Bleach 377 (Online)

Bleach 377 (Megaupload)

Bleach 377 (Rapidshare)

Ficha Técnica del Manga
Nombre: BLEACH
Capitulo: 377
Autor: Tite Kubo
Editorial: Shūeisha
Publicación: Semanal por Akamaru Jump
Raw Disponible

Download Raw

Download English [\o/]
Download Español[MangaCityNoFansub]

Fuente: FLOL
Créditos:Sheetz
Verificación: Confirmado/Confirmed

Spoiler Español
Empieza con Kensei
Mashiro: ¿vas a vengarme?
Kensei: Ni si quiera has seguido mis instrucciones, ¿cómo voy a vengarte?
>>Es solo que no apruebo el comportamiento de este chico descarado.
>>Bankai
Y empiezan a luchar.
Se cambia a Aizen, que le da la espalda a la batalla de WW y Kensei.
Nja dice que lo siente, pero no recuerda muy bien lo que sucede.
Aizen empieza a provocar ciertas cosas.
Hirako: Hiyori, no sirve de nada correr sin un plan. La habilidad de este sujeto…
Aizen: ¿De qué tienes miedo, Capitán Hirako?
Hiyori se enfurece.
Aizen dice cosas como “Está bien no tener miedo. Después de todo, ya todos han muerto antes, así que, ¿de qué tienes miedo?
Hiyori salta atacando. Su cuerpo es atravesado por una espada y es partido en dos (de cintura para abajo).
Ichimaru: visitante, esto ha acabado.
Ha sido cortada por la espada extensible de Ichimaru.
Hirako grita “¡¡¡Hiyoriiiii!!!” y agarra la parte superior de su cuerpo.
Hiyori: Shin…ji… mi interior… no puedo sentirlo…
Hirako: ¡¡Hachi!!!
Le ve sin su brazo derecho.
>>Si Orihime estuviese ahí podría curarla.
>>¡Ichigo!, ¿qué estás haciendo? Date prisa y ven.
El texto pone: “¿A dónde se dirige Ichigo? ¿Llegará a tiempo?
Spoiler English

Starts with Kensei.
Mashiro: You’re avenging me…
Kensei: You didn’t even follow my instructions so why would I avenge you?
It’s just that I can’t approve of this cheeky kid!!
Bankai!!　Then they start fighting.
Switches to Aizen. His back is turned to the battle between WW and Kensei.
Nja says he’s sorry but he doesn’t remember what happens very well.
Aizen starts saying provoking things.
Hirako: Hiyori, it’s no use rushing in without a plan. This guy’s ability…
Aizen: What are you so afraid of, Captain Hirako?
Hiyori gets fired up.
Aizen says things like ” It’s ok to not be so afraid. After all you all have died once before, so what’s to be afraid of?”
Hiyori erupts with an attack.
Her body get pierced by a sword and her body is split in two (from the waist down)..(I heartless.)
Ichimaru: Customer, it’s over. She was cut down by Ichimaru’s extended sword.
Hirako: Hiyoriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii He hold her upper body.
Hiryori: Shin…ji…My insides…I… can’t bear it….
Hirako: “Hachi!!” He sees him without his right arm.
If Orihime-chan were here she could heal it…
Ichigo!!!!What are you doing? Ichigo, hurry up and come…
The text reads, “Where is Ichigo headed? Will he be in time!”
The end.

Bleach 376 (Online)

Bleach 376 (Megaupload)

Bleach 376 (Rapidshare)

Well, it’s sure been an exciting week here at The Aspiring Horseplayer.  We began with a reflection on whether it was proper for Rachel Alexandra to have pointed to the Woodward instead of the Travers.  With the 140th running of the Travers suddenly upon us, such questions have been rendered academic.  Following hot on the heels of the excitement that was our first “cougar” related sighting earlier in the week, we’ll attempt to wade back into familiar territory with some selections for the major stakes races being run at Saratoga on Travers day. 

Race 7 – The Victory Ride (Grade 3) – 6 Furlongs

• #1 Bold Union/ #1A All of Her Twist (7/2)
• #7 Selva (4/1)
• #2 Trix in the City (10/1)

We get the party started with the 7th running of the Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 6 furlongs over the main track. The coupled entry of #1 Bold Union and #1A All of Her Twist for trainer Kelly Breen looks quite formidable here.  Bold Union should be forwardly placed, while All of Her Twist will look to pick up the pieces late should the race fall apart.  That tortoise and hare approach makes them a force to be reckoned with. 

Amazingly, with the morning line favoritism has been placed upon #8 Sara Louise at 2/1.  The daughter of Malibu Moon looks like a talented enough runner, and was last seen running behind some filly named Rachel Alexandra that you might have heard of – but that was all the way back in November.  She might well be the class of the field, and certainly we’ve seen runners who were defeated by Queen Rachel return to win next out on several occasions, but pardon me if I’m not interested in eating 2/1 chalk on a horse that hasn’t been seen in so long.  Now, if she makes a smashing impression in the post parade, I’ll gladly insert my foot into my mouth and deny having said any of the above.  For now though, I’ll make her beat me at those odds.

Selva is an interesting runner for trainer David Carroll.  The filly ran well in both the Beaumont (G2) and the Prioress (G1) and rates as a horse who may be sitting on a big race.  She’s shown in the past that she doesn’t necessarily need the lead to prevail, and she picks up the services of Alan Garcia, who has been my main man all meet long. 

The rest of the field looks fairly evenly matched, but I thought Linda Rice’s runner, #2 Trix in the City might offer some value underneath in the exotics.  It’s hard to believe you can get a Gomez/Rice combo at 10/1 in any race.  I guess folks only think of turf when they think of Linda Rice, but it’s worth noting she’s a very respectable 21% on dirt, and due for a graded stakes win.

$1 Trifecta: 1/2,7,8/2,7,8 ($6)

Race 9: The Ballston Spa (Grade 2) – 1 1/16 Miles – Turf

• #1 Rutherienne (5/2)
• #7 Cocoa Beach (2/1*)
• #6 Captain’s Lover (6/1)

Looks like we’ve got a tough one to decipher here with the 21st running of the Grade 2 Ballston Spa.  I could make a case for just about the entire field.

All joking aside, Cocoa Beach is a bit of a shaky favorite.  While the Beyer figure and final time came up decent from her one mile victory in the DeLaRose, it wasn’t exactly a defining performance.  Here’s the thing though – she found a way to prevail and has been a very consistent runner for most of her career.  She also seems to run to the level of her competition, at least that’s my supposition, as I can’t otherwise fathom how one could go from within a length and a half of the undefeated Zenyatta to being 4th in the Floral Park?  Obvious surface changes and conditions were a part of that procession, but still.  At the end of the day, she’s a classy Grade 1 turf winner, who ought to have a shot in the stretch.

Rutherienne is a horse I usually use in my exotic wagers.  Unfortunately for me, that typically means a close 2nd or 3rd place finish.  That being said, it’s an obvious mistake to count her out of this fight here as she’s got what it takes to find the winner’s circle.  Just looking over her running lines you can tell that she’s always right there and gives a strong account of herself.  She was less than a length behind Forever Together and Caribbean Sunset in the Grade 1 Diana last out – another performance like that and she just might steal the show.  Also note her record at the distance – 9 starts with 7 wins and 1 place.  Looks like trainer Christophe Clement might have her in exactly the right spot.

Captain’s Lover is the x-factor here.  It’s easy to dismiss her based on the most recent Beyer figure and the pedestrian workouts, but if you key off her effort 3 back in the Just A Game, she makes some sense here.  I’d also pay some attention to #2 My Princess Jess underneath in the exotics, as this horse has proven to be lethal at the distance, including a whopping 100 Beyer performance that would make her a threat for top honors on a repeat.

