Masashige Kusunoki

William&Mikiko Letham wrote:

> < > great Anthony J. Bryant, but Nate Ledbetter, Kitsuno, Tom Helm, Cepo,
> and Prof Letham are all experts >>
>
> Well thanks for the endorsement but I am hardly a "professor"; just a run of
> the mill samurai geek.

Samurai geeks are GOOD!

(BTW, first two-dozen hours of tapes finished; sending 'em tomorrow!)

Tony

On Jan 25, 2004, at 4:42 PM, Nate Ledbetter wrote:

>
> 1. Where did this
> Court resurgence come from?
>
> 2. Same question re: Shishi.
>
> 3. I know I probably just haven't gotten to it yet,
> Where do the daimyo
> disappear to?
>

Nate et al-
I'll try my hand at this, hoping any mistakes will be picked up by
others. I'll to keep it short as well.
In 1853 the American intrusion forced the Bakufu to call on all it's
resources for an answer to the "foreign question." One of the things
they chose to do was to petition the Court and the Tozama Daimyo,
hoping that some brilliant solution or at least some consensus might
result. Instead it was a message to the entire country that the Bakufu
was crippled and powerless. The Court took a decisive albeit short
sighted stand against foreign intercourse, which much of the country
supported, starting a shift of power from Edo to Kyoto.
Prior to the 1850's Mito was a hotbed of Kokugaku, "Japanese History",
and where in their scheme of things greater loyalty was owed the
Emperor than the Shogun, even though they were a house in line for the
Shogunate. In fact it was Mito Komon who "discovered" Kusunoki
Masashige, located his grave and made him a national hero.
In Choshu Yoshida Shoin was preaching an anti-foreign and pro-Court
message that took hold among the young men of his Han. In Han all over
the Japan of the time politically active young men had two choices,
stay within their han and advocate for reform or leave and head to
Kyoto or Edo and try their hand there. In some cases out of deference
to their lords they became ronin, or they had no other choice if they
were to travel to the capitol and take part in the action.
Some Daimyo were unable or unwilling to act, others maintained a level
of "plausible deniability" by fostering opposing factions within their
han. Thus if their advocates failed they could disown them, or swing
the whole han over to the successful policy. Therefore the Lord could
be seen to be acting thru his more radical subordinates, while assuring
his old guard that nothing would change. Of course this was a policy
that put extraordinary power in the hands of mid-level samurai. Beyond
that I'll be spoiling the story so, enjoy...
-t

On Jan 25, 2004, at 3:07 PM, Anthony J. Bryant wrote:

>
> > well, it's helping being here. So far in the 2 1/2
> > weeks here, I've read Varley's Onin War,

Ooohhh...
Do you have an original first edition? I only have a photocopy version.
Columbia sells it for $70!!
Do you know it was actually Dr.Varley PhD dissertation?

cepo (books freak, sorry)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

It looks like I have the first edition - 1967 and excellent
condition. Only cost me 25$, about 3 years ago.

As for the lecture, I have 38% and now I don't see the file
anymore... although someone else is downloading what I have - guess
once they hit that 38% mark, they'll be SOL too! ;)



--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Cesare Polenghi
wrote:

>
> On Jan 25, 2004, at 3:07 PM, Anthony J. Bryant wrote:
>
> >
> > > well, it's helping being here. So far in the 2 1/2
> > > weeks here, I've read Varley's Onin War,
>
> Ooohhh...
> Do you have an original first edition? I only have a photocopy

version.

> Columbia sells it for $70!!
> Do you know it was actually Dr.Varley PhD dissertation?
>
> cepo (books freak, sorry)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I could use that right now...

Nate


--- "Anthony J. Bryant" <ajbryant@...> wrote:

>
> That can be an uncomfortable sensation at times. I
> recommend medicinal
> application of chuu-hai and/or sake.
>
>
> Tony
>
>
>
>

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--- William&Mikiko Letham <mickey.letham@...>
wrote:

A good basic info answer--thanks, that's exactly what
I needed. I'll read more about it, of course, but now
I've got a little background.

>
> Gee too bad. So close and yet so far. Its on every
> Sunday night at 8
> repeating next Saturday at 1:05. Its also on BS at
> 10:00. I'm taping every
> episode.

Kashite kurenai no kana???????

I don't understand WHY I can't get it! Is it on a
channel higher than 69, because my TV doesn't go past
that.

