Laura VanArendonk Baugh's Blog, page 58
December 14, 2012
The Newtown School Shooting, Guns, and Us
I want to post something today which is pretty off-topic for this blog. If you choose not to read, that’s fine – if you do read, I ask that you read to the end, because it might not be going where you assume and I would hate for you to have the wrong idea of [...]
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The Tenth Day of Kitsune — Using Furoshiki to Wrap Gifts
Ready to try something new to wrap those gifts this year? Furoshiki is a distinctive and environmentally-friendly way to disguise (and carry!) your packages. This is a traditional Japanese method of wrapping items for both protection and easier carrying, as the tie can become a convenient handle instead of needing to cradle a bulky or [...]
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December 13, 2012
The Ninth Day of Kitsune — A Period Playlist
As we come to the Ninth Day of Kitsune, let’s treat one of the senses which has been left so far untouched despite our forays into images, taste, and touch; let’s listen to music, both period and related, from Heian era to today. There are a few kitsune songs, but not many I’ve found, or [...]
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December 12, 2012
Our Annual Christmas Movie, and Don’t Argue With Me.
Nearly every year of my life, my immediate family has gathered on Christmas Eve, invited friends and pseudo-adopted family, eaten ourselves silly on shrimp and brownies and cheese balls and red and green M&Ms, and watched It’s a Wonderful Life. “That old hack of a film? Really?” you ask. If you asked it silently to [...]
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The Eighth Day of Kitsune – Where Are They Now? Part 2
In recent years, kitsune and other folklore creatures have been making a striking comeback, it seems. Yes, they were always there, but now they’re everywhere, from fashion (French clothing line Maison Kitsune) to music (several music groups go by the name Kitsune). Here’s a very brief collage of modern media in which you might spy [...]
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December 11, 2012
The Seventh Day of Kitsune – Where Are They Now? Part 1
So for thousands of years, creatures of folklore and mythology have stalked the Japanese countryside, keeping wayward children in at night. But what about in the era of electric lights and digital cameras? What happened to the youkai, the bakemono, the monomo and ayakeshi — where are they now? They’re glad you asked. Like the [...]
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December 10, 2012
The Sixth Day of Kitsune — On Kimono & Japanese Clothing
Today we feature a guest post by my friend Emilia Blaser, a collector of kimono. Because there’s a lot of misinformation and false assumptions regarding kimono, Emilia is graciously allowing me to repost her convenient guide to kimono for beginners. Kimono — Stuff To Know Related articles The Second Day of Kitsune – Shift [...]
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December 7, 2012
The Fifth Day of Kitsune — Dining with the Daimyou
Today we’re going to have a meal with the oyakata-sama and okugata-sama, the lord and lady of the household. Have you been practicing with your chopsticks? I hope you’re hungry! We will be seated in order of social hierarchy, and as we are dining with the nobility, we will each have a short-legged table made [...]
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December 6, 2012
The Fourth Day of Kitsune – the Brief History and Use of Chopsticks
Today we will learn an important aspect of polite society — chopsticks! Or, as they are known in Japanese, hashi. Japan borrowed chopsticks, like so many things, from China, but like so many borrowed things, they modified them. Chinese chopsticks tend to be longer, because historically the Chinese ate from a shared bowl, while Japanese [...]
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December 5, 2012
Cover Reveal! Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out
My non-fiction project on training is coming out! And here’s the cover, in full, glorious color: Isn’t she beautiful? I am terribly excited, if I do say so myself. It’s getting very close! (Sign upfor the official announcement — your email address is safe, I pinky-swear!) A huge thanks toAntares Artfor polishing off my [...]
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