Abstract

A city where the sound of the shamisen unfurls into the stillness of the night—the hanamachi. These are Japan’s unique entertainment districts, quietly thriving not only in Kyoto but in entertainment districts across the country. The sight of geisha and maiko, their faces dusted with white powder, dashing by with their loose obi sashes swaying, now captivates tourists from around the world and spreads in an instant through social media. Yet behind this glamour flows another “underground current”—one that women have carved out with their bare hands over the course of a long history.

Author’s Information

Born in Tokorozawa City in Japan on 4 April 1956. Graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics. His life's work is chronicling the grand history of ordinary people through both contemplation and practice. A ten-minute walk from his family home lies the Sayama Hills and Hakokuyama, which inspired the setting for My Neighbour Totoro. Currently