Today we went to Hiroshima for the day. It was a bit of a pain having to get up around 6am to make sure we got the Shinkansen (bullet train) but we got there anyway and got the ferry to Miyajima Island. There was the famous Torii (Shinto gate) in the water, a shrine (of course… they’re everywhere) and more deer! I wore my “日本人彼女募集中” (“Looking for Japanese girlfriends” — similar signs are up around cities looking for part-time employees, tenants for apartments, etc) t-shirt but though I got countless giggles and smiles there were no takers. I still have tomorrow left before I go home though. Maybe I can see that Maiko-san again if I go through Gion (old district here in Kyoto). (more…)
Jun
16
2007
16
2007
Maiko-san
Yet again, I fell in love. This time it was with a Maiko! Maiko eventually become Geiko (Geisha) when they’re 20 but this girl was still in training: between 15 and 20. I spoke with her a bit while all the ladies in the shop in the hotel were doting over her dress. She was really lovely and joking around with the ladies. I introduced myself to her and stuff and she was just like any other Japanese girl, though noticeably more softly spoken. That might just have been her though. Apparently you have to pay to see a Geisha’s smile, but this one was laughing quite a bit. One guy was getting his photo taken with her and she started laughing because he was getting impatient with how long it was taking for the photo to be taken. (more…)
