Clan Yama Kaminari began as a small group within the Society for Creative Anachronism loyal to Sir Ogami Akira. After a few years of false starts, the concept of Clan as it now exists came to be: A group of groups, united for a purpose and loyal to a common ideal.
The purpose of Clan is to have fun, work together with friends and to create an effect. We have a basic rule: If it isn’t fun, don’t do it. We are very proud of what we have accomplished and what we have become. The Clan is Japanese in form and symbolism, but we do not require or even suggest that any person or group have a Japanese persona. It is the diversity of the individuals within Clan that makes us who we are.
Yama Kaminari is founded on the concept that the function of the Clan is to enhance the individual member, not to restrict him or her. To that end, we believe that the newest member is as equally as important as the Daimyo. Formality is reserved for official functions and to impress visitors.
We join together to create an effect, not to live it.
We believe that each person should participate as much as they wish. Members are encouraged to contribute to Clan, and are appreciated when they do, but no one is required to perform tasks that they do not wish to (with the exception of the Daimyo and the Bugyo who have specific duties.)
Yama Kaminari is not a Household. It is a Clan. We are a group of groups. Because of this, we do not have a sense of “family” so much as a sense of “families”. No one is an “insider,” no one is an “outsider.” Our strength lies in our differences. Each group within the Clan is different. Each group has its own perception of what it means to be in Clan. The unifying element is the desire to be with other people who share similar goals and needs, and to work towards accomplishing them.