Latest news with #ChicagoWorld'sFair
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
Bringing 'Cha' to the World: International Expositions and the 'Selling' of Japanese Tea
The prototype for today's international expositions, where countries from around the world showcase new products and their specialties and which provide opportunities for cultural exchanges and business talks, is said to be the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851. Scholars Yoshino Ako and Ido Kōichi explore Japan's participation in modern world's fairs, starting from the 1867 Paris Exposition through to the 1933–34 Chicago World's Fair. In Kindai banpaku to cha: Sekai ga odoroita Nihon no kissagaikō shi (Modern World Expositions and Tea: A History of Japan's Tea Diplomacy), the authors, who researched newspaper reports and other historical materials and visited former expo sites, provide a chronological rundown on the connection between these fairs and the spread of Japanese tea and tea culture. The Birth of Wakōcha Exports The Tokugawa shogunate sent a delegation from Japan, headed by Tokugawa Akitake, younger brother of shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, to the 1867 Paris Exposition, organized by French emperor Napoleon III. Among the delegation's members were Shibusawa Eiichi, later known as the 'father of the Japanese capitalism,' and at the shōgun's request, representatives of the powerful domains of Satsuma and Saga. The book relates that the Japanese pavilion's tearoom created a sensation among Parisians and that the exhibit was awarded a silver medal by Napoleon III. Japanese tea was featured, marking the start of the relationship between ocha and world expositions. A photo from the book showing kimono-clad women at the Japanese pavilion's tearoom at the 1867 Paris Exposition. (© Album/Quintlox/Kyōdō) In 1873, Saga Prefecture exhibited kōcha , or black tea, at the Vienna World's Fair. While Japan's principal tea beverage was unfermented green tea, but authorities from Saga had learned at the 1867 Paris Exposition that black tea, created by fermenting tea leaves, was preferable for export to Europe. Subsequently, tea growers throughout Japan began producing wakōcha , black tea grown and produced in Japan, which, according to the authors, was a historic moment for the Japanese tea industry. Incidentally, Buddhist monk Baisaō (1675–1763), founder of senchadō variation of the Japanese tea ceremony distinguished by its use of green tea leaves rather than matcha , hailed from Saga, the birthplace of wakōcha . Introducing the 'Way of Tea' International expositions were also a way of introducing Japan's tea culture to the world. At the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia, held to mark the 100th anniversary of US independence, a list of exhibits contains three references to 'cha-no-yu.' The authors note in their book that this may be the first mention of sadō , the Japanese tea ceremony, in an official document. At the 1878 Paris Exposition, the Japanese pavilion included a tea house; a pamphlet in French explained the history of sadō . According to the book, industrialist, art collector, and founder of the Mitsui trading house Masuda Takashi (1848–1938) dispatched three carpenters from Japan to erect the structure. Later in life, Masuda became a tea ceremony master under the name Donnō. Okakura Kakuzō (or Tenshin, 1868–1913), best known for his The Book of Tea that was published in New York in 1906, acted as a presenter of Japan's tea culture at two world fairs. He wrote an explanatory pamphlet in English about the Hōōden tea house at the Japanese pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, and at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, he spoke on the artistic cachet of 'cha-no-yu.' Spotlight on Japanese Women Although featuring Japanese tea at world expositions first and foremost reflected the government's export promotion policy, tea also played a role in promoting Japanese culture, which is described in the book through the contributions of Japanese women. The Japanese pavilion's tearoom at the 1867 Paris Exposition, Japan's first world's fair, was attended by three geisha who had traveled to Paris for the occasion. At the time, the Japanese women were an object of fascination among the French public, and many people flocked to see them. At the Panama–Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco in 1915, the Japanese pavilion featured a Japanese tearoom made of cypress that was attended by seven young 'tea girls' wearing kimono with long, flowing sleeves. A February 2, 1915, article in the local Japanese-language newspaper The Japanese American News reported on the women's arrival in San Francisco, describing them as 'well-educated young ladies from good families' that included the daughters of a high-ranking government official and of a navy admiral. At the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, 10 nisei (second-generation Japanese-American) women were hired to staff the Japanese pavilion's tearoom. They were also featured on picture postcards and in advertising materials for Japanese green tea. That fair also showcased the Rinkōtei tearoom, which was furnished with tables and chairs. The tearoom had been donated by Masuda to foster friendship between Japan and the United States. The tea was prepared by the 20-year-old daughter of a Japanese surgeon who had been sent from Japan for the