Memoirs of a Geisha [SEP] author
Mineko Iwasaki


. Their child, Kosuke, was born in 1983. Iwasaki was one of several geisha author Arthur Golden interviewed while researching his novel "Memoirs of a Geisha". According to Iwasaki, she agreed to speak with Golden on the condition that her involvement would be kept confidential, but Golden revealed her identity by mentioning her name in the book's acknowledgments as well as several national interviews. After "Memoirs" was published, Iwasaki received criticism and even death threats for violating the traditional geisha code of silence. Iwasaki felt betrayed
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Memoirs of a Geisha


Memoirs of a Geisha is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of a fictional geisha working in Kyoto, Japan, before, during and after World War II and ends with her being relocated to New York City. In 2005, a film version was released. Nine year old Chiyo Sakamoto (坂本千代) is taken from her poverty-stricken fishing village of Yoroido (鎧戸) on the coast of the Sea of Japan with
20971649
Orientalism


in "Orientalism and the Binary of Fact and Fiction in Memoirs of a Geisha", argues that "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005) contains orientalist tropes and deep "cultural misrepresentations". She states that "Memoirs of a Geisha" "reinforces the idea of Japanese culture and geisha as exotic, backward, irrational, dirty, profane, promiscuous, bizarre, and enigmatic". During the Romantic Period of the 19th century, ballet developed a preoccupation with the exotic. This exoticism ranged from ballets set in Scotland
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Memoirs of a Geisha


of which—Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design—were won. Kimiko Akita, in "Orientalism and the Binary of Fact and Fiction in Memoirs of a Geisha", argues that "Memoirs of a Geisha" contains orientalist tropes and deep "cultural misrepresentations". She states that "Golden treated geisha as an object to be sexualized, exoticized, and romanticized by the West". For the film, Marshall was criticized in Japan and the West for casting Chinese actors to play Japanese characters in roles
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Mineko Iwasaki


American author Arthur Golden interviewed her for background information when writing his 1997 book, "Memoirs of a Geisha". Iwasaki later regretted interviewing for Golden, having cited a breach of confidentiality and later sued and settled out of court with Golden for the parallelism between his book and her life. She later released her own autobiography titled "Geisha of Gion" (UK) or "Geisha: A Life" (USA) in 2002. Born as Masako Tanaka, she left home at the age of five to begin studying traditional
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


with genuine mystery". Eighteen days later, "The Evening Standard" put "Memoirs of a Geisha" on its Top Ten Films list. Glasgow's "Daily Record" praised the film, saying the "geisha world is drawn with such intimate detail that it seems timeless until the war, and with it the modern world comes crashing in". Controversy arose during casting of the film when some of the most prominent roles, including those of the geisha Sayuri, Hatsumomo and Mameha, did not go to Japanese actresses
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Arthur Golden


world. The novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" was written over a 6-year period during which Golden rewrote the entire novel three times, changing the point of view before finally settling on the first person viewpoint of Sayuri. Interviews with a number of geisha, including Mineko Iwasaki, provided background information about the world of the geisha. After the Japanese edition of "Memoirs of a Geisha" was published, Golden was sued for breach of contract and defamation of character by Iwasaki. The plaintiff claimed that Golden had agreed to protect
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Liza Dalby


women lived in seclusion, behind screens, with their faces often unseen by lovers. Dalby explains that the geisha society did not develop until at least 500 years later, and that a court lady-in-waiting such as Murasaki would not have had the temperament to be a geisha because Murasaki was reserved, whereas geisha are expected to be outgoing. She then wrote a memoir, "East Wind Melts the Ice: A Memoir through the Seasons", published in 2007. In the book, she follows the a system
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


Catch Me If You Can", he stepped down from directorial duties to only produce. Wick and Fisher approached Rob Marshall, who was interested in doing a non-musical after "Annie" and "Chicago". This brought a third company into "Memoirs of a Geisha", as Marshall was still signed to release his next film through "Chicago" distributors Miramax. The three leading non-Japanese actresses, including Ziyi Zhang, Gong Li, and Michelle Yeoh, were put through "geisha boot camp" before
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Mizuage


Iwasaki, a "geisha" that Arthur Golden met while writing "Memoirs of a Geisha", described her experience of "mizuage" in her autobiography as being an initiation party, symbolized on the geisha-to-be by a change in hairstyle rather than the loss of virginity. Iwasaki describes it as a celebration of the passage of girl (maiko) to woman (geisha), and associated it with the Erikae (turning the collar) ceremony when a maiko graduates to dressing as a geisha. In Autobiography of
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


place in southern and northern California and in several locations in Kyoto, including the Kiyomizu temple and the Fushimi Inari shrine. The film tells the story of a young Japanese girl, Chiyo Sakamoto, who is sold by her impoverished family to a geisha house called an okiya. Chiyo is eventually transformed into a geisha and renamed "Sayuri", and becomes one of the most celebrated geisha of her time. But with this success, Sayuri also learns the secrets and sacrifices of the geisha lifestyle. The film was released to mixed
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Liza Dalby


"American Geisha"), is based on her experiences with the geisha community in Kyoto's Pontochō district. Because of her expertise in the subject, Arthur Golden asked for her to act as a consultant when he wrote "Memoirs of a Geisha", and later Rob Marshall, director of the 2005 film adaptation starring Zhang Ziyi, consulted with her. In the book she writes about the life of geisha and how the world is based on tightly knit and hierarchical society of women. She presents the history of the geisha
5106647
The Write Place At the Write Time


