The Departments


Samurai Visit

12th December 2007

 

On 11th December, Hereford Sixth Form College was pleased to host a presentation by Michael Jay, the first non-Japanese to hold an authentic Samurai rank since Williams Adams in the 17th Century. Michael is a senior member of the oldest classical martial arts school in Japan, Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, which teaches traditional sword skills as used on the medieval Japanese battlefield and has hence been designated as an ‘Intangible Cultural Treasure of Japan’ by the Japanese government.
 
Michael gave a talk to students in the Film Studies Department to provide a cultural context for their study of Japanese film and followed this with a presentation to a capacity audience in the Performing Arts Centre.
 
Michael’s presentation focused on traditional weapons skills which seemed to be highly choreographed, formal and almost balletic – surprisingly so given that they were originally developed to kill on the battlefield. He contrasted these with modern ‘martial’ arts which he described as highly skilful sporting activities originating in the 19th Century and debunked many of the Hollywood myths surrounding medieval Japan.
 
Given the traditional, rather messy, Samurai response to failure and disgrace, we are pleased, and somewhat relieved, to report that the presentation was a resounding success. It held the audience transfixed for a full hour, leaving students keen to investigate further the historical context of the Samurai as well as their impact on the culture of modern Japan.

Ed.

To see more photos of this event click this link http://www.review.hereford.ac.uk/photoAlbums/

The Review Online