*We were not able to monetize this video, so if you enjoyed it, we would appreciate your support with a Super Thanks. ●The video that we reacted to: Memoirs of Geisha ~Snow Dance (HD) ua-cam.com/video/63FxLM3AQt4/v-deo.html ●The video of Harumi's sensei dancing Japanese traditional dancing: ua-cam.com/video/_lnDFyFB7-4/v-deo.html ▼Please support me through Ko-fi (a donation platform like Patreon)▼ ko-fi.com/letsaskshogo ▼Let's ask Shogo Merchandise Shop▼ Where you can buy t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, etc. of cute Ukiyoe animal characters and logos of Let’s ask Shogo: suzuri.jp/lets_ask_shogo ▼The BEST online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana▼ minikatana.com/SHOGO *Get 15% OFF off all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link ▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼ ua-cam.com/video/nhEamHfzyyg/v-deo.html ▼Related videos in this channel▼ -Behind the Scenes of a Nihon-buyo Dancing Stage | A Full Dance of Harumi’s Sensei ua-cam.com/video/_lnDFyFB7-4/v-deo.html -Why Did Every Merchant's Daughter Want to Practice Dancing? ua-cam.com/video/xISaKQ6r5w0/v-deo.html -The 3 Differences Between Noh Theatre and Kabuki Play ua-cam.com/video/lp3wWpx04Ro/v-deo.html ▼MY DREAM▼ ua-cam.com/video/EgowIV_kagA/v-deo.html “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in” I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more. ▼Join our Membership▼ ua-cam.com/channels/n7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVw.htmljoin The ticket to the front row seats to Shogo's rapid adventure to make his dream come true! Through the videos, lives, and zoom chats your ideas and opinions will be adopted for Shogo to make the right decisions for his challenges! ●Membership benefits -Limited behind-the-scene videos -Weekly Zoom call or live stream -Priority reply to comments ▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼ ua-cam.com/channels/ZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA.html Please subscribe!! The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores. Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments. ▼Places recommended to visit in Kyoto | "Kyoto Hidden Gems" series▼ ua-cam.com/play/PLpIWoYf9KNFU7LIIFB0P_reDt_oMdkCOq.html ▼Instagram▼ instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）
EXPLANATION: One reason that her dance gear might be inconsistent was the director wanted her to be mysterious, not accurate to a class., breaking the rules to be remembered over the others. Hair covering part of the face ads mystery like a veil. The lighting purposefully created a mystical feeling to really woo the audience with a performance unlike any they had ever seen. Her introduction is supposed to be so special that wealthy patrons traveled from around Japan to see this NEW GIRL in person, so beautiful and talented. Some came to bid on her to be the first man to sleep with her. That was a competition, but they cheated and gave her to a VIP patron who offered a little less.
Is it possible for Harumi to recreate this Snow Dance with the proper dance standards?! I think it would be very interesting to see! (Doesn't need all the theatrics with the stage and lighting effects🤣 that would be a bit too much!)
I couldn't agree more. She is a prime example of how to express yourself impeccably while engaging in the feminine art of ripping something displeasing to shreds. I raise my saki cup to you, Harumi. You are a great example to us all.
She is such a beautiful, charming lady and so many western women could take lessons from her. She makes me smile every time I watch and listen to her. I’d be so incredibly proud if I’d been able to have children and she was my daughter or granddaughter.
I don’t think she was ripping it to shreds. She was just saying that it was difficult to determine the style, since there were so many different cultural elements mixed into it, as Hollywood tends to do. This movie always offended me and fascinated me at the same time, as the book did. I read the book probably at least 20 times before the movie came out, so I knew they would Americanize and Hollywoodize it up even before it came out. When it did come out, I went to see it with this in mind, so I was prepared, and just tried to take the movie at face value, not as a historical document. I think Harumi is doing the same thing. She is not judging it at all, merely commenting on the content. Well done, Harumi.
My late mother and I would watch this movie all the time together, to the point where I swore I could recite most of the lines. Back then, I absolutely adored it. I was a middle schooler in the cringy "weeb" phase so this movie was like the best one in the world to me. It wasn't until I was in high school that I found out how inaccurate it was and I decided to read "Geisha: A Life" to better understand the /real/ story. The author of "Memoirs of a Geisha" wildly exaggerated things and broke his promise to Mineko Iwasaki to keep her identity confidential as well as accurately depict what life was like for a geisha. For anyone who read the book, I cannot recommend "Geisha: A Life" enough, it's by and about Mineko Iwasaki herself. But for sentimental reasons, this movie holds a special place in my heart. It was my and my mom's favorite movie to watch together and she loved the book. That said, this video was really insightful! Thank you so much for posting it, Shogo.
My late mother loved this movie, too! She was obsessed with the book. I had a similar experience, revisiting the movie after growing up once I questioned its inaccuracies. It's still special to me too, because of my mom. One day I plan to read the book. It's lovely reading about experiences that are so similar.
I always thought the "Snow Dance" was more akin to modern interpretive dance. I still think it's beautiful just never thought it could possibly be traditional.
I loved this movie as a teen. A few years ago I looked up the movie to see how factual it was and found out it was originally a book. The author interviewed a former Geiko. She sued him due to using her name in the acknowledgements (among other things) then went on to write her own book because what he wrote and the movie implied that mizuage was standard practice. Her book is "Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki" for anyone interested.
You are totally buying into Kyoto style butcher job on something or someone. They are full of innuendos and irony/sarcasm filled expressions. They are called the British of Japan. Just look at their faces.
@@mikiohirata9627 oh I actually noticed that some things mentioned were indeed sort of sarcastic. If so I’d say they outdone the Brits. I would actually love to hear more about Kyoto style passive aggression more, if it can be called so xx
For context, Sayuri was cast into this dance while she was a maiko I believe. And the role she has is described as 'a spurned courtesan', so maybe that's why they decorated the stage with hanamachi lanterns and she has oiran footwear. In the dance her character laments over her loss of being cast away, and she dies in a snow storm. I guess her big bend backwards is showing her death or maybe her ghost is creating a curse! :) Love all your observations.
I felt the same as you described at this point in the movie… she was expressing her pain and it was as though she wanted those who knew her personally to understand what she was communicating.
actually from what i've seen online the role isn't a 'spurned courtesan', she's a woman who suspects her husband of infidelity so she's waiting out in the snow to watch her husband leaving his mistress and she gets stuck in a blizzard and dies.
@@BriarMaeriSibyle that explains all the men going "gasp! this is beautiful!" a woman dieing outside because she can't give up her cheating husband? amazing, A+ waifu material!!
@@BriarMaeriSibyle I can see that being an interpretation, except nobody but Oiran and equivalent would have those geta. Unless the lady was a former Oiran who married out of the profession, that would be the only way she would somehow have these.
It's definitely a western dance meant to make westerners believe it's Japanese, but not trying hard at all to be authentic. What the dance does do, to the Western eye, is act as a metaphor for Saiyuri's own tale. That chaos and lack of control you mention is very much something Saiyuri has to work through. She has everything taken from her very young and chooses to fully enter the world she's been thrust into, finding a way to control her own fate as much as is possible in her circumstances.