$1 Trifecta: 1/2,6,7/ 2,3,5,6,7 ($12)

Race 10: The Ballerina (Grade 1) – 7 Furlongs

• #4 Indian Blessing (8/5*)
• #2 Informed Decision (2/1)
• #3 Tar Heel Mom (10/1)

A small but talented field awaits bettors for the 31st running of the Ballerina.  Morning line favoritism is awarded to the fan favorite Indian Blessing, who has spent some time on the shelf following a disappointing defeat to Cocoa Belle in the Desert Storm Handicap back in June.  You might recall trainer Bob Baffert indicating that he believed that effort could be blamed on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, after which he announced that she would head east and never been seen on synthetics again.  So much for Jess Jackson being the only guy in the sport to detest synthetics.  Sprinting on the dirt she’s a force to be reckoned with, and I suspect we’ll see a bit of the old Indian Blessing that we all knew and loved last year.  That’s if, of course, the trip to Dubai and the let down in Los Angeles didn’t sap her strength. 

Informed looks like the logical threat on paper, but all of her more gaudy Beyer figures (i.e., all of those in excess of 100) were achieved on synthetic surfaces at Keeneland and Arlington Park.  Don’t let that fool you too much though, as she’s a proven Grade 1 winner on dirt as well – it’s just that dirt might not be her “best” surface.  One thing you can’t argue with is a perfect 5 for 5 record at the tricky 7 furlong distance.  That, my friends, makes Informed a “must use” on the exotics no matter how you feel about Indian Blessing.

Music Note is an interesting runner who in a deeper field might offer more value.  Sadly, with just 6 contenders to choose from, she’s a virtual lock to be close to morning line odds of 5/2.  Obviously you must forgive the last race to include her. Ultimately though, I sided with #3 Tar Heel Mom to round out the selections as I was looking for a little value underneath.  I have questions about whether 7 furlongs is up Music Note’s alley, but I don’t have those concerns about Tar Heel Mom.  Add to the equation that I’m getting Alan Grcia at 10/1 and I’m all ready to hop aboard this bandwagon – at least for a minor award. I’ll also give P.S.U. Grad a tiny bit of coverage on the bottom of the trifecta.

$1 Trifecta: 4/2,3/ 1,2,3,6 ($8)

Race 11: The King’s Bishop (Grade 1) – 7 Furlongs

• #2 Munnings (2/1*)
• #3 Capt. Candyman Can (4/1)
• #1 Vineyard Haven (7/2)

The 25th running of the NetJets King’s Bishop features 8 contenders and is filled with intrigue.

The horse most, including myself, will focus on is #2 Munnings.  He proved he could be a warrior at a longer distance, despite being a Speightstown colt, by digging in and hanging on for third against Rachel Alexandra and Summer Bird in the historic running of the Haskell Invitational last month.  Now he returns to a more favorable distance, and if Jess Jackson’s comments following the Haskell prove correct, he could make this academic.  Jackson, you may recall, indicated that he thought Munnings had the potential to be a future “champion” sprinter.  One thing is certain, runners who have finished respectably (with the definition of “respectably” being somewhat vague in these circumstances, including 20 length defeats) against Rachel Alexandra seem to fair well on their return.  Gabby’s Golden Gal, Flashing, and Take the Points are recent examples of this phenomenon.  I look for Munnings to stalk and pounce the way he did in the Tom Fool and to prove too much for the competition in the stretch.

Capt. Candyman Can would seem to be the obvious second choice here, having chased Quality Road in that runner’s record setting comeback in the Amsterdam. He thrives at the 7 furlong distance and tends to get decent trips when he runs his best races.  It’s been a banner year for Candy Ride offspring, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him prevail.  I tend to think Munnings is a shade better, but if the Haskell took anything out of that runner, than Capt. Candyman Can would be a logical shot for win honors.

Vineyard Haven – remember this guy?  Back in the winter of 2008/2009, he was squarely atop many an early Kentucky Derby rankings list. One has to wonder if this guy still has that promising talent, or if the window of opportunity has closed?  He did win his first stakes here at Saratoga around this time last year, so maybe he’ll perk back up with a return to familiar settings (and an injection of Lasix)?  I’m going to give him one more chance, especially since Alan Garcia is aboard.  Of course, this also means you get the entry mate, Everyday Heroes, who was rather disappointing in the Amsterdam but capable of a rebound.

I think it goes without saying that you should probably include Big Drama in your trifectas as well.  I’d also add Despite the Odds to the mix for trainer Michael Trombetta.

$1 Trifecta: 2/1,3,8/ 1,3,5,8 ($12)

Race 12: The Shadwell Travers (Grade 1) – 1 1/4 Miles

• #7 Kensei (7/2)
• #4 Quality Road (8/5*)
• #6 Summer Bird (3/1)

And here it is – the feature race of the weekend – the 140th running of the “4th jewel of the Triple Crown” – the Grade 1 Shadwell Travers.  You already know how I feel about this one -  I would’ve loved to see Queen Rachel become the first filly since 1915 to win this race and silence any suggestions that Quality Road has her number.  Instead, I’ll have to “settle” for Rachel becoming one of the rarest of the rare; a 3-year-old filly capable of defeating older males at a route distance in a graded stakes.  Not that bad a “consolation” prize if you ask me!

Of course, Rachel isn’t here in the Travers, so let’s focus on those who are.

Quality Road; what can I say?  He was my guy going into the Kentucky Derby before injury forced him to pull out.  After extended time on the shelf he came right back out and ran a record setting 6 1/2 furlongs in the Amsterdam (Grade 2).  That race showed he still had his talent.  Now we’ll see if the son of Elusive Quality can handle stretchng out to 1 and 1/4 miles.   That might be asking quite a bit of this guy, but he is fresh, and if he’s half the horse that folks seem to be whispering he is, this race could be over before it starts.

That being said, I’m going to go with Kensei here.  I don’t know what it is about this runner?  Perhaps it’s his Japanese inspired name which makes me think of my childhood and the cheesy “black belt theater” movies they used to show on Saturday’s on Philly 57.  Whenever I think of him, I think of the introduction to The Shogun’s Assasin.

“You do not understand my words – but you must choose.” Ah yes, just as the assasin commands his son to choose between life and death, so must we select a winner from this field.

This is the horse that Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen wanted to give a shot in the Travers, and he seems to be one of those “Rodney Dangerfield” type runners who doesn’t get the respect he deserves.  i questioned heading into the Dwyer whether he could handle the added distance, and all he’s done since is one up me by going an extra half furlong in the Jim Dandy as well.  Respect Kensei.  Something tells me he might be up for the fight of his life with Quality Road in the stretch. 

Summer Bird is a horse that I have a bit of a connection with.  My wife picked him in the Belmont and he went out and won, and then we had the honor of hanging out with trainer Tim Ice and his owners, the Kalarikkal and Jayarman families on Haskell day, where he fought his guts out to run second to the monster I shall not mention again in this post.  You know he can get the distance, and now you know he can run gamely being closer up to the pace.  I expect a big performance from this stunningly beautiful chestnut. 

All of this suggests we just might have a great running of the Travers ahead of us. 

One other horse you’ve got to pay some attention to is the hype machine that is Charitable Man.  Remember when this guy was going to be the runner that denied Big Brown the Triple Crown?  Obviously that didn’t happen, but ever since his victory in the Peter Pan, it feels like we here a “watchout for Charitable Man” warning every few months or so.  For my money, he had his chances in the Belmont and Jim Dandy to prove he was the horse many thought he was, and he just wasn’t all he was hyped up to be.  He can hit the board, and it would be great for his connections if he finally did take that step forward, but I won’t be wagering on it.

I will be adding in Warrior’s Reward here though at slightly better odds of 8/1.  Hey, we may not have got the Medaglia D’Oro offspring we wanted, but consiering this guy held on for 2nd in the Jim Dandy, he looks usable underneath.

$1 Trifecta:  4,7/ 4,6,7/ 3,4,6,7  ($8)

Best of luck to all!  May all your wagers be “cashers.” 

