Woo me. I just totally pleated my hakama my ownself. I feel all kinds of old school now even if i did do it with a steam iron instead of, y'know, hot water and rocksSeriously, it's a good thing I don't live near you guys, cos I would be all at your door going "hey! what a beautiful day! let's get on our swords and go find a crooked daimyo to beat ( Read more... )

So, about a year ago, I bought a pair of hakama from a kimono dealer at a con. They were marked vintage, but were pretty cheap because of some brown staining which the dealer scrupulously pointed out to me. Didn't really care, cos I reckoned I could wash it out, and even if not, WOO REAL HAKAMA. Wore them to a couple of cons, each time packing ( Read more... )

The second book MUST be about, and really explore, the pull and conflict between human, youkai, and half human/half youkai - the desperate longing to be what you aren't. Which, I hardly need add in this company, is so much like the yearning toward Japanese culture in those of us who aren't Japanese. I have such empathy for my 'bad guy', Lord Yen ( Read more... )

A year ago tonight I was in Japan *nostalglc sigh*...so I read through my diary entries and came up with a list of seven notes I forgot to mention from our adventures. Some of these are on the, er, gritty side, so be forewarned...
( Things they don't usually tell you about Japan. )

( arts and skills and a last day's shopping )

( Welcome to Otaku Paradise! )

( checkpoint, fire goddess )

( Read more... )

( golden temples and coffee in cans )

( puppets and treasures )