Souji Things

Képes Nyelvmester Extra

"We don’t want any Russian-style anti-LGBTQ+ law!

Evil is a policy what wants to sacrifice children’s lives for dominance in public discourse. We call upon pro-government MPs to repeal the anti-LGBTQ+ laws what they copied from Russia!

We call on the members of the Hungarian parliament not to vote for the law! We said no to the government turning against its own citizens, only in favor of autocratic states! The constitutional duty of the state to protect all children included the LGBTQ+ youth.

Fidesz’s bill endangers the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. 42% of Hungarian LGBTQ+ people have already thought about suicide, 30% have tried to commit it. They also have the right to receive the education and upbringing necessary for the full development of their personalitys: spiritual help arriving at the right time, sexual education and upbringing for family life. As the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg emphasized when condemning the Russian propaganda law, legislation such as that submitted by Fidesz only reinforces prejudice and homophobia, which is incompatible with the values ​​of democratic societies.

We do not want to live in a dictatorship, we do not want to live in a country where the authorities pose a threat to LGBTQ+ children, LGBTQ+ childcare services, those who stand with LGBTQ+ people, and civilians who provide spiritual help, legal aid and community cohesion to vulnerable groups, including LGBTQ+ people!

Why is this important?

The proposal of the Hungarian government, which would restrict freedom of speech and children’s rights more than ever, is eerily similar to the propaganda law in Russia. Under the slogan of child protection, the government restricts the basic human rights of Hungarian LGBTQ+ people while failing to fulfill its real duty to protect children. Just a year ago, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child called on the Hungarian government to take action against LGBTQ+ childabuse by organizing awareness-raising programs about LGBTQ+ people in schools: these are now banned by the Russian-style propaganda law.

Let us not have any illusions about what the rapprochement with Russia and China can hold, not only for us, but also for the inhabitants of other countries that are economically exposed to the two superpowers. In Russia, in 2013, the so-called Propaganda Law, which, in addition to inciting hatred and incitement against the LGBTQ+ community, also makes scientific dialogues impossible to educate homosexuals and transgender people. Homo- and transphobia have continued to increase in the country since the law came into force: LGBTQ+ people cannot even publicly mention their sexual orientation or gender identity, thus increasing the stigma, stereotypes and invisibility surrounding sexual and gender minorities, and increasing discrimination, and suicide rates among LGBTQ individuals also increased."

Utónév - First name

Vezetéknév - Last name

Irányítószám - Postal code

"Igen, szeretnék tájékoztatást kapni. " - Yes, I'd like to know more about this.

"Nem, köszönöm. " - No, thanks. (I don't want to get notifications about this.)

Meg ha már gót láthatóság világnapja, nézzetek meg engem is 🖤🦇🖤🦇🖤🦇

🌸 【Hakuouki Shinkai × OHAGI3 Collab】 3.26.21 ~ 4.30.21 🌸

The first collaboration between OHAGI3, established traditional wagashi confectionery maker and “Hakuouki”, the story of the Shinsengumi on the stage of history. We deliver safe handmade snacks that can bring a smile to your loved ones’ faces and warm the moments in your life, like a parent to a child.

*not literal, but I tried to convey the main ideas and words

You can choose between two sets of three ohagi (sweet rice ball wagashi) that each come with one random acrylic stand of a character (¥1,980). The sets are A: Hijikata, Saito, Heisuke, B: Okita, Harada, Kazama. Customers who settle an advance reservation also receive one special edition postcard as part of the collaboration. 

Flavors: Hijikata: purple sweet potato, Saito: snow bunny coconut, Heisuke: sakura-topped roasted soy, Okita: sakura-topped matcha, Harada: strawberry, Kazama: black sesame ✨ 

So, I saw this picture by Balbo42 on Instagram and Umehina is wearing a maneki kanzashi. I thought only maiko could wear kanzashi, can geiko wear too? This also lead me to another question, just how strict are the karyukai dressing rules?

The Viewing Ceremony

With this we will try to answer a question i received asking to examine the Kashi no Shiki ceremony practiced by Tayuu.

To achieve this we have to observe the ceremony in its detail. Luckily this is one of the few very well documented Tayuu traditions and very easy to find and study. But i would love to dissect it first, before we dive into the significance of the gestures at hand.

The setting is made up of the Tayuu, her Kamuro and her Hikifune. For this ceremony the whole room is made to feel intimate and silent with the only light source being two candles on each side of the Tayuu. Equally, she is flanked by her two Kamuro and her Hikifune is close by but usually behind the Tayuu, and she has an important role too.

While the Hikifune and Kamuro are already situated, the Tayuu makes an appearance by walking in slowly and reverently, sliding her feet on the mat. She holds the side hem of her uchikake between her extended fingers, takes a round step forward to sweep her floor-length hem away and slowly sits down on her knees. Here the first gesture of importance is noted: She grips the ends of her obi and displays the kokoro knot. With her right hand she then reaches for her sake cup, elegantly prodded up on a dedicated little tablestool while she continues to hold up the end of her obi with her left hand.