Rachel Alexandra - Photo by Jim McCue of the Maryland Jockey Club

Older males-the “final frontier.”  These are the voyages of the filly Rachel Alexandra.  Her 3-year-mission thus far being to explore new worlds, to seek out new challenges and competition; to boldly go where no filly has gone before.   

“Captain’s Log, Star Date 9/5/09.  I, Captain Jess J. Kirk of the starship Rachel Alexandra, after lengthy consultation with the crew, have decided to set course for the uncharted Woodward nebula.”

With word coming yesterday that Rachel Alexandra would skip the Travers and instead point the Woodward Stakes on September 5, the stage is set for the next chapter in her historic campaign to be written.  She’s already throttled everything the 3-year-old filly division could throw at her.  She’s toyed with the 3-year-old boys in becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes, and the 2nd filly in 42 years to prevail in the Haskell Invitational.  The only worlds left for her to conquer are that of the older runners of both her own division and that of the males she’s been humiliating in recent efforts.

By skipping older fillies and mares and proceeding straight to older males, one might say that she’s jumped right over the double-dog-dare (the Travers), right past the triple-dare (facing older fillies and mares), and thrown down the gauntlet that is the dreaded triple-dog-dare.  Here she is fellas, come and catch her if you can.

The decision also sets the stage for her stablemate, the oft-overlooked Kensei, to run in the Travers this weekend against the likes of Summer Bird, Mine That Bird, and Quality Road. 

Here’s the funny thing…depending on who Rachel faces in the Woodward, skipping the Travers might actually wind up being an easier path to follow.  Usually that’s not the case – as all things being equal older horses tend to be tougher than younger ones, but this year I’m not sure that old axiom holds true. 

We started the Triple Crown season assuming we had a distinctly deep crop of 3-year-olds, and we were only focusing on the colts at first.  At times we wondered if the depth of the crop might rival that we saw in 2007.  Then, as is sadly the case in many years, injuries began to rob us of our most gifted runners.  The Pamplemousse, Quality Road, and finally even likely favorite I Want Revenge on Derby morning of all days, all succumbed to nagging injuries and wound up missing the party.

Now we’ve got Quality Road back, and if his record setting effort at Saratoga in the Amsterdam at the beginning of the month was any indication, he’s in sharp form.  Even more miraculously, we’ve had other runners such as Mine That Bird, Summer Bird, and now Kensei step up to the plate and prove that we did indeed have a deep and talented crop this year.  Then you look at the fillies.  While obviously none have quite stacked up to Rachel’s level of greatness, just when you think you’ve got the division all figured out along comes a horse like Careless Jewel, who looks like she could take colts to task if she wanted to as well.  And note, we haven’t even mentioned the overseas sensations that are Sariska and Sea of Stars.

But what of our older male division?  Well, truth be told, it’s arguably at it’s lowest point ever.  Most of the older males worth their salt are already pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup this fall.  Synthetic surfaces continue to remain the one frontier that “Captain Jess J. Kirk” does not seem willing to boldly return to and attempt to conquer…at least for now.

Instead, Jackson is literally re-writing the history books as he goes while Rachel’s triumphant victory parade marches through the legendary shrines of horse racing that dot the East Coast and Mid Atlantic Regions.  Pimlico, Belmont, and Monmouth have already fallen to Alexandra the Great  just the way cities of the ancient world fell to a conqueror of similar name many centuries before. 

Will Saratoga be the next great bastion of horse racing fame to compound “before thy most assured overthrow?“

“What say you, Woodward competitors? Will you yield, and this avoid, or guilty in defense be thus destroyed?”

Ah yes, we’re back to quoting Shakespeare here at the Aspiring Horseplayer, which if you recall from my Curlin-obsessed period (I being one who actually divides his life into two segments;  BC for “before Curlin” and PC for “post Curlin”), tends to happen when we’re on the cusp of a momentous achievement.

The good news, at least for Rachel’s would-be rivals, is that those who have faced the “Wrath of Rachel” and survived to tell the tale have quite often returned in triumphant fashion.  It’s like their resolve has been all the more steeled by staring straight into the eyes of the mythical beast and giving it their all.  While she tends to blow away fields by ridiculous open lengths, these runners do not hang their heads for long. Take the Points, Flashing, Gabby’s Golden Gal – all returned to the winner’s circle following dismal performances against the great one. 

Lining up to meet Rachel and attempt to deny her latest shot at history will likely be Bullsbay and Macho Again.  Fine horses in their own right, but not quite the sizzling matchup we might have had with the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont winners going up against a fresh new challenger like Quality Road.  True, there’s history on the line by attempting to become the first filly champion of the Woodward, but the Travers would’ve offered just as much historical precedence.  Remember, it’s not been since the days of the Austro-Hungarian empire that a filly has been crowned Travers champion (1915).

No matter, the racing world seems to be pulling out all the stops, including a purse boost to the Woodward in order to help attract as competitive a field as possible.  Being as that we’re nearing the one year anniversary of the NTRA marketing summit (click that link for a retrospective look courtesy of the Paulick Report and our fearless TBA leader, Handride) last year where myself and other fans pleaded with the powers that be to do a better job of telling a compelling, continuous story from the Triple Crown to the Breeders’ Cup – I sincerely hope something is being worked out to ensure that both the Travers and the Woodward will be delivered to as wide a viewing audience as possible.

I know I sound like a broken record here, but given the level of “star power” that Rachel has (our Facebook fanclub group alone numbering in the thousands – and keep in mind that the overall number of people revealed in Facebook searches who have even listed “horse racing” as an interest is significantly lower than that total, meaning she exceeds the fanship of all racing fans on that social networking application), it seems to be a horrible mistake that she’s only been nationally broadcast once so far this year in the Preakness. I don’t care what the excuses are - and no doubt some are valid – it’s still inexcusable.

I can understand not covering Zenyatta much this year as she’s progressed through the various “San-Who-Gives-A-Rats?” Stakes in California, but the job we’re doing collectively at promoting our most interesting draw is simply mind bogglingly bad.  The Preakness with Rachel blew television viewership levels of recent memory completely out of the water.  The single day of wagering helped turn an otherwise disastrous Pimlico meet amidst the “Great Economic Recession” into an improvement over the previous year.  You’d think someone, somewhere, might want to try and keep that excitement going?

Is it really that hard to promote something so….promotable?  The Geico cavemen sure make it look easy.

“Please, if you don’t mind, let Rachel be herself!  So she can shine with her own mind, let her be herself!” (God I love those commercials!!!!)

But then again, as the Paulick Report article I linked to several paragraphs above has to point out, the perception of bloggers like us who call for such things is that we’re peons who spend all day in grandma’s basement, grinding axes against perceived threats out in the ether of the “real world” – which evidently is a frighteningly complex place that our fragile minds are  ill-equipped to either confront or understand.  Yes, as over-the-top as that description sounds, I suspect that is what comes to mind whenever I utter the dreaded “b-word” to folks (“blogger”), but I digress.

Back to the matter at hand…considering that we’re already missing a matchup of infinite significance that the entire world wants to see (Zenyatta and Rachel) in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita this fall, isn’t just a bit disappointing that we don’t get the dream matchup that would’ve been possible in the Travers?  Was it really the wise thing to do to jump right past the double-dog-dare and the triple-dare and move on to older males?  I suppose we could armchair general this thing to death, but my hunch tells me that the race fans wanted to see was Rachel versus Quality Road more so than Rachel versus Bullsbay. 

Don’t get me wrong, as many know I’ve got a great deal of admiration for Bullsbay since he’s a Tiznow and trained by one of the absolute best their is in Graham Motion, but he’s not the horse you hear people whispering about in connection with Rachel. 

For my money, the Travers was setting up to be the race of the year, and we’ve already been jipped out of one race that is intended  be the race of the year.  I know I’m normally walking in lock-step with Jess on the decisions he makes, but in this case I find myself in mild disagreement.  Of course, the whole situation could be rendered academic if either of the “Birds” finds a way to prevail in the Travers, since Rachel has already defeated them.  If Quality Road wins, however, then we’ll have a small dose of controversy on our hands as folks begin whispering for a matchup between he and Rachel in addition to the ubiquitous calls for the Rachel versus Zenyatta matchup. 

