And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Years ago I spent 6 weeks in Tokyo setting up a site and often on the weekend I would see men with women (I believe were their wives) dressed as above going to dinner.
I read somewhere that in Japan when a young woman comes of age, she is often feted with a special ceremony by tradition and is given an elaborate kimono by her family and photographed in as much finery as possible.
There is a charity in Japan that presents elaborate kimonos to young women without a family to honor the tradition so that she can be photographed on her coming of age day. Yes, Japan is very modern these days, but tradition runs deep.
I dated a woman from Osaka in college here in the states. Her parents told her they would either buy her a traditional kimono, or they would pay for her schooling in the US. Kimonos are expensive, she told me, and she figured a college degree in the United States would benefit her more than would a kimono.
She’s dressed more like a maiko (apprentice) than a geisha, at least IIRC. The geta would give it away, if the photo showed them.
Yes, Bjorn, when the kids all turn 20 there is a major ceremony. When I was there the city sponsored a big ceremony that honored all those turning 20 and the girls and boys all showed up in their finery. Most of the girls did not look quite as good as this photo.
Classy, yes, and even without the geisha pancake makeup she would be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteClass?
ReplyDeleteYears ago I spent 6 weeks in Tokyo setting up a site and often on the weekend I would see men with women (I believe were their wives) dressed as above going to dinner.
ReplyDeleteDelicate…
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that in Japan when a young woman comes of age, she is often feted with a special ceremony by tradition and is given an elaborate kimono by her family and photographed in as much finery as possible.
ReplyDeleteThere is a charity in Japan that presents elaborate kimonos to young women without a family to honor the tradition so that she can be photographed on her coming of age day. Yes, Japan is very modern these days, but tradition runs deep.
I dated a woman from Osaka in college here in the states. Her parents told her they would either buy her a traditional kimono, or they would pay for her schooling in the US. Kimonos are expensive, she told me, and she figured a college degree in the United States would benefit her more than would a kimono.
ReplyDeleteShe’s dressed more like a maiko (apprentice) than a geisha, at least IIRC. The geta would give it away, if the photo showed them.
ReplyDeleteYes, Bjorn, when the kids all turn 20 there is a major ceremony. When I was there the city sponsored a big ceremony that honored all those turning 20 and the girls and boys all showed up in their finery. Most of the girls did not look quite as good as this photo.