Historical Study: Air Bombings of Japan

As I wrap up my summer of Japanese appreciation, I wanted to revisit the Pacific War theater of WWII. Quite often when we think of WWII, we quickly associate he Nazis and the European theater and perhaps overlook the Japanese aspect. I made a deep dive study on this aspect in 2020, focusing on the Second Sino-Japanese War as well as the Pacific theater of WWII (see Sino-Japanese War and Pacific War). While I focused on the sea battles and ground assaults, I think I may have overlooked the vicious campaign of air raids against Japan. While the US was eager to end the war by this point, there's no question that they committed some atrocious crimes against humanity during this period. I think this was especially made clear to me after watching the very sad film, Graves of the Fireflies. 

Japan suffered the worse aerial bombardment during WWII by far, with a civilian death toll of approximately 800,000 nearly double that of Germany. No doubt some of this was pay back for the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, however by this point WWII had achieved a scale of Total War. This meant that the fighting was not just directed at the soldiers, but also their infrastructure which included the civilians who helped supply the war effort. Another reason the US decided to ramp up it's aerial bombardments against Japan was to bring a swift end to the conflict and avoid a full land invasion. Thus the firebombing and atomic bombs were used as a shock-and-awe campaign to brutally end Japanese moral and force them to quickly surrender. 

While it still remains a heated debate today, I think the dropping of the atomic bombs was one of the worse atrocities against mankind. It was total genocide on par with the Holocaust or Chinese massacres. The firebombing against Tokyo and other Japanese cities were almost worse by death toll. This was an utter attack against innocent civilians, which in some cases brought them instant death before they could even realize it. I think the United States should have faced a tribunal of war crimes, just the same as the Nazis and Japan did. In this post I want to create a timeline of the air raids against Japan during WWII. The bombing of Japan can be broke into three main campaigns; the Matterhorn Campaign consisted of ineffective precision bombing, which led to the devastating firebombing and atomic campaigns.

Aircraft Carrier Raids

Doolittle Raid

Date: April 18, 1942

 

Target City: Tokyo, Japan 

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 16 B-25 Bombers; 64 bombs dropped

Death Toll: 50 civilians killed

Significance: This was the first American response to the attacks on Pearl Harbor of December 7th, 1941. The Doolittle Raid was actually one of seven aerial attacks coordinated from navy ships in 1942. Aside from the main attack on Tokyo, there were also various bombings of the Marshall Islands, Gilbert Islands, Rabaul, Wake, Marcus, Salamaua and Lae. While the raids caused minimal damage they still were used to boost American morale. In response to these attacks the Japanese launched a major offensive into China, known as the Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign, to punish them for aiding the American bombers. This resulted in the death of approximately 250,000 Chinese civilians. 

Precision Bombing Raids

Operation Matterhorn

Date: June 1944 to January 1945

Target City: Yawata, Japan; Anshan Manchuria; Bangkok, Thailand; Hankou, China; Singapore; Omura, Japan.

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 405 B-29 Superfortress bombers

Death Toll: 300-700 civilians

Significance: The Americans launched this precision bombing campaign from bases in India, Sri Lanka, and China. The goal was to take out Japanese industrial facilities while also testing their new massive B-29 aircrafts. The first mission occurred on June 5, 1944, with a bombing of the Japanese railyards in Bangkok, Thailand. This was followed by a raid on the steel factories of Yawata, Japan and Anshan, Manchuria. During this operation the Americans also conducted their first firebombing mission in Hankou, China. The operation was deemed mostly ineffective due to strong winds and costly logistics out of China. 

Firebombing Campaign

Operating Meetinghouse

Date: March 9-10, 1945

Target City: Tokyo, Japan

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 279 B-29 Bombers; 1665 tons of incendiary bombs

Death Toll: 90,000-100,000 civilians

Significance: General Curtis LeMay changed tactics after the failures of Operation Matterhorn. After several successful military campaigns the Americans were able to capture the Marshall Islands and make that their new air force base (much closer than their previous bases in India and China). They also shifted from the use of high altitude precision bombs to low altitude incendiary bombs. This method was far more devastating to the urban populations due to their wooden buildings, which erupted into wildfires throughout the night. This bombing resulted in the death of nearly 100,000 civilians and to this day remains the most deadly air raid in history (even more so then the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). 

Nagoya Firebombing

Date: March 12, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 300 B-29s, 1000 tons of incendiary bombs 

Death Toll: 3,866

Significance: This was a prime target of Japanese military production particularly their aircraft industry. The firebombing had a devastating impact on their ability to produce aircraft, while also taking a heavy death toll on civilians.

Osaka Firebombing

Date: March 13-14, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 274 B-29s, 1733 tons of incendiary bombs

Death Toll: 10,000

Significance: This was Japan's 2nd largest city after Tokyo, and thus also a key target for military operations particularly in the industries of steel and machinery. The intention was not only to destroy these factories but also the work force, by burning their cottage homes. The attacks left more then 500,000 homeless. 

Kobe Firebombing

Date: March 16-17, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 331 B-29s, 1700 tons of incendiary bombs

Death Toll: 8,841

Significance: It was the largest port in Japan, and thus another key target for their shipping operations and manufacturing. Although the Americans did meet heavy resistance at this bombing, they still achieved their main goal thru various raids. The film Graves of the Fireflies (my inspiration for this post) took place in Kobe. By the end of the war 55% of the city was destroyed. 

2nd Tokyo Firebombing

Date: May 25-26

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 470 B-29 Bombers, 3623 tons of incendiary bombs

Death Toll: 7000

Significance: After the first devastating attack of Operation Meetinghouse, Tokyo was hit several more times. The 2nd most devastating attack occurred on May 25th targeting the residential neighborhoods. The goal was once again to destroy the work-force while also breaking the Japanese moral to surrender. By the end of the war, nearly 50% of Tokyo was completely destroyed. 

