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Typical nape make-up
Typical nape make-up
"Maiko" redirects here. The nape is the back of the Neck. In many mammals the nape is the site of the scruff, a loose non-sensitive area of skin by which the mother can carry her young For the Japanese singer, see Maiko Sakae. Sakae Maiko (栄舞子 or just Maiko (舞衣子 まいこ is currently the lead Singer and one of two Bassists in the up and coming J-pop /

Geisha (芸者?) or Geiko (芸妓?) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. See also Entertainment (disambiguation and The Entertainer (disambiguation Entertainment is an activity designed to give people Contrary to popular belief, geisha are not prostitutes. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money.

Contents

Terms

A maiko walks to her next appointment in Gion Kobu, Kyoto.
A maiko walks to her next appointment in Gion Kobu, Kyoto. Gion (祇園 is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages in front of Yasaka Shrine. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan.

"Geisha," pronounced /ˈgeɪʃә/ in English, is a proper noun. Like all Japanese nouns, there are no distinct singular or plural variants of the term. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities The word consists of two kanji, 芸 (gei) meaning "art" and 者 (sha) meaning "person" or "doer". are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with Hiragana (ひらがな 平仮名 Katakana Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual The most direct translation of geisha into English would be "artist" or "performing artist". The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating This article is about Performance art For other uses see Performance (disambiguation

Another term used in Japan is geiko, a word from the Kyoto dialect. Full-fledged geisha in Kyoto are called geiko. This term is also commonly used in the region to distinguish geisha practiced in traditional arts from prostitutes who have co-opted the name and attire of geisha (see below). Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. or are traditional female Japanese Entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance Prostitutes wear the bow of their sash, or obi, in front of their kimono, but geisha wear their obi at the back. Obi (帯 おび is a Japanese word referring to several different types of Sashes worn with Kimono and Keikogi by both men and women The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come True geisha usually had the luxury of a professional aide to help them in the difficult process of dressing; their clothing is made up of several layers of kimono and undergarments, and an obi is more than a simple band of cloth. Dressing could take over an hour, even with professional help. Prostitutes, however, had to take off their obi several times a day, so theirs were far less complex, and tied at the front for ease of removal and replacement.

Apprentice geisha are called maiko. This word is made of the kanji 舞 (mai) meaning "dance" and 子 (ko) meaning "child". It is the maiko, with her white make-up and elaborate kimono and hairstyle, that has become the stereotype of a "geisha" to westerners, rather than the true geisha. A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings A woman entering the geisha community does not have to start out as a maiko, having the opportunity to begin her career as a full geisha. In fact, a woman above 21 is considered too old to be a maiko and becomes a full geisha upon her initiation into the geisha community. However, those who do go through the maiko stage enjoy more prestige later in their professional lives.

Tokyo geisha generally do not follow the ritualized Kyoto maiko apprentice process. The training period can be six months to a year - notably shorter than a Kyoto maiko - before she debuts as a full geisha. The trainee is referred to as a han'gyoku (半玉) or "half-jewel", or by the more generic term o-shaku (御酌), lit. "one who pours (alcohol)". On average, Tokyo geisha tend to be older than their Kyoto counterparts, many holding formal degrees from university.

Stages of training

Traditionally, they began their training at a very young age. Although some girls were sold to geisha houses ("okiya") as children, this was not common practice in reputable districts. An is the lodging house a Maiko or Geisha lives in during the length of her nenki or contract or career as a geisha Daughters of geisha were often brought up as geisha themselves, usually as the successor ("atotori" meaning heir) or daughter-role ("musume-bun") to the okiya. An is the lodging house a Maiko or Geisha lives in during the length of her nenki or contract or career as a geisha

The first stage of training was called shikomi. When girls first arrived at the okiya, they would be put to work as maids, or do everything they are told. The work was difficult with the intent to "make" and "break" the new girls. The most junior shikomi of the house would have to wait late into the night for the senior geisha to return from engagements, sometimes as late as two or three in the morning. During this stage of training, the shikomi would go to classes at the hanamachi's geisha school. In modern times, this stage still exists, mostly to accustom the girls to the traditional dialect, traditions and dress of the "karyūkai. "

