To be read as a direct continuation of Part 7; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-2020-summer-olympic-closing.html
A Dance Around Japan.
Japan is not a single landmass. Instead it is an archipelago made up of 6,852 individual islands.
Including the five main ones; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.
As a result. For much of its history Japan has actually been a difficult country to get around.
Until the invention of the internal combustion engine in the 19th Century. You had to walk, ride a horse or a horse-drawn carriage across land. Then use a row or sail boat to move between islands.
As a result many Japanese communities existed almost entirely isolated and independent from each other.
It is also a myth that the Japanese are a single ethnic group.
A myth perpetuated at the end of the Second World War. By the Japanese government/US Military Occupation to foster a sense of national unity.
There are actually four ethnic groups that make up; "Japanese." The Yamato, Ryukyuan, Ainu and Obeiki Islanders.
This section of the Closing Ceremony gave us a quick tour around some of the Japanese people and islands.
Using something that is common to them all. The Bon festival which inspired the previous Memento Mori section.
First a video was played.
A video which first introduced us to the Ainu. Who centre around the most northern main island Hokkaido. Which didn't actually become part of Japan until 1869.
Up until really the Edo Period the Ainu were equal to, if not superior to Japan.
Their territory not only included Hokkaido but also parts of north-west Honshu.
Along with the Kuril Islands/Northern Territories. Even stretching as far as Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Essentially Alaska.
During the Edo Period the Ainu started trading with the Japanese on the island of Honshu they shared.
This went badly for the Ainu. With increased contact with outsiders spreading diseases like Smallpox. Which significantly reduced the Ainu population.
It also saw creeping, de facto Japanese control over Ainu territory. With the Japanese being able to set more and more of the rules of trade.
By 1799 the Ainu had been all but forced out of Honshu island. Prompting the Japanese to take formal control over the southern part of Hokkaido island.
In 1869 Japan formally annexed Hokkaido island as part of its territory. Establishing the Hokkaido Colonisation Office.
In 1875 the Treaty of St Petersburg saw the Ainu inhabited Kuril Islands/Northern Territories pass from Russian control to Japanese control.
This Japanese colonisation saw the Ainu suffer much the same treatment seen by Indigenous Peoples in western Colonies.
Such as the Maori in New Zealand. The Aboriginals in Australia and the Native Americans across the Americas.
Essentially forced assimilation. Efforts to save the man by killing the savage. Through much cruelty and suppressing Ainu language and culture.
The Ainu celebration of the Bon Festival shown here. Very clearly emphasised their status as an island dwelling people.
It began with a man in a boat. Then showed women dancing and chanting. First in the forest, then on the beach. Directed by the village Chief, his power and status indicated by his sword.
It has been a recurring theme of these ceremonies and games;
The US Democrat Party is the Party of Slavery.
Their entire existence is dependent of subjugating the population. Keeping everyone powerless to keep themselves powerful.
In 2020 and 2021 this saw US Democrats unleash a systematic campaign of violence against the Asian American community. Most notably the March 2021 Atlanta Spa Shootings.
A very literal attempt to beat the Asian American community into submission and subjugation.
The subjugation of the Stop Asian And Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate astroturf/Democrat recruiting campaign.
Something which really shows the Democrats utter contempt for both Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. Lumping these two vast diverse and different groups together as one.
This was referenced during the earlier Life Beyond The Wire section. With Poi being one of the leisure activities being performed in the park.
Poi being Maori in origin. Not Asian, let alone Japanese.
However in their chanting and general appearance. The Ainu did seem rather Maori.
It actually seemed inspired by the video for the song; "Solar Power" by New Zealand Popstar Lorde. Which itself is inspired by Maori traditions.
Both the Maori and Ainu share the practice of ritualistic tattooing. Particularly of women's arms and faces.
So you could have taken this similarity as proof. That Asians and Pacific Islanders can all be lumped together in one big group. Coloured in crayon.
However you would have soon come unstuck.
As the section revealed itself to be an example of how you can't lump the Japanese together. As one singular ethnic group.
Let alone lump all Asians together. As one singular ethnic group.
Let alone lump all Asians and Pacific Islanders together. As one singular ethnic group.
The Popstar Rihanna actually has authentic Maori tattoos covering her right hand. A souvenir from her trip to New Zealand as part of her 2013 Diamonds World Tour.
This has made Rihanna weirdly popular amongst Middle-Eastern Kurds. Who engage in exactly the same sort of ritualistic tattooing as the Maori and Ainu.
Another example of something spontaneously springing up in different parts of the World. With no connection whatsoever between them.
Rather like the colour purple being associated with wealth and power.
Some people may have found these Ainu similar to Native American practices.
