Gion is the part of Kyoto famous for its association with the traditional arts, dress and music of Japan, as embodied by the geisha or maiko (apprentice geisha). This recording was taken in July 2013, and captures the sound of maiko walking through the historic streets of Gion. They wear geta, or high platformed wooden sandals, to keep the hems of their expensive kimono off the street and away from the dust, rain or mud. In this recording we hear the geta on cobblestones, which give the sound a certain hollow quality. We can hear them come and then go in the distance, giving the sound a spatial quality. The sound of the geta, renowned throughout Japan and the rest of the world as forming part of traditional Japanese attire, lend this recording a sense of tradition. It is the sound of "old" Japan and is a sound becoming increasingly infrequent in the large urban metropolises of this postmodern society.
Recording by Tamara Kohn & Richard Chenhall Photo by Richard Chenhall
Public places in the crowded streets of Shinjuku in Tokyo are usually filled with movement, talking and the sounds emanating from shops. Whilst walking through West Shinjuku, I was minding my business walking to my destination. I stopped when I saw a sea of people standing outside Yodabashi camera. There...>>
One of the pleasures of academia is working with doctoral students whose projects extend their supervisors' knowledge about their area of expertise. Dr. Jenny Hall introduced me to the sensory experiences of traditional textile making and design as per her dissertation thesis, Tradition and Innovation in Textile Production and Design...>>
Many scholars conducting doing important research regarding the diversification of Japanese society which has intensified in recent years for a variety of economic, social and cultural reasons. While these contemporary developments are important, we must also remember that ethnic diversity in Japan does have a significant history, and Chinatowns like...>>