Yokohama Firebombing

Date: May 29, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 517 B-29s, 3200 tons of incendiary bombs

Death Toll: 14,000

Significance: It was also an important industrial/port city producing ships, automobiles, aircrafts, and machinery. It was the largest air raid by air fleet and amount of bombs dropped on a city, surpassing Operation Meetinghouse (although the death toll was nowhere in comparison). 58% of the city was completely destroyed. 

Toyama Firebombing

Date: August 1-2, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb Total: 182 B-29s, 1400 tons of incendiary bombs  

Death Toll: 2,149 

Significance: Toyama was the most devastated by the firebombing, in which 99% of the city was completely destroyed. However it was a smaller city and many of the civilians were able to escape due to prior warnings. 

Other Heavily Damaged Cities by Firebomb

• Fukui: July 19, 1945 (1,576 killed). 86% city destroyed. 
• Hitachi: July 19, 1945 (1,275 killed). 72% city destroyed. 
• Fukuoka: June 19, 1945 (953 killed). 24% city destroyed. 
• Kure: July 1, 1945 (2,152 killed). 42% city destroyed. 
• Mito: August 2, 1945 (499 killed). 69% city destroyed. 
• Nagaoka: August 1-2, 1945 (1500 killed). 65% city destroyed. 
• Sakai: July 9-10, 1945 (1863 killed). 48% city destroyed. 
• Shizuoka: June 19-20, 1945 (2,000 killed). 66% city destroyed. 
• Toyohashi: June 19-20, 1945 (624 killed). 61% city destroyed. 
• Tsu: July 24, 1945 (1239 killed). 69% city destroyed
• Maebashi: August 5, 1945 (1048 killed). 64% city destroyed.
• Okazaki: July 19, 1945 (280 killed). 32% city destroyed.
• Himeji: July 3, 1945 (787 killed). 49% city destroyed. 
• Kofu: July 6, 1945 (1,127 killed). 78% city destroyed. 
• Gifu: July 9, 1945 (863 killed). 63% city destroyed. 
• Kochi: July 3-4, 1945 (1,667 killed). 55% city destroyed.
• Kawasaki: April 15, 1945 (846 killed). 36% city destroyed. 

Atomic Bomb Campaign

Hiroshima Atomic Bomb

Date: August 6th, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb B-29 bomber (Enola Gay) with a uranium-235 bomb (Little Boy). 

Death Toll: 80,000 instantly (146,000 by end of 1945). 

Significance: This was the first dropping of an atomic bomb with the force of 15 kilotons of TNT. The bomb was a breakthrough in nuclear engineering, designed by Robert Oppenheimer during the Manhattan Project. The controversial use of this bomb was intended as a shock-and-awe campaign to bring a swift end to the war thru psychological impact. It's destruction was devastating and instantaneous with a blast radius of 1 mile. The bomb exploded slightly above ground with a blinding white light that could be seen from 15 miles. This was quickly followed by the blast impact, that was destructive within a mile radius, but could be felt within a 12 mile radius. This was then followed by a firestorm that spread throughout the city. Many who survived the initial blast later died from burns and radiation sickness.     

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb

Date: August 9, 1945

Aircraft/Bomb: B-29 bomber (Bockscar) with a plutonium-239 bomb (Fat Man) 

Death Toll: 40,000 instantly (80,000 by end of 1945).

Significance: Just 3 days after the first atomic bombing this one followed, once again to cause shock-and-awe, but also to demonstrate the sheer power of this weapon. This bomb was more powerful then Hiroshima with 21 kilotons of TNT, however less devastating due to the geographical valley it was dropped in. Nonetheless it still caused instantaneous death and destruction with a mushroom cloud that could be seen 250 miles away. A few days later, accepting the power of this weapon, Japan announced it's formal surrender on August 15th. While these bombs helped bring a swift end to the war, it almost seemed unnecessary at this point for a nation that was already practically defeated. One could even make the case that poor Japan was used more as a guinea pig of this new powerful weapon (primarily as a threat to the Soviet Union). To put it simply these two atomic bombings as well as the atrocious firebombing raids were unethical crimes against humanity. 

Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha

As I began my Japanese appreciation phase, I had two popular books in mind to fully emerge into the culture; Shogun and Memoirs of a Geisha written by Arthur Golden. Shogun provides a great glimpse into the feudal days of Japan while Memoirs of a Geisha provides more of a modern look (albeit it takes place during the 1930s-1940s). But my real familiarity with this story came from the critically acclaimed 2005 film directed by Rob Marshall. The film was a work of art, receiving a total of 6 Oscar nominations and 3 wins. And honestly the film kept pretty true to the book. To be fair though I was probably more interested in the setting then the actual story as I watched this film. I remember my sister-in-law Shawnna always raved about this book, so I decided now was the perfect time to give it a go. 

Book Synopsis

As the title suggests this is semi-biographical story of a woman's life as a geisha. Set in 1929 a young girl named Sakamoto Chiyo lives in a rural fishing village known as Yoroido. Her parents are both unhealthy and in poverty, so a family friend named Mr. Tanaka convinces the parents to sell the children. Chiyo is sold to an okiya (geisha house) while her sister, Satsu is sold to a brothel in Gion, Kyoto. Chiyo is introduced to the okiya family which includes the patrons known as mother, auntie, and grannie all of which are very strict businesswomen. The house also has various maids, apprentices, and their star geisha Hatsumomo (who takes an immediate disliking to Chiyo). Chiyo is of course very sad the first few months at her new house, missing her parents and her sister. She even tries to run away at one point, however the plan goes wrong and her mother patron decides she can not be trusted as a geisha investment. 

