A Date for Your Diary: SOAS lecture January 25th

SOAS University of London

Illustrated talk: The Ooku, the Shogun’s ‘Harem’: Life in the Women’s Palace in Nineteenth Century Japan

In 1854 Atsu, an 18-year-old girl, was chosen to become the shogun’s consort and rule over the ooku, the shogun’s harem or Women’s Palace.[…]

‘Listening to scent’

The Japanese Art of Scent

Fragrance of the orange Flowering at last in June Wafts through the summer night The memory of scented sleeves Of someone long ago Scent has an amazing power to evoke and transport, to bring back a sudden memory of somewhere or someone once loved and long forgotten. The Japanese have always celebrated scent but not … Read more

Court lady of the Women’s Palace with blackened teeth and iridescent green lipstick. Woodblock print by Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Black Teeth (Ohaguro)

‘The tayu knelt next to me, adjusting her skirts. Underneath it all she had a cheeky, elfin face with a tiny nose and pointed chin. How long had she been a tayu, I asked, then gasped when she opened her small mouth to answer. In the chalky-white face with the blood-red lips, her teeth were … Read more

The noise they make is like a dragon’s roar, like a thousand conch shells being blown all at once

Sharp-eyed Hambei the Fisherman and the Invading Aliens

On a hot steamy summer’s day like the last few here in England, 163 years and 14 days ago, on July 8th 1853, something happened that would entirely change the course of Japanese – and world – history. Read my short story … Sharp-eyed Hambei the Fisherman and the Invading Aliens Sharp-Eyed Hambei is the … Read more

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