In other recent efforts to subjugate the population. US Democrats have focused on the treatment of Native Americans by European Colonialists. Trying to make them yet another mule for Black Lives Matter.
The thing is. If you go back far enough. Then not even Native Americans are that native to the Americas.
They themselves are Colonialists. From Russia and traditionally Ainu territories.
Next the video introduced us to the Ryukyuan. They are centred around the main island of Okinawa.
However, as their name suggests. The Ryukyuan are really centred around the Ryukyuan Island chain. Which stretches south-west from Okinawa down to Taiwan.
As with the island of Hokkaido. Okinawa only became part of Japan in the late 19th Century.
During Korea's "Three Kingdoms" Period, 1st Century B.C to 6th Century A.D. Okinawa and the Ryukyuan Islands were part of Korea.
When the Korean Peninsula became part of Qing China in 1636. Okinawa and the Ryukyuan Islands also became part of Qing China.
However even as part of Qing China. The Ryukyuan Islands, including Okinawa, remained as an independent Kingdom.
What's known as a; "Vassal State." Independent of China but ultimately subservient to China.
During the Edo Period Japan was ruled by the; "Locked State" or; "Sakoku" policy. Which forbid it from trading with the outside World.
However the Ryukyuan Kingdom was considered Japanese enough. That Japan was still able to trade with it.
While the Ryukyuan Kingdom were free to trade with whomever they liked. Particularly China.
During the Meji Period, which followed the Edo Period. These trade links saw the Ryukyuan Kingdom gradually switch from being a Chinese Vassal State into being a Japanese Vassal State.
Amid all the current western hysteria over China's threat to Taiwan.
I suspect that a lot of people don't know that via the Ryukyuan Kingdom Japan actually invaded Taiwan. In 1874. The first deployment of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Through a British brokered resolution to the conflict. China gave up its claim to the Ryukyuan Kingdom.
Allowing Okinawa and the Ryukyuan Islands to be absorbed into Japan in 1879.
This colonisation saw the Ryukyuan suffer much the same fate as the Ainu. Forced assimilation and the suppression of their language and culture.
The suffering of the Ryukyuan people continued though. At the hands of the Americans.
As was discussed in the Life Beyond The Wire Section.
The US Militarily Occupied Japan from the end of the Second World War. Really through the 1952 Security Treaty up to the 1960 ANPO Treaty.
The US Militarily Occupied Okinawa and the Ryukyuan Islands up until 1972.
As military occupiers the US did pretty much whatever they liked to the Ryukyuan people. Stealing their homes, land and livelihoods. Raping their women and beating their children.
Of the US forces still stationed in Japan. Around 75% of them are stationed in Okinawa.
The US' long history of abuse of the Ryukyuan people continues to make that an extremely tense and controversial arrangement.
Perhaps as a way to reassimilate them as part of Japan. Following the end of the US occupation in 1972.
Unlike the Ainu the Ryukyuan are not formally recognised as a specific ethnic group. Something which many Ryukyuan consider to be another form of discrimination.
I find it hard to believe. That a Japanese director would include them in this section of the Closing Ceremony. Without realising the discussions it would trigger within Japanese society.
Central to the Ryukyuan/Okinawan interpretation of the Bon Festival. Is the; "Eisa" dance.
This is performed by the young men and women of the community. In honour of specific dead ancestors of theirs.
The earlier Life Beyond The Wire section looked at the US Popstar Selena. Who performed the Tejano genre of music.
Tejano music is a mixture of Hispanic vocal styles. Mixed with the rhythmic patterns of US Country & Western Swing music.
I told you to remember. That US Country & Western Swing music is influenced by the Waltzes and Polkas of 19th Century Cotillion dances. "Cotillion" being a French word meaning; "Country/Rural."
Although I can't afford Netflix. I'm sure this type of Cotillion dance was portrayed in the recent; "Bridgerton." It's certainly seems to be portrayed in every other costume drama set during this period.
Eisa seems to be exactly the same as Cotillion.
It is performed by lines of men and lines of women. Who face each other, forming couples.
In short. It is a form of match-making.
Parents of painfully single daughters. Talk to parents of painfully single sons. They then shove them together on the dance floor. In the hope they'll get along.
Just as how Rihanna and I found ourselves being shoved together. At the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Para-Olympics.
Making Rihanna my eternal wife. In the eyes of the Olympic/Para-Olympic movement.
Just as Miley Cyrus and I found ourselves being shoved together. At the 2021 Super Bowl.
Only for the US/UK to clumsily try and hijack the relationship. To try and turn Miley Cyrus into some sort of Sharp Power/Propaganda weapon.
Ruining it for everyone.
Forcing the Japanese hosts to bend over ridiculously far backwards here.
Just to give the US/UK the opportunity to read what I have to write. About France, Italy and Ukraine's 2021 Eurovision Song Contest entries.
