Friday, January 31, 2014

New Year's Posters!

Enjoy these semi-traditional posters to celebrate the upcoming New Year!


元日や思へばさびし秋の暮
Ganjitsu ya omoeba sabishi aki no kure

New Year’s Day
when I reflect –
lonely autumn’s evening. 






初蝶のいきおひ猛に見ゆる哉
hatsu chô no ikioi mou ni miyuru kana

a butterfly
this year's first--
straight, bold






柳は縁花は紅のうき世かな
yagi wa fuchi hana wa beni no ukiyo kana

around the willow
a floating world...
red blossoms











草の葉を落つるより飛ぶ蛍かな
kusa no ha o otsuru yori tobu hotaru kana

Falling from
a grass blade, and flying away:
a firefly.





遅いの後ろに長い冬のドリフト、
スプリングは謎が付属しています
優雅で甘い

Long winter drift behind slow,
spring comes with mystery
indulgent in elegance.



(Poems are by Issa and Basho; the last poem is by Hagifuu herself)

Friday, January 24, 2014

East Asian Events [Advertisement]

Please excuse this advertisement, but I felt readers of this blog might find this of interest. - Aisya

East Asian Event is an independent performance group, which specializes in creating East Asian themed productions. This group is not affiliated with any particular RP or sim; it simply exists to create amazing works of performance art and to share the culture of these countries with those in SL.

We have a growing repertoire of performances based on the following cultures: China, Japan, the Koreas, Mongolia and Taiwan. Refusing to adhere to a specific time period, our shows are traditional yet modern, fantasy yet reality. We live in a world of beauty, music and dance and revel in the joy which they come with.

We lack a set schedule, performing only as inspiration moves us. We want creativity to take precedence and to ensure that each performance leaves a lasting impression in the minds of the audience. And we are not an RP group, thus we do not restrict access to membership based on your involvement with a group or sim.

If you would like more information on the group, please contact me in world.

Follow your heart and enjoy the music,
Aisya Destiny

Group URL: secondlife:///app/group/4a73316d-f50b-37d4-db65-fe0307c6d40c/about

Monday, January 20, 2014

Hagifuu's Furisode Debut

Last day as a kamuro
Over the weekend, we celebrated the furisode shinzo debut of Hagifuu in the amazing Nekkido theater of Keisei. From this day forward, she is a full fledged courtesan and will continue to hone her arts until she reaches the highest level of tayuu (or oiran, depending on her preference).

While I have provided her with formal lessons, her older sister, Tsuyu, has offered her the regular training necessary to be a successful shinzo. In keeping with tradition, the two of us chose a name for the new furisode which matched her personality and like most of the names of our group, was based on nature. Tsuyu had the honor of announcing the new shinzo's name and she began with a poem:

Tsuyu (left) and Hagifuu (right)
Flowers blossoming
in autumn fields - 
when I count them on my fingers
they then number seven

The flowers of which are bush clover (hagi), miscanthus (obana, Miscanthus sinensis), kudzu, large pink (nadeshiko, Dianthus superbus)

 Yellow flowered valerian (ominaeshi, Patrinia scabiosaefolia), boneset (fujibakama, Eupatorium fortunei), and Chinese bellflower (kikyō).

Thus, I have chosen the name Hagifuu. Her name ties both one of the seven flowers of autumn, and the element most fitting to her charming nature... wind or fuu. When I think of wind I think of free movement,  growth, expansion,  joyful motion,  wisdom and love,  open mindedness, compassion and benevolence.

And thus, we will think of our little 'Fu-chan as a joyful, open minded and compassionate autumn flower, whom will continue to bloom into an amazing courtesan.

Hagifuu - Furisode Shinzo

Monday, January 6, 2014

Presenting: Amethyst-chan

Flowers blossoming
in autumn fields -
when I count them on my fingers
they then number seven
The flowers of bush clover,
eulalia, arrowroot,
pink, patrinia,
also, mistflower
and morning faces flower.
- Yamanoue Okura


On Saturday, January 18th at 6pm SLT we will celebrate the blossoming of a new furisode shinzo (a courtesan's apprentice) here at Shinmachi. We could not be prouder of Amethyst-chan; she has diligently completed her studies to this point and we are positive that she will continue to grow and become an even lovelier flower.

Amethyst-chan's oneesan, Tsuyu, will be sponsoring the debut, which will take place in the amazing Nekkido theater (in the photo to the right, you can see Amethyst in the red kimono, dancing behind her elder sister).  


Invitation Information:
Date: Saturday, January 18th
Time: 6pm SLT (second life time)
Location: Nekkido Theater
We would be honored if you enjoyed the amazingly beautiful land of Keisei, in the stunning Nekkido theater, along with gentle conversation and a wonderful performance featuring Amethyst-chan's first dance as a furisode shinzo. Through song and poetry, we will celebrate the blossoming of a new Shinmachi flower.



Thursday, January 2, 2014

Performing at the Nekkido Theater

On December 19th, we performed “The Princess Firefly” at the beautiful Nekkido Theater. While we are no strangers to Keisei, this was our first chance to hold a show for the Nekkido group. Have you seen this place?  It’s really amazing. Taken by Amethyst-chan, the photo to the left shows the stage in all of its glory. The lighting in the background changes, which matched perfectly with our glittery theme of fireflies. 

Since we held this show on a Thursday before one of the largest holidays of the year, we assumed that enough seating for 15 would be plenty. We were wrong. To the right is another glimpse of the theater and, of course, of Hamayu-chan dancing.
  
Some of the compliments we received after the performance was finished brought tears to my eyes. It’s always great to hear that people enjoyed the piece, but to hear that it was the most beautiful and creative thing they’ve seen in SL in years made my day.

Wishi could not have been nicer and we are looking forward to working with her more in the future. Performing a great show in such an amazing theater is the perfect way to close out the year. We are wrapping up our annual winter break and have been spending more time in RL than SL. The sounds of tiptoes on tatami and rustling of silk against silk will be heard again by the second weekend in January.