It's no secret that the Star Wars Universe constantly takes inspiration from the real world and most of the influences come from Japanese culture. So it's no surprise that the latest episode of Ahsoka revealed new important aspects of the franchise that were inspired by Japan.
In Ahsoka Episode 6, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati went after Sabine Wren as she searched Peridea for Ezra Bridger. After finding the bandits Sabine defeated, Shin wonders about the friend that Sabine was willing to risk everything to find. Baylan then spoke about Ezra, describing him as one of the "Bokken Jedi" who were trained after the Jedi Order fell because of Order 66.
It's a notable term considering that Bokken has real-life origins. Bokken is a Japanese term for the wooden sword used as a practice weapon in kendo. This rings true with Ezra, who did not have a lightsaber when he began training under Kanan Jarrus in the first season of Star Wars Rebels, as well as other young Jedi who were trained after Order 66. The term can now be used on the likes of Ezra, Sabine, and even Luke Skywalker.
This isn't the only aspect of Japanese culture that was referenced in Ahsoka Episode 6. Early in the episode, fans got to see Grand Admiral Thrawn's army of Night Troopers who wore damaged armor that were repaired with gold paint. Although it was not addressed, it's a clear reference to Kintsugi, a centuries-old repair technique that uses lacquer dusted with powdered gold to restore broken ceramic and porcelain vessels.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time that Japanese influences were featured in Ahsoka. It was previously confirmed that the Jedi training technique where a student is blindfolded is called the Zatochi and is named after the blind masseuse who fights using a swordstick during Japan's late Edo period. The character has appeared in numerous books and films and is a beloved part of Japanese culture.
We're loving all the interesting references and there is little doubt that there will be more in the future. With that in mind, we can't wait to watch Ahsoka Episode 7, which premieres on Disney+ on September 26, 2023.
