He began following and documenting the life of teenager Komomo as she studied and grew into her role.Naoyuki Oginos photographs follow Komomos entire journey, from her first tentative visits after finding the geisha house on the internet through her commitment to the hard schedule of an apprentice, learning arts that go back centuries, all the way to the ceremony where she officially became a geiko, as Kyotos geisha are known and beyond. From the cobbled streets where she walks in her elaborate dress to the inner sanctums of her dressing room, these pages offer a rare look at a unique, living art.The photographs are accompanied by autobiographical text and captions by Komomo, as she shares her thoughts and emotions, and describes the day-to-day existence of a Kyoto apprentice. It is an illuminating view of seven years in the life of a very special young woman.

    In this compelling biography, author Marilyn Chase brings Asawa's story to vivid life. She draws on Asawa's extensive archives and weaves together many voices—family, friends, teachers, and critics—to offer a complex and fascinating portrait of the artist. Born in California in 1926, Ruth Asawa grew from a farmer's daughter to a celebrated sculptor. She survived adolescence in the World War II Japanese-American internment camps and attended the groundbreaking art school at Black Mountain College. Asawa then went on to develop her signature hanging-wire sculptures, create iconic urban installations, revolutionize arts education in her adopted hometown of San Francisco, fight through lupus, and defy convention to nurture a multiracial family.• A richly visual volume with over 60 reproductions of Asawa's art and archival photos of her life (including portraits shot by her friend, the celebrated photographer Imogen Cunningham)• Documents Asawa's transformative touch—most notably by turning the barbed wire of prison camps into wire sculptures of astonishing power and delicacy• Author Marilyn Chase mined Asawa's letters, diaries, sketches, and photos and conducted interviews with those who knew her to tell this inspiring story.Ruth Asawa forged an unconventional path in everything she did—whether raising a multiracial family of six children, founding a high school dedicated to the arts, or pursuing her own practice independent of the New York art market. Her beloved fountains are now San Francisco icons, and her signature hanging-wire sculptures grace the MoMA, de Young, Getty, Whitney, and many more museums and galleries across America.• Ruth Asawa's remarkable life story offers inspiration to artists, art lovers, feminists, mothers, teachers, Asian Americans, history buffs, and anyone who loves a good underdog story. • A perfect gift for those interested in Asian American culture and history • Great for those who enjoyed Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art by Mary Gabriel, Ruth Asawa: Life's Work by Tamara Schenkenberg, and Notes and Methods by Hilma af Klint

    Four see-through vellum sections, of four layers each, begin with a "naked" geisha; they show, stage by stage, how her distinctive costume and make-up are assembled. You'll view the subtle changes of appearance through the round of seasonal events, and the elaborate array of equipment in the geisha's wardrobe, as well as everything she needs to do her demanding jobs. Equally revealing is the incredibly detailed information about the women's training, lives, and history.

    During his owner's life Hachiko saw him off from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925 when Professor Ueno didn't return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the station where his friend was waiting.Hachiko was given away after his master's death but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. After some time, Hachiko realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachiko waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he didn't see his friend among the commuters at the station.Hachiko became a permanent fixture at the train station, which eventually attracted the attention of commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachiko and Professor Ueno together each day. Realizing that Hachiko waited in vigil for his dead master, their hearts were touched. They brought Hachiko treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for 10 years, with Hachiko appearing only in the evening, precisely when the train was due at the station.Hachiko: The True Story of the Royal Dogs of Japan and One Faithful Akita is Hachiko's story, as well as an informative look at dog culture in Japan and the history and tradition of the Akita-ken, one of the most ancient, beloved, and faithful dog breeds ever.

    A recognized classic of cultural anthropology, this book explores the political, religious, and economic life of Japan from the seventh century through the mid-twentieth, as well as personal family life.

    There are now forest bathing stations and walkways scattered throughout Japan, although the good news is that we can all benefit from this simple practice.Simply put, forest bathing is the practice of walking slowly through the woods, in no hurry, for a morning, an afternoon or a day. It is a practice that involves all the senses and as you gently walk and breathe deeply, the essential oils of the trees are absorbed by your body and have an extraordinary effect on stress levels, positive feelings, energy levels and even promote the activity of NK (anticancer) cells and the balancing of blood sugar levels and blood pressure.In this wonderful book, by the leading expert in the field, science meets nature and mindfulness, as we are encouraged to bathe in the trees and become observers of both the nature around us and the goings on of our own minds.

