Posted on 11/07/2002 9:40:28 AM PST by polemikos
Two Japanese deer hunters have been arrested after mistakenly shooting dead two prize racehorses and seriously wounding a third.
The two men, who were hunting at night on Hokkaido island, fired off seven rifle rounds at the animals, which they spotted from their truck.
The three female yearlings were together worth more than a million dollars.
Two were shot dead and the third left critically injured.
The hunters will now face criminal charges.
Neither firearm ownership, nor hunting, are *actually illegal* in Japan -- but the process of getting the necessary permits is so outrageously burdensome, that very few people do. It's my understanding that this applies not only to guns and hunting licenses, but even to martial arts weapons.
But even the ultra-strict controls can't seem to prevent idiotic incidents such as this.
Tell me about it... sounds like a bunch of wealthy, liquored-up business men that saw an article about huntin' in a "gaijin" magazine at the airport and thought it sounded like fun...
These bozos oughtta be forced to perform sepuku...
It is ludicrous for someone, anyone, even a complete novice, to confuse a cow for a deer! Unless, ofcourse, we are talking about midget cows with antlers (an impossibility) or gigantic mutant deer (even elk can be discerned from cows if the hunter takes time to look before shooting).
And as for confusing Holstein cows for White-Tail deer .....ay yi yi caramba!
How is that possible without large amounts of moonshine and genetic infirmity! Again maybe the types of cows i know are different from the cows the 'hunters' mistakenly shoot ....however i really do not see how a true hunter, who takes time to spot his prey before squeezing the trigger, could confuse a cow for a deer! It just does not make sense.
To be honest the only animals i know that can be confused for cows are the Eland (found in Africa) and the Yak (Asia). Those are the only ones that are similar enough to cows for me to forgive! Even creatures like Moose and Giant Kudu cannot be mistaken for cows, because even if they are large they look different enough (if you take time to look at them before firing obviously).
I think those hunters, and others like them, should not go out hunting because there is a big chance they would shoot another hunter!
Heh... Well, that happens occasionally too. I picture it mostly happening out of first day excitement or late season desperation... People who would take a shot at any rustling in the bushes...
One can have a gun in JP?
How 'bout the Hillary (N.America)?
Seppuku was usually carried out in a secluded courtyard or garden. The soon-to-be-dead samurai would usually be kitted out in a nice, white kimono (to symbolize purity, and perhaps enhance the drama of the act). Before him would be a wooden tray (which would have been crafted for this specific occasion, and later would be destroyed) upon which is a sheaf of washi paper, ink, a cup of sake, and a short knife called a tanto. To start the ceremony, he would drink the sake, preferably in two gulps. One gulp was considered gauche, and three was considered to be miserly. Two gulps showed the correct combination of contemplation and determination. Next, the samurai would take the paper and ink and compose a fitting poem, typically in the waka style (a waka is a 31 syllable, 5 line poem in a 5-7-5-7-7-7 structure.) After composing the poem, he would then procede to the main event.
The samurai would open his kimono, sometimes removing the top portion entirely, thus exposing his belly. He would then take the tanto knife, its handle wrapped in clean white rice-paper, and place it against the left side of his lower abdomen. When ready, the samurai would insert the dagger into his belly and quickly slice across, from left to right, thus opening his abdomen. The cutting of the abdomen was considered significant, because in Buddhist tradition, the lower abdomen (called the hara in Buddhism) is the center of a person's consciousness. It was believed that cutting the hara would end a person's life quicker. After the initial cut, truly badass samurai would re-insert the tanto in their midsection and make a second cut, this time upwards, towards the sternum, creating a cross in their lower torso. This second cut was considered an act of the most sheer bravery, not only because it required an insane amount of stamina and strength, but because it allowed your innards to spill out. (Literally, 'spilling your guts', as in letting the truth be known…). This more extreme form of seppuku was called jumonji giri. Assisting the doomed would be a person known as the kaishakunin ('The Officer of Death'). It was the job of the kaishakunin to lop off the samurai's head after he had opened himself up. Typically this was to alleviate the suffering of the doomed person, as tearing open your own belly with a 10-inch dagger is generally a pretty unpleasant experience. A kaishakunin of skill was most sought after, mainly because a good swordsman would be assured of getting your head off in one go. Secondly, though, because it was considered good form if the kaishakunin could take one swipe, and leave your head dangling by a thin strip of flesh at the front of your throat. This was because it was unattractive to see a severed head bounding across the floor followed by an insane arterial spray as the carotid artery is severed. Doubtless, blood gushed freely in any case, but it was nice for the head to stay attached. To be asked to serve as kaishakunin was a great honor. One had to display a great amount both compassion and strength to commit the deed. The sword used in this manner was usually destroyed, as it had been tainted by the ritual.
On second thought...seppuku is considered honorable... I say we just string 'em up by their ankles and gut 'em like deer...
First the dishonored person kneels down. Then they take their razor sharp Wakizashi sword (the short sword .....the long sword is the Katana), stick it in their abdomen, and in one motion slice all the way up to the bottom of the sternum (in essence a neat abdominal slice). This will make the intestines (and other cavity contents) to come spilling out.
Slicing the abdomen is supposed to be a 'uniquely' painful experience (i have had stories of people stabbed in the gut and they say it is not something to pray for). Also when i trained in one aspect of martial arts ('real' martial arts like Jeetkunedo, arnis, and krav maga not silly arts like karate and taekwondo) we were trained to use knives for combat, and after systematic destruction of the other person's fighting ability (eg locking/trapping followed by a slice of the forearms to render the person hapless) the next step, if we want to be meanies, is to perform a reverse gut slice to disembowel the guy in one move. (My fave however is the use of a credit card, that has been sharpened in one end, to literally rip apart a guy's throat. That is a nice Krav maga move ...and some of the others just make me think that Israelis, who invented Krav Maga, must be some sickos because some moves are just too sadistic to even post).
Anyways on the seppuku thing it is Japanese ritual suicide that was performed by dishonored men (usually Samurai). Nowadays it almosy never happens (and when it does it is usually more 'Western-like' ....as in an OD of pills or hanging). However still there are some older generation Japanese who when dishonored (eg a failed business enterprise) will not kill themselves like common Gaijin but instead will grab their Wakizashi and go with 'honor!'
By the way usually in Seppuku the guy killing himself (let's call him Joe) usually has his best friend stand behind him with a drawn Katana ....and once the abdominal slice is done with the Wakizashi his friend (the one with the long Katana) is supposed to immediately slice down and chop off Joe's head! In essence the friend is doing this to ensure that Joe does not feel any pain.
As for slicing the head off that is simple! Strength is not even necessary. Traditionally made Katanas (as in the ones bought in Japan not in some martial arts store in Seattle) used to be the world's sharpest implements until the early 20th century! They are literally razor sharp and chopping off a guy's head is simple!
Actually an authentic Katana is usually so sharp that merely touching the blade is sufficient to draw blood! It is literally a 3 foot long razor blade wielded by a Samurai who has no fear of death and who began training with it since he could walk!
Moral of the story 1: If you decide to kill yourself do not perform seppuku!
Moral of the story 2: Do not face a Katana wielding Samurai unless you have a reliable gun (reliable because if it misfires you will not have a second chance).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.