Small Town Japanese Life in Second Life

 

Reality can’t compete with imagination.

Japanese Proverb

 

         

          During my recent visit with friends at a geisha house in Second Life (SL), I also had a tour of the town where the house is located.

          Having spent a fair bit of time in Japan in Real Life (RL) for a variety of reasons, (Significant Other is still impressed that I neither got lost nor impaired Japanese-American relations.  Truth be told, I’m kinda impressed myself!)  I had something to compare this sim to and I must say I came away very impressed by its lifelike feel.

          In this story, I’ll take you to this sim and describe it to you.  Those of you who are also familiar with Japan can keep me honest and, hopefully all of you my dear readers will take some time to visit.

          The sim is called Miyagawacho and can be reached by rezzing here.  It is based on a section of RL Kyoto the ancient capital of Japan prior to Tokyo and is considered to be the heart and soul of Japanese culture by many.

          Now, in RL, I haven’t been to Kyoto but I’ve been to much of Tokyo and the northern part of the main island Honshu.  (Long story about my wanderings across Japan and meet me inworld sometime and I’ll give you the lowdown.)

          Rezzing into town leaves me in front of the geisha house on a typical street in a Japanese small town.  Low storied buildings line both sides of the street.  Looking down one end a large temple looms.  Looking the other way I see a T-intersection and head that way.  (Maybe it’s Robert Frost’s influence but I’ve always been attracted to forks in the road.)

          Walking down the street, the building style is what one sees away from Tokyo or in its outlying districts.  Sliding panels serve as entrances to buildings.  Signs are in Japanese characters (naturally).  Lanterns hang from buildings.  Colorful noren hang in doorways.

          The detail is incredible as is the color.  Bus stops, mail boxes, and vending machines line the streets.  Street signs are authentic and right where I expect them to be.  The effect is almost photographic but it’s not.  Somebody very skilled scripted all this.

          The street layout is not one of those typical SL bland street scenes.  Streets are narrow as in RL.  The pavement brings back memories of strolls around Japan.  I can’t even read the posters on the walls as when I was there!  (I really appreciate it when folks go out of their way to make me feel at home!)  Bicycles are parked everywhere. 

          The realism extends to the small shops along the street.  These are not the usual SL fare peddling cyber-stuff but attempts at RL businesses like the shaved ice store across from the geisha house. Other shops offer typical merchandise.

          Running off the main street that I’m on are smaller ones and alleyways.  One leads to the countryside and then to a river bank where floating lanterns drift by.  The folks behind this sim have definitely done their homework!

          Returning to the main street, I reach the intersection and turn left.

          This takes me to an onsen, or hot spring. Going inside, I’m in the common area which leads to the men’s and women’s sections.  (This isn’t another type of sim so get your mind out of the gutter.)  The men’s has the traditional layout. A preparation outside of the baths.  The actual hot springs are in the rear of the building.

          Exiting, I walk along the street leading from the onsen.  I pass a small street shrine and enter a Zen garden at the end of the street.  (This looks like a good candidate for my Great Gardens of Second Life series.) 

          Backtracking, I return to the main street and stroll down to the large temple at the end.  I go inside and am reminded of similar visits to temples in Japan and Asia that I made in RL.  (Not to worry, I respect all places of worship not only my own churches and have not been thrown out.  I know a few clergy who are going to breathe a collective sigh of relief with this one.  Significant Other doesn’t worry on this score, knowing my respect for anything bigger than me especially when I don’t understand it.)

          This brings me to the end of my tour for now. There’s a lot more to see.

          What impresses me most about Miyagawacho is the faithfulness to detail including scale.  There is a closeness about the sim which can only be appreciated if one has walked the highways and byways of outlying districts, small towns and villages of Japan.

          One aspect that is haunting about this sim is that I never meet anyone on its streets.  There is a ghost town affect.  Sadly, I’m reminded of the images of the area surrounding the Fukushima disaster site.  (I don’t say this to be flip.  In RL, I have many Japanese friends and have spent too many hours with them watching the aftereffects of the 3/11 tragedy on NHK.)  

          The sim’s completeness is another example of its high quality.  There are no unused open spaces as in other sims.  What one would expect to see in a small Japanese town is there.  A good Japanese friend of mine shouldered surfed for part of my walkabout and was very impressed by the quality and attention to detail.