You know what I always say about such things:  NEVER wind up in a two front war.  That rule being only superceded by it’s sister rule: Never get involved in a land war in Asia. 

For Rachel’s connections, I suspect the situation is a bit like a game of “whack-a-mole.” Every time you think she’s knocked out the competition definitively, someone else surfaces purportedly ready for a shot at the title.  Who knows, in time that might include her stablemate, Kensei? It ain’t easy being top dog, that’s for sure, no matter how deceptively so Rachel makes it seem. 

In an attempt to see if my suspicions about what racing fans wanted to see are correct, I’ve added a poll below.  Sound off and let me know what you think. Was it right to point to the Woodward and take on older males, or should Jess and company have opted for the Travers instead?

Hvordan Kosaku Matsumora ble folkehelt over natten

Det første først; Kosaku Matsumora er ikke samme person som Sokon Matsumura, navnene er bare meget like i uttalelse.

Imidlertid var Sokon Matsumura og Kosaku Matsumora godt kjente med hverandre. Begge to hadde sitt daglige tilhold ved slottet på Shuri, på like linje med så mange andre av okinawas merkverdige kampkunstutøvere.

Kosaku Matsumora var født rundt 1830 ved Tomari landsbyen. Han mottok instruksjon i kampkunst fra Uku Giko og Teruya Kishin.

Senere har han også studert under Sokon Matsumura, og antagelig også hos den legendariske figuren omtalt som Annan, Channan, heller Chinto som var strandet på Okinawa i nærheten av Tomari by etter ett skipsforlis.

Imidlertid var det når Kosaku Matsumora var i tjueårene at han for første gang kom i offentlighetens søkelys.

En Satsuma samurai var ved en anledning tilstede i Tomari by og oppførte truende og hissig ovenfor lokalbefolkningen. Legenden forteller at i ett forsøkt på redde byfolkene så stjal Kosaku Matsumora samuraiens sverd og kastet det i en nærliggende elv.

Avhengig av hvilken versjon av historien du hører så stjal Kosaku Matsumora sverdet enten ved å overmanne samuraien i en direkte konfrontasjon heller etter å ha brukt en våt fille for å distrahere samuraien.

Uavhengig av hverandre så er de forskjellige historiene enige om at hendelsen kostet Kosaku Matsumora en tommel, og at han måtte tilbringe lang til i skjul for å unngå represalier fra Satsuma klanens samuraier.

For en ubevæpnet mann så vil en samurai, med heller uten rustning, fremstå som en formidabel motstander, sverdet i hånd.

Selv om det er en hårsbredd mellom mot og dumhet, så er det lite trolig at Kosaku Matsumora, med bakgrunn i fra kampkunst ville ha forsøkt å avvæpne en hissig, kranglevoren, og antagelig beruset samurai. Så historien med at han først distraherte samuraien ved hjelp av ett vått håndkle virker fornuftig.

Spørsmålet er da, hvor kom det våte håndkleet fra?

I følge en fortelling om hendelsen så hadde Kosaku Matsumora til vane å skjule ett vått håndkle under tøyet sitt. Selv om dette passer inn med resten av historien, så er det lite trolig.

Bare ut i fra bekvemmelighetsgrunner er det ikke sannsynlig at en person på Okinawa, heller ett annet sted i verden for den del, ville gå rundt med ett vått håndkle i tilfelle han kom til å trenge ett våpen til sitt forsvar.

Okinawa har en rik kobu’do historie, og husholdningsartikler kunne fort ble ett dødelig redskap i de rette hendene. Imidlertid er ett vått håndkle ikke ett av dem, og andre mer passende artikler kunne lett ha blitt båret rundt i så henseende.

Eksempelvis så er Ankoh Itosu kjent for å ha båret rundt på en blekkrukke og fjær bundet sammen med ett langt stykke hemptau, som sammenfaller med kobu’do våpenet suru’jin. Sokon Matsumura var kjent for å bære rundt på en foldevifte i stål, som er en våpenkunst i seg selv, alminnelig omtalt som tessen.

Så om Kosaku Matsumora ville ha til vane for å bære rundt noe som kunne brukes som ett våpen, så er det lite sannsynlig at ett vått håndkle ville ha vært det første valget. Troligst var han ubevæpnet den dagen han stod ansikt til ansikt med en sverdsvingende samurai.

I en hurtig eskalerende konfrontasjon med en uregjerlig samurai ville Kosaku Matsumora ha kommet til ett punkt hvor han måtte ta en avgjørelse om å stjele våpenet hans for å sikre sitt eget og andres liv.

Han trengte ett våpen, og han trengte det fort.

Han lagde seg ett våpen som kunne gi han ett midlertidig overtak på enklest mulig måte. Han urinerte simpelheten på seg selv, og i det rette øyeblikket dro han løs lendekledet sitt fra under kimonoen sin og slenge det i ansiktet på samuraien.

Overraskelsesangrepet i fra Kosaku Matsumora må ha virket, for han klarte, til tross for at han mistet en tommel å stjele til seg samuraiens sverd.

Det som skjedde etterpå er imidlertid det som virkelig er bemerkelsesverdig. Kosaku Matsumora ville stått ovenfor samuraien med hans eget sverd rettet mot han. Det ville ha krevd en enorm selvkontroll for ikke å kutte ned samuraien som for få øyeblikk siden trolig truet han og andre lokale menn på livet. I tillegg hadde sverdet nettopp kostet han en tommel. Kosaku Matsumora må vitterlig ha kjent blodsmaken i munnen.

Til tross for dette så vendte Kosaku Matsumora samuraien ryggen, og gikk for å kaste sverdet og den avkappede tommelen sin i Asato elven. Denne handlingen, enkel nok, hadde store implikasjoner.

For det første, hadde han tatt livet til samuraien så ville konsekvensene blitt langt mer alvorlig, og om Satsuma klanen ikke hadde fakket Kosaku Matsumora så hadde de som alternativ kollektivt straffet hele landsbyen.

For det andre så satt samuraien igjen med skammen av å bli fratatt sitt våpen, noe han måtte ha bæret på resten av livet sitt. Og sagt på en enkel måte; For en samurai var ofte æren langt viktigere enn livet.

Viktigst av alt var allikevel det at Kosaku Matsumora simpelthen snudde ryggen til samuraien og gikk vekk. Det er implisert i bushi’do, krigerens moral-etiske kode, at ved å vende seg vekk fra ens motstander anser man han for å være så feig av natur at en ikke trenger å frykte vedkommendes represalier.

Vitner til denne hendelsen må ha frydet seg over resultatet av konfrontasjonen, og troligst har historien om Kosaku Matsumoras heltedåd spredt seg som ild i tørt gress. For det første fikk samuraien ett lendeklede dryppende vått med urin klasket i ansiktet, og for det andre så mistet han sverdet sitt.

Satsuma samuraiene var ikke godt likt på Okinawa. De var som rovdyr på jakt, og lokalbefolkningen hadde ofte mindre verdi enn en livet til løshunder i øynene til samuraiene.

Så når en av dem ble overrumplet, ydmyket, og etterlatt strippet for makt av en lokal mann så var heltestatusen ett faktum.

Helt heller ikke, hendelsen kostet Kosaku Matsumora muligheten til å bevege seg fritt i mange år etterpå. I frykt for represaliene i fra Satsuma samuraiene så tilbrakte visstnok Kosaku Matsumora lang tid i gjemsel i skogene rundt Nago distriktet.

Konfrontasjonen mellom Kosaku Matsumora og satsuma samuraien ble ikke den siste gang han reiste seg i kampen for de svakes rettigheter.

Det var heller ikke ut av det blå for noen at Kosaku Matsumora hadde potensialet til å være en forkjemper for rettferdighet. Uten direkte sammenheng til historien om samuraien så fortelles det en annen merkelig historien om hvordan Kosaku Matsumora fikk øynene opp for den dypere verdien i det å være verset i kampkunst.

