Monthly Archives: October 2023

Candid Kyoto

On Sunday evening I departed Perth, Australia. In the late morning I arrived in Kyoto, Japan. For four days I walked and photographed.

Monday

Mamesaya-san (and maiko hidden behind her) waiting for the light to change at the pedestrian crossing on Shijo-dori.
Streetscape at northern end of Pontocho.
Entrance to a restaurant in Miyagawa-cho.
Kotono-san and small children at dusk in Miyagawa-cho.
A wave and a smile from Fukumiyo-san in Miyagawa-cho.
Elegance personified.
A contrast in style as two young ladies pass one another in Miyagawa-cho.
Fairy lights, neon and lantern outside a convenience store.
Kokinu-san on Shijo-dori followed closely by Wile E Coyote!

Tuesday

The view from my hotel window at 5:45 a.m. In the foreground are the tea-houses of Gion Kobu.
I spent the morning exploring Higashiyama (the Eastern Hills).
In the evening I met Hidetae-san at Gion Maikoya and gave her a koala.
A maiko quickly escapes a bottleneck of people in Pontocho.
Strange and shadowy goings-on inside the alley.

Wednesday

At the northern end of the Path of Philosophy, one comes to Ginkaku-ju or the Silver Pavilion – a Zen temple.
Taking shelter under umbrellas from the relentless sun.
Selfies during an afternoon on Hanamikoji-dori in Gion Kobu.
Asuha-san at an entrance in Gion Kobu.

Thursday

Haruchizu-san makes her way along Hanamikoji-dori.
Closing out the world.

And on Friday I flew back home.

Candid – 1. truthful and straight-forward; frank. 2. (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject’s knowledge.

Gion Kouta

“Gion Kouta” coloured pencils on Arches Aquarelle smooth, 40 x 22.5 cm. October 2023

“Gion kouta” is the name of a hauntingly beautiful dance performed by maiko and geiko. The kouta (song) lyrics wistfully describe timeless Kyoto; its romantic changing seasons, fleeting beauty and ephemeral geisha.

I give this drawing the title “Gion Kouta” as, to me, it has all the romance of the song. Maiko (with accompanying shikomi) hurry through drizzle under their paper wagasa (umbrellas). Ichiriki-tei (the most famous tea-house in all of Japan) is on the left; lanterns and street lamps glow and reflect, and in the distance loom the eastern hills – Higashiyama.

Even the hotel where I stay is in this drawing. APA Gion Hotel is the pinkish multi-level building behind on the left. I’ll be there again in a couple of weeks’ time.

I took the source photo for this drawing in June 2016. It took me seven years to figure out how to bring about the drawing I had in mind! Once I began, the drawing drew itself quite effortlessly – and came to a resolution ‘just like that’ without angst.

This is the original source photo.

Click on the link below to hear the beautiful and somewhat melancholy tune of “Gion Kouta”.