Archives for May 2007

Not that you will lack of things to do if you are in Japan but if you love the place so much and are running out of some fun ideas I suggest that you go on a Bear Watching Trip just outside Tokyo.

Bear watching trips are run in association with the Shinshu Bear Research Organisation. The guide, Oscar Huyens, is known for being first person in Japan to obtain a PHD from studying Asiatic black bears, hence ensuring that you not only get to catch a glimpse of the wonderful bers but that you willl also get an earful of knowledge.

The tour isn’t for lazy people since you will need to go to the town of Matsumoto and from there travel into the mountains by car before hiking on foot to go to the mountain lodge to stay overnight and hike back down the valley in the morning while being led by the tour guide. If the visitor doesn’t see a bear during the tour the person gets his money back.

geishablog x dresshead sweetheart neckline lace off the shoulder dress / petite dress / all over lace
This geishablog x www.dresshead.com/c/lace-dresses/ sweetheart neckline lace off the shoulder dress is covered in lace and it�s a marvelous look. The dress has a mid-weight lined crochet construction with a bandeau design and a petite midi-length hem. The all over lace idea is just what it sounds like�from the boned v-neckline top down to the hem, it�s all lace. The top is strapless and boned for security, with a zipper faster in the back. This dress also highlights the bosom thanks to light cup padding. Your entire body is accentuated in form thanks to the true to size construction quality. This geishablog x dresshead sweetheart neckline lace off the shoulder dress is made from 100% polyester. However, because of the lace, it does require dry cleaning and not machine washing like most clothes. This size four dress is made for women of average height and five three and under is ideal.

Sakuran, a film by renowned photographer, Mika Ninagawa, made waves in Japan. Sakuran revolves around the lives of women called oiran.

The oiran were women that existed during the Edo era. The oiran lived in self-contained “Pleasure Quarters” and like geishas were required to be well-versed with the arts of dance, music, poetry and calligraphy, and conversation. However, unlike geishas, the oiran were prostitutes, although they were considered to be elite prostitutes. Also unlike the movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, the movie about the oiran had a good reception Japan.

This could have been due to the more unsentimental approach of the film wherein the main character, a tayu (one of the highest ranking courtesans), had no silly day dreams of a prince in a shining armor but only wished to escape her life. It showed a far stronger breed of women, which is something modern women can relate to more easily.