Are samaris still around?

[Neon]

I have heard that they are, but not in the way they are characterized in anime and the "mainstream" media.

Does anybody know?

[Tremolo]

Samaris?

Whut?

And as for samurais, no idea. Everyone knows Tom Cruise is the last samurai anyway.

[Elric]

Well all i know they still exist in virtual worlds (games) and films. In the flesh, I doubt it.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Died out? Samurai were a feudal class, the equivalent of European knights in the feudal system. They ceased to exist the moment that Japan switched to the Meiji oligarchy and abolished feudalism. Had nothing to do with any sword abolishing law (which was more for security reasons - can't have a million disgruntled former land owners/soldiers out there with weapons now). Are there still descendants of old samurai families? You bet. Does that mean anything any more? Unlikely.

[Saya-biki]

yes
they're only samari at night though

during the day they work at KFC or possibly the schools as Janitors

but at night
them samari will cut you if you crash their parties


as for samURAI, their are people who possess the skills of Samurai
but that doesn't mean they are samurai or use them on a regular basis

or do you mean hacker? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_%28hacking%29)

[Ren Saruwatari]

I don't think he meant the hacker type, though I do applaud the fact that they model themselves after the samurai.

[Javer]

Don't be so quick to assume that the samurai is gone. Consider the definitions. Some consider the samurai to be anyone endowed with the spirit and morals that characterized the warriors of long ago -- the spirit to endure any pain in the world if necessary, to give oneself up for dead while still alive, and to go into anything and everything with thought, but without hesitation.

There are undoubtedly individuals like that today (while they may seem a little creepy when compared to our modern standards). So yes, some would say that samurai still exist.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Don't be so quick to assume that the samurai is gone. Consider the definitions. Some consider the samurai to be anyone endowed with the spirit and morals that characterized the warriors of long ago -- the spirit to endure any pain in the world if necessary, to give oneself up for dead while still alive, and to go into anything and everything with thought, but without hesitation.

There are undoubtedly individuals like that today (while they may seem a little creepy when compared to our modern standards). So yes, some would say that samurai still exist.


By that definition, the most fanatical members of the Crusades are samurai, a lot of Red Army soldiers and SS soldiers would be samurai, the Theban Sacred Band would be samurai, etc...

The samurai spirit/bushido spirit still exist obviously, but as a class or distinguishable entity, there are no more samurai.

[Javer]

The samurai spirit/bushido spirit still exist obviously, but as a class or distinguishable entity, there are no more samurai.

Okay. I didn't know we were talking specifically about the occupation/social class.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

The samurai spirit/bushido spirit still exist obviously, but as a class or distinguishable entity, there are no more samurai.

Okay. I didn't know we were talking specifically about the occupation/social class.


Well, I don't think you could define them without using the occupation/social class. For example, if a civilian exhibits all the qualities of a soldier, he still wouldn't be a soldier without actually entering the army, he would just have the spirit of a soldier.

[Javer]

Well, I don't think you could define them without using the occupation/social class. For example, if a civilian exhibits all the qualities of a soldier, he still wouldn't be a soldier without actually entering the army, he would just have the spirit of a soldier.

True. But these days, one's lifestyle and one's occupation are separate. Back then in Japan, one usually kept a job for life, and thus one grew to be distinguished by his or her occupation.

Saying that someone had the spirit of a samurai, as I imagine (could be wrong), would be like saying "So why aren't you one?!" :P

[kyubichan]

so it all sums up to this: the samurai spirit is still alive, yet the class itself has long been abolished due to changes in the government.

FYI: There are certain kinds of martial arts out there whose practice stem from the original practice of the samurai, such as archery and Japanese sword fighting, and for most they do teach the ancient beliefs and ideology of the samurai class.

[etane]

The modern samurai is the 80 hr/wk salary man?

The Toyotomis and Tokugawas are replaced by Mistubishi and Toyotas?

Just a thought.

[Niner]

Because it had to be done. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4305) :XD:

So yes, there are still Samaris running around this crazy world. :D

[etane]

HAHAH he ain't no Samurai. He a Sushi Rolle.

[M.Baka]

i heard there are people still praticing the art of the samurai. But no samurai as a class

[Sunami 366]

i heard there are people still praticing the art of the samurai. But no samurai as a class

i agree. i dont think samurais really exist anymore. who knows. maybe theres some kinda wandering samurai, like kenshin =\

[Gigadi]

The US has Amish, why can't Japan have samurai who have yet to recieve their memo.

BTW, there are Mormons in Central America who have rubber tires on their carriages, not simple wheels, but Goodyear tires.

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

The Amish are a society that chooses their lifestyle based on religious beliefs in a land of religious freedom. The samurai were formally and actively abolished by the government (which was comprised of a lot of old samurai) in the Meiji era, there's a little bit of a difference. It's not a lifestyle, it's a social class. The lifestyle just kind of comes around for the ride.

[Gigadi]

The Amish are a society that chooses their lifestyle based on religious beliefs in a land of religious freedom.

