HAIKU about Cannabis ~ SHIKI MASAOKA

by SHIGERU ASO

three fields of cannabis
five houses
eight or nine children

The above poem was written by Japan’s world famous HAIKU poet, SHIKI MASAOKA in the late 1800′s. This poem was written about SHIKI’s ideal life, which consists of the above mentioned ideas. He wished to have cannabis fields, for he loved them. He wished for five houses to live in, and finallly 8 or 9children. This is not his only poem regarding cannabis.

at the evening
always comes
a storm of cannabis

The above is another example of SHIKI’S cannabis related poem. From his many poems written about cannabis, or ASA in Japanese, it is quite obvious that SHIKI was a great admirer of pot. His poems in its original form consists of 5 syllables, 7 syllables and 5 again. This minimalistic artform is called HAIKU in Japan. This poem is apparently a scenery that SHIKI must have loved, where he stood and enjoyed the beauty of cannabis blowing in the wind.

Here is another one.

evening rain
sparrows make noise
in the cannabis fields

This poem realistically portrays a scenery of sparrows within cannabis fields during the evening rain. Simple, yet very beautiful. SHIKI also wrote the following:

so amazing
the technique of
cutting down cannabis

This poem expresses the amusement SHIKI felt while watching the cannabis plants getting cut down. This used to be quite a site before cannabis prohibition was imposed upon Japan by the United States right after World War II.  As portrayed in SHIKI’s poems, it is clear that the Japanese lived in harmony with cannabis and nature throughout history. Believe it or not, the cannabis plant grows all over Japan, even to this day. However, the government burns down almost all of these plants every year. This act is nothing short of environmental destruction. The Cannabis Control Act completely contradicts with our rich cultural history with cannabis, and cannabis cultivation. The CCA denies our traditions of whichmany include ceremonies involving cannabis in our Shinto and animistic rituals.

There are many other poets and many different artforms in Japan that involve cannabis. It is uncertain of when cannabis was brought into Japan, but it is very clear from our ancient scriptures that we worshipped the cannabis plant. The cannabis seed dates back 10000 years to the JOMON period of Japan which was discovered in ancient clay pots. Shamanism was prevelent, and we used cannabis in shamanistic rituals. It is about time we got rid of the Cannabis Control Act that imprisons thousands of people a year. This is the only way to restore our true cultural heritage and restore cannabis as a medicine. For the record, until the CCA was imposed, Japanese drugstores used to sell E.INDIAN CANNABIS TINCURE as medicine for asthma, pain relief, insomnia, etc. It is sad to admit that the Japanese Cannabis Control Act even prohibits medical merijuana, even though we have a rich history of using this godsent plant as a  way to heal ourselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

OPEN THE STONE ~ From Kojiki

by Shigeru Aso

The ancient Shinto manuscript, KOJIKI, is the first book ever written in Japan. It describes the colorful world of animism, our belief system in Japan that there are spirits and gods in everything and anything in the land of the rising sun. We refer to this as YAOYOROZUNOKAMI, which lierally means 8 million gods, that we have praised and worshipped throughout history. This includes the god of cannabis, the god of wind, thunder, etc. We basically have gods and goddesses for everything, and that is embodied into the deep psyche and spirituality of the Japanese people and culture.

In this book, KOJIKI, there is a chapter called IWATOBIRAKI. This means the opening of the stone. In our mythology, AMATERASUOOMIKAMI, the sungodess hides behind a stone, and the world is covered in darkness and gloom. The other gods are freaked out by this, so they gather around the stone and they throw a big party to call the sungoddess back into the world to enlighten the land. In the end of this story, AMATERASUOOMIKAMI hears the noise of the party and gets curious as to what’s going on, and while she opens the stone and peaks through the cracks, a Japanese powerful giant pulls AMATERASUOOMIKAMI out from behind the stone. Then the land was full of sunshine once again.

For further details on KOJIKI, information on this story can be easily obtained online, or perhaps at any big city library.

As marijuana activists in Japan fight the unconstitutional Cannabis Control Act, we have used this metaphor time and time again, as a symbol of the Japanese cannabis liberation movement. The Japanese CCA was established by the General Head Quarters(GHQ) lead by Douglas McArther right after the war as an industrial solution to enrich the chemical fiber industry.