Very slowly she will lift up the cup, making sure to not touch the inside, the thumb stays firmly on the rim. First a circle motion is drawn with the cup as if she was looking into the sake cup like a mirror and while she does this, her whole upper body will follow this round movement while her eyes stay firmly fixed on the cup. When the movement has reached fill circle like in the photo above, the cup will be held up for the guest to see the cup’s inside. Now the cup will wander from right to left ad then back to the little stand. Here the Tayuu fixes her eyes upon her patrons. As soon as the cup is back, the Hikifune will call out the Tayuu’s name in a melodic introduction while the Tayuu again displays her kokoro knot with her hands in a swaying motion.

The Tayuu once more reaches for the cup and repeats the same movements, drawing a circle over her obi and then taking the cup from right to left and back again, posing it finaly on the stand. After this second round, the little stool is taken away by the Hikifune, but she cannot stand as long as the Tayuu is seated, so she slides forward and reaches for the stool and slides back to create some space for the Tayuu’s next steps.

Now the Tayuu stands up. Her movements are highly coordinated as she shimmys her arms to shake out her uchikake slightly. As she takes a few steps to turn her back to the viewer, the uchikake is now perfectly situated to be presented. And this is done by extending each arm while the Tayuu peers over her shoulder to her audience and during this moment, her uchikake is in complete display and with this her whole monetary worth.

The rustling of the sumptuous fabric plays a big role during this display and the Tayuu sways from one side to the other to show of all angles of her outfit. Every time she pauses to accentuate the richness of her uchikake, her eyes meet the public but she is sure to keep her gaze down during the whole ceremony otherwise. When she has completed the viewing ceremony, the Tayuu will usually leave the ozashiki once again before the banquet’s official start. Each Tayuu will have her own procedure, some will dance first then entertain, some will dance later, or play instruments at the heart of the ozashiki but with the end of the Kashi no Shiki, the formal introduction is over and the party is about to beginn.

The Kashi no Shiki, or viewing ceremony is one of the unique traditions of Tayuu culture. It clearly shares roots with Noh Theater that influenced many aspects of Tayuu art. The slow, almost sacred movements, the silent and solemn staging, the austere but deep projection of feelings are all a reflection of court sensibilities. This is peak Tayuu luxury and a signifier of her noble status as she would have been called upon to entertain the most prestigious guests, she would have needed a grand entrance and a vehicle to display her wealth and taste in the most elegant way. This is it.

One can only imagine the sight to behold at the time when these girls were the height of noble culture. They were one of a kind and extremely exclusive, if she would have agreed to meet a new patron, she would attend his parties at her associated ageya or would have been called upon to entertain at his own estate. Here she would arrive with her entourage, gladly payed for by her patron, and when the time came for the meeting, the silence in the room and anticipation of the guests would have been electrifying. Sure it was one thing to be in the position to call upon the Tayuu and afford to patronize her but would she deem her new patron worthy? For the patron an unusual situation as he would have been accustomed to fulfill any wish and afford any luxury his heart desired. A Tayuu might decline, might reject her suitor, the thrill of this possible conquest would have been irresistible for the spoiled patron because a great Tayuu was not really interested in her new patron’s money but his prestige and this made her so interesting.

And what was this Tayuu communicating to her patron with this ceremony? Well, of course her grandeur: She wasn’t going to effortlessly walk into a parlor and introduce herself casually, no, as the queenly figure she portrayed, she needed a magnificent entrance. Of course the introduction to her patron needed all the pomp and circumstance imaginable so naturally every one would stay silent when she made her appearance.

Then of course her learnedness: She was a disciple of Noh traditions and this went way back. With these gestures and this flair of high artistic training, the Tayuu informed her patron of her connection to noble theater, she expressed that she was an artist of the highest rank and he needed to study up on her while she took the time to examine his cues.

Let’s not forget that the Kashi no Shiki, specially the part with the sake cup, was a way for a Tayuu to buy some time to inspect her surroundings. What type of people were present and would she want to grace them with her presence. While the cup floats from one side to the other, she invokes her spiritual greatness, for this brief moment, she commands the full moon herself as she crosses the nightly sky. This ceremony was very intense and it might have been a touching experience with big theatrics and magic gestures in the darkness, in reality the whole procedure might have taken two minutes. But two minutes of tense silence and attention might have made a significant impression.

Even the sake cup itself was an expression of the Tayuu’s taste and wealth. Usually it would have been made of lacquerwear, a prestigious material for the most formal drinking experience and the vermillion lacquer, still used by Wachigaiya’s Tayuu to this day, is considered divine and again connecting the Tayuu to her spiritual role. A respectable Tayuu would have chosen her sake cup very carefully and requested a gold inserted design representing her mon or some other attribute. So with one gesture, the showing of her cup to her audience, she conveyed her importance and her taste, if her patron was to understand the craftsmanship and richness of the cup, he needed a formal education and a love for finer things himself. Nothing less would do, so this secret language was key to a common ground for the Tayuu and her patron.