After several years as a maid, Chiyo meets a friendly stranger in the streets, known as the Chairman who offers her a handkerchief and some money to buy a treat. It is the first act of kindness she has felt in a very long time, and suddenly changes her perspective on the geisha life. The only problem however is her patron mother has decided she does not wish to invest in Chiyo's training. This changes however when another popular geisha named Mameha (an enemy of Hatsumomo) decides to take Chiyo on as an apprentice. Mother makes a deal with Mameha to invest in her training in return for a share of the profits. Chiyo thus becomes an apprentice geisha to Mameha, with the new given name of Sayuri.

Sayuri's early training is very difficult due to sabotage from her okiya sisters Hatsumomo and her apprentice Pumpkin. Hatsumomo finds a way to attend every event that Sayuri and Mameha are at, in an effort to humiliate Sayuri. Hastumomo is no doubt jealous of Sayuri's natural beauty, but also wishes to strengthen her position in the okiya as well as see her own apprentice Pumpkin become her heir. Mameha however coordinates some brilliant strategy by introducing Sayuri to several prominent business men, including Dr. Crab, the Baron, and Nobu (a friend of the Chariman). Eventually Dr. Crab wins the bid to take Sayuri's virginity (a ceremony known as mizuage) for a record price. This enables Sayuri to pay off her debts and win favor with her patron mother who later adopts Sayuri in favor of Pumpkin. This eventually drives Hastumomo mad, he descends into alcoholism is eventually thrown out of the okiya. 

Sayuri's success is somewhat short-lived however due to the ongoing crisis of WWII which eventually leads to the closure of all geisha houses in 1944. Sayuri finds salvation from a previous customer Nobu, who sends her to the countryside to avoid any factory work. After the war ends, Sayuri returns to work with a closer relationship to Nobu, who intends to be her danna. However Sayuri does not wish to be sworn to Nobu and instead still has longing feelings for the Chariman. She develops a scheme to dissuade Nobu from being her danna, by having him discover her with another man. Sayuri asks her old friend Pumpkin to guide Nobu into a room, where she will be making love with another man. Sayuri is able to coordinate her part of the plan, but she is shocked when Pumpkin brings in the chairman instead of Nobu. Pumpkin declares it was payback for Sayuri taking away Pumpkin's chance to be adopted. 

Sayuri is devastated at the way this scheme played out, horrified that the Chairman (the man she loved), saw her with another man. However in a shocking twist it is revealed that the Chairman helped orchestrate Sayuri's raise to the top ever since he saw her in the streets. He gave Mameha the idea to adopt Sayuri as her younger sister, and he stood back while his business partner Nobu favored Sayuri. Seeing Sayuri with another man was difficult for the Chairman to see, however he realized Sayuri was doing it to scare off the Nobu, and thus confessed the truth to Nobu. This led to Nobu withdrawing his desire to be Sayuri's danna and opening the door for the Chairman to do so. Thus it was something that both Sayuri and the Chairman wanted. Years later Sayuri would move to New York City to start her own teahouse with the financial and emotional support of the Chairman. 

The Characters

Chiyo (Sayuri): She is a very softspoken humble girl who has no doubt endured hardships by being separated from her parents and sister and brought into a life of servitude. Her perseverance however is a testament to her strength and it's encouraging to watch her raise to the top and get everything she wants in the end. 

Hatsumomo: She is the favorite geisha of the house Sayuri stays at, and quickly becomes Sayuri's sworn rival. Throughout most the story Hatsumomo is bent on sabotaging Sayuri's career, mostly due to jealousy of Sayuri's beauty. Hatsumomo eventually gets what she deserves when Sayuri is able to become the new favorite of the okiya. 

The Chairman: He is wealthy business director of an electric company and is the first man to show sincere kindness to Sayuri. This act of kindness inspires Sayuri to become a geisha with hopes of one day being his mistress. We later discover that the chairman helped orchestrate Sayuri's raise to success.

Mameha: She is another popular geisha in the Gion district who decides to take Sayuri as her apprentice. Mameha is a very clever geisha who uses her powerful connections to help Sayuri rise the social ladder throughout the geisha industry. 

Mother (Mrs. Nitta): She is the cold-hearted head of the okiya house that Sayuri stays at. She is a stern business woman who puts money above any emotional connections.

Nobu: He is a business partner of the Chairman, who also develops a fondness of Sayuri. He has battle scars however including a missing arm due to previous wars. He still becomes one of Sayuri's most loyal customers helping her achieve her rise to success. 

Pumpkin: She is a maid and early friend during Sayuri's first couple years in the okiya. However she later becomes Hatsumomo's apprentice and thus also a rival to Sayuri. She is depicted as somewhat insecure and dimwitted. However she achieves her ultimate revenge by exposing Sayuri's shameful act in front of the Chairman. 

Book Review

Although this book comes across as a biographical account it is actually a historical fiction. The author Arthur Golden however did use exclusive material from an interview he had with a real geisha named Mineko Iwasaki. Golden used many snippets and examples from her life to fully portray the story from a geisha's perspective. I believe this inner perspective into the geisha's struggling life is what makes this book so unique. It truly gives a sympathetic account to a career or lifestyle that might be frowned upon by most. However it also provides great insight into this once thriving industry that truly is a staple of Japan's cultural identity.   

I found this book was actually quite easy to comprehend and follow along with (which was a nice break after reading the lengthy Shogun). The protagonist Sayuri is no doubt someone you want to root for, who has such an unfair childhood to lose her parents and be sold almost into slavery. She has no friends when she begins her life in the okiya, including her cruel housemasters and her enemy Hatsumomo. But she somehow manages to endure all these early hardships to become a success in her own right. Even though she can only be the chairman's mistress, he represents the light in her very grim world. She also achieves her own success free of any confinement when she starts her own teahouse in New York City at the end of the story. This makes for a wonderful rags-to-riches story with a powerful arc that leads to a great happy ending.

