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<P>Thanks!</P>
<P>Actually, asked my girlfriend's grandmother and she told me the same about girl's who got married at that time.</P>
<P>Thanks a lot!</P>
<P>But, it's just strange that nobody could answer me about movies that show Kokeshi dolls... Kokeshi are so present in Japanese culture and have a so sad and strange history.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Mathieu</P>
<DIV class=RTE>>Hi, </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I think you are talking about "ohaguro." According to Encyclopedia Japan:
<DIV></DIV>>Tooth blackening, also known as kane. Until the late 19th century the custom was believed to enhance sex appeal and help maintain healthy teeth. The mixture used was made by soaking iron or nails in tea, sake, and other ingredients to produce a liquid blackened by the metal's oxidation. Until about the 12th century tooth blackening was a sign of a girl's coming of age. During the 12th century the custom spread to male nobility and samurai. By the 18th century it was again confined to women and was fairly universal. Later, however, it was used by married women only, and the custom continued until the end of the 19th century, when Western influences rendered it obsolete.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>I don't know about movies on "kokeshi" wooden dolls. . .
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Michiko Ito
<DIV></DIV>>Japanese Studies Librarian
<DIV></DIV>>East Asian Library
<DIV></DIV>>University of Kansas Libraries
<DIV></DIV>>Watson Library
<DIV></DIV>>1425 Jayhawk Blvd.
<DIV></DIV>>Lawrence KS 60045-7544
<DIV></DIV>>TEL: (785) 864-4669
<DIV></DIV>>FAX: (785) 864-3850
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>-----Original Message-----
<DIV></DIV>>From: owner-KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu [mailto:owner-KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of Mathieu St-Pierre
<DIV></DIV>>Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 9:41 AM
<DIV></DIV>>To: KineJapan@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
<DIV></DIV>>Subject: Question on BLACK mouth.
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Hello Kine-Japaners!
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Since im in Japan right now for about 1 month 1/2 I watch a lot of tv at night while drinking sake. I was wondering about one thing on some Japanese historical movies... Why do all women have the mouth "painted" in black??? While the male actor have nice teeth and no black mouth?
<DIV></DIV>>At first I thought it was only one old movie that wanted to make the effect of bad teeth or something, but all historical movies including recent ones show women with black mouth. I'm not sure but I think for the exception of tv drama women dont have black mouth?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Also, my second question is; Do you know any movies that show, talk or make portrait of Kokoshi? (The little wooden Japanese doll)?
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>cheers! <http://graphics.hotmail.com/i.p.emcocktl.gif>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>
<DIV></DIV>>Mathieu
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