Not many people know that the fifteen shoguns had a harem much like a middle eastern seraglio (and, if truth be told, so did the emperors up until Hirohito). The words every young woman in the shogun’s harem hoped to hear were ‘What is her name?’ – the code to indicate that the shogun wanted … Read more
The Last Concubine is out now. *** The Last Concubine tour dates 2008 Wednesday March 19th 6.45 pm Asia House 63 New Cavendish Street, London www.AsiaHouse.org Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace This is a joint lecture with the Japan Society and Asia House. See also http://www.japansociety.org.uk/events/080319_combined_lecture.html Asia House members … Read more
Every woman has wondered what it must be like to be able to stop a man in his tracks with a single glance. Among the geisha the art of alluring men is not a matter of innate sexuality but a skill they learn. Geisha are not high class courtesans, despite what people think. They are … Read more