geishas

Shouldering the past

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March 28th 2008
Hittin' the books Its hard to say how or why most traditional practices were formed or if what they began as still resembles what that have involved into now, but its fair to say that the Japanese festival, or matsuri could only be nurtured on the cut of islands of Japan, and could have only become what they have without outsiders to gawp and cry “what the hell is going on here!?” for 4 ... read more

Asia » Japan » Ehime » Matsuyama

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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