The Demon in the Teahouse #2

Summary: Judge Ooka's job was to investigate the situation of the murdered tea house attendant. Two other recent deaths were of geishas of the higher class. Seikei accompanies his father in this search, to learn much more about becoming a samurai warrior. Judge Ooka and Seikei visit a fortune teller who tells them that the most favored tea house, the tea house were the most popular and important geisheas meet, was The Tea house of teh Falling Cherry Blossoms. The owner of the tea house, Oba Koko, has persuaded Umae to host her parties there. However, great danger will await uninvited guests. Judge Ooka then tells Seikei that he has to get a job in the Tea house of the Falling CHerry Blossoms and that he has to get to know more people and rooms in the tea house. Seikei's second day Judge Ooka and magistrate Odozo come to "examine" Seikei". They then convince Oba Koko that Seikei is fair and he is not the demon. Oba Koko stil treat Seikei like all the rest of her nieces. Seikei was lucky because he became part of the tea house when geisha Umae visited and danced there. It was an honor for Umae to come and enertain guests. The five different streets of Edo were crowded when geisha Umae visited. Later on, when Seikei went to give a letter to geisha Maiko, he bumped into a man who seemed to be a samurai. The man got anggry and asked Seikei if Umae was at The Teahouse of the Cherry Blossoms. He also added that he might come later. During the entertainments the strange samuraidoes came and he gives geisha Umae a beautiful silk kimono the color of maple leaves in autumn.
Iva

Geishas

Are traditional, female Japanese Entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance. Traditionally, Geisha began their training at a very young age. Some girls were bonded to geisha houses (okiya) as children. Japan is viewed as a very male-dominant society. Geishas are meant to be completely different from wives. Wives in Japanese society are expected to be more submissive to their husbands. They typically do not work so that they can stay at home with their children. Men look for wives who will provide them with health children, not necessarily women whom they lve. Women in the geisha society are some of the most successful businesswomen in Japan. In the geisha society, women run everything.

Teahouses in Japan

In Japanese tradition a tea house can refer to a structure designed for holding Japanese tea ceremonies. This structure and specifically the room in it where the tea ceremony takes lace is called chashitsu. In Japan a tea house can also refer to a place of entertainment with geisha. These kinds of tea houses are called ochaya. The place in which tea ceremonies happen, the Teashouses, also help to elicit these principles from guests. They are usually small and simple wooden structres located in remote, quiet areas. The art of tea drinking was first introduced to Japan in the 9th century by the Buddhist m0nk Eich upon his return from China. Over the centuries, tea drinking became ingrained in Japanese culture and in the 13th century it was a status symbol for the ruling warrior class.


Yoshiwara

Yoshiwara was a famous Akasen district in Edo present-day Tokyo, Japan. In the early 17th century, there was widespread male and female prostitution throughout the cities of Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka. Social classes were not strictly divided in Yoshiwara. A commoner with enough money could be served as an equal to a samurai. Though it was discouraged for a samurai to enter the Yoshiwara area, they often did so anyway. The only requirement on them was that all their weapons had to be left at the town's entrance gate.

Fabi

Director Q/R

Where did Seikei and the Judge go after first seeing the murder in the teahouse?
-They went to a bathhouse and purified themselves, since they were in the presence of death.

Who wants to become a geisha's apprentice?
-Nui

Who do Seikei and Judge Ooka think started the fire?
-The geisha

What is Tsune's secret?
-She has a dream of her own. She wants to own a teahouse of her own.

Why did Seikei feel strange about the bearded Samurai?
-Because of his eyes.

Viktor

Vocabulary

kago - a Japanese type of chair
Sake - a Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice
kanzashi - Japanese hair ornaments
irasshaimase - The Japanese word for welcome

Viktor