Name: Dana Aimée Castillo Tapia

Group: 1161

English Project
We live in a diverse world of cultures. In each country there are different
traditions and rituals, which have formed the identity of its citizens over time.
Some traditions have remained in their closed communities, but thanks to the
media others have reached all corners of the world.

In this way, after reading the book "Memoirs of a

Geisha" by the author Arthur Golden, I was amazed
by the secret world of the geisha.

Before investigating further on this topic, I believe, like almost all

Westerners, that geisha were simple company women dressed in
traditional Japanese garb. I was surprised to learn that her world is around
the arts and customs that have protected the history of Japan.

In this project, my intention is to expose many of these traditions and show

how important the figure of these women has been in the history of that
country. Therefore, this project will focus on the following topics: Defining what a geisha is,
her brief history, her traditional dress and rituals, and geisha in today's popular culture.

We can define a Geisha as an artist, a cultured and disciplined woman, trained in music,
dance, history, literature, song, poetry, protocol, etiquette and general culture, which
provides accompaniment and entertainment services at business meetings and events. Also,
this woman can be called Geiko, but this term is only used to describe geisha in Western
Japan, including Kyoto and Kanazawa.

The modern geisha appeared in the 18th century. Previously

geishas were men who dedicated themselves to entertain
guests at banquets. However, the story says that a prostitute,
seeing her work in danger, decided to introduce herself as the
first female geisha in history. Later in 1779 the trade of geishas
was recognized as a profession, and a special registry was
created to prevent them from falling into prostitution. From that
moment on, geishas until before the 20th century were seen
as the representatives of modernity and innovators of fashion in Japan.
But with the arrival of Western influence in the country of the rising sun, they changed their
role to safeguarding traditions. They managed to survive Japanese nationalism, World War
Name: Dana Aimée Castillo Tapia
Group: 1161
II and the arrival of the Americans in their country. The profession of geisha has become a
myth over the years, because very few people can enter their world.

Geishas are the only association with a fully matriarchal

system in Japan. They are divided into Maikos, which are
the apprentices and the adult Geishas. They live in
special districts in cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, in houses
called Okiya. Geisha have a sister system.

Their distinct appearance is characterized by long,

trailing kimono, traditional hairstyles and the oshiroi
make-up, but this changes according to the learning time
of the geisha. His most important traditions are getting a
Danna, who is his official sponsor. Also, the exchange of the Mizuage (virginity) but this
tradition has practically disappeared. Traditionally, geishas could not marry or abandon their
profession, but this has changed.

While traditionally geisha led a cloistered existence, in recent years they have become more
publicly visible, and entertainment is available without requiring the traditional introduction
and connections. The most visible form of this are public dances, or odori.
The possibility for non-Japanese women to become Geisha has also been opened. For
example, Juri - (Maria), a Peruvian geisha working in the resort town of Yugawara in the
Kanagawa Prefecture.

But why does the figure of geisha exist in

Japanese culture and not in others? This is
because previously the Japanese did not
make social life as such. Men sought their
company for their speaking and listening skills.
But this tradition today has remained only as
a memory of the past. Its role has changed to
percering the Japanese art of past centuries.

Due to the level of secrecy that surrounds this tradition, and because of the ignorance of
Japanese culture in other cultures, a distorted image of geisha has spread. However, thanks
to the new media and globalization, with just one click we can learn about fascinating
traditions and understand the diversity of our world.

Information sources

• Golden, A. (1977). Memoirs of a Geisha. United States: SUMA de letras.

• A&E Television (Producer) Sutherland, J. (director) (1999) The Secret Life of Geisha (TV)
[documental] Country: United State. Recovered from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzuwT9G9g2Y
• Gómez, L. (2013). Geisha Profession: Myths and Facts. November 15, 2020, de Magazine:
Mundo Asiático. Web site: file:///C:/Users/DANA/Documents/2216-Article%20Text-7701-
1-10-20131003.pdf
Name: Dana Aimée Castillo Tapia
Group: 1161

• s.a. (2020). Geishas. November 15, 2020, of Wikipedia. Web site:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha
• R, L. (2018). A stroll through the history of geishas. November 15, 2020, of Japonisimo
web. Web site: https://japonismo.com/blog/un-paseo-por-la-historia-de-las-geisha
• Adalid, A. (2017). May understanding the Geisha of Japan: Myths & Facts. November 15,
2020, of Travel blog: I am Aileen. Web site: https://iamaileen.com/understand-japanese-
geisha-geiko-maiko-define/