She didn’t choose geisha lifestyle, she was sold into it. Then spent her life as an indentured servant paying off the money the house pays for her living expenses and that bill runs high as it’s added to all the time.
That movie actually got me interested in Maiko/Geisha/Geiko culture in the first place. I came across an internet article that tore the movie apart for it's inaccuracy. Hahaha and that got me interested. I wish someone would make a more accurate movie about the original story, as close as possible to actual Geisha culture.
Thats not true, i have read various books based on geishas in real life and that movie literally represents what life was like for Geishas back in the day.
@@jenylass1521 I disagree completely. Perhaps you need to watch Shogo's video again. The dance they are reacting to, while beautiful, is in no way traditionally presented. Additionally, every Hanamachi around the country has different traditions for their maiko/geiko.
@@jenylass1521 There is one aspect that may or may not be accurate (the person whom the story is supposedly based on said it did not happen), that is the part about her mizuage being centered around her defloration. It's something that is not practiced anymore, but it certainly confuses people today, because it plays right into the misconception about geisha and prostitution. It would be interesting to know if it really could have been accurate in the time the story takes place.
I agree! I also got interested in Geisha because of this movie and the book by Arthur Golden. Evidently the book is based (loosely) on the life of the famous mid-century geisha, Iwasaki Mineko, whom Golden interviewed. She has denounced Golden's narrative, saying he both misrepresented her story and the details of the "flower and willow world" of geiko. Highly recommend reading Iwasaki's memoir, Geisha: A Life.
The scene is more like an avant-garde dance to a traditional music with special effects. A close analogy I can make is something like a Prokofiev ballet symphony, but the instead of ballet, it's a neo-modern performance art only loosely following the structure of the music or premise of the ballet.
This was also in the late 1930s to early 1940s before WWII. Many Hollywood and French dance movies were being shown in Japan at this time. Avant-garde was around since the 1920s and going strong into the early 1940s. It was not out of place to for entertainment add it into such a performance. Still, as noted Hollywood did take liberties in this movie and it was only loosely based on the ture story. I would love to read the real story. I still like the movie but even watching it the first time I knew it was more of an art film than truth.
Thinking about why Memoirs of a Geisha might not be shown in Japan. The book is based in part on time the author spent speaking with Mineko Iwasaki, but the author claimed to spend a lot more time learning from Mineko than he really did - he spent just a couple weeks compared to the months he claimed. Since the book is supposed to be based on interviews with Mineko Iwasaki, but was mostly made up, Mineko put out her own book Geisha, A Life, to better represent both herself and the information presented. She explains better than I do the problems she had with Memoirs of a Geisha, but I think this may have something to do with it. I'm just speculating, though. If you want to know what you're missing from the movie, the book might be available, and I recommend Mineko's "Geisha, A Life" for its own merits though it wouldn't be a way to learn what Memoirs of a Geisha movie is about.
and what's worse is that her story is SO MUCH BETTER but he had already smeared them all sooooo much. I have appreciation for people like Leslie Downer who truly invest in the community and learn and share that knowledge simply to preserve the history and the art, and Ms. Iwasaki was done soooo dirty and is so strong and brave to come out and insist on the truth!
@@AxlLeighif you take the book at face value and look at the philosophy learned through Saiyuri’s trails and tribulations… it’s a great fictional novel. I still carry today many of the principles and philosophy quoted within the novel. With all its cultural and historical inaccuracies, as a fictional novel, it’s a great one.
I definitely think the film interpretation was, uhhh, adapted for a Western audience. The filmmakers wanted the audience to experience the sense of Sayuri as a striking artist that the audience would have had in the story, and westerners don't have the framework to understand Japanese traditional dance in that way. It was very informative to hear you both describe how the dance would really have looked in an actual Japanese culture context -- and the unique beauty of Japanese arts!
From that movie, I fell in love with kimonos..I think that they are the most beautiful clothes in the world.. The colours, the designs, the fabrics.. Simply pieces of art..
@@johnrivers3813 yes I read that as well! Very impressive! It was also said that they used some very antique fabrics for some of the costumes as well to give authenticity.
When I first saw this movie that dance seemed so out of place. It looked like performance art, not a dance performed by any maiko, geisha, geiko, etc. I still found it beautiful.
The thing about not showing facial expressions on your face in both Nihon buyo and No theater kinda of remind of something I heard about the design of Hello kitty. Yuko Yamaguchi the third designer of that character once said in a Time magazine interview that they wanted people to ''project their feelings onto the character''.
Well you do and don’t’ show emotion on your face in nihon buyo. It’s not the same kind of expression you expect from other performance arts tho. But if the dancer were portraying light, fun scene vs a sad, poignant one, the facial expression should have a different feel although very subtle
The beauty of both your analyses is that it has such depth in to the artistic nature of your culture itself. It quite reminded me of a quote from a Star Was character named Thrawn: "Art mirrors the soul, from which tactics arise. One can see in artwork the strengths and weaknesses of those who created it. In fact, if one has a sufficient variety of art to study, one can extend and extrapolate to the strengths, weaknesses, and tactics of entire cultures." -Mitth'raw'nuruodo-
Your explanation of Japanese art made so much sense. I initially thought it was restraint for its own sake, the "don't stand out" mindset. But it's the opposite: when practitionners perform the same technique to perfection, the only source of variation comes from the artist's personal interpretation. Thus the technique remains perfect while displaying the artist's character and deeper thoughts with utmost subtlety, true mastery.
@@midoripickle1945 yea that’s what I was thinking of as well. The “prawn” backbend move. She is already the spirit of the heron at that part if I’m not mistaken.
So happy to see this comment thread. Family !!!! Yay !!!! Yes a great video to look up here: Please also enjoy looking up on here: Sagi Musume EXPLAINED (1762)
14:48 is the BEST DESCRIPTION EVER that could be given of Japanese arts. Shogo and Harumi, you have surpassed yoursleves!!! Please extract these words and make them your introductory statement! Japanese Gov should give you the art ambassadors title for that :-) Doumo arigatou gozaimasita! ❤
They're so articulate, and convey complex ideas in a way anyone can get! I didn't get 'it' until that breif explanation and suddenly it made sooo much sense and my appreciation exploded. Lovely couple and such a testament to Japanese culture.
From what I remember from the book (although it's been a while since I read it) the dance performed by Sayuri as a Maiko depicted a noble lady who had discovered her husband with his mistress, and in her despair she fled out into the snow and froze to death.
Love what you said about someones unique personality shining through the same repeated movements. I've never thought of it that way before and it really has given me a new appreciation for these art forms
I think the point of sayuri dance was to be different. To do something no geisha has done. Thats why its not not a typical geisha movie, it has a more specific character.
Saiyuri's always had too much water (emotion) which is why she had "blue eyes," I think the dance was an artistic interpretation that paralleled the character's story arch.
I adore this movie, the book, and this dance especially but I went out of my way to research a lot about it because I was told a lot of it was inaccurate. It is but I still love it and the dance was a highlight for me. I loved hearing this breakdown of it. I love how polite these two are.
