Gaijin’s guide to surviving in Rokugan
So, you find yourself surrounded by a foreign culture, and are lost in its alien customs? Have no fear, Gaijin Jack is here! Lets take that westernized brain of yours and give it the ol’ Osano-Wo shuffle. By the time you finish reading this little primer, you’ll know when to bow, and when to kneel… when to smile and when to keep your mouth shut! Remember that old saying, When in Rokugan, do as the Rokugani! Below you’ll find a convenient explanation of all the differences that you can expect from the fine people of this foreign land. And remember… Don’t loose your head!
Courtesy: Remember, you are in someone else’s home, so if they ask you to take off your shoes, you do it. Here though it’s a bit more complicated than that. There is a complex social structure at work, and it’s one that the local populace rigidly adheres to. You are a Gaijin, and as such, unless you are the guest of someone important, you have little to no rights. Gaijin Jack says, “When in doubt, chicken out”. The ruling class here all carry three foot long razorblades that they practice dancing with every day of their lives. If they feel you’ve slighted them, they’ll cut you…. And there really isn’t anything you can do about it. So be courteous. If you are unsure of how important someone is, bow deeply to them. If you see one of them razorblades strapped to their side, it’s best to just get out of the way, or if you can’t, just kneel off to the side until they pass.
Law: Here is the first major difference from what you’ll be used to. This society has an honor system…. No Really! Ok so it’s not what you’re thinking. Everyone here prides themselves on their “honor”. What does that mean to you? Well, since in their eyes you have no honor, it can mean nothing, or it can mean a lot. For instance, if someone is accused of a crime, but they are very honorable, no amount of evidence can convict them of the crime. They can simply fight for their honor, and if they win, they are obviously innocent. Only someone of higher station can enforce the claim of guilt. You’d be wise to remember this since you are, as they say, “an honorless dog”. If some honorable person says you did something, it doesn’t matter if you actually did or not. My advice in this situation is to grovel and plead for leniency. It will reinforce their idea that all gaijin are cowardly scum, and they may show you pity. So forget about everything you saw on CSI, it won’t help you here.
Fitting In: Simply put, you can’t. There is a rigidly defined “Celestial Order” at work here, that has been in place for thousands of years. At the very top is the Emperor(ess) and his courtly vassals. Below them is the Samurai Caste ( those are the guys with the razor blades). Next are merchants, craftsmen, and the peasantry. Below them are the non-people, basically the group that has all the shitty jobs like garbage men and IT guys. And at the very bottom is you, the guy from out of town.
Now here is where it gets tricky. Each class has there own set of rules of what they can and can’t do. At the top, they can do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t go against their religious teachings. The Samurai, act out of duty. They don’t ask “what do I want to do?” but rather, “What is required of me?” Really serious guys in this lot. Almost everything they do it a routine that they practice and go through every day of their lives, from what they do when the wake up, to what and when they eat. It won’t make sense to your westernized mind, but they actually repress their own personal desires in order to follow the desires of their lords. I know, weird huh? Anyway, the key point here it, they are not you, and you are not them. Don’t act like them, or you will find that words can be deadlier than those razorblades they all carry.
Final Note: Gaijin Jack has been at this a long time, and I can tell you, I’ve seen some freaky shit. No one here thinks like us, so it will be tough for you wrap you head around a lot of what goes on here. Stick with what I’ve written, and you should hopefully survive long enough to get your jade trinkets and be gone. I hope you’ve found this little primer useful in your stay here in Rokugan. Enjoy the food, culture and travel. Oh yeah, and one last thing. Stay away from the giant malformed clawed demons. The rat, snake, and bird people. And also the undead. Have fun!
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