マイ居合刀 my new katana

First geisha, now samurai! Tina's just perpetuating weird Memoirs x Kill Bill-esqe stereotypes of Japan isn't she!

Actually I picked up my new sword from my teacher today after work. My very own sword! Very very cool and exciting. I have been practicing iai for a bit over a year now but I was borrowing a katana from my teacher. I think iai is making me smarter since for the first time in my life I extensively use my right arm. Learning iai makes samurai movies immensely more interesting to watch. Recent jidaigeki to see are Beat Takeshi's Zatoichi, Twilight Samurai and Samurai Fiction. Twilight Samurai has really interesting realistic (ie. not flashy) swordfighting. The other two movies are having a ball poking fun at the genre. Great kimono watching in all three of those movies too!

マイ居合刀がキタァ～！！！クリスマスみたい。キモノと関係ないけど。今度稽古着の袴姿の写真を載せます。居合を習うと時代劇がなかなか面白くなります よ。最近のビートたけしの「座頭市」、「たそがれ清兵衛」と「サムライフィクション」がおすすめです。剣術の振り付けもキモノも楽しめます！