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(Japan)

“Don’t play with dead things, son. They can still be dangerous!”

As a child, that was a quote that Sago remembered hearing from his long past father. Sitting down and picking up the corpse of a dead squirrel, Sago was curious about the poor creature’s fate and examined it closely before his father’s stern rebuke. Before he died, Sago’s father taught him many things. Above all was a real sense of honor and respect. Being a very successful businessman, Sago’s’ father had left him wealthy and well versed. For not only was Sago well trained in maintaining his parent’s business, but expertly skilled as a modern Samurai. It was a tradition passed down from generation to generation and one that brought samurai into the world, even if the status was only symbolic. Symbolic or not, Sago and his kin were major players in the martial arts culture.

Currently training on the less barren side of Mount Fuji, Sago stood between some wide rows of conifer tress. Dressed in the traditional gear of the samurai, he bent down into a martial arts fighting stance with one hand extending the long, chrome blade of his samurai sword toward the open sky. Surrounding him, were four wolves, which paced about the Asian warrior in predatory circles.

In a quickening move, the alpha-male of the feral wolf pack leapt toward the warrior, but in an equally fast response, the samurai swung his shimmering blade low and literally cut the beast in half. The flying corpse of the bleeding wolf fell to floor with a resounding plop as a huge puddle of warm blood began to melt through the snow around it.

Sago took up another fighting stance, while concentrating on the remaining predators around him. However, in what must have been a canine equivalence to surrender, the rest of the pack merely took a deep sniff of their fallen leader, then treaded back to the deep forest beyond.

After the struggle, Sago sheathed his bloody blade. While staring down at the dismembered corpse of the wolf, he thought about how he got into this odd situation in the first place. After all, he was a successful CEO to a Silicon-chip empire, which decorated the heart of downtown Tokyo. What business does a 21^st century mogul like him have in braving the wilds as a full-fledged samurai? Thought Sago. But soon, his memory brought back the most honorable answer; that being summed up in one meaningful word…tradition.

Now driving away from the wilds of rural Japan and relaxing in his dojo, Sago prepared himself for a very important journey. He fitted his business suit and packed his bags, while venturing out to his suburban neighborhood. There, he caught the glimpse of several men dressed in business suits like himself. Three of them stepped out of a posh limousine and gestured for Sago to put his bags in the back. The tallest one was Sago’s most trusted confident and fellow samurai. They were all his kin and comprised an oddball mixture of eccentric cousins and brother in-laws.

“Well, well, Shod, I’m surprised to see you here. You, Tyco, and Fuci are the last people I would expect to report early!” Said Sago smarmily.

His fellow samurai grinned and explained their impromptu appearance. Speaking first, Shod expressed his concerns about the trip they were about to venture on.

“I know we’re supposed to meet at the shaolin temple tomorrow, but the Chinese government is implementing a no-fly zone by 9:PM today. There seems to be some panic about that American rabies virus -- or maybe it’s the Chinese, bird flu, or possibly even SARS. Whatever it is, the government over there is pretty bothered by it. So we have to get to the temple today, or we’ll be locked out of the country. You know, because of their quarantine laws.” Said Shod.

“All right then, it’s important that we meet there. We have been planning this trip for months and the summit represents the first step towards cultural trade and merging between our nations. You know, there will be a lot of reporters watching us once we get back. Our corporation will do well to have some real, traditional ties with the monks of China. It will definitely bring about the authenticity that people should recognize us for.” Replied Sago.

This time, Tyco added his comments with a thin smile on his face.

“Yes, that’s true, friend. We are in fact, real samurai. I remember the good times being taught by the old masters. It is also true that our rich fathers had paid the best practitioners of Kendo to train us, but I’ll be glad to have people recognize us as heirs to the Dynasty samurai, rather than the spoiled children of Sony industries!”

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