Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

Any Nipponophiles out there know what an 'archery parlour' is?

"Our other regular haunt was an archery parlour in Nagata Street,
where the proprietress never tired of reminding us how years before,
when she had been working as a geisha in Akihara, Mori-san had used
her as a model for a series of wood-block prints which had proved
immensely popular. Some six or seven young women hosted that archery
parlour and after a while we each had our own favourites with whom to
exchange pipes and pass away the night."

Maybe kyudo was practiced?

I am also curious about the 'miai', some sort of formal arranged marriage
meeting.