Go Blow

      More Letters From Paradise
              Go Blow

Here in Honolulu we have a rich mix of ethnic people. But by far, the largest group of people are the Japanese. Their culture flourishes in our city. Signs in Japanese are everywhere. We have Japanese families living in our building. And, over time, I turn around, there is another new Japanese restaurant. I thought I had seen it all about Japanese culture until I saw an article in our paper about "Fukiya," written by Nancy Arcayna.

Fukiya it turns out is an indoor sport using blowpipes to fire darts at targets. Popular in Japan, with more than 40,000 participants,there are only only about 100 in Hawaii.

The focus of the sport is using abdominal breathing. First, the pipes are lowered while taking a really deep breath, and then the pipe is raised while aiming, and the air exhaled drives the dart to the target, some 20 feet away. Masters of the sport can propel a dart from a distance of about 32 feet! Lessons are free for first-timers. Fees range from $7.00 for a drop-in and $6.00 if you join the association. I would bet you any sum of money that the sport began in ancient Japan with the ninja assassins. What better way to kill, with a poison dart from some distance?

       Aloha
       Grant