occasion. Japanese Tea Presence Boosted at US World Fairs During the days of empire when the Western powers ruled the world, tea was an important international commodity. Green tea and semi-fermented oolong tea along with black tea grown in China and exported to Europe and North America dominated the market at the time. The British Empire, dependent on tea imports from China, fought back by setting up huge plantations for Assam black tea in its colonial territories of India and Ceylon (today Sri Lanka). Beginning in the late nineteenth century, when Japan established its own empire, green tea was exported mainly to the United States. In the aftermath of the first Sino-Japanese War (1894–95), Taiwan became a Japanese colony, and oolong and other teas from Taiwan were also exported to the United States via Japan. The book includes details about the Taiwan tearooms at the St. Louis, San Francisco, and Paris world expositions. Robert Hellyer, a researcher of the modern tea trade, also makes an appearance in the book. Hellyer is a descendant of the nineteenth-century founders of Hellyer & Company, a Nagasaki-based tea exporter that Hellyer mentions in his book Green with Milk and Sugar: When Japan Filled America's Tea Cups . In the work, Hellyer describes how Japanese green tea became popular in the US Midwest beginning in the late 1800s, so much so that it was called 'green tea country.' Hellyer believes that the world's fairs in the midwestern cities of St. Louis and Chicago helped raise awareness of green tea in the region. But this tea trade ended abruptly with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan lost its empire with its defeat in 1945, and the government's prewar ambitions of having Japanese tea take over global markets evaporated with it. Yoshino and Ido conclude their book by noting that Japanese tea exports have begun rising again. Japan has, of course, gone on to host six international expositions of its own, starting with the 1970 Osaka Expo, the first held in Asia. I have heard that many events at the current exposition, Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, also incorporate the concept of omotenashi hospitality embodied by sadō . The Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion, especially, exemplifies the spirit of tea, and I am looking forward to new relationships emerging between Japanese tea and world expositions. Kindai banpaku to cha: Sekai ga odoroita Nihon no kissagaikō shi (Modern World Expositions and Tea: A History of Japan's Tea Diplomacy) By Yoshino Ako and Ido KōichiPublished by Tankōsha Publishing in February, 2025 ISBN: 978-4-473-04660-4
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Peabody Essex Museum reopens Korea gallery
The Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts, US, has reopened the Yu Kil-Chun Gallery of Korean Art and Culture. The gallery, receiving visitors since Saturday, is named after Yu Kil-chun, a reformist leader and diplomat who met Edward Sylvester Morse, the PEM executive director, while on Korea's delegation to the US in 1883. Their ties led to the US museum keeping a rich Korean collection, according to the National Museum of Korea, which had supported the reopening. The gallery displays over 100 items, spanning everyday items and contemporary artworks from the 19th to 21st century. Objects of significance include traditional chairs Korea showcased at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and a Western top hat made of Korean horse tail that was gifted to the museum by Percival Lawrence Lowell. Lowell was a US entrepreneur who authored "The Land of the Morning Calm: A Sketch of Korea" after extensively traveling throughout Korea in the 19th century. Also featured are Korean artifacts donated to the museum by the family of Edwin V. Morgan, the US deputy consul general of Korea in 1905. Among the artifacts is a family photograph of Lee Beom-jin, the minister at the Old Korean Legation whom Morgan had befriended. Works by contemporary Korean artists including Paik Nam-june, a pioneer of video art, are on display, according to the Peabody Essex Museum, which added that Korean communities in Massachusetts had contributed toward the latest expansion.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
This Date in Baseball - Randy Johnson is the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game
May 18 1912 — Detroit players went on strike to protest Ty Cobb's suspension. To avoid a forfeit and fine, manager Hugh Jennings recruited college players and others; they lost to the Philadelphia A's 24-2. Joe Travers gave up all 24 runs on 26 hits. 1929 — The Brooklyn Dodgers outslugged the Philadelphia Phillies for a 20-16 victory in the first game of a doubleheader. Brooklyn's Babe Herman and Johnny Frederick each had five hits. Frederick scored five times to give him a major league record eight runs in two games. The Phillies won the second game 8-6. The teams combined for a record 50 runs in a doubleheader. 1933 — The first All-Star Game is announced for July 6th at Comiskey Park. It will be played as part of the Chicago World's Fair celebration. 1956 — Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hits home runs from both sides of the plate for the third time in his career, setting a major league record. 