Episode 0.7 - What’s In A Name?
November 3 - Thursday
Sunset sat in front of Sugieda Masazumi, ready to perform the first Iaido form. Now, she was on a first name basis with him and the others. They were having fun and she had been really welcomed into their group. But for this test, it was back to formalities.
Sunset’s hands both moved to the sword at her side in unison. The left wrapped around the sheath, while her right gripped the handle. Her left thumb pushed against the tsuba of the steel blade, beginning the draw. The draw wasn’t a pull, but a push as she moved her right hand forward, while also pulling the sheath back and out of the way so the katana could clear it faster. At the same time, she stepped forward with her right foot, staying low and on her left knee. The sword sliced through the air, parallel to the ground at her imaginary opponent’s shoulder. The cut ended with the tip forward.
That ended the first movement and the second started there. She bent her right hand, pulling the sword tip back at the proper speed. As it was raised up above her head, her left hand smoothly moved to its position on the handle. The second movement finished as the sword was raised above her head and back, parallel to the ground.
Sunset didn’t hesitate to bring the sword straight down. The sword whooshed through the air. It was a brutal move, designed to kill, but also to give the opposing samurai a swift and honorable death.
The next step had Sunset release the sword with her left hand and put it on her hip. She loosened her grip and turned the blade out as she slid it to the right, but kept it down. She bent her elbow, sweeping the handle up to her temple and the sword back. She swung it counterclockwise, down and out to the right, in a move that was known as the Chiburi, or blood removal. As she let the sword’s weight move the blade, she stood up with her left foot. With the sword down and to the right, Sunset continued moving her left foot until it was beside her right.
The last move was the re-sheathing. She slid her right foot backward, keeping the sword in place. Her left hand moved to cover the opening of the sheath. Her left thumb and forefinger formed a slit over the opening. Sunset pulled the sword in toward her body, resting the spine of the katana along the groove formed by her fingers. She slid the sword forward, keeping the spine in the groove as she guided it. The tip was smoothly guided into the opening and Sunset slid the sword back in place. As she slid it in place, she slowly brought herself down onto her right knee.
With everything secured, Sunset slowly stood up, bringing both feet together. This signaled the end of the form.
Sugieda looked over at where Mister Shinmi was always sitting. Sunset didn’t look anywhere but at Mister Sugieda. He looked back at her. “Not bad, but you got sloppy at the end. What did you forget?”
Sunset thought, but came up with nothing. “I don’t know, Sensei,” Sunset admitted. “What did I forget?”
“You forgot the last step, gliding your hand over the handle to check for any damage after use. You also stood all the way up, but the form ends with your knees still slightly bent.”
Sunset nodded to him.
“For your first time testing a form from start to finish, well done,” Sugieda said. He let a smile slip. “That is one of the fastest progressions I have seen. You moved slowly, but with purpose. Train that precision until your body memorizes it, and then, when you speed up, it won’t deviate.”
Sunset bowed to him. “Thank you, Sensei. I will not only remember, but practice that.”
Sugieda bowed back and Sunset stepped off to the side. Kato Rin moved forward and knelt down. She was doing a different form than the basic one that Sunset was learning. While Iaido didn’t use belts like other martial arts, it did use ranks, and she had progressed a rank at the last tournament. Today was the first time she was going to perform her new form, start to finish.
Mondays and Wednesdays had become interesting since the tournament. All of the Iaido club had decided to join in on the leadership lessons Mister Shinmi was giving. After that, they usually got dinner together before heading home to do any homework before bed.
Sunset watched Rin begin her form, but her focus shifted to Sugieda. Even after becoming friends, on a first name basis, her admiration of him hadn’t slipped. It had only increased. His skill as a teacher showed a kind and generous side, along with the graceful and strong warrior he was. She had never known anyone her age that was like him and there was something very attractive about it. His handsome features didn’t help any.
When all of their testing was over, they grabbed chairs and formed a circle. Mister Shinmi moved his chair over to the circle. The extra lessons had gone beyond simple leadership advice, but into wisdom, honor, planning, and other important lessons for a successful life, grounded in the wisdom of the samurai and other great leaders and philosophers.
They had worked their way through the Hagakure, The Book of Five Rings, and were in the middle of The Art of War. Despite being written in ancient China, Sun Tzu’s book was an important text to the war doctrine of ancient Japan and its warriors. It was even quoted on the battle standard of Takeda Shingen, an infamous daimyo during the Sengoku warring period that preceded the peaceful Edo period. The banner had the characters for Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain to symbolize the quote, “as swift as wind, as gentle as forest, as fierce as fire, and unshakable as mountain.” That was what the warriors were supposed to be, as swift as the wind, as gentle as the forests, as fierce as fire, and unbreakable like a mountain.
“Miss Shimmer,” Mister Shinmi said. “You have been distracted all day, even earlier in class. Something is weighing on your mind. Perhaps it is something we could use as a teaching point?”
“Uh,” Sunset stammered. “Yeah, something is on my mind, but I don’t know what you all could do.”
“Would you consent to at least trying?” Mister Shinmi asked.
“Well, it contains a secret,” Sunset said. “But I guess you could say it is a question of identity?”
