Yuiko and Sayoko are both Geiko now. If you would like to see a more current photo of them you may find them here.

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.1419141&w=425&h=350&fv=]

Reparto principal:
Toshirô Mifune ... Det. Murakami
Takashi Shimura ... Det. Sato
Isao Kimura ... Shinjiro Yusa
Keiko Awaji ... Harumi Namaki
Reisaburo Yamamoto ... Hondo
Teruko Kishi ... Ogin
Gen Shimizu ... Inspector de Policía Nakajima

Fotografía:
Asakazu Nakai

Música original:
Fumio Hayasaka

Montaje:
Toshio Goto
Yoshi Sugihara

Palabras clave:

1940s, Arrest, Atmospheric, Backstage, Ballistics, Baseball, Bellhop, Black Market, Bleak, Bus, Cafe, Chase, Crime Scene, criminal, Dress, Fight, Firing Range, Flashback Sequence, Fountain, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, Geisha, Guilt, Gun, Heat Wave, Hospital, Hotel, Interrogation, Investigation, Loss Of Wife, Moody, Mother Daughter Relationship, Murder, Obsession, Obsessive Quests, partner, Pickpocket, Police, Police Chase, Police Detective, Police Detective Film, Police Surveillance, police-officer, Questionable for Children, Railway Station, Reporter, Resignation, responsibility, robbery, rookie, Rookie Cops, Rookie Detective, Shooting, Show Girl, Streetcar, Telephone Box, Tense, Theater, thief, Thriller, Thunderstorm, Tokyo Japan, Train, Undercover, Urban Drama, Voice Over, Wipe, WWII Veteran

We fallow the journey of a girls dream of becoming a maiko. At the age of 15 she leaves her home in Okinawa and struggles to fit into this tough life. She takes up her apprenticeship in the Gion Kobu Okiya "Tama". After many months as a shikomi she debut as a maiko March 8th, 2007. Being given the name Tsuruha (つる葉).

Here is the rest of the documentary: part 2, part 3, part 4.

]]> http://morgenroete.wordpress.com/?p=236 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:08:11 +0000 Atanua http://morgenroete.wordpress.com/?p=236 ...Geikos und Maikos ablichten. Das moderne Japan fasziniert mich nicht besonders, aber das alte Japan umso mehr.

Zwei Geikos

Tanzende Maiko

Zwei Maikos

Weitere wunderschöne Fotos gibt es aus dem äusserst sehenswerten Blog Mboogiedown zu sehen.

]]> http://andrewosbourn.wordpress.com/?p=59 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:09:38 +0000 Andrew Osbourn http://andrewosbourn.wordpress.com/?p=59

The Performers at the Kyo odori 2008:

Geiko: Chiyoe, Chizuru, Fumicho, Fumiyu, Fumimari, Fukuaya, Fukuemi, Fukuha, Fukuka, Fukuteru, Haruyu, Kanachisa, Kimigiku, Kimina, Kiminao, Kikuno, Kikumaru, Kikutsuru, Komomo, Kosen, Mieka, Satotsuya, Toshihana, Yachiho, Yasuha, Yayoi.

Maiko: Fukuai, Fukue, Fukuhina, Fukuhiro, Fukuho, Fukukimi, Fukunao, Fukuya, Fukuyuu, Fumihana, Fumisono, Harue, Kanasuzu, Kikune, Kikuyu, Kimiaya, Kimichie, Kimiha, Kimiharu, Kimika, Kimishizu, Kimitomo, Kimiyu, Miehina, Miyofuku, Miyoharu, Satoai, Satonami, Satomi, Satono, Taneju, Tanewaka, Toshifumi, Toshimari, Toshiteru, Toshiyui.

The first performance was put on at the Miyagawachō Kaburenjo Theater in 1950. Depicting famous places and things in Kyoto, the dance enjoys great popularity. After the fifth performance the stage was moved to the Minamiza Theater, but with the completion of a new Miyagawachō Kaburenjo Theater in 1969, the dance returned to its original location.

Scene 1: One hundred scenes of Kyoto.

Scene 2: The five color dance of the Camellia Temple.

Scene 3: The Ten Uji chapters, a koto of flowers.

Scene 4: The tale of Princess Takiyasha.

Scene 5: Festivity and celebrated beauties.

Scene 6: A brilliant brocade of chrysanthemums.

Finale: Miyagawacho Ondo, song and dance.

Good morning, Kyoto!