My daughter just danced to Sakura for her drama class when they were studying Japanese arts. This video is so informative and the explanations are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I absolutely loved this! i haven't seen this movie in so long, and it was great to see you guys critique it fairly. I'd love to see more videos about Noh theatre and Nihonbuyo from you guys, whether its history or reactions like this or just informative videos on different styles.
Hello!! I don't know much about Japanese culture but I do know that the film makers had a Geiko on set to help them and they also had some Japanese advisers to help them make the film authentic....sadly they chose not to take the advise of the advisers and so a lot of the film was inconsistent with how life back then would have been. The character Pumpkin had a Maiko hairstyle in the film but Suyuri never did and neither did Geiko character Hatsumomo. They also gave Suyuri Hollywood make up as apposed to Maiko make up.
I know Hatsumomo’s hair was symbolism for her “careless ways.” I forget the accurate description, but the loose pieces of hair left hanging down, not up properly done.
@@garzapinups yeah you're right but would that have been allowed? The Geisha world prides itself on its perfection and I doubt any clients would be happy to have her turn up looking like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards.
I remember the first time I saw a traditional dance (Japanese among others) and I was truly gobsmacked. Couldn't imagine that the human body is capable of movements so full of. Also, since you asked if there are any other movies you should react to, I would recommend "Shigurui" which would be more of interest to you Shogo-san.
In my opinion this is a mish mash of different japanese cultrual arts. The scene is from a kabuki play called ”Sagi Musume no sei ” which is not performed by either maikos or geishas, but by an Onnagata. A lot of things in this movie is not correct at all, but having that said, it was this movie that made me super interested in Japanese culture. Cheers :)
I believe this dance was inspired by Tamasaburo Bando’s performance of Sagi Musume which is more theatrical dance in Kabuki as opposed to traditional dance. Also in Sagi Musume, which is a more tragic story told through dance, the throw back position is used multiple times
I definitely thought you were going to insert a Nord VPN sponsorship!😄 Great commentary on the dance! Very fun to learn more about it, & about traditional Japanese dance!💕
Thank you for reacting to this, it is wonderful to see through the eyes of professionals. In my honest opinion, as I have not read the book and done an in depth analysis, I just enjoy the film deeply. Inaccuracies or not, I find it’s a wonderful film, as I understand it, in the film (as I believe you have not watched it if I understand you correctly) her reputation is being ruined by a competing geisha from the same house, so she is pushed into the role, and it is more of a one night event (hence the movements being less about repeatability) and halfway between a dance and a play. the movements are so chaotic at the end as she is meant to mimic the wind and chaos of losing the umbrella, and being caught in a storm, I believe this is the case because there are several scenes earlier and later in the film of her performing kata as Harumi-san explained to emphasise the beauty of the kimono and a lot more controlled reactions, where as this event was a final attempt to repair her reputation so she wouldn’t lose everything. Another way to see this is to consider the film through the eyes of a 60/ 70 year old remember thing the past, where certain things might be mistaken, even with great detail little details can get confused and mistaken. I suspect this might have been a view the director was trying to go for. I honestly haven’t read the book or done an analysis of the film but it is a film I enjoy deeply and one of the reasons I fell in love with Japanese culture. What I stated above is just how I have viewed the film and as I understand it, I hope I wasn’t rude with how I presented these ideas, and if you get the chance I would suggest to try to view the film because the story explains some and there are things stated, that might explain the dance better. I appreciate your work and love the content you create Harumi san and Shoko san. 🎉ありがとうございます。お疲れさまでした🎉
This is one of my favorite dances in the movie!It's so captivating and breath taking i remember crying of how beautiful it was when i first watched it. Also still one of my favorite movies to date. ❤️
Correct, she was a maiko and the whole point of her getting the dance solo was to increase her presence and get a higher bid for her mizuage. I believe this is where she also gets the attention of the baron, Mameha's danna.
The thing is a maiko would never be given a solo role like that. In Miyako Odori the maiko generally just kind of play themselves and the geiko and Natori (masters) get the solo roles where they’re playing characters.
By the way Sayuri is playing Yuki Onna for the Snow Dance. Also i think she has facial Expressions in this Dance because she always had her own special way to do things and that's why she became a Sensation. She was VERY new to the Hanamachi ways and for her Customers they were always in awe by her special Character and Great Beauty.
The way I can tell that it wasn’t just because of Sayuri’s uniqueness was because the narrative didn’t say that. For example, the viewers didn’t say it was unusual, and Mameha didn’t mention it in a conversation about strategy. So that tells me that the writers just made a mistake.
I'd wish to see a reaction to the geisha's dance in the old movie The Teahouse of the August Moon. There are *many* inaccuracies in that movie, but the dance has always intrigued me.
I never clicked so fast haha! The movie is one of my favourites (as well as the book) since I first saw it when I was fifteen! It was what got me interested in Japanese culture and I learned a lot since then! 🥰 thank you for this insightful video!!
I've been watching that movie since I was 6 and that particular scene is my favourite Thank you for reacting and teaching, it's always great to learn something new ✨️
That was so, so exceptionally interesting, thank you! Your culture's unique approach to art and creating fascinates me to no end. I keep discovering new prrspectives and I love it!!
I think Ziyi Zhang (the actress playing the dancer in this) is mostly known for her kung fu movies but her background is actually only in dance, mostly ballet. It is kind of interesting to see her actually dancing in a movie as opposed to using her dance training to perform fight choreography. Seeing her perform both, it is also kind of interesting how similar martial arts and dance actually are
Thank you for this video - I remember when the movie came out, I was very excited to see the Snow Dance, but was very disappointed with the direction the producers went in. I hope one day I can see a traditional interpretation of Sayuri’s Snow Dance!
it's lovely to see people who actually know talking about this kind of thing, i've seen so many people who have read wikipedia and think they know everything, so it is so refreshing to watch such a knowledgable video. Memoirs of a geisha whilst not accurate made me want to learn more, i was mesmerized and i will be thankful to this film for showing me such a wonderful world.
This was a really informative and fascinating video. I liked that you included clips of different types of traditional Japanese dance and theatre. Well done. On an unrelated note, you two are both beautiful people!
So, I've recently rewatched your video explaining the Oiran, and, as someone who has watched Memoirs of a Geisha several times, as well as read the book, I have to warn you: it sounds very much like author Arthur Golden learned about Oiran and slapped a Geisha label on it. Like, just, SO much of what you said about Oiran sounded very much like how Geisha are "explained" in the movie and book.
I really hope you're able to see the movie one day. It's one of my top 5 favorites of all time! There was absolutely a western influence in the dance but it truly is a perfect performance within the context of the film. Love your channel! ❤
its best to see it with an open mind as it poorly represents the art and ways of geisha even for the time period and is in no way accurate. its purely a stereotype of what westerners think of geisha.
"Influence?" It's wholly western. Very, VERY little about the film or its source material was informed by reality. It's a western fever dream about geisha. Nothing more.
The dance is vague but I looked it up online and this is all they have on it if you were curious about what she's Portraying: Although never fully elaborated on, the dance on stage that Sayuri performs tells the story of a woman who suspects her husband of infidelity and waits outside in the snow to catch her husband leaving his mistress; unfortunately a blizzard sweeps over the land and she succumbs to the elements.