Japan has always been living with cannabis, and it was seen in our beautiful nature alongisde rice patties and in mountainous areas. At one point, during the war, our government encouraged to grow cannabis in order to make up for short supplies.

Now the fucking government burns millions and millions of cannabis plants that grow naturally throughout the land. This is nothing short of environmental terrorism, and destruction of natural resources and habitat. Besides, why burn perfectly fine weed, without inhaling it. I refer to this weed as Cannabis Japonica.

Our history is rich with Haiku’s and stories about cannabis. The emperror of Japan has a tight connection with weed as well. When the last emperror died, the government arranged for cannabis to be grown for one year in Shikoku prefecture in order to use in ceremonies for the heir apparent.

At any rate, as more and more of us declare civil disobedience to the Cannabis Control Act, we shall open the stone once again, and our land shall flourish with light and cannabis. Let’s get stoned!

Declaration of Civil Disobedience to the Cannabis Control Act

by Kazuhiko Shirasaka, Director of THC JAPAN

TRANSLATED BY: SHIGERU ASO

The cannabis control act is a serious violation of our right to quality life and our right to pursuit happiness, and therefore it is clearly unconstitutional. In the year 2003, I was arrested on purpose for cultivating 300 cannabis plants and I stated the above in the court of law. I was working with another activist and kept providing this wonderful medicine to people with rheumatism, cancer, etc. The cancer patients claimed that their was emmense pain relief, an increase in appetite, and that they were able to finally go to sleep at night. My fellow activist was openly discussing such matters on the internet. It was a matter of time before we both went to jail.

In the trial, my attorney stated that there were many documents and sources of information that proved the madeical properties of the cannabis plant, along with the safety of using this miracle drug. We filed the documents from world authorities, such as reports from the Council for Science and Technology in Britain and the US National Academy of Medicine. My lawyer stated that cannabis was being used in a medical fashion, and since there were patients that desperately needed access to such medication, the Cannabis Control Act violated the right to life of these patients. However, the district court of Osaka stated the following: The indicted person has been vocal about the lack of logic in the Cannabis Control Act all throughout the investiagtion and trial. His attitutde is not good.

My freedom of thought and speech was violated, and regarding the patients right to life – this was completely ignored. 

I appealed the case to the furthest extent of the Japanese legal system, and the administration of justice never gave us a straight answer. In short, the courts totally disregarded my arguments. I received a suspended sentence, but how could I possibly believe in the law and justice system any further? How could I possibly conclude to obey these unconstitutional laws?

Later on, I found out that the secondary institution of the Ministry of Health and Labor, known by the slogan “NO. Absolutely” – which is a direct translation of the “Just Say No” campaign by Nancy Reagan, was an organization constituted of ex-bureaucrats from the Ministry. I also found out that the only information they have on cannabis is a drug sample kit imported from the United States and translated about 15 years ago – which is simply out-dated anti-cannabis propaganda. I reasearched and interviewed many people including a director from the “No. Absolutely” Center, and a senior advisor from the Ministry of Health and Labor, who both admitted that they do not have any medical or scientific reasoning behind this absurd translation of an outdated drug display kit. In short, they have absolutely no proper medical or scientific information regarding cannabis, yet they enforce these laws. I utiized the freedom of information act to obtain all inforamtion owned by the Ministry of Health and Labor regarding cannabis and proved that their information was next to nothing, medical or not, and placed such information on the internet.
 
This spring, a man who fought the Cannabis Control Act as an unconstitutional law, ended in defeat. It was just like any other cannabis case and the courts have always brought up the 1985 Supreme court decision that the “negative properties of cannabis is public knowledge”. However, such opinions are no longer supported by the international scientific and medical community. The attorney proved so in court. I stood as a witness, and provided information such as the fact that the Ministry of Health and Labor does not own any knowledge about cannabis. Ofcourse, the trial was a kangaroo court proceeding. I wrote to the Supreme courts a declaration of objection to the ruling, and also declared civil disobedience to the Cannabis Control Act, and ended the support effort for this case.

