In Commemoration: Yukio Mishima Remembered

It was on this day 42 years ago on November 25^th 1970 that visionary author & playwright Kimitake Hiraoka better known as Yukio Mishima and four members of the Tatenokai (The Shield Society – Mishima's own private Army) entered the Tokyo Headquarters of the Eastern Command of the Ground Self Defense Forces where he staged a failed coup d'etat. For 42 years since his ritual Seppuku that both shocked and mystified Japan and the larger world, Mishima's influence continues on to this day. We would be remiss to not say his actions as his life were not without controversy. Just ask any Isei over 50 and you will get some form of reaction to his name that helped inspire this blog. In commemoration of his death, we at American Mishima would like to offer this small tribute to his memory and great works of literature that earned him three nominations of the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was considered the Ernest Hemingway of Japan. Albeit there is no way we could easily summarize his complex life or his works in a few short paragraphs. Rather we leave you with this visual essay from the Paul Schrader film Mishima – A Life in Four Chapters. Please enjoy!

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

 
This has to be one of the happiest photographs to have been featured here on American Mishima. Newly re-elected President Obama gives a hug to Myanmar (Burma) opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Anyone who knows the story of her decades long struggle for democracy and freedom in her country against the brutal military junta that has ruled her country since the assassination of her father in the 1940's can truly appreciate this photo. Awesome! 

Not familiar with Aung San Suu Kyi? Check out her biographical movie starring Michelle Yeoh - The Lady

Los Angeles Koyasan 100 Year Centennial

Today marked the 100 Year Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Los Angeles Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. Established in a room in the Miyako Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles by Aoyama Shutai Sensei in 1912, the Temple has endured many challenges from Discrimination to the forced internment of Japanese-American during World War II. Through the resilience of the Isei & Nisei generations both the Temple and the teachings of Kobo Daishi have flourished to propagate Shingon Buddhism here in the United States culminating in today's heavily attended ceremony to which we were fortunate enough to attend.

For this special occasion, various priests from Japan flew in to partake in the 100 year ceremony most notably Ekan Ikeguchi the head minister of the Saifukuji Temple in Kagoshima who in 1968 visited the Los Angeles Betsuin in Little Tokyo and helped establish the Goma Fire Ritual which has become a mainstay in the Koyasan Temple to this day. Among the 20+ priests attending were resident Bishop Emeritus Taisen Miyata Sensei and an appearance by our former minister and dear friend Reverend Seicho Asahi Sensei who performed Taiko during the Goma service portion.

 

As both practitioners of Shingon Buddhism and members of the LA Koyasan Temple we at American Mishima would like to wish the Los Angeles Koyasan Betsuin in Little Tokyo another 100 Years success and the continued propagation of the teachings of Kobo Dashi here in the United States.

おめでとうたんじょうびこやさんべついん!

A Look at LA Opera's Production of Madame Butterfly

The following photos are from the LA Opera's current production of Madame Butterfly. Yes we know this is Puccini but it still makes a great story. Please enjoy!

 

 

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

おめでとうございます! US Ambassador to Japan John Roo's seen here with happy Tokyo High School Students celebrating the US Election results re-electing incumbent President Barrack Obama. すごいねReposted from Japan Today.

First Isei Elected to US Senate!

Oh what a night! President Obama won re-election and then in his home state of Hawaii the people have elected their first woman senator to represent the Aloha State. はい そ です! Sure, other people of Japanese descent such as Senior Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye (Seen pictured with Hirono) have been elected to office before but Mazie Hirono will be the first foreign born and Asian-American elected to the Senate. Originally from Fukushima Japan, the 65 year old naturalized citizen Congresswoman Mazie Hirono becomes the first Isei to be elected to the US Senate representing Hawaii. It should be further noted that she is also the first Buddhist to be elected to the Senate. With all the evangelical insanity we've seen, it's good to know we have a sane Buddhist on board.  So to Senator Hirono, we at American Mishima would like to congratulate you by saying おめでとうございます + がんばってください!

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

In keeping with Nobunaga November we chose to feature this statue of Shibata Katsuie that sits guard at the site of Kitanojo Castle. "Oni" Demon Shibata was one of Oda Nobunaga's Generals who married Nobunaga's sister Lady Oichi. Facing defeat by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces, it is said that Oni Shibata died together with Lady Oichi at the end of the Battle of Shizugatake. As we continue on with the NHK Taiga Drama Hime-tachi no Sengoku or Princess Go, we will feature other real life characters who served the great warlord Oda Nobunaga.