What I especially enjoyed about the writing style in this book was the amazing use of metaphors and allegories. For starters the author frequently uses the imagery of water to demonstrate the appealing quality of a geisha. It is noted early on that Sayuri has lots of water in her personality which is a reference to her graceful quality (as opposed to wooden stiff characters). Other poetic metaphors that I really enjoyed was when Sayuri thought of herself as a puddle compared to an ocean when thinking of Hatsumomo as a rival. Or the humorous line during WWII, where the geishas believe that "nothing can be bleaker than the future, except maybe the past". The book is loaded with poetic allegories such as this which further enhance Sayuri's likability as the narrator.

Cultural Study: Geisha

As part of my summer of Japanese Culture, I have segued from feudal samurai studies into the more modern day studies. This of course pertains to the Pacific World War II battles (which I've already written about various times), but also a new interest in geisha culture. This interest has emerged as I've embarked on the famous novel, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I've seen the 2005 movie before which I really enjoyed but still knew quite little about this unique culture. One could make the case that alongside the samurai, the geisha are one of the most iconic cultural traditions of Japan. 

As I've read the book, which I'll later have a full review on, I've been quite fascinated on all the unique customs and structure of this practice. I'll be honest before I began reading this book, I associated geishas as a form of classy prostitutes. However it's not that at all. Geishas are essentially performing artists, who specialize in dance, music, singing, hosting, and the art of conversation. They wear distinctive robes of intricate patterns, known as kimonos. They wear strong makeup with white face paint known as oshiroi. And they wear a traditional hairstyle known as the nihongami, which has a bun in the back with pins and red ribbons. They are essentially the embodiment of beauty and femininity and for this many people will pay highly just for their presence. 

They go thru years of training and it's almost like a cult society, where their life is dedicated to this artform. Their is a system of structure, discipline, obedience, intensive training, and a hierarchy. Most geisha do not get married or have children yet rather stay involved in the geisha community most their lives. This could be either thru mentoring, training, or starting their own geisha house or business. The headquarters of geisha culture is the Gion district of Kyoto, however it spreads throughout Japan. While they do not have a creed or doctrine they practice a philosophy known as the "willow world", which I'd like to further explore in this study. 

Origins of the Geisha

Quite surprisingly the geisha practice did not officially develop until the 1600s during the Edo Period. Of course there were many forms of female courtesans, dancers, and entertainers prior to this, but the artform did not develop until much later. The practice of "pleasure quarters" known as yukaku became common place and legal throughout the 1500s. The highest ranking courtesans were known as oiran, thus already establishing a hierarchy even within the field of prostitution. The oiran was essentially the predecessor to the geisha, as she was not only very beautiful but also well versed in various in music and performance. The visual aesthetics of these women would lay the groundwork for not only the geisha, but also the popular theatre known as kabuki. 

Another important predecessor to the geisha as we know them today, were actually male performers known as taikomochi. These court performers emerged as far back as the 1300s, known as jesters, storytellers, musicians, dancers, party masters, and even advisors to the feudal lords. The female geisha ultimately adopted this practice from the men, with more feminine aesthetics. By the 1700s this form of female entertainer had been identified not as a prostitute but as an artistic performer for social gatherings. By 1750, the first famous geisha Kikuya emerged from Fukagawa, achieving great success not thru sex, but through her skilled singing and shamisen playing. This geisha practice spread slowly throughout Japan, but most primarily in Kyoto's Gion district cattered to upper class private parties. 

Throughout the 1800s the profession had gotten much more organized and was now backed by government regulations that officially declared it was not a form of prostitution. Their popularity quickly grew at the same time as the kabuki theatre, both became beacons of Japanese fashion and cultural entertainment. By 1920 there were approximately 80,000 geisha practicing throughout Japan and were regarded as the elite trendsetters of high-class social life. However with the outbreak of WWII, this popularity ended drastically, and by 1944 most geisha districts were closed. Following the war, the nation was forever changed and many of these geisha found new lifestyles entirely while some did return to similar forms of entertainment. Stricter laws were passed throughout the 1960s, which made it harder for geisha societies to train children. By 1970 the once popular form of social entertainment had become a pastime. While the geisha practice still exists to this day, there are no more then 1000 geishas in Japan. 

Appearance

The geisha has a very distinctive appearance with the intent to emphasize feminine beauty. There are many features to a geisha's ensemble, beginning with their hairstyle, their makeup, and their wardrobe. The makeup is probably the most iconic, with it's white foundation known as oshiroi. The purpose is to illuminate the face with a contrast of the the red lips, black eye liner, and pink blusher. While this overuse of makeup can appear somewhat clownish, on the right girl it can also provide pure visual aesthetics. It's fair to note that this use of white paint makeup was commonplace throughout Europe and France as a symbol of status during this time.

The hairstyle is another distinctive feature of the geisha's appearance, often wore in a style known as the shimada. Similar to the samurai, it's wore with a topknot bun however it has much more intricacy and accessories to it. The hairstyle is the indicator of the geisha's level, either apprentice or professional. The key feature of this style is the red ribbon the is placed at the middle intersection of the back bun. To accompany these red ribbons are long dangling hair-pins or flowers. Once a geisha becomes a professional or more established she can wear a wig, so as not to have to go thru the elaborate styling each day. 

The kimono is their fashion statement, a colorful ensemble of intricate designs and patterns. This is a dress like robe, with long arms and trailing skirts which give off an elegant visual as if they are floating. The robe is held together by a sash known as the obi. The red collar symbolizes apprentice while the white collar symbolizes professional. Another key feature of the geisha's wardrobe are her platform sandals known as okobo. These are a different style of high heels, that lift the geisha from the floor, with a softer step. Geisha take great pride in their embroidered kimonos, which come in all different fabrics, from cotton, linen, polyester, and silk. The hikizuri is considered the most formal of kimono made of fine silk. 

