And here is your daily almanac for Thursday the eighteenth of November 2023.

Today, in 1878, Mitsuyo Maeda was born, who would later go on to be known as Count Combat or Conde Koma and naturalized in Brazil as Otávio Maeda.

^{Maeda - From Wikipedia}

Maeda was a Japanese judoka and prizefighter in no-holds-barred competitions. His journey, which eventually led him to Brazil, played a crucial role in the global spread of judo and the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Maeda started training in sumo as a teenager but quickly switched to judo under the tutelage of its founder, Jigoro Kano. He became one of Kano's top students, earning the nickname "The Toughest Man in Japan." His prowess in judo led him to travel the world, demonstrating and teaching the art.

In 1914, Maeda's travels brought him to Brazil, where he staged martial arts exhibitions and taught judo. Among his students was Carlos Gracie, who, along with his brothers, would modify Maeda's teachings, eventually developing what is known today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This style emphasized ground fighting and submission holds, adapting the principles of judo to suit smaller, less powerful practitioners.

He was incredibly popular in Brazil, but later in life after he started teaching, he didn't fight as often. As he aged he mostly taught Japanese immigrants. He died in 1956 of kidney failure.

Today is 友引 (Tomobiki), one of the rokuyō, the Buddhist horoscope. Your friends may be drawn-in towards your luck, for good or for ill. It's considered an bad day for funerals and crematoriums are closed on this day. (Read more about the rokuyō here)

On the old calendar, today would have been the sixth day of the tenth month. It is Daffodils Bloom (kinsenka saku, 水仙始花), the third microseason of Rittō.

As we settle more into winter, the blooming of daffodils marks a time of understated grace. Their emergence is a reminder of nature's resilience, offering beauty and a hint of spring's eventual return, even as colder days approach.

^{Daffodils by Ikeda Shuzo}

Here's a haiku from Buson:

寒月に木を割寺の男哉
kangetsu ni ki o waru tera no otoko kana

under the cold moon
chopping wood
a temple man

^{Stary Night at Kiyomizu Temple by Unknown}

The image of a temple man diligently preparing for winter, working under the cold moon, a gives a good metaphor for the discipline and commitment that underpins both martial arts and spiritual practice. Just as the temple man continues his task under the night sky, Maeda persisted in his journey, tirelessly promoting his art and culture in a new land.

That concludes today's entry. As we observe the daffodils bloom and reflect on Maeda's journey, let's appreciate the lasting beauty of cultural exchanges and the melding of traditions. Be well, do good work, and stay in touch.

❦

David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku. He blogs here and at laspina.org.