Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Memories of Red Tori

Tonight, the last night of my holidays, I watched the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. It's a movie I've seen many times and will watch many times more. Despite it inaccuracies, I love it for it's visuals and costumes as well as the story line.

There's a scene, just after Chio meets the Chairman for the first time that she goes to pray at a shrine. On her way there, she runs under the arches of red tori gate after tori gate.

Last October, I went to that shrine in Kyoto, Fushimi Inari Taisha. It's far more spectacular than I had expected. The paths that lead up into the forested mountain are lined with thousands of tori gates all painted in a spectacular orange-red.


I only had two regrets. Firstly that we went there so late in the day. Under the trees, the light for photographs was getting terribly low and we couldn't spend more time enjoying the atmosphere. Secondly, having been to Kyoto quite a few times, I had only found this shrine now, what will be my last visit to the city for a long time.

In case you haven't seen Memoirs, or if you want to be reminded of the eye candy the movie is, the trailer is below. You get to very briefly see the gates in it too, don't blink though or you'll miss them. They're about 48 seconds into the video.


8 comments:

Guzzisue said...

I loved this film when it was on at our local cinema and keep meaning to pick up the dvd. The book was packed on the bike for our holiday a couple of years ago and has now been read several times (getting a bit tatty too)

owenandbenjamin said...

You are moving back to Australia? Will it be permanent?

Jenny said...

Love the arch photo-just stunning. I must watch that movie again it is such a good one. Best of luck back at school-your holidays seemed short but I guess they have their long break in our winter time.

Amy Kerr-Menz said...

Fushimi-inari!! Japan has been on my mind a lot recently...I can't wait to get back! My regret is not having the time to do the full 4km walk up the mountain behind Fushimi-inari through all the Tori. I imagine it would be spectacular! And the Memoirs of a Geisha trailer makes me want to watch the movie again - thanks for the reminder :)

Anonymous said...

Maybe the light was waning, but I tell you, I think your photo is magic. It perfectly captures the mystery and serenity at Fushimi-inari, at least once we'd managed to get away from the hoards of screaming school children who were ruining the peace. Your photo is what I wish our visit had been like.

In other news, I can't put into words how happy for you I am to hear about your pregnancy. I can't imagine how much it must mean to you. Also, it's a seriously good excuse to not blog. I haven't been blogging because I'm crap. Go your excuse!

Cindy said...

This is my favorite shrine that I always hit up when I visited the Kansai area. You're right, it is far more spectacular than words or expectations. I especially liked all the random cats that dotted the paths whenever I visited.

Anonymous said...

i really loved this movie. i saw it after I went to Tokyo and Okasa and just loved it

Lilli boo said...

I think my last comment didn't register! Anyway have just bought this DVD and sooo excited to be watching it again...will look out for the suggested scene..Hope all is well with you..Lil x

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