Training Structure

The training process of the geisha begins at a very young age where the girl is likely recruited because of her prosperous beauty. In the early days many a geisha would have begun their training at the age of 6. The young geisha normally moved into houses known as okiya where they would learn from an adopted mother. Most of these young girls came from poor, rural families that simply could not afford the child and were thus sent to serve for their living. The mother of the okiya would raise, feed, clothe, and train the young girl with the intent that she would pay back her debts as a geisha escort. For the first few years of the young girls residency in the okiya, she was mostly a maid and an observer of the geisha customs. 

The proper training stage for a young geisha, known as the shikomi, begins when they start attending classes paid for by the mother of the okiya. A future geisha must spend many hours of intensive training to learn the arts they are expected to have. These arts consist of music classes, singing, and learning how to play the shamisen, three-stringed instrument, the taiko drum, and the fue flute. Dance is also a very important geisha art where the traditional dance of kyomai is best known for it's slow, graceful, and provoking movement. The mastery of tea ceremony, calligraphy, and especially conversation are also essential elements that separate a good geisha from a great geisha. 

The next phase is their apprenticeship where this maiko (apprentice) must follow an established geisha, referred to as their older sister. Here she continues to quietly learn from observation attending parties and other social functions with professional geisha. Normally a maiko is not allowed at a teahouse or an event without their sister geisha. The ceremonial promotion from maiko to geisha is sometimes practiced when a bidder buys their virginity, a tradition known as mizuage (raising the waters). When a maiko graduates to become a geisha (usually at the age of 20 or 21), their collar changes from red to white in a ceremony known as the erikae. She can be fully independent of their okiya mother, once all debts have been paid. She will continue to live in he same okiya for most of her life as she conducts her business as she chooses, often taking on her own apprentices at a fee. A geisha will often have a patron throughout most of her life, known as a danna. 

Traditional Arts

What makes a geisha different then a female escort or prostitute is her intellectual skill in the arts. This incorporates the traditional aspects of Japanese culture. The first and most important skill a geisha has is the art of conversation and hosting. While it may seem trivial, there is no doubt a skill in keeping a conversation lively, humorous, and sincere all at once. Since the geisha are mostly invited to social gatherings they are expected to be the life of the party, by not only showing obedience but also clever engagement with their clients. They are expected to not just be silent observers but to be knowledgably on current affairs, history, the arts, poetry, or literature. This quality brings life to their charming appeal.   

The geisha is also expected to perform for her customers thru her traditional arts of dance and music. The dance known as the nihon buyo is often an expressive one with minimal yet precise movement that displays total elegance. The geisha is also a skilled musician well versed in vocals as well as playing the shamisen, taiko, and fue instruments. They are expected to be masters of the tea ceremony, where they truly display their grace, precision, discipline, and acute awareness. They are also well versed in the Japanese traditions of calligraphy and flower arrangement. 

The Willow World

Although the geisha don't have an official creed or doctrine they follow a way of life known as the karyukai (also known as the willow world). These courtesans are considered like beautiful flowers, who have their blossoming periods yet will also eventually wither. They are also considered like willow trees, who can adapt to any situation with great resilience. They are flexible and appeasing to their clients, but ultimately their roots are stable and grow stronger with age. While it may seem a grim life for most, the geisha take solace in this notion that they are providing an escape for most men, while maintaining their own stability. 

The geisha world is one that appeases others and bends to their desires while still maintaining their foundation. Their world takes place in the geisha districts, a life of servitude as a young child to become like an object of beauty. They don't normally marry or have their own children, and they certainly don't travel or roam freely like a bird. Instead they remain put in this willow world like a stable tree that offers it's leaves and branches to men. These geisha abide by this unofficial code thru their hierarchy and business structure of okiya houses, teahouses, and registry offices. So while most might see Gion or the other red light districts as a form of entertainment and pleasure, from the geisha's perspective this is one of servitude but also artistic fulfillment.  

Video Game Review: Assassin's Creed Shadows

This summer I have emerged into a Japanese phase much thanks to the video game Assassin's Creed Shadows. This is one of my all time favorite video game series, and I have had the game on my radar for some time now. I love the historical and cultural aspect of the game series, and that was certainly the case for this one set in the Sengoku Period of Feudal Japan. This game paired perfectly with the book I was reading, Shogun, which is also set during this time and therefore made this phase more of a focus on feudal Japan. This was such an intriguing time in Japanese history with the discovery by the Portuguese and the ending of their warring states period. The game depicts the key unification that occurred under the leadership of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoishi, and Tokugawa Iyeasu which would establish a 250-year long peaceful era under the Tokugawa Shogunate. 

Just like the last few AC games this was has multiple characters to appeal to both g
enders. Except instead of choosing your hero, they both are playable characters which are necessary to advance the game's storyline. The two heroes in this game are Naoe, a shinbo (ninja) from Iga, and Yaskue (a foreign African slaved turned samurai). The two characters offer a perfect contrast in stealth vs power and incorporate two of the most iconic Japanese warriors; the ninja and the samurai. It's quite interesting to follow their storyline how they got to their place, and the community they establish to weed out the corruption in Japan.

The Story

I'll be honest the main storyline was quite complex to follow, especially since it revolved around two characters. My character of choice was Naoe, whose village of Iga was attacked by Nobunaga's army (led by Yaskue who is actually based off a historical black samurai). Naoe's father tells her to recover a secret lost blade, however she is shot and her father is killed by a secret society known as Shinbakufu. 

