Living art
Greetings from Japan! I just spent a few days in Tokyo, and have now moved on to Kyoto. It is a new year here (starts April 1), and there is much tradition to celebrate.
I have at last witnessed the cherry blossoms in Japan! The sakura were in full bloom a bit before I arrived, but there are still plenty of trees putting out the delicate pink flowers. I hadn't realized that there are dozens of varieties of cherry blossom-- some that hang down like willow branches, others that cluster into fist-sized clumps resembling popcorn balls. All are gorgeous, simultaneously stately and delicate.
The other living art I witnessed last night was seeing the maiko and geiko of Kyoto. Geiko is the Kansai (western Japan) word for geisha, and this is the only place where they still exist in large numbers. A maiko is a geiko in training. April is dedicated to celebrating their continued presence, so they are especially prominent in the evenings, walking around in full dress. Many tourists were snapping pictures, which I suppose is all part of the things they are trained to patiently-- nay, gracefully!-- tolerate.
They indeed have white faces, tall sandals with angled soles, and perfectly sculpted hair decorated with various baubles. I am reminded of scenes from the recent movie Memoirs of a Geisha (based on the book), which I watched on the plane on the way over here. The movie, incidentally, has been well described as capturing the American view of Japan as mysterious, beautiful, and full of subterfuge. It also deals with the common theme of how much control we really have, versus simply drifting in the tides of fate.
And finally, I had a wonderful experience of high art in Kyoto. My colleague is a student at a famous pottery studio called Fujihira. This studio has been around for 200 years and houses some of the most famous artists in Kyoto. Even a simple cup from one of them can cost $1,000, while a set for the traditional tea ceremony can cost $100,000. For the second time, I had the indescribable honor of making a couple of pottery pieces at the studio, under the guidance of other students there. I am an earnest if untalented apprentice, and appreciate their patience with me.
If you are in Kyoto, I recommend visiting it. Check out the traditional wood-burning kilns!
I have at last witnessed the cherry blossoms in Japan! The sakura were in full bloom a bit before I arrived, but there are still plenty of trees putting out the delicate pink flowers. I hadn't realized that there are dozens of varieties of cherry blossom-- some that hang down like willow branches, others that cluster into fist-sized clumps resembling popcorn balls. All are gorgeous, simultaneously stately and delicate.
The other living art I witnessed last night was seeing the maiko and geiko of Kyoto. Geiko is the Kansai (western Japan) word for geisha, and this is the only place where they still exist in large numbers. A maiko is a geiko in training. April is dedicated to celebrating their continued presence, so they are especially prominent in the evenings, walking around in full dress. Many tourists were snapping pictures, which I suppose is all part of the things they are trained to patiently-- nay, gracefully!-- tolerate.
They indeed have white faces, tall sandals with angled soles, and perfectly sculpted hair decorated with various baubles. I am reminded of scenes from the recent movie Memoirs of a Geisha (based on the book), which I watched on the plane on the way over here. The movie, incidentally, has been well described as capturing the American view of Japan as mysterious, beautiful, and full of subterfuge. It also deals with the common theme of how much control we really have, versus simply drifting in the tides of fate.
And finally, I had a wonderful experience of high art in Kyoto. My colleague is a student at a famous pottery studio called Fujihira. This studio has been around for 200 years and houses some of the most famous artists in Kyoto. Even a simple cup from one of them can cost $1,000, while a set for the traditional tea ceremony can cost $100,000. For the second time, I had the indescribable honor of making a couple of pottery pieces at the studio, under the guidance of other students there. I am an earnest if untalented apprentice, and appreciate their patience with me.
If you are in Kyoto, I recommend visiting it. Check out the traditional wood-burning kilns!
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