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**OWDavid** · 08-31-2007, 07:42 PM

Can I ask why you doubt this conclusion?

Certainly. You said:

Being an actor is not an uncommon career for traditionnal martial arts teacher in Japan, as being a policeman or a farmer.

Now, I dont dispute that there are traditional martial arts teachers in Japan who are actors... never said anything to the contrary... but the "its not an uncommon career" seems a bit enthusiastic.

In my small experience (Im not reading about it though) I have yet to meet a single actor who teaches either kendo or koryu here in Japan. That doesnt meen there arent any. In fact, ive seen a bio in one of the kendo mags about one recently. He wasnt a teacher though.

Occassionally you see celebrities on Japanese TV who used to do kendo... like an idol or the guy from Smap. They tend not to pursue it past school as they are trying to be successful in their career.

Ive only met a single farmer who was 7dan as well. Nice guy. Got some free cucumbers from him. Doesnt mean there arent millions of them out there.

The people ive met tend to be normal people, salary men or what not, and of-course police and teachers seem to make up a fair chunk. There was of-course the ex-Prime Minister of Japan - Hashimoto - who was 6dan (a pity grade given to him on his death bed it seems...) but thats a different story.

I saw an embukai with one TSKR guy who did the choreography for Semi-Shigure, so thats pretty close. Im pretty sure he wasnt an actor, just an ordinary dude.

Ignatz examples are of 2 people based in America (if not American?) and - while they do serve to illustrate that people who do martial arts sometimes do pursue acting careers, it still doest convince me that your original "its not an uncommon career... in Japan" hold true.

Edit: my own koryu teachers have included: bankers, railway guys, business men; and my kendo teachers have included: police, sdf, firemen, business men, and a farmer; when I did iaido my teachers were: classical musician, business men.

anyway I think the point is made ;-).

Well, one way or another.

08-31-2007, 07:42 PM	#19
OWDavid Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 464 Senior Member	Can I ask why you doubt this conclusion? Certainly. You said: Being an actor is not an uncommon career for traditionnal martial arts teacher in Japan, as being a policeman or a farmer. Now, I dont dispute that there are traditional martial arts teachers in Japan who are actors... never said anything to the contrary... but the "its not an uncommon career" seems a bit enthusiastic. In my small experience (Im not reading about it though) I have yet to meet a single actor who teaches either kendo or koryu here in Japan. That doesnt meen there arent any. In fact, ive seen a bio in one of the kendo mags about one recently. He wasnt a teacher though. Occassionally you see celebrities on Japanese TV who used to do kendo... like an idol or the guy from Smap. They tend not to pursue it past school as they are trying to be successful in their career. Ive only met a single farmer who was 7dan as well. Nice guy. Got some free cucumbers from him. Doesnt mean there arent millions of them out there. The people ive met tend to be normal people, salary men or what not, and of-course police and teachers seem to make up a fair chunk. There was of-course the ex-Prime Minister of Japan - Hashimoto - who was 6dan (a pity grade given to him on his death bed it seems...) but thats a different story. I saw an embukai with one TSKR guy who did the choreography for Semi-Shigure, so thats pretty close. Im pretty sure he wasnt an actor, just an ordinary dude. Ignatz examples are of 2 people based in America (if not American?) and - while they do serve to illustrate that people who do martial arts sometimes do pursue acting careers, it still doest convince me that your original "its not an uncommon career... in Japan" hold true. Edit: my own koryu teachers have included: bankers, railway guys, business men; and my kendo teachers have included: police, sdf, firemen, business men, and a farmer; when I did iaido my teachers were: classical musician, business men. anyway I think the point is made ;-). Well, one way or another.
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