Once the recruit became proficient with the geisha arts, and passed a final, difficult dance exam, she would be promoted to the second stage of training: minarai. Minarai are relieved from their housekeeping duties. The minarai stage focuses on training in the field. Although minarai attend ozashiki (banquets in which guests are attended by geisha), they do not participate at an advanced level. Their kimono, more elaborate than even a maiko's, are intended to do the talking for them. Minarai can be hired for parties, but are usually uninvited (yet welcomed) guests at parties that their onee-san ("onee-san" meaning "older sister", and is the Minarai's senior) attends. They charge 1/3 hanadai. Minarai generally work closely with a particular tea house (called "minarai-jaya") learning from the "okaa-san" (proprietor of the house). The word proprietary indicates that a party or proprietor exercises private Ownership, control or use over an item of Property. These techniques are not taught in school, as skills such as conversation and gaming can only be absorbed through practice. This stage lasts only about a month or so.

After a short period of time, the third (and most famous) stage of training began, called maiko. Maiko are apprentice geisha, and this stage can last for years. Maiko learn from their senior geisha mentor and follow them around to all their engagements. The onee-san/imouto-san (junior) relationship is extremely important. Since the onee-san teaches her maiko everything about working in the hanamachi, her teaching is vital. She will teach her proper ways of serving tea, playing shamisen, and dancing, the casual talk of conversation, which is also important for a maiko to learn for future invitations to more teahouses and gatherings. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market The shamisen or samisen ( Japanese: 三[[wiktionary 味|味]] 線, literally "three flavor strings" also called sangen (literally The onee-san will even help pick the maiko's new professional name with kanji or symbols related to her own name. One would suggest that geisha are prone to "flirt," but it is only their nature to seem demure and innocent. Regional variations exist, as the han'gyoku of Tokyo are known for being sassy and the Kyoto maiko are known for being demure.

After a period as short as six months (in Tokyo) or as long as five years (in Kyoto), the maiko is promoted to a full-fledged geisha, and charges full price for her time. Geisha remain as such until they retire.

Modern geisha

A geiko entertaining a guest in Gion (Kyoto)
A geiko entertaining a guest in Gion (Kyoto)
The Gion geiko district (hanamachi) of Kyoto, Japan.
The Gion geiko district (hanamachi) of Kyoto, Japan. Gion (祇園 is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages in front of Yasaka Shrine. A hanamachi (花街 is a Japanese Courtesan and Geisha district

Modern geisha still live in traditional geisha houses called okiya in areas called hanamachi (花街 "flower towns"), particularly during their apprenticeship. A hanamachi (花街 is a Japanese Courtesan and Geisha district Many experienced geisha are successful enough choose to live independently. The elegant, high-culture world that geisha are a part of is called karyūkai (花柳界 "the flower and willow world").

Young women who wish to become geisha now most often begin their training after completing junior high school or even high school or college, with many women beginning their careers in adulthood. Middle school or Junior High School serves as a "bridge" between the Elementary School and the High School High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution College ( Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an Educational Institution. Geisha still study traditional instruments like the shamisen, shakuhachi (bamboo flute), and drums, as well as traditional songs, Japanese traditional dance, tea ceremony, literature and poetry. The shamisen or samisen ( Japanese: 三[[wiktionary 味|味]] 線, literally "three flavor strings" also called sangen (literally The is a Japanese end-blown Flute. Its name means "18 feet" referring to its size There are two types of Japanese traditional dance: Odori which originated in the Edo period and Mai which originated in the western part of Japan The Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu (茶の湯 lit "tea hot-water" or also chadō or sadō (ja By watching other geisha, and with the assistance of the owner of the geisha house, apprentices also become skilled in the complex traditions surrounding selecting and wearing kimono, and in dealing with clients. The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come

Kyoto is considered by many to be where the geisha tradition is the strongest today, including Gion Kobu. The geisha in these districts are known as geiko. The Tokyo hanamachi of Shimbashi, Asakusa and Kagurazaka are also well known. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Shinbashi (新橋 is a district of Minato Tokyo, Japan, located south of Ginza, west of Tsukiji, east of Toranomon and north of is a district in Taitō Tokyo, Japan, most famous for the Sensō-ji, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Bodhisattva Kannon. Kagurazaka (Japanese神楽坂 is a trendy neighbourhood in Tokyo near Iidabashi Station.