Weather isn't the perfect for my tight schedule of visiting Gion, make walking tour through the Higashiyama trail as recommended by LP and then catch the train to Nara as promised as my hotel was booked at NAIST for tonight.

So I packed up all my things (which constantly grow into bigger pile in a much fatter travelling bag). I checked out and left my luggages in the front desk, which gave me a token to get it back. The receptionist guy was very helpful and offer about a one-day ticket for Kyoto bus (subway doesn't cover as much as Tokyo), and I bought it since it's only 500 yen. I only had yesterday's experience riding the bus to Kinkaku-ji with my friend, it took sometime before really adjusting).

From there I walk to the nearest bus station, conveniently passing a kaban (police station), and then I waited for sometime, first kinda forgot which number of the bus I should take (take notes!) then after the bus passed, I quickly remembered, it was that bus ! Heh.  Another wait then I took another bus and then it was wrong, so I dropped out on the next stop, and run back to the first bus stop because the right bus was appearing. Aduh, imagine the hectic plus it was raining (small, but still, an umbrella can add up into the chaos).

I got a seat next to an elderly lady, who, of course, can't speak English. But having been in Japan for several days now, I now understand it's better ask or you'd be left deserted in some unknown territory. So I asked her. She blurted out some explanations, and when my stop was nearing, i assumed she told me ask to the kaban for the maiko place (Yumekoubou), and pat me in the hand (blurted out some fast Japanese) and hurry me to the bus door. Arigatou obaasan!

Thanks to the lady, I arrived in Gion district.

Gion (祇園) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.

The geisha in the Gion district do not refer to themselves as geisha; instead, Gion geisha use the local term geiko. While the term geisha means "artist", the more direct term geiko means specifically "a woman of art."

For sure I dropped of in the kaban (asking directions have never been an issue with me, I'd rather talk to some strangers than die not knowing where I am). The good thing about the policemen here are, they are very polite, they are nice even to strangers (i.e. don't run away) and they speak OK English (at least the young officers do). 

So I got to the maiko makeover safely. It was in the 4th floor of an business building. I saw some shop selling traditional food (swear don't know what they are!) on the way. But then I went to get in because my appointment time is almost on. The makeover place was rather small, with one studio, one waiting room, one rather big preparation room, where there are lockers to put your clothes when you are stripped into an undergarment for kimono, and three sets of make up chairs equipped with mirrors, and a wardrobe full of colorful kimonos.

So I got into the white undergarment and wear the tabi sock (sock with thumb separated from the rest of the toes he he) and sit on the chair. The amazing thing is, none of this people speak good English, so it's crazy. I guess the make up artist memorize some of the lines like "This is  foundation", "Now lipstick.." and some similar steps needed to be done to the customer. But, other than that, zip. However she is very nice and I was sort of on the state of "I'm gonna do it whatever it takes".

Metamorphose 

                                                          HENSHIN !!!

The whole process of making over took about 1 hour, and the photography session is probably 20 minutes. Then, the whole make up was torn down in about 10 mins. He he. And all of the sudden I was 10,000 yen poorer.

Can't say that I'm totally satisfied with the whole thing ( especially because they canceled the photograph session outside in the streets of Gion because of the constant rain). I guess I just have to come back (why do I keep saying this ?)

After that, my journey was a bit at ease. The rain still went on, but I got my 1,000 yen umbrella (from Fujisawa), and I got my shopping mood on. Kyoto turned out to be a lot more artsy craftsy than Tokyo (or was I looking in all the wrong places?), but true, I got most of my souvenirs from yesterday's trip to Kinkaku-ji. Last night I got some counting of the souvenirs that we have to bring (in Indonesia we have the tradition to bring back something from the place that you visit). So I was visit the little shops along the street of Shijō-dori, had a lot of fun, and bought some souvenirs.

They aren't that expensive (I managed to stop converting from Yen to Rupiah to save myself from heart attack), and they are all so full of arts... traditional sakura, rabbits, or dragon flies print fabrics was made into purses, lady wallets, cellphone straps and scarf. I almost bought everything.

There was one really lovely store called Chiri-men, highly recommended. The prices weren't all that cheap (even in Japanese standard), but they have i-will-kill-to-have cute earrings made of kimono fabrics, and hina dolls, and i-wonder-why-there-are-people-who-are-dilligent-enough-to-make tiny fabric vegetables and mini woven basket, and sushi and tiny sized bento for the sushi. I almost fainted! 