Nate

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--- Tom Helm <junkmail@...> wrote:

Beyond

> that I'll be spoiling the story so, enjoy...
> -t
>

And I wouldn't want that! LOL...thanks for the answer,
it was really helpful. Between you and William I think
I've got a pretty good idea now....again, back to the
books!

Nate

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--- Cesare Polenghi <cepo@...> wrote:

> Ooohhh...
> Do you have an original first edition? I only have a
> photocopy version.
> Columbia sells it for $70!!
> Do you know it was actually Dr.Varley PhD
> dissertation?

No, it was a library book. And no, I didn't know it
was his PHD dissertation. Pretty nifty one, I might
add. Though I was a little disappointed (given my
background) that there wasn't really coverage of any
actual WARFARE...only the politics behind it. As I'm a
government/IR guy, that was interesting, but as a
military man I would have liked to get more detail in
the actual tactical fighting, even if it was just
"I'll burn your mansion on Rokujo, then you burn mine
on Nijo".

Nate

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Chuuhai was my 'test prep' drink of choice when I was in school in
Japan. Down a can right before class, and you're good to go. Thank
the emperor for vending machines that don't ask for I.D.!


--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Nate Ledbetter
wrote:

> I could use that right now...
>
> Nate
>
>
> --- "Anthony J. Bryant" wrote:
>
> >
> > That can be an uncomfortable sensation at times. I
> > recommend medicinal
> > application of chuu-hai and/or sake.
> >
> >
> > Tony
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!
> http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/

Cepo,
I wonder can you or anyone on the list share with us the exact wording
and settings for the search that will take us to the lecture? I seem to
be wasting an inordinate amount of time trolling thru lists of porn
clips and samurai Jack episodes trying to find it...
-t

On Jan 25, 2004, at 10:06 PM, Tom Helm wrote:

> Cepo,
> ����� I wonder can you or anyone on the list share with us the exact
> wording
> and settings for the search that will take us to the lecture? I seem to
> be wasting an inordinate amount of time trolling thru lists of porn
> clips and samurai Jack episodes trying to find it...
> -t

Yep. Nowadays when you digit Japan... hihihihi.
Ok, the file is called exactly:

MASS_1000_years_of_samurai.mpg

Again, good luck.
cepo

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Jan 25, 2004, at 6:41 PM, Kitsuno wrote:

> It looks like I have the first edition - 1967 and excellent
> condition.  Only cost me 25$, about 3 years ago.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... ;o)

> As for the lecture, I have 38% and now I don't see the file
> anymore...  although someone else is downloading what I have - guess
> once they hit that 38% mark, they'll be SOL too! ;)

Ok dudes, I'll leave it on all night, and I will try to bring a copy to
school, so I'll slam it in the computer at my office and you can keep
going. Believe me, it's worth the effort. (imho!)
It's hard to begin a sharing, but once a few of you have it it will be
much easier.
Keep the faith.
cepo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

1.I am also honoured to be part of this group.I've learned a lot and i'm fairly new.I'm subscribed last year.
2.Cepo,can you send me some photos of Masashige Kusonoki?????Please!!!!

Edy

Cesare Polenghi <cepo@...> wrote:

On Jan 24, 2004, at 7:20 PM, midorinotoradesu wrote:

> Let me 1st say that the wealth of knowledge available in this group
> never ceases to amaze me. I've been a member of the group for about
> 3 years now (although I don't post many messages) and I am always
> surprised by the members of this group. Not only do we have the
> great Anthony J. Bryant, but Nate Ledbetter, Kitsuno, Tom Helm, Cepo,

Ooooh... Ahem... I am honored, but -truly- I am just a beginner. :o)
I'll join the club for good, once I get my MA, in some 18 months.
For now... study, study, study...

>
> and Prof Letham are all experts that I am honored to learn from. I
> read the daily digest sent to my home email with great anticipation.
> Thank you all (there are many that I did not mention). This is the
> best group on the web.

What I can say for sure is that there are a lot of people with a lot of
enthusiasm, knowledge, tolerance (usually!) and different interests.
Really pleasant to be here! :oD

>
> On with my question. It has 2 parts.
> First, I have seen some famous statue photos of Masashige Kusunoki.
> It is a huge bronze statue of the man, powerfully posed, on a huge
> horse. It seems to capture a strength that not many other statues of
> this type reveal. I'd like to see it myself but I don't know where
> it is at. I'm living in Tokyo, and I know it's somewhere around
> here. Anyone know exactly where it is?

