Seppuku, a highly ritualized form of suicide that involved cutting one's own stomach, was once part of the bushido samurai code, and considered an honorable way to die and, until the 20th century, was quite common. So what happened? Why did this practice die out?
For this year's World Cup, Japanese noodle company Nissin thought it would be a good idea to send Red Bull athlete Kotaro Tokuda to Brazil. To do soccer tricks. In samurai gear.
In Japanese, they're called "kawari kabuto" (変わり兜), which is often translated as "unusual helmets." They're some of the most interesting head armor you'll ever see.
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Ever wonder how Capcom’s greatest heroes and heroines would look as samurai? Or ninja? Or geisha? Well now is your chance!
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You ever see Kagemusha? It's that terrific 1980 samurai flick Akira Kurosawa made. The movie centers around Shingen Takeda, an iconic feudal lord in Japanese history, and according to fashion model Anri Takeda, a relative.
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It's a country with 120 million people, with a deep and long history, with a complex and beautiful language. Yet, for Americans, Japan often offers something else entirely—a place to project its fears, fantasies, and, yes, even neurosis.
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Capcom will be invading the Penny Arcade Expo later this week with a chance for you to go hands-on with eight of their upcoming games.
