Blog-IT-o ergo sum

	6/26/2004

Symbolism - Take 2

Running a bit loose with my wording I got shot down before hitting altitude on my first attempt to cover some of the history of symbols that can be found in Japan. As I gave my family priority over my blogging while on vacation , I think I wisely decided to postpone this topic until I could be at the ready (and near an internet connection) for any follow-up commentary.

While the Nazi's of modern times certainly lifted their trademark logo from the Buddhists of long ago, the Japanese may have lifted some of their own symbols in the murky days of yore. A few years ago it raised a stir big stir in Japan and Korea when archaeologists in the ancient city of Nara near Kyoto found artifacts with royal Korean symbols on them; significant because they were believed to belong to the first ancient emperors of Japan. Bad news for Yamato fans if the royal Japanese bloodline traces back to Seoul. And, the current emperor isn't making it easier for them.

Chrysanthemum

And while a million or so Japanese believe Jesus is buried on their island another contingent is suspicious that that they make up one of the ten lost tribes of Israel. I would discount that one if it were not for the best seller status in the 1970's in Japan of a book entitled, The Japanese and the Jews which though adulatory in tone elluded to the between both groups. Noteworthy also because the Japanese operations manager of a major Toyota group firm which was my company's largest customer in the early 90's was both a big fan of this book and strong believer that his ancestors were Jewish. Hey, the customer's always right, right? And the Emperor's own Chrysanthemum crest does look a little like the crest on Herod's Gate...

He's not my customer anymore but I do have to admit doing a double take when I walked by this Buddhist funeral services company storefront in Kyoto. It was a tough shot through the glass.

Probably best to close with this scholarly wrap-up that covers most of the bases for a defendable perspective.

(If you get to the interesting part about the "Fugu Plan" in World WarII, don't forget that fugu is the raw fish that is delicious when prepared properly but deadly when it is not.)

1:29:45 PM

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