Comics Buyer's Guide #1235 Interview, 1997) Hawaii has a mixed culture, so I grew up with a great deal of Japanese culture around me. There was a movie theater down the street that showed Japanese movies every weekend. I'd go down every weekend and see the samurai films and the old serials. As I got older I got more into it -- not just the filmmaking, but also the history of Japan. Witty World #1 Interview, 1987) Yes.

That scene is based on the famous story of Nasu no Yoichi in "The Tale of Heike" , the story which took place in the end of the 12th Century (at first, Takahata wanted to make "The Tale of Heike" into anime, instead of doing a story about Tanuki). The Heike clan and the Genji clan were fighting to be the ruler of Japan. At the battle of Yashima (Ya Island), Heike lost the battle and fled the island by ships.

Yes, they did. The code they lived by was called Bushido, which means "way of the warrior." The Bushido was the way of life for Samurai in Japan. The code emphasizes loyalty, faithfulness, self-sacrifice, self-control, honor, sincerity, justice, purity, and a sense of shame should one's honor be lost. As part of the teaching of self-sacrifice, Samurai believed that when they died, they would be reincarnated.

The Samurai lost their final major battle in 1877, however the influence of their code and teachings have remained a part of Japan's culture ever since.

Part of Bushido was followed by the Japanese army in WW2, particularly the kamikaze pilots that rammed their planes into U.S. ships. They followed the code and understanding of not fearing death and knowing that they would be reincarnated. But even more prominently, you see part of Bushido in play all over Japan. Most Japanese are extremely honorable people who are loyal and sincere. They feel shame when their honor is lost.

No. Another fallacy. It is possible (even probable) that the first blokes to join the AIF did so with little understanding of what was to follow and did so with a false impression of quick victory and glory for all. However it is impossible to believe that the later recruits, who having read the casualty lists from Gallipoli, Fromelles and other early battles could have been under any mis-apprehension about the serious nature of the task. They knew what the difficulties were, and the risks.

The Art of Usagi Yojimbo #2) Miyamoto Usagi: "The samurai are the military class of feudal Japan. 'Samurai' literally means 'one who serves' and he is absolutely loyal to his lord."

My first five years where spent in Hamilton, and then I lived in Kaikohe, in the far north of the North Island for 14 years. But as to where I grew up ? well, I've still got a bit of that to do! I remember driving home with my Grandfather on a Monday morning, having spent the weekend at their house, singing "One potato, two potato" over and over. Each time he'd say "last one promise" and after singing the song I'd say "more some last one promise".

Jack has said in many interviews that bands like Fugazi, Jimi Hendrix, Ben Harper, G. Love and Special sauce, and many others influence him and his music.

Our influence comes mostly from more individualistic and idiosyncratic bands of the past. That's not to say that we're devoid of stylistic similarities to other bands. So - My Bloody Valentine, New Order, Stone Roses, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth - are bands who's music has influenced both members. From there the list is long and the range of styles is broad.

No, I’m not Japanese (although I am Asian – does that count? haha), and my mom never made me bento lunches. Heck, none of my friends ever had bento lunches either (although I am pretty sure that we all would have been intensely jealous of anyone who had them). I like to cook all kinds of food, mostly Asian and Italian, but I didn’t start cooking Japanese food until sometime in January 2006.

No! Many Acer palmatum cultivars are very happy in a sunny exposure. This includes the red dissectums (or lace leaf maples), as well as trees with wider, palmate lobes. In fact, the red leaved trees need a few hours of sunlight to maintain their red color. In the Sculpture Gardens at Wildwood, one sees many maples growing in full sun. Summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees. We have found that Japanese maples with green lace leaves prefer partial shade during the afternoon.

Yes, the issue "Il Rapimento" ("The Kidnapping" - see n.19) distinguishes itself by not showing even one corpse, as well as being pervaded by a subtle irony from start to finish in spite of the drama of the story.

Education Clock -- media clock, really -- books published, students sleeping in class, movie attendance Population Clock, World -- www.worldgame.org -- Population, births, deaths -- see also World Game Clocks

Yes. Honor was vital to Samurai, thus if a Samurai leader was defeated in battle and did not die, he would commit a ritual suicide, called Seppuku.

Yes, most of the time. In fact, as part of the ritual it is usually a family member or friend that would slice off his head after the Samurai stabbed himself.

Yes. Saigo Takamori (who is the influence for the Katsumoto character), the Samurai leader in real life, killed himself in shame by committing suicide, a tradition for Samurai leaders that lost a battle. But in death, the people of Japan honored Takamori as a beloved historic figure and leader. Statues of Takamori appear in Kagoshima Central Park and Ueno Park in Tokyo. No, he wasn't. He was a known hero who disagreed, through principle, with the Western modernization of Japan.