1957 — Dick Williams of the Orioles hit a ninth-inning, game-tying solo home run against Chicago's Paul LaPalme seconds before 10:20 p.m. — the curfew set so the White Sox could catch a train out of Baltimore. If Williams had done anything else, Chicago would have won. The game was later replayed from the beginning and Baltimore won. 1968 — Frank Howard hit his 10th home run in a six-game span to power the Washington Senators to an 8-4 victory over Detroit at Tiger Stadium. 1981 — Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela finally loses a game, 4-0, to the Philadelphia Phillies. He is now 8-1 and his earned run average increases to 0.90. 1990 — Chicago Cubs Ryne Sandberg's errorless game streak at second base comes to an end after 123 games and 584 chances. Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds had held the previous record of 91 games. 1990 — The Baltimore Orioles tied an AL record with eight consecutive singles in a seven-run first inning against Bobby Witt to beat the Texas Rangers 13-1. The eight straight singles equaled a record set by the Washington Senators against Cleveland in 1951 and matched by the Oakland Athletics against Chicago in 1981. 1999 — Edgar Martinez hit three home runs — tying a major league record with five homers in two games — to give the Seattle Mariners a 10-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. He homered twice in the opener of the series. 2000 — Mark McGwire homered three times and had a career-high seven RBIs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2. 2003 — The Texas Rangers swept three games at Yankee Stadium for the first time in the franchise's 43-year existence, winning 5-3. 2004 — Randy Johnson, 40, became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 2-0. It was the 17th perfect game in major league history and the first since the New York Yankees' David Cone did it against Montreal on July 18, 1999. _____
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Today in Sports - Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game
May 18 1920 — Man o' War, ridden by Clarence Kummer, wins the Preakness Stakes by 1½ lengths over Upset. 1931 — Fifteen-year-old Eddie Arcaro rides his first race, finishing sixth, at Bainbridge Park, Ohio. 1933 — First MLB All-Star Game announced for July 6 at Comiskey Park; to be played as part of the Chicago World's Fair; fans to pick players. 1956 — Mickey Mantle hits HR from both sides of plate for record 3rd time. 1957 — Bold Ruler, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, wins the Preakness Stakes by two lengths over Iron Liege. It's the sixth and last time Arcaro wins the Preakness. 1960 — European Cup Final, Glasgow: Ferenc Puskás scores 4, Alfredo Di Stéfano 3 as Real Madrid routs Eintracht Frankfurt, 7-3; 5th consecutive title for Los Blancos. 1968 — Forward Pass wins the Preakness Stakes by six lengths to give Calumet Farm a record seven wins in by an owner in the race. Judy Johnson becomes the first female trainer to saddle a horse for the Preakness. Her horse, Sir Beau, finishes seventh in the field of 10. 1971 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in the seventh game to win the Stanley Cup. 1971 — 4th ABA Championship: Utah Stars beat Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3. 1985 — Patricia Cooksey becomes the first female jockey to compete in the Preakness Stakes. Tank's Prospect wins the race and Cooksey's mount, Tajawa, finishes sixth in the field of 11. 1990 — Edmonton's Jari Kurri becomes the leading goal scorer in Stanley Cup history when he scores his 90th postseason goal in the first period of Game 2 of the finals against Boston. Kurri adds two more goals as the Oilers beat the Bruins 7-2. 1990 — Cubs Ryne Sandberg ends 2nd baseman record 123 errorless game streak. 1994 — 2nd UEFA Champions League Final: Milan beats Barcelona 4-0 at Athens. 1996 — Louis Quatorze carries Pat Day to the jockey's third straight Preakness Stakes victory. Louis Quatorze, 16th in the Kentucky Derby, runs 1 3-16 miles in 1:53 2-5 to equal the race record set by Tank's Prospect in 1985. 1997 — Chris Johnson makes an 8-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to win the LPGA championship over Leta Lindley. It's the third playoff in the championship since the tournament began in 1955, and the first since 1970. 2004 — Randy Johnson becomes the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, retiring all 27 hitters to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Atlanta Braves 2-0. 2008 — Rafael Nadal beats defending champion Roger Federer 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to win the Hamburg Masters, adding the only major clay-court title missing from his impressive collection. 2008 — Boston's Paul Pierce and Cleveland's LeBron James combine for 86 points in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. James outscores Pierce 45-41 in the shootout, but Boston advances with a 97-92 win. 2013 — Oxbow, ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, leads from start to finish at the Preakness. It's the sixth Preakness victory for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and 14th Triple Crown victory, the most in horse racing history. 2014 — The Tradition Senior Men's Golf, Shoal Creek G&CC: Kenny Perry wins his third of 4 Champions Tour majors by 1 stroke from Mark Calcavecchia. 2019 — English FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium, London (85,854): Gabriel Jesus & Raheem Sterling each score twice as Manchester City thrash Watford, 6-0, completing an unprecedented domestic treble.