Naoe is able to find refuge, and as she recovers she promises vengeance against those who killed her father. Naoe begins the game already as a skilled assassin' however we see flashbacks of her training with her father early on. Naoe gathers information that Nobunaga is the head of the Shinbakufu, and attempts to assassinate him before she is stopped by Yasuke. It is then revealed that she was setup in a greater plot to kill Nobunaga. Yasuke then joins Naoe's fight to gain vengeance on this Shinbakufu circle.

Yasuke is drawn to Naoe's mysterious hidden blade she conceals in her wrist (a symbol of the Assassin's Order) and believes he was instructed to join their cause from his past life. The two establish their own league of assassins to hunt down the remaining members of the Shinbakufu throughout Japan. They eventually uncover a plot coordinated by Ashikaga Yoshiaki, to dispose of Nobunaga. To add a further layer of complex they discover the the Templar Order has influenced many of these events, which further drives Yasuke for vengeance since he was enslaved by Portuguese templar members. The story ends with all enemies terminated, a new league established, and a new quest to find Naoe's mother. 

The GamePlay

This game had a massive open-world map of which I have still yet to fully uncover after nearly 130 hours of gameplay. It had beautiful graphics and almost everything on the map was accessible through roads, water, fields, or even trailblazing thru the brush of the mountains. The game also had a seasonal change, which really added a layer of aesthetics to the beautiful landscape of Japan. Exploring the map is always one of my favorite things to do in open-world games and this one definitely did not disappoint. It had all the usual AC map elements, such as viewpoints, main objectives, side missions, and assassin contracts. Also it was vital to collect resources throughout the map to buildup your hideout.

Both character's weapon of choice is the famous curved sword known as the nagata, but each had some different secondary weapons. Naoe carried an arsenal of the tanto dagger, the kusarigama (spiked metal ball with a chain), throwing knives known as kunai, smoke bombs, and a grappling hook. She was a great climber and stealth killer. Yasuke carried the more traditional samurai weapons such as the kanabo (a large spiked club) and the naginata (a long reach sword). He also carried both the bow and a rifle as his long range weapons known as the yumi and teppo. Where Yasuke lacked in stealth and agility he made up in raw power, ideal for group fights or boss fights. 

Leveling up the characters is necessary to advance in the storyline, and it's always fun to find upgraded weapons and wardrobe. The blacksmith in the hideout will get your preferred weapons and armor upgraded at a cost. The resources collected are necessary to advance your hideout which also includes a network of assassin's that can assist you throughout the game. The league includes Tomiko, head of the base; Junjuro, an artistic young boy; Yaya, a fierce female monk; Gennojo, a street thief; Ibuki, a former ronin; Oni-Yuri, skilled young girl in toxins; Yagoro, younger assassin apprentice; Rufino, a Portuguese rifle shooter. Calling upon these characters to aid you in battle can be helpful but I honestly didn't use this feature all that much. 

The hideouts throughout various locations were also helpful to restock on health supplies, recruit new scouts, and take on new contracts. It also served as a great teleportation on the map, similar to traveling via the viewpoints. The map offered many historical locations which I learned from the game such as Kyoto, the once capital of Japan, Osaka, Lake Biwa, Himeji Castle, Azuchi Castle (Oda Nobunaga's fortification), and the region of Iga known as the birthplace of the ninja method. I found climbing thru mountain shrubs to be a rewarding shortcut to get to where you had to go. There were also many caves to explore or obstacle courses known as hidden paths that offered great treasures. 

The combat format had a solid structure with the typical light attack, hard attack, block, or doge options. Also after a sequence of assaults the hero would get a special attack which was a nice cinematic break that would deliver heavy damage. As I've mentioned Naoe was a good fighter but not good at taking on big groups like Yasuke was. Naoe was the typical Japanese shinobi assassin, somewhat like Shao Jun from AC Chronicles China. She could move quick. climb easily, and perform stealth assassin's which for me is the classic AC format. It's always fun to sneak into a fortification and see how much loot you can steal, and how many enemies you can kill without detection.  

I'd say my biggest complain in the game, was the subtle mention of the Assassin's Order throughout the game. Despite being at the backdrop of the story, I felt Naoe really never had a proper initiation or welcome into this order. At the onset of the game she was already equipped with the hidden blade, a skilled stealth assassins, and could perform the leap of faith. In most other AC games, the lead hero goes thru a period of training to acquire these skills. Sure she discovered elements of the order throughout the game, but it seems like she established her own league based off the principles of the Order. While her parents may have been involved in the league, they were both gone, before they could properly welcome her in. I also rea paid no mind to the animus component of this game, a feature I have always ignored in Assassin's creed. I prefer the historical setting not the modern day one. With that aside though it was a very enjoyable game in which I learned so much about Japanese history and culture.            

Book Review: Shogun

 As I've embarked on a summer of Japan one of the cornerstones of that phase has been the novel Shogun by James Clavell. The book is a two part behemoth with a total of 1312 pages (This falls into War and Peace status). There were certainly times I was not following every miniscule detail, but I got the main gist of the story. It is set once again in Feudal Japan, similar to my AC Shadows, video game, at the end of the 1500s and start of the 1600s (the dawn of the Edo Period). The story is a historical fiction pertaining to the real English navigator William Adams who crash landed in Japan in 1600 and served as their counselor for the rest of his life. In the backdrop of this story is the influence of Catholic Portugal and the warring daimyos which lead to the foundation of the Tokugawa Shogunate (the golden era of Japan known as the Edo Period). 

The setting alone was very fascinating for me, a true historical emersion into feudal Japan which I knew very little of. For starters I just recently discovered from this book that Japan was not discovered until the late 1500s by Portugal. Also of equal interest was the early influence the Catholic Church had after this arrival, but were then later expelled by the local Shinto and Buddhist faiths. I'd say this book was everything I was after in regards to better understanding Feudal Japan and it's overall culture. The TV show was also top quality, with great film production, even though it differed on a few key points from the book. One thing I was disappointed however was the rather abrupt ending which I'll get more into in the review. 

