Rebecca’s Reflections

Dancing Dōjōji—Finding the Demon Within

Dancing Dōjōji—Finding the Demon Within

Part Two: The Choreographer and the Secret Lessons I can’t tell you her name. I promised to keep her Nihon buyō lessons confidential. That sounds odd, I suppose. It’s not as if she is stealing secrets or trying to profit off the hard work of others. The lessons she...

Dancing Dōjōji—Finding the Demon Within

Dancing Dōjōji—Finding the Demon Within

Part One: The Tragedy of the Maiden Scorned I’m not a theater professional. But I love teaching about Japan’s classic theaters—Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku. One tale among all others captures students’ imagination, “The Maiden of Dōjōji,” a story of monstrous...

Being Lost and Found in Kyoto

Being Lost and Found in Kyoto

Getting lost is one method of finding your way. The outcome is usually positive, but the process is not always pleasant. Case in point: I got lost on my first run this summer in Kyoto. Badly lost. So lost I don’t even know how I got so lost. But there I was on...

Jet Lag and Time Travel

Jet Lag and Time Travel

One of the worst aspects of international travel is jet lag and where it leads—the upending of schedules, the loss of moorings, the sense of walking under water. Some people are able to transition seamlessly from one time zone to another. I get discombobulated just...

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