Japanese Horror Movies

With Halloween fast approaching, I am feverishly preparing for my horror movie marathon that begins at at 10 am and ends when I pass out from sheer exhaustion. I’m now mentally listing down my snacks and already issued invites to friends or relatives that may want to join me (watching horror movies are more fun when you have other people watching with you). Of course, I’m also preparing my movie list.

I have some predictable American movie titles in my list like The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Salem’s Lot. But the piece de resistance on my list are the succession of Japanese horror movies that will surely add the most spice to my horror movie night. I’m preparing Ringu, Ringu 0, Ringu 2, Kairo, Dark Water, The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Premonition, and a few other movies that I’ve acquired through the years.

There’s no denying the fact that the Japanese make the scariest horror movies. What makes them click is the fact that Japanese horror does not rely so much on cheap frights that are just designed to surprise you. They instead rely on dread and atmosphere and the anticipation of horror. And when it does come, it’s like a taut rubberband that snaps. It just jolts you from your complacency and lingers with you long after the movie has ended. Any movie fan should check out Japanese horror films, it’s the only way to really discover what the horror genre can offer.

Sakuran

Sakuran, a film by renowned photographer, Mika Ninagawa, made waves in Japan. Sakuran revolves around the lives of women called oiran.

The oiran were women that existed during the Edo era. The oiran lived in self-contained “Pleasure Quarters” and like geishas were required to be well-versed with the arts of dance, music, poetry and calligraphy, and conversation. However, unlike geishas, the oiran were prostitutes, although they were considered to be elite prostitutes. Also unlike the movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, the movie about the oiran had a good reception Japan.

This could have been due to the more unsentimental approach of the film wherein the main character, a tayu (one of the highest ranking courtesans), had no silly day dreams of a prince in a shining armor but only wished to escape her life. It showed a far stronger breed of women, which is something modern women can relate to more easily.

LA FOLLE JOURNÉE au JAPON

The La Folle Journée au Japon “Days of Enthusiasm” Music Festival is back and has transformed Tokyo into a musical isle. Hailed as the most exciting classical music festival in the world, it features day long concerts held simultaneously in 7 to 9 halls of the Tokyo International Forum. Around 300 of the most distinguished classical musicians all over the world gather to give performances that last about 45 minutes each.

The festival’s artistic director, René Martin, say that his aim “is the true democratization of classical music – presented once a year and at sensible prices.” The festival is a true celebration of classical music open to all who wish to come. Because of this the musical program is very varied and ticket prices are very cheap. Tickets are available for ¥1,500 to ¥3,000.

La Folle Journée runs from April 29 to May 6.

Japan’s Geishas - Living Art

Geishas are the subject of much speculation from any other world outside Japan. Despite their fame the western world and even other eastern cultures do not completely understand the mystique that surrounds geishas. According to Liza Dalby, an American anthropologist who did research on geishas, the misunderstandings are probably due to the fact that there is no comparable group to them in other societies and so people have no basis on which to compare them to. Geishas are often mistaken by people as some kind of elite prostitutes, which is definitely not the case. In fact the word geisha comes from gei, meaning art, and sha, meaning a person.

To be a geisha one has to be well-trained in the traditional manner, etiquette, and various arts. One will need to master not only the intricacies of wearing a kimono but seemingly mundane stuff such as how to greet customers properly, how to serve a meal, and how to make conversation. Geishas aim to entertain but are at the same time a living piece of art.

The Comeback of Calligraphy

This form of writing is associated by many with the ancient Chinese and Japanese. We all know that calligraphy involves more than writing, but is an art form in itself. In Japan, it used to be that all children learned the basics of calligraphy, or shodo in the native language. With technology pervading society as fast as it is, however, less and less people are actually learning shodo. Both adults and children seem to have forgotten about this ancient art form.

Recently however, a sprinkling of young artists has been breathing life into this art form. They have in fact extended their stage to the rest of the world. Takeda Soun is well known for his “performance shodo” wherein he creates calligraphy on stage with music on the background. His performances have been well received in many European countries. He is only one among many young Japanese who value this ancient art and wish for it to continue to be known and appreciated the world over.

[tags]Japan, writing. culture, calligraphy, shodo, characters[/tags]

Horror Stories

Who has not heard of the really scary Japanese ghost stories? Movies like The Grudge have reached a very wide audience all over the world, with Hollywood even making their own version of it. Ask any fan, though, the Japanese original cannot be matched. In Japan, ghost stories were called kwaidan or kaidan. Though it refers to horror stories in general, the word kaidan has its roots in the Edo Period folktales.

Today, however, kaidan is not the commonly used term for this genre of stories. More often than not, movies and books focusing on this theme are referred to by the katakana hora or kowai hanashi in standard Japanese. For an old fashioned effect, authors use the term kaidan.

Stories under this genre often have plots that revolve around Buddhist concepts. As such, karma and ghostly vengeance abound. In these stories, ghosts have amazing powers that they use to wreak havoc in their human tormentor’s life. Sometimes, they not only target one person but humanity in general. Try watching one of these films or reading one of these books and you will fully see what kaidan is.
[tags]Japan, Edo Period, folktales, folklore, ghost stories, kaidan, kwaidan, hora[/tags]