Nakayama Hakudo: Display Great Spirit of Bushido

[ghp]

The following is an article published 28 August 1945 in the Nippon Times, an English-language newspaper. I am grateful to Mr. Joe Svinth for providing the (very tiny print ) microfilm copy of the original.

For those who do not know, Nakayama Hakudo [aka Hiromichi] was Japan's penultimate (after Takano Sasaburo), and later ultimate fencing master during the Showa period. Nakayama sensei was considered by many to be the 16th inheritor of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido (Shimomura Branch); as well as a master of kendo and jodo. Additionally, he established Muso Shinden Ryu iaido in 1932 -- believed by many to be the continuation of the Shimomura Branch of MJER.
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[Nippon Times. Tuesday, August 28, 1945. p.2., col. 6]
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PEOPLE URGED TO DISPLAY GREAT SPIRIT OF BUSHIDO
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Must Face Coming of Allied Troops With Dignity and Broadmindedness
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We must face the coming of the Allied troops with dignity and broadmindedness – with that spirit which led the samurai of old to fight for all he was worth in battle but once he owned defeat, gave him the magnanimity of heart to never brood over what was finished. This is the attitude of the fencing master Hiromichi [Hakudo] Nakayama, who says:

“There is no sense in going over what is past and done. To brood over past events is the way of the weakling. In olden times, the samurai never mouthed what was finished. He fought for all he was worth against the enemy, but, once he owned defeat, the way of a true samurai was to love his enemy with greaer love than before the fight.

“In fencing we call this spirit “ohen” or adapting one’s self to the change. In other words, it is a condition where after realizing and acknowledging the natural tide of affairs, all past ambitions are given up and a state of nothingness is reached. This requires magnanimity of heart. It is the ultimate meaning of the art of fencing. We must greet the Allied Army with just such a spirit. Yesterday they were enemies but today they are no longer so. If we cannot think of them as being no longer enemies, then it canot be said that we truly understand the spirit of bushido.

“If there is the least feeling of ill-will harbored in our hearts and if we cannot take a broad outlook, it is bound to show in our faces and attitude, giving reason for others to think of us as cowardly. I believe that the greatness of a nation lies in its broadminded attitude.”
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Regards,
Guy

[changed icon from to ]

[Gil Gillespie]

Thank you, Guy.

Very beautiful and timeless piece. It speaks to the kokoro of us all.

Hai.

Regards,
William D. Gray

[Earl Hartman]

Guy:

G-ddam. GREAT stuff.

Earl
PS: BTW, do you know if "Hiromichi" is written with the kanji for "Broad Way/Road"? It would be appropriate if so.

[ghp]

Earl,

do you know if "Hiromichi" is written with the kanji for "Broad Way/Road"?

Both "Hiromichi" and "Hakudo" are written using the same kanji Ain't Japanese Grand?

Regards,
Guy

[Earl Hartman]

Guy:

Duh. I realized that the second I hit "Submit".

Doh!!

Homer Simpson

[Margaret Lo]

Unfortunate that men such as he were not leading Japan in the earlier part of this century.