          I can give a strong recommendation to visit Miyagawacho to anyone interested in seeing a snapshot of Japanese life or what a highly realistic sim can be inworld.

          The residents who live the geisha lifestyle there have a very high standard of behavior and do not consider themselves to be roleplayers.

          Go, enjoy yourselves, and maybe you’ll see me wandering about!

          I would like to thank my friend and maiko, Kikuyumi (“Yumi” for short.) for taking me on my first tour of the town.        

          As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.   

          I’ve included some pictures from walk through Miyagawacho.  However, these do not do the originals justice.  Please go and see this sim for yourselves! 

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I can be found on Google+ as webspelunker Ghostraven.

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I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

          Open roads and safe fires!

 

 

 

 

 

Photo No. 1 Street Outside of the Geisha House

Photo No. 2 Shaved Ice Shop Across from the Geisha House

Photo No. 3 Small Street Shrine

Photo No. 4 Zen Garden

Photo No. 5 Tea Room in the Ochaya (Tea House)

Photo No. 6 Outer Bath Area at the Onsen

Photo No. 7 Men’s Bath at the Onsen

Photo No. 8 Outdoor Hot Springs

Photo No. 9 Entrance to the Ochaya (Tea House)

Photo No. 10 Vending Machines

Photo No. 11 Mail Box

Photo No. 12 Temple

Photo No. 13 Temple Interior

Photo No. 14 Sidestreet

 

 

 

 

The Geisha Tradition in Second Life

 

What a lovely place this world would be if only people would feel affection for everyone else, and all the ugliness of the human heart were to vanish - our envy of those better off than ourselves and our scorn for those worse off.

Sayo Masuda, Autobiography of a Geisha

 

 

          Recently, while off exploring other social media as part of my efforts to expand beyond Second Life (SL) with social media, I met an interesting woman on the Avatar Social Network (ASN).   

          In ASN she’s known as Gemini P.  In SL, she’s known as Kikuyumi (“Yumi” for short.) and she’s a maiko.  Or, for those not familiar with the world of Japanese geisha, a student geisha.

          After our initial introduction, I learned about Yumi’s SL profession and also that this was more than mere roleplaying.   Yumi is part of an active geisha community inworld.

          Naturally, not being one to miss an opportunity to bring a new story back to my readers, I asked if I might visit with and interview her for my blog.  Yumi happily agreed and I also offered to have me meet the Onee-san and Okaa-san of Hanafusa okiya, Geiko Kikuyu, who is Yumi’s teacher. 

          OK, now, before I lose everyone because I just laid a lot of Japanese on you (Significant Other accuses me of intellectual elitism at times.) this what I said.

          “Onee-san” means older sister and is how members of this matriarchal society address one another.  “Okaa-san” is the familiar term for mother and is also used as a term of respect.  “Okiya” is a geisha house. “Hanafusa” happens to be the proper name of the one my hosts are associated with.  Geiko is a senior geisha who trains others.  And, yes, these are all Japanese terms.

          Got all that?  (If you didn’t please just humor me and lie.)

          I arrive for our interview in front of the ochaya (teahouse) where I’ll meet Yumi and Kikiyu-san.  Having spent considerable time among the Japanese and in Japan on Real Life (RL), I’m impressed by the detail and accuracy of the building.  (Significant Other is amazed that US-Japanese relations have survived me but suspects this having something to do with the Japanese having a soft spot for lost travelers and small dogs.) 

          The entrance slides open and the light comes out into the evening.  Yumi is standing inside the door in traditional geisha dress and invites me in.  She asks that I remove my shoes which I do.  (I understand the reason for the request and do it all the time in RL.  Unfortunately, I don’t do it as often in SL and fumble with their removal.  Yumi tells me not to worry about, apparently most SL residents have trouble taking their shoes off.)

          Yumi then takes me down a short hallway to a small room with a sliding screen door.  Kikiyu-san waits inside for us.  I’m invited in and offered a seat at a traditional table where one sits on the floor.  (And, yes, I’ve done this in RL too!  How much of an ugly American do you think I am?)

          I’m offered tea and Yumi sits next to me on the floor.  (Please don’t comment about sexism, I’m sitting on the floor too!)

          The tea appears as well as repast of ujikintoki which is a delightful dessert of shaved ice.  (Full disclosure here, I am a Japan-ophile especially where their cuisine is concerned.)  This is turning out to be one of my more enjoyable interviews!  (I don’t think I ever told my readers about the time I fell among cannibals inworld?   Some other time.)