En liten lapp

Som tidligere nevnt så trente Kosaku Matsumora under kampkunstmesteren Teruya Kishin. En kveld når en gruppe med studenter var samlet på Teruya Kishins familiegravsted for å trene oppdaget Kosaku Matsumora en skygge som stod og observerte han i fra utkanten av område.

Forsiktig nærmet Kosaku Matsumora seg personen som stod i skjul. Når de stod ovenfor hverandre, berømmet personen som hadde observert Kosaku Matsumora for hans gode teknikker og rakk han en lapp. Mens Kosaku Matsumora kikket ned for å se hva som stod på lappen så forsvant personen tilbake i skyggene og ut av synet.

Kosaku Matsumora tok lappen med tilbake og viste den til Teruya Kishin, som etter å ha lest den kikket opp og sa; akkurat!

Det var ikke før senere at Kosaku Matsumora hadde ett inspirert øyeblikk og forstod det dypere budskapet på lappen;

”Essensen i krigskunsten er å fordømme umoralske betraktninger, forstå menneskeheten og følge rettferdighetens vei, og vie livet til å dyrke fred på Okinawa.”

Knyttenevens helgen

Sant heller ikke, på ett heller annet punkt i livet har nok en gryende trang til å hjelpe undertrykte mennesker gjort seg gjeldende hos Kosaku Matsumora.

Under starten på meiji perioden var den nyinnsatte regjering meget klar på at adelsklassene skulle oppløses og verdiene forbehold disse skulle tilbakeføres til staten.

Tiden som fulgte ble hard for samuraiene, og antagelig enda verre for overklasseborgerne på Okinawa. Som ett utskudd kongerike nylig underlagt Japan kunne ikke adelsstanden forvente å få hjelp til å håndtere omveltningen i samfunnet som fulgte i kjølevannet av prosessene som meiji perioden startet. Faktisk så sendte den nye regjeringen ut embetsmenn som skulle sørge for at alle verdier på Okinawa ble konfiskert og inndratt til fordel for staten.

I Tomari by så er Kosaku Matsumora kjent for sin innsats for å skjule verdisaker og finanser nettopp fra disse embetsmennene. Spesielt så er han velkjent for å ha gjemt unna ett bylegat omtalt som Neewagumuchi. Han sørget også for at dette legatet ble ført tilbake til folket etter at samfunnet igjen hadde falt til ro.

Det var i denne perioden at Kosaku Matsumora begynte å bli omtalt som kensei, en knyttenevens helgen. Selv om han trolig vant sin største seier over en bevæpnet samurai rundt tjue år tidligere. Ved hjelp av ett vått håndkle.

I ettertiden er det blitt reist ett monument i ære til Kosaku Matsumoras heltedåder for lokalbefolkningen som ligger i Arayashiki park.

3.04 I Am Become Death

Peter and Matt see the future and it’s not great but it’s very cool.

Remember this will be a SPOILER review.  Click read more for the review.

Now this is more like it, this is where we need to be Heroes.  Yes this episode was completely stupid but my god wasn’t it entertaining rubbish.  Heroes is a show which will have dips in quality, it doesn’t always have the best writing or the best acting but what I want most from this show is to entertain me.  Season 2 for the most part didn’t entertain me at all, though I’m not going to continue bashing season 2, everything has been said.

This whole episode really was seen from two different perspectives, Peter and Matt.  Peter was brought to the future by Future Peter and Matt used that wacky paste stuff to see the future.  Though wasn’t the future interesting?  This new future now has nearly everyone with powers, everyone flying around would be awesome.  People wouldn’t need cars, it would already be saving the Ozone layer so people are actually saving the world, so that’s a good thing.

This episode shows that the present really is boring and that this dystopia future is what we should be seeing from this show.  We all know that this future will be changed again and another one will replace it which probably will be worse but I hope that doesn’t happen.  I want to see a world in which people know that certain humans have powers.  It brings in so many interesting themes which have been seen through X-Men’s history.  Though this season started out because the future in which people knew some had powers was a shit place to live.  So we have this world in which powers are available to anyone and it’s shit again.  Are the writers telling us that from now on that the world will never know that certain people have these abilities?  It seems if they do then the past must be changed to change the future.

While it was entertaining and I was sucked into it, now that I’m reviewing it I’m going to start nitpicking but I’ll only address one thing and that’s these dystopian futures.  Now we don’t know how many seasons this show will go on for but is every season going to contain these dystopian futures that must be changed?  I’m hoping the writers will come out and say that you may change the past but the future will always find a way to become these fucked up places.  It seems inevitable that there will always be Heroes and Villains, if humans have these extraordinary powers then some will use it for evil and there’s nothing you can change in the past to change this.

I’ve spoken about my issues with time travel.  I love time travel as a story device, I’m a sucker for time travel stories, I’ve written a few myself.  If it’s used correctly then it’s wonderful to see, Lost is a recent example of how to use time travel and not be stuck with the complexities of it.  Once this episode finishes another future would be created, the future we just saw in this episode has changed.  Present Peter now has Sylar’s original power which Future Peter we saw never did.  Now how this effects this future we’ve seen is unknown, though it seems that it will be the key to rectifying this dystopian future.

The problem I have most with the whole time travel aspect is Future Peter.  The Future Peter who was shot came from the timeline in which Nathan told the world that people had powers.  Now technically it’s a paradox when Future Peter shoots Nathan because this should erase his existence, so how could he go back in time and change the future he lived in.  Now when this happened, I accepted it, paradoxes will occur.  Though to counter that argument, you could say that this new future was changed around this Future Peter from the other timeline but he still had memories of the future in which Nathan told the world about people with powers.  I’m hoping one day we’ll meet Caitlin, remember her? The Irish bint that was left in that future of season 2.  Well this theory would apply to her, this future would change around her but she should still have all the memories of what happened to her.  I’m really starting to nitpick at this and while I had lots to say, I think I’m getting too involved with it.  This episode entertained the fuck out of me and never once got me thinking about the possible paradoxes, which is great.

I really have to say, how awesome was Future Sylar?  Good and with kid, though it got dark when they killed the kid off.  Brave move and I loved it and Sylar was really pissed.  My money is Elle being the mother, no one else really I can come up with which would be suitable.  Plus also a mention for the end, loved it, good to have you back Kensei.  This has been a long review and the show has started to give me great stuff to write, which is awesome.

Quote of the episode: Adam “Hiro, you son of a bi…”

Favourite Scene: Sylar going KABOOM.

WORK… Was very busy today wrapping up an mock up calendar for my client for proposal. In the meantime, I was trying to get some illustrator brushes done for free download probally by tomorrow. And for now, I’m trying to wrap this Kensei (Japan Warrior) I’ve been trying to finish it within this few days… Here the progress!

KeneiInProgress

YouTube, YouTube, YouTube. They’re always making announcements, some guff, some not. But their latest annoucement – that they’ll be re-encoding their videos using an enhancement to the MPEG4 h.264 codec, called scalable video coding (SVC) – is seriously big news.

In simple terms, the idea behind encoding videos is you divide up the picture into blocks, and estimate the motion between the blocks. This allows you to store the difference between frames, and not the whole frame, which reduces the file size. MPEG4 h.264 is particularly wonderful at doing this, but when packets of information get delayed or lost while traveling through the Internet, you get small glitches in the picture. SVC to the rescue! Those clever boffins at Fraunhofer have devised a way to enhance the existing codec to accommodate these packet drops. And the best news is that it seems we won’t need to change the players to make it work.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before we implement SVC in the Kensei encoder…

A couple of weeks ago, the BBC nonchalantly announced it was launching an enhanced version of the iPlayer with better quality video. Like YouTube, they’ve started using the MPEG4 h.264 codec which provides better quality video at lower bitrates which, in simple terms, means better quality pictures for less bandwidth.

