Westerners are often fascinated by the Japanese geisha and their so-called flower and willow world. A well-known book by Arthur Golden called Memoirs of a Geisha turned out to be a best-seller. However, this book did receive a lot of criticism from the geisha in Japan for being highly inaccurate. Below, Iâve listed several other popular books dedicated to geisha that you may find interesting:
â˘Geisha by Liza Dalby
â˘Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki
â˘Geisha: A Living Tradition by Kyoko Aihara
â˘Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World by Lesley Downer
â˘Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha who Seduced the West by Lesley Downer
â˘Autobiography of a Geishaby Sayo Masuda
â˘A Geishaâs Journey: My Life as a Kyoto Apprentice by Komomo & Naoyuki Ogino
I also recommend a visit to Laura’s Itsumo Japan blog for further information on geisha. Here youâll also find a comprehensive list of resources and books dedicated to a variety of topics related to Japan.
Below are some pictures taken by my husband and me during our most recent trip to Japan. At around 6:00pm, if you wander through the Gion district in Kyoto (which is very central and not difficult to find) you’ll definitely have an opportunity to see geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha). All these photos are of maiko on their way to or coming back from a party or a meeting with clients. Maiko are easily recognised by their intricate and very pretty hair ornaments:
The Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund
10% of the authorâs profit from the sale of the paperback Tokyo Hearts in 2012/13 will be donated to the Japan Society Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund.
The Japan Society has watched with deep sadness as news unfolds of the scale of damage from the Tohoku Pacific earthquake on March 11 2011. The Japan Society extends their heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all who have lost loved ones or been affected by the disastrous events.
The Japan Society has created a relief fund to aid victims of the Tohoku earthquake. All funds received will be distributed to organisations working to help people in the affected areas recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and the tsunami. The Japan Society is working in partnership with the Sanaburi Foundation to ensure funds are targeted to meet specific needs.
So Cute
I thought Iâd share some pictures of our Siberian Husky when he was a puppy â just adorable.
Hyper Japan 2012 â The UKâs biggest J-Culture Event
My husband and I lined up with hundreds of others at Brompton Hall in Earls
Court for the Hyper Japan Event 2012. Once inside, there was a great range of Japanese food to try, my husband took part in the Eat-Japan Sake Awards Top Brewery Taste-Off and I was pleased to see so many Japanese imports on display that are now being distributed in the UK such as the beautiful Doki ceramics and pottery. Other highlights included performances from the famous Japanese singer Natsuko Aso and a live demonstration by former World and Olympic Judo champion Maki Tsukada. We also watched a few Japanese food demonstrations in the Taste Discovery Zone and I noticed Choya promoting their Umeshu – a sweet Japanese liquor made from the ume fruit (similar to a plum). This particular drink is a real favourite with females in Japan and I wouldnât be surprised if it becomes just as popular with the Brits.
If you love Japan and the Japanese culture you'll really enjoy Tokyo Hearts, Tokyo Tales, and Tokyo 2060.
- My Mum, Valerie Lorraine Hall, Has Been Awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia
- Stylish “Sushi at Home” with Yumi Gomi’s Cookbook
- My Cherry Blossom Stories Collection
- Kyoto Journalâs “Cultural Fluidity” Issue and My Review of Honeybees and Distant Thunder
- Review of “Nerikomi: The Art of Colored Clay” by Thomas Hoadley
