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)

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

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

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.

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.

A Visit to the Yoshiwara

Konnichiwa minna-san, I hope you enjoyed last week’s blog post by Amethyst-chan. Here is her second piece (well, this is her third blog post to date, and her second in this series). ^_^
-          Okamisan Aisya

A Visit to the Yoshiwara

*Tossing a wooden sandal over the walls over Little Yoshiwara, and trying to climb over the wall in her tight red kimono.  Heaving her body weight as she grunted lifting herself: Ame-chan is trying hard as she sneaks away from her home at the Shinmachi.*

Today, for some reason, she is having this feeling to visit Little Yoshiwara.  

As she came near the ochaya she was greeted with a bow from Sayu-san, a beautiful Geisha of the hanamachi in Little Yoshiwara.  Returning the bow, Ame-chan's eyes moved around the main room as she removed her shoes.  Proceeding in more, she was greeted by Okita-san. 



Bowing, Okita-san waved both of her arms delicately in front of her with a small smile.  She remembered Okita-san from when she was a young minarai; at the time she was learning, too, before she moved over to Shinmachi.  Ame-chan pondered on how she would give her small tips and offer her help on learning about the world of the Geisha.


Ame-chan preceded into the room as she greeted others and then took her position on the cushion.  Wondering what was going on, she waited quietly.

With guests filling the room, Sayu-san and Okita-san came to join the patrons as they served each customer while smiling and bowing.  With the lovely, swishing sound of the rustling kimonos, they slid across the floor when they walked.


With a voice from Geisha Sayu-san, she welcomed the patrons:

"Nice to see you.  Welcome...Oideyasu, it's nice to see so many friends, we have a nice treat for you today, as you know."

"Ikebana is a part of the Japanese tradition of art and design for centuries and it’s been a huge influence in the west for over 100 years.  I’ve had the honor of knowing and being Okita-chan's Oneesan for over a year, and it’s been nothing but good feelings."  Sayu-san smiled as she looked at Okita-san.

Ah.  Smiling, Ame-chan's eyes turned on to Okita san while she was doing her presentation, which was showing Okita-san's explanation about Ikebana.  This is part of the training for the minarai to move up in rank to become maiko, and it was done with so many of minarai here.  In the past, as Ame-chan was training to be a Geisha, she remembered how shy Okita-san was when greeting others and was usually in the back.  

Ame-chan was seeing now how Okita-san flourished by still continuing on her with learning to become a Geisha one day.  She was showing how strong she was with no matter to how hard it is.  Okita-san was able to continue which helps Ame-chan know she is able to continue with her training, too.

A part in the Festivals of the Shinmachi

Konnichiwa minna-san, I hope you enjoyed the series on the Five Elements Festival. We are constantly moving and honing our arts, and are so excited to begin preparations for a small festival occurring in late January for the New Year and Setsubun. And, there are rumors about a new furisode shinzo debuting soon. On a completely unrelated note, hikikomi kamruo Amethyst-chan has been hard at work; she has prepared the next two blog posts. Enjoy ^_^
-          Okamisan Aisya


A part in the festivals of the Shinmachi District



Being in Shinmachi, I keep learning more while mingling with the others here as best as a kamuro can.  I am being careful to not miss out on the events and activities here. Sometimes, it is hard when there is so much to do as well preparing for more events.  How do Okamisan as well as Jinchi san do it? 

*Giggles softly as she thinks of how her Oneesan Tsuyu-san calls her "Jinchi-sensei." She clears and throat and continues*

I was trying to remember something but couldn't think of it; except, I do remember a meeting for the Five Elements festival that was held in October.  This was to be a celebration for Shinmachi’s five years in Second life.  The meeting was to prepare for the festival, during which the Okamisan was announcing the need for help for each element...  Earth...  Fire...  Water...  Wind... and Void. While determining who wanted the parts and signing them up to help out, I  ended up getting sick which caused me to sink into sad, despair of not being able to do a rehearsal for the finale Godai performance: The Elements of the Shinmachi.  This performance was acting out with the story of life within the Shinmachi.


Then, one day my Oneesan mentioned to me that she was going on a trip.  In her absence, I was hoping to take tons of pictures of the Festival since she couldn't be there.  This made me think that maybe I can go to the events, especially since I have been resting each day to regain my strength. 



Okamisan sent out notices saying she still had parts that could be filled, as well as practices. So, I went to talk to her to see if there was anything I could help with. Being the most wonderful Okamisan she is, she let me have a part in the show.  I was just happy to actually do something with my Shinmachi family.

I played two parts during the finale performance: the ‘buyer’ and one of the shinzo.  It made feel so much better that I wasn't so down anymore; the tiny enjoyments are always taken for granted.  This entire event was so fun and a different experience I didn’t get to do yet in Second life.



I caught a glimpse of my big brother Haku-san and Icy-san at the performance, too.  For him to be there and to actually see our group, perform made my day.