The original dance represents a spirit of winter in the form of a crane and then later transforms into a snow maiden (sagi musume). She realizes that her time on earth is fading and in her panic attempts to hold onto her life with what little strength she has left, she flutters her wings in desperation trying to return to her original form but fails, she collapses backward and fades into the snow. It's a metaphor for how the beauty in nature and in life is fleeting. The movie changes these details, many liberties were taken for artistic purposes, but the dance is based on a real dance! The dance is performed by an onnagata, never a geisha or a maiko. It's called Sagi Musume.
Thank you so much for the video and commentary on the movie. I enjoy watching the additional explanation of the various forms of Japanese dance. It is not only educational, but entertaining and very fascinating. Again, thank you both so very much. Take care and be safe. 😊💖🙏
This is my number 1 favorite movie, the expression, the peek into a multitude of cultures woven together and layered in a storyline of loss, despair that turns into beauty and then cultural disruption once again reborn to kiss the dream into reality. Thank you for the insight and positive feedback, it was interesting to learn more about the different cultures involved. Applaud this 🍀
I haven't seen the movie discussed but I enjoyed your video and, as always, come away having learned something new. The idea of the soul being expressed in the restriction of physicality was particularly interesting as it is something commented on by visual artists working with different life models. Great video, thank you 🙏🏽
In Balinese traditional dance, too, every movement counts. There is an exact moment on the dance where you have to frown or blink an eye. You'll have to lose yourself into the music, movement and expression in a very controlled way. I think that is why traditional dances are difficult in general.
Thank you for breaking this down. I had the privilege of working with Shozo Sato on a production of Madame Butterfly for a local opera company that used to be on the Mendocino Coast. He has since moved to the Chicago area from what I understand and is sorely missed. I will not claim that we got everything right, but I believe he was pleased with the work we put in to *try* to get things more accurately. A mutual friend of ours saw the opera and when I asked her, Shizuko said it was "very accurate." Apparently, this was effusive for a woman of her generation. I am proud of the work we did but I am very much aware of how far short we fell.
Hello Shogo, may I request your reaction to "Oni: Thunder God's Tale"? The story is based on "Onari's Lullaby" and inspired by various Japanese folklore, the series tells a story of Onari, who sets on a path of becoming one of the folklore heroes, protecting her peaceful village from the mysterious oni
All the inaccuracies in the movie (other than the inaccuracies in the book) all comes down to one thing: Hollywood filmmakers’ artistic vision. What they WANT and not what would educate the viewers.
So happy to discover your channel! Some years ago this movie pushed me to start learning Japanese culture and now I'm glad to have a chance to know it deeper with all the information you provide here. When I watch your videos, I get inspired by your lifestyle and it makes me want to get better. Greetings from Russia and thanks ❤
I've seen the film a few times. I was never really sure what was going on. To me, it always looked rather chaotic. I had assumed that there might be some sort of symbolism or significance to movement or position that was involved. It seems like my original reaction might have been a bit closer.
Sayuri is maiko. The movie starts with old Sayuri telling her story. Thats why it's called memoirs of a geisha. But at this part of the movie it's her memory of having the main role for dancing as a maiko.
I've been enjoying watching Tamasaburo's Sagi Musume videos on Yt, i believe it's partly inspired Sayuri's dance, not the form but the type of story that's shown in the performance. Totally different... About the ways to move that make kimono beautiful, it helps to know that most kimono are hand woven, in ways that are so complex that take years to make. So kimono has a lot of value if only from that viewpoint, and it's worth showing respect when it is worn.
I love this video because I've never heard the details and variations of dancing and styles, reminds me how truly beautiful and intricate Japanese culture, dance and history really is. I wish Sayuri's dance was more accurate (maybe they should have hired your lovely wife Harumi as an adviser :=), but it's typical of Hollywood films depicting other cultures, they always blend varieties of cultures and styles together and over dramatize the scenes and in particular the dance shown here. They offer little to no subtly and nuance, which are two words that definitely describe Japanese Geisha dances.
I have just today thought about this movie and it's acuracy! Thank you for making this video, it really taght me a lot. Memoirs of Geisha was one of the first things that got me interested in Japanese culture, along with irezumi, so I'm glad to see your videos educating us all about these representations of Japanese art. Keep up the wonderful work!
There is some part in this movie that I like but "unfortunately" I was very into Japanese culture and specially to geishas when I was young. So when I saw the movie it was so hard to focus because I was so confused with the messiness of everything
Loved your analysis of this scene! This was such a great movie, i even had a copy of the movie 😂. I’ve been to Tokyo and had the experience of learning about wearing the kimono and having and serving tea. Loved learning about it all. Such a beautiful culture ❤. You two a so cute!
I refollow You ain. As a former dancer, I can give my adoration to her. "only" 1 year is already impressive and shows commitment. Your comments about the dress code and umbrella etc are spot on. I love that You don't just voice opinion without knowledge. I stopped following You for some time as I have difficulties in watching grand movement in a tight space. So I suddenly felt squeezed into a box with a lot of squirm. This is just a personal detail that has nothing to do with the content and wonderful inside You share with us. Love from Texas to You, your wife, family and friends. ❤
I really like this movie. I love all the actresses and actors, they did such a fantastic job. It's a movie, not a documentary..., so I take it for what it is and just enjoy how well it was acted and made. The costume and set designs are just beautiful. I appreciate the take on it. Learning what kind of dance would've been more likely is very interesting! So, thank you for that. 🙂
*We were not able to monetize this video, so if you enjoyed it, we would appreciate your support with a Super Thanks.
●The video that we reacted to: Memoirs of Geisha ~Snow Dance (HD)
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●The video of Harumi's sensei dancing Japanese traditional dancing:
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EXPLANATION: One reason that her dance gear might be inconsistent was the director wanted her to be mysterious, not accurate to a class., breaking the rules to be remembered over the others. Hair covering part of the face ads mystery like a veil.
The lighting purposefully created a mystical feeling to really woo the audience with a performance unlike any they had ever seen. Her introduction is supposed to be so special that wealthy patrons traveled from around Japan to see this NEW GIRL in person, so beautiful and talented. Some came to bid on her to be the first man to sleep with her. That was a competition, but they cheated and gave her to a VIP patron who offered a little less.
Is it possible for Harumi to recreate this Snow Dance with the proper dance standards?! I think it would be very interesting to see! (Doesn't need all the theatrics with the stage and lighting effects🤣 that would be a bit too much!)
I am so sorry to hear your video isn't monetized! I wish I could do more to support you.
In this scene, the dance was set up to help her sell her virginity for a higher price, so she's still a maiko during the dance according to the movie.
Harumi is the so sweet and polite that you don’t even realize that she’s completely taking apart this dance. I love her manners so much. ❤
I’m so glad you say so😉
I couldn't agree more. She is a prime example of how to express yourself impeccably while engaging in the feminine art of ripping something displeasing to shreds. I raise my saki cup to you, Harumi. You are a great example to us all.
She is such a beautiful, charming lady and so many western women could take lessons from her.
She makes me smile every time I watch and listen to her. I’d be so incredibly proud if I’d been able to have children and she was my daughter or granddaughter.