In modern Japan, geisha and maiko are now a rare sight outside hanamachi. In the 1920s there were over 80,000 geisha in Japan, but today there are far fewer. The exact number is unknown to outsiders, and is estimated to be from 1,000 to 2,000, mostly in the resort town of Atami. is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The name literally means "hot ocean" a reference to the town's famous Onsen Hot springs Most common are sightings of tourists who pay a fee to be dressed up as a maiko.

A sluggish economy, declining interest in the traditional arts, the exclusive nature of the flower and willow world, and the expense of being entertained by geisha have all contributed to the tradition's decline.

Geisha are often hired to attend parties and gatherings, traditionally at tea houses (茶屋, ochaya) or at traditional Japanese restaurants (ryōtei). In Japanese tradition rooms where tea ceremonies are performed are known as chashitsu (茶室 literally "tea room" A is a type of luxurious traditional Japanese restaurant Traditionally they only accept new customers by referral and feature entertainment by Geisha, but in modern times this Their time is measured by the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and is called senkōdai (線香代, "incense stick fee") or gyokudai (玉代 "jewel fee"). In Kyoto the terms "ohana" (お花）and "hanadai" (花代), meaning "flower fees", are preferred. The customer makes arrangements through the geisha union office (検番 kenban), which keeps each geisha's schedule and makes her appointments both for entertaining and for training.

Geisha and prostitution

There remains some confusion, even within Japan, about the nature of the geisha profession. Geisha are frequently depicted as expensive prostitutes in Western popular culture. Geisha are entertainers, their purpose being to entertain their customer, be it by reciting verse, playing musical instruments, or engaging in light conversation. Geisha engagements may include flirting with men and playful innuendos; however, clients know that nothing more can be expected. In a social style that is uniquely Japanese, men are amused by the illusion of that which is never to be. Geisha do not engage in paid sex with clients. [1]

Geisha have sometimes been confused with the high-class courtesans of the Edo period known as oiran, who they actually evolved from. A courtesan in mid-16th century usage referred to a mistress or trained artisan of dance and singing especially one associated with wealthy powerful or upper-class The, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868 were high-class courtesans in Japan. The word "oiran" consists of two Kanji, 花 meaning "flower" and 魁 meaning "leader" Like geisha, oiran wore elaborate hairstyles and white makeup, but oiran tied their obi in the front not, as is commonly thought, for easy removal but, according to anthropologist Liza Dalby, because that was the practice of married women at the time. Obi (帯 おび is a Japanese word referring to several different types of Sashes worn with Kimono and Keikogi by both men and women Liza Crihfield Dalby (born 1950 is an American Anthropologist and novelist specializing in Japanese culture.

During the Edo period, prostitution was legal. Prostitution in Japan has a long and varied history While the Anti-Prostitution Law of 1956 made organized Prostitution illegal various loopholes liberal interpretations of Prostitutes such as the oiran worked within walled-in districts licensed by the government. In the seventeenth century, the oiran sometimes employed men called "geisha" to perform at their parties. Therefore, the first geisha were men. In the late eighteenth century, dancing women called "odoriko" and newly popular female "geisha" began entertaining men at banquets in unlicensed districts. Some were apprehended for illegal prostitution and sent to the licensed quarters, where there was a strict distinction between geisha and prostitutes, and the former were forbidden to sell sex. In contrast, "machi geisha," who worked outside the licensed districts, often engaged in illegal prostitution. [2]

In 1872, shortly after the Meiji Restoration, the new government passed a law liberating "prostitutes (shōgi) and geisha (geigi). " The wording of this statute was the subject of controversy. Some officials thought that prostitutes and geisha worked at different ends of the same profession -- selling sex -- and that all prostitutes should henceforth be called "geisha. " In the end, the government decided to maintain a line between the two groups, arguing that "geisha" were more refined and should not be soiled by association with prostitutes. [3]

Also, geisha working in onsen towns such as Atami are dubbed onsen geisha. An is a term for Hot springs ' in the Japanese language, though the term is often used describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The name literally means "hot ocean" a reference to the town's famous Onsen Hot springs Onsen Geisha (温泉芸者 is a negative term which has come to be synonymous with Prostitute. Onsen geisha have been given a bad reputation due to the prevalence of prostitutes in such towns who market themselves as 'geisha', as well as sordid rumors of dance routines like 'Shallow River' (which involves the 'dancers' lifting the skirts of their kimono higher and higher). The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come In contrast to these 'one-night geisha', the true onsen geisha are in fact competent dancers and musicians. However, the autobiography of Sayo Masuda, an onsen geisha who worked in Nagano Prefecture in the 1930s, reveals that in the past such women were often under intense pressure to sell sex. [4]

Personal relationships and danna

Geisha are expected to be single women; those who choose to marry must retire from the profession.

