Lucky Gaijin!

Did my brother like Kyoto? You better believe it! Here he is pouring some sake for Katsugiku-san.

Kitano Odori

Ichimame in Kamishichiken's Kitano Odori.

The geiko Umeshizu performing the role of otemae, preparing the tea.

The Kitano Odori is an annual performance of traditional songs and dances by the geiko of the Kamishichiken entertainment district near the Kitano Shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane and has been presented since March　1952. Geiko are indispensable as hostesses in traditional banquets, but an　essential part of their duties are performances of traditional music in such　tyles as Nagauta, Tokiwazu and Kiyomoto, mastery of instruments like the　shamisen and tsuzumi hand-drum, and classical Japanese dance. They also　must　know traditional popular songs, which are an important part of the culture　of the entertainment districts. Constant study and practice are vital to mastering these art forms and the Kitano Odori began as a recital to show　off these performance skills, as well as being an entertaining show.

(Excerpt from Ichimame's blog)


Young Ichiteru in the role of ohikae, delivering tea to the guests in the ceremony before Kitano Odori.


Ichimame (front) and Naokazu.

Ichimame (front) and Ichifumi.



Naozome

Naosuzu

Kyo Odori: Finale

Megan Fox is too hot to do things

Megan Fox, the 20 year old star of 'Transformers' said that she was too hot to be a waitress, and that diners took advantage of her and groped her. She has now made the classic 'waitress to actress' Hollywood transition.





Come on now, I mean, she is beautiful, but so is everyone in Los Angeles, I'm pretty sure that Gisele Bundchen asked me if I 'wanted fries with that?' at Astroburger the other day.

Kyo Odori: Maiko of Miyagawa

Fukunao

Satoai, Fukuya, and Fukuhina

Fukuya

Fukuya and Kimika

Yasuha

Miehina
Satoai and Yasuha

Fukunao and Fukuyuu

Kyo Odori: Irises of Heian Shrine

The elegant, classic beauty, Kimina.

Toshihana and Fukunami with a senior geiko.

Kimina and Fukunami

Jodie Marsh is a great role model

Not only does Jodie Marsh dress like this but she is also turning her search for a husband into a reality show.

It's hard to think of someone with more dignity and class than Jodie Marsh, except maybe the homeless lady who writes obscenities on her butt cheeks and then moons passing cars.

Kyo Odori

Kikutsuru

An Introduction to Kyo Odori ( from the Kyo Odori Programme)

With the arrival of another beautiful spring in the ancient capital, we are again staging the brilliant annual Kyo Odori. The 58th event of the traditional spring dance performance presents the seven scenes of Miyako no Shiki no Mai Ogi (expressing the four seasons in Kyoto through dancer's fans). The Miyagawa-cho Geiko crew provides a tour of many Kyoto attractions, depicting the manners and customs of Kyoto people and performing a powerful and majestic dance inspired by an old legend.

By holding the Kyo Odori performance every year, we at the Miyagawa-cho Kabukai aim to help refine our performing skills even further and develop new talents for traditonal Miyagawa-cho entertainment.

We are convinced that our sustained devotion and passion for traditional dance will enable us to meet your expectations. . .

Fukuaya, Kikutsuru, and Komomo

Kimigiku

Well, I certaintly wasn't disappointed (^_<)

Ashlee Simpson does Cosmopolitan.

Ashlee Simpson is featured in the most recent issue of Cosmo and is continuing to morph into a totally different person. I mean there is no denying that she's pretty but she's just so....blah.

She needs to at least dye the hair black again and reclaim some individuality, she is so forgettable looking that I might not even remember to finish th...

Nicole Scherzinger and Talan Torriero are a couple?

WHO? You may well ask. Well Nicole is the lead Pussycat Doll and Talan was on Laguna Beach...They are the weirdest pairing ever, somehow it almost makes me feel ill.

But not as ill as this photo...



*barf*

Britney Spears defies belief.

Britney Spears decided that it might be a good idea to go out in public looking like someone who was recently released from a mental institution. Disregarding the towel draped around her head that Britney used to cover the sprouting hair under her wig, the entire outfit looks like it was put together by a colour blind 7 year old called Sunbeam.

I love that Britney thought that it was somehow more acceptable to walk around looking like this rather than just let people see that she has hair regrowth. We all know that she's wearing a wig, we all know that hair grows back, but now we also know that Britney Spears has absolutely no sense of style, and quite possibly acute mental problems.

Halle Berry: is she or isn't she?

This set of photos of Halle Berry strolling in Beverly Hills have reignited speculation that she may be pregnant by her boyfriend, the male model Gabriel Aubrey.

There is definitely a bump there, and if Halle is pregnant then it may just be the baby to rival Shiloh Jolie-Pitt as the most beautiful baby ever. So we may conclude that if Halle is pregnant we know that the baby will be BERRY BERRY beautiful.

Oh god, sometimes my failed attempts at wordplay make me want to cry.