I believe it's just outside the Imperial Palace garden - if I remember
well.

> Second, does anyone who has visited the statue have other pictures of
> it? I'd like to get a small collection of photos so that I can make
> a painting. The staue would be a reference for the horse mainly but
> I'd like to capture the strength of the samurai in it as well.

I'll send you a couple in private - I have a collection of pix
downloaded from the net, I am sure I have a few of thst statue. By the
way, I don't remember when (probably Taisho period or so...) but that
very statue was on a Japanese currency bill.

Bye!!
cepo


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm sorry about the mix up. What I meant to say was "...tom helm,
prof murf, and William Letham..."
--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, "William&Mikiko Letham" <
mickey.letham@n...> wrote:

> < > great Anthony J. Bryant, but Nate Ledbetter, Kitsuno, Tom Helm,

Cepo,

> and Prof Letham are all experts >>
>
> Well thanks for the endorsement but I am hardly a "professor"; just

a run of

> the mill samurai geek.
>
>
> <

Kusunoki.

> It is a huge bronze statue of the man, powerfully posed, on a huge
> horse. It seems to capture a strength that not many other statues

of

> this type reveal. I'd like to see it myself but I don't know where
> it is at. I'm living in Tokyo, and I know it's somewhere around
> here. Anyone know exactly where it is?>>
>
> Cepo was correct. Its in front of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The

area is

> called "Kogo Mae Hiroba".
>
> I don't have any pics of it myself but there are some in Kodansha's

Saigen

> Nihonshi # 78. You probably can find a copy in Maruzen or

Kinokuniya.

Nate Ledbetter wrote:

>>That can be an uncomfortable sensation at times. I
>>recommend medicinal
>>application of chuu-hai and/or sake.
>
>
> I could use that right now...

I recommend a visit to the neighborhood izakaya (Jp. for "drugstore") and walk
in, look at the proprietor, and say, "My doctor has prescribed I should take one
to two lemon sours orally per hour until sedated."


Tony

Kitsuno wrote:

> Chuuhai was my 'test prep' drink of choice when I was in school in
> Japan. Down a can right before class, and you're good to go. Thank
> the emperor for vending machines that don't ask for I.D.!

Yup.

Now there's talk about requiring all those "adult product" jidô hanbaiki to
require a check of a driver's license to make sure one's an adult. That means us
"non Japanese DL toting gaijin" couldn't get booze late at night when we need it...

Tony

> It looks like I have the first edition - 1967 and excellent
> condition. Only cost me 25$, about 3 years ago.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... ;o)>>

Have you ever tried this place?

http://used.addall.com/

With a bit of luck and the right timing you can snag some good bargains.I
have.

> Gee too bad. So close and yet so far. Its on every
> Sunday night at 8
> repeating next Saturday at 1:05. Its also on BS at
> 10:00. I'm taping every
> episode.

Kashite kurenai no kana???????>>

You are in luck. I was taping it for someone in exchange for some American
TV shows but he actually didn't want Shinsegumi. The problem is, now that
you are in Japan what could you possible give me in exchange???

drop me a line here mickey.letham@... and we can see what we can do.

I've got 97% of it. I've had limewire on all day but no luck,
can't 'find the sources' but I have my computer on 24 hours a day, so
if anyone wants it, log on now, and you can get 97% of it from me, or
the full 100% if I can get the rest.

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Cesare Polenghi
wrote:

> On Jan 25, 2004, at 10:06 PM, Tom Helm wrote:
>
> > Cepo,
> > ����� I wonder can you or anyone on the list share with us the

exact

> > wording
> > and settings for the search that will take us to the lecture? I

seem to

> > be wasting an inordinate amount of time trolling thru lists of

porn

> > clips and samurai Jack episodes trying to find it...
> > -t
>
> Yep. Nowadays when you digit Japan... hihihihi.
> Ok, the file is called exactly:
>
> MASS_1000_years_of_samurai.mpg
>
> Again, good luck.
> cepo
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- "Anthony J. Bryant" <ajbryant@...> wrote:

> I recommend a visit to the neighborhood izakaya (Jp.
> for "drugstore") and walk
> in, look at the proprietor, and say, "My doctor has
> prescribed I should take one
> to two lemon sours orally per hour until sedated."
>
>
> Tony

Don't think my military medical coverage covers that,
but it's worth a shot...or two...or three...


