Tokyo - The Samurai Experience & Kappabashi

 I should have done the Geisha Experience but there was no time, and everything was booked.  This was an interesting experience.  The first step is getting dressed like a Samurai and having your photo taken.  Then you are taken up the stairs to the exhibit, and a history lesson.

Do you know where the Ninjas are in this heirarchy?

I know the type is small, 

Emperor - The Symbolic Leader of Japan

Showgun - Ruler of Japan, Head of the Samurai

Daimyo - Feudal Lord, Leader of the Clan

Samurai - Warriors, The Noble Class, represent 5-10% of each clan

Ronin - Masterless Samurai, Similar to Mercenaries, not part of any clan

Farmers, Fishermen - Ninja class that sometimes worked for Samurai for clandestine ops

Craftsmen

Merchants

Of course once guns were introduced, the way of the Samurai ended, and the leader let his men go, and committed suicide.  Sad to think he couldn't put his discipline and leadership to other use.

Dog

- Ninjas dealt with guard dogs during missions.  To distract them, they used dogs of the opposite sex.

- Beforehand, if they had time, ninjas would give these dogs treats and make them familiar with the ninja's scent to prepare for the mission.

sneaky

Here is where my future changed..... and I became a Ninja

After the history lesson we are escorted to the target room.  We are then handed a ninja star, and given a quick lesson on how to throw it, how to retrieve the star and back away from the target.  After a little warm up the competition started.

I won the first round!!

Then the best of three were competing against one another.

I didn't win but I was in the top three and was awarded a ninja star.

It's all uphill from here!

When my family asked when I was coming home, I said, never, I am a Ninja now!!

Around the corner from this attraction is the kitchenware area of Tokyo.

It was Sunday, and not many stores were open, but those that were, were mind boggling.

Kappabashi Kitchenware Town

If you come here, have an idea of what you need because being overwhelmed is easy.

I like cats but this would test my affection for them.

This place had the best prices, an older Japanese couple were there running things.

This place had every cookie cutter you could imagine.  They are tagged with a number, and there are bins on either side of this stairway housing inventory.

Of course, I had to  pop in here, the fake food store, such artistry, and so convincing.

The phone battery was on it's last leg, and I still needed my phone to get back to the hotel.  I could have spent another couple of hours here looking at dinnerware.  I'm sure once I'm back I'll think, oh, I could have purchased plates or knives or cookie cutters... it's just how that goes.