It was traditional in the past for established geisha to take a danna, or patron. A danna was typically a wealthy man, sometimes married, who had the means to support the very large expenses related to a geisha's traditional training and other costs. This sometimes occurs today as well, but very rarely.

A geisha and her danna may or may not be in love, but intimacy is never viewed as a reward for the danna's financial support. The traditional conventions and values within such a relationship are very intricate and not well understood, even by many Japanese.

While it is true that a geisha is free to pursue personal relationships with men she meets through her work, such relationships are carefully chosen and unlikely to be casual. A hanamachi tends to be a very tight-knit community and a geisha's good reputation is not taken lightly.

"Geisha girls"

"Geisha girls" (pronounced gay-sha), also known as "panpan girls,"[5] were Japanese women who worked as prostitutes during the period of the Allied Occupation of Japan. Prostitution is the act of performing Sexual activity in exchange for Money. At the end of World War II, Japan was occupied by the Allied Powers, led by the United States with contributions also from Australia, British They almost exclusively serviced American GIs stationed in the country. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States The term is a mispronunciation of the word geisha. [5][6]. The mispronunciation persists among some westerners.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that these women dressed in kimono and imitated the look of geisha. The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come Americans unfamiliar with the culture of Japan did not know the difference between these costumed prostitutes and actual geisha. [5] Shortly after their arrival in 1945, occupying American GIs are said to have congregated on the Ginza and shouted in unison "We want geesha girls!" [7]

Eventually, the term "geisha girl" became a general word for any female Japanese prostitute or worker in the mizu shobai, and included bar hostesses and streetwalkers. Ginza (銀座 is a district of Chūō Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Mizu shōbai (水商売 or the water trade, is the traditional euphemism for the night-time entertainment business in Japan, provided by Geisha Street prostitution is a specific form of Prostitution in which the sex worker operates from the street [5]

Geisha girls are speculated by researchers to be largely responsible for the continuing misconception in the West that geisha are prostitutes. Japanese Studies (aka Japanology) is the study of Japan. Japanology and Japanese studies are terms generally used in Europe to describe the historical [5]

Appearance

Women posing as maiko (geisha apprentices), Kyoto, Japan wearing traditional furisode and okobo
Women posing as maiko (geisha apprentices), Kyoto, Japan wearing traditional furisode and okobo

A geisha's appearance changes throughout her career, from the girlish, heavily made up maiko, to the more sombre appearance of an older established geisha. Apprenticeship is a system of Training a new generation of practitioners of a skill (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A furisode ( Japanese: 振袖 furisode) is a style of Kimono. Okobo are wooden sandals worn by Maiko (apprentice Geisha) during their apprenticeship

Makeup

Today, the traditional make-up of the apprentice geisha is one of their most recognizable characteristics, though established geisha generally only wear full white face makeup characteristic of maiko during special performances.

The traditional makeup of an apprentice geisha features a thick white base with red lipstick and red and black accents around the eyes and eyebrows. Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments oils waxes and emollients that applies color and texture to the lips. Originally the white base mask was made with lead, but after the discovery that it poisoned the skin and caused terrible skin and back problems for the older geisha towards the end of the Meiji Era, it was replaced with rice powder.

The application of makeup is hard to perfect and is a time-consuming process. Makeup is applied before dressing to avoid dirtying the kimono. First, a wax or oil substance, called bintsuke-abura, is applied to the skin. Next, white powder is mixed with water into a paste and applied with a bamboo brush starting from the neck, up. The white makeup covers the face, neck, and chest, with two or three unwhitened areas (forming a "W" or "V" shape, usually a traditional "W" shape) left on the nape, to accentuate this traditionally erotic area, and a line of bare skin around the hairline, which creates the illusion of a mask.

After the foundation layer is applied, a sponge is patted all over the face, throat, chest, the nape and neck to remove excess moisture and to blend the foundation. Next the eyes and eyebrows are drawn in. Traditionally charcoal was used, but today modern cosmetics are used. The eyebrows and edges of the eyes are colored black with a thin charcoal; a maiko also applies red around her eyes.

