I just finished watching the George Clooney movie “Up In The Air” and somehow I asked myself what a samurai would do if he were to lose his job.
Well, first of all I believe there is this fascination for samurai in general.
So, what actually is a samurai?
Samurai is a term for the so-called military nobility during pre-industrial Japan (yes, there was such a thing!).
By the end of the 12th century, only 10% of the total population were considered samurai who served in the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class.
Samurai followed the Bushido or “Way of the warrior” and basically they were loyal to their master unto death.
But what happens to a samurai who loses his job resp. master?
He becomes a so-called “Ronin” whose main motivation is no longer honor and duty, but money and survival.
A modern-day depiction was put on display in the 1998 Robert De Niro movie “Ronin“, also starring Jean Reno.
Several former special forces and intelligence service agents team up to steal a mysterious suitcase while dealing with shifting loyalties and alliances.
The movie’s trademark is the jaw-dropping car chases like this one:
TheMartialArtsReporter.com gives special thanks on this Thanksgiving Day 2009.
Thank you to my family of valued friends, visitors and readers wherever you are in the world for your continued support and the interest we share in martial arts.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Should you not be familiar with Thanksgiving Day in the United States, here is some information on this special official holiday:
Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day, presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. It did not become a federal holiday until 1941.
Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, but is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.
In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October.
The First Thanksgiving in the U.S. was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the pilgrims survive the brutal winter. The feast lasted three days providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians.
The traditional Thanksgiving menu often features turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Americans may eat these foods on modern day Thanksgiving, but the first feast did not consist of these items.
On the first feast turkey was any type of fowl that the pilgrims hunted. Pumpkin pie wasn’t on the menu because there were no ovens for baking, but they did have boiled pumpkin.
Cranberries weren’t introduced at this time. Due to the diminishing supply of flour there was no bread of any kind.
The foods included in the first feast included duck, geese, venison, fish, lobster, clams, swan, berries, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash, and many more vegetables.
Traditionally, American say grace before carving the turkey at Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving was originally a religious observance for all the members of the community to give thanks to God for a common purpose
During Thanksgiving Day families and friends usually gather for a large meal or dinner. Consequently the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Thanksgiving is a four-day or five-day weekend vacation for schools and colleges. Most business and government workers are given Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope you enjoy the clip with Robert de Niro and Billy Crystal!
You’re going to love the posts I have scheduled for the next days and beyond!
