It has been suggested that Geesha girls be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Typical nape make-up

Geisha (芸者, Geisha^?) or Geigi (艺妓, Geigi^?) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... Geesha girls are a type of prostitute, mainly active during the period of occupied Japan who almost exclusively serviced American GIs stationed in Japan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (872x1052, 203 KB) Summary Description: A photograph I took of 2 Geisha conversing near the Golden Temple in Kyoto, Japan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (872x1052, 203 KB) Summary Description: A photograph I took of 2 Geisha conversing near the Golden Temple in Kyoto, Japan. ... Look up nape in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Cosmetics or makeup are substances to enhance the beauty of the human body, apart from simple cleaning. ... An entertainer is someone who is hired to entertain people. ...

Terms

A maiko walks to her next appointment in Gion Kobu, Kyoto.

"Geisha," pronounced /ˈgeɪ ʃә/, is a proper noun. Like all Japanese nouns, there are no distinct singular or plural variants of the term. The word consists of two kanji, 芸 (gei) meaning "art" and 者 (sha) meaning "person" or "doer". The most direct translation of geisha into English would be "artist" or "performing artist". Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Shirakara Canal in the Gion district, showing the rear of some ochaya Exclusive restaurants line the streets of Gion. ... Kyoto )   is a city in the central part of the island of HonshÅ«, Japan. ... A proper noun is a noun that picks out a unique entity. ... In linguistics, a noun or noun substantive is a lexical category which is defined in terms of how its members combine with other grammatical kinds of expressions. ... Japanese writing Kanji Kana Hiragana Katakana Hentaigana Manyōgana Uses Furigana Okurigana Rōmaji   ) are the Chinese characters that are used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system along with hiragana (平仮名), katakana (片仮名), and the Arabic numerals. ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ... 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 an art. ... Performance art is art in which the actions of an individual or a group at a particular place and in a particular time constitute the work. ...

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). Prostitutes wear the bow of their sash, or obi, in front of their kimono, but geisha wear their obi at the back. True geisha, who do not engage in sexual activity, 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. Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... Typical nape make-up Geisha ) or Geigi ) are traditional, female Japanese entertainers, whose skills include performing various Japanese arts, such as classical music and dance. ... Obi (帯, おび) is a Japanese word referring to several different types of sashes worn with kimono and martial arts uniforms by both men and women. ... A traditional wedding kimono The kimono literally something worn) is the national costume of Japan. ...

Apprentice geisha are called maiko. This word is made of the kanji 舞 (mai) meaning "dancing" 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. For other uses, see Stereotype (disambiguation). ... For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ...

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. 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 okiya ) is the lodging house a maiko or geisha lives in during the length of her nenki, or contract. ... An okiya ) is the lodging house a maiko or geisha lives in during the length of her nenki, or contract. ...

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). 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. A proprietary colony is a colony in which the king gave land to one or more people called proprietors. ...

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. 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. For other uses, see Tea (disambiguation). ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ...

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 charged full price for her time. Geisha remain as such until they retire.

Modern geisha

The Gion geiko district (hanamachi) of Kyoto, Japan.

Modern geisha still live in traditional geisha houses called okiya in areas called hanamachi (花街 "flower towns"), particularly during their apprenticeship. Many experienced geisha who 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"). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1728, 1263 KB) En: the exclusive restaurants in Gion in Kyoto, Japan (colors boosted up a lot) Copyright © 2003 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Geisha Gion Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1728, 1263 KB) En: the exclusive restaurants in Gion in Kyoto, Japan (colors boosted up a lot) Copyright © 2003 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Geisha Gion Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from... Shirakara Canal in the Gion district, showing the rear of some ochaya Exclusive restaurants line the streets of Gion. ... A hanamachi (花街) is a Japanese geisha district. ... A hanamachi (花街) is a Japanese geisha district. ...

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. 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. 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. Middle school (also known as intermediate school or junior high school) covers a period of education that straddles primary/elementary education and secondary education, serving as a bridge between the two. ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ... College (Latin collegium) is a term most often used today to denote an educational institution. ... Kitagawa Utamaro, Flowers of Edo: Young Womans Narrative Chanting to the Samisen, ca. ... A shakuhachi flute, blowing edge up. ... A Japanese traditional dancer There are two types of Japanese traditional dance: the sexy dance - Odori, which originated in the Edo period, and Mai, which originated in the western part of Japan. ... A woman wearing a kimono performs a tea ceremony outdoors, while seated in seiza position. ... A traditional wedding kimono The kimono literally something worn) is the national costume of Japan. ...

