Jan 28, 2023

Giri vs Ninjo : BEYOND HONOR

The Japanese warriors live by a code, the Bushido code. Perhaps the most important aspect of this code is the concept of loyalty. In ninja films, a problem of ethics often arises. The ninja must choose between his duties and his desires. Who does a ninja owe his or her loyalty to?

If his lord orders him to kill his child, he is obliged to do so without thought. This is true for the ninja and samurai.

The ninja must first serve his master and then his family. A ninja will save his master before saving himself or his family. Today this remains part of Japanese society. Workers are often expected to sacrifice for their company over the needs of their own family. A father will work overtime and miss his daughter’s graduation.

This is also important in for crime “families” lie the yakuza. In Machine Girl (2008), Ami seeks the revenge of the death of her brother from yakuza/ninja family even though her desire is to live a normal school girl life, she sacrifices everything to kill the yakuza / ninja family. She even desires death, at one point, to end the pain, but she rise up and finishes her duty (giri) of justice for her brother.

Ronins are samurai without a master. In a sense, they do not live by the same code and are more independent.

In wuxia pian, Chinese films, the swordsmen also live by a similar code of the Brotherhood.

–Doc Nirvana

AKA Doc Wayne Stein