The lips are filled in using a small brush. The color comes in a small stick, which is melted in water. Crystallized sugar is then added to give the lips lustre. Rarely will a geisha color in both lips fully in the Western style, as white creates optical illusions. The lower lip is colored in partially and the upper lip left white for maiko, and newly full-fledged geisha will color in only the top lip fully. Most geisha wear the top lip colored in fully or stylized, and the bottom lip in a curved stripe that does not follow the shape of the lip.

Maiko who are in their first stage of training will sometimes color their teeth black for a short period of time. This practice used to be common among many different classes of women in Japan, but survives only in some districts, or even families.

For the first three years, a maiko wears this heavy makeup almost constantly. During her initiation the maiko is helped with her makeup by either her onee-san or "older sister" (an experienced geisha who is her mentor) or by the okaa-san or "mother" of her geisha house. After this she applies the makeup herself.

After a maiko has been working for three years, she changes her make-up to a more subdued style. The reason for this is that she has now become mature, and the simpler style shows her own natural beauty. For formal occasions, the mature geisha will still apply white make-up. For geisha over thirty, the heavy white make-up is only worn during special dances which require her to wear make up for her part.

Further information: History of cosmetics

Dress

Rear view of a maiko in a teahouse, her richly embroidered obi clearly visible
Rear view of a maiko in a teahouse, her richly embroidered obi clearly visible

Geisha always wear kimono. The history of cosmetics spans at least 6000 years of human history and almost every society on earth A tea house or tearoom is a venue centered on drinking Tea. Their function varies widely depending on the culture and some cultures have a variety of distinct The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come Apprentice geisha wear highly colorful kimono with extravagant obi. Obi (帯 おび is a Japanese word referring to several different types of Sashes worn with Kimono and Keikogi by both men and women Always, the obi is brighter than the kimono she is wearing to give a certain exotic balance. Maiko wear the obi tied in a style called "darari" (dangling obi). Older geisha wear more subdued patterns and styles (most notably the obi tied in a simpler knot utilized by married women known as the 'taiko musubi' (太鼓結び) or "drum knot"). The sign of a prosperous okiya is having geisha not wearing a kimono more than once, meaning that those okiyas with higher economic status will have "storehouses" of sorts where kimono are stored and interchanged between geisha.

Kimono can be as many as 12 or 15 layers for a maiko. An apprentice geisha's kimono will have, in addition to the heavy dangling obi, pocketed sleeves called "furi" which dangle all the way to the ground. During a dance or perfomance, an apprentice must wrap the pocketed sleeves around her arms many times to avoid tripping.

The color, pattern, and style of kimono is also dependent on the season and the event the geisha is attending. In winter, geisha can be seen wearing a three-quarter length haori lined with hand painted silk over their kimono. Lined kimono are worn during colder seasons, and unlined kimono during the summer. A kimono can take from 2–3 years to complete, due to painting and embroidering.

Geiko wear red or pink nagajuban, or under-kimono. A maiko wears red with white printed patterns. The junior maiko's collar is predominantly red with white, silver, or gold embroidery. Two to three years into her apprenticeship, the red collar will be entirely embroidered in white (when viewed from the front) to show her seniority. Around age 20, her collar will turn from red to white.

Geisha wear a flat-soled sandal, zori, outdoors, and wear only tabi (white split-toed socks) indoors. are flat and thonged Japanese sandals made of rice straw or other plant fibers cloth lacquered wood leather rubber or—increasingly—synthetic materials are traditional Japanese Socks Ankle high and with a separation between the big toe and other toes they are worn by both men and women with Zori, geta In inclement weather geisha wear raised wooden clogs, called geta. Geta (下駄 are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resembles both Clogs and Flip-flops. Maiko wear a special wooden clog known as okobo. Okobo are wooden sandals worn by Maiko (apprentice Geisha) during their apprenticeship

Hairstyles

The maiko Mamechiho in the Gion district of Kyoto. Notice the green pin on the mid-left called tsunagi-dango: this identifies her as a maiko of Gion kobu.
The maiko Mamechiho in the Gion district of Kyoto. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. Notice the green pin on the mid-left called tsunagi-dango: this identifies her as a maiko of Gion kobu.