National Geographic
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
Debunking the myths behind Harry Houdini's life—and death
(How does a magician trick other magicians? We went to find out.) These cards and card trimmer belonged to Harry Houdini, a lifelong collector of effects, props, and locking devices that he learned how to pick. Alamy/Cordon Press His desire for success grew stronger when his father fell sick. In 1883 Ehrich set up an improvised circus along with boys from his neighborhood and performed as a trapeze artist. In a glimpse of his future flair for self-styling, the nine-year-old crowned himself Prince of the Air. Having tried and failed to work as a rabbi, Ehrich's father moved the Weisses to a New York slum. The young boy's early love for illusionism and tricks offered the chance of freedom from the fate that awaited so many young immigrants at that time: the lifelong drudgery of the garment trade. As if in preparation for the feats ahead, the stocky Ehrich trained by lifting weights, swimming, and boxing while taking on a variety of manual-labor jobs to make ends meet. A friend introduced Ehrich to the memoirs of 19th-century French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, considered the father of modern conjuring. In the 1890s, Ehrich added an i to Houdin to make his new last name, and his career, "like Houdin." He also gave himself a new first name in homage to American magician Harry Kellar. Under this stage name, Harry Houdini set up a traveling circus with his younger brother, whose stage name was Theodore 'Dash' Hardeen. The brothers featured high-wire acts, snake charmers, and belly dancers. The duo reached their long-sought acclaim with what became their signature act, Metamorphosis, first performed at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Dash tied Houdini up and put him in a sack, which was placed inside a chest. Once the curtain was pulled, Dash was revealed to have replaced Houdini, the speed of which astonished the crowds. Unrestrained One of Houdini's most iconic stunts was his straitjacket escape. First performed in Kansas City in 1915 in front of thousands, and always staged near newspaper offices, it involved Houdini dangling from a crane by his feet. Wriggling himself free from the straitjacket, shown here, he then spread his arms wide to the frenzy of the crowd. Bridgeman/ACI Within a year, Dash was superseded by young singer and dancer Wilhelmina Beatrice Rahner, or Bess, who Houdini had married within three weeks of meeting and made his new partner in magic. They went by the Houdinis, and Bess became his stage assistant for the rest of his life. Although their performances, also consisting of traditional magic tricks, were popular, earnings were scant. Houdini knew he had to maximize the sensationalism to pull in the crowds. The handcuff king Experience as an apprentice locksmith gave Houdini the founding idea of his career. Arriving in a town, he'd alert the press. He would then call a police station and ask to be handcuffed and locked in a cell. Within minutes, he'd walk free. Harry Houdini moments before being lowered into his water torture cell in 1913. Bridgeman/ACI The media coverage from these stunts helped promote the Houdinis' shows. In 1899 entrepreneur Martin Beck offered Houdini a contract to perform in his theaters. Houdini now had a substantial income, and new horizons suddenly opened. He was performing in Britain in 1900 and Russia in 1903. His popularity led to an avalanche of copycats and doubters, forcing him to push his limits and defend his name, even winning a lawsuit in 1902 against a German newspaper that called him a fraud. Starting in 1908, his signature act was being locked in a milk can full of water. In 1912 he replaced the milk can with the water torture cell, where he was bound in chains and padlocks and submerged upside down. Public fascination with his daredevilry won Houdini star roles in early cinema. The plot of the 1919 movie The Grim Game centers on an escapologist played by Houdini. Public fascination with his daredevilry won Houdini star roles in early cinema, like the 1919 movie The Grim Game, shown in this poster. Alamy/ACI The shadow of death 'My chief task is to conquer fear,' Houdini said of his acts. He made himself undergo 'tortuous self-training' to avoid panic. Biographers have wondered what drove Houdini to such extreme acts. Some suggest it was to resolve the trauma of being a poor outsider. A target of anti-Semitic insults, Houdini seemed to have aligned himself with the emerging idea of the muscular Jew to counter the prevalent stereotype that Jewish men were physically weak. (Harry Houdini's unlikely last act? Taking on the occult.) Houdini was fiercely critical of spiritualism, a hugely popular practice at the time. He regarded it as fraudulent. One reading of his career is as extreme rationalism in the face of death. Yet for a man always prepared to die, the nature of his demise took his admirers, and the country, by surprise. During the height of his career, in October 1926, Houdini was in Montréal to perform at McGill University. A student asked about his abdominal strength and whether he could withstand punches. When Houdini replied he could, the student punched him in the stomach. Houdini seemed to have been unprepared for the blow, which caused him a great deal of pain. Days later, on October 31, 1926, he died in Detroit at age 52. The cause of death was peritonitis, caused by appendicitis. French poster of the 1918 movie The Master Mystery, starring Harry Houdini. Alamy/Cordon Press Debate continues to rage over whether the punch had indeed been fatal, or if Houdini succumbed to an unrelated intestinal condition caused by his ruptured appendix. In his will, he left his effects and props to Dash, requesting they be burned upon Dash's death.
