Talk:Recent Updates/@comment-130.105.8.181-20180114062310

For those who want a little history on the awkward sitting position our beloved Toudan are doing in their anniversary illustrations, it's called the "kiza" (跪坐), which is an alternative form of the "seiza" (正座), one of the traditional formal ways of sitting in Japan.

http://www.tameshigiri.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/seizatokiza_min.jpg

Shown in the illustration above is the high "kiza" (#1), the low "kiza" (#2; which is the exact sitting position our Toudan are doing), and the "seiza" (#3).

Let's start with the "seiza" first. The "seiza" is a traditional and formal way of sitting on the floor in Japan. The "seiza" is considered a very respectful way to sit until 18th century Japan, when it became the most common way to sit. By the end of the 20th century Japan, however, this already became uncommon.

The "kiza" is, as pictured above, is sitting on the balls of your feet. It's commonly practiced in Iaido, a martial art that "emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to a sudden attack. (Wikipedia)" It's basically a sitting position that, while still quite respectful, maintains some sort of alertness and wariness to possible danger. It's also quite an uncomfortable way to sit! Both the "seiza" and the "kiza" require a lot of practice to fully master and be able to sit in those ways without feeling any discomfort or pain.

So now I hope people would stop thinking it's just some kind of awkward sitting position, because even though it might look that way to us, there is actually interesting history behind it!