“Whatever it is, it stays here,” Rin assured her.
“Okay,” Sunset nodded. “For reasons I don’t fully understand, Argus, the tech company, made a deal with me and the other exchange students in the school. Through the grapevine, Argus found out we wanted to try and snag copies of Sword Art Online and play together. They got us seven copies and in exchange, we will give them reviews so that they can take the information and use it to break into our home market.”
“You seven have copies?” Masazumi asked, surprised. He wasn’t the only one. Everyone was shocked and some even a bit envious.
“Yes,” Sunset nodded. “We do. Part of the deal is not letting it be known because of the limited release, but it’s more an informal agreement. No one has signed anything. We plan to play with Ota Natsuki, who is on the volleyball team with Rainbow Dash. She was a beta tester and got us interested in the game. If you saw the images Miss Ota snapped in game, the ones she could share...well-”
“Hey, I will be trying to snag a copy,” Niko said. “The game is supposed to be awesome. I don’t think you have to justify wanting to play to anyone here.”
“That info is worth a few free copies,” Ryoko added. “My father is in marketing. Companies drop billions a quarter researching new and existing markets. I too have entertained the idea of playing it as well.”
“What is your identity issue?” Rin asked.
“My game name,” Sunset shrugged. “I know it is just a game.”
“Names have power,” Mister Shinmi said. “You get to reinvent yourself into what fits for the setting and build your honor around that. A poor name will make building a reputation, good or bad, difficult.”
“Exactly,” Sunset nodded. “SAO’s is using English characters for game names. I don’t know what to do though. I’ve tried to do different combinations of my name, or portmanteaus, in both languages, but I just don’t have anything. And the game launches Sunday. On Saturday the server opens to allow players to make their accounts and avatars.”
“Play style?” Niko asked. He was obviously more than a casual gamer.
“Uh,” Sunset stammered. “I’m not sure.”
“You saw pictures, what caught your eye?” Mister Shinmi asked.
“Well, a few things did,” Sunset said. “First when I recall them, is this gorgeous old oak tree on a hill, surrounded by a field of amber grass. It stood strong and proud, and in the background was a mountain range. The next thing I think of is a few images with big swords. The Katanas are okay, but I am wanting a large, two-handed straight sword. That is what is drawing my eye.”
“Not a bad pick,” Niko encouraged. “The warriors of the Scottish Highlands, as well as the Landsknecht in middle Europe, and the entire Bolognese Sword school in Italy, all are perfect examples of how effective a large, two-handed straight sword can be both in single combat and against enemy battle formations. They lasted into the 16th century in Europe. They were very effective against cavalry and the biggest ones could lop through pikes, which was their specific purpose: destroy the enemy’s pikes so yours could survive and do damage to the enemy.”
“It is a game,” Mister Shinmi said with a laugh. “We might be the Iaido Club, but that does not mean any of you have to use katanas in a game. You can apply some of the same strategies and techniques from Iaido to the way you play SAO.” He nodded, “Yes, I am familiar with the game and the technology. I think I will wait for them to release the next set of copies before I try it. From what I understand, there is no quickdraw action like Iaido practices. For the bulk of the fighting, you use a system assist and combination attacks, rather than the power of the sword itself.
“Still, how you approach your weapon will be influenced by what you have learned here. Iaido is a good foundation for that. Respect for your weapon, wielding that weapon in an honorable and proper manner, the art of combat, the way of thinking about combat, and being able to calm yourself in a tense situation, that will be crucial in a game that you play in your mind.
“There are many various weapons a samurai learned to use, but only they could carry a sword. In fact, the sword was a very common symbol of a warrior around the globe and many cultures restricted swords use to only their chosen warriors. For the battlefield, there are better weapons than a sword. A spear has better reach and capitalizes on the action of a thrust better than any sword can, but it lacks the ability to slash and it is long. If the enemy gets inside your spear’s reach, it is useless for your defense. A Kanabo or Otsuchi crushes armor, which a sword can’t cut. Just as a sword cannot crush armor, neither can they cut. An Ono can hack better than any sword, but it cannot stab. Kusari-fundo, kusarigama, and Chigiriki are flexible weapons and fast, but they are not rigid enough to block another weapon.
“But a sword, it has a fluidity and refined style that is more versatile than those one-trick weapons. Its versatility is its strength. The possibilities for a warrior while wielding a sword is unlimited. The only limits are the ones you place on yourself. Creativity is a key trait for a warrior. Likewise, that is what samurai were supposed to be: fluid, refined, and versatile. As you all should know, the sword should be an extension of yourself, another part of your body, not just as an extension of your arm. You must be one with it, especially for a sword that is as tall as you are.
“When I did kendo, I knew the way I set my feet determined how I could attack, just as how my opponent set their feet limited how they could attack. The same for how and where the sword was held. Sugieda knows this well; when you can read your opponent’s plans ahead of the strike, your options open up. Then it comes down to either being creative enough to counter it in a way that keeps you as free to address any other opponents, yet making sure you go for the kill.
