5th A Geisha in Gion by Julian Hebbrecht by ctfchallenge

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A Geisha in Gion
by Julian Hebbrecht


22-FEB-2006	Julian Hebbrecht

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CL		19-Feb-2007 10:04
This area is actually Pontocho, a few blocks north of Gion. This maiko is also Hisachou, I think.

CJ in CA		27-Feb-2006 06:54
Since I read the book, I am very interested in seeing the movie. I saw the actress, Ziyi Zhang, in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and she was wonderful. Thanks for all the info on the movie! :-) CJ

ctfchallenge		27-Feb-2006 03:33
She's beautiful. Your commentary about the movie is interesting. Paty

Julian Hebbrecht		26-Feb-2006 22:50
You would probably be disapponted with Lounge Buzz or Heaven on the 3F. Those small bars are usually run by middle-aged women assisted by one or two young hostesses. The bars are tiny, the drinks very expensive and the main feature there is karaoke that allows drunk patrons to sing out of tune all night. As I wrote before, geisha don't work there. The movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' has very beautiful photography but it's a slow moving story, something we are not used to anymore in this age of Die Hard action packed movies. The main actress, a Chinese girl, was here n Kyoto for several months to study the style, movements and mannerisms of Japanese geisha and she does a wonderful job in the movie. The reason why they chose several Chinese women to play Japanese geisha in that movie was simply because there were no Japanese actresses who spoke English well enough to pull it off. The mama-san of the geisha house in the movie is Japanese and a few others too including the two girls at the age of ten and twelve. Actually the ten-year-old girl learned English in six months just to be in this movie. Most of the scenes were shot in Holywood but a couple of shots show places that I am very familiar with here in Kyoto.

CJ in CA		26-Feb-2006 20:59
I love the Japanese calligraphy and the beautiful Geisha. It makes me wonder about what we would find in "Heaven" or "Lounge Buzz" too! Nice contrast of the almost totally B&W background and the color of the Geisha's kimono too. Makes me anxious to see "Memoirs of a Geisha" :-) CJ

janewigginsphotography		24-Feb-2006 01:33
I like the color contrast to the b&w in the background. jano

Julian Hebbrecht		23-Feb-2006 22:15
Unfortunately, she was not wearing the typical very colorful geisha kimono and she didn't have her white make up on either because it was around noon. Maiko, as the geisha are called here in Kyoto, only wear that outfit when they go to work. They don't work in the kind of bars and lounges you see in the picture either but only in traditional tea houses. Unfortunately there aren't very many of those left anymore since most younger men prefer the cheaper bars and lounges with hostesses. Maiko do wear a kimono and the traditional geisha hairdo at all times though, even when they go shopping or to their daily dance practice like the girl in the picture.

elips		23-Feb-2006 06:15
Excellent, Julian! I love the combination of English and Japanese in this, and the b&w typography makes a wonderful backdrop for the colorful Geisha. Good work! ~Sharon

ctfchallenge		23-Feb-2006 03:04
Another great street candid, wtg! -Techo

ctfchallenge		22-Feb-2006 22:54
I love your images from Japan, Julian, and this one is no exception. --Mary Anne

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