Daibutsu, Kamakura

Daibutsu, Kamakura
Daibutsu in Kamakura, June 2010. There were thousands of school kids visiting that day. It was still great fun.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Samurai Skater


The Japanese figure skating champion Oda Nobunari has had a strong opening going into the Olympic season. He has won his two Grand Prix events - Trophée Bompard in mid October and Samsung Anycall Cup of China last weekend - with strong performances.

Some of you may recognize his family name.



Nobunari is the 17th descendant of famous Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga and so has samurai blood in his veins. "Since at least him, all male descendants have the syllable 'Nobu' in their first name," the 2006 Four Continents Champion explained (actually Nobunaga's father Nobuhide also had this spelling).


Nobunari is considered to be one of the contenders at the upcoming Vancouver Olympics.

8 comments:

  1. You know, when I saw on TV him during his last competition I wondered if that was the case. That's pretty awesome, and a cool piece of trivia!

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  2. I think it would be pretty damn awesome to say that you are a descendant of Nobunaga. Maybe I am a descendant of some Viking warrior from a thousand years ago.

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  3. If you do not know the bloodline, here it is.

    Nobunarai's bloodline starts with with Nobunaga's concubine Onabe no kata. They had a son Nobutaka. So Nobunari's bloodline starts with Nobunaga's son Nobutaka (mother, Onabe no kata; father, Nobunaga).

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  4. That's pretty cool information. Thanks.

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  5. He kind of looks like the picture.

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  6. You know sixmats, I was thinking the exact same thing.

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  7. A very dashing fellow.

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  8. Ha ha ha, good one. :-)

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