Here a Moos'mie pours tea with exceptional delicateness. Whereas in the West, one pours tea for the soul purpose of drinking, those in Japan take pride in pouring their tea with slowness, indulging in the action's connection to nature.
Here a man and a woman make fans. These fans are exceptionally large and do not fit well in coat pockets. Instead men and women carry them tucked inside their kimonos for easy access. This type of fan is usually used by courtesans.
This is a temple called kinkakuji. It sits nestled in a beautiful area surrounded by untouched land. The Japanese always place their sacred sites in such areas of beauty. This temple is adorned with gold and on top of the roof sits a golden rooster which is a symbol of Japan as the land of the rising sun.
Teachers try to teach their students how to do traditional dances. Unlike Western dance, Japanese dance is not graceful or flowing but instead has shorter and more rigid motions. The dancers barely move while dancing.
This is a moos'mie who is playing the shamisen. The shamisen is played by many and has a curious sound. The instrument is tuned very differently from Western instrument and has a twang that is very very harsh to western ears. It is reminiscent of the banjo
The first caption I thought brought up a cool point about the Japanese indulging in nature through their actions. The picture is a good representation of that. I like the second picture because it looks very difficult to make the fans but it is interesting how they are made. I think your blog is efficient in highlighting the differences between the western and Japanese cultures. Specifically the dancing seems to be complete opposites with grace vs. rigidity.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way your comments visited that rough yet elegant trope that dealt with extreme masculinity and femininity within western portrayals of Japan.
ReplyDeleteYour traveler's interpretations of the images are really well done and show a sense of curiosity of intimate, daily life in Japan and a knowledge of these things unlike that of a typical Western tourist. I like the images you chose because they include a variety of different hobbies, customs, and tradition while showcasing beauty of figure and scenery.
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