The vast majority of geisha after the war were aged 20–24, as many retired in their mid-twenties after finding a patron – a trend carried over from the pre-war karyūkai: I showed the mother of the Yamabuki [okiya, in 1975] some statistics on the age distribution of the geisha population in the 1920s.
Tsutakiyokomatsu Asaji, 102, believed to be Japan's oldest geisha. Born Haru Kato, Asaji spent nearly 90 years as a geisha, a word literally meaning “arts person.” She had continued performing the refined songs and dances of geisha tradition until April, when illness forced her to retire.
Hiki-iwai: The hiki-iwai ceremony marks a geisha's retirement. She no longer entertains at parties, and she may discontinue her studies. At this point, a former geisha might become the head of an okiya or teahouse, or she may leave the geisha life entirely.
There is no specific retirement age for geisha, so if they don't want to marry, they can continue being a geisha throughout their lives. Conversely, despite being unable to marry, it's still acceptable for geishas to have children – and it's relatively common.
On average a trainee spends about six years studying the arts of music, dance, tea ceremony, language and being a first class hostess. During this time, and sometimes throughout her career as a geisha, she lives in the okiya, which is basically a boarding house for geisha and trainees.
The vast majority of geisha after the war were aged 20–24, as many retired in their mid-twenties after finding a patron – a trend carried over from the pre-war karyūkai: I showed the mother of the Yamabuki [okiya, in 1975] some statistics on the age distribution of the geisha population in the 1920s.
It was a tradition practiced mainly by married women and some men, almost always members of the aristocracy and samurai. In addition to Japanese society's preference for black teeth, it was also considered beneficial to health, as it prevented tooth decay by acting as a dental sealant.
Geiko (geisha) receive a full compensation for their job engagements, however, the monthly income depends on the amount of hours they work. Just like theater performers, there is a huge variation in the income of the geisha based on the skills and popularity.
In ancient times, there was no electricity in Japan, and most facilities were only lit by candlelight. Since candlelight was not bright enough, Geishas painted their faces white to enhance their skin tones and to contour their faces, making their faces more visible and recognizable.
Chiyo is taken to the Nitta okiya (geisha boarding house) in Gion, but her sister is taken to a brothel within Kyoto's pleasure district.
Mineko Iwasaki (岩崎 峰子/岩崎 究香, Iwasaki Mineko, born Masako Tanaka (田中 政子), 2 November 1949) is a Japanese businesswoman, author and former geisha. Iwasaki was the most famous geisha in Japan until her sudden retirement at the age of 29.
To inflame a doctor's lust for Sayuri (for the impending bidding war for her virginity), Mameha intentionally cuts Sayuri's leg high on her thigh (off camera).
In Japan, geisha are very highly respected because they spend years training to learn the traditional instruments and dances of Japan. Although some western media portray geisha as prostitutes, that's just a myth.
The history of the geisha and courtesans
In contrast, the highest-ranking of them, who were the true courtesans, were the Oiran (花魁) and the Tayū (太夫). Oiran, which means “First Flower,” were found throughout the country and were at the top of the hanamachi pecking order.
For this reason, a Geisha sleeps with her neck on a small wooden support or takamakura. This can cause crippling pain and sleep deprivation, and keeping the head balanced on the stand is a difficult skill to master.
Nowadays, there are just 1,000 geisha left in Japan, most of whom live and work predominantly in Tokyo and Kyoto. These modern geisha tend to remain within their district, where they're treated with the utmost respect by Japanese locals, and not approached for photos or conversation.
But in fact the original geisha were men.
In fact, the first female geisha didn't appear until several centuries later in 1751 but grew so quickly in popularity that they soon outnumbered the men. Today, there are 5 known male geisha in Japan: 4 in Tokyo and 1 in Kyoto.
During Japan's Edo period (1603 to 1868), ohaguro was mainly done by wealthy married women–but not exclusively. Some of the most prominent representatives of the black teeth practice are geisha.
There is no point harassing the geisha, obstructing their daily routine, jamming cameras in their faces. It's rude, can get you in trouble, ruins every foreigner's reputation and it's a questionable style of photography. Instead, be mindful when taking photos and go beyond obvious portraiture.
Their role is often misunderstood by those not of Japanese descent. Geisha are not prostitutes, in the past, the right to take the virginity of a Geisha (mizuage) was sold by the Geisha house. In reality, it was more a sponsorship for the Maiko's training, which was really expensive.
At its worst, the geisha tradition involves force, fraud, and deception, and the horrifying practice of selling one's own children into slavery for purposes of sexual exploitation.
Can a foreigner become a maiko and later a geisha/geiko? No foreigner can work as a geisha without permanent residency or Japanese nationality. A few women married to Japanese have worked briefly as geisha in the countryside where standards are more lax.
Also unlike humans, geishas do not get fat/obese problems, so there are no fat geishas in real life, so all geishas of every geisha subspecies are skinny and somewhat muscular in build, and they are slightly stronger than the common human.
The geisha system was traditionally a form of indentured labour, although some girls, attracted by the glamour of the life, volunteered. Usually, a girl at an early age was given by her parents for a sum of money to a geisha house, which taught, trained, fed, and clothed her for a period of years.
Actually seeing a geisha in Japan is rare, but it's not impossible. And if you are going to see one, Kyoto is your best bet. Here's our advice for how and where to see geisha (or geiko, rather) and maiko in Kyoto.