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. For other uses, see Tokyo (disambiguation). ... Dentsu Building Shinbashi Station Shinbashi (æ–°æ©‹) is a district of Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan, located south of Ginza, east of Toranomon and north of Hamamatsucho. ... Sensoji Temple The Kaminarimon is the outer gate of the Sensoji, Asakusas famous temple. ... The temple of Akagi, at the top end of Kagurazaka. ...

A geiko entertaining a guest in Gion (Kyoto)

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. Most common are sightings of tourists who pay a fee to be dressed up as a maiko. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (718x1000, 474 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (718x1000, 474 KB) Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Atami (熱海市; -shi) is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. ...

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). 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. The tea house known as Yugao-tei. ... A Ryōtei ) is a type of Japanese luxorious restaurant. ...

Geisha and prostitution

An oiran preparing herself for a client, ukiyo-e print by Suzuki Haronubu (1765).

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] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... View of Mount Fuji from Numazu, part of the Fifty-three Stations of the Tōkaidō series by Hiroshige, published 1850 Ukiyo-e ), pictures of the floating world, is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of...

Geisha have sometimes been confused with the traditional high-class courtesans called oiran. Like geisha, oiran wear elaborate hairstyles and white makeup. A simple way to distinguish between the two is that oiran, as prostitutes, tie their obi in the front. Geisha tie their obi in the back in the usual manner. During the Edo period, prostitution was legal and prostitutes such as the oiran were licensed by the government. By contrast, geisha were strictly forbidden from holding a prostitution license, and were officially forbidden to ever have sex with their customers.^[2] The licensing arrangement led to the derogatory term 'double registration', referring to promiscuous geisha. A courtesan in mid-16th century usage was a high-class prostitute or mistress, especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her services. ... An oiran preparing herself for a client, ukiyo-e print by Suzuki Haronubu (1765). ... Obi (帯, おび) is a Japanese word referring to several different types of sashes worn with kimono and martial arts uniforms by both men and women. ... The Edo period ), also called Tokugawa period, is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. ... Prostitution in Japan has a long and varied history. ...

During occupied Japan, many Japanese prostitutes marketed themselves as geisha to American GIs. These prostitutes became known as geesha girls, due to a mis-pronunciation of the word geisha, and carried the image of geisha as prostitutes back to the United States. Capital Tokyo Language(s) Japanese Political structure Military occupation Military Governor  - 1945-1951 Douglas MacArthur  - 1951-1952 Matthew Ridgway Emperor  - 1926-1989 Hirohito Historical era Post-WWII  - Surrender of Japan August 15, 1945  - San Francisco Treaty April 28, 1952 At the end of the Second World War, Japan was occupied... The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ... Geesha girls are a type of prostitute, mainly active during the period of occupied Japan who almost exclusively serviced American GIs stationed in Japan. ...

Also, geisha working in onsen towns such as Atami are dubbed onsen geisha. 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). In contrast to these 'one-night geisha', the true onsen geisha are in fact competent dancers and musicians. Outdoor pool, Naruko, Miyagi Guidebook to Hakone from 1811 An onsen ) is a Japanese hot spring. ... Atami (熱海市; -shi) is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. ... Onsen Geisha (温泉芸者) is a negative term synonymous with prostitute. ... A traditional wedding kimono The kimono literally something worn) is the national costume of Japan. ...

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.

Appearance

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. Download high resolution version (500x889, 109 KB)Full height photograph of women dressed as maiko (geisha apprentices), Kyoto, Japan. ... Download high resolution version (500x889, 109 KB)Full height photograph of women dressed as maiko (geisha apprentices), Kyoto, Japan. ... If youre looking for the TV show, see The Apprentice. ... Kyoto )   is a city in the central part of the island of HonshÅ«, Japan. ... A furisode (Japanese: 振袖, furisode) is a form of kimono commonly bought by parents for their daughters when they turn 20, to celebrate Coming of Age Day. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Makeup

Today, the traditional make-up of the apprentice geisha is one of their most recognizable characteristics, though established geisha generally wear full white face makeup characteristic of maiko only during special performances. Cosmetics or makeup are substances to enhance the beauty of the human body, apart from simple cleaning. ...

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. 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. Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color and texture to the lips. ...

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 onei-san or "older sister" (an experienced geisha who is her mentor) or by the oka-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

and I just pissed my pants! ur mom is in a geisha's pants! The history of cosmetics spans at least 6000 years of human history, and almost every society on earth. ...

