Saturday December 2nd saw the 2006 K1 Grand Prix at Tokyo Dome. The announcer claimed that 54,000 visitors had come to see the climax of what was another year of high tension action in the ring this year – and Stippy.com was there behind the scenes to bring you exclusive insights.

K-1 was first staged in Japan in 1993 by Master Kazuyoshi Ishii (“Ishi Kancho”) of Seido Kaikan Karate and derives its name from a wide range of martial arts beginning in the letter ‘K’ (Karate, Kung-fu, Kempo, Kick-boxing all part of the Kakutogi family) It is now the biggest spectator sport in Japan.

The greatest thing about K1 is that all the top fighters are highly trained and dangerous so anything can truly happen to the toughest fighter – one clear punch or one well placed kick and its lights out! It’s this teeth clenching excitement that keeps me going back year after year to be present at the Tokyo Dome finals.

The Grand Prix Final always features the top 8 fighters that have earned the right to fight for the title through a series of matches held throughout the year. Nothing is spared to electrify the atmosphere – fireworks, cute ring girls, huge lighting shows and raging music – I won’t mention the detracting magic show this time – but all ‘n all it’s an atmosphere worth paying to be part of and never fails to raise the crowd from their seats.

This years fight night saw several huge surprises as Peter Aerts returned to Tokyo Dome in a reserve fight, winning against Japanese hero Musashi, and ended up in the final facing 2005 champion Semmy Schilt from Holland (as are Hoost, Aerts and Bonjasky!)

Remy Bonjasky was supposed to be the lucky one to get a shot at the Kings crown; he recovered from two hard shots to the testicles and won his fight against Stefan Leko in the semi finals – but then Remy was then pulled from the tournament by his doctors who worried about his family jewels. This then left the door open for Leko to face the champion. However, Leko had a suspected broken ankle during his bout against Remy and he too pulled out of the tournament. Before the match Leko swore he would quit K1 if he lost that night….he lost by decision but let’s see if he has a change of heart. Once you get this close to the taste of victory it’s hard to turn your back on it for long. The continual return of veterans Aerts, Hoost and Le Banner proves it!

So following the K1 rules, the winner of the reserve bout had the right to carry on to the next round – enter Aerts. The crowd went wild as Aerts , previous 3 times champion, had returned in the best form I have possibly ever seen him in. He seemed to have more stamina and upper body power than ever and of course his kicks are legendary. He wasn’t ahead on points by any means but only he was able to reach the chin of Schilt in a truly threatening way, shaking the confidence of the huge Dutchman at one stage. His popularity with the crowd was also plain to see.

After taking a front kick to the mid section Aerts crouched over for a count of 5 but it was enough to give his opponent the points needed to decisively win the final judges decision. Personally, I think they should extend the championship fight until a clear decision is made by a K.O.!

The real upset of the night, however, which almost bought me to tears, was the retirement of “Mr. Perfect” Ernesto Hoost . At 41 years old he is still a top fighter and has taken the crown 4 times in his fighting career. Loosing his match by decision to Shilt marked his retirement from the K1 ring. Having had the pleasure to act as interpreter for him and other top seeded fighters on several occasions, I swear the guy is a gentleman through and through. He is quiet spoken and respectful to all around him. Just don’t expect to leave the ring walking! He really deserves his own full page write-up but today I will settle for expressing a hearty “Thanks!” for everything he has done for the Sport.

Keep watching this space for the other evolutionary branch of the Martial Arts – PRIDE

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office on Sept 26th and less than 2 months later, on Friday November 17th, an education reform bill reforming the Fundamental Law of Education was cleared by the Lower House and has now progressed to the Upper House. This bill is backed by Shinzo’s government raising the fears of liberals that patriotism may become law in Japan’s schools. A move long awaited by the Mini-skirt Right Wing! (their promotional video pictured here)

Although the wording excludes the direct use of the word patriotism, the bill specifies the need for students to love the nation and homeland. The larger point, however, is that legislation to such an extent gives the central government the go-ahead for complete control over Japan’s education system. This appears to be a move towards fascism. No Mussolini-type figures are in sight at this stage but this is a move worth scrutinizing as, blind allegiance to any group, code or country, robs individuals of their intellectual capabilities to analyse the morality of the actions being asked of them. The worst actions can suddenly become justified if it demonstrates loyalty to the group.