    And an evil lurking in the shadows is determined to keep it that way. Destiny is calling the princes back to the throne, but not until they win the heart of their mate.*************************This box set includes all four books of the Alpha Bear Princes series plus exclusive bonus content available nowhere else.Alpha Bear Princes 1: Prince Hudson Billionaire bear shifter Hudson Royce has learned to keep women at arms-length. He’s been used before, and protecting his privacy is a top priority. Besides, he’s too busy running one of the most powerful corporations in Chicago to waste his time on real relationships. But when a chance encounter with a bold, curvaceous stranger has him believing in fated love, he’ll stop at nothing to make her his. Ballsy businesswoman Kay Hennessy wasn’t sure she’d ever set foot back in Chicago after her ex cheated on her and broke her heart. When she finally revives her courage, she returns to the city only to be courted by the man who once devastated her. Chase wants her back, and she’s ready to consider his proposal until she meets a sexy billionaire who may have a few extra talents she didn’t even know were possible. Little do either of them know that Hudson is really a shifter prince who can’t take the throne without a mate. And an opposing clan will do anything to keep him away … even if it means killing the person he loves most.Alpha Bear Princes 2: Prince Samuel Billionaire architect Samuel Ryan has hidden the fact that he’s a bear shifter his whole life—especially from women. Now he’s building a second home near Mt. Hood where he can get away from his busy career and shift anytime he wants. When he meets his new, voluptuous construction supplier, he knows she’s his mate immediately. But will she accept him if she learns the truth? Most men think of Francesca “Frankie” Thompson as buddy, not a woman. And Frankie has a hard time not thinking of herself the same way. She’s a curvy, down-to-earth girl who’s happy running her family’s building supply business, and doesn’t expect much more from life. But when Sam shows up and sees her in a whole new light, Frankie suddenly finds herself wanting more from the sexy stranger … and hoping it’s not all a cruel joke. But unbeknownst to them both, Sam is actually a shifter prince who can’t take the throne without a mate. And someone wants very much to prevent that from happening. The easiest way? Make sure his mate wants nothing to do with him. Alpha Bear Princes 3: Prince Elliott Bad boy film producer Elliott Regan has left a pile of broken hearts behind him almost as big as his billionaire inheritance. Now his playboy behavior has landed him in low-budget movie hell with a new, inexperienced director. Except for the woodsy setting that’ll let him shift into his bear form easier than in LA, he’s sure it’ll be his worst nightmare. But the moment he sees his stunning, curvy mate, he knows all his old ways are behind him. As both a minority and a first-time film director, Laila Marks knows she can’t waste her one shot to make it in Hollywood. And the last thing she needs is a bear shifter on her set. Laila grew up around shifters and knows all about bossy alpha bears - and what can happen when a good bear goes bad. But Elliott is persistent … and sexy as hell. She might change her mind if Elliott can prove himself trustworthy. There’s only one problem. Elliott has no idea he’s a shifter prince who can’t take the throne without a mate. And someone lurking in the shadows is bent on making sure he never does … by destroying his credibility with Laila. Alpha Bear Princes 4: Prince Maxwell Ex-Navy SEAL and billionaire bear shifter Maxwell Rex just discovered he’s a prince. Not only that, he’s next in line for the shifter throne. The problem is, he doesn’t want it. His mother, the Empress, sent him away when he was just a kid, and he has no loyalty to her or the crown. When Maxwell spots his mate, all he wants is to make a life with Annika off the grid and never think about his royal ancestry ever again. Polar bear shifter Annika Zoltag couldn’t choose the clan she was born into. Youngest daughter of the man who’s hunting the lost princes, she’s being used as his pawn to steal the throne in exchange for her freedom. But she never expected that her father’s plan might work. When Maxwell bonds to her as his mate, she’ll have to choose between finally winning her independence from the Zoltag clan, or risking her life to save Maxwell. Annika may be the only person who can convince Maxwell to take his rightful place on the throne. But with her father close at their heels, the two will soon discover that love can be a very powerful weaponEach of the sexy books in the Alpha Bear Princes series includes a fated love story with a happily-ever-after; curvy, smart BBW heroines; and steamy billionaire heroes with heart-melting powers. (WARNING: These naughty princes might just melt your Kindle too!)

    Chapters are brief and each major Chinese dynasty, Japanese Shogunate, or other discrete period is treated in a separate chapter. Chapters or groups of chapters on China or Japan alternate. Encounters with the West, beginning in the 16th and expanding greatly in the 19th century, are extensively covered.

    But that is only a small part of its complicated and complicit performance history. In this sophisticated and historically grounded analysis, anthropologist Jennifer Robertson draws from over a decade of fieldwork and archival research to explore how the Revue illuminates discourses of sexual politics, nationalism, imperialism, and popular culture in twentieth-century Japan.The Revue was founded in 1913 as a novel counterpart to the all-male Kabuki theater. Tracing the contradictory meanings of Takarazuka productions over time, with special attention to the World War II period, Robertson illuminates the intricate web of relationships among managers, directors, actors, fans, and social critics, whose clashes and compromises textured the theater and the wider society in colorful and complex ways. Using Takarazuka as a key to understanding the "logic" of everyday life in Japan and placing the Revue squarely in its own social, historical, and cultural context, she challenges both the stereotypes of "the Japanese" and the Eurocentric notions of gender performance and sexuality.