I don’t think she was ripping it to shreds. She was just saying that it was difficult to determine the style, since there were so many different cultural elements mixed into it, as Hollywood tends to do. This movie always offended me and fascinated me at the same time, as the book did. I read the book probably at least 20 times before the movie came out, so I knew they would Americanize and Hollywoodize it up even before it came out. When it did come out, I went to see it with this in mind, so I was prepared, and just tried to take the movie at face value, not as a historical document. I think Harumi is doing the same thing. She is not judging it at all, merely commenting on the content. Well done, Harumi.
She has no malicious intent at all
My late mother and I would watch this movie all the time together, to the point where I swore I could recite most of the lines. Back then, I absolutely adored it. I was a middle schooler in the cringy "weeb" phase so this movie was like the best one in the world to me. It wasn't until I was in high school that I found out how inaccurate it was and I decided to read "Geisha: A Life" to better understand the /real/ story. The author of "Memoirs of a Geisha" wildly exaggerated things and broke his promise to Mineko Iwasaki to keep her identity confidential as well as accurately depict what life was like for a geisha. For anyone who read the book, I cannot recommend "Geisha: A Life" enough, it's by and about Mineko Iwasaki herself.
But for sentimental reasons, this movie holds a special place in my heart. It was my and my mom's favorite movie to watch together and she loved the book.
That said, this video was really insightful! Thank you so much for posting it, Shogo.
Same same same for most of this!
HA HA!! I was just reading about Mineko Iwasaki then I find this!
Are you sure you got over the cringey weeb phase?
I dislike films that have a source material but then direct pretty widely from it. Thank you for the book name, I’ll look it up on kindle later
My late mother loved this movie, too! She was obsessed with the book. I had a similar experience, revisiting the movie after growing up once I questioned its inaccuracies. It's still special to me too, because of my mom. One day I plan to read the book.
It's lovely reading about experiences that are so similar.
I always thought the "Snow Dance" was more akin to modern interpretive dance. I still think it's beautiful just never thought it could possibly be traditional.
It definitely was. If you watch the behind the scenes they talk about it. And say the dance in the movie definitely wasn't a traditional take at all.
I loved this movie as a teen. A few years ago I looked up the movie to see how factual it was and found out it was originally a book. The author interviewed a former Geiko. She sued him due to using her name in the acknowledgements (among other things) then went on to write her own book because what he wrote and the movie implied that mizuage was standard practice. Her book is "Geisha of Gion by Mineko Iwasaki" for anyone interested.
I love the fact you appreciated the beauty of the dance and still manage to give us an accurate critique of the movements and dress. Thank you both.
And thank YOU for watching✨
You are totally buying into Kyoto style butcher job on something or someone.
They are full of innuendos and irony/sarcasm filled expressions. They are called the British of Japan. Just look at their faces.
@@mikiohirata9627 oh I actually noticed that some things mentioned were indeed sort of sarcastic. If so I’d say they outdone the Brits. I would actually love to hear more about Kyoto style passive aggression more, if it can be called so xx
For context, Sayuri was cast into this dance while she was a maiko I believe. And the role she has is described as 'a spurned courtesan', so maybe that's why they decorated the stage with hanamachi lanterns and she has oiran footwear. In the dance her character laments over her loss of being cast away, and she dies in a snow storm. I guess her big bend backwards is showing her death or maybe her ghost is creating a curse! :) Love all your observations.
The stage is decorated with lanterns because it’s supposed to be Miyako Odori and Miyako Odori also features lantern decorations
I felt the same as you described at this point in the movie… she was expressing her pain and it was as though she wanted those who knew her personally to understand what she was communicating.
actually from what i've seen online the role isn't a 'spurned courtesan', she's a woman who suspects her husband of infidelity so she's waiting out in the snow to watch her husband leaving his mistress and she gets stuck in a blizzard and dies.
@@BriarMaeriSibyle that explains all the men going "gasp! this is beautiful!" a woman dieing outside because she can't give up her cheating husband? amazing, A+ waifu material!!
@@BriarMaeriSibyle I can see that being an interpretation, except nobody but Oiran and equivalent would have those geta. Unless the lady was a former Oiran who married out of the profession, that would be the only way she would somehow have these.
It's definitely a western dance meant to make westerners believe it's Japanese, but not trying hard at all to be authentic. What the dance does do, to the Western eye, is act as a metaphor for Saiyuri's own tale. That chaos and lack of control you mention is very much something Saiyuri has to work through. She has everything taken from her very young and chooses to fully enter the world she's been thrust into, finding a way to control her own fate as much as is possible in her circumstances.
She didn’t choose geisha lifestyle, she was sold into it. Then spent her life as an indentured servant paying off the money the house pays for her living expenses and that bill runs high as it’s added to all the time.
I suppose that comes under the heading of "artistic license." That can be a perilous excuse when deciding specifics about entertaining.
That movie actually got me interested in Maiko/Geisha/Geiko culture in the first place. I came across an internet article that tore the movie apart for it's inaccuracy. Hahaha and that got me interested. I wish someone would make a more accurate movie about the original story, as close as possible to actual Geisha culture.
Thats not true, i have read various books based on geishas in real life and that movie literally represents what life was like for Geishas back in the day.
@@jenylass1521 I disagree completely. Perhaps you need to watch Shogo's video again. The dance they are reacting to, while beautiful, is in no way traditionally presented. Additionally, every Hanamachi around the country has different traditions for their maiko/geiko.
@@longwhitemane yes i agree, but i was referring to the story.
@@jenylass1521 There is one aspect that may or may not be accurate (the person whom the story is supposedly based on said it did not happen), that is the part about her mizuage being centered around her defloration. It's something that is not practiced anymore, but it certainly confuses people today, because it plays right into the misconception about geisha and prostitution. It would be interesting to know if it really could have been accurate in the time the story takes place.
I agree! I also got interested in Geisha because of this movie and the book by Arthur Golden. Evidently the book is based (loosely) on the life of the famous mid-century geisha, Iwasaki Mineko, whom Golden interviewed. She has denounced Golden's narrative, saying he both misrepresented her story and the details of the "flower and willow world" of geiko. Highly recommend reading Iwasaki's memoir, Geisha: A Life.
The scene is more like an avant-garde dance to a traditional music with special effects. A close analogy I can make is something like a Prokofiev ballet symphony, but the instead of ballet, it's a neo-modern performance art only loosely following the structure of the music or premise of the ballet.
This was also in the late 1930s to early 1940s before WWII. Many Hollywood and French dance movies were being shown in Japan at this time. Avant-garde was around since the 1920s and going strong into the early 1940s. It was not out of place to for entertainment add it into such a performance.
Still, as noted Hollywood did take liberties in this movie and it was only loosely based on the ture story. I would love to read the real story. I still like the movie but even watching it the first time I knew it was more of an art film than truth.