/composer Loreena McKennitt, Arthur Golden, author of Memoirs of a Geisha, Dennis Lehane, author of Mystic River and Shutter Island, Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy, Kathleen Flinn, author of The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat & Sreyash Sarkar, author of The Optical Symphony. Those who have been featured in its pages have been published in periodicals such as "The New York Times", "Newsweek" and "Business
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Memoirs of a Geisha


the point of death threats. In his defense, Arthur Golden countered that he had tapes of his conversations with Iwasaki. Eventually, in 2003, Golden's publisher settled with Iwasaki out of court for an undisclosed sum of money. Iwasaki later went on to write an autobiography, which shows a very different picture of twentieth-century geisha life than the one shown in Golden's novel. The book was published as "Geisha, a Life" in the U.S. and "Geisha of Gion" in the U.K. In 2005,
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Masakazu Yoshizawa


again in the film version of "Memoirs of a Geisha", which was released in 2005. Yoshizawa was initially hired for the movie as a drummer for the "Memoirs of a Geisha" soundtrack, but was soon asked to play the shakuhachi and other traditional instruments for the film instead. The soundtrack for the movie was expanded by Williams into a concert suite which featured Yoshizawa on the shakuhachi and Yo-Yo Ma on the cello. It was performed by the musicians at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts in 2006.
10753182
Geisha (band)


, Nyman, Robertson and Sheppard; for a live performance and EMI Records released a compilation album, "The Very Best of Geisha", in August. In 2005 Chris Doheny performed acoustic versions of Geisha material on "Chart Busting 80s" on Melbourne TV station, Channel 31. From February in the following year he began work on an album, "Acoustic Memoirs of Geisha", at his own Dragon Lair Studio. It was produced and mixed at Lincoln Road Studios by Bill Kio. The album appeared in September on
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


make "Memoirs of a Geisha" as the follow-up to "Saving Private Ryan", bringing along his company DreamWorks. In the meantime, Spielberg's DreamWorks partner David Geffen had tried to persuade him not to take on the project, feeling it was "not good enough for him". Prior to Spielberg's involvement, the film was planned to be shot in Japan and with the Japanese language. By 2002, with Spielberg having postponed production for "A.I. Artificial Intelligence", "Minority Report" and "
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Ben Dolnick


Ben Dolnick (born 1982) is an American fiction writer and author of the novels "Zoology" (2007), "You Know Who You Are" (2011), and "At the Bottom of Everything: A Novel" (2013). Ben Dolnick was born and raised in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is the son of Lynn Iphigene (née Golden) and Edward Dolnick; and a nephew of Arthur Golden, author of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Through his mother's side he is a
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


Chiyo Sakamoto, a young girl from a poverty-stricken fishing village, is sold along with her older sister Satsu into a life of servitude by her aging father. Chiyo is taken in by Kayoko Nitta, the Mother (proprietress) of a geisha house in Gion, one of the most prominent geisha districts in Kyoto, whereas Satsu is sold to a prostitution brothel. At the okiya, Chiyo meets another young girl named Pumpkin, the cranky Granny, the gentler Auntie, and the okiya's only working geisha, Hatsumomo
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


prostitute" in Japanese language, though it actually had a variety of meanings, and there was a clear distinction between geisha and prostitutes which were called . The character 妓 only means "prostitute" in Chinese, and the correct translation into Chinese of the word "geisha" is 艺伎 (traditional Chinese: 藝伎), which does not use it. In Japan, the reception was mixed. Some Japanese have expressed offense that the three main characters, Japanese geisha, were all played by Chinese actors. Others in Japan were
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Memoirs of a Geisha


her older sister Satsu (坂本薩) and sold to an okiya (geisha boarding house) in Gion, the most prominent geisha district in Kyoto. Perceived as less attractive in looks and demeanor, Satsu is instead sold to a brothel in Kyoto's pleasure district. Chiyo lives in the Nitta Okiya (新田置屋) alongside another young girl nicknamed Pumpkin, the elderly and grumbling Granny, money-obsessed Mother, and Auntie, a failed geisha with a walking disability. Also living in the okiya is the famous and ill-mannered
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Memoirs of a Geisha


Mameha (豆波). Auntie warns Chiyo against both angering and trusting Hatsumomo, knowing the ill-mannered geisha's true nature very well. When Chiyo finally finds Satsu in the pleasure district, they conspire to escape from their new lives. Returning to the okiya, she happens upon Hatsumomo with her boyfriend, Koichi (幸一). This proves to be against the rules of the geisha lifestyle as it's a livelihood-threatening situation for a geisha whose air of unattainability is crucial to their allure. A furious Hatsumomo attempts
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


scholarly mien to reveal the soap opera bubbling below". "The Journal" praised Ziyi Zhang, saying that she "exudes a heartbreaking innocence and vulnerablity" but said "too much of the character's yearning and despair is concealed behind the mask of white powder and rouge". London's "The Evening Standard" compared "Memoirs of a Geisha" to "Cinderella" and praised Gong Li, saying that "Li may be playing the loser of the piece but she saves this film" and Gong "endows Hatsumomo
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Liza Dalby


Shikibu, titled "The Tale of Murasaki". In 2007 she wrote a memoir, "East Wind Melts the Ice", which was followed two years later by a second work of fiction, "Hidden Buddhas". Dalby is considered an expert in the study of the Japanese geisha community and has acted as consultant to novelist Arthur Golden and filmmaker Rob Marshall for the novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" and the film of the same name. As a high school student, Dalby visited Japan in a student exchange program
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


Rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes; the consensus stated "Less nuanced than its source material, "Memoirs of a Geisha" may be a lavish production, but it still carries the simplistic air of a soap opera." On Metacritic, the film was given a 54/100 meaning "mixed or average review." In the United States, the film managed $57 million during its box office run. The film peaked at 1,654 screens, facing off against "King Kong", "", and "Fun with Dick
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Mineko Iwasaki


world. Furthermore, Iwasaki has mentioned that she had lost some friends and relationships due to the scandal of her being known due to the book, along with certain inconsistencies and fallacies about Gion which were mentioned in "Memoirs of a Geisha". Iwasaki sued Golden for breach of contract and defamation of character in 2001, which was settled out of court in 2003. After the publication of "Memoirs of a Geisha", Iwasaki decided to write an autobiography, contrasting with the fiction of Golden's book. Her book,
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Gayathri Prabhu


an Indian classroom of literature students. A reflective piece about the reception of the memoir was written by Prabhu and published in The Economic and Political Weekly in Sep 2018, about the challenges of the memoir genre in India, the experience of disclosing sexual abuse in/ to the family, and the author's take on why a public telling matters. Receiving recognition for her work at an early stage in her writing career, Prabhu won the prestigious Vreeland Award at the University of Nebraska for best creative manuscript in 2011. Less than a
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Mizuage


mizuage, the Kyoto's "maiko" changed their hairstyle from a girl's bun to a mature entertainer's hairstyle. Over time various hair styles such as the girl's bun and the sakko have signified the transition of a "maiko" to a "geisha". In present day, the ritual of mizuage and the changing of hair occurs without sex. Additionally the transitioning of a "maiko" to a "geisha" is no longer associated with de-flowering. Arthur Golden's novel "Memoirs of a Geisha
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


. The achievement of the sound editors earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Achievement in Sound Editing. In the Western hemisphere, the film received mixed reviews. In China and Japan, responses were sometimes very negative due to various controversies that arose from the film's casting and its relationship to history. "Memoirs of a Geisha" received mixed reviews from western critics. Illinois' "Daily Herald" said that the "[s]trong acting, meticulously created sets, beautiful visuals, and a compelling story of a celebrity who
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


Yasukuni Shrine, which honors all Japan's war dead, including some who were convicted war criminals, which was denounced by China's foreign ministry as honoring them; and China helped to ensure Japan did not receive a seat on the UN Security Council. Writer Hong Ying argued that "Art should be above national politics". Nevertheless, the release of "Memoirs of a Geisha" into this politically charged situation added to cultural conflict within and between China and Japan. The film was originally scheduled to be shown in cinemas in
17709423
Memoirs of a Geisha (soundtrack)


"Memoirs of a Geisha: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" is the film score to the 2005 film of the same name, composed and conducted by John Williams. The original score and songs were composed and conducted by Williams and features Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman as cellist and violinist, respectively. The soundtrack album was released by Sony Classical Records on November 22, 2005. The score won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


Memoirs of a Geisha is a 2005 American epic drama film based on the novel of the same name by Arthur Golden, produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Spyglass Entertainment and by Douglas Wick's Red Wagon Productions. Directed by Rob Marshall, the film was released in the United States on December 9, 2005 by Columbia Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures; the latter was given studio credit only. It stars Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Gong Li, Michelle Yeoh, Youki Kudoh, Suzuka Ohgo and Samantha Futerman. Production took
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


and Jane". During its first week in limited release, the film screening in only eight theaters tallied up an $85,313 per theater average which made it second in highest per theater averages behind "Brokeback Mountain" for 2005. International gross reached $158 million. The "New Statesman" criticized "Memoirs of a Geisha"s plot, saying that after Hatsumomo leaves, "the plot loses what little momentum it had and breaks down into one pretty visual after another" and says that the film version "abandons the original's
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


in "Zorba the Greek". Opinion in the Asian community was mixed. To some Chinese, the casting was offensive because they mistook geisha for prostitutes, and because it revived memories of wartime Japanese atrocities. The Chinese government canceled the film's release there because of such connections, and a website denounced star Ziyi Zhang as an "embarrassment to China." This was exacerbated by the word , a Japanese name for geisha used in the Kantō region, which includes Tokyo. The second character () could sometimes mean "
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


can't have the one thing she really wants make "Geisha" memorable". "The Washington Times" called the film "a sumptuously faithful and evocative adaption" while adding that "[c]ontrasting dialects may remain a minor nuisance for some spectators, but the movie can presumably count on the pictorial curiosity of readers who enjoyed Mr. Golden's sense of immersion, both harrowing and [a]esthetic, in the culture of a geisha upbringing in the years that culminated in World War II". The film scored a 35% "
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


women" for their military personnel. Controversy arose in China because of the traditional geishas' relation to prostitution, and thus the connection with, and reminder of, comfort women being used in Japan at that time. Newspaper sources, such as the Shanghai-based "Oriental Morning Post" and the "Shanghai Youth Daily", quoted the fears that the film might be banned by censors; there were concerns that the casting of Chinese actresses as geishas could rouse anti-Japan sentiment and stir up feelings over Japanese wartime actions
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Memoirs of a Geisha


Mother stops investing in Chiyo's geisha training and forces her pay off her increasing debts as a maid. Chiyo learns of her parents' death and also that Satsu had returned to Yoroido, only to run away with the son of a fisherman. A few years later, a downtrodden Chiyo is given money and a handkerchief in the street by a kind stranger known to Chiyo as the Chairman. She donates the money to a shrine in Gion, praying to become a geisha of sufficient status to entertain the Chairman, and keeps
20971654
Nothing Really Matters


