Shibumi 4/9/10

Shibumi is a story about an anything but simple person trying to achieve "effortless perfection". In the beginning, the story centers around a story of CIA supervisors who are running covert operations. However, this segues into a story of young Nikolai Hel. As an intelligent young man, Nikolai discovers mysticism. In order to achieve perfection which he knows as "shibumi" he must control this ability and use it accordingly. Still, the story centers around an old Nikolai who is thrown back into the world of danger and violence. The most interesting thing about the story is about how Nikolai has viewed and continues to view his mystic abilities. When he was young his teacher had asked if his transcend into the mystic world brought pleasure? Nikolai responds articurately with claiming that "'[He] never thought of it that way. It is...necesary'" (84). He feels that he needs this ability or he may go crazy. His teacher warns him that many people who have mystic beliefs when they are young lose it later in life. Nikolai tells him that he would punish whomever or whatever caused him to lose his powers. Nikolai's mental status and his physical traits conflict in that his mind cannot handle his powers. This conflict will lead to an immense clash in violence between him and those who seek to destroy him.