Flew off early in the haze of dawn
in a metal dragon locked in time,
skimming waves of an underground sea
in some kind of a dream world fantasy

Sun a hot circle on a canopy,
'25 a racing blot on a bright green sea
Ahead the dim blur of an alien land,
time to give ourselves to strange gods' hands

Dark flak spiders bursting in the sky,
reaching twisted claws on every side
No place to run,
no place to hide,
no turning back on a suicide ride

Toy city streets crawling through my sights,
sprouting clumps of mushrooms like a world surreal
This dream won't ever seem to end,
and time seems like it'll never begin
30 seconds,
and a one way ride
30 seconds,
and no place to hide
30 seconds over Tokyo

~Pere Ubu~

“Many men feel that they should act according to the time or the moment they are facing, and thus are in confusion when something goes beyond this and some difficulty arises.”
Shiba Yoshimasa (1350-1410)

Sometimes I wonder if my father, a notable Samurai born more than a few centuries after the venerable Yoshimasa uttered the wise words above, ever took the time to study them as well as he should have. Had he done so, perhaps he might have thought twice before spilling his seed into the sassy and provocative temptress who beguiled him. He and his crew set foot on the shores of St. Tropez only because their ship had to find port due to a severe storm in the year 1615. Although they created nothing short of a sensation in France with their arrival, my mother claimed that like some mythological siren of seduction, it was she who was the real conqueror.

Tasekura Tsunenanga was not only a Samurai; he was also a highly placed diplomat of considerable influence. He was generally used to having his way regarding nearly every matter of importance. Capucine was a voluptuous beauty with the scruples of an alley cat, and the cleverness of a fox. As my mother, she also provided me with a decidedly interesting role model for my future endeavors. When I grew to boyhood she began to regale me with the tales of her many conquests, including the one that had led to my birth.

According to her highly inspiring and optimistic way of seeing things as generally being able to be worked towards her future advantage, the minute my normally reserved and distinguished father hit port she began her flirtations. She easily lured him into her arms with her not inconsiderable beauty and the promise of exotic sensual pleasures that she assured him might not be available back home.

Given what I learned of my Maman as I grew to manhood, I soon was able to surmise that she was probably just as interested in learning the arts of Japanese seductions for the pleasure of future paying customers, as she was of teaching her own skills for use abroad. My father, being the obvious leader, meant that it was only natural that Capucine would immediately make a beeline for him. Shy, she was not; not even with strangers whose foreign qualities made other available women hesitate as to making such bold advances towards them so swiftly. This gave her a decided advantage. Besides—she always taught me that it pays best to align with the strongest. Maman was never one to say no to a profit of any kind, regardless of moral considerations.

So it was, that I became the progeny of the head of the first Japanese envoy to land in France, though he sailed back to his homeland before he ever knew that I had been conceived of at all. What is worth making note of now, is that while he was here, (which was really a very brief interlude), Capucine somehow managed to convince him to part with a good deal of the bounty he had acquired while visiting the Spanish ports he had originally been commissioned to call on. Amazingly, he also somehow was convinced that it would be an honorable thing to leave her with one meaningful memento that was far more personal. This was a genuine hand-made Katana Samurai sword of the highest quality.

That sword has been my inspiration for many things since. Growing up as the only Japanese half-breed in all of France, and the son of a notorious prostitute as well, meant there were certain unique adversities to overcome. Dare I admit that now and then the sword assisted me when fists alone would not have? It is also worth nothing just how many of my lovers throughout the centuries to come have thrilled to the risk of running their delicate fingertips over the steel of this unique blade, while I watch with eager anticipation. This is not to say that I do not believe in using my silver tongue to make my points known before all else. I prefer to use my arts of seduction to produce a willing victim, rather than one that I have to coerce with the threat of violence.

I did make my own way to Japan in 1636, which was my 21st year. Learning that my father had no use for a French bastard in his ever so proper Japanese family was disheartening, but having learned from dear Maman how to make a considerable ruckus when I so choose, he soon agreed to carry out my hearts desire and used his influence and riches to bribe my way into a samurai training camp high within the mountains. I was rather disappointed when I realized that he only did so in the hope that I would be hacked to pieces and never heard from again, but I have never let a few obstacles keep me from reaching my objectives.

Did I return to mon pere to show him my new skills and make him incredibly proud? Did I somehow achieve an infamy that will last for all eternity and gain enough powers to aid my future endeavors enough that both the illustrious papa and the clever Capucine would each envy the creature that I became? For the details of my origins, and my many other intriguing and sometimes gender-bending adventures, you will have to come closer, darlings. The entire world may be a giant stage and I have most assuredly gained the pleasures of that kind of applause since, but I still prefer the more intimate venues for revelations of the most seductive kind…. don’t you?