Dress

Rear view of a maiko in a teahouse, her richly embroidered obi clearly visible u want to nakify her!

Geisha always wear kimono. Apprentice geisha wear highly colorful kimono with extravagant obi. 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". Older geisha wear more subdued patterns and styles. 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. Image File history File links Maiko_obi. ... Image File history File links Maiko_obi. ... Yugao-tei, Kanazawa Ihōan at Kōdai-ji in Kyoto Tchai-Ovna, Glasgow Tea houses are houses or parlors centered on drinking tea. ... A traditional wedding kimono The kimono literally something worn) is the national costume of Japan. ... Obi (帯, おび) is a Japanese word referring to several different types of sashes worn with kimono and martial arts uniforms by both men and women. ...

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. In inclement weather geisha wear raised wooden clogs, called geta. Maiko wear a special wooden clog known as okobo. Straw Zori from the 19th century Modern, plastic womens zori Zori (jp: 草履 zōri) are thonged Japanese sandals made of straw (usually rice straw) or other plant fibers, lacquered wood, or—increasingly—synthetic materials. ... Traditional wearing of Japanish woman Tabi (足袋) are traditional Japanese ankle high, divided-toe socks. ... A pair of geta Geta (下駄) are a form of Japanese footwear that resembles both clogs and flip-flops. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Hairstyles

The maiko Mamechiho(AKA:ur mom) 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 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1906x1701, 1066 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Woman Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1906x1701, 1066 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Woman Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Kyoto )   is a city in the central part of the island of HonshÅ«, Japan. ... The Shimada is the typical hairstyle worn by the geisha of Japan. ... A chignon is also a type of bun hairstyle, made popular and worn by many women. ...

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-cho and Pontocho will wear an additional 6 hairstyle leading up to the sakko. Some include: Umemodoki, Osidori no Hina, Kikugasane, and Osafune.

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

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 her hair and face. 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.

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. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the book. ... Mineko Iwasaki Mineko Iwasaki ), born Masako Tanaka on November 2, 1949 in Kyoto, was Japans number one geiko (geisha) until her sudden retirement at the age of 29. ...

Geisha photography

• The girl inherited Maiko (apprentice geisha) life (2007) by Naoyuki Ogino at the Canon Gallery, Japan

Films featuring geisha

• Sisters of the Gion (1936) - Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi
• Geisha Girl (1952) - Dir. George P. Breakston
• A Geisha (祇園囃子, Gion bayashi) (1953) - Dir. Kenji Mizoguchi
• The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956) - Dir. Daniel Mann
• The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958) - Dir. John Huston
• The Geisha Boy (1958) - Dir. Frank Tashlin
• My Geisha (1962) - Dir. Jack Cardiff
• The World of Geisha (1972) - Dir. Tatsumi Kumashiro‎
• In the Realm of the Senses (1976) - Dir. Nagisa Oshima
• American Geisha (1986) - Dir. Lee Philips
• Ihara Saikaku Koshoku Ichidai Otoko (1991) - Dir. Yukio Abe
• The Geisha House (1999) - Dir. Kinji Fukasaku
• Zatoichi (2003) - Dir. Takeshi Kitano
• Fighter in the Wind (2004) - Dir. Yang Yun-ho
• Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005) - Dir. Rob Marshall
• DOA: Dead or Alive (2006) - Dir. Cory Yuen
• Maiko Haaaan!!! (2007) - Dir. Nobuo Mizuta