The Plot Synopsis

John Blackthorne is an English pilot of the Dutch ship known as Erasmus which is lost at sea for some time and eventually crashes on the coast of Izu Harbor, Japan. He and his crew are taken prisoners by the local Japanese daimyo Yabu, who intends to keep the ship for himself. Blackthorne is defiant and puts up a fight against his captors who later refer to him as a barbarian. News of the mysterious ships quickly reaches Yabu's liege lord Toranaga who summons him to bring the barbarian before him to Osaka. Once again Blackthorne displays his strong character of resistance, fighting with the Portuguese translators. Toranaga observes this fighting between the European foreigners and discovers there are two warring sects of the Christian faith between the Catholics and the Protestants. 

Toranaga realizes he can learn much from Blackthorne, especially his navigational skills, however decides to imprison him in order to appease the other regent council members (especially Lord Ishido his greatest rival). While in prison Blackthorne learns much of the language and customs of Japan from a Spanish friar. Toranaga once again summons Blackthorne, however this time he places a Japanese translator Mariko, as he begins to distrust the Catholic Portugese translators. Blackthorne explains the Catholic's church intent to colonize Japan the same way it did with the Americas of the New World. Toranaga gives Blackthorne the new Japanese name of "Anjin-san" as a sign of respect. 

Sensing a new threat with Blackthorne's arrival, the enemy regents, supported by the Catholic Portuguese send assassin's to kill Blackthorne however fail. Toranaga decides to then leave Osaka with Blackthorne, whom he now considers a great asset in his fight against the enemy regents. Toranaga grants him the privilege of hatamoto samurai with his own residence, wife, and even courtesans. Mariko continues to grow close to Blackthorne, as she translates for him and teaches him of Japense customs beginning to fall in love with him. However Blackthorne still desires to wage war against the Portuguese Catholics and return to his home in England. He even threatens to commit seppuki, which further demonstrate his fierce resolve to the Japanese daimyos. 

After some time Blackthorne does begin to learn the language and also trains the samurai army in the use of cannon warfare. During this time a great earthquake hits the town of Anjiro, by which Blackthorne saves Toranaga and thus strengthens their trust. However despite his newly acquired skilled navigator, Toranaga still has the odds stacked against him by the regent lords of Osaka led by Ishido. Toranaga is visited by his brother Zataki who informs him he has joined sides with Ishido, and the only option left for Toranaga is to give himself up and commit seppuku. While his war-counsel of Hiromatsu, Yabu, Buntaro, Naga, and Omi seek war, Toranaga instead plans to surrender. He sends Mariko to Osaka as his messenger to lord Ishido.

While visiting Lord Ishido in Osaka, Mariko declares Toranaga will surrender but first she must be allowed to leave with several other noblewomen. Ishido denies this request, which then leads to Mariko's rash act of public defiance in leaving the castle gates. Ishido's guards do not let her pass and she then publicly declares she will commit seppuku for being unable to fulfill her lord Toranaga's command. Knowing that the other regents and nobles do not wish to see Mariko die, Ishido grants her freedom to leave before she can commit seppuku. However that night the castle is assaulted by a group of ninjas (coordinated by Ishido and Yabu's betrayal). Mariko retreats to a storeroom with Blackthorne, where she sacrifices herself when the door is exploded. 

The death of Mariko was a tragedy for all of Osaka, and quickly turned the noble regents against Ishido, which was something he did not intend. This was ultimately a masterplan by Toranaga, knowing he could not defeat Ishido by sheer force and would need this act to help divide the regent lords. Furthermore Yabu was discovered for his treachery and ordered by Toranaga to commit seppuku. Upon his return from Osaka, Blackthorne discovers his ship the Erasmus has been sunk. Toranaga later reveals that a deal was made with the Catholics that Blackthorne's life could be spared if this ship was destroyed. Due to the sacrifice of Mariko and the loss of his ship, Blackthrone develops a new purpose to join Toranaga's fight and rebuild a new ship. The book ends with a brief paragraph on Toranaga's easy defeat of Ishido.

The Review

As I mentioned above this was a very long book, loaded with detail and many characters. I got the general flow of the story but could probably gain more from a 2nd read-thru. I can say that I learned quite a lot from the historical setting which is exactly what I was after. However there's parts of the story I was somewhat dissatisfied with. The first being this unfulfilled love and sacrifice of Mariko, who never really was able to obtain happiness. She was like a prisoner all along, shamed by her father's disgrace she was a prisoner to her lord Toranaga and her husband Buntaro. A devout Catholic she believed in a concept of an Eightfold Fence, a strict duty to Japan, which only allowed her brief moments of happiness with Blackthrone. She was in my opinion the book's true hero and most interesting character and I think she deserved a better ending.

I was also dissatisfied with the abrupt ending and think there could have been a sequel. The whole book is building to this war between Toranaga and Ishido, and the reader never really gets to see it unfold. Rather it's a game of tactical chess, with complex political and diplomatic schemes, Toranaga being the mastermind of it all. With as much detail as there was in the book, Clavell could have certainly dove further into a proper Japanese samurai battle. While we know that Toranaga had already won the battle before it began, why not spell this out in more detail. It would have been great to hear Ishido's final realization and dialogue that his alliance had broken and he was defeated. I also feel Blackthrone's animosity towards Mariko's husband Buntaro was also unresolved especially after her death.   

Aside from these two major anti-climatic points, the book still provided some great historical insight with powerful themes. I would say there was definitely a Japanese concept at work throughout the book, pertaining to their beliefs of honor, duty, karma, and destiny. What's especially interesting in this book, is the culture clash that occurs, where we get to see Japan's unique customs from the perspective of a westerner, Blackthrone (this being ideal for western readers). For me the most eye-opening aspect I learned from this book, was this extreme servitude by both Japanese men and women, who would quickly embrace death in the name of honor. 