Please also enjoy looking up on here: Sagi Musume EXPLAINED (1762)
Please also enjoy looking up on here: Sagi Musume EXPLAINED (1762)
Thinking about why Memoirs of a Geisha might not be shown in Japan. The book is based in part on time the author spent speaking with Mineko Iwasaki, but the author claimed to spend a lot more time learning from Mineko than he really did - he spent just a couple weeks compared to the months he claimed. Since the book is supposed to be based on interviews with Mineko Iwasaki, but was mostly made up, Mineko put out her own book Geisha, A Life, to better represent both herself and the information presented. She explains better than I do the problems she had with Memoirs of a Geisha, but I think this may have something to do with it. I'm just speculating, though. If you want to know what you're missing from the movie, the book might be available, and I recommend Mineko's "Geisha, A Life" for its own merits though it wouldn't be a way to learn what Memoirs of a Geisha movie is about.
and what's worse is that her story is SO MUCH BETTER but he had already smeared them all sooooo much. I have appreciation for people like Leslie Downer who truly invest in the community and learn and share that knowledge simply to preserve the history and the art, and Ms. Iwasaki was done soooo dirty and is so strong and brave to come out and insist on the truth!
@@AxlLeighif you take the book at face value and look at the philosophy learned through Saiyuri’s trails and tribulations… it’s a great fictional novel. I still carry today many of the principles and philosophy quoted within the novel. With all its cultural and historical inaccuracies, as a fictional novel, it’s a great one.
I definitely think the film interpretation was, uhhh, adapted for a Western audience. The filmmakers wanted the audience to experience the sense of Sayuri as a striking artist that the audience would have had in the story, and westerners don't have the framework to understand Japanese traditional dance in that way. It was very informative to hear you both describe how the dance would really have looked in an actual Japanese culture context -- and the unique beauty of Japanese arts!
From that movie, I fell in love with kimonos..I think that they are the most beautiful clothes in the world.. The colours, the designs, the fabrics.. Simply pieces of art..
All of the kimonos were handmade by the costume department too
@@johnrivers3813 yes I read that as well! Very impressive! It was also said that they used some very antique fabrics for some of the costumes as well to give authenticity.
When I first saw this movie that dance seemed so out of place. It looked like performance art, not a dance performed by any maiko, geisha, geiko, etc. I still found it beautiful.
The thing about not showing facial expressions on your face in both Nihon buyo and No theater kinda of remind of something I heard about the design of Hello kitty. Yuko Yamaguchi the third designer of that character once said in a Time magazine interview that they wanted people to ''project their feelings onto the character''.
Aah, kinda like the typical ultra average, blank, boring male protagonist in most shounen anime?
Well you do and don’t’ show emotion on your face in nihon buyo. It’s not the same kind of expression you expect from other performance arts tho. But if the dancer were portraying light, fun scene vs a sad, poignant one, the facial expression should have a different feel although very subtle
The beauty of both your analyses is that it has such depth in to the artistic nature of your culture itself. It quite reminded me of a quote from a Star Was character named Thrawn:
"Art mirrors the soul, from which tactics arise. One can see in artwork the strengths and weaknesses of those who created it. In fact, if one has a sufficient variety of art to study, one can extend and extrapolate to the strengths, weaknesses, and tactics of entire cultures."
-Mitth'raw'nuruodo-
Your explanation of Japanese art made so much sense. I initially thought it was restraint for its own sake, the "don't stand out" mindset. But it's the opposite: when practitionners perform the same technique to perfection, the only source of variation comes from the artist's personal interpretation. Thus the technique remains perfect while displaying the artist's character and deeper thoughts with utmost subtlety, true mastery.
She is dancing Tamasaburo's Sagi Musume, the part where the young maiden is cought in snow storm
I didn’t know about that! Thank you very much for teaching me😊
I believe that's where they also got the back bend move from as well
@@midoripickle1945 yea that’s what I was thinking of as well. The “prawn” backbend move. She is already the spirit of the heron at that part if I’m not mistaken.
So happy to see this comment thread. Family !!!! Yay !!!! Yes a great video to look up here:
Please also enjoy looking up on here: Sagi Musume EXPLAINED (1762)
14:48 is the BEST DESCRIPTION EVER that could be given of Japanese arts.
Shogo and Harumi, you have surpassed yoursleves!!!
Please extract these words and make them your introductory statement!
Japanese Gov should give you the art ambassadors title for that :-)
Doumo arigatou gozaimasita! ❤
They're so articulate, and convey complex ideas in a way anyone can get! I didn't get 'it' until that breif explanation and suddenly it made sooo much sense and my appreciation exploded. Lovely couple and such a testament to Japanese culture.
Harumi has such a kind personality and friendly disposition. Always love hearing her thoughts and opinions! ❤️
From what I remember from the book (although it's been a while since I read it) the dance performed by Sayuri as a Maiko depicted a noble lady who had discovered her husband with his mistress, and in her despair she fled out into the snow and froze to death.
Love what you said about someones unique personality shining through the same repeated movements. I've never thought of it that way before and it really has given me a new appreciation for these art forms
I think the point of sayuri dance was to be different. To do something no geisha has done. Thats why its not not a typical geisha movie, it has a more specific character.
Saiyuri's always had too much water (emotion) which is why she had "blue eyes," I think the dance was an artistic interpretation that paralleled the character's story arch.
I do love the costumes and music used in the movie it was especially stunning seeing it for the first time as a child.
it would be great to see Harumi's interpretation/translation of this dance into a REAL traditional dance :)
Love this! You need to watch the movie somehow. Maybe order a DVD. Would love to hear your honest breakdown!
I adore this movie, the book, and this dance especially but I went out of my way to research a lot about it because I was told a lot of it was inaccurate. It is but I still love it and the dance was a highlight for me.
I loved hearing this breakdown of it. I love how polite these two are.
My daughter just danced to Sakura for her drama class when they were studying Japanese arts. This video is so informative and the explanations are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I absolutely loved this! i haven't seen this movie in so long, and it was great to see you guys critique it fairly. I'd love to see more videos about Noh theatre and Nihonbuyo from you guys, whether its history or reactions like this or just informative videos on different styles.
Hello!! I don't know much about Japanese culture but I do know that the film makers had a Geiko on set to help them and they also had some Japanese advisers to help them make the film authentic....sadly they chose not to take the advise of the advisers and so a lot of the film was inconsistent with how life back then would have been. The character Pumpkin had a Maiko hairstyle in the film but Suyuri never did and neither did Geiko character Hatsumomo. They also gave Suyuri Hollywood make up as apposed to Maiko make up.
I know Hatsumomo’s hair was symbolism for her “careless ways.” I forget the accurate description, but the loose pieces of hair left hanging down, not up properly done.
@@garzapinups yeah you're right but would that have been allowed? The Geisha world prides itself on its perfection and I doubt any clients would be happy to have her turn up looking like she's been dragged through a hedge backwards.
I remember the first time I saw a traditional dance (Japanese among others) and I was truly gobsmacked. Couldn't imagine that the human body is capable of movements so full of. Also, since you asked if there are any other movies you should react to, I would recommend "Shigurui" which would be more of interest to you Shogo-san.
In my opinion this is a mish mash of different japanese cultrual arts. The scene is from a kabuki play called ”Sagi Musume no sei ” which is not performed by either maikos or geishas, but by an Onnagata.
A lot of things in this movie is not correct at all, but having that said, it was this movie that made me super interested in Japanese culture.