The hairstyles of geisha have varied through history. In the past, it has been common for women to wear their hair down in some periods, but up in others. During the 17th century, women began putting all their hair up again, and it is during this time that the traditional shimada hairstyle, a type of traditional chignon worn by most established geisha, developed. The Shimada (島田 is a women's Hairstyle in Japan, similar to a chignon. A chignon, pronounced "sheen-yon” is a popular type of bun style

There are four major types of the shimada: the taka shimada, a high chignon usually worn by young, single women; the tsubushi shimada, a more flattened chignon generally worn by older women; the uiwata, a chignon that is usually bound up with a piece of colored cotton crepe; and a style that resembles a divided peach, which is worn only by maiko. This is sometimes called "Momoware," or "Split Peach. " Additional hairstyles: Ofuku, Katsuyama, Yakko-shimada, and sakko. Maiko of Miyagawa-chō and Pontochō will wear an additional 6 hairstyle leading up to the sakko. Some include: Umemodoki, Oshidori no Hina, Kikugasane, and Osafune.

These hairstyles are decorated with elaborate haircombs and hairpins (kanzashi). Kanzashi (簪 are hair ornaments used in traditional Chinese and Japanese Hairstyles Kanzashi first appeared In the seventeenth century and after the Meiji Restoration period, hair-combs were large and conspicuous, generally more ornate for higher-class women. The, also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure Following the Meiji Restoration and into the modern era, smaller and less conspicuous hair-combs became more popular.

Geisha were trained to sleep with their necks on small supports (takamakura), instead of pillows, so they could keep their hairstyle perfect. To reinforce this habit, their mentors would pour rice around the base of the support. If the geisha's head rolled off the support while she slept, rice would stick to the pomade in her hair. The geisha would thus have to repeat the tiresome process of having her hair elaborately styled. Without this happening, a geisha will have her hair styled every week or so.

Many modern geisha use wigs in their professional lives, while maiko use their natural hair. However, either one must be regularly tended by highly skilled artisans. Traditional hairstyling is a slowly dying art. One reason for this is that the hairstyle over time, can cause balding on the top of the head.

Geisha in popular culture

The growing interest in geisha and their exotic appearance have spawned various popular culture phenomena both in Japan and in the West. Western interest in geisha increased with the 1997 novel and 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha, and the autobiography of former geisha Iwasaki Mineko, titled Geisha of Gion. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Memoirs of a Geisha is a Novel by Arthur Golden, published in 1997. born, was Japan 's number one geiko ( Geisha) until her sudden retirement at the age of 29

Geisha photography

Films featuring geisha

Music about geisha

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Henshall, K. The taikomochi (太鼓持 or hōkan (幇間 were the original Male Geisha of Japan. Memoirs of a Geisha is an Academy-Award -winning movie adaptation of the novel of the same name, produced by Steven Spielberg 's Amblin was a Japanese actress and dancer Born in Tokyo, Sadayako was trained as a Geisha and came to the attention of Itō Hirobumi who took an interest in furthering G. , 1999, A History of Japan, Macmillan Press LTD, London, ISBN 0­333­74940­5, page 61
  2. ^ Seigle, Cecilia Segawa, 1993, Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan, University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, ISBN 0824814886, page 170-75
  3. ^ Matsugu, Miho, 2006, "In the Service of the Nation: Geisha and Kawabata Yasunari's "Snow Country"", in Martha Feldman and Bonnie Gordon, ed. The Courtesan's Arts, Oxford University Press, London, ISBN 0195170288, page 244
  4. ^ Masuda, Sayo, 2003, Autobiography of a Geisha, trans. G. G. Rowley, Columbia University Press, New York
  5. ^ a b c d e Sheridan Prasso, The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls & Our Fantasies of the the Exotic Orient PublicAffairs, 2005. ISBN 1586482149
  6. ^ Ruth Ozeki, Inside and other short fiction:Japanese women by Japanese women Kodansha International, 2005. ISBN 4770030061
  7. ^ Alan Booth, Looking for the Lost: Journeys Through a Vanishing Japan Kodansha Globe Series, 1995. ISBN 1568361483

References

Further reading

Non-fiction

Fiction

External links

Dictionary

geisha

-noun

  1. A Japanese entertainer skilled in various arts such as dancing, singing and writing.
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