The Characters

John Blackthorne (Anjin): He is a portrayal of English navigator William Adams the first Englishman to reach Japan. The character of Blackthrone is quite fierce and strong-minded who seeks to complete his mission by defeating the Portuguese Black Ship most of the book. He does eventually lose site of his own ambitions and begins to embrace the Japanese culture, by falling for Mariko and befriending Toranaga. His transition into the Japanese way is a key element of the book.  

Toranaga: He is the chief daimyo of the book portraying Tokugawa Ieyasu who would later establish the glorious Tokugawa Shogunate. Toranaga is depicted as a very wise and observant man, often calculating his opponents and his next move. His curiosity and willingness to learn of Blackthrone is what helps him gain the upper advantage on his rivals.

Mariko: She is one of the most interesting characters in the story. Her father was a traitor and her family was killed, yet she was spared by her husband Buntaro. She converted to Christianity seeking a new path to salvation and became fluent in various languages such as Latin and Portuguese. It is thru this skill of translation that she becomes a vital tool for Lord Toranaga. Her story is further enhanced when she falls for Blackthorne and reveals the elements of Japanese culture to him. She is ultimately a somber character who restrains her emotions it total stoicism, a concept she refers to as the eightfold path. She sees her sacrifice as the ultimate path to restore her family's honor, and achieve her fate.

Yabu: He is a the chief lord serving under Toranaga, with a sly humorous and scheming character. He is the first to discover Blackthorne and intends to use him for his own personal ambitions. His loyalty to Toranaga is questioned throughout the story, and ultimately breaks when he helps Ishido, which leads to his seppuku at the end.

Hiromatsu: He is the elder lord and most devoted general for Toranaga who confronts Yabu when the Dutch ship is discovered. He sides with Toranaga most the story, until the end when he commits seppuku in protest of Toranaga's decision not to fight.

Omi: He is a younger samurai lord, and nephew to Yabu, who serves Toranaga. He is deeply in love with the beautiful courtesan Kiku. 

Buntaro: He is a courageous samurai lord of Toranaga, and husband to Mariko. He is also a somber figure sharing in the remorse of his wife. He was believed to have been killed early in the story, but later returns and grows animosity towards Blackthrone due to his strong relation with his wife. Even after the death of his wife, his relationship is somewhat unresolved with Blackthrone. 

Ishido: He is Toranaga's chief rival in the council of regents, and seeks to establish himself as Shogun. 

Kiku: She is the most beautiful courtesan of Japan who is a consort to Omi, Toranaga, and Blackthrone. She is later arranged to be Blackthrone's husband at the end of the book. 

Lady Ochiba: She is the heir of the fallen Taiko, who holds significant influence over the regent lords. She is a friend of Mariko, and later decides to pull her alliance with Ishido due to Mariko's death.    

Naga-sun: He is the son of Toranaga, eager and willing to prove himself but perhaps not as strong as his father. 

Rodrigues: He is a skillful Portuguese navigator who befriends Blackthrone, despite their animosity towards one another. They share a rather humorous relationship, a mutual hate yet respect for the other.    

The TV Series

It was actually thanks to the Hulu TV series, that I decided to read this epic novel. I remember seeing the advertisements over a year ago, and could tell it was a top quality historical production. I knew AC Shadows was being released a year later, so I decided to hold from watching the show until I began playing the game. The two were a perfect pair for one another both pertaining to the historical setting of feudal Japan. I of course made sure to start the TV show as I was reaching the backend of the book.  However after a couple episodes in I was surprised to discover that the full book would be recounted in this first season and not the additional seasons to follow. So I had to really delay the final 5 episodes so I could finish Part 2 of the book.

I will say that the TV show definitely helped me better understand the story, but I also picked up on major differences from the book. Obviously the TV show was quite expedited and quickly skimmed over Blackthrone's early capture and culture clash with the local Japanese. It also skimmed over his feud with the Portuguese, primarily the captain Rodrigues. The TV show also skims thru the courtesan aspect of Kiku and the "Willow World". Another major difference were the deaths of Naga and Hiromatsu which did not occur in the book. I also noticed Blackthrone's attempted seppuku came midway thru the book and not at the end as depicted in the show. Also worth mentioning Yabu's second at his seppuku was his nephew Omi, and not Toranaga as depicted in the TV show.    

However despite it's differences from the original book, I would say the TV show definitely enhanced the story with it's dramatic flare. The show had a thematic quality to it, a grand-scale epic production on par with Game of Thrones. I wasn't too crazy about the lead actor portraying Blackthrone and his somewhat goofy demeanor, however I did enjoy the portrayals of Toranaga and Mariko. The setting, wardrobe, landscape, and music are quite captivating and really set this historical scene. For me what really gave the show an artistic quality was the use of poetry thru-out. The final poem at the end, really did move me, by Mariko and Ochiba;

While the snow remains, veiled in the haze of a cold evening, a leafless branch... 

Flowers are only flowers because they fall. 

Thankfully, the wind.

For me this poem captures the essence of Japanese culture, which is primarily focused on honor, duty, sacrifice, and fate. It's no doubt a somber poem that hints at Mariko's grim state by which nothing beautiful in this world can last for long. Furthermore she sees herself as this falling flower needing to achieve this sacrifice to fulfill her fate. However Ochiba adds a touch of hope in that final line, that states this beauty can live on even after the fall, which hints at Mariko's legacy after her death. Poetry such as this is relevant throughout the book, but especially more meaningful in the TV show. Also the ending dialogue between Yabu and Toranaga was equally powerful and poetic which made everything very clear at the end. It was a great show and I look forward to the seasons to follow that will expand on Toranaga's new shogunate.