South Australian Bujinkan and Protective Measures

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

Some gave all, and all gave some.

Taking a moment today to think of the past, present and future Defence Force personnel who serve us on a daily basis, be it overseas or at home. We thank you.

Lest We Forget

On this day 107 years ago, Australians and New Zealanders fought side by side, landing in a place far from their homelands; a place that would become known as ANZAC Cove.

Though the Gallipoli Campaign would end nine months later, those that survived would be joined by more reinforcements to fight for another three years until the guns finally fell silent on the 11th November 1918.

On land, sea and air, from a nation of less than five million, 62,000 gave their lives in an Australian uniform. A further 155,000 were wounded or imprisoned. From a nation of around one million people, around 18,000 New Zealanders were killed and more than 40,000 wounded.

Today Anzac Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day on which we remember all Australians who served and died in war and on operational service. The spirit of Anzac, with its qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.

Lest We Forget.



Image: A view looking aft of lifeboat carrying unidentified men of the Australian 1st Divisional Signal Company as they are towed towards Anzac Cove at 6 am on the day of the landing. A02781

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Thinking of those impacted 20 years ago, and of the many families and various personnel who are still grieving and recovering today.

Twenty years ago the world changed forever.

Those of us who are old enough to have been in the job know where we were... TV's in meal rooms and muster rooms crowded by the whole shift, stunned, knowing this was history, terrible history, occurring before our eyes.

Now, we serve with officers who may not have been born when we watched the towers crumble.

We think of our brothers and sisters in Blue, 71 in number, who died when terror struck. We think of the hundreds more who died in the following years from injury and illness occasioned from that day.

We think of the hundreds of Firefighters who climbed those towers, giving their all, and the many more who died since that day.

We should pause and remember the Australians who are known to have perished that day, just a small number in the thousands of civilians lost.

The ripples from these attacks led us into our longest war, destabilised the Middle East and fostered the rise of radicals and militants across the globe.

So, remember that day that history happened, and those that were lost.

Samurai and Numbers

Like most people around the world, in the past people were rather superstitious. Numbers played a major role in determining luck and fortune. The samurai were no different.

4. Traditionally, 4 is unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is the word for death. For that reason, often floors or rooms with 4 are absent in hospitals, apartments or hotels. Particularly hospital maternity sections, room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean "stillbirth".(死産 - shizan: 死 - death/to die and 産 - childbirth/produce).

In cars and racing, number 42 which sounds like shini (死に – to die) and 49, which sounds like shiku (敷く – to run over) are commonly avoided.

Gifts of items such as plates are normally in sets of three or five, never four. For that reason 4 is also read as “yon”.

7, when pronounced as "shichi", it sounds similar to the number 4, (四 shi) and Chi (blood). Instead, seven is read Nana. Seven is considered a good number since 7 symbolizes "Togetherness". However, the number 7 is also considered an unlucky number due to the way it is written as Kanji, 七 which is similar to a way the samurai would commit seppuku (切腹) in particular a type known as Memboku Seppuku, if he were wrongfully accused of something.

8 is considered a lucky number because of its shape, （八）like that of Mt Fuji, or the stable angled walls of a Japanese castle. It also represents Sue—hiro-garu, “spreading out”and because it is nearly homophonous to the word "Prosperity" (繁栄 han'ei).

9 was considered a good number, when pronounced as Kyū, as it sounds like a word for Relief. 9 was also the most auspicious number in Buddhism. But 9 is also pronounced ku — with the same pronunciation as agony or torture. Combs (kushi) were rarely given as presents as the name is pronounced the same as 9 4 (Ku-shi), or “agonizing death”.

10 is considered a good number because it is pronounced Jū, sounds like the word for "Enough" and "Replete". It is also a homophone for the word "Ample" (十分な jūbun'na).

45 can be seen as shigo, or “after death” (死後).

Incidentally, my car's registration number is 634. 6 can be read as Roku or Mu,...3 is San, Mi, or Sa,...4 is Shi, or Yon.
6 Mu 3 Sa 4 Shi,...Mu Sa Shi !! However, unlike Musashi's 5 Rings, my car only has 4 Rings,...it's an Audi.

As we enter our second night of lockdown, we aren’t sure when things will be back to normal.

For now, we stay home if able, essential workers keep the cogs turning and we keep going.

Stay safe and we will see you on the other side.

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South Australian Bujinkan and Protective Measures updated their information in their About section.