Kenji Mizoguchi Kenji Mizoguchi (溝口 健二 Mizoguchi Kenji; May 16, 1898 – August 24, 1956) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. ... A Geisha (祇園囃子, Gion bayashi) is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. ... A Geisha (祇園囃子, Gion bayashi) is a 1953 Japanese film directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. ... Kenji Mizoguchi Kenji Mizoguchi (溝口 健二 Mizoguchi Kenji; May 16, 1898 – August 24, 1956) was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. ... The Teahouse of the August Moon is a 1956 motion picture comedy satirising the US occupation of Japan following the end of World War II. John Patrick adapted the screenplay from his own Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Broadway play of 1953. ... Daniel Mann, also known as Daniel Chugerman (August 8, 1912–November 21, 1991), was an American film and television director. ... The Barbarian and the Geisha is a 1958 film directed by John Huston and starring John Wayne. ... John Marcellus Huston (August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director and actor. ... The Geisha Boy was filmed from June 16-August 7, 1958. ... Frank Tashlin (February 19, 1913 - May 5, 1972) was an animator, screenwriter, and director. ... My Geisha is an American film made in 1962 and directed by Jack Cardiff. ... Jack Cardiff (born 18 September 1914) is a British cinematographer, director and photographer. ... Tatsumi Kumashiro (神代辰巳 - Kumashiro Tatsumi) (April 24, 1927 - February 24, 1995) was a Japanese film director best known known for his critically acclaimed award-winning Roman Porno films, such as Ichijo Sayuri: Wet Desire (Ichijo Sayuri: Nureta yokujo) (1972) and The Woman with Red Hair (Akai kami no onna ) (1979). ... In the Realm of the Senses (dvd) In the Realm of the Senses (Ai no Korīda, 愛のコリーダ, lit. ... Nagisa Oshima (大島 渚 Ōshima Nagisa, born March 31, 1932) is a famous Japanese director. ... Kinji Fukasaku (深作欣二 Fukasaku Kinji) (3 July 1930 – 12 January 2003) was a Japanese film actor, writer and director. ... Shintaro Katsu in Shintaro Katsus Zatoichi (1989) Takeshi Kitano in Zatoichi (2003) Zatoichi (座頭市 Zatōichi) is a fictional character featured in one of Japans longest running series of films and a television series set in the Edo period. ... Takeshi Kitano , born January 18, 1947 in Umeshima, Adachi, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian, actor, presenter, author, poet, painter, one-time video game designer, and film director who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. ... Fighter in the Wind (also known as Baramui Fighter or Paramui Paita in Korea) is a 2004 South Korean film. ... Memoirs of a Geisha is an Academy Award and Grammy Award-winning movie adaptation of the novel of the same name, produced by Steven Spielbergs Amblin Entertainment and directed by Rob Marshall. ... Rob Marshall is a director. ... Corey Yuen Kwai (元奎) is a Hong Kong actor, film director and producer. ... Maiko Haaaan!!! (舞妓Haaaan!!!) is a Japanese comedy film released in 2007. ...

Music about geisha

• "Neo Geisha" by Zeromancer on the album Eurotrash
• "Geisha Dreams" by Rollergirl
• "Latin Geisha" by Illya Kuriaki and the Valderramas
• "GEI-SHA" by S.K.I.N.

Rollergirl (born 1977), real name Nicole Saft which translates in English as Nicci Juice is a German artist. ... Skin is a supergroup consisting of several Japanese rock musicians. ...

See also

• Kisaeng—Korean female entertainers, similar to Geisha.
• Taikomochi

Kisaeng (also spelled gisaeng), sometimes called ginyeo (기녀), were female Korean entertainers similar to the Japanese geisha and the ancient Greek hetaerae. ... The taikomochi (太鼓持) or hōkan (幇間), were the original male geisha of Japan. ...

Notes

1. ^ Henshall, K. G., 1999, A History of Japan, Macmillan Press LTD, London, ISBN 0­333­74940­5, page 61
2. ^ Women of the Arts “Misperceptions and the Story Behind It"

References

• Dalby, Liza (1983). Geisha. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 0520047427, ISBN 0394728939, ISBN 0520204956.
• Foreman, Kelly M. (2002). "The Role of Music in the Lives and Identities of Japanese Geisha." Ph.D. dissertation. Kent, Ohio, United States: Kent State University.
• Foreman, Kelly M. (2005). "Bad Girls Confined: Okuni, Geisha, and the Negotiation of Female Performance Space" in Bad Girls of Japan, edited by Laura Miller and Jan Bardsley. New York: Palgrave Macmillan Press. ISBN 1403969477.
• Foreman, Kelly M. (2008). The Gei of Geisha: Music, Identity and Meaning. SOAS Musicology Series. Ashgate. ISBN 0754658570. ISBN 9780754658573.
• BBC television documentary Geisha Girl. First shown on UK channel BBC Four in January 2006.
• Gallagher, John (2003). Geisha: A Unique World of Tradition, Elegance and Art. London: Produced by PRC Pub.; New York: Distributed in U.S. & Canada by Sterling Pub. Co. ISBN 1856486974.
• Golden, Arthur (1997). Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. ISBN 0375400117.
• Graham-Diaz, Naomi (2001). http://www.immortalgeisha.com/makeup_01.php "Make-Up of Geisha and Maiko"]. Immortal Geisha. Accessed on January 19, 2005.
• Henshall, K. G. (1999). A History of Japan. London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 0­333­74940­5.
• Miyazaki, Manabu (2005). Toppamono: Outlaw. Radical. Suspect. My Life in Japan's Underworld. Kotan Publishing. ISBN 0-9701716-2-5.

