A blog on War gaming in North-eastern North America from 1670-1815, the life of an ex EFL instructor, a family man formerly in Japan and now in Canada , a camper, a reenactor, a drummer, and all round crazy but home Nova Scotian. Having taught for an extended period my career is now in private security.
This was so bad! It was a group of women about 70 years old doing what they thought Square Dancing was!
The caller was giving all the commands in "Engrish" otherwise known here as Katakana English. This means, she was giving the commands in what she "thought" the sounds would be, but using the Japanese vowels and syllables.
Several things were so wrong with this that I want to point out.
1. The group was all women, which in itself is not bad, but you'd think they would try to get their husbands together to do this!
2. The choice of music is SO wrong. Most Square dancing I did in elementary school either used bluegrass, or country/western music.
3. Even my wife, and her friends who were with us thought the group were a bit out to lunch.
Most of the women were wearing fluffy dresses, rather outlandish for their age.
4. When the Japanese copy something from Western/American culture, they only do it half way. As in, they do only what they want to do, rather than do an accurate version of it. Sure, their costumes may look nice, but it's done in such an over the top way, that it misses the mark so much. Also, if they want to actually do Square dancing, so it with the correct music! The tunes they used, were Japanese popular ones, with an upbeat tempo, coupled with the caller's attempts to give the dance commands.
My son asked it its ok for me to post this on my blog and Youtube. My answer to this is Yes. Yes, because if these people want to preform in a public place, and someone from the culture they are copying does this, then they are fair game.
I also doubt if any of these women would actually find this.
I only recorded a minute because I was desperately trying to stifle my laughter!
My wife who is Japanese find these groups to be very annoying. It's all fine and dandy to copy something from North America, but have the decency to do it more or less correctly! Don't make yourself look ridiculous!
One of my more popular postings was on a Seven Years War raid. This is another one, a French raid.
The forces are French battalions with Light troops, aka Hussars attacking a Hessian force.
A Hessian regiment,
(Osprey Publishing)
(Lace Wars Reenactment group, UK)
This will be the new blackpowder game I set up for today. The dynamics are from GOFF, so that Ian can quickly make decisions.
I got Ian to play with me after an afternoon of badminton in the park.
The French, Austrian and Bavarian force advances on the Hessian right flank.
The Hessians are in their fortified camp, with the officers in the local inn.
The Hessian horse, quickly deploy but are slowed up by the thick woods on their right.
Cossacks in Prussian pay rush into the camp to lend support with a battalion of Hessians coming up in support.
The Irish Regiments prepare to advance into the centre of town.
The French and allied horse are also slowed up by the woods on the Hessian right. The Hessian storehouse is within easy reach of the French.
Ian ties down my Hessian troops, meaning that the storehouse is at the mercy of the French.
The battle is still being fought. Since it's being played in the living room, while my wife and daughter watch TV, Ian goes, then I go.
The Hessian storehouse falls victim to a concentrated attack.
View from the French lines. Steam rolling into camp.
Hessian horse take on a French gun, taking out the crew. One of the high points the Hessians had.
The Cossacks attempt to flank the French troops on their right. The Hessians pour volleys to try and stop the flood of French into their camp.
My final move was to try to drive off the French allied horse from stealing the livestock.
While I had to step out, Ian then made a large attack, and destroyed my Hessian force.
A fun game. Ian wanted to "help" me buy setting up my forces. I wanted to have put a guard force on my storehouse, but oh well. Maybe next time.
American Forces: Virginians Continental, New England Continental, Pennsylvania Rifles, Artillery
I plan on fighting this action over the coming weekend. I haven't been able to get the game on as ordinary life has overtaken my hobby time. All is well, just busy.
At least it's not snowing here.
A shot from last winter!
Crown Forces defensive position. Light Dragoons on each flank. Artillery in redoubts.
American right made up of a militia regiment, semi-regulars, a gun and a Continental Regiment.
American left wing and centre. A militia regiment and Continental
Close up look at the Crown lines. Four guns of the RA, 40th Regiment on the right, centre is 55th Regiment, far left is 17th Regiment, with 17th Light Dragoons on both flanks.
The Americans advance. Their artillery blasts apart the British advances
American right attempts to flank the British, while a Continental brigade advances straight at the Crowns position.
More American militia in reserve.
More American units advance to their front.
The American right forms line to advance and fire.
The 17th Light Dragoons advances and fires scattering and slicing into the Virginians and New Englanders.
The American line then deploys into line and blasts apart the dragoons, who are then decimated by Royal Artillery fire.
After rolling for American morale, they fail, and withdraw from the battle.
After rumminging through my figures, I decided to paint these fellows as pirates/privateers and buccaneers for my On the Seven Seas game which I will set up soon.
A collection of motley looking characters. Many of them will be repainted to represent sailors of the 18th century. I will make sure they are generic enough to be for other battles in other actions.
A mix of civilian militia and ranger figures
Two of the Osprey books I have for my Piracy campaigns.
or as I like to say stuffed like sausages or packed in tuna cans
A map of the subway lines served by Tokyo Metro
A wide shot showing a ten car train being packed to the gunnels with people. This line runs at 140% over capacity! I don't usually ride the subways in the morning due to this!
Crown Forces: Hessian Jagers, British Light Infantry, Battalion guns
American Forces:
American Rifles and Rangers
I got Ian to play with me, but we used the GOFF rules which use a special card deck. This was to help Ian in playing the game. He won, but it was a near run thing.
Pictures to follow after supper.
British Light Infantry and Hessian Jagers supported by guns of the Royal Artillery begin to advance on the American lines
The gun line is ready to pound the Americans
The Americans took cover in woods making it difficult to take them out, but their artillery came under counter-battery fire.
American Infantry move up to contain the Crown forces advance over the bridge.
These militia in the centre were very well behaved. They didn't waver until they had lost half their numbers.
The Royal Artillery takes losses from American artillery fire.
The American rifles shoot down many Light bobs, leaving only the Jagers.
The Jagers and Lights poured fire as well as a Hessian gun decimating the Americans holding the bridge. Eventually, what was left of the Americans withdrew back to the main lines. The British had taken the river crossing but with too many casualties.
Ian and I used the Gentleman of France Fire First, a rule set put out by RAFM Minatures in 1989. Ian can handle these rules as he understands the mechanics better than Field of Glory. He also wanted to play a Black Powder game with me as my schedule now means I am getting home about 7pm each night. So weekend time is special for us.
Several companies of British Grenadiers take up flanking positions to keep off any attackers.
Then directly to their front, a line of French cavalry with two guns appear.
The British commander (me) decides to continue the advance, confident that musketry will break up any charge.
Two squadrons move in and proceed to shoot up and cut apart one British regiment.
The 18th Regiment, Royal Irish Regiment move across the rive and engage the next charge.
Who are promptly destroyed.
Despite their best efforts, the British kept getting destroyed.
Eventually, the British withdrawal but are then pursued by the French cavalry. 
