FoodyFooty2: May 2016

Friday, May 20, 2016

Geisha, Kyoto : Culture and Beauty

It was about 8PM while we were in Gion in order to see some Geishas there as we planned. Kyoto is known as a city that is an icon of traditional culture in Japan and Gion district is a perfect place to find geisha as you don’t want to go to far from the city. Almost went back to hostel earlier due to cold weather, a Maiko walked across us. Not just us but a lot of people try to get photographs. When the Maiko was about to be disappeared, a Geisha came and greeted her.

Geisha is known as icon of Japanese traditional culture that offers beauty and entertainment. Once they decide to become Maiko (apprentice Geisha) since 15 years old, they have to live in Okiya 置屋 (traditional geisha house). They need to take 6 months training and pass the test first before their debut of being Maiko. Dancing, singing and playing music instrument is must-have skills.

Usually, they will quickly get homesick because they aren’t allowed to make any phone calls (just by writting letters) even to their parents. Communication to family and friends is believed will ruin motivation of being Maiko. Luckily, they will get a senior sister to support and help them out. The connection between Maiko and her sister is really special. There is even a ceremony as a commitment of life to mark the relationship between them. It’s a benefit for Maiko due to great reputation of the sister but it also means Maiko should try harder to do her job and not to break her sister's reputation.

Why does Geisha always do white make-up? In the past, room is just lit by candles and no electricity. White foundation is used as a reflector so cconlients would see a bright beautiful face and reach the beauty.

Maiko wears fancier kanzashi (flower hairpin), long sleeve colorful outer kimono, red collar inner kimono and 7-metres obi with the logo of her geisha house. Less-than-one-year Maiko just puts lipstick on the lower lip (to show that she isn’t mature yet). After 5 years of being Maiko, she could become a Geisha. Geisha wears simpler kanzashi, simpler make up, white collar inner kimono and shorter sleeve outer kimono.

Truly, we got really suprised and so the Maiko when a tourist took a photograph with a camera flash. We understand due to low light and unsufficient camera ability, it’s hard to get a focus. But still, it’s a rude way to take photograph directly pointed to subject's eyes. Hope you guys won’t do that too! =)

We eat, we walk, we talk

-FoodyFooty2-

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Thursday, May 12, 2016

Ennichisai 2016, Jakarta, Indonesia : from Indonesia to Kumamoto

credit : ennichisaiblokm.com

This week, Jakarta (Indonesia) will have a big Japanese festival event named Ennichisai that is held annually. Founded by Daisei Takeya and Emi Takeya (have lived in Indonesia for 25 years) and also 3 friends, this year would be the 7th. Ennichisai is a kind of ‘Japan’s Shopping Distric Festival’ that offers Japanese culinaries, traditional culture and also pop culture. Nowadays, it has been one of the official events in South Jakarta (that has been supported by governor since 2012) and known being visited by over than 200.000 visitors per year.

Ennichisai is a formerly present from Japanese expats for Indonesian people that has treated them well. Japanese people are known as people that love and willing to join festivals and they just want to bring the happiness as they are to Indonesian people that love Japanese stuffs and hope that this can make relation of these countries tighter.

Miracle-The Power of Love becomes the theme of Ennichisai 2016. There will be 3 giant love boards which are placed in 3 areas in Little Tokyo Blok M. Visitors could write love messages to the people they love and stick it on board .Then, by paying donation fee Rp 10.000, you may get 1 of 4 different colors bracelet. Something funny is pink bracelet that is just for single person. Maybe some of visitors could get relationship after this event ends. We hope so. Hahaha....... Still, Ennichisai is not held for profit. Part of the love board profits will be donated to Kumamoto prefecture citizens whom faced 6,2SR earthquake that happened on 2016,April 14.

As usual, there will be traditional stage (M stage) and pop culture stage (P stage).

In order to introduce Japanese traditional culture to Indonesian citizens, this year Ennichisai has performance of Hiraoki Kato and street performance (mikoshi, wadaiko, eisa, shamisen, koto, yosakoi contest, nihon buyou, oiran dochu and shishimai). Mikoshi parade is still the most crowded and famous from year to year. There will be thousand of people watching this performance as they filled almost every inch of Little Tokyo area. Human barricade has to try as hard as possible so there will be a way for Mikoshi parade.

The second stage is a huge stage for pop culture stage. Collaborate with Clas:H, Ennichisai 2016 has Clas:H Single Cosplay Competition, Indonesia Cosplay Grand Prix (ICGP), World Karaoke Grand Prix for Indonesian region and also performances from famous Japanese artists (SAGA, Loverin Tamburin, Love Android, Musumen, Faint Star, REDSHiFT, Yumi and Intan Akimoto and also jazz pianist Rei Narita.

Every year, this Japanese event causes huge crowd and lot of happiness for visitors. To reach this location, you just need to get off on Blok M Transjakarta bus shelter and take a few walk. You’ll meet P Stage first and the crowd will finally lead you to the Little Tokyo. Oh, yeah! Please trash your rubbish in trash can even you will always see Jakarta Osoji Club with their green T-Shirt voluntarily collecting rubbish in this area.

Here is the map and also here is the rundown.

Have fun! =)