Ogunnaike from "Glamour" magazine listed the video as one of Madonna's Top 5 Most Fashionable music videos. The geisha look was further reproduced for Madonna's appearance on the May–June 1999 issue of "Harper's Bazaar" magazine. The singer took partial creative control of the issue, and requested photographer of the shoot Patrick Demarchelier to incorporate elements of the novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" into it, both visually and typographically. Three covers were selected for different regions around the world. In 2016, the geisha
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


, given her history with the ill-mannered geisha. Chiyo tracks down Satsu and makes plans to run away together. However, upon returning to the okiya she discovers Hatsumomo with her boyfriend, Koichi, which is against Mother's rules for a geisha lifestyle. When they are caught, Hatsumomo attempts to twist the situation by accusing Chiyo of stealing. Chiyo denies this and informs Mother of what she saw in the shed. As a result, everyone is barred from leaving the okiya at night except to attend work engagements,
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


taken under the wing of Mameha, one of Gion's most successful geisha and long time rival of Hatsumomo's. Although initially reluctant, Mother is persuaded by Mameha to allow Chiyo to train as a geisha. Under Mameha's tutelage, Chiyo becomes a maiko and takes the name of Sayuri. She grows in popularity, and Hatsumomo grows so desperate that she tries to ruin Sayuri's reputation. Predicting this, Mameha takes her to a sumo wrestling match where Sayuri is reintroduced to the Chairman, who seems unaware of her previous
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


unhappy with how the traditional role of the geisha portrayed, saying it was inaccurate and westernised. The expert who advised on Japanese geisha on the film, said that it wasn't made specifically for a Japanese audience, and that anyone who knew about Japanese culture and saw it would be "appalled". The film had only average box office success in Japan, despite being a high budget film about Japanese culture. Other Asians defended the casting, including the film's main Japanese star Ken Watanabe, who said that "talent
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Memoirs of a Geisha


reasons. The Chairman admits that he had always known she was the girl he met on the street and that he had feelings for her as well, but felt he owed Nobu the chance to be with Sayuri. He also admits that he asked Mameha to train her in order to help her become a geisha. Having informed Nobu of Sayuri's actions, the Chairman is finally free to begin a relationship with Sayuri. Sayuri peacefully retires from geisha work when the Chairman becomes her "danna". It is heavily implied that
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Memoirs of a Geisha


Out." After the Japanese edition of the novel was published, Arthur Golden was sued for breach of contract and defamation of character by Mineko Iwasaki, a retired geisha he had interviewed for background information while writing the novel. The plaintiff asserted that Golden had agreed to protect her anonymity if she told him about her life as a geisha, due to the traditional code of silence about their clients. However, Golden listed Iwasaki as a source in his acknowledgments for the novel, causing her to face a serious backlash, to
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


and this further increases Hatsumomo's anger towards Chiyo. On the night of their planned escape, Chiyo attempts to sneak out but falls off the rooftop and is seriously injured. As punishment for dishonoring the okiya, Mother tells Chiyo that she won't invest any more money in her geisha training. She also informs Chiyo that both her parents are dead. Chiyo misses her chance to flee and never sees Satsu again. She is also demoted from geisha training to working as a slave to pay off her increasing debts to Mother.
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


One day, while crying on a riverbank, Chiyo is noticed by Chairman Ken Iwamura and his geisha companions. He buys her a shaved ice dessert and gives her his handkerchief with some money in it. Inspired by his act of kindness, Chiyo resolves to become a geisha so that she may one day become a part of the Chairman's life. Several years later, Pumpkin has begun her training as a maiko under Hatsumomo's tutelage and Chiyo is envious of it as she remains a maid under Mother. She is unexpectedly
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Arthur Golden


Arthur Sulzberger Golden (born December 6, 1956) is an American writer. He is the author of the bestselling novel "Memoirs of a Geisha" (1997). Golden was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the son of Ruth (née Sulzberger) and Ben Hale Golden. His mother was Jewish and his father a gentile. Through his mother he is a member of the Ochs-Sulzberger family. His mother was a daughter of long-time "Times" publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger and granddaughter of "Times"
342738
Adolph Ochs


. Ruth Holmberg's son is Arthur Golden, author of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Ochs' great-grandson Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. was publisher of "The New York Times" from 1992 until 2017. One of his nephews, Julius Ochs Adler, worked at "The New York Times" for more than 40 years, becoming general manager in 1935, after Ochs died. Another nephew, John Bertram Oakes, the son of his brother George Washington Ochs Oakes, in 1961 became editorial page editor of the
21490623
Onsen geisha


, and thus had no "history" or professional genealogy. During this period, some onsen geisha were sponsored by businessmen who made yearly visits; these patrons were known as "danna". Masuda Sayo, an onsen geisha in the late 1930s and early 1940s and author of "Autobiography of a Geisha", the first book of any kind about the geisha lifestyle, wrote that a typical geisha's contract was bought out by a danna for about 30 yen (around 20,000 yen today) and never for more than 100
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Mineko Iwasaki


by Golden's use of information she considered confidential, as well as the way he twisted reality. She denounced "Memoirs of a Geisha" as being an inaccurate depiction of the life of a geisha. Iwasaki was particularly offended by the novel's portrayal of geiko engaging in ritualized prostitution. For example, in the novel the main character Sayuri's virginity (called "mizuage" in the novel) is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Iwasaki stated that, not only did this never happen to her, but that no
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Paris Barclay


two of the annual Hasty Pudding shows. Barclay attended both the La Lumiere School and Harvard with John Roberts, now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His Harvard roommate was novelist Arthur Golden, author of "Memoirs of a Geisha". Following his graduation from Harvard, he worked as a copywriter and creative supervisor at Grey, BBDO, Cunningham & Walsh, and Marsteller. Barclay then moved into music video directing and production through his own company, Black & White Television. He directed music videos for Bob Dylan (
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Memoirs of a Geisha


places frequented by geisha and their patrons, such as the Ichiriki Ochaya. Part of the story is also set in the Amami Islands, and Sayuri narrates the story from her suite in the Waldorf towers in New York City. In the second season of David Chase's HBO series, "The Sopranos", mafia boss Tony Soprano's wife Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) is pictured with the book. Specifically, the book is seen in Episode 9, "From Where to Eternity," and Episode 10, "Bust
20971666
Nothing Really Matters