After the Tayuu’s ceremony was over, she would have left the room. Maybe to change her outfit or to let the experience sink in before proceeding in the banquet routine. A Tayuu was first and foremost an artist and entertainer. Her whole existence was dedicated to finer art and high culture for elite patrons, needless to say that the Kashi no Shiki was an essential part of the Tayuu experience and rightly so. It evokes the supernatural presence of an important personality with her unique resources, she was still alien and unique to most men. Her willfulness and her enigmatic aura made for an incredibly rare meeting, one sprinkled with the sense that this might be a one in a lifetime exchange. For sure the Tayuu herself would have implied the importance of this meeting with this introduction and by demonstrating her strengths she also signified her patrons status and knowledge so essentially holding up a mirror for her patron to admire himself through her beauty and wisdom. The sake cup is a mirror, her white face, reflecting the light is a mirror, her blanc stare, open to interpretation is a mirror.

Throughout history man has found his reflection one of the most intriguing experiences. We want to recreate this experience still: Everyday most of us will catch a glimpse of ourselves when passing a mirror and this magic is as old as time. Tayuu have recognized this craving for self reflection and learning through mirroring very early on: As simple as it was and still is, reflecting your vis a vis is a manner to charm them, to create a bond that goes to their core. The Kashi no Shiki is one of their most magnificent tricks to manipulate their patrons, because it displayed the love of their contemporaries for the finer things in life and also where they saw themselves in that context. It was their use of a magic wisdom to access their patrons desires. It was a magic trick. No more and no less. 

mi jelenti a rangot?

hogy mekkora mellű a nőd 

mennyire állat az autód 

meddig bírod feltekerni a hengerőt 

és a

mit un laci? 

hogy mindenki baszogatja

 a villamost 

a buszokat 

a hétfőket 

a keddet 

Hogy az élet egy ajándék

Könyvet

Mit csinál a könyvvel Laci

Teleírja

——————-

Ha rabszolga vagy minden reggel, akkor mi vagy este a moziban?

- you will make it through this

- your struggles are very real

- your pain is real

- you’re worth the trouble of getting help

- you’re worth the effort

- you’re not a burden

- you deserve to be here

- anxiety lies to you

- depression lies to you

- anger lies to you

- loneliness lies to you

- disorders lie to you

- insecurities lie to you

- you are not a failure

- you are not a bad person

- you are not meant to be alone

- you are not ugly

- you’re not useless 

- you are not worthless

- you are loved

- you are good enough

- you are valuable

- you are beautiful

- nothing can replace you

- no one can replace you

- you make people happy

- you make people smile

- you give great hugs

- you changed people for the better

- you brighten someone’s day

- dogs love you too

- you are cute

- you are intelligent

- you are appreciated

- you deserve so many warm hugs

- you deserve affection

- you deserve to be a priority

- you deserve new beginnings

- you deserve to stop hurting yourself

- you deserve to forgive yourself

- you deserve things that are too good to be true

- you deserve lasting happiness

- you deserve a life worth living

- you will meet new people

- you will go to new places

- you will find your way again

- you will find a new home

- you will find belonging

- you will find meaning 

- you will find new things to obsess over

- you will find new passions

- you will fall in love again

- you will learn from mistakes

- you will have realizations

- you will grow

- your best is yet to come

- your problems will lose 

- you will love yourself

- you will accept things you can’t change 

- you will care about yourself again

- you will be happy 

- you will achieve great things

- every part of you will heal

- love will come back

- happiness will come back

- peace will come back

- excitement will come back

- good things and blue skies will come back

- you will get another chance

- your future is bright

- you will reach your goals

- you will pass that test

- you will overcome your fears

- you will get better

- you will heal completely

- you will be stronger

- you will find a way

- this will pass

- things will get easier

- keep trying

- you’re growing from this

Yagitcha Musubi

Gifu’s little treasure Kirin off to work on a train. Gifu offers a special train ozashiki for first timers and tourists, a one of a kind setting for its Maiko to dance and show off their skills as hostesses. Since Kirin also hosted boat ozashiki before, another specialty of Gifu’s Geimaiko, she might have gotten used to the added difficulty of dancing on a moving vehicle. It is truly admirable how this young girl, and all the others that came before her, rise above and beyond to create beautiful moments for her patrons.

Another reason why i loved this picture, apart from the equally intricate train and Kirin’s coordinate, is that you can really examine the Gifu Yagitcha Musubi in all its detail.

For sure it differs from its Osaka counterpart as it looks asymmetrical and indeed i believe the reason for this is that one could untie it easily to create a Darari Musubi when preferred. Gifu’s tradition to have their Maiko wear Darari indoors and Yagitcha when entertaining on boats, and now trains, is unique and such a interesting feature.