Managed to buy only 4 vegetables (they're to kawaii not to have), several pairs of earrings for my family and myself (spent so much today!). And run away...

Still on the same Shijō-dori, there was a store that sold everything green tea. Hubby is a big fan of greentea, in fact the only thing he wanted from my trip as oleh-oleh was only this. So I went there, there were so many kinds of tea to pick from (but no english speaking waiter to help me), so i picked one can of green tea and one sakura tea (because it sounds so sweet), and two packs of green-tea astor-like biscuits which there were testers, so I could taste it (and it tasted great..)

Before I went out the shop, couldn't help not to pick one cone of this smooth macha ice cream with green-tea biscuit. Taste was not sweet, it was really authentic green tea (yeah as if i know), unlike the macha milkshake I used to have in Japaneser resto back in Bandung.

After that I went to a couple of shop that sells maiko and geisha accessories, wow really expensive. The hair accessories like pin on the hair can cost aout 15,000 yen. OMG! Then I bought a bag of kimono scraps for my craft project (if I ever got a chance), a summer fan decorated in red flowers, and a tabi (not knowing that for the yukata that I bought at Kinkaku-ji, we don't need to wear socks).

I also went to a kimono shop, that the owner was really nice, and she helped picked out one male yukata (on sale), for hubby, navy color with minimalist pattern. 1,500 yen from 3,500 yen was quite a bargain! So I got it, and she showed me how to tie an obi.

From there, while rain is still pouring, I got myself a lunch at Lawson, a very familiar combini (convenience store), and ran in the rain towards the red gate. The lady in the photo shop right across this gate said that to go to Heian Jingu (my next destination), I would have to go through Maruyama-koen (park). Since I was reading this walking trail of Southern Higashiyama, I chose to walk (though I remembered in vain when the rain became really hard, that the lady actually asked if I would want to take the bus or walk).

Anyway, I am most proud of my physical strength :D that day, carrying my backpack, my little sling purse, and a huge bag filled with souvenir, a result of a little uncontrollable shopping earlier.

Because it was raining, and my hands were full with things, it's very difficult to snap a decent photo. Some of the photos I took either not including me, show a silvery blurry image of rain, or shaky.

I still walked and walked... would I ever find Heian-jingu?? The souvenir bag was already dangerously soaked wet, and so were the gray pants that I was wearing ... (to be continued)

Late one afternoon she and I were talking and the subject of the 'silent pilgrimage' came up. The 'silent pilgrimage' is something that takes place during the Gion Festival, though few people know about it. I had heard a rumour that Yuriko went on the 'silent pilgrimage' and I wanted to know if it was true.

The Gion Festival has taken place in Kyoto for over one thousand years, and is considered one of the three most important festival in Japan. The festival starts at the end of June and continues until 24 July, and involves a number of Shinto ceremonies and rituals. On 17 July the local gods are invited to come into their sacred palanquins known as omikoshi and are taken out into the community for the final week of the festival. They are carried on the shoulders of the bearers from the main residence at Yasaka Shrine, down Shijo Street, to their temporary shrines on Shinkyogoku Avenue. The 'silent pilgrimage' takes place during this one-week period.

'I'd like take part in the pilgrimage, too,' I told her. 'What do I have to do to be included?'

'It's not something you join. It's something you decide to do by yourself and you do it alone, in private. But, still, if you really want your prayer to come true, they say you have to do it for three years in a row,' she answered. 'And you can't tell anybody else that you are doing it. That's part of its power. You have to do it in silence. Keep your eyes lowered. Don't make eye-contact with anyone else. Concentrate completely on whatever is hidden in your heart. Keep your prayer in your mind the entire time, since that is the reason for the pilgrimage.'

I was very moved by her description. Yuriko had very distinct features, unlike an ordinary Japanese face. Her eyes were staggeringly beautiful. They were large, with soft brown centres. She didn't explicitly tell me what I wanted to know, but she offered me a smile that revealed the truth.

I couldn't stop wondering why Yuriko was making the pilgrimage. What was it that she wanted so badly?

Geisha of Gion, Mineko Iwasaki with Rande Brown

J'ai réalisé plusieurs travaux sur cette Mona Lisa version Japonaise...