, and was present for a total of nine weeks on the chart. An accompanying music video for "Nothing Really Matters" was directed by Johan Renck and filmed in January 1999 at Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, New York. According to a behind-the-scenes interview with "Entertainment Tonight", Madonna stated that the inspiration behind the video was from the 1997 Arthur Golden novel "Memoirs of a Geisha". She later stated, "The whole idea of a geisha is a straight metaphor for being an
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Ray of Light


Zealand and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it became Madonna's lowest-charting single on the Hot 100, peaking at number 93, but was a number-one hit on its dance chart. Its music video, directed by Johan Renck, was inspired by Arthur Golden's book "Memoirs of a Geisha", and featured Madonna dressed as a geisha. "Ray of Light" received widespread acclaim from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called "Ray of Light" Madonna's "most adventurous
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


a trip with Nobu, the Chairman, Mameha, Pumpkin, and the Americans to the Amami Islands. At Amami, the Colonel propositions Sayuri, under the impression that geisha are expensive prostitutes, but she rejects him. Nobu witnesses the incident and confronts Sayuri. He finally confesses his feelings, telling her that he wants to become her danna. Knowing that entering into a relationship with Nobu will destroy any chance of her being with the Chairman, Sayuri is distraught and devises a plan. Mameha catches on to it and warns
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


in China, especially the use of Chinese women as sex slaves. A different controversy rose with the mentioning of a Japanese soldier that had fought in Manchuria, China, as the geisha introducing the soldier refers to him as a "war hero". Several other pro-modern-Japan scenes were delivered during the movie, thus receiving multiple reviews that read: "If the movie was meant to be released worldwide, there should have been caution not to affect the audience's view on modern history through pro-Japan ideology
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Memoirs of a Geisha


devises a plan to secure Sayuri's position in the okiya and drive Hatsumomo out, orchestrating a bidding war for Sayuri's "mizuage" (水揚げ) (portrayed as a deflowering "ceremony" for maiko as a step to becoming full-fledged geisha). The plan is nearly ruined when Hatsumomo tricks the Doctor into thinking that Sayuri is no longer a virgin, but Mameha and Sayuri ultimately convince him of her deceit. Dr. Crab ultimately wins the bid for Sayuri's "mizuage" and she uses his record-breaking
20971658
Nothing Really Matters


on February 13, 1999. Inspired by the Arthur Golden 1997 novel "Memoirs of a Geisha", the video portrays Madonna as a geisha, dancing in a small room. The red kimono worn by her in the video was designed by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. It was worn by the singer during her performance of the song at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. "Nothing Really Matters" is cited as one of Madonna's most underrated singles to date. The costume and music video has been cited by journalist
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Arthur Golden


her anonymity, if she told him about her life as a geisha due to the traditional code of silence about their clients. The lawsuit was settled out of court in February 2003. In 2005, "Memoirs of a Geisha" was made into a feature film starring Ziyi Zhang, Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, and Ken Watanabe, and directed by Rob Marshall, garnering three Academy Awards. Golden is married to Trudi Legge; they have two children: a son, Hays Nathaniel Golden, and a daughter, Tess Iphigene
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


reviews from western critics, but was a box office hit and was nominated for and won numerous awards, including nominations for six Academy Awards, and eventually won three: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The acting, visuals, sets, costumes, and John Williams' musical score were praised, but the film was criticized for casting Chinese actresses as Japanese women and for its style over substance approach. The Japanese release of the film was titled "Sayuri", the titular character's geisha name.
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


and his desire to be her danna. He also reveals that he was responsible for sending Mameha to her so that she could fulfill her dreams of becoming a geisha. Sayuri finally reveals her love to the Chairman, and the film ends with their loving embrace and kiss, and a stroll through the garden. Shortly after the book's release in 1997, the filming rights were purchased for $1 million by Red Wagon's Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher, backed by Columbia Pictures. The following year, Steven Spielberg planned to
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


production commenced, during which they were trained in traditional geisha practices of musicianship, dance, and tea ceremony. Production of the film took place from September 29, 2004 to January 31, 2005. It was decided by the producers that contemporary Japan looked much too modern to film a story which took place between the 1920s and 1940s and it would be more cost-effective to create sets for the film on soundstages and locations in the United States, primarily in California. The majority of the film was shot on a large
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Memoirs of a Geisha


the handkerchief as a memento. Pumpkin prepares to make her debut as an "apprentice geisha" under Hatsumomo, while Chiyo remains a maid under Mother. Soon afterward, at Granny's funeral, Chiyo is startled when Mameha takes an interest in her. Mameha persuades a reluctant Mother to reinvest in Chiyo's training, with Mameha acting as Chiyo's mentor and "older sister". Mameha reveals that Hatsumomo's hatred towards Chiyo stems from fear of Chiyo's beauty and cleverness, which contrasts with the simple-minded Pumpkin,
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Memoirs of a Geisha