Nate


__________________________________
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--- William&Mikiko Letham <mickey.letham@...>
wrote:

> You are in luck. I was taping it for someone in
> exchange for some American
> TV shows but he actually didn't want Shinsegumi. The
> problem is, now that
> you are in Japan what could you possible give me in
> exchange???
>
> drop me a line here mickey.letham@... and we
> can see what we can do.

Ah, but what do you want? You forget I have access to
US military bases, and the wonderful fruit of America
they provide. We can work something out, I'm sure...at
least until I can get NHK figured out!

Nate

__________________________________
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BY the way, William--I was reading last night and came
upon another question, or rather, a continuation--

what happened to the daimyo, i.e. Mouri and Shimazu,
once their keirai turned ronin to work against the
bakufu, etc.? Totman talks quite a bit (so far) about
Shimazu Hisamitsu, but I'm wondering when these guys
fade out of the picture and how--you don't hear of any
daimyo becoming leaders in the Meiji govt. I'm
wondering why.

Nate

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Nate Ledbetter wrote:

> --- "Anthony J. Bryant" <ajbryant@...> wrote:
>
>
>>I recommend a visit to the neighborhood izakaya (Jp.
>>for "drugstore") and walk
>>in, look at the proprietor, and say, "My doctor has
>>prescribed I should take one
>>to two lemon sours orally per hour until sedated."
>>
>>
>>Tony
>
>
> Don't think my military medical coverage covers that,
> but it's worth a shot...or two...or three...

That's why we have weekends.

Tony

Ah yes...but I'm working Japanese hours now...hmm...

of course, in the grand tour of my office, they did
show me where all the osake of all types is kept.
Liaison work looks really rough...

The worst part of my job seems to be that I personally
can't stand karaoke, but I'm going to have to do it
regardless...

Nate

--- "Anthony J. Bryant" <ajbryant@...> wrote:

> Nate Ledbetter wrote:
>
> > --- "Anthony J. Bryant" <ajbryant@...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>I recommend a visit to the neighborhood izakaya
> (Jp.
> >>for "drugstore") and walk
> >>in, look at the proprietor, and say, "My doctor
> has
> >>prescribed I should take one
> >>to two lemon sours orally per hour until sedated."
> >>
> >>
> >>Tony
> >
> >
> > Don't think my military medical coverage covers
> that,
> > but it's worth a shot...or two...or three...
>
> That's why we have weekends.
>
> Tony
>
>
>

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< US military bases, and the wonderful fruit of America
they provide. We can work something out, I'm sure...at
least until I can get NHK figured out!>>

What I want most of all is certain TV shows from the states, that and cheap
copies of certain books. Costco handles all my food desires. Again drop me a
line here mickey.letham@... so that we can talk about this in private.

< once their keirai turned ronin to work against the
bakufu, etc.? Totman talks quite a bit (so far) about
Shimazu Hisamitsu, but I'm wondering when these guys
fade out of the picture and how--you don't hear of any
daimyo becoming leaders in the Meiji govt. I'm
wondering why.

Nate>>

Off hand I recall some of them became governors of the prefectures that
their domains became (though most of those didn't last too long in that
post). All of them got a lump sum salary from the Meiji. Most used this to
invest back into state enterprises (which was what was intended) and became
very rich and managed to live comfortably on that. Also they were given
various ranks in the new peerage. I don' recall any that contributed
anything significant in the Meiji era. Most daimyo of the bakumatsu era were
not exactly to smart. Hence the reasons their kerai mostly ran the show.

Just to let you guuys know if any of you in Japan want some tv shows taped I
would gladly trade with you for tv shows over in Japan. I am willing to
take whatever you guys cangive me. Just let me know what you want over here
in thwe states.