The separation of three powers (legal, administritive, and judicial) are totally dysfunctional in this country. Justice is not independant from the other powers as we’d like to think.

 

The Japanese Pot Heads

by Shigeru Aso

Growing up in Japan, I never had a problem obtaining good weed. Hashish and dried cannabis are both prevelent in Japan. It grows wildly there too, believe it or not. The self defense force spends a lot of money every year erradicating this wild cannabis, burning something like a million plants a year. What a waste of money and even bigger waste of good commercial weed.

I first smoked weed when I was 14 at an International School in a decent size city in Japan. I had a son of a movie star as a roommate, and he was spoiled rotten. He introduced me to weed for the first time. He got the stuff from his mom, who was some sort of talent agent. These type of people are well known to have weed in Japan. We used to smoke out together and listen to music, giggle all night, just like any other pothead does so. 

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Let’s Smoke Pot and See Through the Deceit of our Bureaucrats

by Naofumi Katsuragawa (this article was written before his arrest in 2003)

Pot is the Only Way

Taima (Japanese for cannabis) is Marijuana, which is hemp, also known as Asa, grown and cultivated for tens of thousands of years in our Japanese culture.
Read more

Japanese Media Freaks Out Over 0.15g

On July 17th, 2011, a prominent doctor from Kyoto University Hospital was arrested in the Tokushima prefecture, for allegedly possessing 0.15g of cannabis during a police confrontation – the doctor went up a one way street and was questioned and searched, and they found a total of 0.15g(!) of cannabis from his dashboard and pocket.
How much is 0.15g of cannabis? Is it even enough to roll a joint? Perhaps a pinner, or maybe one good bong hit – but that’s about it. Apparently, the doctor was partying on his way to Tokushima on family vacation. The sad truth is that now he faces up to five years of Japanese prison, which is known as severely disciplined and extremely strict. Naturally he has lost his job – and even more. His name being all over the newspapers and TV, his family was disgraced as well, and one could only imagine the hardships he faces ahead.

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The Japanese Pot Scene

by Shigeru Aso


Due to it’s strict laws against cannabis in general, the Japanese pot scene is deeply underground.  However, it is estimated that over one million Japanese have tried cannabis in one form or another. This is due to excessive traveling done by the Japanese throughout the world, experiencing cannabis for the first time and bringing home the practice of smoking weed. The huge reggae and hip-hop scene in Japan contributes greatly to this culture as well.

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What makes me so bad that I have to go to prison? – A Marijuana Incident

To English readers: This is a record of an incident of Mr. Yamasaki, who intentionally got him self arrested so that he could argue in court the marijuana control laws’ violation of the constitution. The incident is currently on appeal to the supreme court.

We feel that the marijuana supporters of the world can sympathize with Mr. Yamasaki’s attitude. We hope that people will follow the trial’s progress, and by doing so learn about a face of Japanese society where courts are almost medieval and principles of modern justice are meaningless.

Written by: SHIRASAKA Kazuhiko – Chairman, THC Japan
Translated by: nickjplante

Please note that the Japanese names are written with the family name first.

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Part 3 ‘The Trial’

by Shigeru Aso

When the Japanese equivelent of DEA raided Mr. Katsuragawa’s home, about 20 officers participated in this operation. His first thoughts were that perhaps some Yakuza’s have decided to raid his house. The police were vindictive and angry. They were using vulgar language and accused him of breaking the law.

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Part 2 ‘Unconstitutional Laws’

by Sigeru Aso

From the year 1998 through the year 2000, Mr. Katsuragawa had actually maneuvered his way into obtaining the Japanese marijuana license. This was nearly unprecedented, it was almost impossible for openly active pot-smokers to obtain such licensing at the time. Mr. Katsuragawa had went to the appropriate department which issues licenses for growing cannabis, and was tenacious at doing so. He explained the positive properties of marijuana, presented documents and made his case. Ultimately, he was issued a license to grow hemp for seeds and pulp collection purposes. His marijuana license stated that he was going to make paper, even though he was openly suggesting for many Japanese people to smoke pot.

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