payment to cover all of her debts. This leads Mother, who had originally planned to adopt Pumpkin, to choose Sayuri instead, ultimately destroying the two girls' friendship forever. Hatsumomo begins a downward spiral fueled by alcoholism and her behavior worsens. After attacking a prominent Kabuki actor at a party in a drunken rage, Hatsumomo is finally thrown out of the okiya permanently, and her ultimate fate is unknown. Upon Sayuri's promotion to full geisha status, Nobu expresses an interest in becoming Sayuri's "danna", but
20971659
Memoirs of a Geisha


loses out to General Tottori. With Japan on the brink of entering World War II, many geisha are conscripted to work in factories. The General is demoted and is unable to use any influence to help Sayuri. Despite losing respect for Sayuri, Nobu is able to send Sayuri far north to live with his old friend, Arashino (嵐野), a kimono maker. At the end of the war, Nobu visits Sayuri and asks that she return to Gion to help entertain the new Deputy Minister Sato (佐藤次官),
20971660
Zhang Ziyi


singing and dancing lessons in Japan. Showing her whimsical musical tap-dancing side, Zhang played the lead role of Sayuri in the American film adaptation based on the international bestseller " Memoirs of a Geisha". Controversy arose in China about having a Chinese woman portray a prominent Japanese geisha. Nonetheless, the film was a box office hit in the West. For the role, Zhang was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and
21426658
Anti-Japanese sentiment in China


products. The result was an apology by the Japanese PM. Concern at anti-Japanese sentiment is believed to be behind the decision of Chinese censors to ban the film "Memoirs of a Geisha" on February 1, 2006. The fact that Chinese actresses played Japanese geisha, often wrongly perceived as prostitutes in China, had caused considerable controversy among some elements of the Chinese population. There have been several reports that stores, restaurants, public institutions and hospitals in China refuse to serve Japanese customers because Japan has not apologized for
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


's old friend. After the war, Sayuri is reunited with Nobu, who needs her help with impressing an American Colonel named Derricks (Ted Levine) who has the power to approve funding for the Chairman's firm. Sayuri reunites with Mameha, who now makes a living renting humble rooms. Although she is reluctant to return to the geisha lifestyle because she has come to terms with her new existence, she agrees to help impress Derricks. Sayuri is reacquainted with Pumpkin, who is now a flirty escort. Sayuri goes on
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


set built on a ranch in Thousand Oaks, California which was a detailed recreation of an early twentieth-century geisha district in Kyoto, Japan. Most interior scenes were filmed in Culver City, California at the Sony Pictures Studios lot. Other locations in California included San Francisco, Moss Beach, Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, Sacramento, Yamashiro's Restaurant in Hollywood, the Japanese Gardens at the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, and Downtown Los Angeles at the Belasco Theater on Hill Street
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Memoirs of a Geisha


Chiyo becomes an apprentice geisha with a new name: Sayuri (小百合). Sayuri is finally reacquainted with Chairman Iwamura (although he appears not to recognize her) and meets a number of other prominent men, including the Chairman's business partner Nobu Toshikazu (敏和信), a doctor nicknamed Dr. Crab, and Baron Matsunaga Tsuneyoshi, Mameha's danna. As Sayuri gains popularity, a desperate Hatsumomo tries to hurt Sayuri's reputation and career in the hopes of making Pumpkin look good, so that Mother will adopt her. Mameha
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Memoirs of a Geisha


they have an illegitimate son together. Foreseeing the consequences this could have regarding the inheritance of Iwamura Electric, she relocates to New York City and opens her own small tea house for entertaining Japanese men on business in the United States. Sayuri severs her links to the Nitta okiya and in effect, Japan. The Chairman remains her danna until his death and the story concludes with a reflection on Sayuri and her life. Much of the novel is set in the popular Hanamachi geisha district of Gion in Kyoto and contains references to actual
20971665
Geisha in Rivalry


, also translated under the title of "Rivalry: A Geisha’s Tale", was first published in Japanese in 1918 and was first translated into English in 1963. The author, Nagai Kafu, a Japanese novelist, was born in 1879 and died in 1959. Kafu was an editor of literary magazines before investigating Tokyo's geisha world and writing novels. "Rivalry" is set in the early twentieth century (it begins around 1912) in Tokyo's Shimbashi geisha district. "Rivalry" aims to capture the lives of
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Memoirs of a Geisha (film)


identity as Chiyo, as well as his business associate Nobu Toshikazu (whom Hatsumomo finds repulsive), who takes a liking to her. Meanwhile, Mameha orchestrates a bidding war for Sayuri's mizuage between two men: Nobu and Dr. Crab, which will make her a full geisha. Upon learning what Mameha has planned, Hatsumomo spreads cruel rumors that Sayuri has already lost her virginity. However, Sayuri is named the lead dancer for a popular performance, which angers Hatsumomo as she was hoping for Pumpkin to be named the lead
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Memoirs of a Geisha


geisha, Hatsumomo (初桃), renowned both for her wickedness and beauty. She promptly takes a disliking to Chiyo, whom she sees as a potential future rival who may threaten her place in the okiya and Gion, as well as Mother's financial dependence upon her earnings. Hatsumomo goes out of her way to torment Chiyo, even using knowledge of Satsu's whereabouts as leverage to make Chiyo do her dirty work and get blamed for it. This includes having Chiyo ruin an expensive kimono belonging to her more successful rival,
20971651
Sexuality in Japan


author of "", to observe that the sex industry in Japan ironically "offer[s] absolutely everything imaginable but sex." A frequent focus of misconceptions in regard to Japanese sexuality is the institution of the geisha. Rather than a prostitute, a geisha was a woman trained in arts such as music and cultured conversation, who was available for non-sexual interactions with her male clientele. Geisha differed from their patrons' wives because, except for the geisha, women were ordinarily not prepared for activity other than household duties.
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United States hydrogen policy