    Gripping, action-packed, authentic, and filled with larger-than-life men and women of the Greatest Generation, CRASH DIVE puts you aboard a submarine during the war. You'll stand alongside Charlie as he proves himself time and again by keeping his wits and being decisive in crisis, though each encounter leaves him more heavily scarred for it. You'll attack a convoy in a daring night surface attack, emerge in a sea fog to ambush a battle group, and charge the battleship Yamato during the decisive Battle of Leyte Gulf. All the while, you'll live with the crew in the cramped, noisy, and challenging machine that was a diesel-electric submarine. CRASH DIVE: The Complete Series puts together for the first time all six episodes in Craig DiLouie's highly acclaimed historical military fiction series: CRASH DIVE, SILENT RUNNING, BATTLE STATIONS, CONTACT!, HARA-KIRI, and OVER THE HILL.

    Japan, meanwhile, was trying to reinvent itself as a more cosmopolitan, modern state, ultimately transforming itself, in the course of twenty-five years, from a feudal backwater to an international power. This great wave of historical and cultural reciprocity between the two young nations, which intensified during the late 1800s, brought with it some larger-than-life personalities, as the lure of unknown foreign cultures prompted pilgrimages back and forth across the Pacific.In The Great Wave, Benfey tells the story of the tightly knit group of nineteenth-century travelers—connoisseurs, collectors, and scientists—who dedicated themselves to exploring and preserving Old Japan. As Benfey writes, “A sense of urgency impelled them, for they were convinced—Darwinians that they were—that their quarry was on the verge of extinction.”These travelers include Herman Melville, whose Pequod is “shadowed by hostile and mysterious Japan”; the historian Henry Adams and the artist John La Farge, who go to Japan on an art-collecting trip and find exotic adventures; Lafcadio Hearn, who marries a samurai’s daughter and becomes Japan’s preeminent spokesman in the West; Mabel Loomis Todd, the first woman to climb Mt. Fuji; Edward Sylvester Morse, who becomes the world’s leading expert on both Japanese marine life and Japanese architecture; the astronomer Percival Lowell, who spends ten years in the East and writes seminal works on Japanese culture before turning his restless attention to life on Mars; and President (and judo enthusiast) Theodore Roosevelt. As well, we learn of famous Easterners come West, including Kakuzo Okakura, whose The Book of Tea became a cult favorite, and Shuzo Kuki, a leading philosopher of his time, who studied with Heidegger and tutored Sartre.Finally, as Benfey writes, his meditation on cultural identity “seeks to capture a shared mood in both the Gilded Age and the Meiji Era, amid superficial promise and prosperity, of an overmastering sense of precariousness and impending peril.”

    The five heroines are Onatsu, already wise in the ways of love the tender age of sixteen; Osen, a faithful wife until unjustly accused of adultery; Osan, a Kyoto beauty who falls asleep in the wrong bed; Oshichi, willing to burn down a city to meet her samurai lover; and Oman, who has to compete with handsome boys to win her lover's affections.But the book is more than a collection of skillfully told erotic tales, for "Saikaku…could not delve into the inmost secrets of human life only to expose them to ridicule or snickering prurience. Obviously fascinated by the variety and complexity of human love, but retaining always a sense of its intrinsic dignityhe is both a discriminating and compassionate judge of his fellow man."Saikaku's style, as allusive as it is witty, as abbreviated as it is penetrating, is a challenge that few translators have dared to face, and certainly never before with the success here achieved in a translation that recaptures the heady flavor of the original.

    Few scholars have seriously studied the subject, and until now none have satisfactorily explained the origins of the tradition or elucidated how its conventions reflected class structure and gender roles. Gary P. Leupp fills the gap with a dynamic examination of the origins and nature of the tradition. Based on a wealth of literary and historical documentation, this study places Tokugawa homosexuality in a global context, exploring its implications for contemporary debates on the historical construction of sexual desire.Combing through popular fiction, law codes, religious works, medical treatises, biographical material, and artistic treatments, Leupp traces the origins of pre-Tokugawa homosexual traditions among monks and samurai, then describes the emergence of homosexual practices among commoners in Tokugawa cities. He argues that it was "nurture" rather than "nature" that accounted for such conspicuous male/male sexuality and that bisexuality was more prevalent than homosexuality. Detailed, thorough, and very readable, this study is the first in English or Japanese to address so comprehensively one of the most complex and intriguing aspects of Japanese history.

    Volume 1 addresses the development, through the eighteenth century, of Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

    By selling herself, she tries to justify her existence, which is as bleak as her heart - it’s devoid of joy, sorrow, love. Not until her encounter with a kind-hearted old lady does Ayu begin to realize the true meaning of happiness…