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Geisha means “person of art”. They are skilled entertainers and trained in traditional japanese arts. They sing, dance or play musical instruments for their guests while food is served. They are good conversationalists and also play Japanese drinking games with their guests. An evening with a geiko at an Ochaya is expensive and access is by invitation only.
Sumo is a unique style of traditional wrestling and Japan’s national sport. The basic rules are two wrestlers are pitted against each other and the first to go out of the ring or to touch the ground with any part of his body, loses. Matches take part on an elevated ring called Dohyo which is made of clay and covered in sand and a contest usually lasts only a few minutes.
Kabuki literally translates to “song, dance, skill”. Along with Noh and Bunraku, it is one of Japan’s traditional art forms. Kabuki thrives on showmanship. Actors wear elaborate wigs and colorful costumes. They apply striking makeup called Kumadori using bright colors over a white foundation. Expressions are exaggerated and fighting scenes often acted in slow motion for enhanced effect.
A Japanese garden is a work of art. Its purpose is to bring tranquility, aesthetics, and a spirit of reflection into people’s lives.
The gardens are in 3 genres. Ikezumi or strolling gardens, like those in Kinkaku-ji and Tenryu-ji, that brought up different views as visitors walked along their paths. Karesansui or dry gardens similar to the famous one at Ryoan-ji used sand, gravel, rock, and moss to represent landscapes; but their real purpose was to inspire serenity and reflection. Roji or Tea gardens like the one at Okochi Sanso, were meant to lead the visitor to the teahouse and prepare him for meditation.
Chado literally means “the way of tea’. It is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking tea socially, from medieval Japan.
The tea ceremony originated in the 12th century but evolved over time to reflect Zen values of rustic simplicity, purity, tranquility and respect. In the 16th century, the Zen monk Sen no Rikyu formalized all aspects of the ceremony, from tea preparation, to utensils used and design of the tea-house, and they have remained largely unchanged ever since.
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JAPAN AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
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