Geisha walking & flower-town Frames

A fabulous chance this past weekend to combine our loves; travel, photography, a little work, culture and Dee's on-going fascination with the world of Geiko and Maiko. There was never any chance I would ever be one. I've donned a Kimono once and it was not pretty. I've never thought I was that busty but the towels needed to flatten down the front of my kimono for that streamlined look, could have filled an isle at K-Mart. It was the Michelin man in drag. I've got a better chance of full-filling my Las Vegas showgirl dream. Anyway I digress.

The flower world delights us, and beckons us with the art, music, incredible Kimono's, mystery, cultural mis-understandings and tradition. We've stalked the back streets of Kyoto on many occasions in Gion and Ponto-cho for the classic shot. We've visited the annual Geisha Spring Dances for a peak into performance life. So it was with much enthusiasm that we were lucky enough to join a private tour of Mukojima near Asakusa, with a TV Crew from AFN and the wonderful folk at IJCEE (if planning a trip to Japan or if friends and family are coming definitely book one of their amazing experience tours - not to be missed and totally real Japan). We thank IJCEE so much for the unique chance to participate in this program.

We took in "Hana no Ozashiki", an enchanting geisha show at a hall in Mukojima Bokutei Kumiai (the geisha and restaurant association). This is only the 4th time this exclusive event has been held. Before the show we were lucky enough to sit in on an interview with a ryotei owner, from Kiyoshi Ryotei. Then with our press passes proudly on show, have the unique opportunity to photograph the event. NHK were also filming the performance.

After the show, the lovely NHK producer nailed us down for interviews focusing on the relationship between this traditional, old world Japan which now sits in the shadow of the New Tokyo Tower, called Sky Tree, which will be completed next year. Right now Sky Tree is 303 meters tall, when it's finished it will reach 634 meters, making it the tallest free-standing tower in the world. It will be finished December next year and officially opens Spring 2012. As we fobbed our way through the interviews, Trace mumbling something about enjoying her visit to the zoo and Dee going, blah, blah, blah we are sure we will appear bigger than the Sky Tree due to the camera angle. But we loved it all and it's certainly a nicer debut on NHK compared to our horrific family-restaurant interview fiasco on Japanese commercial TV some years ago at Gusto down the road. That is a whole other blog post. NHK will air the documentary about the Sky Tree next month. And we are not announcing when it will be on. Obviously.

So after the interview we had then fabulous chance to meet Inoue-san. The coolest Jinricksha driver ever. He is the only government-certified English speaking licensed guide in Tokyo. He escorted us around the old downtown area of Asakusa, including the Geisha district and the exclusive Japanese restaurant area in Mukojima by Rickshaw. Not sure if he could have managed that feat some 18 months ago. He was strong. We had a ball. And boy did he have the moves He was incredible. Way, way flexible and just so informative. Totally kakkoi! We felt a bit bad as our wonderful IJCEE friends had to run alongside us. Yet, the feelings invoked from the rickshaw ride made us soon forget. It was a somewhat nostalgic, special view, mixed with the romance and feeling of times past. All wrapped up in a red blankie.

We took in some of the most exclusive high-end Japanese restaurants, called Ryotei, where Geisha often entertain their guests. The delight of ryotei restaurants remains unchanged up to these days. They are not places where guests are lavished in luxury, but rather places where guests are greeted in the "spirit of true Japanese hospitality". Guests should surrender to this feeling and feel this graceful behavior until they are seen off from the front door. This is the quintessence of the ryotei. Simply calling and making a reservation will not get you in the door. You need an official introduction from a patron. It's a whole other world & a very expensive one. But as the opening of the looming Sky Tree beckons it will welcome more and more visitors to the area. And according to the Ryotei owner we talked to, this will open the Geisha world, which they are more than happy to do, within their terms. It's a very interesting dynamic. Right now there are now 120 registered Geisha in the Asakusa area.

We then gave reluctantly gave up the rickshaw and let our IJCEE friends have a go...but we have teed Inoue-san up to come pick us up at about kilometer 30 next Sunday, when our Tokyo Marathon debut takes us right through Asakusa. Wouldn't that be a fabulous way to finish???

We then re-visited other more popular sightseeing spots in Asakusa, where the flavor of old Edo culture still remains. Taking in Spring's first blossoms, baseball parks, and some of the oldest sweet shops in Tokyo before doing some obligatory group poses for the hoards at Sensoji.

So wonderful, after all this time in Japan, to be able to again experience, re-discover and uncover that hidden Japan which intrigues us so. Enjoy the highlights.