Review and Giveaway: 'A Geisha's Journey' by Komomo
A Geisha's Journey: My Life as a Kyoto ApprenticeBy Komomo
ISBN-10: 4770030673
ISBN-13: 978-4770030672
Hardcover, 144 pages
May 1, 2008
Kodansha International
Reviewed by Sabrina Williams
A Geisha's Journey: My Life as a Kyoto Apprentice is a photographic memoir offering a rare glimpse into the training of a geisha. This fabulous hardcover book focuses on the tale of one particular teenage girl, from her entrance into the hanamachi as a maiko through the completion of her training and her official transition to a geiko. The progression from a young girl filled with uncertainty and trepidation to a mature, disciplined young woman radiates from the full color photographs.
Komono's story is that of a girl searching for her roots. She was born in Mexico and later moved to China, but her Japanese heritage continued to call to her. It is this passion for history and cultural pride that led Komono back to Japan to begin her five-year training. An inspired physicist turned photographer, Naoyuki Ogino, chose to follow her journey. The collection of photographs, along with a series of interviews with Komono, became A Geisha's Journey.
Komono's respect for her Japanese heritage is evident as she explains that even Japanese locals have lost connection with the oldest traditions their culture was founded on. She delights in communicating with customers who are familiar with the meaning and significance behind different dances and practices.
This is an intriguing portrait of one of Japan's oldest traditions, and as usual, the ornate and elaborate detail found in the country's dress and architecture makes for a captivating experience. Some of the two-page layouts are absolutely breathtaking. It is most interesting how a girl disconnected with her country managed to return and become a part of a historical practice that's quickly disappearing. A Geisha's Journey is an important historical marker.
Komono's story is that of a girl searching for her roots. She was born in Mexico and later moved to China, but her Japanese heritage continued to call to her. It is this passion for history and cultural pride that led Komono back to Japan to begin her five-year training. An inspired physicist turned photographer, Naoyuki Ogino, chose to follow her journey. The collection of photographs, along with a series of interviews with Komono, became A Geisha's Journey.
Komono's respect for her Japanese heritage is evident as she explains that even Japanese locals have lost connection with the oldest traditions their culture was founded on. She delights in communicating with customers who are familiar with the meaning and significance behind different dances and practices.
This is an intriguing portrait of one of Japan's oldest traditions, and as usual, the ornate and elaborate detail found in the country's dress and architecture makes for a captivating experience. Some of the two-page layouts are absolutely breathtaking. It is most interesting how a girl disconnected with her country managed to return and become a part of a historical practice that's quickly disappearing. A Geisha's Journey is an important historical marker.
Want to read this?
Leave me a comment by Sunday, July 13, 2008.
I'll pick a winner the following Monday.
Your comment must include a method of contact in the body.
Open to US residents.
Good luck!
Leave me a comment by Sunday, July 13, 2008.
I'll pick a winner the following Monday.
Your comment must include a method of contact in the body.
Open to US residents.
Good luck!
If you like what you read, subscribe to my feed!
150 comments:
OK I'm not US resident but providing you with US address (who'll forward book to me) will not be a problem whatsoever. Especially cause I know book will be very welcomed and read before forwarding.
Anyhow, this book sounds absolutely fascinating! Thanks for such an amazing giveaway!
Cheers!
Milan
I'd love to read this book!
--Anna (Diary of an Eccentric)
anna_begood AT hotmail DOT com
What a great sounding read for the summer!
This looks like an amazing book and would love the chance to read it. Thanks for the great giveaway!
samsakara@twcny.rr.com
Something about the geisha life that's so entrancing. Thanks for the contest!
I would LOVE this book!! I am a huge fan of the Geisha book.
angelina115@hotmail.com
so cool
joliexox@hotmail.com
i love it
meza-angel@sbcglobal.net
interesting
Looks like a good read
I'm in!
Count me in!
dwarzel at hotmail.com
I love reading about Japanese culture and am especially drawn to geisha traditions. Hope I win!!
gkstratos@ yahoo.com
I'd love to win!
michael.capp (at) gmail (dot) com
I really enjoyed watching Memoirs of a Geisha, I find the whole culture behind the traditional geisha fascinating,so this sounds like a great read.
Lalycairn at gmail.com
Thanks.
Hello! You find and giveaway some of the most unique and interesting books that I have ever seen. I would enjoy reading about this teenage girl and her journey back into her culture and the history of a geisha. Please enter me in your drawing. All is appreciated. Thank you, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
What a fascinating culture! Would love to read this. Thanks!