Randall Edwards
NOVA Technical Solutions

>From: Nate Ledbetter <ltdomer98@...>
>Reply-To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
>To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [samuraihistory] Bakumatsu questions
>Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 19:18:18 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>--- William&Mikiko Letham <mickey.letham@...>
>wrote:
>
> > You are in luck. I was taping it for someone in
> > exchange for some American
> > TV shows but he actually didn't want Shinsegumi. The
> > problem is, now that
> > you are in Japan what could you possible give me in
> > exchange???
> >
> > drop me a line here mickey.letham@... and we
> > can see what we can do.
>
>Ah, but what do you want? You forget I have access to
>US military bases, and the wonderful fruit of America
>they provide. We can work something out, I'm sure...at
>least until I can get NHK figured out!
>
>Nate
>
>__________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!
>http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/

_________________________________________________________________
Make your home warm and cozy this winter with tips from MSN House & Home.
http://special.msn.com/home/warmhome.armx

Karaoke perfect plan:

(1) Let a Japanese friend start with the first track
(2) Go for the second song, and pick a classic: Elvis, Beatles or
Sinatra.
(3) Booze and chat for the rest of the session
(4) Just before it comes to an end, grab the mic and sing "Ue o Muite
Aruku"

This is a 100% guaranteed system to make your friends think you're
cool, without spending too much energies. It has been tested
successfully more than 20 times by me.

Good luck
cepo

On Jan 26, 2004, at 7:45 PM, Nate Ledbetter wrote:

> Ah yes...but I'm working Japanese hours now...hmm...
>
> of course, in the grand tour of my office, they did
> show me where all the osake of all types is kept.
> Liaison work looks really rough...
>
> The worst part of my job seems to be that I personally
> can't stand karaoke, but I'm going to have to do it
> regardless...
>
> Nate
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Haha yeah, the Beatles, U2, and Linkin Park make up my
repertoire, depending on the audience. I'll sing "Love
Love Love" by Dreams Come True and "Mirai e" by Kiroro
in Japanese, but that's it.

Nate

--- Cesare Polenghi <cepo@...> wrote:

> Karaoke perfect plan:
>
> (1) Let a Japanese friend start with the first track
> (2) Go for the second song, and pick a classic:
> Elvis, Beatles or
> Sinatra.
> (3) Booze and chat for the rest of the session
> (4) Just before it comes to an end, grab the mic and
> sing "Ue o Muite
> Aruku"
>
> This is a 100% guaranteed system to make your
> friends think you're
> cool, without spending too much energies. It has
> been tested
> successfully more than 20 times by me.
>
> Good luck
> cepo
>
> On Jan 26, 2004, at 7:45 PM, Nate Ledbetter wrote:
>
> > Ah yes...but I'm working Japanese hours
> now...hmm...
> >
> > of course, in the grand tour of my office, they
> did
> > show me where all the osake of all types is kept.
> > Liaison work looks really rough...
> >
> > The worst part of my job seems to be that I
> personally
> > can't stand karaoke, but I'm going to have to do
> it
> > regardless...
> >
> > Nate
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!
http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ps/sb/

Well, I have 100%, but I can't play it with windows media player, and
with RealPlayer, I can only see a blur of color and the very top of
the guy's head, and no sound at all..... any thoughts? I'm guessing
I'm missing a plug in, but have no idea which one. Anyway, I have it
up on LimeWire now if anyone else wants it...

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Cesare Polenghi
wrote:

> On Jan 25, 2004, at 10:06 PM, Tom Helm wrote:
>
> > Cepo,
> > ����� I wonder can you or anyone on the list share with us the

exact

> > wording
> > and settings for the search that will take us to the lecture? I

seem to

> > be wasting an inordinate amount of time trolling thru lists of

porn

> > clips and samurai Jack episodes trying to find it...
> > -t
>
> Yep. Nowadays when you digit Japan... hihihihi.
> Ok, the file is called exactly:
>
> MASS_1000_years_of_samurai.mpg
>
> Again, good luck.
> cepo
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My computer plays automatically with Quick Time. Not only that: I burnt
it into a CD-R (just the file) and put it in the DVD player, and I can
see it as VCD. Hope it works.
BTW, somebody asked where did I get it. it's from a friend, who ripped
it from a videotape.
cepo

On Jan 27, 2004, at 4:15 PM, Kitsuno wrote:

> Well, I have 100%, but I can't play it with windows media player, and
> with RealPlayer, I can only see a blur of color and the very top of
> the guy's head, and no sound at all..... any thoughts?  I'm guessing
> I'm missing a plug in, but have no idea which one.  Anyway, I have it
> up on LimeWire now if anyone else wants it...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Nate et al,

some more reponses to your questions:

>
> 1. The Court

Out of all the confusion of bakumatsu politics I find the Court's role the hardest to grasp. If anyone knows of sources on this period I'd love to hear from them. There were factions in the court, such as that led by Sanjo Sanetomi who supported the 'loyalist' cause, but what was Sanjo's education?