Cheveux :
Pour réaliser une coupe typiquement Geisha, j'ai du rafraichir notre chère Mona Lisa.
J'ai donc dupliqué le paysage à la droite et à la gauche de son visage grâce à l'outil "Tampon de duplication", ce qui a fait disparaitre les cheveux. Les mèches qui tombaient autrefois sur son décolleté ont été recouvertes par un nouveau haut de kimono.
Le petit chignon a été rajouté en copiant les cheveux qui se trouvent au sommet de la tête, la raie devenant invisible. Les fleurs, quant à elles, sont issues d'un autre tableau de Da Vinci et ont été assombries.

Visage :
Son visage a été blanchi (Luminosité/Contraste) en gardant les yeux d'origine.
J'ai ensuite maquillé notre Joconde avec le pinceau (coins des yeux, far à paupières...) puis dessiné une nouvelle forme pour son oreille gauche, jusqu'à là inexistante sur le tableau d'origine.
Les sourcils et la bouche ont été pris sur une vraie photo de geisha et retravaillés.

Vêtement
Le kimono a été remonté : les geishas n'ont en effet aucun décolletés !
Les bords du décolleté sont d'ailleurs la duplication des manches du vêtement.

Le résultat est plutôt pas mal, non ?

Logiciel utilisé : Adobe Photoshop
Photos : Joconde, Geisha, Tableau n°2 de Da Vinci.

Booklet 1

Booklet 2

Booklet 3

Booklet 4

How Miyako Odori Started

The people of Kyoto were very concerned that Kyoto would go downhill after the relocation of the capital to Tokyo during the Meiji restoration.

Kyoto Governor Nobuatsu Hase and Vice Governor Masanao Makimura made many efforts to develop and prosper Kyoto further. In 1871 they planned to hold the first Japanese exposition in the Imperial palace in order to promote Kyoto's industry.

Jirouemon Sugiura, the representative of Gion Shinbashi and owner of Mantei (current Ichiriki-tei Ochaya), received a request from the Kyoto prefectural government to show a dance by Geiko and Maiko to the public. With the collaboration from Yachiyo Inoue III, the head of the dance school of Kyomai. Mr. Sugiura came up with an idea of dancing in a group based on the performance of 'Kamenoko Odori' in Ise Furuichi.

In March of 1872, as a sideshow of the expo, the dance 'Miyako Odori Jyunicho', created by Masanao Makimura, was performed with a chorus and musicians in a room with beautiful room with sliding doors in a house called Matsunoya, located in Gion Shinmachi. This performance was the start of Miyako Odori.

Information © 2008 Miyako Odori Program

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The Kamogawa Odori is presented in two parts, just like Kamishichikens Kitano Odori. The first season of the dances are dedicated to a theatrical piece, emphasizing on the acting skills of the Geiko. While the second half of the dances are dedicated to their many dance skills. Last year, the Geiko of Pontochō were inspired by a series of books about traveling on the Tokaido published in the early 19th century. It depicts the journey of two Geiko traveling the Tokaido highway, the road that once connected the then capital of Kyoto to Edo (present day Tokyo).

مذكرات جيشا..

الرواية التي حطمت كل الأرقام القياسية سنة 1997..

كتبها آرثر قولدن..

رواية تسحر الألباب بحميميتها و شخصياتها المذهلة..

ستتعرف فيها على أدق التفاصيل في حياة الجيشا من طريقة صنع مكياجها و قصة شعرها و حتى ماوراء الأبواب السحابة المغلقة..

تاريخ هذا الفن عريق و تقاليده لا زالت تطبق بكل صرامة حتى هذا اليوم..

لكن هذا الكتاب و برغم الحشو المعلوماتي الكبير فيه فهو ليس كتاباً تقريراً و إنما قصة..

رواية طويلة و ممتدة لأبعاد كثيرة..

من مأساة الطفولة حيث معاناة شيو شان الصغيرة..

مرحلة تربيتها لتصبح جيشا و العقبات التي حلت في طريقها و حتى تصل إلى النهاية المشوقة و التي تمنحك ذلك الشعور بأنه لا يمكن ان تنتهي الرواية إلا هكذا..

وصف الكاتب كان حميمياً و واقعياً إلى درجة عجيبة..

كيف لرجل أمريكي أن يتبنى في عقله هذه العقلية الغريبة و يعيشها بكل هذا العمق..

في الخاتمة نجد آرثر يشكر من ساعده في كتابة الرواية..

قائمة طويلة على رأسها مينوكو إيزاواكي..

أحد أشهر جيشات اليابان في ثلاثينيات القرن الماضي..