“We have previously discussed the use of the arts to balance out war. Some were for relaxation, others to keep certain skills sharp. Calligraphy was used as a metaphor. When you write your name on the page, you place your identity there. If no one knows you are there, then you are useless and in the way. But I warn you all, you cannot take back a stroke of the brush, and neither can you take back a stroke of the sword.
“In battle, you only have an instant to take everything in. Landscape painting was used to help a warrior sharpen that skill. Take it in, turn around, and paint it. It trained the mind to retain the battlefield as it unfolded so the warrior could better move. Rock gardening was used to think about terrain and how to use it to the warrior’s advantage.
“But while all of that is great to consider, we still have to figure out what name you will stamp on the battlefield. And I don’t think there is a better group to do that with than with the Iaido Club. After all, it is they who have been teaching you the way of the sword.”
“That’s right,” Niko said. The others voiced their agreement.
“Let’s think critically about this,” Masazumi said. “Oak tree was the first thing you think of when you think of Sword Art Online. That and the landscape.”
“Okay,” Sunset nodded, unsure where he was going.
Masazumi stood up and drew his practice katana. It wasn’t sharp, but it was hand forged using traditional techniques. He presented it to her for inspection.
Sunset immediately saw the skill put into the sword. It wasn’t the same as the mass produced one she was using. The way the steel flowed spoke. This sword had a soul. Its hamon was alive, hers was chemically etched in. The hamon was the line on the sword where the clay had been applied at the end of the forging process so that when the sword was quenched, the edge hardened quickly, but the spine cooled slower, keeping the steel softer. The technique made for a stronger sword which could sustain greater impacts before it broke. It was a staple for any real katana. It wasn’t a straight line though, which is what gave the sword its soul and character. The clay was put on in a way that created a beautifully dancing line, sometimes sharper, other times more rolling.
Sunset saw where he was going. “The hamon looks like a mountain range.”
“That is one aspect of your name,” Masazumi stated. “You said landscape first and I always think of how a hamon looks like mountains dancing along the sword.”
“So what?” Rin asked. “Oak for the other? Tree? Wood?”
“There is a character whose last name is Oakenshield,” Sana said. “So, Oakensword?”
“Still missing the landscape aspect,” Sunset replied. “And no offense, but I think both oaken names are dumb.”
Masazumi respectfully returned his sword to the scabbard. It was so smooth, but graceful. Even the way he turned to go back to his seat was refined, yet strong.
“Do that again,” Sunset said.
Masazumi stopped, turning to look over his shoulder. He was unsure she meant him.
“Can you draw your sword and put it back?” Sunset asked.
He turned fully to her and bowed. Masazumi slid his right foot forward. In an instant the sword was flicked out. The light danced across the blade as he performed the simple waist height slice. Masazumi elegantly sheathed the blade again.
"The light off the blade was beautiful," Sunset said. "For a brief moment, the whole thing lit up and you could clearly see the hamon. It was beautiful. Like there was a living landscape on the sword itself."
"Sunblade?" Ryoko asked.
"Sunsword?" Niko suggested.
"Bladescape," Masazumi firmly said. "An artful name for an artful warrior. There is nothing prettier to you than the landscape on a sword. The soul line. You will tell the whole world of that beauty as you cut down your enemies and gain strength. It also harkens to your training. You don't have to tell them how far along you are, only that you are a practitioner of Iaido."
"I like it," Sunset grinned. "Bladescape. It has meaning. It is artful. It feels strong, like a sword. And like Shinmi Sensei said about calligraphy, my sword will be the brush I use to I stamp my name on the battlefield. A field is part of a landscape. The sword is part of battle. I just need to ensure I don't bring dishonor to my name."
"I think your identity crisis is over," Mister Shinmi stated. "And I think our time is up for the day. I hope you all were thinking about more than just a game. The aspects of our names apply to this world too. Masazumi has many meanings depending on the kanji used to write it, but ‘pure,’ ‘elegant,’ ‘refined,’ and ‘graceful’ are among the meanings. Niko means ‘conquest of the nation’. Tameichi means ‘for one’. Masatake means ‘positive.’ Rin means ‘motivated’. ‘A woman who is like the dragon,’ is the meaning of Ryoko, and likewise, Tatsuo means ‘a female dragon.’ Sana means ‘brilliant’ as in, ‘exceptional talent or intelligence towards things’. ‘Princess’ is the meaning of Sara and Aika means ‘love song’. Bashira means ‘protector of good news’. And last, but always shining spectacularly, we have our two sunsets, Kura and Sunset. All of you have good names.”
“What about you, Shinmi Sensei?” Kata asked.
“My given name is Matsuo, which means ‘pine.’ Pine trees are strong, straight, and always in bloom.” Mister Shinmi stood up. “This has been a good talk. Think about your names and discuss them. That knowledge can unlock power inside your mind, strengthening your ability to fight, as well as do anything you set your mind to. After all, Sun Tzu says that if ‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.’ So go, learn about yourself more. Often the best way to learn about yourself is with the help of your friends, from their insight into you.”
They put the classroom back into its ordered state. After that, they headed to the locker rooms. Everyone changed into their school uniforms and then headed out to eat. It was quiet as they thought about the lesson. Game or real life, they were beginning to realize the power in a name.