Japanese Swords
CRAZY ABOUT MUSASHI
Musashi was a famous Japanese swordsman who lived some 300 years ago. According to history accounts, he has been the strongest man in Japan and is a popular figure even today.
He developed the method of fighting with two swords. He was always keen to take on opponents of greater skill than he was, in order to improve his skills in fighting with swords. Musashi fought more than 60 times in his life, and he never lost. Once he even took on 70 opponents one after the other,
Recently the story of Musashi has featured in numerous movies, novels and TV shows. Why, after so many years, has he suddenly become so popular again?
"Japan is in a very gloomy mood at the moment and people are looking for a hero with spirit and individualism like Musashi," said one of the leading commentators in Japan.
Source - Japankids Web Page, 2003-07-23
What we need in Japan is not the sword of Musashi, but the sword of the Messiah!
FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL,
AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD,
PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVISION
OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND OF JOINTS AND MARROW,
AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS
AND INTENTS OF THE HEART
(Hebrews 4: 12).
(This is taken from Neil Verwey's regular notes relating Japanese stories with Biblical truth. You can receive these directly by writing Neil at jm@japanmission.org)
posted by Don Wright @ 7:47 AM
1 Comments:
The timing of your post is interesting to me: I've just started reading Shutting Out The Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation by Michael Zielenziger, pub. 2006.
The author deals with hikikomori - social self-isolation to the extent of solitary confinement, stating that up to a million young Japanese men live this way. And also the term, parasaito, post-school women choosing to remain single, living w/parents, shunning entangling commitments such as marriage and children. Both are forms of adjustment disorder in a stressed society dealing with a deficit of hope. He suggests a ray of light for those with these disorders: true and loving friendship.
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