I believe there has been a lot of misinformation about geishas. I think this would help me get a better understanding of the situation.
sounds like a great read
Sounds very interesting.
i would really like to know what kind of training that they have to go for 5 years. i looks like a good read and i'm sure that the photos do the culture justice.
denice
doozercries@yahoo.com
I used to live in Japan (3 Years) and I loved it. I would love to read this book, I am very interested!
ruthsola1@msn.com
Looks like a great read. Perfect for hanging out at the beach.
jilllear@hotmail.com
Thanks for having this contest! This would be a book I would love to read!
Ooh I love reading these type of books. I find them so fasinating. What a beautiful cover.I would like to be entered to win. Thank you
clbstitch at yahoo dot com
I love Geisha's!!! I collect Geisha figurines! I would really, really, REALLY love to win and read this book!!!!!!!!!
Sounds really interesting!! Thanks!
bethanycr{at}yahoo{dot}com
looks an interesting read
I would love to read this and learn more about Geishas, they are fascinating.
This book looks fascinating.
Hmm, looks cool. =)
Looks like an interesting book.
I find the whole Geisha culture fascinating.
count me in, looks interesting
khristal23 at inbox dot com
sounds like a good read
This book sounds wonderful. I love reading about different cultures.
enter me!
smooshy@subspecies.org
My reading addiction needs feeding. Thanks for the chance.
This sounds like an excellent book - would love to win! Email
amateurdelivre@gmail.com
Thanks!
Love reading about this culture.
Sounds like an excellent book. thank you! email
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
I've read many geisha books and I'm always eager for another. It's a fascinating society.
Really cool! I love reading about this culture.
iluv2pray@gmail.com
Thank you for having this contest. I really appreciate it. I lived in Japan many years ago, and would love to read this book.
Please enter me
I'd like to read this
geisha girl
I really would love to read this. I've enjoyed the several looks into the training and life of Geisha that I've read over the years.
This would definitely be an interesting read for me. My husband has traveled to Japan several times for work and it has definitely made for some interesting conversations for us. I find their culture so fascinating and have read several other books, but not this one. One I'd definitely love to get my hands on.
beausdorei@gmail.com
i want to win
Another great review. The photography sounds beautiful. I loved the movie Memoirs of a Geisha, so I am very interested in this book.
I'd love to read this.
LINDALSHOT@aol.com
Very interesting...love to read it!
dbstout[at]juno[dot]com
This is totally up my alley. I think I've mentioned before that my fave book is "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan." This is very much along the same vein except that A Geisha's Journey has photos which I'm super excited about!
doot65[at]comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth
This book looks great, never seen the movie over it!
Kristilb19@yahoo.com
Love to read about other cultures and practices and the pictorial would be fascinating to see as well.
interesting review. (=
thanks for the giveaway.
also, i linked you to my blog. hopefully, you don't mind.
"A Geisha's Journey" sounds incredibly interesting and definitely a story I would thoroughly enjoy! Thank you for the contest!
Thanks for the contest. Count me in!
I'd love to win this :)
kegsoccer at aol dot com
Looks to be an interesting book.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I read memoirs of a Geisha and loved it. I'm sure I would love this book also. I would absolutely be thrilled to win a copy!
This book sounds great, I would love something new to read.
purehrt555(AT)yahoo.com
Looks very interesting! I'd love to read it! Thanks!
rachelfox1981 at yahoo dot com
Looks like a wonderful summer read
I did my senior paper in high school on the geisha and I learned a lot. I feel I educated a lot of kids on the subject during my presentation. I'd love to read this book, Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my favorites, though this book may put a more realistic spin on it!
hblaser at gmail dot com
I am half japanese so I am very interested in reading about my culture. I feel the pull to know more too.
syhscrub@yahoo.com
Women of any nationality will be drawn to reading how their sisters in the Land of The Setting Sun live
( at least, some of them ).
NCrespi@Aol.com
NCrespi@Aol.com
I would like to read this book very much.
Cardeb2@verizon.net
I can not wait to read this book. I would love to win it.
Enter Me !
I would love to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
This looks really good....
This would be swell to win! Looking forward to reading the other one I won, when I get it in the mail.
count me in
Looks like an amazing read :)
froggypartyof2@aol.com
I read Memoirs of a Geisha....and would love to read this as well.
I'd love to read this and learn more of the culture.
