Public Invitation to Tsuyu's Tayuu Debut

春の日うららかな今日このごろ…

In this time of beautiful spring days…

On that far mountain

On the slope below the peak

Cherries are in flower.

Oh, let the mountain mists

Not arise to hide the scene.

-- Ōe no Masafusa

We kindly request the pleasure of your company! Please join us as we celebrate the debut of Tsuyu-san, the newest tayuu of Shinmachi.

In the upcoming days, we are going to commemorate the rare occurrence of a new tayuu/oiran while enjoying a bit of entertainment. The respective events are to take place in the beautiful towns of Keisei, Fuubutsu Dou, and Sengoku.

For your convenience, we have included the schedule of her debut proceedings along with maps to each of the location.

We would be honored if you could join us for this joyous occasion!

Arigato gozaimasu
Tsuyu of Shinmachi


Debut Schedule of Events:

Sponsor Event: Fuubutsu- Dou Ozashiki
Time: 6pm SLT
Date: Sunday, April 27th
Overview: A relaxed Ozashiki in the beautiful Fuubutsu- Dou Ozashiki.

Onsen Event
Time 6pm SLT
Date:  Monday, April 28th
Overview: A day to relax, enjoy a cup of chilled sake with the charming ladies of Shinmachi at the amazing onsen of Keisei.

Sponsor Event: Bamboo Cutter for Sengoku
Time: 6pm SLT
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Overview:  The story of a bamboo cutter that finds a tiny heavenly maiden in a stalk of bamboo in the stately Sengoku Teahouse.

Parade and Formal Debut
Time: 4pm SLT
Date: Thursday, May 8th
Overview: Tsuyu's debut concludes with a formal oiran dochu, leading into the Nekkido Theater. Directly following this performance will be a two part performance, celebrating the new tayuu's accomplishments in the group.

Hanami!

This past weekend, several of Shinmachi's courtesans spent an afternoon viewing the sakura which are in full bloom in this virtual world. Please enjoy these few pictures from our journeys.

- Obasan Aisya

Our first stop was The Blossom House Clan, a hilly land with an amazing view of the sea. We started out by crossing the red bridge near the sea, walked through the sakura and stopped at the Widow's Walk (all pictured above). At the highest peak, we found a shrine to Inari. 

I managed to sneak a picture of Mai-san, as she gazed at a young, flowering tree. You can see the Widow's Walk from above just behind her...I guess she didn't think it was too safe. 

Our second stop was Gardenia / Lost Atlantis. This location had the fewest number of sakura trees, however, I loved the way the garden was set up and had to include it on our list of venues. 

If you have yet to visit the Odamoto Okiya, you are missing out on a true place of beauty. The picture above does not do justice to the stunning path of cherry blossoms which line the road. I look forward to visiting that land, soon. 

Our final stop was 4Seasons; I was so distracted looking at all of the cherry blossoms that I neglected to take a picture. Luckily, Mai-san took a sneak picture of me in retaliation, so I was able to include it here. There were so many hidden gems in this sim that I cannot wait to visit when during their business hours. 

All in all, it was so fun to spend time with sisters outside of the teahouse. I look forward to our next outing!

Upcoming Tayuu Debut

We of Shinmachi are proud to announce that in the coming weeks, 

a new tayuu will be making her debut.

This evening 

on Heavenly Kagu Mountain, 

the mist is trailing. 

It seems that spring has arrived. 

- Kakinomoto Hitomaro

Lunar New Year

Just over a week ago, we held our first ozashiki (informal entertainment) in the expansive ochaya (tea house) of Sengoku. It was truly a fascinating experience, unlike many I have had in Second Life.

Tomesode shinzo Tsuyu-chan hosted the ozashiki, and I am sure you can tell by the picture above that it was truly out of the ordinary. In celebration of the Chinese New Year, the teahouse was decorated with new rugs, crimson cushions and several red lanterns (can you see the ball, year of the horse lanterns hanging above the doorway in the background?). Tsuyu-chan and I had Chinese dresses specially delivered for the event, though I soon realized it was far more difficult to dance in the qipao than in kimono. The ribbons threaded throughout my hair made for a fascinating style, but I found myself missing the weight of my kanzashi.

As for the event itself, the flow of people in and out of the teahouse that evening was amazing. I had a chance to meet so many of Sengoku's citizens, and was too lost in the conversation to take more than one picture (at one point, we nearly ran out of cushions!). The topics ranged from New Year's resolutions, to poems, to riddles and concluded with speaking about Tsuyu-chan's annual New Year's tale. We had so much fun, and we're looking forward to holding another event in the Sengoku ochaya!

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)

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

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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.

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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