bit of a contradiction. He was a great military strategist, and quite a ruthless warrior (nicknamed the Tiger of Kai), but he was also a great civil administrator and an accomplished artist. Like Musashi himself, Takeda was master of the pen-and-ink as well as the sword. His fair and consistent application of criminal laws and taxation gained him popularity and loyalty from his subjects. Ironically, many of his administrative systems would be adopted by the very shogunate that ended his clan's preeminence.


Kitty gets ready to oversee the great battles. She brandishes her war fan or Dansen Uchiwa- ready to signal her troops and block those pesky little flying arrow-thingies. Behind her, the black banners bear the Takeda mon or family crest and gives testament to her studies of the great martial strategist, Sun Tzu's writings. The characters are Fu Rin Ka Zan: Swift as the Wind, Stolid as the Forest, Fierce as Fire, Immovable as the Mountains
Okay, so I've covered two of the trifecta of the giant tempura-battered futomaki of joy: chopsaki humor and cuteness. Now let's talk about Shingen and food.


In this phone strap mascot, Shingen-Kitty is holding some grapes in her left paw, a specialty of the Yamanashi prefecture.
One of the things I've caught on to with regional omiyage is the branding and pairing of historical subjects and regional food specialties. However, when it comes to Shingen and food, we enter into a very intense pairing. Rice cakes, crackers, sweet cakes, peaches, plums, grapes, even the Houtou noodle dish are paired with Shingen. The pairings normally fall in the line of "he liked this so let's put his image on the packaging." Sometimes there are fanciful stories - like the one about how he instructed a cook to make rice in a fashion that would allow troops to carry it for long periods without it going bad (hence the mythical birth of the Shingen senbei). A reasonable mythology attributed to the strategist and civil administrator. But then there comes the plethora of sweets! It makes me wonder if this guy had been Dionysus in another life.


I briefly introduced a zipper mascot back in 2005. Now that I have a better camera and better context, I felt like this one deserved a little revisit
This mascot is "preeminent" for me because I found out about this wondrous treat on a blog that inspired me to blog. Anyways, Kitty pops out of the famous Kikyou-ya bag that would normally hold a few furoshiki wrapped servings of soft mochi, roasted soybean powder and a molasses-like syrup called kuromitsu.


Like the Kikyou-ya packages, this version of Shingen Mochi uses the wonderful Kitty artwork on the outside and inside. The tigress appears on the plastic furoshiki style wrappers.
Another company, Kinseiken has a version of the Shingen Mochi that uses the Gotochi era artwork for its bag and furoshiki wrapper. The toothpicks look a bit 'obento-generic' but it's all Kitty. I haven't eaten the Kikyouya or Kitty versions, but I have had the Kinseiken version. Tasty, but like Chika describes in her blog, the best part really is the fun of opening the tiny little servings and tailor-making your teeny treat.

There is a a kind of rice cracker paired Shingen as well. Unlike the rice crackers or sembei that we're used to eating here in the States, these are more like cookies than crackers.. actually more like a pizzelle. They are made with egg and flour and tend to be slightly sweet.


In addition to the Shingen mochi in the Genyo-era Kitty packaging, Kinseiken offers these Danzen Uchiwa shaped wafers in "grown-up" versions and Kitty versions. The "White Tigress of Kai"'s face is prominently stamped on these sweet things.
The Yamanashi region is also famous for grapes and peaches. That offers even more examples of sweets available flavored or filled with fruits that bear the traditional images of Shingen Takeda on their packaging. While I couldn't find Kitty versions of some of the more interesting sounding cakes (peach-shaped manju, plum mochi packaged like the Shingen Mochi), Gotochi offered up some simple but tasty butter cookies with the White Tigress of Kai.


At last the trifecta is complete. I am hungry...

Summer Vacation

Sketching Kitty White and my sunflowers while watching CSI reruns: summer is really here
Ah yes...
Summer is here and for me this means off-season and that equals time-off!! Time to do the things I should be doing (other web-based projects, video editing, fix-me house projects) and the things I really want to do (tend to my fledgling sunflowers, doodle Kitty and Kogepan while I watch CSI, cook, blog, have a life) when the season is going full-throttle.

I will be getting back to some more obscurely aikido-related Kitties in the following weeks (Shingen Takeda and the 47 Ronin) but to kick off my Kitty-blogging return I thought I'd post on a regional Kitty that best describes my enthusiasm for this time of year.

KARUIZAWA RETRO KITTY VERSION

Karuizawa is in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Once a busy and important stopping point between Edo (old Tokyo) and Kyoto during the shogunate era, Karuizawa has been reborn as a favorite summer retreat for Tokyo-ites looking to escape the heat of summer and the energy of city life.

Canadian missionary Alexander Kroft Shaw is credited with "re-branding" Karuizawa as a resort area. It's said that he found the climate and landscape reminiscent of his own home country, so in 1877 he built a summer villa there for himself and his family. He encouraged fellow missionaries and westerners to do the same and soon Karuizawa's new life as the Hamptons began.