So there aren't any that just don't know about modern technology?
<sorry to get off topic>

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

How would I know? But the samurai don't have a technological restriction. A samurai had his ceremonial swords, but it was their family name and daimyo that made them members of the samurai class. When the Meiji scrapped the daimyo and confiscated their lands, they created a group of permanent ronin, so to speak, and that was the end of it.

[lady_kiyano]

well yes and no. yes because some are sill taught down the line how to use a katana and have the family katana passed down to the child. i have one and i know how to use it but there is no need to use it. ill just teach my son (when i have one) how to use it. but only if he needs to.:chher:

[Angi]

Died out? Samurai were a feudal class, the equivalent of European knights in the feudal system. They ceased to exist the moment that Japan switched to the Meiji oligarchy and abolished feudalism. Had nothing to do with any sword abolishing law (which was more for security reasons - can't have a million disgruntled former land owners/soldiers out there with weapons now). Are there still descendants of old samurai families? You bet. Does that mean anything any more? Unlikely.

Do you have any idea if it means that the children are still taught to do seppuku or other forms of suicide. I mean, in feudal times, seppuku was the honorable way for a samurai to die if he felt ashamed about something. Do you think seppuku still apply's now-a-days in samurai families?

[Kuzu Ryu Sen]

Nah, they don't have a lord anymore to fail. While seppuku is still used as a form of suicide, it's usually used by the eccentric or by people trying to make a statement. People usually prefer jumping off tall buildings to kill themselves now.

[Mana]

People usually prefer jumping off tall buildings to kill themselves now.
Or onto train tracks.

[jetfire]

Do you have any idea if it means that the children are still taught to do seppuku or other forms of suicide. I mean, in feudal times, seppuku was the honorable way for a samurai to die if he felt ashamed about something. Do you think seppuku still apply's now-a-days in samurai families?

I don't think so. There is no honourable way to kill yourself. If you make a mistake, accepting the consequences of your actions is more honourable. If people killed themselves everytime someone felt ashamed, there'd be noone left.

Wife: "Dear, did you do the dishes today?"
Husband: "Sorry honey, I was out drinking with my friends tonight"
Wife: "And not help your poor pregnant wife with the dishes? You should be ashamed"
Husband: "Oh god! I'm a terrible husband! I'm so ashamed!"
Wife: "Well, since my ancestors were samurai, I suggest you commit seppuku. Here's a short sword"
Husband: "Um, I don't really remember agreeing to this"
Wife: "DO IT and set a good example for the baby!"
Husband: "The baby isn't even born yet!"
Wife: "Do it, because it's the honourable thing to do. My ancestors would be disgraced if you didnt follow through, and our baby will grow up to be a delinquent!"
Husband: "ARGH Fine! Ow! I don't see how doing something so honourable can be so stupid. Oh crap, I'm dying now! Blarrrgghhh....."

So no, I don't think that seppuku is still used in families with samurai ancestors. Except maybe the crazy true believers.

[kLaUS]

Because it had to be done. (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4305) :XD:

So yes, there are still Samaris running around this crazy world. :D

not funny...

samaris died men, they are history, but the japanese still keeps
that culture in their every day, and thats something to admire.

[Saya-biki]

not funny...

samaris died men, they are history, but the japanese still keeps
that culture in their every day, and thats something to admire.
o rly?

The closest thing to samurai nowadays is probably Yakuza, many traditional yakuza customs stem from samurai customs.

But, tell me, what was your line of thinking? To you how do the Japanese keep that culture in their everyday life?

[f1rst children]

not funny...

samaris died men, they are history, but the japanese still keeps
that culture in their every day, and thats something to admire.

How is the preservation of a an elitist, oppressive, hereditary, aristocratic culture which led to the near-annihilation of their entire civilization something to admire?

I suppose some samurai missed their perch atop a domineering social hierarchy, the same way Marie Antoinette and Jefferson Davis missed theirs.

Maybe it was the "honor" of the samurai which is so admirable? Perhaps it is in theory, perhaps not. In actuality, these "honorable" warriors had no problem betraying and murdering each other, such as Oda Nobunaga's betrayal by Akechi Mitsuhide who was in turn betrayed by Hosokawa Fukitaka, when there was a chance for personal gain.

[lucky]

Is there Samurai? In the original sense, nah. Maybe a little bit of new age samurai antics have been going on, you never know. *shrugs* I think I'll let them stay historic for me and not delve into it. ^_^ It's not always best to dig up the past, ya know.

[Erigion]

Yes. Tom Cruise is still alive and kicking.

[IchigoHime]

Dear lord...If Tom Cruise is the last samurai, I sorely feel sorry for Japan.

And samurai in general...

[lucky]

Tom Cruise, use your witchcraft! >.>

[ant]

Dear lord...If Tom Cruise is the last samurai, I sorely feel sorry for Japan.

And samurai in general...

Could be worse, at least its not Richard Chamberlain

[Pedro The Hutt]

Weeeell... Shogun is by all means better than the Last Samurai if you ask me. Toshiro Mifune (and John-Rhys Davies) make everything better.

Plus at least Shogun didn't shy away from showing the worse sides of the samurai. Especially in the book.

[ant]

^ I just like Tom Cruise more than Richard Chamberlain, but Mifune over them both.