When Miley Cyrus and I could have just been talking to each other directly.
At around 19:45 on 18/1/22 (UK date) this is a terrible place to leave it. But I must.
Edited at around 17:30 on 19/1/22 (UK date) to tidy the above and copy & paste;
Did we mention;
Japan Wants Grandbabies!
No pressure.
There is, of course, the issue. Of when Match-Making becomes Arranged Marriage. Becomes Forced Marriage.
A complex issue of consent, peer and societal pressures.
Although arranged. Even in an artistic sense I wouldn't described my relationship with Miley Cyrus to be; "Forced." As I've clearly been able to walk away when it simply became poisonous.
I might though go as far as to describe my 'marriage' to Rihanna as; "Forced."
The former Biden regime's ultimate objective of the 2013 Diamonds World Tour was to disrupt and, ideally, block global efforts to combat Climate Change. By building up so much acrimony and bad feeling that if blew apart the COP19 Summit.
This created a lot of societal and peer pressure on me. To keep going with the marriage to Rihanna. Long after both Rihanna and I had become sick of each other.
Certainly the Ainu practiced both Arranged and Forced Marriage.
Particularly the Forced Marriage of Ainu and Ryukyuan woman. To men from other Japanese ethnic groups. Was a very large part of the forced assimilation inflicted on them.
To the point that many Japanese people still don't know that they actually have Ainu and Ryukyuan heritage.
This is why Article 24 of Japan's post-Meji Peace Constitution (Heiwa-Kenpo). States that marriage is based on; "Equal consent between the sexes."
As was discussed during the Fun With Flags I section of the Opening Ceremony.
That celebration of my gay rights activism. Overcoming the barriers Britain has put in everyone's way, including their own.
The March 2021 ruling at Sapporo District Court made clear. Article 24 is there to forbid Forced Marriage. Not marriage between people of the same sex.
As the Eisa dance is performed. The dancers, along with onlookers, rhythmically chant Nembutsu songs. Essentially the repetition of the name of the Buddha.
They are accompanied by drums. As was discussed in the previous Memento Mori section. Buddhism inspired Shinto considers drumming to be a form of prayer.
I also noticed that performers tend to wear White-Face make-up.
The Bon festival celebrates the short holiday the dead a given from their dimension, Naraka. Allowing them to return to the dimension of the living, albeit still in spirit form.
So there is an element of disguising yourselves to resemble the spirits. More to make them welcome. Rather than to represent them.
Particularly in the US. Particularly in recent years the use of Black-Face make-up has become increasingly controversial.
Due to its use in racist; "Black & White Minstrel Shows." Such as ones using the song; "Camptown Races." Used to draw particular attention to the Equestrian pictograms in the Opening Ceremony.
The origins of Black-Face actually lay in the European Animist festival of Halloween.
Halloween marks the start of winter. The end of the growing season. Represented the Wu Xing as the transition from Metal to Water.
So it celebrates the emergence of darkness over light. Represented by White skin being covered by dark coloured make-up.
It actually dates back to a time when the people doing it. Didn't know that human skin came in any colour except for White.
So it's interesting that the practice seems to have spontaneously in both Europe and Asia. With no connection whatsoever between the two.
Except for the Earth and seasons they both shared.
Next the video introduced us to the Yamoto. The largest of Japan's indigenous ethnic groups.
As the largest of Japan's ethnic groups the Yamoto are spread across all of Japan's islands. Particularly following the forced assimilation of the Ainu islands to the north and the Ryukyuan islands to the south.
However the Yamoto celebration of the Bon festival we were introduced to here. Comes from the very north-west of Honshu island. Around the modern Akita Prefecture.
Traditionally known as Nishimonai. This is an area that used to be shared between the Yamoto and the Ainu.
The Bon festival is actually celebrated at different times in different parts of Japan. Based on whether they follow the Lunar, Solar or Gregorian calendar.
However it always occurs in July into August. The height of the growing season. Fire as represented by the Wu Xing.
It is said that in the 13th Century monk named Genshin encouraged the people of Nishimonai to hold a festival. To give thanks to the Kami (Gods, Holy Spirits, Holy Forces) in order to be rewarded with a good harvest.
It is from that festival that the Bon festival came into being.
During the Warring States (Sengoku) Period the lord of Nishimonai. Lord Shigemichi Onodera was defeated. Forcing him to burn down his castle and flee. In 1601.
It is said that to show their support for their defeated Lord. The people of Nishimonai performed their Bon festival dance in the flaming ruins of the castle.
As a result fire is a major element of the Nishimonai Bon festival. Which is traditionally takes place at night. During the Fire element of the Wu Xing.
