You have to understand where I am coming from. As a boy, I loved the chivalrous Knights as well as
the poetic Samurai Masters. It was all about Errol Flynn, Toshiro Mifune and the art of fencing for me.
I had a wonderful fencing teacher, Sensai Heisaburo Ogawa. I consider him
one of my greatest mentors. He gave me structure that I still use to keep my life focused and worthy.
He also taught me some dirty fencing moves in which I could break my opponent's sword
with a quick coupe to get that last elusive touche. You see, swords are expensive and when you
manage to break one you fluster your opponent which enables you to strike. It was also dangerous
because now the broken sword did have a sharp point. I love living on the edge.
For the Japanese it is all about honor and respect. Yet, there's a place to let off some steam,
goof off so to speak. They understand it is all part of the system. I don't mind drinking a few bottles
of sake at Nanbankan while chowing down on the best Japanese barbeque in Southern California.
They understand that I am having a respite and still let the honor
and respect shine on me.

Tonight I snacked on quail, chicken hearts, chicken tails (the Pope's nose), tongue and the best
lamb chops you can get.

My two chef friends-- the Sensai Master barbeque-ist, Matsu and the younger barbeque-ist, Hide.
I respond to Matsu. He reminds me of my sensai fencing teacher. Matsu and I like to talk about
Miyamoto Musashi and his "Sword of Life".

Takashi, the ultimate host. He's the reason why I consider Nanbankan another home away from home.

And my waitress friends, Takako and Mimi. They are always poised and polite, but there's something
about them that seems dangerous and magical. I love those big nosed masks on the wall. They're called Tengu,
Japanese carnival masks. Takashi told me that in the 1700's they represented white people.
It was a way to scare the kiddies especially when the Dutch and British were coming around to do a little "trading".
To me, they seem like symbols to celebrate the goof cutting loose, letting of some steam, enjoying life.
Even though I have a relatively small nose, I see myself in the Tengu.