Cheers :)
I believe this dance was inspired by Tamasaburo Bando’s performance of Sagi Musume which is more theatrical dance in Kabuki as opposed to traditional dance. Also in Sagi Musume, which is a more tragic story told through dance, the throw back position is used multiple times
I just went and watched it. Absolutely beautiful!
It is really kind of you two to share this type of insight. Thank you.
I really like how both of you analyze this without judging. It is a challenging and undervalued skill.
Well said, and I agree! It’s difficult to be objective about this, and Harumi and Shogo did a wonderful job of that.
I definitely thought you were going to insert a Nord VPN sponsorship!😄 Great commentary on the dance! Very fun to learn more about it, & about traditional Japanese dance!💕
Thank you for reacting to this, it is wonderful to see through the eyes of professionals.
In my honest opinion, as I have not read the book and done an in depth analysis, I just enjoy the film deeply. Inaccuracies or not, I find it’s a wonderful film, as I understand it, in the film (as I believe you have not watched it if I understand you correctly) her reputation is being ruined by a competing geisha from the same house, so she is pushed into the role, and it is more of a one night event (hence the movements being less about repeatability) and halfway between a dance and a play. the movements are so chaotic at the end as she is meant to mimic the wind and chaos of losing the umbrella, and being caught in a storm, I believe this is the case because there are several scenes earlier and later in the film of her performing kata as Harumi-san explained to emphasise the beauty of the kimono and a lot more controlled reactions, where as this event was a final attempt to repair her reputation so she wouldn’t lose everything.
Another way to see this is to consider the film through the eyes of a 60/ 70 year old remember thing the past, where certain things might be mistaken, even with great detail little details can get confused and mistaken. I suspect this might have been a view the director was trying to go for.
I honestly haven’t read the book or done an analysis of the film but it is a film I enjoy deeply and one of the reasons I fell in love with Japanese culture. What I stated above is just how I have viewed the film and as I understand it, I hope I wasn’t rude with how I presented these ideas, and if you get the chance I would suggest to try to view the film because the story explains some and there are things stated, that might explain the dance better.
I appreciate your work and love the content you create Harumi san and Shoko san.
🎉ありがとうございます。お疲れさまでした🎉
I love this movie so much! I read the book in high school, saw the movie in theaters and bought it on dvd later on and learned all the words to it 🤣❤️
The movie is free on UA-cam right now if you can see it. I would love for you to watch her first dance I think it's called the butterfly dance.
This is one of my favorite dances in the movie!It's so captivating and breath taking i remember crying of how beautiful it was when i first watched it. Also still one of my favorite movies to date. ❤️
I'm loving every second of this video! Harumi is so adorable and I would love a dance lesson from her. Thank you so much for sharing! ! ✨💖
The discipline and commitment to all the movements (in all things Japan) is admirable… 👍
During this scene, Saiyuri was a trainee still. A couple scenes after this, she becomes what they refer to as a full fledged Geisha
Yes it’s not until after her mizuage that she it’s a full on geisha
Correct, she was a maiko and the whole point of her getting the dance solo was to increase her presence and get a higher bid for her mizuage. I believe this is where she also gets the attention of the baron, Mameha's danna.
The thing is a maiko would never be given a solo role like that. In Miyako Odori the maiko generally just kind of play themselves and the geiko and Natori (masters) get the solo roles where they’re playing characters.
By the way Sayuri is playing Yuki Onna for the Snow Dance. Also i think she has facial Expressions in this Dance because she always had her own special way to do things and that's why she became a Sensation. She was VERY new to the Hanamachi ways and for her Customers they were always in awe by her special Character and Great Beauty.
The way I can tell that it wasn’t just because of Sayuri’s uniqueness was because the narrative didn’t say that. For example, the viewers didn’t say it was unusual, and Mameha didn’t mention it in a conversation about strategy. So that tells me that the writers just made a mistake.
I should be concentrating on the content of this video but Harumi's smiley face gets me every time. Such a lovely smile. 💖💖 stay healthy guys
I'd wish to see a reaction to the geisha's dance in the old movie The Teahouse of the August Moon. There are *many* inaccuracies in that movie, but the dance has always intrigued me.
I never clicked so fast haha! The movie is one of my favourites (as well as the book) since I first saw it when I was fifteen! It was what got me interested in Japanese culture and I learned a lot since then! 🥰 thank you for this insightful video!!
At this time on the movie she was not yet a full geisha…love this movie so much!!
That was so interesting. Thank you both for the explanations through the dance. I recognized a few actors in the clip.
Our pleasure! Thank you so much for always watching🤗
I've been watching that movie since I was 6 and that particular scene is my favourite
Thank you for reacting and teaching, it's always great to learn something new ✨️
I like the way Shogo and Haruma share one earplug each.
That was so, so exceptionally interesting, thank you! Your culture's unique approach to art and creating fascinates me to no end. I keep discovering new prrspectives and I love it!!
I think Ziyi Zhang (the actress playing the dancer in this) is mostly known for her kung fu movies but her background is actually only in dance, mostly ballet. It is kind of interesting to see her actually dancing in a movie as opposed to using her dance training to perform fight choreography. Seeing her perform both, it is also kind of interesting how similar martial arts and dance actually are
Thank you for this video - I remember when the movie came out, I was very excited to see the Snow Dance, but was very disappointed with the direction the producers went in. I hope one day I can see a traditional interpretation of Sayuri’s Snow Dance!
It would be so interesting (but a lot of work!) to see an authentic version of Sayuri's dance.
it's lovely to see people who actually know talking about this kind of thing, i've seen so many people who have read wikipedia and think they know everything, so it is so refreshing to watch such a knowledgable video. Memoirs of a geisha whilst not accurate made me want to learn more, i was mesmerized and i will be thankful to this film for showing me such a wonderful world.
This was a really informative and fascinating video. I liked that you included clips of different types of traditional Japanese dance and theatre. Well done. On an unrelated note, you two are both beautiful people!
So, I've recently rewatched your video explaining the Oiran, and, as someone who has watched Memoirs of a Geisha several times, as well as read the book, I have to warn you: it sounds very much like author Arthur Golden learned about Oiran and slapped a Geisha label on it. Like, just, SO much of what you said about Oiran sounded very much like how Geisha are "explained" in the movie and book.
I love the thousands of facets that make Japanese culture so rich ❤ thank you for sharing them ❤
I really hope you're able to see the movie one day. It's one of my top 5 favorites of all time! There was absolutely a western influence in the dance but it truly is a perfect performance within the context of the film. Love your channel! ❤
its best to see it with an open mind as it poorly represents the art and ways of geisha even for the time period and is in no way accurate. its purely a stereotype of what westerners think of geisha.
"Influence?" It's wholly western. Very, VERY little about the film or its source material was informed by reality. It's a western fever dream about geisha. Nothing more.
@@dierdriu 100%
The dance is vague but I looked it up online and this is all they have on it if you were curious about what she's Portraying: Although never fully elaborated on, the dance on stage that Sayuri performs tells the story of a woman who suspects her husband of infidelity and waits outside in the snow to catch her husband leaving his mistress; unfortunately a blizzard sweeps over the land and she succumbs to the elements.