programs. Each states energy office gets SEP funding and manages all SEP funded projects. For more information about the SEP, including project descriptions, visit the SEP website. Clean Ports USA is an incentive-based program designed to help reduce emissions by encouraging port authorities to redesign and replace older diesel engines with new technologies and cleaner fuels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Clean Diesel Campaign offers funding to port authorities to help them overcome the obstacles that prevent the adoption of cleaner diesel technologies. Clean Construction USA promotes the reduction
8426000
Philippe Picquier Publishing


to give at the reader the best overview of Asian culture. The Éditions Philippe Picquier works with a whole series of diverse origins: Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese like Edogawa Ranpo and Seichō Matsumoto, Indians, Koreans, Indonesians reflecting the Asian cultural diversity that the house tries to make known. Among the famous works which contributed to make known the Editions Philippe Picquier, we find “Memoirs of a Geisha” of Inoue Yuki, “Memoirs of an eunuch in Forbidden City” of Dan Shi, and "The Babies
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Mineko Iwasaki


such custom ever existed in Gion. Part of Iwasaki's displeasure with "Memoirs" may have been because the character Sayuri seems obviously modeled on Iwasaki, with many of the book's main characters and events having parallels in Iwasaki's life. These people and experiences are often portrayed negatively in "Memoirs", even when their real-life counterparts were positive for Iwasaki. Iwasaki later gave public interviews citing that many established geiko criticized her interview with Arthur Golden, causing a rupture with the geisha tradition of secrecy to the outside
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Glass Geishas


Glass Geishas is a 2012 thriller novel by English author Susanna Quinn and was released on 1 June 2012 by Hodder & Stoughton. The book primarily focuses on a young English girl that becomes part of the Japanese hostess and sex industry. Of the novel, Quinn stated that she used her experiences as a hostess in Japan as inspiration for the book. "Glass Geishas" follows Steph, an Englishwoman that becomes a bar hostess in Japan with the promise of gaining easy money by flirting with customers. She's told by her friends
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Liza Dalby


community and explores the context in which geisha traditionally were in the forefront of fashion, which for the modern geisha is no longer true. Geisha was followed by a book about kimono, called "Kimono: Fashioning Culture". In an interview with Salon.com, she explains that in 11th-century Japanese court literature, women authors such as Murasaki Shikibu wrote lengthy descriptions of kimono in their work. Dalby believes, that from an anthropological point of view, the dress of the period must be taken seriously and she strives to understand
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Geisha


pillows, so they keep their hairstyle perfect. Even if there are no accidents, a maiko will need her hair styled every week. Many modern geisha use wigs in their professional lives, while maiko use their natural hair. Either must be regularly tended by highly skilled artisans. Traditional hairstyling is a slowly dying art. Over time, the hairstyle can cause balding on the top of the head. A growing number of geisha have complained to the authorities about being pursued down the street and tugged on the sleeves of their kimono
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Suzy K Quinn


as research for her first novel Glass Geishas. The novel, which has also been published in Russia, has had praise heaped upon it by a number of notable authors including Fay Weldon and Joanne Harris. Fay Weldon, author of over 30 novels, wrote: "I read Glass Geishas in one sitting, with a break for sleep. "This does not usually happen. It's a terrific read." Quinn then wrote the "Ivy Lessons", a Fifty Shades of Grey -inspired romance about a teacher and a
10677729
Paul Adelstein


Theatre Company. After making his film debut in the film, "The Grifters" (1990), Adelstein went on to appear in several television series, including "Cupid", "ER", "Without a Trace", and "Scrubs", and to play a number of significant supporting roles in films such as "Bedazzled" (2000), "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003), "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), and "Be Cool" (2005). In 2005,
19709965
The Andrews Sisters


Murder in the First", "L.A. Confidential", "American Horror Story", "Just Shoot Me", Gilmore Girls, "Mama's Family", "War and Remembrance", "Jakob the Liar", "Lolita", "The Polar Express", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "", "Memoirs of a Geisha", and "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!)". Comical references to the trio in television sitcoms can be found
2140845
Renée Tondelli


Renée Tondelli is a supervising sound editor, she is best known for her works on films such as "The Passion of the Christ" (2004), "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), "Django Unchained" (2012), "Lone Survivor" (2013), "American Hustle" (2013), "Into the Woods" (2014), and "Deepwater Horizon" (2016) for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing () at the 89th Academy
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Wylie Stateman


"Dennis the Menace," "," "Curly Sue," "Dutch," "Only the Lonely," "Home Alone," "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," "Uncle Buck," "She’s Having a Baby," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles", and "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off". Rob Marshall — "Nine Nine (2009 live-action film)" and "Memoirs of a Geisha". Wolfgang Petersen — "Das Boot (American Director's Cut
14565495
Thousand Oaks, California


as "True Blood" (2008–2014), "Monk" (2002–2009), "Bones" (2005–2017) and "Criminal Minds" (2005–). A Hidden Valley home was also used in the filming of "It's Complicated" (2009) starring Meryl Streep. Other films include "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), "Come On, Tarzan" (1932), "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), "To the Shores of Iwo Jima" (1945)
17542066
10th Satellite Awards


– César Charlone "' "Pride & Prejudice" "' Ang Lee – "Brokeback Mountain" "' "Mad Hot Ballroom" "' "Brokeback Mountain" "Brokeback Mountain" "Walk the Line" "' "Äideistä parhain (Mother of Mine)", Finland/Sweden "Kingdom of Heaven" – Harry Gregson-Williams "' "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" performed by Emmylou Harris – "Brokeback Mountain" "' "Memoirs of a Geisha" – Robin Swicord "' "
19508957
Steven Spielberg


