3 Quotes by Lesley Downer

Le geishe erano danzatrici, musiciste e conversatrici che occupavano una specifica nicchia nei massimi livelli della società nipponica. Non erano assolutamente prostitute, né di alto né di basso bordo.

When winter comes, spring can’t be far behind.

When people say they come from the country, they say it abjectly, apologetically. Unlike Londoners, Tokyoites do not drive out to the country at the weekend or yearn for a country cottage. Everyone, if they had the chance, would live in Tokyo. Four hours to the next train, while inconceivable in Tokyo, was only to be expected of inaka.