Bshaw75015@aol.com
I was intrigued by Memoirs of a Geisha and would like to learn more. If I win please email me!
a good book for my book club to read
Love to read books like this
platt
neneelynn@y7ahoo.com
I love to read. Reading a book from another culture intriges me and I can imagine what life for me would be if I lived outside the US.
oregoniangirl1964@yahoo.com
This book sounds like it would be sensational. I would love to read it.
would love to read this!!!
I read "Memoirs of a Geisha" and loved it, also purchased the movie on DVD when it came out, I'm glad they finally decided to make a movie from the book!
I hadn't heard of "A Geisha's Journey" so I'd love to be able to have the opportunity to win!
We'd love to read this.
Great contest. My friends and I love Asian culture!
wow-rjenkins20@suddenlink.net
This sounds beautiful. I'd love to read it~
aleareads(at)gmail(dot)com
I'd love to read this :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com
Would love to win!!!!
I need a good summer read!!
What a fascinating book! I need more summer reading, thank you!
lovelyluckymegs@yahoo.com
Looks like a great book!
Sounds like a wonderful bbok I would like to have.
bowlinsuzy@yahoo.com
Now ths is a summer read! My fingers are crossed!
this book sounds so interesting-hope I win
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Would love to read this!
Geisha's Journey would make a perfect addition to my library. Would love to read it!
I've been slightly obsessed with Japanese books lately so this would be a nice read!
schwartz[dot]lori[at]gmail[dot]com
I would like to read this book
I would love to read this book!
I love books about the Japanese culture, this sounds fascinating
Great book!
Thanks, my email is in my profile :)
Sounds really interesting.
Sounds like a great read
I would love to read this. I am doing some research on Japan and this book looks great.
kathleenyohanna@hotmail.com
This sounds like a really interesting book. Thanks for offering it in this contest.
missc_melanie@yahoo.com
I would love to read this book!
I would love to read this book!
That is great dreyvenlee30@windstream.net
This book sounds really good :)
Mshalo6@aol.com
Very interesting--would love to read this!
I would be interesting in discovering more facts about the geisha lifestyle.
This sounds really cool! Thanks for the contest!
indyfree07@hotmail.com
I would like to read this book.
I saw s documentary concerning the educational training for a and becoming a geisha girl; very intense and mind boggling. Many Thanks SW
This sounds like a really interesting read.
Sweet niblets!
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
As someone who is fascinated with Japan and Japanese culture, especially Geishas, I would love to win this book!
christy1470@bellsouth.net
Looks very nice! Thanks!
Looks like an interesting cultural book!
I have been to Japan and find myself very interested in the Japanese culture!
This looks interesting... I'd love to win!
looks great, add me please - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
This looks really interesting. I would love to read it!
This sounds like a gread read... love the Japanese culture!!
autumnbride7@yahoo.com
I am very interested in this. Thanks for the the opportunity.
The Japanese culture has always fascinated me. I would love to win this book. garrettsambo@aol.com
I would love to have this!
ladycat713@yahoo.com
It sounds like a wonderful read.
tisaynababae@yahoo.com Angela K
Sounds like an interesting read! My email is abarrett005@cfl.rr.com
sound lik a good book con5459@gmail.com
I truly enjoy reading about the different aspects of Japanese culture. I'm sure this will be a very interesting read :) Thanks for the giveaway, and if I were so lucky as to win I can be contacted at:
bcoy98 at gmail dot com
count me in please :)
i love to read this book.
jwx4@yahoo.com
this sound wonderful!
hockiemack@hotmail.com
This book looks fascinating. I love to read about other cultures.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Oh wow I would love this book! One of my favorite books ever is Memoirs of a Geisha. This would be a lovely addition to my library.
Myvintagelove@gmail.com
Thanks for the great giveaway, this looks like a great read. Loved the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha', and I bet this book would be even better. Good luck, everyone!
sasquatch1bmf[at]gmail[dot]com
Looks like a really fascinating read!
Looks like a great book. Contact me by e-mail please!
Looks like a really good book. Thanks for having the contest. brmetcalf@aol.com
I'd love to read this book!
I'm absolutely fascinated by that lifestyle. Please contact me via e-mail!
I would love to read this book! Please contact me by e-mail...thanks!
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
I'd really enjoy reading this and then I'd have to pass it to my mom for her to read.
I visited Japan once. I realy want to read this book!
I'd love to read this book!
Post a Comment