Only and hour train ride away from her home in Tokyo, Kitty will spend most of her summer "weekending" at her villa in Happy Valley, Karuizawa. She likes to hike and play tennis, but her favorite pastime is to ride her bike on tree-lined, flag stone paths. She finds the sounds of nature relaxing and it gives her a chance to reflect on her life and the things she needs to work on when she returns to her city life. She also gets a wicked tan.


Nagano Prefecture is the second largest producer of apples in Japan and some say they are better than the Fujis... guess I'll have to do a taste test, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy looking at these tiny, fuzzy versions.

Cute and Cutting: Musashi Kitty and Aikido

I know enough about Aikido to get myself in to a lot of trouble so I'll try not to go into too much detail about it's roots in the various martial arts of Japan. Suffice it to say, the founder Morihei Ueshiba was trained in a number of the martial arts of the samurai. I'll let the experts argue over which art influenced him the most, but one art that is pervasive in Aikido is the art of the sword.

Most people don't associate the sword with Aikido, but it is there literally in the Iwama tradition (Aikiken) and in many of the taijutsu or "empty-handed" techniques. Attacks simulate sword strikes and many techniques are in response to multiple attacks/attackers - something you'd expect to find on the battle field or if you're Steven Seagal or in a Jason Bourne movie. Partner practices often involve wrist locks and grabs - not exactly life-threatening, but to a swordsman, a wrist grab usually meant you might not be able to draw the sword.

There are many, many links between "culture of the sword" and Aikido, but it goes well beyond my comprehension and the scope of regional Hello Kitty. Nevertheless, since Genyo and Gotochi released a number of sword and samurai regional Kitties it bears the cross-referencing. Eventually there will be a food connection made depending on how hungry I get...


My reinterpretation of a classic depiction of Musashi
When it comes to the sword, one name comes up as THE big kahuna: Miyamoto Musashi. He is somewhat of an archetype of the samurai character - in youth he is violent, volatile, boastful and careless; but in his twilight, he is centered, focused, humble and peaceful. In his late writings, Musashi writes about the continued pursuit of mastery and how this feeds into other aspects of life; the ultimate goal is to find harmony between "strategy and skill."

His most famous duel was with another accomplished swordsman by the name of Kojiro. Kojiro showed up to the duel with a large samurai sword. Musashi, on the other hand showed up with a bokken or wooden sword made from the boat oar he had previously used to row his boat to the duel. In Aikido, some traditions train with this type of wooden sword.


I believe the Kojiro duel is the subject of this Musashi Kitty from the Yamaguchi region. Despite having her traditional swords with her, Kitty comes ashore with her paddle/bokken bearing the name of Miyamoto Musashi. For a small plush, Kitty displays an very good ken kamae or sword stance!

A Kitty Version I'd Love to See...

Been busy the past six months dealing with life's usual surprises, unsure at times whether I'd manage to stay afloat amidst an unending stream of bizarre dramas. Nevertheless, I did keep my head up with lots of help from good friends, family and some good things. One of those things (that also include some good people) is Aikido -- that Steven-Seagal-martial-art-thingie that no one can really describe in one sentence. Unfortunately, neither Genyo or Gotochi have taken advantage of this "peaceful warrior" theme and quite frankly, I think Kitty is the perfect spokes... err... thing for Aikido. She's gentle, grounded, calm and aware amidst chaos. Her uncanny sense of "kawaii" is her powerful connection to ki.

Even though there is no O Sensei Kitty, Hombu Dojo Kitty or even an Iwama Kitty, I thought I could sneak in a few Aikido-related regional/limited Kitty versions over the next few posts. This way I can pay hommage to the two things that have made me laugh and kept me dancing circles through the fire (Kitties and Aikido respectively). In the meantime perhaps Gotochi might take on the challenge of Aikido Kitty mascots!


Here are just a few of the regional/limited Kitties that pay hommage to warriors, peaceful, not-so-peaceful, historical and mythological. All of them share a role as a source of teachings for many of the Japanese martial arts. Backrow (left to right): a ninja, a shinsengumi, Shingen Takeda, Sakamoto Ryoma and Saigo Takamori. Front row: Mushashi, "author" of the Five Rings

Next Post: Cute and Cutting - Musashi Kitty

Udon: Soul Food?

I think one of the reasons why regional kitties continue to catch my fancy is because of their link to the tradition of souvenirs-as-gifts or omiyage. When a traveler returns home or to work, they will bring a small item from their trek, usuallly representing a regional specialty. These regional specialty items are referred to as meibutsu. This way, the traveler is able to share their experience with family, friends and coworkers and pay their respects for those who didn't get to tag a long or didn't get the time off... good Kitty, good manners.

Often times the meibutsu is a specialty food that often times has a story behind it -- like "soul food" in this country. Historically, soul food has a very specific definition, but for those who actually make it and eat it? Its about a connection to the regional agriculture, family/cultural roots and a strong sense of the food having some spiritual connection to the heart (has to be made with love/attention) and soul (intent/purpose).