Here at Kensei, we’ve been streaming MPEG4 h.264 content since February this year and we’re very excited about the way things are going. Not only does h264 play exceptionally well in Adobe Flash (so you can view it on the web), it’s supported on an ever-growing range of products. With a day or two of development, we’ve added support for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPod video, N-series Nokia handsets, Xbox 360, PSP (and probably a bunch of other kit we’ve not seen yet) to several of our sites. Oh, and before you ask, we’re using our own encoding engine, not something we bought.

And with IPTV (TV over an Internet connection) looming large, and h264 at the forefront of that technology, we’re happy to be riding the wave!

Prólogo

“La ciencia de las artes marciales llamada Escuela Personal de los Dos Cielos es algo que he estado perfeccionando muchos años. Ahora, deseando revelarla en un libro por primera vez, he ascendido al Monte Iwato, en la provincia de Higo, provincia de Kyushu. Inclinándose ante el cielo, venerando a Kanon, me sitúo frente a Buda. Soy Shinmen Musashi no Kami, Fujiwara no Genshin, guerrero nacido en la provincia de Harima, de sesenta años de edad.

He dedicado mi espíritu a la ciencia de las artes marciales desde que era joven, hace mucho tiempo. Tenía trece años cuando tuve mi primer duelo. En aquella ocasión gané a mi adversario, un maestro de artes marciales llamado Arima Kihei… A los dieciséis años vencí a un poderoso maestro de artes marciales llamado Akiyama, de la provincia de Tajima. Cuando tenía veintiuno, me fui a la capital y conocí a maestros de artes marciales de todo el país. Aunque participé en numerosos duelos, nunca dejé de alcanzar la victoria.

Después viajé de provincia en provincia, encontrando maestros de artes marciales de varias escuelas. Aunque participé en más de sesenta duelos, nunca perdí. Todo ello tuvo lugar entre los trece y veintinueve años.

Cuando cumplí los treinta años y reflexioné sobre mis experiencias, me di cuenta que no había salido victorioso a causa del logro consumado de las artes marciales. Quizá fue porque poseía una capacidad intrínseca para esta ciencia y no me había desviado de los principios naturales. También puede haber sido debido a fallos de las artes marciales de las demás escuelas. En cualquier caso, practiqué a continuación día y noche hasta alcanzar un principio todavía más profundo, y espontáneamente llegué a la ciencia de las artes marciales. Tenía cincuenta años en esa época.

Desde entonces he pasado el tiempo sin tener ninguna ciencia en la que investigar. Confiando en la ventaja de la ciencia militar, tal como la he convertido en la ciencia de todas las artes y técnicas, no tengo maestro en ningún camino.”

-De esta manera Musashi comienza la redacción de lo que posteriormente vendría a ser una de las obras literarias mas importantes e influyentes surgido de la cultura japonesa tradicional conocida como “El libro de los Cinco Anillos”, en donde el autor no solo se limita a reflexionar sobre el arte de la guerra, la lucha y la estrategia en el campo de batalla, sino que también su obra abarca incluso los terrenos de la autodisciplina y de la realización personal.

Shinmen Takezo, oriundo de la aldea de Miyamoto que posteriormente adopto el nombre de Miyamoto Musashi, fue uno de los mas celebres y respetados espadachines que haya conocido la cultura japonesa en su totalidad. Musashi fue un personaje histórico, pero gracias a la brillante narrativa del escritor Eiji Yoshikawa, el cual plasmo parte de la vida del legendario guerrero en una extensa novela histórica segmentada publicada originalmente entre los años 1935 y 1939, sus proezas y hazañas trascendieron del mito para introducirse con firmeza dentro del folklore japonés y de esta manera asombrar e inspirar a las nuevas generaciones, que miran con orgullo y respeto a la imponente figura del legendario samurai, cuya figura se evoca como si se tratara de un modelo de virtud y disciplina digno de admiración, superiores a la persona como ente físico que se instala sin mayores variaciones temporales en la actualidad. Su nombre se menciona como si de un concepto se tratase, una forma de vida, un compromiso de rectitud y adoctrinamiento imperecedero, intachable.

Interpretaciones de Musashi a través de la historia

-Pese a el hecho de que Musashi fue un personaje histórico que efectivamente existió y deambuló por el mundo, no existe un real consenso frente a las hazañas que se le atribuyen, esta incertidumbre en todo lo relativo al misterioso guerrero se acentúa aun mas tras su mitificación póstuma, ósea, a su inmortalización dentro del folklore nipón.

De esta manera, dentro de las versiones que actualmente conocemos que nos permiten acercarnos a lo que vendría a ser la vida y obra del legendario samurai, podemos claramente destacar tres grandes fuentes de información:

-El Musashi como personaje histórico, que a trascendido a través del mito y del código verbal para introducirse con fuerza dentro de la concepción tradicional japonesa que tienen los nipones de ellos mismos, además de la multiplicidad de escritos históricos (reseñas y biografías redactadas por sus seguidores o por personas que lo conocieron en vida, de muy dudosa veracidad) que ensalzan sus hazañas y virtudes, atribuyéndole un sinnúmero de características que casi rozan lo sobre humano o lo divino. Por nombrar algún ejemplo, se decía de Musashi que nunca se bañaba para no mostrarte indefenso ni descuidar su guardia. Esta afirmación resulta muy improbable si consideramos que el ronin, que no es más que otra forma de referirse a los samuráis en Japón, era frecuentemente invitado a codearse con la nobleza o su presencia era requerida por altas personalidades políticas y sociales de la época. También durante los tiempos en que Musashi comenzó a labrar su fama, era frecuentemente referido incluso dentro de su misma aldea como un “demonio” motivo de su predisposición a la violencia. Aquel estereotipo le siguió durante casi toda su vida, y en muchas ocasiones se les atribuía a sus sorprendentes habilidades en el esgrima algún componente sobrenatural o demoníaco. Aunque como contraparte también se le conocía con el seudónimo de “Kensei”, que vendría a ser algo así como “la espada divina”. De cualquiera de las dos formas a su soberbia capacidad en el arte de la guerra se le atribuye cierta porción sobrenatural, no siendo más que sus habilidades el producto de una vida dedicada a la autodisciplina y a la permanente búsqueda de la superación personal, que el mismo Musashi llevaba hasta los extremos más insospechados. Si es a algo a lo que se le debe inculcar algún elemento sobrehumano es a su infatigable determinación, que lo llevo a superar todos los obstáculos a los que se debió enfrentar durante su vida, dedicada por completo a la espada y al arte de la guerra. Mientras que otros samuráis, citando el caso de su celebre rival Sasaki Kojiro, llegados a cierto punto y tras alcanzar en múltiples ocasiones la victoria se mostraban conformes con sus habilidades y pecaban de pedantes o engreídos, Musashi jamás cedió ante los halagos o ensalzaciones que se le proferían a sus talentos , sino que por el contrario siempre se considero a si mismo inferior con respecto a otros grandes samuráis que admiraba, e incluso con frecuencia reflexionaba de lo mucho que aun le faltaba para alcanzar el verdadero grado de destreza que requería para adquirir el titulo de maestro en la esgrima, que muchos de sus rivales derrotados con orgullo y satisfacción se jactaban.

-El Musashi como protagonista de una novela, redactada por Eiji Yoshikawa que lleva el mismo nombre del guerrero y fue serializada por segmentos a modo de emular una forma tradicional de escritura japonesa que se asimila bastante al popular genero literario europeo conocido como “novela folletín”, que todos conocemos, o al menos deberíamos conocer.

