Minna Eväsoja: Almost Geisha

“Fashion trends may change quickly in Japan, but not the mind and approach.” 

Author:  Minna Eväsoja
Finnish original: Melkein Geisha. Hurmaava ja hullu Japani
Publisher: Gummerus, 2017
Number of pages: 239 pp.
Reading material: Finnish original

In the beginning of 1990s, Minna Eväsoja went to a Japanese tea school. After that, she lived and traveled in Japan, and studied the language and Japanese aesthetics – one of the very few Westerners among the Japanese. In this book, the author recalls ten years of living in Japan, contemplates Japanese mentality, their mind and approach to life. She observes everyday life of Kioto and sees an extraordinary, crazy at times and comical at others, altogether beautiful country.

It is a collection of hilarious, sometimes extremely brave, often very beautiful and funny stories about the Japanese culture and the way a Finnish woman experiences it.

Also available:
Wabi and Sabi (2019)
Shoshin: The Mind of a Novice (2018)

About the author:
Minna Eväsoja