by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 25, 2011
Kama are the basis of the kusari-gama. Kama is just the sickle on it's own. They are usually used in pairs and swung in various arcs, crescents etc.
All sorts of slashing motions combined with the forward momentum of the ninja they can cause some devastating damage. The blade of the Kama is roughly around 11-12 inches. The handle is slightly longer. Original sickles had a longer blade and shorter handle.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 17, 2011
Tenchi Masaki was a normal 17 year old boy until the day he accidentally released the space pirate Ryoko from a cave she was sealed in 700 years ago when people thought she was a demon. In a series of events, four other alien girls show up at the Masaki household as Tenchi learns much about the heritage he never knew about and deals with five alien girls who each have some sort of romantic interest in him.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 28, 2010
Large Japanese vessels which were used mainly for transporting supplies and troops to Korea. They were more functional as floating fortresses than actual warships. Due to their V-shaped bottoms, these ships could cut sharply through water currents and move at much greater speeds than any Korean warship. But what they gained in speed, they lost in durability.
Using a lighter type of wood, the Japanese, were able to mass-produce a large number of Atakebune ships in record timing. Given the speed and numbers of the Japanese military, Korea didn’t stand a chance when 400 vessels suddenly appeared on the shores of Busan in 1592.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 25, 2011
A Japanese stringed instrument resembling a banjo with a long neck and three strings and a fretted fingerboard and a rectangular soundbox; played with a plectrum.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 25, 2011
A spirit full of mana often an inward mentor, a source of inspiration, and a moral guardian to an individual.
Daimon is the Greek derivative for the term demon. In this sense the term "demon" means "replete with knowledge." The ancient Greeks thought there were good and bad demons called 'eudemons' and 'cacodemons.' The term 'daimon' means "divine power," "fate" or "god." Daimons, in Greek mythology, included deified heroes. They were considered intermediary spirits between men and the gods. Good daimons were considered to be guardian spirits, giving guidance and protection to the ones they watched over. Bad daimons led people astray. Socrates said he had a life-time daimon that always warned him of danger and bad judgment, but never directed his actions. He said his daimon was more accurate than omens of either watching the flights or reading the entrails of birds, which were two respected forms of divination of the time.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 14, 2010
A wide sash fastened in the back with a large flat bow, worn by women in Japan as a part of the traditional dress.
An obi is a type of belt, typically tied together rather than fastened with a buckle. Adapted from traditional Japanese fashion, obis are a popular method of adding Asian flair to modern outfits. An obi can be purchased or easily made with basic sewing skills. The obi, meaning “sash” in Japanese, was traditionally worn by both men and women, beginning around the 16th century. Men's sashes are typically narrow strips of fabric, while women's can be more than 12 inches (30 cm) wide. Obis can be very long, but may be doubled or tied in elaborate, decorative bows. There are dozens of styles of obi, each associated with traditional tying and tucking methods. Traditionally, an obi is made out of silk, cotton, or brocade, and may be plain or feature a decorative pattern on one or both sides. The color of the fabric can be significant to the wearer; modern Japanese brides, for instance, often wear a pure white obi with their wedding dress. An older custom also calls for white obis to be worn as mourning clothes by widows, but in modern times a black sash may be worn instead. Traditional obis are often made to match or complement a specific kimono, thus people may own several different varieties and colors to match a large wardrobe.
by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ July 12, 2011