Posts Tagged ‘Japan’
May 20 – Kyoto mammoths – 140/365
Geiko, the older, already initiated kind of geishas, are in a way much more free in their lifestyle compairing to maiko. They do not have to arrange their own hair as maiko who therefore only can wear kimono. Geiko wear wigs and in their spare time can go out wearing jeans and no make-up. Basically, you wouldn’t tell an off-work geiko from other women in the street. They are said to be pretty well educated and have broad modern views on the world politics as carrying out an entertaining conversation is a part of their job and their clients are often politicians, infuential Rotary club members and such. They also speak very decent English and not at all so afraid of rude foregners. Things have changed and prostitution is not a necessary part of their job anymore. They may have a sort of a courtisan relationship with some affluent generous gentelman or even marry him and leave their trade. But what remains is their distant and somewhat timid passion for sumo wrestlers.
May 19 – Heels over heads – 139/365
Japan is a funny place. You see people smoking in all cafés and pubs in front of their own kids and it is completely ok, BUT it’s forbidden to smoke on the street. And it is very seriuos indeed as police do fine the street-smokers. Yes, and they drive on the opposite side too. Like the Britts.
May 17 – Yakuza dreamers – 137/137
I had a couple of beers with real Asakusa style yakuza. I only realized that they were actual yakuza (which they never confirmed though) when the younger guys dropped in and the older man started introducing them to me as his “family”. They were kind of a cheerful flock, a bit brutal in their humor, but with some distinct dignity about being able to decide about their own lives (another illusion, well). And I think I had sort of a flash back from one of the Takeshi Kitano movies as they looked almost exactly as his actors. When the older man learned that I lived in Sweden, he started laughting and saying something about “free love” (“free” for him actually meant “no cash”). What a dreamer…
May 16 – Sanja Matsuri – 136/365
This is one of few surviving true celebrations that offer its participants spiritual purification through a mild form of physical suffering. This suffering (carrying around on their shoulders heavy Mikoshi-shrine) is all visible and audible. You can read it on each happy face of every volontier and hear it in their extatic singing that main purpose becomes to support their will to endure. It all tells you that this is not just a usual commercial emasculated fake, this is for real. All social differences are wipe out among people carrying mikoshis. You wouldn’t tell a yakuza from a lawer. Neither would they remember it themselves.
Rootless Cosmopolitan 