I didn't want to derail Kyandasu's topic so I've started a new one. She mentioned that she finds the history of geisha to be interesting, and she's not alone. It's one of the things that non-Japanese people seem to find most fascinating about Japan. And, to be honest, I wonder, why? Before I inject my general view of the world of geisha and how some women in Japan regard it (not all, mind you) - are you interested in geishas (geiko, maiko)? If so, why?

So I am planning on going to Japan for a year after I graduate next summer. At the moment I am looking at applying for the JET programme and also saving money up in case I don't get on that and have to go it alone and pay for TEFL and the such. I worked out I am going to need to work while I am out there of course and all I have heard about is teaching English and not much else. So ya is there anything else I could look at whilst on a working holiday?

Hey there! I figured this pertained to travel..but if it's still in the wrong category sorry!! I'm moving to japan for a year this fall and I have a question that's been bugging me.. I live in Minnesota and I eat and cook alot of korean food (in many ways it's become a comfort food for me lol).

There's an interesting post on the New York Times Room For Debate blog today (link).

The main question they asked of some designer and artist types:

What does the care devoted to the visual details in a packed lunch suggest about the culture? Why is such value placed on aesthetics in everyday life in Japan?

I have some thoughts about this, but I thought I'd open it up to debate first. What do you think about that question, and what about the responses?

Hi!! I’m thrilled to offer you cute bento boxes and bento making items (egg shaper, food cutter, onigiri mold, nori cutter, bento cups and etc) . Every item on our site is hand selected, packaged and shipped from the Japanese countryside like you shopped there yourself. Chosen for an international audience you will find an eclectic collection of items far beyond the typical Hello Kitty gadgets people associate with Japanese retail products.

http://www.from-japan-with-love.com/kitchen-items.html

I am looking for a bento blog that is about Japanese school lunches or Kyushoku. The woman that blogs about this takes almost daily pictures and descriptions of the lunch that is provided for her at the elementary/preschools that she visits. She sometimes puts up a menu from an American school lunch too, for comparisison. Ring any bells? Thank you in advance!

SOBA I mentioned in a thread about udon that I would be attending a soba making class. This proved to be an excellent and very worthwhile experience. I learned about the existence of the school through this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDLcgvbzVf0 Contact was made by email and a date and time arranged (10:30am on a Wednesday - the school is closed on Tuesdays) I was very fortunate to be the only student enrolled for that date and time, even luckier when I discovered that sensei spoke English!