When I was about 10 or thereabouts, I was lucky enough to go to Japan for a few weeks with my parents. Gee it was amazing! So different to anywhere I'd ever been before! Tokyo was like a cross between "Blade Runner" and some exotic department store. Kyoto, on the other hand was like a fairy land of pretty red lanterns and trees and Zen Buddhist Temples. I liked the Buddhist temples the best. You'd take your shoes off at the door and then tip toe around stopping and sitting from time to time to contemplate a moss garden or a perfectly raked gravel yard.
I've also read that in Japan there are trillions of radio stations. Of course there are the usual music, news, talk back stations but there are also stations which only have waves crashing against cliffs and other ambient sounds to sooth the soul. I even read that there was a station dedicated to train station and platform noises so the businessman late home from work because of a "meeting" could use this as back ground noise whilst ringing his wife. I don't know how true that is!
So, here is my modern Geisha girl listening to her designer radio station in her pretty kimono. She is now a large print in my shop!
This is stunning!
Posted by: MegRuth | April 22, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Thank you MegRuth!
Posted by: Sam | April 22, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Sam, this is my new favorite!! She is soo beautiful! I went to japan too for holiday with my folks and it was FUN! I LOVE everything there and wanted to buy almost EVERYTHING i see. hehe Good thing dad was there to stop me. lol
have a lovely merry happy day and love to you and yours!
Posted by: Jacqueline | April 22, 2009 at 10:39 AM
I love your illustration! I just posted about the book called "Geisha, A Life" that you will probably enjoy too. It was fascinating!
Kylie
Posted by: bandelle | April 22, 2009 at 01:23 PM
The geisha is so pretty.. I absolutely have to go to japan some day.. :)
It was fun reading about the radio stations there - I can't believe the train radio station.. that's hilarious!
:)
Francesca
Posted by: Certain Creatures | April 22, 2009 at 08:23 PM
Your Geisha is lovely Sam and your impression of Japan as a child sounds magical. I must visit one day... even if only to listen to the radio! :)
Posted by: Gabbi | April 23, 2009 at 04:32 AM
I love Kyoto too :)
Tokyo is of course the biggest city center in japan, lots of interesting things to see, but I personally do not like Tokyo very much, too many hectic and rude people and cars, no parks, no flowers, no greens.
You must be talking about 'Yusen Hoso' in Japan, it's not normal radio stations, you have to pay to listen to them.....as for normal radio stations I'm 100% sure we are one of the countries with fewest radio stations.
Posted by: Michiko | May 24, 2009 at 06:10 PM