Downer begins with the story of her embarkation on the quest to write this book, unashamedly and amusingly confessing her own mistakes and misconceptions when trying to access the geisha world, understandably well defended by every subtle barrier of etiquette against the exotifying and fetishisin...
How do you fall in love when your society has no word for it? "The Last Concubine" is an epic love story closely based on historical events, chronicling 19th century Japan's extraordinary change from a medieval to a modern country. This is the story of a shogun, a princess and the three thousand ...
She darted across the upper-floor room, sending dust smelling of rice straw puffing from the ancient tatami mats, pushed back the screens and leaned out over the rickety balcony. Below her, geishas swished along the lamp-lit alley in elaborate festive kimonos, long sleeves swinging, trailing musk...
Although Edo was the center of power where the shogun had his castle, Kyoto-ites could console themselves with the thought that theirs was the emperor’s city, home to the imperial court. They were the upholders of taste, class, and the aristocratic old ways.For a few years as valiant young samura...