necoandjeff wrote:
> Does anyone know the origin of driving on the left side of the street
in
> Japan? I seem to recall hearing from someone a long time ago (it may
have
> even been my Iaido buddies) that it was actually an established
custom long
> before automobiles, and that passing on the left had to do with
drawing
> one's sword (if you were to pass on the right it would be difficult
to draw
> your sword and strike in the event you are attacked since you draw
from left
> to right.) A friend, on the other hand, seems to think it was a more
recent
> development and had to do with an early association between Japan and
> British motor car companies. I did a quick Google search and didn't
come up
> with much.
>
> Jeff

I have heard the Samurai theory too, but the influence of the first
British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Rutherford Alcock, created the current
law.

Mukade