You can still find live coelacanths, BTW.

Today is market day in Armidale and I was fascinated to see one of the local (Northeastern Asian) martial arts clubs doing a display of their activities. By the look of their swords (long and short but all wooden) they were Japanese but they used long staff techniques as well. At various points they lined up (three facing three) and, to the calls of their leader (mostly "Hai!" but there were other utterances too) they performed what must be described as Japanese Morris. They had no hobby horse and, unfortunately, no music or musician; thankfully there were no bells of any sort. I felt inspired to write some haiku and pull out the concertina (which I'd left at home) but was too slow. I suspect they wouldn't have understood the cultural reference anyway.

And, do you know? Their best performer was a woman! So I guess they could never be part of the Morris Ring.

Cheers, Rowan