---

1. As with all great storytelling, Japanese manga, movies and literature are infused with tales of revenge. Name one. Give us a brief outline of the story; who gets their revenge on who, and for what? If you are not Japanese, tell us about a book or movie from your country where a protagonist seeks or receives his or her revenge.
2. Did you like this story? Why?
3. In the news, retaliation is a common theme. This may be between politicians, companies, sports personalities (or clubs), nations or celebrity spouses. Tell me about a real world act of retaliation or revenge.
4. Did you feel in this case that the retaliation was reasonable? Why?
5. Tell us about a time when you or someone you know has felt the need to retaliate against a spouse, sibling, parent, friend, boss, colleague or stranger. What happened? Your story can be serious or funny.
6. Do you feel in this case that you, or the person you know, struck a balance, or simply made the situation worse?

---

Question 1

I think that there are many comic book stories that are good examples of exacting revenge. To me the most classic has to be "Batman". The original Batman movie shows us a young Bruce Wayne(Batman) witnessing the murder of his parents after a show. He grows up very wealthy as he inherits his family fortune. He vows to come back and get revenge on the murderer, who later in the story becomes the "Joker" played by Jack Nicholson.

Question 2

Yeah. I think that it is a great story. I like how the city of Gotham is a dark and mysterious city. I like how Batman is anonymous to the public. He keeps it a secret that he is battling crime. Also, the original writer of the comic book is Bob Kane. My father shares the same name. He is also a Bob Kane.

Question 3

The Kardashians are a family that has a reality show in America. They have become rich and famous for doing basically nothing. There have been many scandals and revenges in their famous circle. There are many cases of backstabbing and cheating. I think it is more of an act to promote the reality show.

Question 4

I think that some of the retaliation was reasonable, but a lot of it was just to make the reality show exciting. If there is no fighting and revenge it's a boring show. I think the show is boring either way.

Question 5

I was at a Red Sox game in Boston with my wife about 10 years ago. Daisuke Matsuzaka was pitching and not doing so well in the third inning. I rude father with his family kept yelling rude things with derogatory words towards Japanese people. Mostly just racist things. He didn't know that a Japanese woman was sitting in front of him, but that is beside the point. I went and bought soda, beer, and a hot dog with extra ketchup and mustard. As I was making my way through the narrow aisle of seats. I purposely dumped the food and drink all over him and his wife. He thought it was an accident until I said meet my Japanese girlfriend.

Question 6

I feel like I struck a perfect balance. When he realized that it was purposeful he become so angry and left the game.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
exacting	まさに
derogatory	軽蔑的
aisle	通路
purposeful	わいせつな