Word: geishas
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Most Americans have sooner or later encountered an image of the geisha. She is dressed in a traditional kimono, dark hair piled into a stylized coiffure and face painted ivory white. Despite the familiarity of the symbol most Americans are either unknowledgeable about what a geisha is or believe her to be a prostitute...
Liza Dalby's Geisha does much to correct the misimpressions, and in the process reseals an amusing, fascinating world that preserves the past by holding banquets and entertaining modern Japanese businessmen. Dalby's book is written with a sympathy and understanding for the geisha world that brings these women to life. There are flaws in Dalby's elegantly written book, for it too often concentrates on the form of Geisha life rather than the actual substance...
Dalby has good reason to be concerned about geishas in a way that goes beyond mere academic concern. As an anthropology student doing field research for her Ph.D dissertation, she became the first non-Japanese woman to be accepted into the geisha community and became the geisha lchgiku...
Customs in costumes are also changing. While traditional devils, ghosts and vampires are still popular, many adult outfits are bewitching in another sense: harem robes, Tarzan loincloths, geisha girls, samurai swordsmen, plus Dolly Parton, Carmen Miranda and Lady Godiva. This year's revelers will also be garbed as Mr. T, E.T., gruesome beasts from Return of the Jedi, punk rockers, hot dogs, sandwiches, trash bags, schools of fish, brilliantly plumed birds, six-packs of beer, and, if a Denver pair repeats its act, a couple in bed, including the bed. A New York City family will masquerade as Britain...
When I went abroad, a lot of people said to me, "I know Japan: Toyota, Sony, Honda." Now your special issue shows a complete picture of my country to people all over the world. Your articles examine modern Japan from its technical skill to its traditional culture of geisha and harakiri...