The last time this happened in Japan, circa 1905, the education system was used for militarist radical ideologies, supporting the militarised state and preparing future soldiers. Patriotism was hijacked by a political group with its own agenda, and the lines between human morality and love for ones country were deliberately blurred beyond recognition. Nazi germany had the Hitler Youth, Chairman Mao used the Red Guards and modern Japans miniskirted right wing may yet have its day!

Even so, this bill brings little surprise considering the trends since at least the late 1990’s in Japanese politics have been increasingly nationalistic.

This first shift became obvious to me with the 1998 adoption of the national anthem and flag as state symbols. This almost escaped the radar but when Shintaro Ishihara was elected Mayor of Tokyo in 1999 I became more curious. I had read his book “The Japan That Can Say No” (co-written with Akio Morita, founder of Sony) in 1989 and actually admired his stance in encouraging his countrymen to be more vocal, but I have also kept an interested eye on his vote-winning nationalistic antics ever since.

Ishihara openly supports nationalistic pride and policies. It is also rumoured he is aligned with one of the many secretive ultra-nationalistic groups (groups such as the”Seiryuukai” and “Kokuryukai” have been around since the Meiji period). It is suspected however, that it was he who encouraged them to re-kindle territorial disputes with every Asian neighbour on the many small islands around Japan. Among other things he was also criticised for referring to China as “Shina”- a pre-war pejorative term. The most bold of these antics, and my personal favourite, was organizing a parade of 7000 military (Self-Defence Force) personnel and vehicles (including full size tanks!) through the streets of the Ginza shopping district on a national holiday. Much to the shock of the citizens in the area, who were taken by surprise by the unannounced party.

In 2001, the newly elected Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro was often found in the company of the long term statesman Ishihara. Koizumi caused uproar with his continual visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. It seemed the Mayor of Tokyo and the Prime Minister were on the same page. During Koizumi’s term in power Japan’s Self Defence force received an upgrade in its military capacity overseas as they took part in peace-keeping missions. They are not allowed to carry arms but if they had their way we may see the revival of the old favorite Nambu pistol – once side-arm of choice in the Pacific War. The Koizumi government even pushed in a bill to upgrade the Defence Agency to a fully fledged Ministry – meaning it can act almost independently. Fortunately,the bill is still in deliberation.

In the 1990′s I also noticed an upgrade in not only the noise levels and numbers of the Right Wing trucks that often haunt the Russian and Chinese Embassies – as well as interrupting democratic demonstrations by the people – with their loud speakers and Imperial flags flying, but also an upgrade in their vehicle paint jobs! Someone was funding these guys – the “U-yoku” (右翼, right-wing) – with fat envelopes of cash.

In this Post-War period we are now faced with a dichotomy where the rise of concepts such as the Global Village and borderless trade and communications has expanded rapidly but we also find the throwback to racial conflict and regional nationalism.

However, without even touching on the issues surrounding Article 9. of the Constitution, or the fact that Japan’s main international ambition is to get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, there are other factors which may be influencing the revival of country worship.
Looking at world history we find that nationalism in any country rises in direct proportion to economic downturn. Japan is no exception to this, as its 10 year economic slide continues.
Why? The need to move the focus of the media and voting public away from poor economic policy by choosing an external enemy or threat and encouraging solidarity of the people to overcome the source of the “evil”.

It is also no secret that there is increasing economic competition from its Asian neighbours i.e. China and South Korea. As anyone who visits these places can soon tell you, these two countries are vehemently patriotic and dare anyone say a word against the country, even jokingly, and you’re likely to provoke a screaming match. The US itself sings it’s national anthem in schools and flies the flag ceremoniously in school grounds. Perhaps the conclusion is obvious; nationalism leads to economic success. Well, maybe?

On another angle, with the war on terrorism still in full swing, the U.S. increased its own shift towards central control and limitation of civil liberties with the passing of the 2001 Patriot Act. Japan is perhaps just on its way to following suit.

And it seems clear with the planned relocation of the U.S. 7th Fleet from Okinawa to a new H.Q. in Guam, the U.S. wishes Japan to take more responsibility in its own military defence and protection of international shipping lanes. The free protection service provided by the U.S. will be logistically more complex from a further distance of Guam hence requiring a stronger Japanese Self Defence Force. This needs appropriate justification to put ASEAN countries at ease who worry that the ex-colonial power may look to expand again.