The music at the Nishimonai Bon festival is provided by a singer and live band. Performing on a central stage known as a; "Yagura."
That band is made up of three types of drum. A large or bass drum; "O-daiko." A small or snare drum; "Ko-daiko." A hand drum; "Tszumi."
Along with a hand gong; "Surigane" and wooden flute; "Yokobue." It also features a three-string banjo; "Shamisen."
Essentially the same basic instruments used in US Country & Western Swing music. The bands that perform at all those Cowboy Waltzes and Cotillions.
Unlike the ritualistic chanting and dancing at the Hokkaido and Okinawa Bon festivals. At the Nishimonai Bon festival the dancing is just dancing. While the songs are just songs.
They're typically upbeat songs. Often funny, mocking society and public figures such as politicians.
They also tend to be quite sexual. Encouraging all those dancing couples to go off and have sex.
As a result. The Nishimonai Bon festival was actually banned between 1912 and 1926. For being far too lewd.
Particularly female dancers in Nishimonai often cover their faces. Either with a type of straw hat called an; "Amigasa." Or a full black hood called a; "Hikosa Zukin."
Why they do this is not really known. That is the official position of both the Nishimonai and Japanese ministries of cultural affairs;
"No-one really knows."
However as with the White Face make-up of Okinawa. There is an element of disguising yourself to resemble the returning spirits. Making them feel welcome.
Some also say that it works almost like a drug. Inducing hallucinations and feelings of elation.
Of course, rather like European Masked-Balls. There's another reason why a little bit of anonymity might be useful. In such a sexually charged atmosphere.
The final part of the video also looked at the Yamoto. However Yamoto located in the centre of Honshu.
Specifically the city of Gujo in Gifu Prefecture. Which of all the famous Bon festivals in the one closest to the Olympics host city, Tokyo.
As with the Nishimonai Bon festival. The Gujo Bon festival or; "Gujo Odori" centres on live singer and simple six instrument band. Performing on a central Yagura stage.
However, unlike in Nishimoani. This Yagura moves around the city, almost like a carnival float.
Although the Yagura is located in one place for one day of the festival. Then moves to another location on the next day. Rather than constantly being on the move.
Unlike in Hokkaido and Okinawa the songs and dances at the Gujo Bon festival are not ritualistic. However unlike in Nishimonai they are set.
Rather like the; "Set-Dances" you get at US Cowboy Cotillions. Line-Dancing for example.
There are 10 Gujo Odori set-dances;
Kawasaki. Haru Koma. San Byaku. Yachiku. Gen gen, Bala bala. Neko No Ko. Sawagi. Jinku. Old Kawasaki. Matusaka.
Each song and dance tells specific stories important to local, rural life.
For example Neko no ko translates as; "Kitten." The dance moves emulate the movement of a cat. Helping the farmer keep mice away from the Silkworms.
While San Byaku tells the story visiting Lord Aoyama giving away money to farmers. The song gives thanks while the dance shows the farmers loading their bales of rice.
Sawagi is a song traditionally sung by Geishas. Both the song and the accompanying dance are very sexual.
Particularly in light of the debacle that was the Equestrian events. I was particularly taken by Haru Koma or; "Spring Horse."
Gujo was a major source of horse trading. So the song and its dance moves are about a rider trying to "Back" a young horse.
As the video ended. The action of the Gujo Odori was brought into the arena. Live.
The singer and band performed on the Pitcher's Mound stage. Turning it into the Yagura.
Regardless of where, when or who is performing them. Bon festivals celebrate the return of the spirits of the dead. From the dimension of the dead to the dimension of the living.
As a result the colour purple is common to them all. Particularly in the Gujo Odori.
Sitting as it does on the edge of the Visible Light part of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Just between the dimension humans can perceive of and one they cannot.
So this live version of the Gujo Odori made much use of a purple colour scheme.
As does the Gujo Odori. As does the 2020 Tokyo Emblem.
As the band performed dancers performed one of the Gujo Odori dances. These dancers included a number of wheelchair dancers.
Yet another Japanese advert for the Para-Olympics. Here in the Olympic Closing Ceremony.
The song and dance performed was Kawasaki.
The dance of which is meant to resemble the motions of farmers digging their fields by hand. The song is supposed to be the work-song they sang to set the pace.
The idea of the performance was to get the athletes to join in with the dance. If it hadn't been for Pandemic one of these Bon festivals could have been something they would have attended in person.
Obviously the Japanese athletes all knew what they were doing and enthusiastically joined in. As did many of the Chinese athletes.
Some of the US and Canadian athletes clearly had absolutely no idea what they were doing. But decided to give it a go anyway.
As is very much the attitude behind these Bon festivals.
To be continued in Part 9.
18:15 on 19/1/22 (UK date).
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