Bushidô — The Way of the Warrior

Junpei hid a scowl as Oogami-Sensei dipped the tea scoop into the green matcha. The tops of his feet pressed flat against the tatami floor as he waited for his master to stir the tea into the hot water with the bamboo whisk. Already his legs ached from sitting in the respectful seiza position.

"My Otōsan sent me to train as a warrior," Junpei's jaw clenched as Sensei passed the bowl of thick tea to his fellow school mate, Maruyama Kimi. Junpei's dark eyes flashed as Maruyama bowed toward Junpei and the other students, lifted the bowl to Sensei as a sign of respect, and murmured his compliments. Yet here I sit, waiting to sip tea, instead of swinging a katana!

"Confucius say, 'Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.'," Oogami-Sensei's eyes seemed to rest on Junpei. "Bushidô, the way of the warrior, is more than learning to fight."

Maruyama Kimi had taken a sip and was wiping the rim of the bowl with a linen chakin. He passed the brew to Ehara Niou, who bowed to his classmates and lifted the bowl towards the Sensei.

"Today you learn the art of chadōgu. It is more than drinking tea. It is the path on which you will learn gracefulness and purity, harmony and balance. It is the way of life, itself," Sensei nodded as Ehara wiped the bowl.

Junpei fought the urge to wiggle his toes and instead, accepted the clay-fired chawan. He bowed to the other boys, wondering how he was to obtain purity or balance when his legs were falling asleep. As he respectfully lifted the bowl to Oogami-Sensei and took a sip of the sweet liquid, Junpei hoped the next few hours would pass quickly.

When the tea was gone and Junpei, Maruyama, and Ehara finished the traditional examining of the dōgu, they watched Sensei place the utensils in a wooden box. Junpei stood with the other boys, bowed, and left the tatami.

Junpei breathed a sigh of relief as the sun hit his face. "I'm glad that's over with," he grinned at the other boys.

"Perhaps we will yet have time, today, to practice with our mamorigatana," Ehara lifted the sword his father had presented to him when he was born. Junpei frowned.

"I wish Sensei would let us practice with real katanas, rather than these . . . these akanbou swords," Junpei grunted and kicked a clump of dirt.

Maruyama snorted, "Yeah, well these baby swords are all we've got until we're thirteen."

"I wonder what my new name will be when I become a samurai?" Junpei's eyes drifted down the road. He became lost in a daydream where he was being welcomed as a warrior and presented his honor blade until Maruyama shoved his shoulder.

"Someone is coming!"

Junpei's eyes followed Maruyama's finger. His eyes widened at the sight of a horse kicking up dirt on the road.

"It's . . . it's a samurai!" Junpei gasped as the warrior and his horse slid to a stop in front of the boys. Junpei found himself gawking first at the samurai's hair, pulled back into a chomage and then at the sword thrust through the man's opi.

"Ah, my old pupil, Yukimura Gengyo," Sensei emerged from his home as the warrior slid from his sweaty horse and bowed. "You are just in time for our lesson."

Junpei raised an eyebrow at Maruyama and Ehara.

"My daimyo has been very gracious in allowing me to return to help you train our next batch of warriors," Yukimura appeared to be ignoring the boys staring with slackened jaws and wide eyes, but Junpei suspected the man was keeping close tabs on them from the corner of his eyes.

"I will honor your master in return with a gift, when you leave us," Sensei's white beard bounced as he nodded.

A servant leading three fine ponies appeared from behind Sensei's house. Junpei felt his heart pick up speed as the animals calmly stepped forward. Their large eyes seemed to watch Junpei as they stopped before the master. Sensei turned to address Junpei and his friends.

"Yukimura-san has agreed to train you in the art of riding while shooting a bow."

Yukimura stared sternly at the boys, "Do not worry, students. I promise I will not strike you with a wooden sword, as Oogami-Sensei used to do to me, should you make a mistake." The samurai's lips twitched before breaking into a laugh.

"I did not use the sword to punish you, Yukimura-san," Sensei scowled, "But to teach you to stay alert at all times!"

"Even while asleep, Sensei?" Yukimura winked at the boys.

"Even then!"

Yukimura chuckled and pointed at the three boys. "Pick a pony and mount up."

Junpei's hands eagerly reached for the black pony's halter. The animal's ears turned backward and forward before it pushed its nose against Junpei's shoulder.

"I will find a carrot for you later, honorable uma," Junpei promised. The pony stomped a heavy hoof, as if agreeing with him. Pressing his hands on the beast's withers, Junpei swung his leg up and over the pony's bare back. He settled into the creatures warmth and waited as Maruyama flung himself over the second pony's fat back and Ehara slithered onto the third.

"Many think the katana is a samurai's best friend," Yukimura-Sensei said, slipping onto his own noble steed. "But we are best known for our skill with a bow while galloping toward an enemy." Kicking his heels into the sides of his horse, Yukimura-Sensei urged his mount into a gallop. Junpei held his breath as the samurai gracefully pulled an arrow from a quiver hanging at the horse's side, notched it to the bow that appeared in the warrior's hand, and shot at a target swinging from a pole in the field near Oogami-Sensei's house. The arrow pierced its mark and Junpei cheered.

"Now you," Yukimura-Sensei trotted back and pointed at Junpei. Biting his lip, Junpei adjusted the bow he had strapped to his back, squinted at the target, and clicked at his pony to move. The beast shook its head, protesting. Junpei's neck burned as Maruyama and Ehara laughed. With another click and a nudge with his knees, the pony complied.

The wind blew Junpei's black hair back as the pony galloped toward the target. Fumbling for an arrow, Junpei managed to get the missile notched and aimed. The tip of the arrow flew towards the swinging bulls-eye and missed, skidding over the grass to rest against a wall of bamboo.

"It's harder than it looks," Junpei grumbled as his pony trotted back to join the group.

"And that is why you must practice hard and often," Yukimura-Sensei's mouth spread into a firm, thin line. "Go again, Junpei-san."

With a sheepish smile, Junpei turned his pony once again to the target. The sound of hoofbeats created a rhythmic song as the bow was raised, the arrow set in place, and the projectile set free. Junpei walked the pony back the second time, ashamed to have missed the target again.

"It takes a samurai years to master horse riding archery," Yukimura-Sensei's voice was soft but he shook his head and pursed his lips at Junpei.

"You will go again," he commanded, "And again, if need be. For one hour every day you will practice. And now if you will excuse me, Oogami Sensei has honored me by agreeing to listen to my collection of waka. I will join you boys again tomorrow, after chadōgu."

Junpei's jaw dropped as Yukimura-Sensei marched his horse to the stables. As the warrior's back disappeared, Junpei glanced at the other boys.

"Yukimura-Sensei writes poetry?"

Ehara sighed, "I can't wait to be a samurai! They know how to do everything!"

Junpei nodded slowly in agreement, "I wonder if Yukimura-Sensei might be interested to see my calligraphy?"

"Ask him tomorrow, before tea," Maruyama winked. Junpei shook his head, excited now to engage in all the arts that made up a samurai. His mouth opened and he let loose a war cry before pounding after his friends, an arrow ready to launch. His fingers pulled back on the string, the arrow flew, and Junpei grinned as the dart struck the center of the target.