Day 54

May 24th

	One thing I’ve tried to pride myself on with this trip is taking the time to learn the history of the country. I didn’t want this experience to be about high-tech, fancy vending machines and neon lights. Rather, I envisioned those sights as just the icing on the proverbial cake.  So much of Japan’s culture that we see today is rooted in their traditions and customs.  The hallmarks of the country’s past are especially highlighted in the city that I’m visiting today.

	I’ve seen legendary landmarks, historical sites, and installations but none of those matches up to the symbolism that Kyoto represents.  The old capital of Japan, Kyoto is a mainstay for all things historical. Everything from the “Geisha” women to old, maintained houses, Kyoto is a glimpse of what the country used to be.  Since it was the capital for over a thousand years, many artifacts were preserved here.

The historical presence of this city is undeniable, as the city was rarely attacked during WW2.  It’s amazing to think that after countless conflicts and disasters, much of this city has stood strong since the 8th century.  Regardless of who the enemy was, Kyoto was seen as a preserved gem in Japanese culture- and respected as such.  

Since I’m only going for a day trip, I decided to book an activity that could make the most of my time.  To my surprise, I stumbled upon a “How to use a Samurai Sword” class.  They had a few slots open during their afternoon session, so I wasted little time throwing my hat in the ring.  I know it’s cliche but damn, do I want to slice something with one of those swords. 

As for the route, the snake-like road leads me up north to Kyoto. The hour-long route leaves me with ample opportunities to observe the bike.  Sometimes, my mind goes on to auto-pilot during some of these rides.  Maybe it’s partially due to being an experienced rider, but it’s common for me to space out and ride on instinct, while I’m cruising. 

How the suspension absorbs the grooves in the road, the engine braking while I shift, and how quickly I can steer to another lane are all keenly observed on this route.  While there are only so many maneuvers I can prepare for, having an idea of how I like the bike set up is essential for that test ride at the track. I was told by the event host that we’d be meeting at a specific metro stop, so I found the nearest parking lot and gave the DZed a nice afternoon break.

There are 6 of us in the group, so it looks like it’ll be a nice teacher-to-student ratio in the class.  The event’s host is Shogo, a full-time historian, and practioner of the old Samurai ways. His English is surprisingly strong, as fluent speakers are few and far between here (even amongst tour guides).  Shogo attributes that to his time in America, where he learned English for 6 years.  

We began the experience by arriving at the house of an old Samurai warrior.  According to Shogo, the house was built over 250 years ago and housed one of the best warriors of that Era.  He explains to us how the Samurai followed the principles of “Bushido”, which is a set of rules and ethics that they lived by.  In total, there are 8 “virtues” of Bushido- Justice, Courage, Mercy, Politeness, Sincerity, Honor, Loyalty, and Character.  Each virtue is equally important, and a necessity, for each Samurai to follow. 

Following a brief history lesson, Shogo explains the role that meditation played in the life of the Samurai.  As a popular pre-battle tradition, many warriors would meditate to prepare for their upcoming skirmish.  We were told that the meditation would come at the end of the experience, so Shogo then shifted over to the wooden katanas.

They weren’t going to allow us to touch a sword (with no experience) so they provided each one of us with a wooden katana to practice form with.  According to Shogo, the trick to using the katana properly lies within your form. Unlike other battle weapons, a Katana cannot be used with blunt force. 

Instead, you must use proper technique and finesse to wield the ancient blade.  To use the katana, you must start with the sword parallel to your body (with a split stance). From there, you take two steps, all while bringing the katana up above the right side of your head. After the second step is taken, you swing the blade down in a left-leaning motion, cutting it into an object with a slanted angle. 

We spent roughly a half-hour practicing form, with Shogo and his assistants making corrections (as needed).  With such a small group, they were all able to cultivate our forms and allow us to try out the real thing, with an actual target. For each guest, we were provided with a rolled-up Tatami Mat as our cut of choice.  One by one, Shogo leads us to the target area and guides our every move, ensuring a perfect cut. 

After a few people take their turn, I was up. 

 Despite the numerous amount of reps in practice, I have to admit, I was a bit nervous to try out the Katana. It wasn’t so much a lack of confidence as it was a fear of making a bad cut. We were told beforehand that “forcing” a cut would only result in the blade being stuck in the mat.  I definitely didn’t want to be the guy that muscled his way into an embarrassing moment. 

Fortunately, the swift moves taught to me by Shogo and his team resulted in two slanted, perfectly sliced cuts.  Looking at the chopped remains of the mat, I couldn’t help but be reminded of an old snack cake that I used to eat as a kid.  The rolled, thick texture of the mat is all too similar to those sugar dense treats.  After my turn was up, I rejoined the group and watched the remaining guests take their shot at the mats.  The after-cut glow on my face was radiant, as my body felt the sudden rush of power (and adrenaline) from the blade. 

We finished the experience with a mellow meditation session in the house.  Shogo told us that Zen meditation was commonly practiced in older Eras, usually accompanied by the use of singing bowls.  These bowls produced a high-pitched, faded tone that emanates throughout the old living room.  To get the most out of the meditation session, we were told to sit cross-legged (known as the “lotus position”), close our eyes, listen to the sounds of the bowls, and to only think about what comes to mind.  

In the few moments of meditation, I began to ponder a potential track layout for my ride day. Supermoto tracks are known to have a mix of street and dirt sections, which will require some strategic shifting.  I have plenty of experience between the two forms of riding, but never together. The ride, if nothing else, should be educational and hopefully improves my cornering skills.

The end of our meditation session also signals the end of our experience. One by one, we thanked Shogo and his team for the amazing experience. This trip has provided several memorable moments, but nothing gave the sensation of power and ferocity like this one has today. There was a strong emphasis on the blade’s devastating potential, as the mats represented the density of a human body.  Considering how easily the blade sliced through the mat, let’s just say that I never want to be on the receiving end of a katana.  

By the time I made it back to the bike, the bulk of my day was spent. I plan on coming back to Kyoto later on, but the Samurai experience was enough for one day. Tomorrow, I’ll crisscross between some of the remaining locations on your itinerary. The track-day altered the plans, so that took priority to the other attractions left this week. Fortunately, I should be able to cram in most of them tomorrow, so I shouldn’t be able to miss anything.

Even if I did, could you blame me? I don’t know if anything else is going to top swinging an actual Samurai Sword. That shit was one of the most powerful experiences of my life lol. 

Thanks again and I’ll see you soon!

-Ayden