The solution was found after ‘timely’ missile and nuclear tests raised fears of an attack by North Korea. The result was the sale and installation of the Russian made S-3 ballistic missile defence system. There’s nothing like the threat of invasion from an unstable neighbour to raise feelings of nationalism from your citizens! Demands rose for both self protection and the means to do so. It was the perfect con; the people were so scared they began to ask for their own re-militarisation! (However, as we all know, Japan is protected from any great threat, especially nuclear, by their old and trusty hero – Godzilla. I’m sure he is stirring in the depths getting ready to eat a few warheads as we speak)

Now, perhaps we can agree that a certain amount of national pride is a good thing to give citizens an identity, a sense of ‘self’, and help focus the country in a similar direction be that economic or social. However, making it law? Well that’s the crunch. Patriotism is voluntary! Any state will, of course, encourage it’s people to be patriotic as the only legitimacy it has for existence is this ‘concept of being’ which is granted by its inhabitants. However, making it compulsory through legislation is an encroachment of state power over the rights of the citizens.
Remembering that this is a country where in 1945 the Allied Powers (remember MacArthur, that Asian hero of Time magazine?) had to separate State from Religion, ensure the separation of powers and create a democratic government, in order to remove the myth of divine leadership and destroy the idea of Emperor worship. It was this belief which lead to unquestioning devotion to the state through self sacrifice.The so-called ‘Kamikaze’ pilots have become the most infamous symbol of this extremism.

There is a distinction between healthy patriotic feelings – in which a balance of morality and ethics is maintained and a concept of the universal brotherhood of man plays a central role, and ultra-nationalism – which encourages borders and barriers between people and lforces lines to be drawn in the sand (e.g. “those who are not with us are against us”) which then becomes a cover for violent behaviour and other extreme policies.

This difference needs to be clear and the boundries kept in check. However to now, in 2006, be reintroducing legislation with a core of patriotism is a concern for both foreign countries and Japanese citizens alike.

Stippy.com recently got some behind the scenes snapshots from the movie set of “KISARAZU CATS EYE – World Series” (木更津キャッツアイ ワールドシリーズ).

This Japanese movie was released just a few days ago, on the 28th Oct 2006 by TBS. We thought we would just introduce it with some photos that you wont see anywhere else (You can click on all photos to enlarge them).

Twenty-one year old former high school baseball player, Kohei, learns that he is dying from cancer. He is told that he only has six months to live, and decides that he wants to do something daring, out on a limb. He proposes to five trusted members from his former baseball club that they form a ring of cat burglars that would steal from those who commit crimes. His friends think it odd, but feel they cannot turn down a dying man’s request. With only six months, how much could they do anyway?

So was the plot for the highly popular TBS television series first showing in 2002. This movie follows up the first one released in 2003 “Kisarazu Cats Eye – Japan Series”.

Cats leader Bu-san has passed away but his ghost is not content to be away from his beloved crew, especially as they have parted on uncertain terms, and now returns seeking closure.
Only, some members can see him while the rest of the town is in confusion at some odd behaviour of the Cats, making for some amusing scenes and foolery.
Most shocked by his return is probably his widowed wife, played by the very pretty Korean actress Yoon Son-ha (picture is her at the set of the movie, we could only sneak this one shot of her) who, while happy to see him back is shocked to find his genitals didn’t come with him!

Adding to the mayhem is the reappearance of Ozzy, and Ucchi who is now AWOL from the Self- Defence Force where the cruel taunting of his dominatrix-type superior (Chiaki Kuriyama, the infamous high school girl in “Kill Bill 1″) have driven him to the edge. However, the rising of spirits from the ghost realm has also brought with it a team of American high school kids who won a tournament in Japan 80 years ago. Their ship sunk off the Kisarazu coastline and have comeback as Zombies to play some ball and get their lost medals back.

Luckily the zombie leader – Jun Hashimoto – has Japanese ancestry and communicates in comical manner with the Cats – (Jun makes his first big-screen appearance after a successful stage acting career – the other zombies are real zombies still living in Tokyo today).

Check out the official home page for the details of the movie itself. We just thought we could bring you this brief article with exclusive pictures and a foreigner angle (our specialty!). We spoke to one of the guys involved in the shoot and found out lots about being a gaijin actor in Japan too, it was a great chance. The best part however, we have to admit – was Chiaki and Yun..!