بعد بحث قصير وجدت مقابلة مع مينوكو و التي تضحك لمجرد التفكير بأن آرثر قد اختلق هذه الرواية من عقله الأمريكي الصغير..

فكما تزعم أن أكثر من 90% من أحداث الرواية هي قصتها بالتمام و الكمال فقد كانت تتحدث إليه ثماني ساعات يومياً أمام المسجلة حتى بح صوتها..

مينوكو غاضبة من آرثر لكشف اسمها الحقيقي..

فقد ارادت من هذه الإعترافات أن تشجع السياحة في بلدتها كيوتو..

لكن غولدن استغلها بطريقة سافلة حيث شوه كما تقول نظرة الناس نحو الجيشا بإضافته بعض الأكاذيب العهرية و إلصاقها بهن..

أشياء مثل فض العذرية و العلاقات الجنسية مع الزبائن..

تقول مينوكو بأن هذه الاشياء حالات شاذة و هي منبوذة في مجتمع الجشاوات..

فالجيشا فنانة و ليست عاهرة..

و الآن مينوكو منبوذة في مجتمعها و فقدت العديد من أصدقائها..

في محاولة لتصحيح الوضع كتبت مينوكو قصتها الحقيقية و تم نشرها في اليابان..

أرجو أن نتحصل عليها قريباًُ..

بعيداً عن هذه القضايا..

أجد الرواية ممتعة جداً و مستوى الكذب فيها قليل فتستطيع الإعتماد على أغلب المعلومات الموجودة فخيال هذا الأمريكي لا يتعدى ما بين السرة و الركبة..

لنكتفي بهذا القدر و لنتحدث قليلاً عن الفلم..

أقول قليلاً لأن الفلم لا يستحق إهدار الوقت عليه..

فمنتجو هذا الفلم أخذوا كل ما هو جيد في الرواية و القوه في أقرب زبالة..

القصة تمضي بلا روح و لا نفس..

تم تحوير الكثييييييييييير من الأحداث حيث بترت بعض الأجزاء و تم دمج المشاهد و استبدال الشخصيات..

كل هذا من أجل ضغط أكبر كمية من الأحداث في مدة الفيلم القصيرة..

ثلاثة فصول من حياة شيو في القرية تم بترها بالكامل..

و أول ساعة منه ليس إلا لقطات متسارعة بلا حوارات فقط نثر سريع للأحداث..

فبدلاً من نقل مأساة الطفولة و تحليلها تحليلاً نفسياً أكتفى المخرج ببعض الدموع الإصطناعية و الكثير من الصراخ الدراماتيكي الذي ليس له داع..

شاهدت الفلم بعد قراءة الرواية مباشرة و بقدر ماكانت متعتي كبيرة بالنص الأصلي كانت خيبتي أكبر بالتمثيل السيء و الكتابة المحرفة البلهاء..

نهاية الفلم كانت لقطة أصلية لم اشاهدها في أي نهاية من قبل..

قبلة طويلة بين البطلة و حبيبها..

شكراً للإبداع و الأفكار العبقرية يا بوب مارشل..

تحياتي..

The Tsuyu, summer rains, so hot and hazy, bringing floods from the kamo. Forcing the Geiko out of their houses to higher ground from the lower banks around the river. With floods less regular now days the kamo with it's dams, is full of open restaurants during the summer month's with outdoor dining on yuka, high wooden platforms extending outward and above the river.

A district located in Kyoto, Japan. Known for it's geiko and maiko. Home to many ochaya and okiya. Just like Gion, Pontochō is famous for it's preservation of Japans traditional arts, entertainment and architecture. Geisha tend to sleep in due to their late night working hours, making it one of Gion's quitest streets in the morning. During the months of the dances, rehearsals fill the day, and work at night goes on without a break!

Located around one long narrow cobble stone alley from Shijo (4th) street to Sanjo (3rd) street, lying west of the kamogawa (kamo river). It is also home to the Kaburenjo Theater on Sanjo-dori.

May, a month full of activity in Pontochō marks the beginning of the Kamogawa odori (kamo river dance), is known to be more theatrical then the other spring dances. It is performed twice a year for a three-week period marked by the blooming of the cherry blossoms, and a later three-week period of red maple leaves. Held in the Kaburenjo Theater, and has been since 1872. It also functions as a practice hall for it's local geisha.