          The room is in classic Japanese style with shoji screens, bonsai trees, lamps, and prints hanging on the walls.  The attention to detail that I noticed on the exterior carries into the interior.

          My hosts and I begin a discussion about their geisha community inworld.

          When I ask Yumi what drew her to become a maiko and ultimately a geisha, she replied that her understanding of the similarities between Japanese traditions and her own RL ones strengthened her resolve to stay with Kikiyu-san and learn more.  Yumi’s first introduction to this world (of geisha) was through a friend whom she worked with in RL and whose mother was a Geiko.

          Yumi’s first level as a geisha at the Okiya was as a shikomi.  She’s advanced to her current level of junior maiko with several more levels to go until she becomes a senior maiko.  Her aspiration is to become a geiko herself someday. 

          I ask Yumi what she enjoys best about the geisha life inworld.  She tells me that for her the best part is doing what I can’t in RL. Yumi personally loves dance, ikebana (the art of flower arranging) and the events which are held.

          What Yumi likes least is the time it takes to master the skills of being a geisha.  She also practices some of her skills in RL.

          One of the events that Yumi likes is the Ozashiki held weekly.  Patrons can come and enjoy some nice chat, a little food and drink or even a banquet.  They’ll dance or tell stories and poetry.  Games and music occur as well.  Yumi stresses that strict RL protocols are followed.  An Ozashiki generally lasts for forty-five minutes but by arrangement they can be longer. 

I ask if patrons are respectful of the traditions or just curious about them?  Yumi states that some follow traditions shall we call them, of times gone by.  But, that in the main they are very respectful. Very rarely a person thinks that maiko and Geiko are still involved in the sexual side of life but most people know that’s not true nowadays.

They also perform a traditional tea ceremony at their chashitsu (tea house).  I’m invited back with friends and I’ll be going!

          When questioned about kimonos and other traditional accessories, Yumi replies that they only work with two creators given the complexities of the designs. Likewise, authentic dance scripts are difficult to obtain but one creator works hard to meet their needs. 

          As our allotted time draws to a close, Yumi explains how their okiya is not just roleplay but the participants actually are creating the matriarchal society inworld.  They spend many hours in RL honing their skills.  She also believes that it would be advantageous if more people embraced cultural diversity and not just Japanese culture. 

          We end the interview by standing and bowing.  I thank both my hosts and Yumi escorts me to the front entrance.  She offers to give me a tour of their neighborhood, Miyagawacho, which is modeled on a RL Kyoto district.

          I accept and wait while Yumi changes to street clothes. 

          Upon her return, we walk down the street and I do feel like I’m back in Japan.

          Yumi shows me the onsen (hot springs), the Nyokoba (geisha school), a local shrine, and shops.

          By now I must return to RL myself and I thank Yumi for all hospitality and time.  She graciously offers to show me around the town some more and I promise to return.  There’s here I have to see!

          I take my leave and return home.

          I’d like to thank both Yumi and Kikiyu-san for taking the time to meet with me and answer all my questions.  They went to great trouble to prepare for my visit.  They and their sisters at Hanafusa okiya are doing an amazing task in keeping these traditions alive.  As they told me this is no mere roleplay.  This is real.

          What I also find fascinating is here’s another group who are using a virtual world to enhance a RL experience otherwise unavailable to many of them. 

          If anyone is interested in visiting and attending any of the events I recommend contacting either Yumi or Kikiyu-san for details.  I only ask that you be respectful of them and their lifestyle. 

           I’ve included pictures from my visit but I encourage everyone to go and see these wonderful places for yourselves.  I’m about as good inworld with a camera as I am in RL so checking for yourself is highly recommended.  (Significant Other nods violently in agreement.)

          As always, I’m grateful to all inworld for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives.   

My Twitter handle is @webspelunker.  Please feel free to follow me and I’d be happy to follow you.

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

          If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

 

 

Photo No. 1 Yumi Greeting Me in Traditional Kimono

Photo No. 2 Tearoom

Photo No. 3 Refreshments

Photo No. 4 Kikuyuu-san

Photo No. 5 Wall Painting

Photo No. 6 Shoji Screen

Photo No. 7 Bonsai Trees

Photo No. 8 At Table

Photo No. 9 Street Outside of Teahouse