Yoshikawa, haciendo uso de una notable capacidad argumental, introduce dentro de su novela una gran cantidad de elementos históricos (incluso al mismo se le considera la profesión de historiador por sobre la de escritor) que con paciencia y dedicación durante años se esfuerza en recopilar y rescatar del olvido, sumado a un igualmente importante componente ficticio, eso si trazado en base a suposiciones e hipótesis debido a lo precario e inverosímil de la información que se dispone en los archivos sobre la existencia Musashi, logra redactar una extensa novela histórica en donde imprime una gran parte de la vida y obra del guerrero, sus reflexiones y visión propia de ver el mundo que le caracteriza, así como también resulta como una excelente forma de acercarnos al periodo histórico de transición dentro de la cultura japonesa que debió vivir el samurai. Un siglo plagado de violentas revoluciones, revueltas, frecuentes robos y pillaje, así como de lideres carismáticos que debieron enfrentar el paso desde las tradicionales artes de batalla en base a armas penetrantes y punzantes, a la introducción del fusil y las armas de fuego en la isla, que cambio completamente el modo de concebir a la guerra que se tenia en aquel entonces.

Resulta en este punto muy importante el considerar la gran importancia que se le otorgaba en Japón a las tradiciones, sobre todo en lo relativo al tema de la honra y el deshonor, tanto así que la vergüenza era motivo de inmediata reivindicación, o en el caso contrario, de suicidio (característica de esta particular forma de concebir la honra es el famoso ritual seppuku, tan vilipendiado por la cultura occidental). También es digno de mención la notoria importancia que se la embutía a la practica religiosa en Japón, incluso el mismo Musashi era un ferviente creyente y seguidor de las enseñanzas del Dios (Kami en el original) Kanon y Buda.

Supongo que no será necesario explayarme mas en este aspecto, mas que el considerar lo importante del contexto del periodo histórico que debió vivir Musashi, ósea, el final de la época de los samurai.

Retomando a la novela original, Yoshikawa introduce dentro de su obra una gran cantidad de personajes y sucesos de dudosa procedencia histórica, pero que a la vez resultan sumamente interesantes como experiencia literaria para el lector. De este grupo, sin duda el más sobresaliente de todos es el igualmente popular y formidable rival del Musashi, Sasaki Kojiro, quien también era conocido con el seudónimo de Ganryu. Era un joven sumamente talentoso, que a diferencia del protagonista había adquirido sus habilidades no debido a una regia disciplina o incuestionable predisposición a la hora de entrenar el cuerpo y la mente, sino que por el contrario su genialidad fue nata, ósea, de nacimiento. Se decía del joven samurai que su fortaleza jamás seria alcanzado por los hombres en combate, e incluso en vida su popularidad y reconocimiento fueron soberbios, muy por encima de los del mismo Musashi, que ostentaba una incipiente e injustificada fama de rastrero, vagabundo y cobarde, ensalzada por una de sus mas acérrimos enemigos, como el mismo Yoshikawa, posiblemente haciendo uso de su interminable imaginación señala. En contradicción al incuestionable renombre de Ganryu, sobre su real participación histórica se ciñen profundas dudas, ya que pese al reconocimiento popular y a los diversos escritos que mencionan su nombre, su más grande enemigo, el propio Musashi, en su famosa obra literaria no hace referencia jamás al nombre del guerrero. Esta afirmación pone en duda la existencia del legendario espadachín maestro del Tsubame-Gaeshi, que traducido seria “El vuelo de la golondrina” debido a que para masterizar este singular corte práctico esgrimiendo su enorme espada “Palo de secar” derribando a una gran cantidad de este tipo particular de aves en pleno vuelo.

Aun así en conciencia del importante componente ficticio de las obras de Eiji Yoshikawa, los novelas “Musashi” son fundamentales para acercarnos a la vida del guerrero, gozando estas de aceptación generalizada y muy rara vez cuestionada por la rígida mentalidad cultural nipona.

-La excepción a la regla se encuentra en la concepción de Musashi como personaje de un manga, compartiendo el protagonismo esta vez con su archirival Sasaki Kojiro, gozando este de un arco argumental original propio de extensión considerable.

-AF/Note: Al referirnos a “arco” o “ruta” argumental hacemos alusión a lo que en las series de televisión vendrían a ser las “temporadas”, ósea, segmentos o cortes temporales que separan la linealidad de la animación referida. En el caso puntual del anime, se dan frecuentemente acompañados de cambios o variaciones en los “openings” y “endings” (las canciones que dan comienzo y concluyen el capitulo), mientras que en los mangas estas alteraciones son relativamente mas complicadas de diferenciar. Por regla general, los arcos corresponden a determinados sucesos puntuales que se dan en la historia, referidos ya sea a un personaje o lugar puntual (por ejemplo, en One Piece nos referimos al arco o temporada de “Triller Bark” cuando nuestros protagonistas se encuentran en aquel lugar, mientras que en el manga de Vagabond, al hablar del arco de Kojiro, consideramos todos los sucesos relativos a la introducción del personaje y a su desenvolvimiento en la historia principal hasta que los acontecimientos del manga vuelven a cambiar de protagonista). Hablamos de ruta mas que nada al referirnos a las novelas visuales y sus conversiones a mangas y animes (En el caso de Fate Stay Night, la ruta predominante por la que opta el anime corresponde a la de Saber, existiendo otras dos rutas en la novela original parcialmente ignoradas en la versión animada).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Vagabond”, como se denomina el manga referido, nos narra las aventuras de un joven Musashi desde el momento en que recién comienza su jornada épica en la batalla de Sekigahara, en donde los ejércitos de Tokugawa Ieyasu e Ishida Mitsunari se enfrentaron por la sucesión al trono como Shogun de Japón. De esta manera, Takezo y su amigo de la infancia Matahachi se unen a las filas de Mitsunari para luchar contra las tropas de Tokugawa (sobre este periodo histórico en particular se hace mucha referencia en tanto el manga como el anime de Rorouni Kenshin, también conocido en Hispanoamérica como “Samurai X”. Para mas información sobre este acontecimiento bélico visita el siguiente link). Ambos jóvenes sobrevivieron a tres días de de terribles combates durante los cuales murieron mas de setenta mil personas, y a la posterior caza y matanza del ejercito derrotado.

Tras esta experiencia, el aun Shinmen Takezo se separa de su compañero, y tras una funesta visita a su pueblo natal, en donde es despreciado como samurai fugitivo e incluso atado a un nogal durante varios días, el joven cambia su nombre a Miyamoto Musashi, en honor a una aldea en donde todos le aborrecían, y así, guiado por el excéntrico monje Takuan Sōhō, comienza un largo viaje en pos de alcanzar la superación personal y de labrarse un nombre para ser reconocido por todos, pero con el tiempo sus prioridades y objetivos cambian, adaptándose a su desarrollo como guerrero. De esta forma, y genialmente trazado por la mano del brillante mangaka (clasificación que se le da a las personas que dibujan mangas), se puede distinguir claramente durante el transcurso de la obra una evolución en la psiquis del personaje, desde sus violentos comienzos hasta ya convertirse en un hombre enteramente dedicado a la disciplina del arte de la guerra.

De la misma manera que sucede con Musashi, Inoue cambia radicalmente con todas las preconcepciones establecidas sobre la vida y obra del legendario rival del samurai, introduciendo de esta manera un arco completamente original que narra los comienzos de la vida de igualmente celebre Sasaki Kojiro, con la sorprendente innovación de atribuirle la condición de imposibilitado auditivo, incapaz de escuchar sonido alguno, buscando explicar de esta manera la gran cantidad de versiones que existen sobre las hazañas de este joven guerrero.

En este arco introduce a personajes que en la novela original de Yoshikawa se mencionan pero que jamás hacen acto de presencia física, como seria la figura del renombrado espadachín Itō Ittōsai y de su maestro Kanemaki Jisai, conocido creador del estilo Chujo-Ryu que a la vez es la persona que cría e instruye a Kojiro en las artes marciales.

