Shinmachi at Amara

Thanks to your ongoing support, and the overwhelming generosity of two of our most dedicated and kind patrons, Shinmachi was able to move to a fully financed and beautifully stunning home. You can see a few of the pictures below, but I encourage you to take a look yourself here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amara/220/246/23.

The sun rises over the Shinmachi Pier.

The water garden, perfect for meetings and relaxation. 

The stately houses of Tsukinoya, Izumo and Yuugana Fuji.

Through the trees, the majestic Lihai Lily Salon is hidden. 

Steamy, soothing mist rising from the onsen. 

Year of the Goat Festival!

Upcoming Festival! The details are below!

Year of the Goat

New Year's Festival at Shinmachi

February 15 - 21st

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Sunday, February 15th

    Festival Teahouse Opening

        Time: 6pm slt

        Event: Fun and Games at the Festival Teahouse

        Location: Shinmachi Teahouse

Monday, February 16th

    Onsen Latern Games

        Time: 5pm slt

        Event: Informal entertainment and games at the Keisei Onsen

        Host: Yuugana Fuji

        Location: Keisei Onsen

Tuesday, February 17th

    Performance

        Time: 5pm slt

        Title: "The Nian"

        Host: The Shinmachi School

        Location: Shinmachi Teahouse

    Festival Teahouse Opening

        Time: Directly following the performance above

        Event: Fun and Games at the Festival Teahouse

Wednesday, February 18th

    Performance

        Time: TBD

        Host: Lihai Lily Salon

        Location: Lihai Lily Salon

    Festival Teahouse Opening

        Time: Directly following the performance above

        Event: Fun and Games at the Festival Teahouse

Thursday, February 19th

    Performance

        Time: 4pm slt

        Title: "The New Year's Festival"

        Host: EAE featuring Tsukinoya

        Location: SengokuTeahouse

       

Friday, February 20th

    Kabuki Performance

        Time: 5pm slt

        Title: "Most Precious"

        Host: Izumo Kabuki House

        Location: Sengoku Teahouse

       

Saturday, February 21st

    Closing Performance

        Time: 5pm slt

        Title: "Fireworks"

        Host: The Shinmachi District

        Location: Shinmachi Teahouse

    Finale Fireworks

        Time: Directly following the performance above

        Event: Fireworks to close out the festival

        

LY Photo Composition

The Little Yoshiwara photo contest sounded like so much fun that I decided to participate, and encouraged several of my friends and students to submit images as well. I had no idea that I'd win! I am so excited that I wanted to share the submission along with LY's announcement of the 3 winners, below. You can also see the images used for the composition on display at the Faversham Museum. Enjoy! ^_^

P.S. - Does anyone have images of the other two winners? I'd love to post them!

Photo contest Winners 
Sunday,08 Feb 2015 22:40:36 GMT

$L 5,000: First Prize: Heart Shadow by Amnesia Emodemon

$L 3000: Second Prize:  Mystery of the Forrest by FlippyHippie

$L 1000: Third Prize: Yoshiwara Composition by Aisya Destiny

Awesome Honorable Mentions: Kadaj Yoshikawa, Thom Bakerly, Talluhlah Mills, Alyssa978, Shurayukihime, ZenMondo Wormser, Xiara Scribe, Ann Pegasi, Ann Danick, nausicaa Dinzeo, Sorasu Romano, Pimiko,  and Aelia Ceriano

Thank you all for participating you made this great!
arigatou

Senior Maiko Kokoro

"Yoshiwara Composition"

The Peony Lantern

Last week, the ladies of Yuugana Fuji presented the haunting tale of The Peony Lantern in our teahouse at Keisei. Please enjoy these few images from the show, and we look forward to performing and entertaining you in the future!

- Aisya

From right to left, Kaguyama-Tayuu, Abigail-chan and myself,
as we performed The Peony Lantern on last Thursday. We decided
to use the koto/shinobue duet for it's haunting music, which
was perfect for this ghostly tale. 

A similar shot to the one above, but with a much closer view
of the detail on Kaguyama-Tayuu's dance and kimono. 

