Hinomaru!
So, we were at post-Karate lunching at the Beverly Glen Deli (have a long history there, ever since one of the staff ate at Yama and told me to return the favor...we still visit back and forth)...and other than TJ, our sensei, almost walking right into Sly Stallone outside and then playing it off with a looooong walk around the parking lot in an attempt to act casual...
Anyway, other than that, we got to talking about crazy things Japanese do. Like hanging themselves in shame. I relayed the story of the Hiroshima principal who was told by his Board of Ed that he had to play the national anthem and refused. The anthem, "Kimi ga yo" was a wartime song, so it's kind of like asking a German to play the Nazi anthem...sorta. Most people have to idea what the lyrics mean, but those ho do get into heated discussions about it.
And neither the flag, "Hi no maru," nor "Kimi ga yo" were officially recognized as the national flag and anthem at the time, either, which made things worse. I forgot that the whole thing heated up because there was a bill going through the government that would make both official. What I also forgot was that it passed, during Obuchi's stint as Prime Minister (I referred to him as Obuchi-kun, cause he was a dumb-ass). Anyway, no one at the table believed me so I looked it up on my phone and was all, "What? It happened while I was there? Why don't I remember that."
I am officially getting old.
Anyway, other than that, we got to talking about crazy things Japanese do. Like hanging themselves in shame. I relayed the story of the Hiroshima principal who was told by his Board of Ed that he had to play the national anthem and refused. The anthem, "Kimi ga yo" was a wartime song, so it's kind of like asking a German to play the Nazi anthem...sorta. Most people have to idea what the lyrics mean, but those ho do get into heated discussions about it.
And neither the flag, "Hi no maru," nor "Kimi ga yo" were officially recognized as the national flag and anthem at the time, either, which made things worse. I forgot that the whole thing heated up because there was a bill going through the government that would make both official. What I also forgot was that it passed, during Obuchi's stint as Prime Minister (I referred to him as Obuchi-kun, cause he was a dumb-ass). Anyway, no one at the table believed me so I looked it up on my phone and was all, "What? It happened while I was there? Why don't I remember that."
I am officially getting old.