Just Like Heaven", "Shrek", "Road to Perdition", and "Evolution". He served as an executive producer for the 1997 film "Men in Black", and its sequels, "Men in Black II", "Men in Black III", and "". In 2005, he served as a producer of "Memoirs of a Geisha", an adaptation of the novel by Arthur Golden, a film to which he was previously attached as director. In 2006, Spielberg co-
7131764
Robert Seppings


the whole of the keel, the vessel remaining suspended by the shores. Soon, his creation became commonly known as "Seppings Blocks." For this invention Seppings received £1000 from the Admiralty, and in 1804 was promoted to be a master shipwright at Chatham. At Chatham, in spite of the repugnance to innovation displayed by the naval authorities of that period, he was able to introduce important innovations in the methods of ship-construction. Quoted as saying "partial strength produces general weakness", he significantly improved the
18514392
Kōji Yakusho


extent with roles in such films as "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Babel." In the latter, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, he played the father of the deaf-mute played by Rinko Kikuchi. In 2009, he debuted as director and writer of "Toad's Oil." In 2010 and 2011 he was part of both ensemble casts in Takashi Miike's samurai films, "13 Assassins" and "." The latter was in 3D and the first 3D film to be in competition at the
16696182
Romance film


", "Sommersby", "Casablanca", "Coming Home", "Jungle Fever", "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Last Tango in Paris", "Water for Elephants", "5 Centimeters per Second", "Love Story". Chick flick is a term often associated with romance films as many are targeted to a female audience. Although many romance films may be targeted at women, this is not a defining characteristic of a romance film and a "chick flick" does not necessarily
2444229
Takayo Fischer


honoree at East West Players' 2019 gala for her work in raising "the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through [her] craft." She toured the U.S. and Europe in "The Peony Pavilion" in 1997. Fischer has appeared in many big-budget films, including "Moneyball", "" (2007) as Mistress Ching, "The Pursuit of Happyness" (2006) as Mrs. Chu, "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005) and "War of the Worlds"
19972323
Yamashiro Historic District


up to 500 guests. In addition to opening a Pagoda Bar and seasonal Farmers Market, the place strives to preserve the Japanese culture and history through its dishes along with the scenery of the Los Angeles skyline. It was used as a filming location in a number of movies, such as "Blind Date" (1987), "Gone in 60 Seconds" (2000), "Kill Bill" (2003), "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), "Nocturnal Animals" (2016), "
3982803
Jim Walker (flautist)


Years in Tibet", "Titanic", "A Beautiful Mind" (2001), "Monsters, Inc." (2001), "Ice Age" (2002) and "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005). He is one of four performing artists (with Wynton Marsalis, James Galway and Eddie Daniels) to be named as members of the Board of Advisors for "Smartmusic", a remarkable computer program which provides accompaniments for most of the standard flute solo repertoire and many jazz play-a-
6657830
Somatosensory evoked potential


including: Besides the clinical setting, SEPs have shown to be useful in distinct experimental paradigms. Schubert et al. (2006) used SEPs to investigate the differential processing of consciously perceived versus unperceived somatosensory stimuli. The authors used an 'extinction' paradigm to examine the connection between activation of S1 and somatosensory awareness, and observed that early SEPs (P60, N80), generated in the contralateral S1, were independent of stimulus perception. In contrast, amplitude enhancements were observed for the P100 and N140 for consciously perceived stimuli.
10173568
Angels Costumes


supplied its first Academy Award-winning costumes to Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" in 1948. To date, 37 Best Costume Oscars have followed for work that the company has undertaken on major international films, including "Star Wars", "Titanic", "Lawrence Of Arabia", "The Great Gatsby", "The Aviator", "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Marie Antoinette". In 2015, Angels provided costumes to four of the five films nominated in this category: "Mr. Turner",
15348618
Into the Woods (film)


such as "Follies" and "", although Sondheim suggested "Into the Woods" instead. Marshall concurred, but development of the project was then postponed while he focused on directing "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Nine". In 2011, Marshall's interest in the project was rekindled when he heard a speech by President Barack Obama on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks to the families of the 9/11 victims, which seemed to evoke the same message as the musical's most important song, "No
18131315
11th Critics' Choice Awards


The 11th Critics' Choice Awards were presented on January 9, 2006, honoring the finest achievements of 2005 filmmaking. "' Philip Seymour Hoffman – "Capote" "' Reese Witherspoon – "Walk the Line" "' "Crash" "' "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" "' John Williams – "Memoirs of a Geisha" "' Ang Lee – "Brokeback Mountain" "' "March of the Penguins (La marche de l'empereur)" "' "Kung Fu Hustle (Kung fu)"
19714338
Togo Igawa


, known professionally as , is a Japanese actor who works primarily in British films and television. In recent years, he has had roles in major motion pictures such as "Revolver", "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "The Last Samurai". He has also appeared in the Israeli movie "A Matter of Size" and the "Thomas & Friends" movies "Hero of the Rails" and "Misty Island Rescue" in 2010. Additionally, Igawa provides the voice for the character Professor Moshimo on the cartoon
20089081
78th Academy Awards


the Worlds" (4th), "King Kong" (5th), "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (7th), "Batman Begins" (8th), "March of the Penguins", (26th), and "Memoirs of a Geisha" (47th). Some media outlets received the broadcast positively. "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" television critic Gail Pennington praised Stewart's performance as host writing that he "did the Oscars proud Sunday night, turning in a four-star hosting performance
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