On Saturday morning we performed the story again, for those
who were unable to attend during the week. Kaguyama-Tayuu
debuted her latest kimono - she truly is the trendsetter of our house. 

New Year's Lion Dance

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (happy New Year)! This past week, Tsukinoya, House of the Moon, began 2015 with a New Year's Lion Dance. Each year, since Shinmachi began in 2008, this dance has been held in some form. It is truly a wonder to behold how the same story can take on such varied forms as the years go by. This year, Oiran Kaminari-san and her attendants shared a modern take on the old tale. Please enjoy the pictures below, and we look forward to entertaining and socializing with you in the year to come! (Lines in italics are from the performance itself)

"This afternoon we celebrate the New Year by performing a variety of pieces which feature, whether directly or indirectly, the mighty Shishi or lion."

"[The Shishi] is also the guardian of paradise, believed to drive away evil spirits with the strength that only a lion can have. For this purpose, a lion dance is performed at the beginning of each New Year."

As the music changes, a pair of lions, father and son, arrive at the bridge of stone. 

Parent and cub fondly look at each other as butterflies come and hover about, having appeared in order to appease the lions’ hearts. Noticing them, father and son turn to watch their dainty flight and soon begin to snap at them playfully. 

The first of the two priests, Rennen, appears; he hopes to to climb the distant Seiryo Mountain to practice religious austerities. However, the mountain is steeper and more rugged than he had heard. So, he stops to rest for a while. 

Hennen turns and spots Rennen and calls out to the stranger. The two then discuss their reasons for traveling. With evident delight, Hennen suggests that the two travel together as they are both headed in the same direction.

The mountain’s started rumbling! This is no trifling matter! The ancient lion lives in these parts; surely he is approaching! They can’t just hang around like this! In a panic, the two run and bump into each other and fall to the ground.

Finally, the spirit of the lion enters in his full majesty.

Soon, the Shishi will take his seat upon the lion throne and take his final position as the king among beasts.

Christmas in Japan

Last week, Shinmachi's Tsukinoya and East Asian Events proudly showcased their joint performance "Christmas in Japan" at Keisei (on Thursday) and at Sengoku (on Sunday). Christmas in Japan was a fun dance show / concert performance which featured the seasonal music of Japanese vocaloids and famous pop artists. During the show, we showcased Japanese versions of songs like Jingle Bell along with a few typical J-Pop songs like Hatsune Mi-Christmas.

I've included a few pictures of the shows below for you to enjoy. This show was the last event for both Shinmachi and EAE for the year. Both groups look forward to entertaining you in 2015!

The Winter Wonderland stage, during the cold open of
the Japanese version of "All I Want for Christmas is You"

Winter Wonderland again, this time with all four
performers dancing in unison. From left to right: Kaminari
of Tsukinoya, Len of EAE, Hamayu of Tsukinoya and
Kara of EAE. 

Hamayu as Hatsune Miku and Len as Kagamine Len
performing White Christmas. 

All 4 performers as Vocaloids: Kara is Kagamine Rin and
Kaminari is Gumi.

Kaminari and Hamayu during Silent Night.

The final stage: the three girls took center stage while
Len rocked out on the guitar. 

The finale!

Madam White Snake

Last Sunday (December 7th), the Lihai Lily Salon held it's grand opening event: a story telling session with a Chinese tea ceremony. I managed to take a few pictures of the event, but was too captivated by the story to take more. Though the stage was opulently decorated, the true flower and center piece was Lady Lily herself (the proprietress of the salon) who played the pipa while sharing the tale of Madam White Snake. Afterwards, she stayed and chatted with the guests before they departed to enjoy all of Keisei.

Lady Lily welcomes her guest with a brief overview of the
Salon and of the upcoming performance. To the left, you
can see the tea set used during the tea ceremony. 

A picture of Lady Lily playing the pipa for her guests. It was
a packed house, and I believe everyone was as enthralled with
the story as I was. 

A front shot of Lady Lily playing the pipa, and a little dragon,
which is quite possibly the cutest tip jar I have ever seen!