Nearly every geisha in Pontochō is drawn into the dances. The Geisha specializing in singing, shamisen and other traditional instruments (jikata geiko) provide the musical accompaniment for the dancers. The maiko will usually perform a simple dance number, where-as the more experienced geisha will do the theatrical performances.

The teahouse mothers and ex-geisha are the sharpest critics. They gather with their "daughters" in the recital hall daily, coaching and conversing with each other. Even the oldest geisha come out for this wondrous event. Frail and fragile tiny ladies dressed in somber, monochromatic kimono's.

Pontochō is also the location of the okiya where American anthropologist Liza Dalby studied.

Für eine Weiterreise ins faszinierende Landesinnere der Inselkette sollte man sich mit den nötigsten japanischen Sprachkenntnissen wappnen, denn Englisch ist in Japan nicht immer selbstverständlich. Der schnellste Weg um sich mit der japanischen Sprache und gleichzeitig dessen Kultur und Traditionen vertraut zu machen ist mit einem Sprachaufenthalt in Japan. Die Schwerpunkte eines Sprachkurses liegen vor allem im Erzielen grammatikalischer Kenntnisse und der Praxis im Japanischsprechen. Der Unterricht wird oft mit spannenden Themen wie beispielsweise kulturellen Veranstaltungen, Ausflügen in die Region, Diskussionsrunden oder Begegnungen mit japanischen Studierenden ergänzt, wobei dies nur ein kleiner Teil des gesamten Programms darstellen soll.

Hat man die Basis der japanischen Sprache einmal mehr oder weniger intus, sollte einer Reise quer durch die Inselwelt nichts mehr im Wege stehen (ansonsten kann man sich ja immer noch auf die liebe Körpersprache verlassen). Japan kann nun gründlich erforscht zu werden. Vom Hase Kannon Tempel in Kamakura, zum Tsurugaoka Hachimangu-Schrein, zum Kegon-Wasserfall und Chuzenji-See in Nikko bis hin zum Mount Fuji in Hakone. Bei einem Besuch in Japan darf natürlich auch das Auskosten kreativ hergerichteter Sushis in den berühmt berüchtigten Sushibars, wo in einem Tempo gehackt, geschnitten und zubereitet wird, nicht fehlen. An die Kultur annähern kann man sich bei traditionellen Festivals, wo Kimonos darauf warten getragen zu werden und sich die heute nur noch selten anzutreffenden, zart geschminkten Geishas in gutem Benehmen üben. Wer sich seinen Traum von Japan erst übermorgen erfüllen kann, hat Gelegenheit in die wunderschönen, japanischen Welten in Haruki Murakamis Romanen zu tauchen.

Tipps für öffentliche Verkehrsmittel:

In Japan gibt es den so genannten Japan Rail Pass, den ausländische Gäste bei der Einreise beantragen und mithilfe dessen sie Japan bereisen können. Die Preise für den Japan Rail Pass belaufen sich auf ungefähr 180 Euro für 7 Tage in der zweiten Klasse, etwa 300 Euro für 14 Tage und ca. 400 Euro für 3 Wochen, wobei es für Kinder Ermässigungen gibt.

Wenn Sie vorhaben in Tokio regelmässig U- und S- Bahn zu hoppen, dann können Sie das Tokio Combination Ticket kaufen, mit dem Sie für rund 11 Euro einen ganzen Tag lang Zeit haben, in Tokio alle Winkel und Ecken abzuklappern.

Being named after the Shimbashi bridge, which no longer exists. It was built in 1630 on the Shiodome river making it's teahouses and inns around the area easily reachable by boat.

The geisha which performed in it's many teahouses became known as Kompura Geisha, later changing it to Shimbashi Geisha. The term Shimbashi became common once people began to compare them with the geisha in the Yanagibashi district.

Azuma O-dori ("Dances of the East") which is held by the Geisha of the Shinbashi district for only three days, usually around May 28th-May 31st in the Shimbashi Embujô located in Ginza.

"The Azuma Odori has been held in the Shimbashi Embujo Theater since 1923. It is one of the publics only chances to see the geisha of Shimbashi, Tokyo in action. This is an event that happens annually, usually at the end of May, and is usually attended by geisha representing all the districts in Tokyo, and many made the trip from Kyoto, including the top names from Gion Kobu and Miyagawa-cho."

This prime event of Tokyo's past is a much scaled-down, but exquisite survivor of it's traditions. It used to last a month like Kyoto's Miyako O-dori, but today it only lasts three days.