Liza Crihfield Dalby is an American anthropologist and novelist specializing in Japanese culture. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 4. ... Arthur Golden (born in 1956 in Chattanooga, Tennessee) is the writer of the bestselling novel Memoirs of a Geisha. ... This article is about the book. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Manabu Miyazaki is also the name of a Japanese wildlife photographer. ...

Further reading

Non-fiction

• Aihara, Kyoko. Geisha: A Living Tradition. London: Carlton Books, 2000. ISBN 1858689376, ISBN 1858689708.
• Burns, Stanley B., and Elizabeth A. Burns. Geisha: A Photographic History, 1872–1912. Brooklyn, N.Y.: powerHouse Books, 2006. ISBN 1576873366.
• Cobb, Jodi. Geisha: The Life, the Voices, the Art. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. ISBN 0679437746, ISBN 0767904893.
• Dalby, Liza Crihfield (ed.). Ko-uta: "Little Songs" of the Geisha World (reprinted as Little Songs of the Geisha: Traditional Japanese Ko-Uta). Rutland, Vermont: C. E. Tuttle Co., 1979. ISBN 0804812926, ISBN 0804832501.
• De Becker, J. E. The Nightless City ... or, The "History of the Yoshiwara Yūkwaku.", 4th ed. rev. Yokohama [etc.] M. Nössler & Co.; London, Probsthain & Co., 1905.
• De Becker, J. E. The Nightless City: Geisha and Courtesan Life in Old Tokyo (reprint). Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, 2007. ISBN 0486455637.
• Downer, Lesley. Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha. New York: Broadway Books, 2001. ISBN 0767904893, ISBN 0767904907.
• Ishihara, Tetsuo. Peter MacIntosh, trans. Nihongami no Sekai: Maiko no kamigata (The World of Traditional Japanese Hairstyles: Hairstyles of the Maiko). Kyōtō: Dōhōsha Shuppan, 1993. ISBN 4810412946.
• Iwasaki, Mineko, with Rande Brown. Geisha, A Life (also known as Geisha of Gion). New York: Atria Books, 2002. ISBN 0743444329, ISBN 0756781612; ISBN 074343059X.
• Masuda, Sayo. G.G. Rowley (trans.). Autobiography of a Geisha. New York: Columbia University Press, 2003. ISBN 0231129505.
• The Peabody Essex Museum (ed.). Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile. New York: George Braziller in association with the Peabody Essex Museum, 2004. ISBN 0807615455, ISBN 0875772005.
• Perkins, P.D. Geisha of Pontocho. Tokyo: Tokyo News Service, 1954.
• Scott, A.C. The Flower and Willow World; The Story of the Geisha. New York: Orion Press, 1960.
• Underwood, Eleanor. The Life of a Geisha. New York: Smithmark, 1999. ISBN 0765117398.

Mineko Iwasaki Mineko Iwasaki (岩崎峰子 Iwasaki Mineko), born Masako Tanaka (born November 2, 1949 in Kyoto), was Japans number one geiko (geisha) until her sudden retirement at the age of 29. ...

Fiction

• Ball, John Dudley. Miss One Thousand Spring Blossoms. Boston: Little, Brown, 1968.
• Golden, Arthur. Memoirs of a Geisha. New York: Vintage, 1999.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Geisha

• Documentary Art Photography of Real Geisha by "Naoyuki Ogino"
• Many pictures of a REAL Geisha and Maiko"Photo Gallery"
• Japanese Geisha "Information on Geisha, Maiko, and media clips of their life"
• Graham (Diaz), Naomi, "Immortal Geisha"
• Cohen, Kathleen, "Geisha History". School of Art and Design. San José State University.
• Patterson, Sofia, "Karyukai"
• Dorda, Cristina, "Geigi Gakko"
• Ichimame, "Maiko Blog in Japanese and English"
• Geisha Photo Gallery
• Geisha and Maiko
• Japanese Geisha
• Geisha information site
• Geisha of Japan site
• Modern Day Geisha
• Geisha and Maiko on Haruyo Morita's artwoks
• Coming of Age - Yukina: Japan. BBC documentary about a modern young woman who wishes to train to be a geisha.
• Geisha (Noise Rock Band) at MySpace

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... San José State University, commonly shortened to San José State and SJSU, is the founding campus of what became the California State University system. ...