Every so often the Internet gets to me. I just downloaded an 11 minute home movie of two maiko dancing that I ordinarily would have had to gone to Kyoto to see. Assuming that I could even get an audience at an okiya (which isn't likely after everything I've read about Geiko - Kyoto is still old school and I'm just a silly gaijin.)

The fact that it took less than 5 minutes to download is just that special icing on the cake. Thanks for the link Nils!

Thank Joi, not me, I just linked to it. Also, Peter has given his life over to the hanamachi. He can get you in to something.

While I have not (yet) met Peter, a Kyoto Gaidai friend from London met him at the Pig & Whistle. He helped her with her senior thesis (modern perceptions of Geisha) and arranged interviews for her as a favor. Sounds like a good guy. I'm half-way through downloading Joi's movie -- I hope that I can one day express my gratitude to Joi, Nils, and all the others that help bring Japan to the world. I hope I can join their ranks one day soon.