But when we got to Kyoto station to drop off our bags, there were Maiko,or Geiko (Geisha) in training, all over the station. They were advertising for a dance they would be doing later that week. It was one of the rare opportunities in which normal, not filthy rich, people could simply ask for a picture with the girls without interrupting their busy schedule.
We realized we couldn't see the dance they were advertising since it would occcur later that week, but we did realize that if we canceled our hike we could go to see the Miyako Odori, a yearly celebration of spring that is put on by a classical dance school for Maiko that is famous in Kyoto. So we set off for the Gion district as quick as we could to Gion Corner a famous theatre in the heart of Gion.
We opted for the expensive tickets which included viewing the most highly formalized version of the Japanese Tea Ceremony that we have ever seen. The girl in blue is a Maiko, the girl in black is no longer in training and is officially Geiko.
Only one person was actually served tea by the Geiko and Maiko. There were many girls there with carts of bowls and plants, serving tea and sweets to the rest of us.
The tea is powdered green tea and is mixed (not brewed) with a bamboo whisk in a small bowl. The method of serving is extremely formalized, the method of drinking is as well: The bowl is served with the "best side" of it facing you, you should not drink out of the best side, but hold it with your left hand and with your right, turn it clockwise twice so the best side is facing away, then, it's most polite to drink all the matcha in three gulps, or in a few sips, either way you pick it up once and drink it all before setting it down. Matcha is served with a sweet to balance the bitter taste.
After that we were allowed to tour the garden behind the hall and then were ushered into the theatre to watch the Miyako Odori.
First, there was an introductory dance.
Next came a dance depicting a story from The Tale of Genji. Note the Heian Period (around 1,000 years ago) dress and hair style. It's very different from the more recent, although not as recent as Western dress, Kimono and dramatic updos that currently represent Japan to many of us.
Then there was a scene from Urashima Taro, a legend about a boy who caught a sea turtle while fishing and let it go. The turtle then gave Urashima Taro a ride to the underground palace of the sea people. When he returned after what seemed just a few days, everyone he knew was dead and gone.
Then there was a dance celebrating the Fall.
One celebrating Winter.
And, of course there was adance for the Spring
All the characters and dancers came out for The Finale.
After that, we were able to catch up with Stacey and Jeremy and they went to see the later showing of the dance since plans had changed so quickly that we weren't able to contact them until after the first show. So we didn't get to see the show together, which was sad. But at least we were both able to see it and talk of it afterward. While Stacey and Jeremy were watching the show, Ryan and I went to
It has also recently had it's ceiling repainted with a now-famous image of a dragon. We thought that was pretty cool.
When Stacey and Jeremy got out of the show, it was by then around 6pm. We went down the street to Maruyama Koen again where everyone was out picnicking around the famous old cherry tree.
When the sun set, torches around the tree were lit up.
From there, we left to go to Kyoto station. Stacey and Jeremy took off for Osaka and from there had many adventures of which I have no images to show you, but I hope to see the things they saw someday soon. Ryan and I lingered about Kyoto station to wait for the night bus back to Tokyo. We arrived in Tokyo at around 6am and went straight home on the early commute train.
The End!
6 comments:
Hi Laurie!
All those pictures are all so pretty! I want to save up for a digital camera so I can take lot's of pictures and stuff too. All the Maiko are so pretty! It looks like a really hard job though and really uncomfortable...the Maiko in the picture with Ryan reminds me of my old Karate instructor, I thought that way funny..
The time you had in Kyoto sounds like loads of fun! I wish I could visit again but oh well...
the sets for those geisha performances were so pretty... :)
so have you decided about next year yet? are you staying? going? heading for hawaii...?
I think Maiko would be SO uncomfortable too since my thinking face looks so scowly and I always cry on the spot when I'm sad or laugh really loud when I'm happy, I would feel really uncomfortable always holding in all my emotions.
Yeah I thought the sets were pretty too! Everyone in the audience ooed over the cherry blossom scenes, it was really cute and sounded just like the fourth of July~minus the exploding sounds. Oh and we're staying until August 2007 yes.
the amazing race was just in japan! i think i saw you! ;)
what's the amazing race?
oh my!!!!!!!! it's that show where 12 teams race around the world. they go to all these different countries (last time i think it was brazil, russia, oman, thailand, australia, japan, germany, greece, and some others - not in that order) and in each country, they have to perform some sort of task that is relative to the country. for example, in oman, they went out to the desert, and there were like 200 mounds of sand. under 6 of the mounds was goat-meat wrapped in leaves, cooking like a pig at a luau. they had to find the meat, dig it up, and turn it in in order to get the next clue. different teams get disqualified at each pit-stop, and the first team to make it back wins! (wins a million bucks, that is!) it is so cool!!!
matt and henry are applying to be on it!!!! :-)
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