[Childfree] Memoirs of a Geisha

[George Robbert]

    I'll call this a fun movie to see.  I went in expecting Holywood
to do poorly at this, and they did a better than my fears so that was
good.  It's not dead-accurate (some marketing in Japan is based on
"how the foreigners got it wrong", but part of that is just pride),
but certainly "good enough".  The differences that most struck me were
of details or omission (which any movie is going to have).

    Keith and Ann were quite amused that it wasn't Keith going "I've
been there!" this time.  Anyway, I did scan in a couple pictures of
some places shown in the film.  I know I've got others around, but I
need to dig them up.

Here's Inari Taisha where little Chio was running down the aile of
tori (those red "gates").

	http://sakura.minazuki.org/~ghr/japan/1999/1.html
	http://sakura.minazuki.org/~ghr/japan/1999/2.html

Here's one of the garden where I think the ending scene was shot.  If
it's not part of this garden, it's quite similar.

	http://sakura.minazuki.org/~ghr/japan/1999/3.html

And then, one I found of a sign that just amusing considering hair
styles. 

	http://sakura.minazuki.org/~ghr/japan/1999/4.html


And from our 2005 trip, here's some shots of the restored geisha
quarter in Kanazawa.  This is the first picture, there are a bunch
more following this, including some interior shots of a "tea house"
like the one Sayuri worked at.

	http://sakura.minazuki.org/~ghr/japan/George03/72.html

And to satisfy my curiosity, I looked up the meanings of some of the
geisha names, as they're not given "mindlessly".

Sayuri  is one variety of lily ("lovely lily" in one book, shown with
        white flowers).  In hanakotoba (Japanese flower language) it
        carries the meaning "elegance" or "refinement".

Hatsumomo (the spiteful geisha with unkempt hair) means "first peach".
	The peach flower, in hanakotoba, carries the meaning "good
	natured girl".


Anyway, enough rambling.  Thanks for your patience if you got this far.


Yoroshiku onegai shimasu,

George Robbert                  970-491-9940
                                ghr at minazuki.org