Kimono is one of the defining characteristics of a geisha. Geisha wear kimono with a neckline that dips low on the back to show off the nap of the neck. That part of the neck is as sensual for Japanese men as the breast is to Western men. Geisha have a formal kimono (called de)…
Author: Chris Kincaid
IS: Infinite Stratos
What would happen if only women could pilot the most advanced weapon system in the world? They would all attend a school where they use high yield explosives in sporting events! Infinite Stratos (or IS) follows the only male in the world who can use these powerful mechas: Ichika Orimura. He attends the only school…
Geisha: Hair and Kanzashi Styles
It costs around $500,000 to train a geisha. Most of this cost is found in hair styles and kimono. Until an apprentice (called maiko) becomes a geisha, she has to visit a hair dresser each week. Hair styles vary based on the geisha’s rank. Full geisha wear wigs for banquets and special appearances. The rest of…
Geisha: Beginnings
Geisha are an icon of Japanese culture. Mystique and stigma surrounds the profession. Being a geisha is a profession, just as librarianship is a profession. Geisha are not prostitutes. Although, prostitution has marred the profession. Becoming a geisha was one of the few means a girl in the Edo period could gain an education and…
Space Dandy Season 1
I’ve seen a fair split in the anime community when it comes to Space Dandy. There is a fair bit of disappointment. Expectations were high. Space Dandy is directed by Shinichiro Watanabe, the creator of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Many fans expected something similar to Cowboy Bebop. Space Dandy is not Cowboy Bebop by…
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 takes a page from Super Sentai, mixes in some power suits a-la Metroid, and throws in a dash of Final Fantasy. This anime retells an OVA called Bubblegum Crisis. Seven years after an earthquake almost destroyed Tokyo, androids with a fair level of intelligence are being used to rebuild the city….