Bamboo at night

Miyako Odori in Kyoto

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April 22nd 2007
Miyako Odori 1Miyako Odori 2 Diana and I skipped off to Kyoto last Friday to see the "Dances of Spring" in Gion. It was an amazing performance that featured about forty maiko and geiko, otherwise known as apprentice geisha. (Geiko are the same as maiko, except that they're at least 20 years old.) A couple of weeks ago we checked out a kabuki performance, which was incredible, but cameras weren't ... read more

Asia » Japan » Kyoto

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In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more