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October 3, 2005
Ken-chan Ganbare!
On Saturday night, Japanese avant-comedy theater troupe Tetsuwari (Crack Iron Albatorosskett) finished up a month-long run of daily performances at the Little More Gallery in Harajuku. In tribute, I have translated their skit "Ken-chan's Mandala Reading" into English for your enjoyment.
Ken-chan's Mandala Reading

There's a large piece of paper with a picture of a strange Buddhist mandala. A man - Ken-chan - is standing and holding a pointer. His pupils watch him as he rattles on quickly with a hoarse voice.
Ken-chan: (pointing to mandala) This here is nirvana, what we call Mt. Sumeru. Off to the side, there are two large red puppies who say "wan wan gao." Everybody say it!
Pupils: Wan Wan Gao!
Ken-chan: These two dogs are ferocious. They eat up people at random. "Wan Wan Gao!"
Pupils: Wan Wan Gao!
Ken-chan: Under here is Hell. Raise your hand if you've ever told a lie.
Pupil #3 and Pupil #5 raise their hands.
Ken-chan: Okay, you'll probably go to Hell.
Pupils: ...
Ken-chan: The devil! Everyone try it. (Ken-chan puts two fingers on top of his head to make out devil horns.)
Pupils: Devil!
Ken-chan: Do you want to go to Heaven?
Everyone agrees ecstatically.
Ken-chan: Okay, so Ken-chan is going to tell you how to get there. Right now, you are all here - currently with general common knowledge, in the middle of the normal world. You don't want to be in this kind of place forever, do you?
Pupils: No, we don't!
Ken-chan: By the way, you're a yakuza right?
Yakuza Pupil: Yes.
Ken-chan: How many have you killed?
Yakuza Pupil: Around five people.
Ken-chan: And you think you can go to heaven? You, what do you think?
Pupil #2: I don't think he can.
Ken-chan: That is wrong. If you listen well to what Ken-chan has to say, heaven is waiting equally for everyone - from the gangster to the school teacher.
Yakuza Pupil: Thank you!
Ken-chan: Now look very closely at Ken-chan's mandala. Right in the middle there is a black space. What do you think that is?
Pupils: ...
Ken-chan: This is cancer. We're already sick! The world is sick! Ken-chan is studying day after day in order to remove this cancer, so everybody please help Ken-chan!
Pupils: Yes!
Ken-chan: Now say "Do your best, Ken-chan!" three times in a loud voice.
Pupils: Do your best, Ken-chan!
Ken-chan: Louder!
Pupils: Do your best, Ken-chan!!
Ken-chan: Louder!!
Pupils: Do your best, Ken-chan!!!
Ken-chan: Ken-chan will do his best. It's pretty boring, right? Being in this world of general common knowledge?
Pupils: ...
Ken-chan:What do you think?
Everyone nods their heads.
Ken-chan: If that's so, DIE! ...is what Ken-chan wants to say to you, but...
Pupils: (in unison) Dying is not so simple!
Ken-chan: Okay, so please look carefully at the mandala. Inside the middle black part, there is actually something white. What is the black part trying to hide? Me! The white is Ken-chan.
Pupils: (awed hush.)
Ken-chan: Therefore, sparkling in pure white, Ken-chan will do his best. For myself, for the world, and for everyone. If we all bring together our power, Ken-chan can become God! Okay? Ken-chan is God! Everyone say it!
Pupils: Ken-chan is God!
Ken-chan: One more time!
Pupils: Ken-chan is God!!
Ken-chan: One more time!
Pupils: Ken-chan is God!!!
Ken-chan: One more time!
Pupils: Ken-chan is God!!!!
Ken-chan: Okay, I'm asking you all - who is God?
Pupils: Ken-chan!
Ken-chan: Great. That ends today's mandala reading. Tomorrow, I'll speak about Ken-chan being God. (walks away a little) DIE NOW! ...is what Ken-chan wants to tell you, but...
Pupils: (in unison) Dying is not so simple!!!
Posted by marxy at October 3, 2005 11:46 PM
Comments
rad. i want to catch them again sometime w/you in the near future. hey, do they still have dvds for sale?
Posted by: r. at October 4, 2005 9:13 AM
Yes they do.
Posted by: marxy at October 4, 2005 9:40 AM
url? or do i just make the check out to marxy in 一丁目?
Posted by: r. at October 4, 2005 11:36 AM
I take only international postal orders.
Posted by: marxy at October 4, 2005 11:45 AM
