Tag: Kimono

From Spain’s lively quinceañera to the United States’ sweet sixteen, cultures worldwide love to throw a party when their young ones step into adulthood. In Japan, that grand moment happens at 20—the age when you can legally clink glasses, light up a cigarette (if you’re so inclined), and claim full-fledged adult status. Welcome to Seijin…

Oiran and Geisha are often mistaken for one another due to their elegant appearances and connections to Japan’s historical entertainment culture. However, they are profoundly different figures. While geisha, the refined entertainers of traditional arts, continue to exist today, Oiran—the high courtesans of Japan’s Edo period—belong to a bygone era. Known for their opulent fashion,…