I saw a food-themed movie from Japan called "Udon" - perhaps my favorite noodle variety. It is the story of a prodigal-like son who returns to his hometown of Sanuki after failing to make it as a comedian in New York City. His homecoming isn't quite what he hoped it to be. His surly father, a seemingly unimaginative udon maker is quick to remind his son of his insults to the family business before he ran off to the States.

"I HAVE NO UDON FOR YOU"

Trailer for the movie "Udon" with commentary by Rahmen's co-star Jin Katagiri

It's hardly an original story to be told, but I loved it. Any story told via the medium of food has my attention. Combine it with a favorite food, I'm ready to give it four stars. Anyways, as the story continues, the lost son takes an unintentional pilgrimage around the region to obstensively report on the various hidden Udon stands and slowly begins to find his way home and back to his family.

The movie boldly states that Udon is the true soul food of Japan -- not sushi! And just how does this movie go about convincing us? Well, let's have Kitty take over on that one...

The Spiritual Roots of Udon:
Kukai, 8th century Buddhist Kahuna and Noodle Dude

Kitty appears as two of Sanuki's most famous treasures - Kukai and a bowl of udon.

Born in the Sanuki region of Shikoku, Kukai came from a well-to-do family. Time had reduced the families influence in Court, so they groomed the young Kukai for a future in Court politics. Despite their best efforts, Kukai showed more of an interest in spiritual matters and eventually abandoned his studies and literally headed for the mountains for meditation and spiritual studies. Eventually, Kukai was able to wrangle a spot in on a government mission to China. It would be here where Kukai would begin his studies in esoteric Buddhism AND learn about the dumpling that would eventually become Sanuki's Udon.

The udon legends say that when Kukai returned from China and was sharing his spiritual revelations, he also shared the recipe for noodle dumplings with local farmers. Perhaps it was Kukai's influence or more likely the climate of the region (little rainfall that makes rice cultivation difficult) that made Sanuki spiritual home of udon. Many in Japan will travel to the region just to taste the "real thing."

There is another soul-food link to the noodle. People will travel to Sanuki and the island of Shikoku is to take the Shikoku Henro. This is a pilgrimage made to the 88 temples and sacred places that encircle the island of Shikoku. It is meant to recreate the steps that Kukai made in his search for truth. Traditionally, this pilgrimage is taken on foot, covering a distance of 1200 kilometers, taking about 30-40 days. This trip is by no means a pleasure hike through the beautiful scenery of the island. It is a long, arduous journey that is meant to break down the body and the barriers of the mind. It is in those moments of being stripped of illusions that many believe healing and enlightenment can be received.


Kitty prepares for the arduous pilgrimage in full ohenro garb. Her bag bears the words "two traveling together", reminding her that Kukai will be with her on this journey.

The pilgrim or ohenro-san is traditionally clad in a white (the "uniform" of the pilgrim), carrying a walking staff (a reminder that Kukai is with them, ready to offer guidance when the pilgrim falters). The traditional garb also let's everyone know that these travelers are here for the pilgrimage and should be treated with respect. Often times locals will offer gifts of aid or osettai - this can be money, food or a place to rest. Not surprisingly, some towns on the route will offer free udon to the weary traveller - yet another reminder that Kukai is always with them. Now how's that for soul food?

REGIONAL UDON

Kitty's most recent Nagoya Kishimen Udon mascot

Udon is served in a variety of ways -- a reflection of the region they are prepared in. For instance, Nagoya is famous for their miso and also their Nagoya Cochin breed of chicken so one of the ways that udon is prepared is with miso and chicken stock. The noodles themselves are also wider than most udon and is called "Kishimen."

Here are a couple of examples of regional styles of udon, offered in the wonderful hands of Kitty White. As usual, companies like Gotochi are quick to take advatage of the triple threat of a gift that'll fit the omiyage criteria, tastes good and cute to boot.

Nagoya

Here's an impulse purchase - Nagoya Kishimen noodles with a keepsake ceramic bowl. The noodles were delicious and I always eat udon in that bowl.

Here's an example of another kind of Nagoya Kishimen a la Kitty White.

I was lucky to get a hold a few of these Kitty themed regional food items, but there are so many to chose from - a lot of them packaged with the imaginative artwork of the Gotochi artists. Many items don't have a long shelf life so I will leave that area of Regional Kitty collection to more able hands. Here's a webpage that covers the arena of regional okashi (snacks and candies) and it includes some Gotochi items as well as a section on Regional Kitty Noodles

Are you hungry yet? I hope so because I have grown to appreciate what a real comfort food udon can be in its simple, clean taste and when you stop to think about the history and influences around this noodle. If you're hungry enough and hopefully inspired to try some, consider trying to make your own udon...
If you've only had the premade stuff that comes frozen in your local Asian market, or the dried stuff on supermarket shelves, you owe it to yourself to experience a close brush with udon's true koshi -- the texture and bite of hand-made udon. The recipe is REALLY simple, but it takes some elbow grease and patience.

Maki's "Just Hungry" Blog: Kitsune Udon