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ba314z — Banzai by-nc-nd

Published: 2007-09-01 10:11:54 +0000 UTC; Views: 6242; Favourites: 20; Downloads: 0
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Description This design drew alot of inspiration from recent Diesel and other labels' WWII and military inspired lines. Other houses have also recently played with Asian themes as well. Put them all together and this is what I came up with. I had imagined it on a plain white tee, or possibly on a white/off white distressed flour-sack type button up short sleeve shirt. Is this design politically correct? Hardly. Catchy and trendy? Well I'll let you decide...

Update: Thanks to kurikurikuri for the correction. Don't want to be baka...
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Comments: 8

wahini15 [2009-05-15 18:29:57 +0000 UTC]

can i use this in a project i am completing, i like the piece alot. i would give you full credit.

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kurikurikuri [2007-09-25 15:51:18 +0000 UTC]

Bonsai means a small tree

I think you mean Banzai/Bansai

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ba314z In reply to kurikurikuri [2007-09-26 04:49:50 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the info. ^^

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tangledhelix [2007-09-04 23:04:20 +0000 UTC]

Strange and true fact- kamikaze airplanes used Mitsubishi motors.

In advance, please excuse the political incorrectness, but what sort of affect would wearing this shirt have on someone from Japan?

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ba314z In reply to tangledhelix [2007-09-05 00:36:35 +0000 UTC]

Hmmm. I think that would depend on where that person wore it. Now if they wore it in Japan itself, I would hope people around them would remember the loyalty and courage Kamikaze pilots showed to defend their country, the emperor, their families and friends, and their honor.
Now if a person from Japan decided to wear it here outside Japan, I would hope people would put aside pre-existing perceptions of Imperial Japan and think more of the fighting spirit and bravery showed by Kamikaze pilots. That commitment to the death is one of the things about wartime Japanese culture and military tactics that terrified the allied forces in the Pacific at the time, and continues to befuddle many.
When I was designing the typography for this design, I debated over the word "Bonsai" or the word "Hissatsu". Traditionally, Kamikaze pilots were to keep their eyes open at all times as they approached their targets and at the last moment scream as loud as they could, "Hissatsu!!" meaning 'Sink without fail'. Seeing as most westerners would not have a clue of the meaning of "Hissatsu" I decided to go with the word "Bonsai", which thanks to pop-culture and the Karate Kid, has been given similar connotations to the phrase "Hissatsu". Were I to make an edition to be worn in Japan, I would definitely replace "Bonsai" with "Hissatsu". That way the meaning behind the graphic would be realized and not mistaken as western triviality.

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tangledhelix In reply to ba314z [2007-09-08 21:19:45 +0000 UTC]

I see! Well if you were actually meaning to pull it off good luck . I think it'd be politically safer to refer to something that didn't involve a suicide at the end though. Well that's the nice thing about being an artist- you can make whatever you want, even if its risky.

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tangledhelix In reply to tangledhelix [2007-09-25 07:37:08 +0000 UTC]

Well it doesn't offend me. God knows I've used plenty of sketchy material in my pieces to lol. If it doesn't confront of discomfort the viewers a little then its not exciting... wow i feel bipolar now lol.

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ba314z In reply to tangledhelix [2007-09-08 22:50:57 +0000 UTC]

lol i understand what you mean. I get tired of being PC though. If the entire world were to be PC it would be a very boring place. No one would do anything for fear of accidentally offending someone. All I can do is try my best never to be offended where no offense is intended.

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