The original dance represents a spirit of winter in the form of a crane and then later transforms into a snow maiden (sagi musume). She realizes that her time on earth is fading and in her panic attempts to hold onto her life with what little strength she has left, she flutters her wings in desperation trying to return to her original form but fails, she collapses backward and fades into the snow. It's a metaphor for how the beauty in nature and in life is fleeting. The movie changes these details, many liberties were taken for artistic purposes, but the dance is based on a real dance!
The dance is performed by an onnagata, never a geisha or a maiko. It's called Sagi Musume.
Didn't read the comments to see if someone already said this, but this was supposed to be her graduation from maiko to geisha.
Thank you for sharing your perspective on this movie dance and the value of learning traditional forms.
Thank you so much for the video and commentary on the movie. I enjoy watching the additional explanation of the various forms of Japanese dance. It is not only educational, but entertaining and very fascinating. Again, thank you both so very much. Take care and be safe. 😊💖🙏
This is my number 1 favorite movie, the expression, the peek into a multitude of cultures woven together and layered in a storyline of loss, despair that turns into beauty and then cultural disruption once again reborn to kiss the dream into reality. Thank you for the insight and positive feedback, it was interesting to learn more about the different cultures involved. Applaud this 🍀
What I love about it is the great music video by Ayumi Hamasaki.
Beautiful music with great movie scenes. I like that!
I just came upon this channel, and i just had to say THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE KIMONO IN THE INTRO WAS ADORABLE
Wow, japanese culture is so rich. What a beautiful tradition. I love your outfits here too.
This is my favorite video from your channel, now.
I'd love to see you react to the Japanese part of the movie Kill Bill by Tarantino!
I love you guys!! You are both so sweet and respectful, I am so excited to follow your channel and watch it grow!!!
Both of you are a joy to watch. What a delightful, informative video.
One of my favorites, despite it's flaws. I appreciate and loved this.
ありがとうございます!
I love this deep dive review. I knew the book/movie wasn't accurate, but to have this level of detail is appreciated
You two are adorable together, and Harumi seems like a sweetheart. Much happiness to the two of you! 💖
I haven't seen the movie discussed but I enjoyed your video and, as always, come away having learned something new.
The idea of the soul being expressed in the restriction of physicality was particularly interesting as it is something commented on by visual artists working with different life models.
Great video, thank you 🙏🏽
In Balinese traditional dance, too, every movement counts. There is an exact moment on the dance where you have to frown or blink an eye. You'll have to lose yourself into the music, movement and expression in a very controlled way. I think that is why traditional dances are difficult in general.
Thank you for breaking this down. I had the privilege of working with Shozo Sato on a production of Madame Butterfly for a local opera company that used to be on the Mendocino Coast. He has since moved to the Chicago area from what I understand and is sorely missed. I will not claim that we got everything right, but I believe he was pleased with the work we put in to *try* to get things more accurately. A mutual friend of ours saw the opera and when I asked her, Shizuko said it was "very accurate." Apparently, this was effusive for a woman of her generation. I am proud of the work we did but I am very much aware of how far short we fell.
I love this film! I use to watch it over and over when I was a kid! One of my favorite retelling of “Cinderella” with an entire new approach! ❤️💚❤️💚
Hello Shogo, may I request your reaction to "Oni: Thunder God's Tale"? The story is based on "Onari's Lullaby" and inspired by various Japanese folklore, the series tells a story of Onari, who sets on a path of becoming one of the folklore heroes, protecting her peaceful village from the mysterious oni
All the inaccuracies in the movie (other than the inaccuracies in the book) all comes down to one thing: Hollywood filmmakers’ artistic vision.
What they WANT and not what would educate the viewers.
The movie is beyond any other my favorite. I love all the costumes and shots of homes and how they lived.The snow dance is wonderful.
So happy to discover your channel! Some years ago this movie pushed me to start learning Japanese culture and now I'm glad to have a chance to know it deeper with all the information you provide here. When I watch your videos, I get inspired by your lifestyle and it makes me want to get better. Greetings from Russia and thanks ❤
I am so glad you gave a synopsis on this movie. It is one of my favorites
I've seen the film a few times. I was never really sure what was going on. To me, it always looked rather chaotic. I had assumed that there might be some sort of symbolism or significance to movement or position that was involved. It seems like my original reaction might have been a bit closer.
Sayuri is maiko. The movie starts with old Sayuri telling her story. Thats why it's called memoirs of a geisha. But at this part of the movie it's her memory of having the main role for dancing as a maiko.
I really like this video! I love hearing all the traditional and cultural contexts!
I've been enjoying watching Tamasaburo's Sagi Musume videos on Yt, i believe it's partly inspired Sayuri's dance, not the form but the type of story that's shown in the performance. Totally different...
About the ways to move that make kimono beautiful, it helps to know that most kimono are hand woven, in ways that are so complex that take years to make. So kimono has a lot of value if only from that viewpoint, and it's worth showing respect when it is worn.
I love this video because I've never heard the details and variations of dancing and styles, reminds me how truly beautiful and intricate Japanese culture, dance and history really is. I wish Sayuri's dance was more accurate (maybe they should have hired your lovely wife Harumi as an adviser :=), but it's typical of Hollywood films depicting other cultures, they always blend varieties of cultures and styles together and over dramatize the scenes and in particular the dance shown here. They offer little to no subtly and nuance, which are two words that definitely describe Japanese Geisha dances.
Thank you , you dedication and honesty is beautiful and fascinating, thank you for sharing xx
I have just today thought about this movie and it's acuracy! Thank you for making this video, it really taght me a lot. Memoirs of Geisha was one of the first things that got me interested in Japanese culture, along with irezumi, so I'm glad to see your videos educating us all about these representations of Japanese art. Keep up the wonderful work!
It was very interesting to see your perspective, thanks a lot!
While it doesn't look traditional at all, Ziyi Zhang does a fantastic job of translating the basic lore of yuki-onna to a non-Japanese viewer.
There is some part in this movie that I like but "unfortunately" I was very into Japanese culture and specially to geishas when I was young. So when I saw the movie it was so hard to focus because I was so confused with the messiness of everything
I don't see how to do a Super Thanks, so I donated to Ko-fi. Thanks, Shogo and Harumi!
Loved your analysis of this scene! This was such a great movie, i even had a copy of the movie 😂. I’ve been to Tokyo and had the experience of learning about wearing the kimono and having and serving tea. Loved learning about it all. Such a beautiful culture ❤. You two a so cute!
I refollow You ain. As a former dancer, I can give my adoration to her. "only" 1 year is already impressive and shows commitment. Your comments about the dress code and umbrella etc are spot on. I love that You don't just voice opinion without knowledge. I stopped following You for some time as I have difficulties in watching grand movement in a tight space. So I suddenly felt squeezed into a box with a lot of squirm. This is just a personal detail that has nothing to do with the content and wonderful inside You share with us. Love from Texas to You, your wife, family and friends. ❤
I love this. It's do interesting to learn about these things. Thank you for this video. I look forward to learning more.
I really like this movie. I love all the actresses and actors, they did such a fantastic job. It's a movie, not a documentary..., so I take it for what it is and just enjoy how well it was acted and made. The costume and set designs are just beautiful. I appreciate the take on it. Learning what kind of dance would've been more likely is very interesting! So, thank you for that. 🙂