>
> 2. Same question re: Shishi.

The Choshu shishi were not usually ronin. They were still operating within the rule of their han. Choshu like all the great han maintained yashiki in Kyoto and Edo where young men were sent to learn sword fighting, other military subjects, Dutch learning and foreign languages. At one stage the Choshu Edo yashiki, the Yubikan was run by Katsura, later Kido Koin, a pupil of Yoshida Shoin, and a high ranking official in the han.

Han education I think is important here. Choshu's Meirinkan in Hagi is famous: as well as all the martial arts, strategy, tactics and so on, classical learning, confucianism, and ethics were taught here. Inoue Kaoru was a typical pupil: he also attended Shoin's school at the same time. His family upbringing was extremely frugal and hardworking, yet he was of sufficiently high rank to be employed in the Mori family's service, was sent to Edo to learn rangaku and then to England to study English, was a close friend of Takasugi Shinsaku and so became a shotai leader, could speak English and so like Ito (another close friend) became involved in the negotiations after the war with the 4 Countries. Yet he was never a ronin, everything he did was with the permission of his han, though against the bakufu's rulings.

So the shishi came from a dynamic social culture, not the stagnation that "sakoku" is often depicted as. They rose in the same way young people of ability do anywhere, through a mixture of their own talents, their education and friendships, the circumstances of the time and luck.

Han politics, as Tom says, swung from the conservatives (in Choshu the zokuronha) who supported the bakufu and were in favour of 'open country' (ironically -they are far closer to what we would consider 'liberal' now) and the 'loyalists' (seigiha) who supported the emperor and wanted to expel foreigners. The Mori daimyo, Takachika, vacillated between the two. He was not a strong character (with the exception of Hisamitsu, few of the daimyo were at this stage: Ernest Satow in A Diplomat in Japan blames their education and uprbinging), but the feeling in Choshu was that if action were to be taken against the bakufu the house of Mori had to be involved (still lingering resentment towards the Tokugawa after Sekigahara!), but not to the extent that the Mori should be destroyed. Far more important in han politics, including protection and mentorship of the shishi, were the top bureaucrats like Sufu Masanosuke.

Takachika retired after the restoration and handed leadership of the family over to his son. he died in the 4th year of Meiji. The Mori residence at Hofu was built for the family later in the Meiji period, but I think it illustrates the decline of the daimyo families very well. (In an earlier post I said Mori was called sansei - in fact I've looked at my notes now and the phrase was souseikou, because this was all he ever aid in meetings: sorry about that.

Just one thing to add, am trying to keep this short. Ii Naosuke's policies during the Ansei purges when many bakufu opponents were executed aroused massive resentment among the han bushi. If Ii had lived his strength of character and ruthlessness might have saved the bakufu, his assassination by Mito men in 1860 is probably one of the many turning points in this period.

>
>It's complex - one of the things I did not like about The Last Samura was it turned this dynamic, fascinating, complex, sophisticated society into a tribal village!

g

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< hardest to grasp. If anyone knows of sources on this period I'd love to hear
from them. There were factions in the court, such as that led by Sanjo
Sanetomi who supported the 'loyalist' cause, but what was Sanjo's
education?>>

>

Herschel Webb's book The Japanese Imperial Institution in The Tokugawa
Period covers this.

Also Murdoch's 3 volume of his History of Japan supplies a lot of narrative
detail.

My computer plays automatically with Quick Time. Not only that: I burnt
it into a CD-R (just the file) and put it in the DVD player, and I can
see it as VCD. Hope it works.
BTW, somebody asked where did I get it. it's from a friend, who ripped
it from a videotape.
cepo

On Jan 27, 2004, at 4:15 PM, Kitsuno wrote:

> Well, I have 100%, but I can't play it with windows media player, and
> with RealPlayer, I can only see a blur of color and the very top of
> the guy's head, and no sound at all..... any thoughts?  I'm guessing
> I'm missing a plug in, but have no idea which one.  Anyway, I have it
> up on LimeWire now if anyone else wants it...
>


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