-Sobre las diferencias existentes entre el manga, la novela y los acontecimientos históricos, resulta de considerable importancia el considerar que Inoue al imprimir sus reflexiones particulares sobre la vida de ambos guerreros, lo hace basándose primordialmente en la novela de Yoshikawa sobre los sucesos recopilados por historiadores sobre aquella época. Pero aun así, el mangaka con frecuencia introduce en Vagabond bruscos cambios arguméntales se contraponen completamente al planteamiento original de las novelas. Sin duda el cambio mas significativo corresponde a las interpretaciones del dibujante sobre todo lo relativo a la figura de Ganryu, pero hay otros aspectos, como por ejemplo la forma en que se da la famosa batalla del la colina de Ichijoji, en donde Musashi combate contra las furibundas hordas de la escuela Yoshioka que buscan venganza tras las vergonzosas derrotas de sus lideres, los hermanos Seijuro y Denshichiro. Sobre estos dos, también es importante aclarar que sus roles se encuentran cambiados en la conversión existente entre manga y novela, ósea, mientras que en la novela histórica es Denshichiro, el hermano menor, el mas fuerte pero a la vez mas indisciplinado y lisonjero de los dos, en el manga corresponden a Seijuro estas características, siendo esta vez el hermano menor mucho mas puntual en los entrenamientos, pero a la vez encontrándose muy por debajo de las sorprendentes habilidades de su consanguíneo. Fuera de las variaciones ya mencionadas, existen una multiplicidad de otros significativos cambios que alteran sustancialmente la interpretación centenaria que hace el aclamado escritor-historiador sobre el personaje referido, no necesarios de mención.

-Para concluir con este extenso artículo, quizás al lector le resultara interesante descubrir la fuerte influencia que han ejercido estos dos personajes históricos tanto en la cultura nipona, haciendo exclusiva mención al campo de los video-juegos, mangas y animaciones varias.

Quizás una de las referencias mas explicitas a la figura de Musashi se encuentre reflejada en el popular video juego de peleas Samurai Shodown, también conocido como Samurai Spirit, en donde el protagonista, Haohmaru, es una copia exacta del legendario espadachín, a la vez que otro personaje Ukyo, es sospechosamente similar a Ganryu, si tomamos en cuenta las consideraciones que se barajan sobre el físico y habilidades en la esgrima de Kojiro. Otra mención ya mas oficial es encontrable en los video juegos Musashi: Samurai Legend y en la novela visual de Type- Moon Fate Stay Night, en donde Ganryu hace aparición como uno de los héroes resucitados por el santo grial para participar en la batalla por su adquisición. Eso si en este caso puntual se reflexiona sobre su carácter de personaje ficticio y su reconocido movimiento, el Tsubame-Gaeshi, es catalogado como un corte perfecto que roza lo inhumano.

Ya inmersos en los ámbitos del manga anime sus menciones abundan, de hecho, es incluso raro encontrar una historia de samuráis que o se encuentra ambientada en el periodo de Musashi, o recibe referencia en el uso de la espada característico del guerrero (incuestionable creador del estilo a dos espadas), sumado a un importante aporte intelectual, fácilmente reflejable en el modo particular del samurai de ver el mundo y su famosa aseveración de considerar a la espada como una extensión del cuerpo, frase por lo demás llevada al limite por el legendario espadachín. Obras de esta índole abundan, por no mencionar otras, se destacan Rorouni Kenshin, Yaiba (en donde incluso Musashi y Kojiro tienen un rol protagónico), Peace Maker Kurogane y en tantas otras obras similares.

Otra referencia ya mas abstracta se da en la reciente serie de televisión norteamericana “Héroes”, en donde uno de los protagonistas, Hiro, es un ferviente admirador de las hazañas del samurai “Takezo Kensei” (no es necesario profundizar en la similitud referencial al personaje analizado, supongo), tanto así que incluso en la segunda temporada del popular programa se encuentra cara a cara con el afamado samurai, aunque el resultado final no es el esperado.

En fin, las referencias encontrables tanto a Musashi como a su rival Kojiro son innumerables.

-Se deduce tras experimentar y conocer de las increíbles hazañas realizadas por el legendario samurai una justificada importancia e influencia cultural, al cultivador del milenario arte marcial Bushido, maestro del estilo a dos espadas, invencible en combate, características que conforman la singular figura de sin duda uno de los guerreros mas hábiles y respetados de todos los tiempos.

-Incluyo algunos pequeños extras en los comentarios que quizás a más de alguien le resulten interesantes.

-Proxima entrada: 25/06/08

Então, como vocês viram na HQ desta semana, eu tive minhas mulheres. E talvez eu possa ser parente da Niki. Na verdade, esse título “10 noivas” foi um tanto ultrajante. Mas enfim… Aos que acharam que eu só me interessava por espadas antigas ou trenzinhos modernos, se enganaram.

Hoje eu tive um pesadelo neste caixão escuro. Sonhei que, do lado de fora, demônios me espreitavam esperando que eu saísse para me devorar. Eles eram loiros e sensuais, foi então que vi que estava apenas sonhando, porque ninguém é mais sensual do que eu. Se bem que o… Bom, nada não. Parece que a minha mente também se cura automaticamente dessas insanidades.

Acordei e olhei para a aliança. Eu não tinha avisado vocês sobre uma Noiva? Pois é, sempre é uma noiva o que me inspira a sair daqui. E vou conseguir. Ou não me chamo Adam Monroe… Ou Richard Sanders… Ou Takezo Kensei… Ou…

Ah, é isso. Vocês entenderam. Então joinha pra vocês, amigões!

Pois é, carpas… Vocês aí comendo ceia, trocando presentes e desenterrando (com o perdão do trocadilho) CDs de melodias repetitivas que só escutam nessa época do ano, e eu aqui trancado nessa caixa que nem de música é. Passei o Natal num lugar escuro e solitário.

Mas eu nem queria ir para a festa de vocês mesmo! Dizem que todo mundo estava piqueteando na greve, até o Parkman se prestou ao ridículo de se vestir de Papai Noel para agradar a pequena gritalhona e o seu afeto indiano. Fique sabendo inclusive que o Sylar foi nessa passeata! Devem ter servido sorvete por lá…

Enfim, aqui no meu túmulo não tem chaminé, mas alguém deu um jeito de passar para ofertar-me algo. Claro, porque eles têm medo de não agradar a um deus como eu e sentirem minha ira. Que seja. Agora eu fico blogando e cantando sozinho todas as vozes dos coraizinhos festivos. Só não tenho um sininho para bater junto.

E o que adiantaria eu comer a ceia se o Hiro nem um banheirinho instalou nessa joça? Tirando seja lá quem for que me mandou o PC, o resto eu aposto que nem se lembrou de mim. E mesmo este interesseiro deve querer alguma coisa ao me dar um presente. Eu odeio a humanidade, odeio mesmo. Então para que comemorar o nascimento de quem dizem ter sido o salvador dela? Eu sim vou salvar o mundo dessa escória chamada ser humano. O tal do Platão provavelmente se orgulharia de mim. Afinal, para que viver num mundo de deuses se eu não puder ser um deles?

Deveriam instituir como feriado de Natal o dia do MEU nascimento, isso sim… Imaginem as músicas!

Jingle Bells:

Hoje a noite é bela, juntos Kaito e ela,
vão em uma cela, felizes me trancar;
Ao soar o aviso, debaixo do piso,
mato em rodízio, até no cofre chegar.
Pego o frasco pequenino da 138,
com o vírus da Shanti fico até afoito;
Mando à Terra meu flagelo, faço até um bem,
eu decido quem vive e quem morre também.

Noite Feliz:

Noite feliz, noite feliz,
Eis que no ar vou espalhar
Este vírus que estava trancado,
É o Shanti, mas está variado;
Durmam em paz e pra sempre!
Durmam em paz e pra sempre…

Natal Branco:

De longe a variação, linda!
Que da Shanti se originou.
Este é o momento que vimos as almas
Saindo de um corpo que ficou.
Lá fora ela se espalha, vimos
Cada mortal que dizimou;
E fazemos o mundo feliz…
Ao olhar que só um deus nele restou.

Papai Noel está chegando na cidade:

É melhor, ó mortal, se regenerar,
Ou então para um velho passado voltar;
Porque Adam vai mandar dilúvio
E o Adam vai destruir tudo!
Seu vírus está chegando na cidade…